Chapter Text
Yuuri hated the forest. It was dark, and creepy, and full of unusual sounds that made him jump every time he heard one—he was trying very hard not to think about what could be causing those sounds. There wasn’t supposed to be anything particularly dangerous in the area of the forest surrounding his village, but he had already been chosen for the task of taking this year’s offering to the Kazuki shrine, so he wasn’t exactly trusting his luck.
Every year, when the last signs of winter had melted away and the weather turned warm enough for the flowers in the trees to start to bloom a child would be chosen to venture into the forest and bring an offering to the Kazuki shrine. In return, the fae that resided in the forest would watch over and protect their village, ensuring they were safe from any harm and blessing their crops for that year so that they were plentiful. It was a tradition as old as the village itself and one its people revered with the utmost importance. Every family hoped that when the time came one of their children would be chosen for the honor, and Yuuri’s parents were no exception. His older sister, Mari, was now too old to be chosen, so when Yuuri’s name had been drawn his parents had been ecstatic. Yuuri on the other hand had been terrified.
And so that was how he found himself in his current predicament, wandering through the dark woods towards the shrine with nothing but a small lantern to light his way. He told himself to keep his attention forward, to focus on where he was going so he could get there faster and go home, but every creak of a branch or rustling of brush had his eyes darting around. His nerves were completely on edge and it was taking everything he had to keep going and not just stop and curl up into a ball. Yuuri had never given much thought to the tradition of his village but at the moment he hated it, what sort of tradition involved sending a young child into the forest alone? And at night no less! He knew the reason, the fae were easily influenced and too long spent in the presence of the wrong emotions could twist and change one into something vile and dangerous. Children were still pure, not yet exposed to the aspects of life that would cause such emotions, so they were not at risk of tainting the fae. Yuuri knew that, and he understood, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
Maybe he could just leave the offering where he was and head back? No one would ever know if he didn’t go the whole way to the shrine, and he had been gone long enough that they shouldn’t question his return. He stopped and looked down at the wrapped bundle in his hand, he could, he could just leave it here and go home, no one would ever know. But then what if something happened? The offering was given as thanks for watching over the village, it was a very tempting thought but what if the fae became angry for not getting their offering and took away their protection? The village would be at risk, and if something were to happen the other villagers would immediately blame Yuuri. His family would be shamed and probably made to leave, Yuuri would never be able to look them in the eye again. No, he couldn’t do that, he had to make it to the shrine, there was no other option.
The knowledge that the fate of his village was dependent on his completing his task in mind, he pressed forward. He could do this, he had to do this. Wanting to get to the shrine as quickly as possible he picked up his pace, forcing himself to keep his eyes forward like he had been telling himself to do since entering the forest. Fate unfortunately, did not seem to be on his side. He hadn’t gone much further when the rumble of thunder caused him to stop and look up. A raindrop landed on his face, followed by another, and another, and then the sky just seemed to let go. With a yelp Yuuri dashed for cover under a nearby tree but the damage was already done, he was soaked completely through, his hair and yukata sticking uncomfortable to his skin. The light in his little lantern flickered weakly before going out completely, plunging him into darkness. That was the final straw. He had kept it together for the sake of his parents, so that they could be proud instead of worried as he ventured into the woods. But his parents weren’t here now, no one was, he was completely and utterly alone and without the lantern to light his way he had no idea which way to go. Feeling helpless he did the one thing he had wanted to do since leaving home. He sank to the ground, drew his knees to his chest, buried his face there, and cried.
He never should have been allowed to do this. When his name was drawn they should have known he would mess up and picked someone else, now the village was going to lose its protection and it would be all his fault—that only made him cry harder. He wanted to go home. He wanted his mother to hold him, to tell him that he had done his best and that everything was all right, that no one was upset with him for having failed. Would he ever see his mother again? Even if he could find the path he had been following he wasn’t sure which way was his village, and in the dark it would be easy to lose it again. He could end up wandering the forest for the rest of his life. A small whimper escaped him as he hugged his knees tighter
“Mama…”
“Could you please stop crying? It’s making me want to cry, and I don’t like crying.”
