And here it is at last! The beginning of the first installment in my series I name Silver Linings and furthermore my first multichaptered fic I post to date. Am I nervous? Just a little bit ^^'

Now that summertime visitations has quieted down I can finally start editing and posting my chapters in earnest. All the chapters for this story where all written whenever I could find the time in the summer and as it stands it is pretty much finished. Hence I aim to update on the regular, preferably weekly.

This piece was inspired in part by Reverie written by AuroraRayne on AO3 and hence I deemed it fit to use the inspire by feature. AuroraRayne's writing still is a big inspiration to me among others, not to mention FFXIV itself, it akin to a home to me, so credit where credit is due 3

This story is told in a mostly episodic nature but some chapters runs into each other. It also isn't a full canon rewrite of the Crystal Tower raid story but rather the moments in between focusing on my WoL and G'raha's developing bond.

I hope you enjoy the beginning of this passion project of mine. I have much more in store for the future. Also let me know if I missed anything. I have looked over it and edited it twice so should have gotten everything, but one can never be too certain.

As always this story is posted on AO3 under the same name

The sun's rays has never been this exquisite.

Or at least that's how it feels to Y'sato in this very moment. He's currently sitting cross legged on the sandy ground facing the sun with his eyes closed, head tilted back slightly, his tail tapping the sands in a slow steady rhythm behind him, contented. Its light is a tinted rosy hue behind closed eyelids, but he relishes the warmth of its radiant rays on his skin, as his namesake implies.

Because after all as a Seeker any other notion would be absurd to him. He is born under and blessed with Her radiance after all, his tan skin and golden hair bespeaking of his birthplace. The arid lands of Thanalan.

His surroundings are equally as peaceful. The sound of gentle steady lapping waves hitting the shore at his feet, the distant chirping of birds, the faint hum of aether surging through the aether rich crystals dotting the landscape clear in his ears. He can almost feel the ambient energies surge through him from where he sits. A gentle breeze tousles the golden strands on his head, it carrying the crisp scent of the lake, as refreshing as it is soothing.

"A lovely day to be outdoors is it not?"

A blond ear swivels slightly in the direction of the speaker sitting to his right, but he doesn't open his eyes.

"That's why I asked you to join me. Better than sitting cooped up any longer in our tent with your nose in books."

He hears a soft chuckle. "Forgive me. I have a tendency to get overly engrossed in my books, but this thesis I was reading about the Sycrus Tower and how it absorbs the very aether of the sun itself is so fascinating. Even more so since I now can behold and discover its untold mysteries for myself."

Y'sato hums in response. Trust the young scholar to get lost in his books, but it comes with the profession he well knows. After all his friend is an Archon and a Student both, his striking rolanberry tattoos inked into the sides of his neck as well as the arcane eye inked into his left shoulder proof of his achievements and affiliation.

Achievements Y'sato knows he will never personally pursue.

Yet the marks from those achievements means a lot to him Y'sato has already come to understand after their time together, him wearing them proudly on display much like Y'sato does with his own tribal tattoos adorning his face. White in colour, an abstract simplified flower on the bridge of his nose and two streaks, one on each side of his face running through his jawbone up from his neck. They are proof he came of age in his tribe, testament to him having learned everything needed to survive in the desert, ever held in Azeyma's loving embrace.

Still he is proud for his friend's sake, to attain something like that few can write home about, and at such a young age. What prestige. Not that Y'sato is one to boast. As it stands G'raha is two years his senior, and in his twenty four summers of life he has already attained more than Y'sato could even hope for in is twenty two.

Yet in the end it doesn't matter. Prestige and achievements aside they have both become fast friends. In this moment sitting by the lake they are equal.

He hears his friend shift beside him slightly and he doesn't need to open his eyes to understand his companion is looking in the Tower's direction, but he opens them anyway, and true enough he is. There is a far seeing look in mismatched eyes, one of them a deep teal, the other hidden slightly beneath his bangs a vibrant, unearthly red, almost aglow in the sunlight. The Allagan eye. A striking feature of his Y'sato knows his friend was bullied for back in his tribe, but he doesn't look at him any less for it. He never could. After all he knows the pain too well, he himself a target during his childhood back in his tribe being bullied for a trait he had no control over or even asked for. Subtly he runs his tongue over one of the sharp tips of his fangs at the memory.

