A/N: I wasn't going to go this route at first (the deal Lord Suwa makes with Yuuko), but it just felt right and my hubby said it felt right for the story. I hope y'all continue to read- I won't short shrift what Fai goes through, but I won't go into great detail either. I did mention Yuuko in passing earlier, so I figure this isn't to out of bounds. Thank you once again for sticking with me. I just want a nice wrap up for everything.
Part Sixty-Seven:
"The Witch of the Far East is coming? Why?" Lord Suwa asked when the news came to his and Hitomi's breakfast table.
Kentaro shook his head. "It's unknown, my lord. She appeared at Shirosagi Castle, greeted Princess Tomoyo, and then said there was a wish she needed to grant in Suwa."
"She said Suwa? Really?" Lady Suwa asked, looking very concerned. "She extracts a price with every wish she grants."
"Yes, well, she and her apprentice will be here very soon," Kentaro said, looking just as troubled as Lady Suwa.
The steward left, and she turned to Lord Suwa. "What do you think she wants? Do any of our people lack for anything that they'd endure a loss to gain? For her to show up here is a great honor and a great curse."
He was silent, thinking of his meeting with the lords. Surely his stray thoughts hadn't caught the attention of the Witch of the Far East. At least, he hoped it wasn't his desires that summoned her and her talk of Hitsuzen and her brooding, moody apprentice.
After he and Lady Suwa were finished with tea and breakfast, Kentaro appeared in the room, looking ashen. "Sir, the Witch of the Far East is in the courtyard and request to talk with you."
"Hondo! Is it you she came to see?" Hitomi looked at her husband with wide, frightened eyes.
At first, he was going to lie, but he was honest. "Yes, I believe so. I had a stray though related to Kurogane and Fai's relationship. I have a feeling she's coming to see me to make a bargain."
"What would you wish for, my noble husband?"
"I don't exactly know, yet, but I'll greet the Witch of the Far East and see what she has to say. I don't have to take the deal she has to offer, but I want to hear her out," Lord Suwa said. He had only the vaguest idea of what he desired, but he had to solidify his thoughts and see if it was possible.
She stood out in the courtyard. Her black dress had white trim and was very formal. Her expression was very grave and serious. Her apprentice stood behind her wearing a scowl. His mismatched eyes, one blue, one brown, appeared hostile. He fidgeted and tugged at his robes, black and white similar to hers, only with a little, yellow trim.
"You have a wish, Lord Suwa. It was powerful enough to catch my attention and bring me across dimensions to grant it," the Witch of the Far East said.
"Yes. If I were to wish for anything it would be that my son would have a natural child. One he sired. Is it possible? Can you make it happen? I know you foresee everything before you approach a person. You probably know why that's not possible."
"He's in love with another male. A mage from the realm of Celes. He won't be unfaithful to that love," the Witch of the Far East confirmed.d
"Yes, he won't even sleep with a woman one time to make a child. I'm worried for him and his hold on Suwa if he doesn't produce a blood heir. I wish... I don't know what I wish..." Lord Suwa said, shaking his head and feeling a little scared at uttering what was on the tip of his tongue. It was a dreadful, twisted wish.
"If you don't tell me your wish, I can't grant it. No matter how strange it seems or impossible, say it."
Lord Suwa let the tension in his chest go and almost shouted out, "I want Fai to bear Kurogane a child!"
"There is a way that can be done, but the price is steep. Fai rescued your sight. That would be part of the price, since he'll be the one to suffer during this. For nine months Fai will be critically ill. He'll be in utter agony, but he can deliver Kurogane's blood children in a different world then this one. It will be a place where technology can make such things possible, albeit, not perfect. It'll still be very dangerous to Fai."
"Would it kill Fai or..."
"No, he could survive carrying the children if that's your concern."
"I'd rather be without grandchildren than Kurogane be without Fai," Lord Suwa affirmed without a doubt. Then a small shock ran through him. "Children? More than one?"
"Yes, Fai is a twin and it runs through his family. He'd bear twins, males. But no others. This would be one time deal. They will not be allowed to adopt afterwards as part of the deal."
"And he'd live to love Kurogane?"
"If you just sacrifice your eyesight, your grandchildren would be born and Fai's life would be lost. This is a very huge wish. Wishing life is as grand as wishing death. It requires a large payment if you want Fai to live as well."
"So what else would you require?"
"Your son and his chosen will not live in peace. They'll have to fight every day of their lives to maintain their claim on Suwa after your death. Their life with their children will be happy, but there will be a great amount of stress as others move in to take over Suwa.
"People will claim that Fai created the children out of evil magic, and Kurogane will have to fight against this rumor. But eventually, the twins will being peace to Suwa and solidify your family's rule and carry on your family's blood lineage. This is all along with incorporating Celian magic into your line, which isn't a bad deal," she said with a sly gaze.
