Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Speeding through the winding tunnel, down the rabbit hole, beyond the looking glass, and all other metaphors for otherworldly travel. When Fai lands beside Kurogane in the new world, and when his stomach stops flopping about, he immediately realizes something is wrong. Several somethings, in fact.

The first and most upsetting: the thrum of magic that has always pulsed behind his eyes is now just… gone. Panic grips his throat, blocking out all other sensations, freezing him in place. Even though he hasn’t used it since he teleported to the Dimension Witch, it has remained with him, the vibrant swirling potential energy that would invariably lead King Ashura straight to him, even across dimensions, were he ever to use it. A piercing pain lances through his skull at that moment. If Kurogane hadn’t grabbed his arm, he might have collapsed. A second passes. Then two. Then four. No urge to kill. No curse compelling him to destroy. The panic subsides. The magic isn't gone, then. Just buried.

The second and third things wrong with this world filter into his consciousness as the pain recedes from Fai's skull:

1. Sakura, Syaoran, and Mokona are nowhere in sight, and
2. They are surrounded by black-eyed armed guards astride reptilian quadrupedal mounts, weapons pointed right at them.

The fourth and final sign of trouble appears when the guards begin shouting orders at them. The words are meaningless, gibberish. Fai leans a little closer to Kurogane, glancing at him with concern. In the last country, they had been separated from the two kids and Mokona, but at least they could still communicate. Now, however… he readies for a fight.

Fai jumps when Kurogane answers the guards instead of attacking, speaking in that bubbling foreign tongue he had heard only briefly long ago, in the first world of their journey. Could it be, Kuro-tan can actually understand them? Studying his face, he realizes with a shock that Kurogane’s eyes, normally a deep crimson, have also turned black.

Fai makes several deductions all at once while Kurogane exchanges words with the soldiers.

They're in a new world, still separated from the others, now even further than before. Everyone, including Kurogane, has black eyes, meaning Fai likely does too. No blue eyes, no magic. And now, they're likely seen as invaders, though somehow Kurogane is able to communicate with them.

Kurogane isn’t the best at lying or deception in the best of circumstances, but whatever he tells the guards, they relax by a hair, their postures softening almost imperceptibly. Fortunate, Fai thinks, then quickly corrects himself. No, not fortune. Not coincidence. Hitsuzen.

Black eyes then train on him, and through the babble, one word rings out clear: Ashura. Fai manages to retain his composure, but only just. Kurogane's grip on his bicep is the only thing keeping him upright. It's not him, he tells himself fervently. Just like before, it's just a name. Calm down. Kurogane had already seen what that name does to him. Had already seen more than Fai can afford to show.

Kurogane pulls Fai closer and barks something back to the wary soldiers, grip on his arm tightening. Wah, Kuro-cutey is strong. The tease bubbles up in his thoughts out of habit. A dangerous habit, getting so comfortable with Kurogane. But now of all times is not for jokes, not while he's still unsure if they need to fight. A tense silence seizes the air around them, crackling and electric. Finally, cautiously, the guards drop their weapons back to their sides and move out. The man in the center gestures for them to follow before turning his mount away and up towards a steep hill. Kurogane glances to Fai and tilts his head, so Fai trusts that they are welcome in this place, at least for now.

The accents are a little unusual, thicker and stranger than what they had in Hanshin, but Kurogane understands them. It’s odd. He’d never had to struggle to comprehend anyone during this journey.

Kurogane and Fai had landed during the darkest part of the night, as the moon slowly vanished over the edge of the sky, just before the blush of dawn crested the horizon. In the dark hollow of twilight, they were immediately beset by spears and fierce warriors' glares. Kurogane could easily have fought them off of course, but when the kid and the princess didn't appear with the white pork bun, he knew he had to act rationally. Killing the first people they encountered wouldn’t win them any favors. Besides, Princess Tomoyo had seen to his reckless killing instincts.

Their accusations didn't make any sense. Yes, he understood the literal words coming out of their mouths, but he couldn't understand. 

They had accused them of being spies for someone called Ashura. The same name from Shara that made Fai go pale. So, taking a gamble, he said he had come to serve Yasha. Like that witch said, no such thing as coincidence. Seemed reasonable to assume that, like Shara, there would be a Yasha paired opposite an Ashura. His lie pacified them for a moment, but then they asked about Fai. The wizard, uncharacteristically, did not answer. Kurogane knew the fool well enough by now; he was disoriented, confused. And, for an instant after they landed, afraid. When no answer seemed forthcoming, he told the soldiers that Fai was his companion, and that was that. They were cautious, but said they would let King Yasha decide and began marching them towards their castle.

Ashura… back in Shara, just hearing the name struck down all of Fai's carefully built walls, shattered his porcelain smiling mask if only for an instant. And again, in this new world, he looks much the same. As he walks alongside Kurogane, flanked by wary armed soldiers, he holds that broken mask like a shield once more, smiling like a fool in love. Kurogane hates that face. Fai only looks this happy when he despairs.

“That name... what does it mean to you?” He mutters to Fai, trying not to let the guards overhear. Fai tilts his head towards him, his expression pleasant but softly confused. “In Shara, too, you...”

Fai’s smile thins. He opens his mouth and speaks... and Kurogane doesn't understand a word. A stone drops in his stomach as the realization strikes like lightning. The kid, the princess. Fai's silence and the soldiers' odd accents. The white pork bun is out of range, and Syaoran and Sakura are even further than before. 

He glowers at Fai, even though this isn’t his fault. He doesn't even know what's happening. That will make this... difficult.

They’re led through rocky, elevated terrain just as the sun begins to rise, and the journey quickly becomes agonizingly silent. After maybe an hour of walking, they begin to climb a steep path through barren woods, towards an impressive castle built into the peak of a mountain. It looks strangely nostalgic, and reminds him of Shirasagi Castle, where he served Princess Tomoyo.

The fortress seems carved into the very bones of the earth, and the nearer they get, Kurogane instinctually fixates on the defensive details. The first signs of human construction are the tall curved bulwarks of shaped stone, creating an unscalable slope that forms the foundation for the castle. Watchtowers guard each corner of the rectangular base, watching for signs of invaders. They're directed to a single entrance, a dusty dirt path that snakes in a long zigzag up a steep incline toward a tall wooden gate, currently held open by dozens of thick ropes and a complicated pulley system. Kurogane spots at least four operators at the gate's edges, and it may take even more to open or close the door. Their "escorts" speak in hushed whispers to the gate guards before they are ushered through. Past the gate, they weave over and around various impediments designed to confound and slow whole armies - confusing rings of earthworks, stone fences, and wide dry moats force them on a circuitous path towards the main building. Kurogane doesn't notice many auxiliary buildings - one that looks like an armory, one large open building filled with strange animals that must be something like a stable, a few ramshackle huts that looks disused, perhaps even decoy.

The castle itself draws Kurogane's full attention, standing at six or seven stories tall with one side of it dug into the mountain itself. The closer they get to the heart of the compound, the more soldiers they see, other armed and battle-hardened fighters baring scars and scowls for the stranger's in their midst. In their guarded stances and wary gaits Kurogane sees fellow warriors, with the mix of confidence and suspicion one can only win in battle. And every one of them to a man have solid black eyes. Kurogane glances back at Fai, who returns the look with his own darkened irises. He wonders if his own eyes mark him as a resident of this world, or perhaps it's some kind of trick. 

At the front doors to the castle, their retinue hands them over to a new set of guards, who speak in obvious coded language and soft voices. Kurogane's not sure how much longer their charade will last, or how long they'll survive if they somehow turn enemies of these people. Everything he's seen suggests this is a country at war, its people hardened by constant strife. Though, while they're led into a grand entrance hall and quickly rushed through twisting turning passages, Kurogane doesn't spot any sign of the other hardships of war. Any injuries seem well-healed, no missing limbs or organs that one might expect from triage field hospitals. None of the defenses even at the furthest edge of the compound show signs of damage or wear, and the soldiers themselves seem well-fed, rested. Could be possible these are not front-line warriors, though their clean scars and sharply maintained weapons speak otherwise. 