One of the most defining traits of a Keeper, and forever a testament he is no true Seeker. He took mostly after the sun true, his bright green eyes reflecting that fact, sunlit pupils thin slits as they regard G'raha. At first glance everyone thinks him a Seeker thanks to his eyes, and tan skin but it doesn't change the fact he is mixed, a fact that is made apparent whenever he smiles showing his teeth.

He can see them even now, his bullies, their jeering faces, the sneers and laughs at his expense, of having rocks tossed his way. Some of them hit home, having him run crying for his mother on more than one occasion with a bloody forehead. Not to mention the bruises and scrapes on his knees from scraping himself up when he desperately scrambled to get away.

No one did anything to help him or his mother, not even their Nhun...

Forever the outcast, forever the mongrel...

All born from the cardinal sin of his mother making out with a nomadic Keeper one faithful night. Y'sato...he wasn't meant to be born. Only his mother accepted him, loved him...

For years he toiled to be accepted in his tribe, to be seen, hoping the tattoos would help put him in a better light, but fate had other plans.

And now...he can never return.

His gaze falls into his lap, his tail long having stopped its contented tapping, instead assuming a swishing, almost agitated motion. This is why smiles don't come to him easily, why he shut his heart off to the outside world a long time ago, but around G'raha it is different. Around him he can truly be himself. He doesn't view him as any less regarding the circumstances of his birth. Neither does he look upon him solely as some fabled hero skilled with arms to toss at problems as they arise. Of anyone Y'sato has ever met G'raha truly understands, understands how it feels to be unwanted, to be shunned just from being born with traits deemed undesirable.

Around G'raha his heart once more has sparked to life. Once more it dares to let someone in. Once more he feels alive. Loved.

For the first time since he became an adventurer, the Warrior of Light, the Champion of Erozea, someone genuinely cares for him, cares for the man beneath the title.

For the first time he is seen...

"Y'sato? Is everything alright?"

Blond ears shoot up as he startles, first now realising he's been staring into his lap with his tail swishing all agitated for the last couple of minutes. He blinks, rising his gaze to meet G'raha's eyes with a sheepish smile.

"Yes, sorry. I was lost in thought."

"I could tell, and from the intensity in your eyes to judge none of them seemed particularly joyful."

Y'sato tries not to sigh, but it escapes him nevertheless, his chest heaving from the motion as he looks to the lake before them. "Is nothing I haven't told you before. Of the bullying I endured back in my tribe. Of how the Nhun did nothing...You know the tale."

Now G'raha's gaze falls to his lap. One of his legs is propped up, forearm resting on his knee. "I well know, my friend." There is a thoughtful flicker in his eyes, something carrying a deep understanding as his tail flicks once, twice. He looks back up at him, a look of determination glinting in mismatched depths, one Y'sato catches as he meets his gaze.

"If there is aught I can do to help shoulder your burden, let me. You do not need to suffer such thoughts alone. "

The words should come as no surprise to him at this point, but they do. No one for so long has asked him if he needs help carrying his burdens. Being a survivalist he has become so used in shouldering everything on his own, be it fighting primals or the Empire. He has become so good at bottling things up, to offer polite smiles and nods with nary a complaint he has forgotten how it feels to be truly listened to.

And here G'raha sits all attentive, ears perked and looking at him so intently. In this moment he has his undivided attention. Its-

Y'sato looks away. This genuine care for him as a person. He is still not used to it.

"You simply being here for me. To see me for who I am, is enough." He says after a long moment, his eyes back on the lake, looking to the waves lapping lazily at the smooth pebbles at the shore. He considers their gentle rise and fall for a moment, the suns rays catching in his silvery earnings as he at last turns to face G'raha, a warm smile broadening his features. One that meets his eyes.

"Thank you for being here at my side G'raha. You are a true friend."

