Part Fifty-Seven:

Yuui felt Boris stir and rise from him. He heard fabric rustling, so he assumed Boris was getting dressed. Yuui asked, "Where are you going?"

"To bring you something. Just lay back and rest."

Yuui felt Boris' hand brush back his bangs, and he couldn't help smiling. He settled back on the pallet and smiled. "Be back soon, please."

"I will."

He heard Boris leave, and then he rose a few moments later and felt around for his Nihongo clothing. He fumbled around but finally dressed himself. His fingers drifted to his lips. He couldn't stop smiling. Maybe, just maybe, Boris would reconsider leaving him, at least he hoped. He flopped back onto the pallet and just basked in the warmth he felt.


Ran came riding up and hopped off his horse. He handed the reins of his horse to the nearest stable hand and marched over to the front porch of the main house where Lady Suwa's maid, Megumi, was walking across it.

"Maid, wait! I have a question."

The girl looked startled, but bowed respectfully. "What would you ask me, Master Fujimiya?"

"Kurogane's mage and his family, where are they? Where are the whole, filthy lot of foreign mages?"

"The mage of Celes is in Master Kurogane's room working on some magic to aid his family. The ice king is in the prayer room with Lady Suwa. She prays over him to halt the further onset of his illness. The reanimator of Celes just left towards the cherry tree grove with Stewart Kentaro, and the healer of Celes is in a guest room, resting because of his malady."

"That's Fai's twin, isn't it? He has a malady?"

"His father took his magic and sight in a fit of insanity. It's for that reason the mage of Celes is so absorbed in his task. Master Kurogane's mage is trying to restore his brother's magic and sight. There is a possibility for a total recovery, so he's very fixed on it. If he restores his twin, then the twin can restore their father's health."

"So he's blind and has no magic, that twin of his? And Lady Suwa is with the mage's father?"

"Yes, sir."

"Fine." Ran marched off after the girl fled his harsh, amethyst gaze. He had wanted to deal with King Ashura to get revenge on Fai, but he wouldn't dare pull anything like that in front of Lady Suwa. It would dishonor the memory of his mother a great deal. He had originally wanted to capture King Ashura, since his own parents had been the ones killed. It would only be justice. Besides, the transaction would be more sterile and not touch on his disturbing thoughts.

He'd have to settle for the twin, which he didn't want to do. Ran felt dangerously close to losing control at the idea of having Fai's twin under his will. He'd seen Fai's twin walking with Kurogane and felt a deep, wild urge to attack him.

Seeing that trembling, blushing blond clinging to Kurogane's arm in the cherry orchard brought the same visceral reaction as Fai did, only more so. He knew Fai, but this one had unknown possibilities. Judging by his cousin's hostile glare, this brother may not be a combat mage. The unknown sent Ran's emotions into a tumult. But that twin was blinded, and that would make things interesting.

Why did a foreign mage have to interfere with his rightful revenge? And why did that foreign mage have to look so...? And have a twin! Ran clenched his fists and gained control of his thoughts once again. And why was Kurogane so bold as to chance throwing everything away just for that one mage that wasn't even a part of Nihongo?

What inspired Kurogane to be so free and claim his desires in spite of the loss of status that was to come his way? Only to have that kind of freedom, to throw off obligations, and embrace what he desired! Envy lapped at Ran's stomach and only created a diamond-hard urge to get his revenge, if not against Schwarz, then against Fai.

Then again, if he could bring Fai's twin under his will, couldn't he make Fai bring Schwarz back and give him a second chance at revenge? That would be ideal, but he'd settle for crushing Fai if that wasn't possible. Yuui seemed so soft and everything Fai wasn't.

Was Fai all that special for Kurogane to risk disinheritance? And if he was special, didn't it follow his twin had the same qualities? Ran found himself wanting to discover the qualities of the twin for himself. The swirl of thoughts were making him so incredibly dizzy. He leaned against a tree and fought to control his breathing. He rubbed the back of his neck that throbbed painfully. His mind screamed for satisfaction.

He straightened up and felt himself compelled to find Fai's twin and subdue him. He glanced around and decided to seek out that blind interloper; he wanted a new possession. That soft, little blond would be it. He stumbled into the main manner house and crept towards the guest rooms. He put his ear to each door, quietly listening, until his acute hearing picked up gentle breathing. He made sure he wasn't seen before opening the door.