Breath hitching in surprise Yuuri’s head snapped up, and what he saw made him forget to breath. A boy, maybe a few years older than him, stood a few feet away, but one look at him told Yuuri that he was no ordinary boy. A series of large, different colored leaves were fastened around his waist like a sort of skirt, under which he wore a pair of plain brown trousers that came down to about mid-shin. A long vine snaked around his body, starting from his right leg and working its way up his torso, around his neck, and back down his right arm. Long hair the color of the moon was pulled back into a high ponytail, a few strands left loose to frame his face sticking to his skin from the rain, and atop his head was a crown made of fluffy looking white flowers. He was a sight to behold, but what really stood out where his eyes. They were a bright, striking blue, the color reminding Yuuri of the ocean on a clear, he couldn’t look away. He knew he should, he had always been taught that it was rude to stare but he couldn’t help it, this boy was unlike anyone or anything Yuuri had ever seen. He was stunning, he was unique, he was-
“Beautiful…” Yuuri breathed.
The boy seemed to perk up a that. He made a show of attempting to toss his hair back, but the wet strands continued to cling to his skin, he didn’t seem to notice.
“Why thank you,” he said, then seemed to look at Yuuri more closely. “What’s a little one like you doing all the way out here?”
There was a part of Yuuri that wanted to point out that the boy wasn’t that much taller than him, but he kept it to himself.
“I… I got lost…” he said instead. “I… I was going to the Kazuki shrine when it started raining so I hid here.”
The boy tilted his head to the side. “Why were you going there?”
Yuuri sniffled. “To… To leave the offering. But… But now I… I don’t know which way to go.”
Fresh tears fell from his eyes as thoughts of never getting home and seeing his family plagued his mind again. The boy took a step back and looked around uncertainly, almost nervously, Yuuri was sure he was going to leave him there. He wasn’t the boy’s problem after all so why should he be concerned with a lost child? Yuuri buried his face in his knees again, if the boy was going to leave then he didn’t want to see it. He heard movement, and then felt something brush lightly against his hand. Startled he looked up and just barely kept himself from shouting in alarm. The boy had moved closer and was now kneeling in front of him with his hand outstretched towards him, his fingers twitched like he was going to pull his hand back but he didn’t. He looked very uncertain, maybe even a little afraid, Yuuri watched him silently.
“I’m… Not very good with crying,” the boy said. “What should I do?”
Yuuri sniffled. “I…”
He didn’t know what to say, what could he say? Yuuri had never had to comfort someone before—he was usually the one being comforted—and asking for help was out of the question. The boy was clearly some sort of fae, he had been too surprised by his sudden appearance to realize it at the time, but now Yuuri was sure of it. And asking them for help was never a good idea. Not because they wouldn’t, but because they would expect something in return, something that they believed to be of equal value. Which of course could be anything from a pretty stone to your first-born child, or so Yuuri had always been told. Either way Yuuri was not about to put himself in that sort of situation.
The fae boy watched him, he was still waiting for an answer to his question but when it became apparent he wasn’t going to get one he let out a thoughtful hum and looked around. The loon on his face reminded Yuuri of the other children in his village when they would look around to make sure no one was watching them before doing something they shouldn’t do. Did that mean there were others nearby? Yuuri’s eyes darted around, but he sill couldn’t see anything pas the fae boy—who Yuuri belatedly realized he could see clearly. His body seemed to be giving off a faint glow, making him stand out in contrast to the dark forest around them. The effect made him look even more ethereal than Yuuri had first though.
“You said the Kazuki shrine, right?” the fae boy asked, drawing Yuuri’s attention back to him. He nodded.
“Y-Yes.”
“And you don’t know which way to go?”
Yuuri shook his head. “No.”
Humming in thought again the boy tilted his head to the side and tapped at his lip with a finger, his eyes studying Yuuri closely. Yuuri resisted shrinking back under his gaze, but only just. They stayed like that for several moments before the boy suddenly lowered his hand and righted his head.
“Well then I’ll just have to take you there!” he declared loudly, causing Yuuri to jump.