Russet ears twitches, and Y'sato doesn't miss the tell tale red shade spreading across G'raha's cheeks. The flustered scholar averts his gaze for a moment, a coy smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

"It warms my heart that you think of me so, but truly I do not deserve such praise. I who are permitted to do naught but follow in your wake..."

Y'sato shoots him a look of sympathy. He after all knows how badly his friend wanted to accompany him through the Labyrinth all those weeks prior, and in a couple days they will finally enter the Sycrus Tower itself.

A thought strikes him.

"Perhaps Rammboes can be persuaded to have you join me this time. If not know I can be quite persuasive. Especially when I brandishes my daggers just so and shoots them one of the steely looks of mine. It never fails I tell you." He unsheathes one of his blades from its sheath at his hip for emphasis, twirling it masterfully in his hand before tossing it up into the air. Its keen edge glints in the sunlight before he just as skillfully catches it by its hilt. His daggers are of true far eastern make, gifted to him alongside his armor from his mentor Oboro himself. Lightweight and sleek they are primed to slip twix a man's ribs and the gaps of any armor like nothing.

Still brandishing it he turns to G'raha, his eyes hardening as he holds his blade up horizontally, lengthwise in front of his face. The bright green of his gaze shines with such steel, unyielding. He smirks, as to lay bare his bluff. Yet he catches it, the unnerved look crossing G'raha's eyes as his ears draws back slightly.

Y'sato's expression immediately softens, not wanting to frighten his friend unduly.

"Y'sato. that won't be necessary. I appreciate your sentiment, but I don't want you to frighten my mentor half to death." G'raha is quick to recover all things considered, having faced such steel. His ears perk back up as he smiles nervously. "Besides Rammboes only means well. Is after all not ordinary foes you fight. My bow. With my current skill level I can only offer so much. Besides my duty is to observe. Nothing more..."

G'raha tries to keep his spirits high, but Y'sato sees it, in the way his proud ears droops slightly, how he fidgets a bit with the fur lining of his warwolf boots with his hand not resting on his knee as he looks down at it, pouting. He lowers his dagger, slides it back into its sheath.

His tail whaps at G'raha's back as a light reprimand. "Don't say such things about yourself. I have seen you with the bow. You are a remarkable marksman. I can only dream of reaching such mastery." He doesn't hold back with his glowing praise, cause he knows it to be true. He is no stranger to the bow, thanks to his tribal background, but he is no archer, his skills only sufficient enough to earn him a meal or two once in a while when using it for hunting.

Again he sees a blush stain G'raha's cheeks, but he is quick in trying to brush it away, a wry smirk teasing in the corner of his mouth. "And you are a man of questionable discernment, but I appreciate the sentiment all the same. It makes me...glad to hear such words coming from someone with such renowned battle prowess."

Y'sato feels his eyes on him again. He holds his gaze, and in them he sees relief. Such relief, and untold gratitude.

"Truly, my friend. I can see why your enemies fear you. Such steel...I am glad I am not amongst their number."

"Sorry if I frightened you."

"Tis all right. I know you. It was all done in jest."

Y'sato still glimpses traces of it in his countenance, how unnerved the sight of him shooting him such a look made G'raha feel, but it does nothing to dampen the playful smile spreading across his lips in its place as he pushes himself to his feet.

"I presume you will not object going for a swim? Before you ask I come duly prepared." With a grin he starts to undress. The sharlayan goggles Y'sato always finds so impractical looking glints in the sunlight as G'raha tugs off his heavy looking warwolf gauntlets. His boots soon joins them alongside said goggles and his gorget, already making quite the pile. His metallic red vest joins it next, leaving his chest bare. Y'sato just quirks a brow at him. He has seen him in a state of undress before. After all they have shared a tent for about a moon and a half, and still it comes as a surprise to him. How comfortable he is around him already.

A feeling that is mutual.

Y'sato doesn't waste a breath. In a fluid motion he too has pushed himself to his feet, and is already in the progress of tugging off the greaves of his armor. This is not the first time he has gone for a swim in the lake, but it is the first time in a while they will go for a swim together. The thought already fills him with joy, his tail swishing.