***
Fei-Wang smirked at the enchanted mirror in front of him that showed the Fujimiya whelp hunched against a tree.

"He's trying to fight off your drug," Fei-Wang pointed out.

Dr. Kyle smirked and crossed his arms. "So? He won't be able to fight this drug off, because it plays to all the worst desires in a person's heart. Every dark desire he has that he would reasonably repress is now something he'll gladly entertain, no matter how despicable or repulsive. If it's something he'd want to do without social controls, it'll call him, harder and harder, until he gives in. It turns even the most moral people into criminals."

Xing said, "Secretly drugging Fujimiya during the last time we tried to assassinate Lord Takatori was a wise decision. It's only a matter of time before he gives in. And when he does, there will be war between Tsukiyono and Suwa."

"Plus, it'll eliminate the Fujimiya whelp from our ultimate goal," Fei-Wang said.


"Thank you for helping," Boris said to the one-eyed, Suwa retainer. The man handed him two bags.

"Those are the seeds and some of the fruit. It's a shame Celes doesn't have cherry trees. Will the healer of Celes know how to care for them?"

"Oh, he'll know how to make them grow when he gets his magic back."

"I hope he has much luck in his endeavor."

"Yuui won't need luck. He has his love of living things to make it happen," Boris said with a subtle smile, imaging the look on Yuui's face when he presented the gifts.

Besides his parents, he'd never given another person a gift. Ashura's accusation of him being notoriously stingy was absolutely true, but the idea of actually giving a gift to Yuui gave him happiness he hadn't felt in years. "Once again, thanks for making it happen."

"No problem. We all like Kurogane's mage and are glad to do anything that would bring his family some joy."

Rather than gripe about Fai, he decided to go back to Yuui. He wanted to see Yuui smile and cheer him up. He thanked Kentaro once again and headed back inside.


Yuui heard the door slide open, waking him from his drowse. He lifted his head and said, "That didn't take you long, Boris."

There was no response. He grew worried and then a little anxious when he heard soft footsteps approach him, rather than Boris' firm steps. He prodded his empathy open, since he'd been napping. He was shocked to feel absolute rage and lust mixed into a toxic, emotional poison.

There was a deep seated malice towards him; it threatened to overwhelm Yuui, it was so strong. This person wasn't Boris, even thought he did sense the same deep depression. These emotions had the feel of the other person he had sensed earlier when he was with Kurogane. He remembered Kurogane saying this was his cousin that hated Fai.

"Please, I mean you no harm," Yuui said, trying to get to his feet, but he was knocked back down onto the futon. He felt weight on his body and a hand in his hair.

"Don't scream or else," he felt the sharp tip of something pressed to his throat. "You'll do as I say, not like that vixen brother of yours. You understand?"

"Please let me go."

The pressure of the sharp tip got intense on his pulse point, but then was removed. Yuui bit back his whimper. His attacker then pressed his lips to where the weapon had been. His attacker groaned as he nipped and sucked at Yuui's throat. There was an unwelcome hand gripping his hip and forcing him to hold still.

"I'll have you under my will, if nothing else, to piss off that vixen brother of yours. You are different than him, aren't you? I hope you're pliant. Fai looks so pretty on the outside, but he's too rebellious. For your sake, I certainly hope you aren't rebellious," the man said, hot breath tickling Yuui's left ear.

Yuui struggled, getting panicked at being held down and by how the man's hands were starting to bruise his hips and move to more intimate areas. All of a sudden, something in Yuui burst forth, he didn't know where it came from, but he started fighting like a mindless wildcat. Scratching, kicking, hitting, anything he could manage. Even biting wasn't too lowly. All he knew was he must get away; that was the only thought as he franticly lashed out.

He finally got away and fumbled around into a corner. "Help! Fai! Boris!" He shouted as he hunkered down. He heard the man approaching again. He couldn't leave. He didn't know the room and how the furniture in it was set up.

"Call for them. It'll only be their doom. I'll make sure they don't survive. So scream for them, sweet, little vixen."

"Allow me to make peace between you and Fai. I know he can be very difficult for some people to understand," Yuui begged, hoping to reason with Kurogane's cousin, but those dark emotions were raging out of control.