Yuuri stared wide eyed at the boy, who was smiling like he had just been given a large bag of treats and looking very pleased with himself. Yuuri felt anything boy. Accepting help from a far was a mistake, every story he had ever heard about them said as much, how did he know the fae boy would even take him to the shrine? He could take Yuuri further into the woods and leave him there or lead him to some hungry beast and offer him up as a snack. No, Yuuri was not going to let that happen. Mustering up whatever courage he had—which admittedly wasn’t much at the moment—he sat up a little straighter and shook his head.
“No thank you,” he said, pleased when his voice came out even and didn’t give away just how nervous he was.
The fae boy’s smile fell, brow furrowing and head tilting to the side again he looked at Yuuri in confusion.
“But… You’re lost, aren’t you?”
“I’ll find my way.”
The fae boy looked even more confused, not that Yuuri could really blame him. Just moments ago he had been crying because he was scared and didn’t know what to do, not someone was offering to help him and he was turning them down. Logically it didn’t make a bit of sense, but Yuuri refused to be indebted to a fae. Surely it couldn’t be that hard to find his way again. When the rain had started he had dashed for the first tree that would offer him cover and had found one rather quickly, that meant he couldn’t be too far from the path. All he had to do was find it, pick a direction, and hope it took him to the shrine. Even if he picked wrong and ended up back at the village all he had to do was turn around. It would take longer, but he didn’t se what other choice he had. Although… he still couldn’t see, and had no way of relighting his lantern which meant following the path would be near impossible, and if he wandered off he path again… He quickly pushed that thought from his mind, he had to stop thinking like that. First he had to find the path and then he could worry about staying on it, if he took his time and kept calm then surely he could-
“It’s because I’m not human isn’t it?” the fae boy’s voice broke through his thoughts, Yuuri had almost forgotten he was there. Yuuri blinked and focused on him.
“Um…”
“You believe the stories you humans tell, don’t you? To never trust a fae? Because we’re incapable of offering help without wanting something in return.”
Yuuri felt his cheeks grow warm, the fae boy had hit it right on the nose, though he wasn’t about to admit it. Making a fae angry could be worse than asking for their help, that was when they turned your nose into a mushroom, or your hair into snakes, or bestowed some other horrible curse on you. The thought made Yuuri shiver.
“We’re not all like that you know,” the fae boy spoke again, and there was a tone in his voice Yuuri couldn’t place. “I mean, sure some ask a favor in return, but they’re rarely as drastic as your stories suggest. And is it really so wrong to ask for something in exchange for something? Isn’t that how you humans live anyway?”
Yuuri didn’t have a response for that. It was true that humans bought from and traded with each other all the time, it was the only way to get some of the things they needed in order to survive, but it wasn’t the same as what the fae did. They asked for difficult things, things they didn’t actually need but asked for anyway just for the sake of making things harder for the human asking their help.
“We don’t ask for first-born children,” Yuuri said before he could stop himself, and right away he knew it was the wrong thing to say. The fae boy didn’t look angry but his shoulders slumped as he visibly deflated, his glow even seemed to dim a little. He looked away from Yuuri
“I guess it’s true, humans really are simple minded and believe the worst of everything. You think someone can’t possibly want to help just for the sake of helping.”
There was that tone again, Yuuri tilted his head slightly as he studied the fae boy. Was he… sad?
“I’ve always wanted to meet a human but was forbidden from going near any villages. So, when I saw you I thought this could be my chance, but I guess I was wrong.”
The fae boy stood suddenly and Yuuri felt his panic return as he realized what was happening, the fae boy was going to leave! If he left then Yuuri would be all alone again, and though moments ago he had told himself he could find his way on his own, the idea of being alone terrified him more than accepting help from a fae. So, when the fae boy started to turn away Yuuri didn’t hesitate to call out.
“W-wait!” The fae boy paused but didn’t turn back around. “I… I’m sorry. I… I’ve always been told not to… You… really just want to help me?”
The fae boy turned back around and looked down at Yuuri, his expression unreadable. After a moment he knelt back down, his eyes watching Yuuri carefully.