He wrangles himself out of his armor just in time to see G'raha regard him with a cheeky smile, dressed in nothing but black sleek looking swim trunks. The elastic thin material hugs the subtle curve of his backside just enough to still be considered slightly modest, yet it doesn't leave much to the imagination. Y'sato is quick to avert his eyes, diverting all of his attention into pulling off his boots. Still this sensation. This fluttery warm feeling erupting in his chest, this tingling in his skin. These feelings are yet foreign to him, but not...unwelcome.

How strange...I've never felt this way for someone before...

The words escape him before he can stop them."That looks good on you."

He looks at him just in time to see his cheeky smile morph into a coy one. "Thank you. I bought it recently at Rowena's."

Y'sato resists the urge to scoff upon hearing her name. "Trust Rowena to have something like that in her stock. If only she wasn't so stingy when it comes to Allagan tomestones."

"Well, as an expert in that field and as a historian of everything Allagan I will tell you they much valued and a coveted resource. Anything you can find of such ancient nature and still in a working condition is by its own merit well, priceless."

"Yes I know. I just wish she was less stingy about it. They are not exactly easy to obtain." Y'sato says nonchalantly as he tugs off his pants. His cotton small clothes will have to do, not finding himself as prepared for a swim like G'raha. Free of his armor he turns to him, smile on his face. "You ready?"

A smile G'raha returns in kind. "After you, my friend."

Blond ears wiggle joyfully, his tail following suit, swishing. He makes to move out towards the lake to dip his toes in to feel the temperature, but it is all a ploy. He has something different in mind.

"I feel more daring today. How about we jump from that rocky outcrop?" Y'sato points towards the nearby rocky outcrop in question, one that is partly crystallized, and no more than about five meters tall give or take. G'raha hums in agreement. Not laying bare his intentions Y'sato just smiles and takes the lead.

Smooth rock and crystal alike is warm under his bare feet, heated up by the sun. To climb up the rocky surface is easy for someone of his lithe physique, his tail swaying and shooting out to help with his balance. G'raha is quick to follow suit, facing no difficulties. Still Y'sato offers him a helping hand once he reaches the top, one his friend gratefully accepts.

For a moment they both pause to catch their breath. The lake looks even more stunning from up here, the ever shifting surface glimmering in the sun. He looks to G'raha, not failing to notice the slight anxious twitch of his tail as he looks down into the dark watery depths waiting for them bellow.

"Nervous?"

G'raha's eyes shoots up to look at him, his tail doing another swish as he musters his bravado. "Tis nothing I cannot handle I assure you. I but need a moment."

"Take your time." Y'sato smiles encouragingly at him. This height is nothing for someone who has stood toe to toe battling Primals the like of Ifrit, Titan and Garuda and lived to tell the tale. Hells even the Ultima Weapon tested the very limits of his courage. As for swimming he grew adept at it thanks to Western Thanalan's close proximity to the sea. He still treasures his memories of days spent diving at the shore looking for sea shells and crabs, and he wonders what secrets this lake holds right bellow the surface. His tail twitches with eagerness, anticipation glinting in sunlit eyes. Ever has he hungered for adventure, possessing a wanderlust he never could bring himself to quench and that undying thirst isn't ending anytime soon.

And now he has someone to share them with.

He looks to G'raha with a cheeky, knowing smile. From the peaceful set of G'raha's tail and ears to judge he has dropped his guard, his gaze once more focused on the distant Crystal Tower. Y'sato smirks, devious, unseen as he faces away from his friend. This is the moment he has been waiting for. Time to strike.

He doesn't hesitate. Warm stone and crystal is solid beneath the soles of his bare feet as he rushes at G'raha in a dead sprint. Distracted as his friend are he doesn't realise he is upon him until Y'sato is already scooping him up in his arms, hooking an arm beneath his knees before G'raha can let out more than a startled yelp. It borders on a shout, his arms scrambling to grasp him around his neck in a frenzied panic. He can feel his tail lash at his leg.