If it comes to a fight, Kurogane doesn't think he'd be able to escape this place on his own. And he can't expect any help from the mute wizard. 

Their new minders bring them to a central room that seems to be some kind of throne room. It resembles a huge dojo, polished cedar wood floors and delicately patterned paper screens along the walls depicting various scenes of battle. An intricate moon emblem blazes prominently on a banner hanging behind a seated man who is the spitting image of the Jinja’s Yasha statue: Long black hair and a sword on his shoulder, sitting in a simple but well-built chair, not unlike a throne.

The head of their guard retinue steps forward, taking a knee. He's an older-looking man, scruff for a beard and short greying hair. “King Yasha,” he announces with deference. “These outsiders were lurking about the outlying wilds beyond our walls, discovered by a scout patrol after our return from the Moon Castle. We feared they may be spies sent by King Ashura.”

Kurogane side-eyes Fai, but the wizard's composure does not slip, smiling demurely, unflinching. Yasha similarly is unmoved. The guard’s voice wavers.

“But... they have the look of the Yasha clan,” he continues, “and they say they wish to serve you. What should be done with them, my lord?” Yasha’s eyes roll between them, back and forth, expressing unchanging. Kurogane just manages to catch a tremble in the guard’s hand, clenched on his bent knee. “My lord... I think it would be best, if we can prove their loyalty, to bring them with us to the Moon Castle. Ashura’s last counterattack lost us several skilled soldiers, and these men look capable.” Still, silence. The guard lowers his head, trying to hide an expression of pain. “If it pleases my lord, then I shall act accordingly.” Yasha tilts his head slightly forward, and the guard sighs with relief.

“Thank you, King Yasha.” Turning towards Kurogane and Fai, the man regains his confidence, once more the authoritative, self-assured vassal.

Kurogane knows better. He’s seen it in the faces of Tomoyo’s weaker servants. Doubt.

“I will show you to your quarters, but don’t even think of trying anything. We will have you under constant guard until your loyalties can be ascertained. Then, we will see how well you can fight for us. Come.” He turns sharply on his heel and marches out. Kurogane starts to follow, making sure to grab the wizard by the arm just in case.

They walk in silence a few minutes before the guard speaks. “What are your names?”

“Kurogane,” he answers. “And this one is Fai.”

The guard shoots Fai a suspicious glance, which the wizard answers with that deceptive smile of his. “Can’t he speak for himself?”

“He’s a man of few words,” Kurogane answers simply.

The guard stops, turning to face them and crossing his arms. “How can I trust a man who won’t even give me his own name?” He says, turning to the mage with a glower.

Fai senses the shift of energy in the passageway. He stops, his expression faltering, eyes shifting from Kurogane to the guard.

“Tell me,” the man snaps. “What is it that you do?”

Kurogane stiffens, resisting the urge to reach for Sohi. If he can’t come up with something...

But Fai bows extravagantly, arms sweeping wide, before he stands up straight and shocks Kurogane by singing. There are no words, or at least, nothing that sounds like words to him, but his voice is surprisingly clear and vibrant. His eyes close as he sways between the notes, vocal cords thrumming like a plucked shamisen string. One hand rests delicate fingertips just above his heart, and he shifts his weight between his feet as he dances between notes. It doesn’t sound too bad. The song lasts less than a minute, and the guard scoffs and rolls his eyes. He glances at Kurogane dismissively. “So, you’re the guard of some traveling minstrel, then? That still doesn’t explain what you were doing out there.” He shakes his head. “No matter. If you can fight, you will serve King Yasha. And if not... then you will die in the next battle.”

He continues down the hall, and Kurogane glares at his back. It doesn’t sound like a direct threat, but he doesn’t know what to make of all this talk. Moon Castle... Counterattack... What was happening in this world? This facility didn't seem to be in immediate danger, but everyone within vibrates with unspoken tension, a bowstring about to snap.

What he does understand is the demand to prove himself in combat. A wicked grin splits his face. If that's all he needs to do to secure loyalty, they should have a comfortable base from which to begin their search for Sakura and Syaoran. 

The guard stops in front of a sliding panel door. “These will be your quarters, for now. If we catch you doing anything suspicious, including wandering the castle without an escort, your new accommodations will be the dungeon. Is that clear?” Kurogane nods, and Fai, following his lead, nods as well. “If you need anything,” he adds, his tone growing a modicum more polite, “my name is Manas. Simply ask the guards and they will fetch me. When the sun sets, you-” he points to Kurogane, “will be escorted to the courtyard and fitted for battle. We will take you with us to the Moon Castle at moonrise.”

With a brief bow that is more formality than respect, Manas leaves them to their quarters.

Once alone, Fai makes that irritating noise like a whistle, smirking at Kurogane. “You really can’t understand me, can you?” he asks. Fai shrugs, taking quick measure of their room. It’s a simple square bedchamber with two futons already spread out on the floor, a low tea table with two cushions, and a small open window too narrow to crawl through. Not that they would want to, with a significant drop from the window to the ground below. Kurogane hadn’t realized how high up they were, but from their vantage point, this window had been cut from the mountain-edged back of the castle and looks out to a grim, rocky, steep fall below. Nothing but a small wooden casement on the inside of the room serves to protect them from the chill creeping in from the outside.

This castle is clearly well-designed, meandering and confusing on the interior and structured in such a way one can't tell if they're ascending or descending the mountain. Minimal windows, carefully managed inclines, delicate paper screens and sliding doors without locks soften one's perspective, lulls intruders and interlopers into false security and comfort. A place that is easy to get lost in. Manas had navigated them easily to Yasha's meeting room, but even for all his observations, Kurogane realizes he has no idea how to get back there, and certainly no idea how to leave. 

Fai stands near the window and stares at the afternoon sky, expression, as always, unreadable.

“What was with that song?” He asks, though he knows Fai can’t answer. He doubts Fai would answer even if he could understand. Fai only blinks at him, face unreadable. “I don’t know which is better,” he muses, shaking his head. “The you who lies with every word he speaks, or the you who doesn’t speak at all.

Chapter Text

The Fai who cannot speak is certainly more irritating than the lying one, Kurogane decides quickly. Unable to annoy him with his little nicknames and taunts, the wizard practices his infuriating fake whistle until Kurogane is ready to throttle him. Which doesn't take very long at all.

“I know we can’t understand each other, but do you really have to do that now?”

Fai laughs and quips something back, his native language a clipped, staccato thing, with lots of trilled rs. As expected, Kurogane doesn’t understand a word, until Fai’s hooded eyelids lower and he catches a single “Kuro-la.” It pricks his ears, and he goes to shout at him for using another infantile nickname, but realization strikes him faster than his rage can be expressed.

Fai heard and understood Ashura’s name. Kurogane heard his own name… or rather, Fai’s infuriating nickname. The suffix was different than one he’d used before, but the Kuro was unmistakable. Which means… names are unchanged. Names go untranslated, or maybe just cannot be translated. Regardless, if they can least say names...

“Fai?” Kurogane tries hesitantly.

The mage’s grin fills his whole face and he claps, adding an obnoxious weet-woo at the end. Well. Names can be communicated. How helpful is that going to be?

Fai catches Kurogane’s attention again and gestures for a piece of paper, with one palm up and the opposite hand miming for writing. Kurogane searches the room, even though the wizard could damn well find his own paper, but there's not much in the room to search. Remembering Manas’s word from a few hours ago, Kurogane opens the sliding door and sees a guard posted in the hallway, who stands up straighter at Kurogane’s sudden appearance. The guard looks young, long brown hair pulled in a ponytail and body with an unnatural squareness suggesting armor underneath the lightweight robes, sporting a soft, delicate sort of face. Kurogane can’t tell if this person is male or female or neither.