“Do you want my help?”
Yuuri sniffled as he returned the fae boy’s gaze, he certain seemed sincere about helping him, maybe… he really could trust him? In any case it was too late now, he had already stopped the fae boy from leaving so turning him down now would just be cruel. With a final sniff he gave a small nod.
“Y-yes please…”
The fae boy smiled. “What’s your name?”
Yuuri hesitated for just a moment before answering. “Yuuri.”
“Yuuri,” the fae boy repeated, his smile grew wider. “I like it! My name is Victor.”
“Victor?” Yuuri couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice, it was such a normal name, and yet it seemed to suit the fae boy perfectly.
“That’s right!” Now that Yuuri had agreed to let him help he seemed energized, brighter. He brought a hand up towards Yuuri’s face and using the back of his index finger he wiped away a stray tear that escaped from Yuuri’s eye. “Well Yuuri, allow me to be your guide.”
Yuuri stared at him. He was still a little unsure about accepting the fae boy’s—Victor’s—help, but the smile he was giving Yuuri was so bright, and his touch so gentle that despite his reservations he couldn’t help it, he gave a small smile of his own.
“Okay.”
It didn’t take them long to get back to the path once Victor got Yuuri on his feet, and even less time for Victor to determine which direction they needed to go. Yuuri had been right about not being far from the path, but in the dark it was still unlikely he would have found it by himself. Yuuri trailed a few steps behind Victor as they walked, the parcel containing the offering clutched close to his chest. He had left the lantern behind, it wasn’t really of much use now and Victor insisted he didn’t need it anyway. The storm had quieted to a light drizzle and Yuuri suspected even that wouldn’t last much longer, not that it really mattered since he was already soaked through. Still it would be nice to not have rain constantly falling on his head.
They were silent as they walked, and while it didn’t bother him at first, the pattering of rain on leaves and the squelch of their footsteps being the only sounds was starting to get to him, but what could he do? He had never been good at starting conversations—or maintaining them for that matter—and nothing he could say could possibly be of interest to a being like Victor so in the end he elected to remain quiet. Victor glanced back at him a few times, looking like he wanted to say something, even opening his mouth a few times to speak, but each time he would say nothing and look forward again. The longer they went in silence however, the more frequently Victor looked back until finally he seemed to have had enough. Without missing a step he turned around, now walking backwards, and focused his attention on Yuuri.
“So, tell me about yourself Yuuri.”
Yuuri didn’t respond right away, too focused on Victor and worrying that he was going to run into something, but Victor kept the same pace he had been walking and seemed completely unconcerned. Pushing his own concerns aside Yuuri shook his head.
“There’s not much to tell really.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” Victor persisted. “Just say anything.”
“Um… Well… My dad is a fisherman, and my mom makes the best food. Um…” He paused when he noticed Victor giving him an odd look. “What?”
“What are those things you said?”
“Things?”
“Dad and mom.”
Yuuri stared at him, was he being serious?
“They’re my parents.” When Victor continued to look confused realization slowly dawned on him. “Do… Do you not have parents Victor?”
Victor shrugged. “I don’t know, what’s a parent?”
Yuuri was at loss of what to say, how could he not know what a parent was? He couldn’t exist if he didn’t have parents, right?
“A parent is… Um…” He had to think for a moment, how did one explain a parent? “A parent raises and takes care of their child. They make sure their child is happy and worries when their child is hurt or sick. Do you have someone like that?”
Victor gave a thoughtful hum. “I have Yakov. He’s looked after me my whole life, though I don’t think he’s a parent.”
“A parent doesn’t have to be related to you. So long as they love and care for you it still counts.”
“Loves and cares for… Huh, that’s very interesting. You taught me something new Yuuri, thank you!”
He flashed Yuuri a bright smile as he said this, and Yuuri couldn’t help the embarrassed flush that crept on to his cheeks.
“You… You’re welcome…”
“But I still don’t know anything about you.”
Yuuri blinked. “Huh?”
“I want to know about you Yuuri. What do you do? What do you like?”