"The only peace I'll have is by finally getting revenge for my parents. If your brother doesn't relent to my demands, then he'll pay by seeing you suffer."

He heard footsteps come towards him so he tried to scramble away, but the man grabbed him by the hair and slammed him to the ground. "Stop fighting me. Let me take you as my hostage!"

"No!" Yuui shouted, trying to lash out as much as he could. That's when one, well placed punch hit the left side of his jaw. It hurt so bad. He wasn't used to such treatment. Yuui felt his consciousness fade out.


Boris walked into the guest room. No Yuui, and the room was in shambles. He set down his gifts for Yuui and looked around the room. He quickly found what he was looking for, his magic staff. Boris wasn't one for panic, but it was a soldiers' habit to get armed in the face of the unknown. He hoped Yuui hadn't done something silly, like wander off. He marched out of the room and finally saw a woman that served Lady Suwa.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Yuui. Have you seen him?"

"No, sir."

"He's probably visiting King Ashura."

"No, sir. I just came from there. It was only Lady Suwa and the mage of Celes."

"Then where could he have gotten to?" he mused more to himself.

"Forgive my boldness, but Master Ran might know. Have you met him,yet?"

"Kurogane's cousin? That redhead with a nasty attitude? Yeah, watching him and Fai go at it was entertaining." Boris chuckled and leaned against his silver and amethyst staff. "I could watch them fight for hours, but I couldn't decided who to root for."

"He was just inquiring where all the mages were. Maybe he went to go offer the healer of Celes hospitality after the shameful way he's disrespected the mage of Celes last spring. It would be the honorable thing expected of him by our society."

Boris frowned and felt uneasy. "Yuui would never walk off with a stranger, nor be in a room alone with one if his brother or father were absent."

"Should I get the mage of Celes?"

"Nah, let him play with his puzzle. I'll find Yuui. So, if I were to find Kurogane's cousin, where would he be?"

"Try the stables, sir. He's know as a great horseman."

"Thanks so much," Boris said, before marching off towards the stables. He found a young boy polishing a saddle. "Hey there."

The boy sprang up and gave him a deep bow, which he wasn't used to. "Yes, sir. How may I help you."

"Just relax. I'm just looking for Yuui."

The stable hand had a confused expression and then said, "Oh, maybe that was what I saw."

"What?" Boris snapped.

"Well, please don't tell on me because it's dishonorable to snoop, but something didn't seem right." The boy looked embarrassed and distressed.

"Out with it!" Boris growled with narrowed, hazel eyes.

"I saw Master Ran ride off with the mage of Celes in his arms. The mage seemed unconscious."

"That wasn't Fai! Where the hell did he go!"

"So sorry." The boy fell to the ground in a deep bow, trembling horribly. "He went north. I assume towards Tsukiyono. I assumed the mage had agreed to go with him to help battle Fei-Wang, but I did think it was strange how he was so limp."

Boris wanted to chew out the idiot stable hand, but he had no time for it. "Get me a horse! Now!"

"Yes, sir!" the stable hand sprang into action instantly.

This was an unfamiliar land, and Ran was an unknown to Boris. "I'll be back. Get two horses ready."


"I don't understand what you mean?" Kurogane snapped at the reanimator. "My cousin wouldn't just ride off with Yuui. That's ridiculous!"

"Well he did. And I need your help to find him!" Boris said, gripping his staff and glaring. They were in Lord Suwa's sitting room with Kurogane's father.

The older ninja waved his hand in the air and said, "Don't dismiss him, Kurogane. I think Ran has had something wrong with him, lately. It'd be a good idea for you to keep an open mind and go look for Yuui. Fai would be in a dither if he knew. I'll cover here, but quickly find the healer and your cousin."

"You're right, Father, but I just can't imagine what got into Ran if he did such a thing."

"Well go find him and we'll see," Lord Suwa ordered. Kurogane rose, went and got Ginryuu, and escorted the reanimator to the stables.

"You're sure about this?" Kurogane asked.

"Positive. Fai is still here, right?"

"He's with his father, trying to get a grip on what happened between them. I guess it must have been Yuui that Ran went off with. There are no blonds in Nihongo, so he'd stand out."

They got to the stable and mounted horses. Kurogane asked, "You know how to ride?"