"Y'sato! What are you-"

"Trust me." He says no more as he bolts towards the edge carrying him. With a final push he leaps into the air. The rush of it past his ears, in his hair, the thrill. Its exhilarating. He's aware of G'raha clinging to him like there is no tomorrow, the shocked intake of air he takes.

And they both plunge into the depths in a rush of bubbles.

The water is much colder than he first thought, having him involuntarily shudder. Disorientated he almost breathes some in as he instinctively shoots to the surface, but he got the presence of mind to make sure G'raha is quick to follow.

Y'sato can't help but burst into laughter when G'raha immediately shortly after him shoots back up from the water. His tail is curled close, ears drawn back. His wet hair is a deeper shade of red, hair slicked back between his ears. The look on his face is what gets Y'sato the most though, all wide eyed, aghast, mouth working, scrambling for words.

His friend, he truly got him now.

"What was that for?" G'raha says when he finally manages to find his voice, and the way his ears are still drawn back and the way his tail sways in the water behind him all restless has Y'sato immediately sobering up.

"You suggested to go swimming so I thought I could give us a crash course by jumping together. The faster we would adjust to the temperature, the faster we can swim, and you was so cheeky about it so I thought-" The way his friend says nothing, his eyes searching his has him pause, fearing he might have misread the situation. His tail flicks bellow the water's surface, unsure. "Am I wrong?"

A russet ear twitches. G'raha still says nothing, and Y'sato feels guilt start to bubble up in his chest. He didn't want to make his friend feel uncomfortable, and this is the first time he's been bold enough to lift him up to carry him like that. He averts his gaze, unable to look his friend in the eye.

What if he overstepped his bounds? Crossed a line that should not be crossed? He haven't known him for that long, but he is so excited to finally have someone he considers a close friend and-

Cold, refreshing water hits him square in the face. He yelps, startled, ears shooting up as he scrambles to get a hold of himself. This time it is G'raha's turn to laugh.

Blinking water out of his eyes Y'sato looks up at the hearty, unchecked sound, and he sees them, mismatched eyes sparkling with such mirth. The cheekiness is back on G'raha's face as he splashes more water in his direction which Y'sato tries to dodge, but fails.

"Now we are even." He announces proudly with a chuckle, and from it alone Y'sato can tell everything is forgiven.

"But I am curious. Can you keep up?" There is a mischievous glint in his eye as he grins. A russet tail sways beneath the surface once before he dives into the water, swimming further and further away from shore.

Not one to back down from a challenge Y'sato promptly follows. He watches his friend, how he swims out further and further. He might have a good head start, but Y'sato is not too shabby a swimmer. In fact he is steadily gaining on him. He is about to call out when G'raha cuts down into the depths. Taking a deep breath Y'sato follows, not ready to toss in the towel just yet.

It is easy to open his eyes beneath the surface, not that there is much to see. The lake is dark, only lit up by sparse blue luminescent crystals akin to the rest dotting the landscape above, but they do little to light up the murk. It is unnerving in its eerily haunting splendour. How its darkness seems primed to swallow up all light the deeper the lakebed goes. Y'sato isn't one to think himself afraid of the dark, but this unsettles even him.

He scans his immediate surroundings for G'raha, but he is nowhere to be seen. Trying not to have his budding fear flood his senses he looks up towards the surface thinking he might have resurfaced, and yet he sees nothing. No russet tail or pale legs wading in the water. He turns around, looking into the murk in all directions, but still nothing. This doesn't bode well, and his lungs, they start to scream for air.

Trying not to think the worst he swims towards the surface. As soon as he has drawn a good gulp of air he will dive down again and-

Someone or something lightly tugs at his tail, and the suddenness of it has Y'sato nearly jump out of his skin. He shoots to the surface with a loud gasp, eyes all wide. G'raha comes up beside him, drawing in a huge gulp of breath of his own. Then he laughs. Unchecked and free. Droplets cling to his lashes, mismatched eyes with sunlit pupils nothing but thin slivers as they pierce through him.

"Forgive me, it was too hard to resist."

Y'sato shoots him a pointed look. His heart, it still beats wildly in his chest. "Never do that again."