"So, I lose my eyesight, Kurogane has a lot of trouble with the province lords for the rest of his life, Fai goes through some pain bearing the children, but we get blood grandchildren?"
"That's the deal," the Witch of the Far East said. Her apprentice huffed and shook his head, mumbling about how greedy she was.
"May I talk to my son and Fai since it will effect them?"
"Yes, but you have only one month to make the deal." She handed him a cherry tree twig. "Break this in two if you choose to make the deal."
There was a magic circle that appeared under her feet. It engulfed her and her apprentice, leaving him alone with the twig. He wondered what Kurogane and Fai would say when he explained it to them. He then thought over the deal.
He'd be blind for the rest of his life. Was it worth it for grandchildren? He looked down at the branch and smiled. Without a doubt or hesitation, he'd lose his eyesight for grandchildren.
"Thank you for coming home with me, Kurgsy," Fai cooed, running his fingers through Kurogane's spiky, dark hair. Kurogane seemed as if he were brooding, and Fai didn't like that. After thanking him, Kurogane just gave him a lethal glare rather than give him a 'you're welcome.' They had just finished a large, elaborate, dinner celebration where several nobles and friends of King Ashura and the twins were in attendance.
Yes, Zellen and his wife, Drysi, had been there; so Kurogane finally got to meet Fai's pranking arch nemesis. Zellen called a truce, but Fai soon violated it by spiking his wine with a mouth dying agent. Zellen, though, came prepared. Fai's hair ended up a light shade of blue by the end of the night. It had now worn off and was back to gold, but it did have several party goers chuckling at Fai's expense.
King Ashura had provided Kurogane a guest room, since Yuui was sleeping in the twins' shared room. Fai was "tucking him in." It was more like shameless flirting. Kurogane sat on the edge of the bed with crossed arms and a scowl. Fai straddled his lap and started nibbling his neck.
"Off me, mage! I'm tired," Kurogane snapped. Fai flinched back, wondering what he'd done to anger his lover. Before the dinner party, Kurogane had been fine. He slid off Kurogane and sat beside him.
"What's the matter, Kuro-gee? You're so testy. Didn't you have a good time at my homecoming party?"
"Hn..."
"Aww... but the pirozhki and blins were cooked perfectly. How I've missed them! And the horseradish vodka was so delicious. And to top it off, Ashura had them make my favorite dessert! Ptichie moloko! Wasn't it heaven? But then again, you probably found it too sweet. Hun? Why the deeper frown, Kuro-wan? You look like I just told you some very bad news."
"Hn..."
"Didn't you even like the music? I missed it, too. And the dancing? Was it me dancing with girls that upset you? I even got Yuui to dance some, and that's rare."
"Tsk!"
"Didn't you like all our friends and wasn't everyone nice to you?" Fai then put on a large smile. "I had such a good time catching up with everyone. Oh, all the delicious gossip!" Fai sighed. "It seems like there is no such thing as gossip in Nihongo."
"Gossip isn't a virtuous thing!" Kurogane bellowed. "And you act like you've been deprived of food over the last year! You've been well provided for in Nihongo!"
"Well, sugar is hard to come by in Nihongo, and you don't have vodka," Fai said, working up a fake pout in hopes of getting Kurogane to soften up. But Kurogane certainly wasn't like King Ashura.
"Knock it off! I'm tired, mage, and you're annoying me!" Kurogane snapped.
Fai knocked off his teasing and gave Kurogane a concerned expression. "I'm sorry for whatever I did to offend you. I'll leave you alone and see you next week."
Before Kurogane could say anything, Fai fled from the guest room and ran to the one room he had always found comfort in.
"Fai!" Yuui said, swirling from the edge of his bed. His twin cocked his head and said, "You're so upset. What's wrong?"
Fai knew better than to lie to Yuui, so he said, "He's mad at me for some reason he wouldn't tell me."
Yuui frowned. "...then here...?"
"...if don't mind..."
Yuui looked annoyed, but Fai knew it was directed at Kurogane. "... 'course not..."
Fai slid into his bed and pushed his head under his pillows. He felt Yuui climb in beside him. Yuui patted Fai's back. He whispered, "I'm sure, whatever it is, you'll work it out with him."
"He always talks to me and is very straightforward. I don't know what's made him so tight lipped and testy," Fai said, peering at Yuui from under his pillow.
Yuui gave him a comforting smile. "Let's get some rest. By the time we'll be unlocked from the towers, I'm sure he'll be ready to talk to you."
King Ashura ran into Kurogane stalking the hallways in a huff the following morning after the homecoming party. The king waved at Kurogane and gave him a bright smile. "Good morning. Ready for some breakfast?"