“What is it?” They bark, but their hand jumps a little closer to their weapon. Kurogane feels a little insulted. Manas has sent an amateur to watch over them.

“Manas told us to tell you if we need anything. Can you bring us paper and writing utensils?”

The guard frowns. “While you are allowed to stay in the guest wing, we cannot allow any letters to be sent from-”

“Did I say we're writing letters?” Kurogane growls. “We just need some paper and ink.”

“What for?”

“For our journals,” he says with an eyeroll. He means it sarcastically, but maybe the sarcasm doesn’t survive his accent, because the guard orders them not to go anywhere as they take off. Well, they’re certainly being replaced for that, Kurogane snickers.  Leaving them all alone, truly a rookie move.

Back in the room, Kurogane just sits against the wall with Sohi draped over his lap. Another rookie mistake Yasha’s soldiers have made. Before his curse, Kurogane could have easily taken down that rookie and probably dozens of other soldiers, in their sleep if he needed to. Leaving him with a weapon is foolish. Though, he admits with a scowl, taking out a whole castle of warriors would be a challenge even for him. Do they have such faith in their own skill? Or are they truly so incompetent? 

Fai stares at him a moment, then resumes his infuriating whistle practice. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long before there’s a gentle knocking, and the guard slides the door open. Not only do they have a tray with a large stack of papers, an ink stone and well, and a brush, but also a separate tray of food. Two servings of some type of grilled fish, rice, steamed vegetables, and a thin miso-like soup. Not too different from what he would have for breakfast in Nihon.

“Thank you,” he tells the guard gruffly. They are about to close the door but Kurogane interrupts. “What is your name, soldier?”

“Esha,” they answer cautiously.

“Thank you for bringing us food and the paper, Esha. Next time, you might want to get a second guard here when you go off on an errand. Doesn’t look good to leave us alone.”

Esha stiffens. “Th-thank you,” they mumble, cheeks slightly pink. Kurogane ages them down five years from his original estimate.

Kurogane closes the door, pushing one of the plates of food and writing materials towards the wizard. Fai wrinkles his nose at the fish, plucking it up by the tail and transferring it delicately to Kurogane’s tray as he takes a piece of paper, wets the brush, and begins to sketch something. Kurogane watches him while he eats.

The first thing the wizard draws is a distinctive tiger face, one they saw everywhere in the first world they visited. “Hanshin?” Kurogane asks.

Fai smiles and nods, then draws something just below that. Now Kurogane studies him intensely, curious what the mage is plotting. This drawing is a five-pointed flower, closely resembling the token they carried around in the virtual world from Edonis. “Ôto?”

Another enthusiastic nod. Then he furiously scratches out a rough, simple drawing that closely resembles this very castle, as well as a single black eye. Fai taps the pictures and looks at him with a question in his eyes. Ah. A good point. If names are the same, then Kurogane should at least be able to identify the name of this world. He hadn't thought to ask until now.

Kurogane finishes a mouthful of rice before he calls out past the door. “Esha,” he begins, voice a little unsure. “I know this… may sound like an odd question, but what is the name of this country?”

A pause, then Esha slides the door open, suspicious black eyes meeting Kurogane's. “You said you are loyal to King Yasha, and you don’t even know the name of the land in which you reside?”

Kurogane quickly and clumsily weaves another falsehood, based on Fai’s strange behavior earlier in the day. “That guy over there is... a traveling musician. I’m his bodyguard. We… got lost, separated from the rest of our group. We weren’t sure where we ended up. But our loyalties have always been with King Yasha.” The words sting in his mouth. Forgive me, Princess Tomoyo.

Esha looks unconvinced, but still says, “Yama. You’re in the country of Yama.”

“Thank you, Esha.” After a pause, he asks one more question. “What can you tell me about the Moon Castle?”

Whatever progress he had made with the young solider evaporates, and Kurogane knows he crossed a line. Esha regains their composure and attempts to playact as the tough, serious guard they clearly wish to be. “I’m not at liberty to say. We will learn your loyalties tonight, when you travel to the Castle with our troops.”

Esha closes the door on him, and Kurogane turns to face a curious Fai. “Yama,” he says slowly, pointing to his final drawing. “This world is called Yama.”

Another world that uses these sticks as eating utensils, Fai laments with a sigh. Kurogane plucks large, fluffy lumps of rice with them and shovels them into his mouth with ease, whereas Fai can’t manage a single grain. He catches the ninja smirking at him with every attempt, and Fai would be tempted to play into it for laughs except he is actually quite hungry. Without a spoon, he’s not even sure how he should attempt the soup, but watching Kurogane suggests he should drink it straight from the bowl.

Lifting the simple wooden bowl to his lips, he tilts the mixture into his mouth, relieved at the warm, filling, slightly too salty broth filling his empty stomach. Small lumps of soft white spongey things sit at the bottom, which Fai isn't sure if he's supposed to eat or not, so he leaves them. After he finishes the soup, he stares at the remainder in despair. The vegetables are easy enough to eat with his hands, although he’d prefer not to, and the fish is out of the question. This country at least cooked the fish, as opposed to previous worlds where they served it raw (shudder), but his skin still crawls when he considers eating it. (And how, how did Kuro-chi manage to pull bits of skin and meat off the bone using just those little sticks?! Without even using a knife? Baffling!) But the rice…

Really, he could just eat with his hands. They had visited places that had no serving utensils for meals, so he’s not unaccustomed to it. But Fai didn’t want to face the indignity of it, not with Kurogane’s eyes sparkling with mischief, clearly getting a great deal of amusement from Fai’s plight. He momentarily considers begging Kurogane to feed him. An enticing thought, certainly, but… no. No. Fai pushes the feeling down, as he always does. He's too attached as is. And he's not about to rely more on Kurogane than he needs, being trapped in this world where he can't communicate. He'll need to adapt, and quickly. 

Fai gingerly picks up a vegetable that in his country he would have been called a carrot but almost certainly is not called that here, lifting it to his mouth. Deft wooden spears snatch the morsel from between his fingers and Fai bites down on air. Kurogane had moved closer without him realizing. Fai covers his annoyance with that blithe smile he knows the ninja hates in retaliation. 

But instead of a scowl (or at least, not a worsening scowl), Kurogane holds the bite of carrot out to him. Fai’s chest constricts. Wait. He’s not… is he?

Feeling like this could be a trick, Fai leans forward and carefully takes the vegetable between his lips and chews. It’s good. It does not taste like a carrot. Kurogane’s eyes don’t leave his face, even as he picks up another bite and holds it out to him. Fai’s breathing hitches slightly, and he curses himself as Kurogane’s eyes wander down his throat, catching the movement. What… what is he thinking?

Fai eats the rest of his meal this way, Kurogane showing an uncharacteristic patience in helping him eat his food. Fai pouts, feeling childish. He must practice eating with these sticks. He can’t rely on Kurogane for nourishment forever.

The day passes slowly. Fai is unsure if they are prisoners here, or guests, but anytime he gets close to the door, Kurogane stops him from leaving. Lonely? He wants to tease, but his glowering resting face shows nothing. Was the figure standing outside a guard, keeping them here, or a servant to wait on them? Fai had lived nearly a hundred years in Ruval Castle with King Ashura as something like nobility, but even he could not comfortably assess the truth behind their situation.

As the sun finally begins to set, Fai settles himself between the pad and comforter of the futon on the floor. Not the most comfortable place he’d slept recently, but not the worst. Kurogane, as usual, doesn’t lie down to sleep, but leans against the wall, hand on his sword.