“Oh. Well… I’m just a kid so I don’t really do much. I help my mom sometimes.”
“Help with what?”
Yuuri shrugged. “Cooking and cleaning mostly.”
Victor wrinkled his nose. “That doesn’t sound like fun.”
“I don’t mind it. And mom likes when I help.”
“But that can’t be all you do, what do you do for fun?
Yuuri looked down as he thought, what did he do for fun? He went out with Yuuko and Takeshi a lot, but he mostly just tagged along to whatever they were doing. But what did he himself enjoy doing? He had never really thought about it.
“I… I like to dance I guess.”
The moment the words were out of his mouth Yuuri regretted them. Dancing? What a silly thing to admit liking, especially for a boy! But Victor didn’t seem to mind, in fact he perked up in interest and his eyes widened in excitement.
“Really? I love to dance! We’re known for out grace you know.
“Oh.”
Yuuri didn’t know what else to say to that. So little was known about the fae, and if what Victor told him before was true then much of what they did know was wrong. If the fae were known for their grace then it wasn’t known by humans, lthough watching the way Victor walked he could easily believe it. He hardly made a sound when he walked, and the way he moved had a sort of elegance to it, even when he was excited. Yuuri supposed he could see him as a dancer, or at the very least believe he was good at it. He certainly had to be better than Yuuri in any case.
Victor abruptly stopped walking and looked off into the woods, Yuuri stopped as well and looked around. The trees were a bit thinner here, letting in just enough moonlight that he could see the trees closest to the path—one of them he noticed had a spot where the bark was missing that if he tilted his head to the side looked a little like a bird—but beyond them it was still black. After a moment he looked at Victor.
“Why did we stop?” he asked as he turned to follow the other boy’s gaze. When they had started off together Victor had said he didn’t need Yuuri’s lantern to see by, so Yuuri had assumed that meant the other boy was natural able to see in the dark. Was he staring off into the woods because he had seen something? Yuuri took a small step back, suddenly very nervous, but when Victor looked at him again he didn’t look worried so Yuuri hoped that meant there was nothing out there to be afraid of.
“I want to show you something.”
Before Yuuri had a chance to respond Victor grabbed one of his hands and tugged him forward, off, the path, and into the woods. Yuuri stumbled the first few steps before getting his feet under him, his nerves from a moment ago turned to panic as Victor all but dragged him through the trees. He was about to yank his hand away and demand what was going on when Victor flanked back at him and gave him a reassuring smile.
“It’s okay, you’ll like this.
Yuuri looked at him, certain that his fear and uncertainty was clear as day on his face, he didn’t like this, he didn’t like this at all. His thoughts from before of Victor taking him into the woods and leaving him or leading him to the jaws of a hungry beast returned and he quickly shoved them away. So far Victor hadn’t given any indication that he meant Yuuri any harm—and had actually been upset that Yuuri thought as much—so he had to trust that that remained true now. Giving a small nod he continued to allow Victor to lead him.
They were silent as they went but Yuuri’s mind was racing. Where were they going? What could Victor possibly want to show him? Should he ask? Or should he just wait? Should he be worried? Victor had said he would like what he was going to show him, but would he? And why-
He felt Victor give his hand a squeeze, drawing his attention to the other boy and his marathon of thoughts stopped. Victor was still looking ahead of them, his attention focused on whatever destination was ahead of them. Yuuri watched him for a moment before suddenly remembering, fae were able to sense emotions. Which meant Victor had sensed his distress and by squeezing his hand had meant to comfort him. Yuuri couldn’t help but smile before giving a small squeeze of thanks in return.
They had only walked for a few minutes before Victor’s hurried pace began to slow, soon coming to a stop before a large wall of brush that was… shimmering? Yuuri stared at it, closing and opening his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things, it was definitely shimmering, reminding him a bit of ripples on water. He stared at it for a long time, waiting for Victor to give some sort of explanation. When none came he looked over at the other boy.
“What is this?”
“This,” he said as he moved to stand in front of Yuuri, spreading his arms wide and smiling. “Is the entrance to the fae realm.