"I was on Valeria, where horses were the only way to get around. Let's go," Boris said, adjusting his staff so it was fastened on the saddle. "Where would he have taken Yuui?"

A thought hit Kurogane; it came to him where Ran would hide in Suwa. "There's a boathouse on a lake north of here. We used to fish and play there. It's very secluded and has all the amenities he'd need for a hideout. He couldn't take Yuui very far without a rest stop. That's the only one close enough for him to get to."

They took off in a fast gallop. Boris' stomach was now panicked, in spite of his soldier's training. Yuui meant too much to him, and he was starting to kick himself. Why did he leave Yuui alone for even a scant few minutes?


"What progress is there?" Fei-Wang asked, rejoining his two assistants at the enchanted mirror.

"Good. Fujimiya has claimed his prize and has him tucked away in a hideout," Xing reported.

Kyle's eyes gleamed. "It would seem he's succumbing to my drug. Normally, he'd never touch that boy. He's gone as far as running off with him. That must indicate strong passions towards who he kidnapped."

"Good. Xing, go fetch the healer of Celes from Fujimiya. We need to get the mage of Celes under control," Fei-Wang ordered. "I want his power under my control."

"But be careful! Fujimiya won't be stable. If he thinks he has a right to own that boy, he'll fight you to the bitter death," Kyle warned.

She said with blandness, "I'll keep that in mind." With that, a red orb of her magic enveloped her and she disappeared.


Ran laid Yuui down on the small futon in the corner of the fishing shack by the lake. He rested his body on top of Yuui's and enjoyed the fit and sensation. He nuzzled Yuui's chin and got more accesses to that tender throat. He inhaled Yuui's sent; he smelled cherries, blossoms and vanilla.

He bit lower, on Yuui's collar bone. Yuui moaned and the murmured the name "Boris" over and over.

Good, he was still out of it. He pressed a deep kiss on Yuui, enjoying the the taste of his tongue. At first, Yuui kissed him back with fervor, and Ran grew lustful. He started tugging at Yuui's clothing, but suddenly the blond froze as if a pail of ice water had hit him. He started fighting off Ran like a wildcat again.

"Let me go! Help! Fai! Fai! Boris!"

"There's no one around for miles," Ran said, finally, after restraining Yuui's hands that tried to claw Ran's eyes out. There was something strange about this little vixen. "You seem more aware of things than normal people. How is that possible? I thought you had no magic."

"It has nothing to do with magic. I feel what other people feel. I know your emotions." Yuui started shivering. He said in a very timid voice, "And they frighten me a great deal. Are these the things you feel towards Fai?"

"Yes, but he's Kurogane's, and my cousin would fight me to the death over Fai." Ran said, nuzzling Yuui's neck only to get a shudder from the blond. "I heard Fai had a twin and I had hopes that you didn't have all the things I despise in Fai. His looks, that's what I want. I'm so tired of not having what I want. "

Yuui tried to push against him, but Ran yanked off the sloppily tied obi and flung open the black yukata. Kurogane thought he was so clever dressing this twin in black, thinking everyone would respect that. His hatred and lust of Fai overruled that social convention. Yuui's body was so lanky, Ran could almost count every rib. There was a soft tummy he wanted to rub and felt compelled to explore.

Yuui pulled the yukata back in place and shook his head. "Not again. Not ever again!" he declared, but Ran had no idea what he was talking about. He didn't care. Whatever Yuui had done, experienced, thought, felt, and generally was, none of it matter to Ran. He wanted the twin to be his perfect doll.

"Yuui," Ran moaned and pressed his body closer. "I want you. Stop fighting me. I'll give you anything you want. All you need to do is ask."

Yuui's face became a blank mask. There was an eerie steel wall there, and Ran started wondering if he couldn't penetrate it. "I want nothing from you. Don't touch me."

Ran didn't really want to hurt the little blond under him. He wanted to ravish him, but now he insisted on sassing off like his twin. Suddenly, Yuui grew very still.

"There's someone else here," Yuui warned him. "The person is very greedy."

"No one is here." Ran then heard the door open and in stepped that witch, Xing Hou. Ran sprang up and glared at her. "What are you here for.?

"That," she said, pointing at Yuui.

"Over my dead body," Ran said.

To be continued.