It doesn’t take long for sleep to claim the wizard. He has always slept like Death. Ashura used to tell him so. Face down, motionless, breathing quiet and calm, he used to wake many times to the feel of Ashura’s fingers tracing the tattoo on his back, checking the rise and fall of his breathing.

“How do you sleep like that?” His king purrs, sitting next to him in the bed they often shared. Fai stretches so he can move closer to Ashura, resting his head on the other’s thigh. Ashura’s long, cool fingers spider up his spine, over his shoulder, and brushes a lock of hair away from his closed eyes.

His relationship with Ashura came about naturally, easily. He had always looked up to him after Ashura rescued him from Valeria, and when he became an adult, that admiration inevitably turned to love. He and Ashura often stayed together like this. There was never any confession of love, for there was no need. Fai knew of his feelings, and Ashura's feelings for him.

“I had to, after that pit." Fai can speak freely of that abominable prison only to Ashura, one of the few people left alive who saw the conditions in which he was forced to live. “You know that time moves differently there. My hunger and thirst grew agonizingly slow, with no reprieve. My bodily needs required minimal attention. But sleep… sleep never came. I could climb and climb and climb that tower, my fingers cracked and broken, exhausted, but I could not sleep.”

“It would have been a reprieve,” Ashura says, words full of sympathetic sorrow. “Time flows slowly there. To sleep would, by your perception, accelerate that time. Allow you to rest, spare you the horror for a few hours. That hole is a den of suffering. So no, you wouldn’t have been able to sleep that whole time. No escape from the pain."

Fai tips his head into Ashura’s fingers, now stroking soothingly through his blond hair. Only he could understand Fai... only he could ever hope to comfort his grieving heart. “So now, when I get tired, I surrender to sleep immediately,” he whispers, though with every touch from Ashura, the desire for sleep recedes, replaced by something else. “It’s the only peace I find some nights. Death-like sleep.”

The dream, the memory, unsettles Fai’s slumber, ironically enough. Dreaming of King Ashura… is it the result of this Yama country, where another Ashura may dwell? Or… is his king beginning to stir from his own magical slumber, reaching out through dreams?

Caught up in the memory, Fai does not realize at first that Kurogane is not in the room with him. The room is dark, and he still feels half-blind without his magic sense. Kurogane had taught Syaoran how to sense energies in his own way, but without his magic, Fai had been having trouble with the same. When he finally adjusts to the dim moonlight illuminating their room to find himself alone, a strange itching panic digs into his skull.

He hadn’t slept alone for… how many months had they been traveling together? Even in Ceres, he rarely slept alone. It brought back agonizing memories of his prison, his isolation, screaming for his brother only to be answered by harsh whistling winds…

No Mokona snuggling up to his chin, no gentle swell of magic from the princess or the answering void that was the mask of Syaoran… and no quiet, still determination from his ninja.

Had something happened? Kurogane never split off from their group. But now their group is just two. And Fai is alone.

Fai slips the door open, finding their guard, or handler, or whoever they are, gone. The castle is deathly still, and Fai tries to keep calm. He fears navigating the unknown castle alone, especially since Kurogane was clearly so insistent on keeping him in the room all day, but he can’t return to sleep without finding out what happened to his companion. His thoughts are a messy jumble as he keeps one hand against the wall and navigates down the halls, trying to draw a mental map.

Maybe someone took Kurogane in his sleep? No, he would have awoken and fought hard enough to wake even a deep sleeper like Fai. Perhaps Kurogane is investigating the castle on his own? He likes to think he would have taken Fai, but… without being able to speak to each other, his options might have been limited.

No explanation is plausible for both Kurogane’s absence and the apparent lack of any other palace residents. It’s as though they all vanished. Fai’s hands begin to shake as he peeks into different rooms, strains his ears for any sound, but to no avail. And without his magic, he can’t sense any auras, any life force, any magical trickery that may be about. He’s not even sure if this country has magic. The panic begins to well up in his throat as he moves with less quiet, more desperation, throwing open doors, backtracking down hallways he knows he’s visited, running in circles looking for any sign-

Fai finds his way outside, the only place he feels like he has not checked. It seems to be a courtyard, a swath of flat earth ringed by massive standing stones. The moon hangs like an oppressive eye overhead, blood-red and glaring from the pitch black sclera of sky. The effect is heightened by a darkened pupil poised at the center of the astral body, and on closer inspection, Fai sees it is some crystalline structure floating in the air. How had he not noticed that before? He hadn’t thought to look up while they walked to the castle, and the window in their room only shows a small square of the horizon.

Fai finds himself instinctively reaching for that well of power within him and only to feel nothing, sending him scrambling, tumbling down the void of his own head. Alone. Darkness. No power. No magic. The pit. The tower. Fai. Fai. Fai. FAI.

A great light shines in the center of the standing stones, and Fai covers his mouth with both hands to swallow the cloying scream of terror from the memories he is unable to suppress.

The light fades, and Fai is suddenly surrounded by hundreds of armed soldiers- bloodied, wounded, armed, some already dragging the limp bodies of others up towards the castle. A frantic look among them reveals King Yasha astride his regal reptilian mount, face impassive as before, along with a grim-looking Manas and finally… Kurogane, broken shaft of an arrow sticking out from his shoulder.

Manas supports Kurogane on his unwounded side and has already begun leading him back to the castle when he sees Fai. Manas looks annoyed and snaps something at Kurogane, but Fai isn’t even pretending to understand. He rushes up to Kurogane, eyes fixed to the wound. His hands hover over the broken wood sticking from his body, the cloth of his black robes shining bright in the moonlight with his blood. Again, again, Fai desperately wishes for his magic, for any magic that could heal, a skill he never managed to learn. The fear of Kurogane, hurt and bleeding out, dying and leaving him, has him choking back a sob.

Kurogane grunts at Fai and brushes his hand aside, shooting him a heated look Fai can’t distinguish between rage and annoyance.

The buzz of the soldiers’ native tongue fades in the background as the contingent of soldiers filter into the palace. No one pays any mind to Fai except for a few curious glances, but Fai can't be bothered with the rabble. He stays fixed on Kurogane, following him and Manas closely, hands fitfully reaching near Kurogane before darting self-consciously back to his sides. Never touching. But always wanting to.

Chapter Text

Fai flits around Kurogane like an irritating gnat as Manas helps walk him back into the castle. He damn well hopes this proves his worth.

He wouldn’t have been in this mess if Manas hadn’t tricked him. He’d summoned him from their room in the middle of the night to come to the Moon Castle and "prove his loyalty". In a massive courtyard, Kurogane had been forced into a crowd of armed and armored warriors. Taking stock of the environment, he noted the area was circled by the castle walls on three sides, and the far end was a large wooden gate leading to the surrounding compound. Gigantic standing stones ringed the field, carved with some kind of inscription he couldn't read. It reminded him of a zen rock garden, but a much larger scale. Some of the soldiers were on those horse-like lizard mounts, and he surmised they had been brought in through the gates. It didn't occur to him to wonder why they led a significant portion of their army into this courtyard, so well-protected and insulated from outside threats; only the thrill of anticipation filled his mind. Kurogane smirked, readying Sohi. He thought he knew what he was in for, so when he was blinded by a sudden burst of light, he drew his blade, still able to sense the soldiers around him, ready to strike. When he regained his vision, however, and saw they were standing on a completely different battlefield, he froze.

They were surrounded by the darkness of night, and the walls of the castle had vanished. Instead of a flat, trimmed lawn, he stood on uneven rocky terrain, with the moon shining blood-red and large above. Around him, soldiers of Yasha hollered and charged into a fray, suddenly engaging with enemies dressed and mounted in red and white. In the opening seconds of disorientation and chaos, one of Ashura’s damn archers immediately targeted him, an idiot warrior standing armorless and alone with sword drawn and pointed at nothing. The shot made him holler in rage more than pain, and he just caught Manas's stare as he charged his attacker, remembering only at the last second to swing the flat of his blade against the man's skull. Even through the ensuing brawl, Kurogane could feel Manas nearby, felt his eyes on him the entire time, until eventually the pale light enveloped them all and brought them back here. 