"Ice King, I'm looking for your oldest son."
"I'm sorry, but he's already locked away in the west tower for his testing, Yuui is in the east. They're not permitted any visitors during testing. Did Fai not bid you goodbye and explain he couldn't see you once testing started?"
"He didn't see me this morning," Kurogane said. Ashura couldn't miss Kurogane's voice drenched in annoyance.
"Did you two have a quarrel?" Ashura asked, getting concerned. "It would explain Fai's fussiness this morning."
"No, not exactly," Kurogane admitted.
"Well, I was going to take you skiing in the south, where it's a little warmer and safer at this time of year. Fai told me you don't have anything like it in Nihongo. We'll have some breakfast first, just the two of us, and talk about this 'not exactly' quarrel," Ashura said, giving Kurogane an inviting smile. The ninja nodded with a clenched jaw, but still appeared as if he were brooding.
Ashura got his magic staff, left general orders with some retainers, and then transported himself and Kurogane to a ski resort at a mountain town named Izobily. Kurogane seemed taken aback at the sight of people slide down the mountain snow on pieces of wood attached to their feet.
"People do that deliberately?" Kurogane asked incredulously.
"Yes. It's great fun. Fai really enjoys it; he's quite a good skier," Ashura said. Those crimson eyes of Kurogane's narrowed in seeming aggravation. Ashura lead him into the ski lodge. After much fawning over Ashura by other patrons and the owners, they were taken to a private dining room overlooking the slopes. They were served hot kasha.
Kurogane scowled at the kasha. Ashura watched as Kurogane struggled to push the sour cream to one side and eat just the hot mash part. He also hadn't missed the ninja's discomfort when the people were curious at his unusual appearance in Celes. His skin was darker compared to the typical Celian, and he had red eyes, which were not seen in this realm. To top it off, he was a very tall, well-built man, so he drew attention naturally.
King Ashura introduced his curious subjects to Kurogane as 'Duke Fai's significant other.' The ninja's jaw tightened when he was congratulated on his fine pick of a mate and given a warm welcome. Ashura knew Kurogane was probably not used to having such casual and approving attitudes towards his relationship with Fai. Still, Ashura didn't expect the sour, grim expression on the ninja.
"Is the kasha not to your liking?" Ashura asked.
"No, it's fine. Thank you very much for this fine meal, I'm grateful to have it," Kurogane said in rote.
"You said that last night and when we had meals in Nihongo. Is it a tradition?" Ashura asked.
"Yes. One Fai adopted pretty early."
"Good. I'm pleased to hear he has manners." Ashura watched the brooding ninja, but he was remaining tight lipped. "How has he fit into your culture? Smoothly, I hope."
"It's been touchy at times."
"I take it, you mean things aren't going as you wished?" Ashura prodded.
Kurogane's shoulders tensed up. "My father is going to meet with the other province lords while I'm here and going to explain my intentions towards Fai. It could go very badly. I'm worried about how they'll take it."
"I see. Your society isn't very accepting of what you and Fai have?"
"Not like here. Those people didn't even bat an eye when you introduced me as Fai's mate."
"No, I've know about my sons for a very long time. I knew there was a fifty-fifty chance they would pick male lovers over females, so it doesn't come as a surprise to me. It's rare on Celes, but not a totally frowned on arrangement here. Of course, Fai picking a serious relationship at his age still isn't what I'd like. I'm still adjusting to how much Fai's grown up in the year he's been away."
"Celes is so different from Nihongo. Last night it struck me how different," Kurogane admitted.
"Does something bother you about that? I do worry about Fai blending into a radically different culture, since he marches to the beat of his own drum. A rather bad trait for a combat mage, as Captain Demetri used to point out to me time-and-time again. How has Fai been received in Nihongo, anyway?"
"Most of the time he amuses people, and people give him respect because of my family. However, there are those like my cousin. Plenty of people are willing to give him grief because of my relationship with him, or if it ever became common knowledge that he has a tattoo... it'll spell real trouble."
"Your father has one."
"Yes, but others will challenge Fai, since he won't be considered a seasoned warrior. So, no, Fai won't blend in at all times, but I'll always make sure Suwa will be a safe harbor for him."
"I trust you and your parents. I also know Fai has the ability to defend himself. I'm sure he'll continue to get stronger. Our type of magic gets stronger with use. In time, he'll be extremely powerful. He's already more powerful than any mage on Celes."
"I know that."
"But it's not really Fai blending into your culture that's bothering you. You wouldn't have invited him to live with you in the first place if that was a legitimate worry. What's your real concern, Kurogane?" Ashura said.