The genuine fear in his eyes seems to sober G'raha up as he smiles apologetically. "I won't." Placing a reassuring placating hand on his shoulder he inclines his head, clearly wanting to make amends. "Swim with me?"

Detecting no mischief in his eyes, nor expression this time, Y'sato obliges. And so with no regard for grace they swim, keeping mostly to the shallows. As promised G'raha doesn't dip bellow the surface this time. Is a more leisurely swim, a carefree swim, Y'sato splashing water in his direction which G'raha promptly returns. They laugh, they joke around as the young men they are. Wanting a more fair race, G'raha again challenges him, and Y'sato accepts. They swim a lap around one of the partly submerged crystals, it leaving them both gasping for breath.

In need for a moments rest Y'sato swims back to the shore to once more bask in the sun. The chill of the cool water has started seeping into his bones so to once more feel the warm rays of the sun on his skin is a blessing in disguise. He sits back down on his prior spot, with G'raha not far behind.

"Truly we should do this more, my friend."

"How about tomorrow? Weather permitting of course." Y'sato suggests as G'raha lowers himself next to him on the sands. The water droplets cling to his lean, yet muscular body in a way that once more ignites the strange hot flashes across his skin, the flutter in his chest. Y'sato is quick to look away. This strange foreign feeling still isn't unwelcome, but he can't make sense of it. Never before can he recall ever feeling this way for someone. These feelings...they are newfound. He has swam with him before, but this time the experience was different. The way G'raha regarded him, was different.

"I would love nothing more." Feeling his gaze on him Y'sato once more looks to him, and he sees it, the wide smile that has G'raha's eyes narrow in the way he ever finds so charming, radiant eyes sparkling in the sun. With a wide smile of his own showing his fangs he brings a fist up. G'raha mimics the gesture. Heartened Y'sato bumps it.

"Tomorrow."

"Yes tomorrow."

Sand sticking to the wet long fur of his tail he seeks out G'raha's own. He answers him in kind and without a word their tails twine together.

In this moment nothing more needs to be said and turning his face towards the sun Y'sato once more closes his eyes, fond smile on his lips.

Foreign newfound feelings aside he relishes this. To have his friend be so comfortable around him, so open. Wordlessly he gives his tail still twined with his a slight squeeze. One G'raha answers without hesitation.

Yes he has made a friend for life.

Of this he has no doubt.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Later that night, his stomach full after a hearty meal shared around the fireplace at their camp, Y'sato bids Cid a good night before he retreats to his tent. His hair has mostly dried since his and G'raha's dip in the lake earlier, his friend having retired to his tent but a bell prior. Stars has long since made their appearance known in the sky, the summer moon setting everything awash in a celestial silvery glow.

Y'sato mutes his steps. Just in case his friend has fallen asleep whilst reading. He can see his wind-up sun is activated, its bright light filtering through the thin linen cloth, but it doesn't necessarily mean his friend is awake. After all G'raha has fallen asleep to its light on a handful occasions before.

With muted motions Y'sato gingerly pulls aside the tent flap. He is relieved of most of his armor, both of them having settled into a more comfortable laid back clothes when they arrived back at camp. Now Y'sato wears nothing but a pair of sandals, simple cotton pants and a thin shirt, G'raha being dressed much the same way.

He has scarce closed the tent flap before he spots the other occupant, fast asleep in their nest of furs. The light from his wind up sun illuminates his sleep limp from. His cheek is tucked into the bedding, laying on his stomach as he is, his breathing even and deep. It is clear he's been reading, his hands still loosely holding a tattered worn thing before him, his head half resting on the slightly yellowed pages. Familiar pages Y'sato immediately recognises.

His expression softening he kneels down before him to gingerly pull the journal free from G'raha's slackened grip. Y'sato pries it free from his hands with hardly any resistance. One of G'raha's ears twitches, his tail weaving with a mind of its own before stilling, but otherwise he shows no signs of waking, his breathing pattern unchanged.