This better damn well have been enough to prove himself. At some point, he'd broken off the end of the shaft to keep it out of his way and grant a little more mobility, the pain always present but tolerable as long as he focused on combat, on staying alive. Once they were safe, Manas immediately supported him, as the adrenaline and excitement faded from his veins and left only the piercing pain. Certainly not the worst injury he’d ever received, but he wouldn’t have been hit at all if Manas had just told him what to expect.

In addition to his new injury, he has to contend with Fai's annoying presence. Temper at his limit, he only barely allows Manas to guide him through the castle towards a large infirmary, with dozens of beds already filled with mild to critical injuries. He's going to get answers and he's getting them now. Kurogane catches the anxious wringing of the wizard’s hands, stilling them with one tight-fisted grip.

“You,” he growls. Fai stills, eyes wide. “You don’t happen to know any magic to fix this hole in my shoulder, do ya?” Fai’s expression remains blank, and he just blinks. Manas raises an eyebrow. When he doesn’t receive an answer, as expected, he shoves Fai back a few steps. “Then back off.” He points at the door they just came through for emphasis. “Go.”

There's a flash something Kurogane doesn't immediately recognize in his eyes, then he smooths it away, turning away with a sweep of his long furry coat sleeves. One problem taken care of. Now for the other.

Kurogane starts working the shaft of the arrow out of his body. Manas seizes his hands in a panic. “You fool!” He spits. “Wait for the healer! If you remove it-”

“I’ll bleed more, but this area doesn’t have any major vessels. If I leave it much longer, the wound will clot closed around the arrow and it’ll be a bastard to remove. Might as well get it over with now.” Kurogane shoves a scrap of his cloak's collar into his mouth and grits his teeth against it as he slowly twists and pulls the arrow free of his body. Manas stares at him with a mix of shock and respect.

“You’re no mere minstrel’s bodyguard, that’s for sure,” he murmurs.

Kurogane smirks at that, then hisses in agony and relief as the pointed arrow tip slips from his skin. Immediately he presses his hand against the newly-opened wound to stem the blood. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Got any gauze around here?”

Manas starts, then quickly sets off towards some shelves between two beds, both occupants still and quiet (but, Kurogane could sense, still alive). He tosses him a roll of bandages. Kurogane, after stripping off the bloodied shoulder of his own yukata, bandages himself up. Manas sits at the foot of the bed and stares at him with an inquisitive eye.

“You’re a real soldier, aren’t you?”

Kurogane rolls his eyes. “What gave you the impression otherwise?”

Manas scrubs a hand through his grey hair. As opposed to many of the other young soldiers, Manas keeps his hair trim and short. “You were alone deep in the mountains with no supplies, no armor, no mount, dressed in these ridiculous outfits, on the night of a full moon, right after our battle. It’s preposterous to think you were anything but spies. But you’ve clearly never seen the Moon Castle before, and I don’t think Ashura would keep a soldier of your skill off the field. Not sure how Ashura would get someone to Yama anyway, but we had to be sure.”

“Satisfied?” Kurogane bites out as he secures the wrapping over his wound. His range of motion will be effected until it heals, but he doesn’t sense any serious damage.

“Almost,” Manas huffs. He shoots him a meaningful look. “Join our forces, Kurogane-san. Officially.”

Kurogane raises an eyebrow. “Why would I do that?”

“Because otherwise we’ll have to send you back down to the village at the base of the mountain, and when you realize how bored you are with no one to fight down there, you’ll have to compete in the festival just to get back up here.”

There's a lot to unpack in that, but he focuses on the most important thing first. “So, I’m in your army now, just like that? You'll let us stay here?”

“In truth, we’re short on soldiers. Our war has been going on generations, vying for control of the Moon Castle so our Yasha clan can have a wish granted. Ashura wants the same thing, so we fight, every full moon, every month, every year. Our ranks grow thin, and we’ve been recruiting from further and further into Yama. I’ve seen how you fight, Kurogane-san. With you by our side, I believe we can spare twenty new recruits.”

Kurogane rolls his injured shoulder, working through the sharp ache. “Give me some decent armor and a better warning, I’ll replace a hundred green recruits.”

Kurogane spends the evening in the infirmary, more at Manas’s insistence than his own need. The healer has a fit over him when she realizes he’d dressed his own wound, and she fusses about sloppy field dressings and basic wound care. None too gently, she exposes his wound to the stinging air, aggressively swipes it clean with a burning rag, then packs the piercing with a bit of gauze before wrapping him back up with a huff. As she works, Kurogane has Manas explain his new duties as a rank-and-file soldier. King Yasha is the head of the army, of course, although Manas’s eyes hollow when discussing his lord. Kurogane files that away for another time as well. Just under Yasha is Manas himself, then he names a few dozen field commanders, captains, and notable soldiers. For three days during the full moon, companies rotate out to keep a full regiment ready for battle, but afterwards, the whole castle is vulnerable while everyone rests and recovers. But that’s never been a concern, Manas hand-waves Kurogane’s complaint. No member of the Ashura clan has ever been spotted in Yama. No threats exist on this soil. 

Thinking about the compound's fortifications, he doubts that very much.

After the recuperation period, the soldiers rearmor, resupply, and fill the ranks with any gaps left by death or injury by recruiting through a festival. The Moon Festival, held for the three days during the new moon, encourages any skilled warrior to compete for the honor to join King Yasha’s army and seize control of the Moon Castle for Yama. Manas and King Yasha judge the contestants personally.

“I would be honored if you joined us for the next festival, Kurogane-san,” Manas invites politely.

“Me? You thought I was a spy a few hours ago, and now you want a new recruit to judge worthiness of new soldiers?”

Manas smirks. “New recruit? Hardly. You’ll be among the king’s best generals after three moons, at most. With only three days of combat at a time, it takes many years before any of our guard gain a real level of skill. I’m impressed. Where’d you learn to fight so well, if not at the Moon Castle?”

Kurogane grunts, pushing away, as always, memories of Nihon and Suwa. “I have my own reasons for my skills,” he answers cryptically.

Manas sighs. “Fair enough. What about that companion of yours? What is his story?”

Kurogane’s eyebrows knit together in annoyance. “Wish I knew."

Fai can’t get back to sleep. Kurogane never returns to their room, and he can’t sleep.

How did he get injured? Clearly, Yasha’s men had been in a battle, but with whom? Fai has barely managed to learn snippets of names, let alone the culture and environment of this place. Kurogane seems to have the gist of it, maneuvering with that same cautious confidence he usually does, but he's told almost nothing to Fai, even in the bare minimum communication they've been able to establish. He seemed awfully familiar with that Manas person already, so he doubts that Kurogane fought against Yasha’s own men. Then where… where could he have been? Who are their enemies? Are they in danger? The thought that Kurogane could have died somewhere, and Fai would never know where or why makes his whole body convulse with terror. Then he’d truly be alone.  

No, he assures himself. Kurogane is strong. Impressively strong. Strong enough that even Fai would need to watch himself. 

He worries for Sakura and Syaoran. Where they were, how they were doing. He shouldn’t, knowing they aren’t real, but… but Syaoran’s shy smile when Sakura isn’t looking still feels real. The princess’s eyes becoming clearer and sharper with every feather is real. It is so easy to lose himself in their friendly atmosphere, especially when Kurogane often offers such fun distractions. But if this is how he reacts to Kurogane’s little wound, how would he ever do what’s needed of him when the time comes?