"You're as astute as my parents. Yes, there was something last night," Kurogane admitted, casting a dour look out the window at the snowy, dawn landscape. "Fai was really happy at the party. He was enjoying all the things he didn't have on Nihongo, things that are not in our realm. The food, music, all of his friends, and yes, his family. He does enjoy the things in Nihongo, but after watching him last night, there is a part of me that worries about five years down the road. Will he grow homesick, or worse? Will he start resenting me for taking him away from his home?"
"Fai can be fickle when it comes to his taste in food, clothing, music, and art, but never with people. When he gives his affection, he gives it without reservation and in a steadfast manner. If he chooses to stay with you, he will not cast you aside over trivial things."
"Leaving his whole culture behind is not trivial."
"No, it's not trivial, but I can tell he thought about it a great deal. He wouldn't have considered leaving Yuui's side without a great deal of agonizing over the situation. He wants to adopt Nihongo as his home; he won't waver from that."
Kurogane's tanned face took on a pink hue. "I hurt him once. I accused him of not caring about Nihongo and her people. It wounded his heart a great deal. I saw that he'd grown attached to Nihongo, but I'm afraid, eventually, he'll start missing Celes. Last night, he just seemed like he was..." Kurogane frowned and looked at Ashura once again, "...like he was at home."
"Kurogane, you and your parents have made a new home for him, one I feel comfortable leaving him in. You must understand, though, this is where he was raised. He's, of course, going to have fond thoughts about the people and things of Celes. I worked as hard as I could to make his life here a very good one. Now it's time for you to make a very good life for him in Nihongo."
"I've never maintained to him it was going to be easy. I won't lie, we'll probably face a lot of hostility."
"Nothing good is ever easy to obtain. Listen, do you love my son?"
"Yes, with everything I have," Kurogane answered without hesitation.
"Then don't doubt your ability at making him happy. A home is more than food, music, and other trappings. It's where you feel love and warmth. You understand?"
"Yeah. I guess I feel I'm asking him to give up everything he's known to be in a relationship with me, and I guess I felt guilty when I saw how much he was enjoying the people and things of Celes last night."
"I'd be surprised and worried if you weren't. You should admit that to Fai. It'll cause a strain on your relationship if you don't. Besides," Ashura said before finishing off his strong, black tea, "you're giving up much to be with my son, aren't you?"
Kurogane was gravely silent for several long minutes. "Yes. There are things I'm giving up. A lot of people won't respect me just for this relationship, rather than consider my accomplishments as a man. There are those that will make trouble for Suwa since we can't have a child together, and I'll have to fight hard to maintain my right to inherit from my parents.
"Also, it is a deep disrespect to my ancestors to take Fai as my mate and not sire a natural child, which is a very serious violation of our religion. It's something I'll have to struggle with. It does affect my parents, as well, and we're taught obedience to parents come first. My relationship with my parents has been altered, not all for the bad. So, yes, I am giving up some things for Fai."
"After that list, it seems Fai gets off light," Ashura said, with a warm smile, not one of those scary, fake things he was sure Kurogane had learned to spot and dread by now. "Listen, things are how they are. Don't second guess yourself or my son. He'll be homesick from time-to-time, because this is where he has some fond memories. Don't feel guilty if he does get wistful and misses Celes. Just hold him tightly and remind him how much you love him."
Kurogane, to Ashura's mind, looked as close to choked up as this tough-as-nails, macho warrior could get. So Ashura said, "I'll let you know something. I gave up my dream-seer ability for the twins. I split it between them. They'll be able to share each other's dreams, so he and Yuui won't be parted. Fai will still have the single, most important thing in Celes with him: his twin."
Kurogane looked stunned and then the tension melted off Kurogane's shoulders and face. He let out a deep sigh. "That one thing takes the biggest burden of all off me. I can't thank you enough for that peace of mind."
"Well now. You have a whole week with me. Why don't you experience some Celian culture and impress Fai when he's unlocked from the tower?"
Kurogane gave a lopsided smile. "Sure, why not? So this skiing? It's an amusement?"
"And very vital. We have a thing called avalanches here. This is a way to get out on top of the avalanches so you can rescue people."
"Avalanches? We have one or two up in the northern, mountain province during the spring. No one lives in those places though."
"Here, they've been known to wipe out entire villages. It's not avoidable in Celes."
"That sounds horrible."
"Magic now protects most villages and townships. Still, they're serious business. So!" He said, giving a bright smile to Kurogane. "I'll show you how skiing is done in the amusement sense, if you're game."
"Sure. I don't back down from challenges."
"Good, because I know Fai will certainly be a challenge," Ashura said, leading Kurogane from the private dinning room.
"One I'm glad to take up," Kurogane replied.
To be continued.