Y'sato breathes a quiet sigh of relief. He would be loath to wake him, knowing he didn't sleep the best the night prior. All because of him getting too engrossed in one of the books of his.

He looks down at the journal held in his hand. This is not the first time Y'sato has found G'raha reading through his journal. Ever since he allowed him to read through a few chosen entries shortly after they first met, the young scholar has been pouring over his scribbled words with stars in his eyes whenever Y'sato tells him its alright. He isn't too surprised. For the short time he has known him, he knows G'raha to ever seek new books to read. Ever hungry for knowledge, him possessing a curiosity that knows no bounds.

Still it eludes him why G'raha is so enamoured with his words. He treats his journal like its the most treasured thing, with a reverence fit for a king, but to Y'sato it is nothing too special. It is a worn leather bound thing, with a red jaguar claw engraved in the middle. He picked it up in Limsa shortly after becoming an adventurer thinking it might serve him well to keep his exploits and travels with him in written form. Something he has to admit he's been sloppy with as of late. He has yet to write down his ordeal in clearing out the Labirynth.

G'raha is patient with him though, but has made it clear he hopes he will write about his exploits soon. Y'sato reminds himself he is a scholar and a historian. An Archon. Of course a man with such a profession and a undying thirst for knowledge loves books, anything he can lay his fingers on. Still Y'sato can tell he has certain fondness for his words, and his words alone. It's like he can't get enough of them.

Looking closer at his writing he discovers G'raha once more has read about his exploits in besting Ifrit. Y'sato's lips lifts into a wry smile. His friend seems to have a special interest in his encounter with his first primal. Ironic since it was a fight that nearly got him killed.

But perhaps that is why he likes it so much. Only my account tells of it as it truly is after all. How it feels to walk the knife's edge, fearing the next breath might be your last...

The smell of brimstone and searing hot flames licking at his heels on his senses, he gently closes his journal and puts it aside on the storage box off to the side where he usually store it. He makes a mental note to add more passages to it on the morrow about his exploits in the Labyrinth, and more importantly the day he spent with his friend. G'raha will be thrilled he is sure.

Usually he would be bothered to have anyone read his journal, but with G'raha he made an exception.

I trust him. That said I'm grateful I never wrote my most personal secrets down on those pages...

Taking great care to not make any sound as he pulls off his sandals he shifts so he sits closer to his still slumbering friend. As luck would have it G'raha hasn't hogged up all the space and all the blankets this time. His eyes softens as he looks to him again, admiring his serene expression, features sedated with sleep.

Doing his utmost not to awaken the unknowing historian he carefully unfolds one of their tangled blankets and covers him with it. He pulls it up to his bare shoulders, taking great care as he packs the soft furs around him, tucking him in. After all he knows just how cold nights in Mor Dhona can be.

Again G'raha hardly stirs, one of his ears twitching sleepily. He burrows his cheek further into the bedding in response, letting out a deep sigh, still not close to waking. He looks so endearing Y'sato can't help but smile, having to force back a chuckle.

"Sleep well, G'raha." He whispers as he reaches out for the wind up sun, effectively turning its light off.

Setting it aside he slips under his own blanket, curling up on his side facing him. Only the firelight from outside filtering through the curtain of their tent illuminates their surroundings. The dim light is just enough for his eyes with the help of his Keeper blood to see his friend clearly, his red hair, his arm partly obscuring his face from view, the eyelashes of his visible closed eye. He looks so peaceful, and Y'sato reflexively draws closer. Still not quite touching, but he can feel G'raha's body heat start mingling with his.

These fluttery feelings he can feel in his chest, the all encompassing warmth aglow in his heart whenever he is in G'raha's presence. This tingling in his skin. He still can't quite explain it, but it feel right. To be close to him like this feels right.

And he wonders if G'raha feels the same.

A tender smile on his lips he admires the display, the image before him. Of how relaxed his friend is in his presence. Trusting. Truly in this moment he feels like his other half.

"See you on the morrow."

He closes his eyes, allowing the weight of the day to finally pull him under.

But before sleep claims him, a stray thought crosses his mind.

Perhaps one day I will work up the courage to ask.