It's only now, being alone again, that the old fear creep back into his heart. The horror and terror, the memories of his brother's tiny broken body sealed away. Fai has a mission. Ancient orders that must be followed. Fai's life is scripted and sealed. He must nor err. He needs to get back to Sakura and Mokona, and he needs Kurogane to do that. That's all this is. 

Fai presses the heel of his palms into his black, black eyes, his soul empty and mundane without magic. Dammit! If only he could talk to Kurogane, ask him where the hell he’d been, if they were in any danger, try to plan what to do next…

Ashura, his Ashura, had once taught him a spell of comprehension, granting the caster the ability to understand someone perfectly, beyond the simple words they spoke, down to their very intention. Fai had been terrible at it, but it was how he managed his first couple years in Ceres, before he learned the language on his own. Obviously, he couldn’t use that spell now even if he wanted to, but he would have to study in earnest if he had any hope of making it through this distraction with the shreds of his sanity intact. If they don't find Mokona soon, they could be here for a long, long time. 

Dawn’s warm light greets his fuzzy thoughts as the sun peeks through their small window. With the ninja still missing, Fai decides to go back to the infirmary. Just as he stands and reaches for their door, it slides open with a rough shove. Kurogane, looking as tired as Fai feels, grumbles something and falls into his futon, immediately asleep. He’s wearing different clothes, now; blue and black robes, and a headband bearing the insignia of a moon he had seen in Yasha’s throne room. Fai stands over the ninja, scowling even in sleep, and nudges his uninjured shoulder with his slender bare foot.

“When you wake, Kuro-liar, we are going to have words.”

With Kurogane back in the room, Fai manages to catch a few more hours of sleep through the morning. He hates the realization he can’t relax without the warrior nearby. He’d thought he’d purged himself of such weaknesses long ago, but this country has been wresting his hard-won freedoms from him, one by one. The sweet long-haired guard from yesterday brings bread rolls, rice, and alcohol sometime in the late afternoon, once Fai can no longer see the sun through the window. Kurogane hasn’t woken once. Judging from this guard and the still-quiet castle, many others are likely just as tired.

Fai eats his and Kurogane’s portion of the food, holding the chopsticks as like Souseki taught him so he can shovel rice into his mouth. Stomach full but with nothing else to do, he starts to drink. It’s a pale color, but the flavor is thicker than wine, more earthen and hot. He drinks half the bottle before he feels a warm buzzing in his skull that doesn’t subside as fast as he expects once the bottle is empty.

When was the last time he’d been truly drunk? He’d played around a bit in Ôto and Shara, letting his tipsiness trigger Kurogane’s short fuse for a laugh. But normally, his magic clears alcohol from his system in short order, and he doesn’t feel the effects long. This drunkenness... lingers. Maybe drinking the whole bottle by himself had been a poor decision.

He’s still feeling the effects when Kurogane wakes, just as the sky dims from blue to pink. “Good morning, Kuro-sleepy,” Fai greets him, surprised at the slight slur of his words. Would Kurogane even notice? He doesn’t know how his language is supposed to sound, after all.

The ninja groans and rubs at his shoulder. A flare of anger flashes through Fai’s chest. Kurogane went off to fight somewhere, got himself hurt, risked getting killed, and shoved Fai away when he showed his concern in spite of himself. He didn’t even come back in the night to show Fai he lived. Did he truly care so little?

Kurogane glances around the room, noticing the empty plates of food and bottle of not-wine still gripped in Fai's hand. He grumbles some kind of complaint, picking through the dishes as though looking for scraps Fai left behind. Kurogane barely even acknowledges him, and the anger swells to a peak. “Kuro-asshole,” he says, knowing the second word won't be translated. “Kuro-jerk. Kuro-meanie.”

Every Kuro makes his face tic, and Fai feels a teensy bit better, but maybe that’s drunken giddiness. Kurogane refuses to look at Fai. 

 When he doesn't find any morsel left to eat, he stands up and mutters “無駄な飲酒” under his breath as he heads to the door.

“Oh, no you don't, Kuro-babble,” Fai answers, moving to block him from the door. The room tilts and Fai grips the edge of the door frame to stay upright. “Kuro-pouty, I’m going to say your name over and over again because that’s the only thing you can understand, and I want to annoy you in revenge for what you did. Kuro-ninja, what were you doing last night? Kuro-loner, leaving me alone like that, so cruel. How dare you try to leave again, Kuro-cutie-”

“黙れ.” Kurogane’s voice is low like a threat. Boring. Not cute at all.

“What, Kuro-sulk, are you mad? Well, so am I. Kuro-traitor, don’t you even care that I worried about you? You pushed me away so harshly, Kuro-hurt, I just wanted to know you were okay, don’t you even care? Kuro-darling, you don’t even know what it means for me to worry about you. I’m not even supposed to be your friend, but you keep making things so fun, Kuro-goofy. You don’t know what you do to me, Kuro-sexy, I can't stand it. I hate you for it, Kuro-dear.”

Kurogane grabs Fai’s wrist and yanks him hard, and Fai nearly falls over his feet as the room lurches nauseatingly. Fai crashes into Kurogane's chest, desperately scrabbling his hands on his shoulder's to keep from collapsing onto the the floor. Leather armor pads scratch rough against his fingers. Fai's drunken instincts demand he undo the ties on the armor, shove Kurogane's clothes off, trip into bed with him and give into the heat burning in his belly. He freezes, staring up into Kurogane's harsh unmoving face, and he imagines what it would be like to kiss that scowling mouth. 

"Kuro," he squeezes out past the lump in his throat. 

Then with a tug that nearly upends the world, Kurogane yanks him out of their room. “外に出ます,” he spits at their guard, who blinks so hard and fast Fai is sure they had been asleep moments ago.

Fai stumbles after Kurogane, barely keeping his feet as he tries to match Kurogane's unforgiving pace, mind racing with possibilities. He's sure Kurogane didn't understand anything he'd said, though his tone wasn't exactly light and friendly. But he can't stop his thoughts from spiraling in wild direction, unable to comprehend what's going on in his head, where he's taking Fai. Is he kicking Fai out? Or... taking him somewhere more fun? The thought makes his head even more muddled than the alcohol. Surely not. Surely not. 

Right? 

He shifts his grip; even drunk he can manipulate Kurogane's hands around his wrist so their fingers thread together. “Kuro-sweet, such a tease,” he murmurs.

Kurogane has had enough of the drunken babble, but more than pure annoyance, he knows something is going on with the wizard. He is off. Well, he’s always off somehow, but this behavior is entirely out of character. Drinking, sure. Teasing, always. But the face he showed him last night... it had been the first time he’d seen anything real in his eyes. Ironic, considering these aren’t his eyes at all, not really. And now, drunk, going off in that trilling language of his, he saw that expression again. Anger. Disappointment. And buried deep beneath it all, mixed in with other muddled mess of feelings, he could see fear. He'd never seen the wizard be so honest with his darker emotions before, so Kurogane knew it was serious.

He squeezes the damn mage’s fingers between his - a little too harsh, perhaps. Probably reading more as anger than he intends. Is he angry? Generally speaking of the wizard, yes, Kurogane is probably angry at him for something. But thinking about it, he has even less idea of what’s in his head than usual. They hadn’t been able to communicate almost anything except a few names. Ever since, about the only thing he seems to be saying is Kurogane’s name, over and over, each with a new nonsense word attached to the end.

At first, it seemed like he just wanted to torment him with the nicknames, but in between each name was a pointed, purposeful jabbering, his tone sounding like a lecture and tinged with hurt. His mood is impossible to read as always, but Kurogane has to grudgingly admit — Fai likely has no idea what is going on, how or why Kurogane had been hurt. Though his concern felt demeaning, irritating, Kurogane is only just realizing how concerning it must have been, showing up injured in a strange place with no idea why. He doesn't even know that they're safe here, at least for now. Last night was the final moon for this month. If he’s going up again in three weeks, he needs some way to let Fai know. He can do that much for him, at least. Maybe it’ll make him less annoying until they find the white pork bun.

Though still learning his way, Kurogane manages to lead them through the confusing twist of identical hallways and gets them on the castle's courtyard. This is the only known location from whence troops can be transported to the Moon Castle at the designated time, but no one has ever been taken outside the window of the full moon. By design, it has the best view of the sky. It is fully dark now, the moon just cresting the horizon, its refracted light bright enough to show the shadow of the Moon Castle drifting overhead. When they stop in the middle of the courtyard, Fai pauses in his ceaseless babbling to cast his eyes upward. He must have seen it last night, too. But how can he explain to him that they were transported there? That he would be back there again?

Now that they're stopped, Fai sways against Kurogane, some of his anger burned through to a strange emptiness. He’d never seen the magician’s expression so blank before. “Pole nagu see, et sa isegi minust hoolid,” he murmurs. “Ja te ei peaks seda tegema. Võib-olla on siin olemine ka teile needus.”

Kurogane shakes him via their connected hands until light sparks back in his eyes. “Jah, mu tüütu väike, Kuro-sõber?”

He grits his teeth. Those nicknames sound even more annoying in his language. Using their clasped hands, Kurogane raises Fai’s arm and makes him point at the moon rising in the sky.

“Moon. Tsuki.” he says clearly. Fai stares. “Moon,” he says again, pointing. He’s not sure how much Nihongo he can teach Fai, but might as well start with the basics. And in Yama, those basics begin with the moon and the castle.

“Soo-kee?” Fai repeats slowly, and Kurogane’s throat leaps with a tense little swallow. Whether through drunkenness, the unfamiliar language, or both, Fai’s pronunciation lost the subtle sibilance of the tsu, turning it to a hard s. Meaning what Fai just said was “suki.” I love you.

“Tsu-ki,” he repeats slower. Damn. He knows Fai doesn’t understand what he just said, but how did this lesson immediately start off so awkwardly? Fai leans in closer to Kurogane, following the line of his sight to make sure they were looking at the same thing. Kurogane curses himself. Of all the first things to teach him to say…

“Tsuki,” Fai repeats with more confidence. The near-full moon reflects boldly in his dark eyes. Kurogane shifts his pointing finger to the dark, jagged castle hanging miles above them. “Castle. Shiro.”

“She-ro.” Again, his first attempt trills the ro in a way that stings Kurogane’s ears. Not as awkward as his first blunder with tsuki, at least. He needs to make sure Fai learns that one first, otherwise he may start telling random soldiers he loves them.

“Tsuki shiro. Moon castle.” Then, unsure how to get this next point across, Kurogane sweeps his arm wide, trying to suggest the whole of the courtyard, then slowly, making sure Fai is watching, points up to the castle.

Fai ponders this, watching Kurogane repeat the gesture with no hint of mirth in his face. He holds his palm over the ground, as though feeling for something, then his expression twists painfully, and he withdraws his hand, looking despondent.

“Magic?” Kurogane offers, then silently curses himself. Fai stares at him, not sure what he just said. Of course not. He had no context for that word yet. Fai examines the standing stones, running his fingers along the ancient, smooth grey face, eyes studying the bumps and ridges underneath his hands.

“Shiro.” He whispers, glancing at the moon, then finally at Kurogane. “Soo-ki.”

Kurogane’s spine shivers at the words.

Chapter Text

Fai traces his fingers along the outer face of the standing stones, finding ancient, deep, intentional grooves running from top to bottom. Runes, although by touch alone he cannot tell if he recognizes them. Frustration pools in the back of his skull. He’s useless without all his senses. He should be able to easily tell if the stones are magic, what type of magic they hold, how to activate the magic. Maybe even repurpose the magic, if it’s teleportation-based as he suspects, to find out where their little Mokona vanished off to. It would fill in so many gaps. He swore to never use his magic once he left Ceres, but he never expected to be so helpless.

Kurogane watches him with sharp eyes. As best he could, he taught Fai about the crystal castle, gave him the word for moon. What do those have to do with each other? They must be important, if those are the first things he taught him to say. Does the moon indicate the structure is only accessible at night? At certain times? Is the positioning important? Kurogane’s silly gesticulations, while amusing, do not add much to this basic understanding.

He had seen the Yasha soldiers appear suddenly in this field in a flash of light. Clearly, their battle happened somewhere else, and this field plays some role. Being in this clearing somehow results to being placed on a battlefield, far above their heads. But no one else is here tonight. Are they not going? Or will that be later? He frowns, hands trying to memorize the patterns on the stones. If he had some charcoal, he could take some rubbings and try to make sense of them back in their room.

How can he ask follow-up questions when he can’t express when, why, or how? All he has is what. And pointing.

He catches Kurogane’s wrist and gently pulls him to stand in the clearing with Fai. His eyes are hard, but this time from concentration, not annoyance. Fai points to himself, then Kurogane, then to Yasha’s castle surrounding them. Slowly, he then points to the middle of the field, twirling it in a circle in an attempt to convey, we all gather here? Then gesturing around one more time, he points to the castle above them. Then everyone here goes up there?

Kurogane starts to nod, stops, frowns, scowls, then shakes his head. “バカみたいな感じ,” he mutters.

“I don’t understand either, Kuro-moon.”

Kurogane points to himself, the castle, then mimics Fai’s grouping motion, then to the floating structure. That makes Fai raise a suspicious eyebrow. What, he doesn’t want me going, too?

He wants to ask if they are going tonight, but he’s at a loss how to convey this. Fai looks at Kurogane nervously, then to the clearing, then to the crystalline pupil overhead. His eyes meet Kurogane’s, trying to implore the meaning for him. As an answer, Kurogane shakes his head and walks towards the door leading back inside. Is that a no? Or is he just done with this non-conversation?

But surprisingly, Kurogane stops shortly outside the clearing, grabbing a long stick broken off from a single lone shrubbery. He hunches over the ground and moves the stick in the dirt to make a crude, rough pattern.

He draws a circle that is filled by h cashmarks in the dirt. Then a crescent, opened points facing left. Then a circle with no markings in the middle. Then another crescent, a mirror of the first. Then finally, another filled-in circle. He looks to Fai, expression almost pleading.

These must be moon cycles. A new, or perhaps full, moon to begin. Then, a waxing crescent moon, if he’s not mistaken from the angle, then full (or new, if he is mistaken about the crescent shape), then a waning crescent, then the cycle repeats. Fai nods in understanding, pointing to the full moon and repeating, “Tsuki.” The moon phases. So?

Kurogane intentionally taps the circle in the middle, then slowly points to the castle. He then holds up three fingers.

This moon phase… it must be a full moon. Yesterday was a full moon, as tonight is as well. Or at least, appears full. If Fai is guessing correctly… then perhaps they travel to the castle every full moon. But what do the three fingers signify? Three companies that travel? The effect lasts three turns of the clock? Seeing his lost expression, Kurogane quickly jot three lines above the full moon symbol, but he’s still not sure. With a growl, Kurogane taps the moon once, the point above them. Taps the moon, points above them, then repeats one more time.

Three nights. It must mean for three nights, they visit the castle. Three nights of a full moon. Good to know. A few worlds they’d been to had nights longer than days, had multiple moons, had astral bodies that did not cycle or change. No guarantee how long the full moon lasted. Fai meets Kurogane’s eyes and nods with some confidence, but can’t help but ask, “And tonight?” He glances at the moon. It still looks full, but is it full enough?

Following his eyes, Kurogane shakes his head. He points to the bare patch just past the full moon, not quite on the crescent. Fai didn’t realize how tense he’d been until his shoulders relax, sore jaw clenches. Thank goodness. He won’t – he shouldn’t – have anywhere else to go tonight, not for a while.

Kurogane, satisfied by Fai’s apparent comprehension, scuffs out his little sketches with his sandal and nods to the castle door, towards their new home. Fai follows a little unsteadily. Moon. Castle. Every full moon, for three days. And Kurogane didn’t want him to go.

He has a month to figure out how to change that.

Back in their room, Kurogane eyes the mage with a bit of trepidation. He acted like he understood what Kurogane was trying to convey—castle, full moon, fighting—but he can’t be sure the right message went through, only that Fai understood something. Well, he managed not to tell the moon he loved it. That will have to be enough for now.

After sleeping all day, he doesn’t feel very tired. Fai’s drunkenness has abated a bit, and he's walking again without a stumble. Kurogane has been given free range of Yasha’s domain as a soldier, but he hadn’t really discussed his companion or his restrictions.

They should be serving evening meals by now. Over the next few days, Yasha’s troops will begin to return to a diurnal schedule, but while they adjust, meals are rearranged so the sleep-addled soldiers get their nutrition . Someone brought food to their room during the day—probably another soldier, there’s few non-combatants here—but Fai had eaten it all. Without thinking, he asks, “Are you hungry?”

Fai tilts his head. Gods. Is this how it’s going to be until they find the pork bun? He runs a hand through his hair. He does not envy this game of charades for the foreseeable future. He tries to mime eating, pretending to use his hands to put something in his mouth, but Fai’s confusion only deepens. “I can’t leave you anywhere, can I?” He sighs, then just takes Fai’s hand in his and begins to walk to the mess hall.

Fai stumbles after him a bit but doesn’t try to pull away. It probably pains him to be at Kurogane’s mercy… actually, no, a glance back at him reveals that goofy, carefree smile once more. He must think this is hilarious, idiot mage. His fingers wraps around his own like it’s the most natural thing. Kurogane has been dragging him around lately, but only out of necessity. He better not get used to it.

When they finally enter the dining area, Kurogane has a moment to realize his mistake. It’s full of soldiers, some he recognizes, most he does not, and they’re all laughing, teasing, mocking, and generally kicking up a ruckus, loud and brash and unfamiliar. Large communal tables are arranged in rows in the middle of the room, and the wall opposite the doors contain even longer tables full of food. People walk up and take what they please, a feast fit for another successful month of fighting.

Fai stills slightly near him, his smile fixed woodenly in place. Kurogane hadn’t tried to explain that Fai can’t communicate, and Fai has never tried to speak his language around anyone but Kurogane. If everyone here is from Yama, and everyone from Yama speaks one language, Fai would be too suspicious if he revealed the truth. Especially now that Kurogane gained the trust of the Yasha clan, he couldn’t risk Fai being exposed, and the magician’s stillness confirmed he felt the same.

Kurogane does not release his grip on Fai as he marches up to a table that only has a couple people sitting at the far end, faces he recognizes. Esha, the newbie who had been their guard briefly, waves and smiles, along with a woman with short fiery red hair whose name he does not know, but he remembers her terrifying battleaxe.

“Kurogane-san!” Esha calls warmly. “I heard about your promotion from Manas. Congratulations!”

“Less of a promotion, more of a recruitment.”

Esha’s smile does not waver. “Still, though, the congratulations stand. Do you remember Koshi?” He gestures to the axe-wielder.

“I do. You’re a force to be reckoned with.”

She grins at him toothily. “We should spar sometime. You had some impressive techniques yourself out there.”

Esha’s gaze slides over to Fai expectantly. “Ah, I’m sorry, I can’t remember if you ever told us your name…?”

“Fai,” Kurogane answers for him. Fai blinks once then waves to the others. “Fai, that’s Esha, and Koshi,” he repeats, pointing to each of them, maybe a little too slow. The magician nods, his expression enigmatic.

Esha’s own face dims somewhat. “Not much of a talker, is he?”

“Nope,” Kurogane answers gruffly. His mind races for a moment. Should he take Fai to get food? Leave him here and get something? Dammit, he never even found out if Fai actually wants to eat. Well, he sure does, and he can’t trust that Fai’s lack of communication won’t cause an issue. “We’re just getting some food and then we’re going back to our room.”

Koshi’s sneer is positively wolfish. “Ahh, I thought you might have that kind of relationship. Can’t wait to be alone and celebrate with just the two of you, eh?”

Esha’s face grows red, and Kurogane feels his own heart clench violently in his chest. “Koshi!” Esha chastises, causing her to erupt in bawdy laughter. To Kurogane’s horror, Fai tightens his hold and leans against him, and is his face still red from the wine? Why is he looking like that?

“Kuro,” he murmurs, practically purring. Esha, still a little embarrassed, looks between the two of them.

“You do seem very close. I wondered at your relationship.”

“We’re not-” Kurogane starts, but Koshi is already slapping her leg.

“Listen to that voice! Not much of a talker, eh? Well, I’ll bet if anyone’s posted outside their room tonight, we’ll sure hear something, eh, Esha?”

Esha covers their face with a delicate hand, trying to hide the smirk, and Kurogane’s head is spinning and his mouth is sputtering and Fai is looking up at him, eyes glittering with laughter…

Son of a… he’s doing this on purpose!

Furious, Kurogane throws off Fai’s surprisingly tightly hold and storms over to the table of food, piling up all kinds of food without even paying attention before his free arm hooks around Fai’s waist and drags him to the exit. Koshi hoots at his back, including encouragements to Fai not to break their newest warrior before the next full moon, and Kurogane is truly grateful for the first time that Fai does not understand what she said. However, the way he twiddles his fingers at her in a salacious little wave suggests he at least guessed some of the content. Ears burning, he drags Fai back into their room.

Chapter Text

It’s not hard to know when one is gossiping about you. Fai had watched the way the woman—Koshi, Fai believes—eyed the two of them, grinned at them. The way the guard Esha blushed and glanced away. It’s clear what they assumed. Fai isn’t sure what cover story Kurogane gave, but he knew the ninja would not have come up with that on his own, especially given the flustered way he reacted to the teasing. Fai couldn’t help but play into it. Perhaps, if they assumed they were lovers, they wouldn’t separate them.

It’s just for convenience, Fai tells himself, trying to assuage the baseless fear that he will somehow lose Kurogane. At least he can communicate with Kurogane a little, but it’s hard to admit his reliance on him. He remembers what he told Kurogane in that bar in Ôto, how he wishes he could be just swept away… although, he isn’t sure this really counts. It’s just a necessity. Don’t get caught up in the fantasy. But while the alcohol still burns in his blood, it's almost irresistible. 

Kurogane drags him back to their room, huffing angrily and muttering more words Fai doesn’t understand, but it makes him titter. Flustered Kurogane is always so fun. But… no. He’s not grumbling just about Fai’s little act back there. He's holding the tray of food with his right hand, left arm around Fai’s waist, but the dishes rattle uneasily on the platter. Kurogane lets him go and quickly sets the food on the floor, immediately rolling his shoulder. Right. That was where Kurogane was shot last night.

Idiot, how could he forget? Kurogane is always so tough and stoic, so he doesn’t often show pain, but carrying all that stuff around one-handed has stressed out his shoulder. Fai steps in front of Kurogane, hands hovering over the injury. Kurogane glowers at him and jerks back.

“いいえ,” he spits.

Iie? What is that, stop? No? Maybe even an insult? Fai frowns, annoyed. He taught him moon, and castle, but not even yes or no. Kurogane was right when he told Syaoran he might not be a good teacher. Fai reaches for Kurogane again, more insistently this time.

He growls and grabs his wrist, and Fai has had enough. “Iie!” He snaps back. Whatever Kurogane said to him, it probably applies here, too.

Kurogane’s eyes widen. What did Fai actually say? But surprisingly, Kurogane releases him and says under his breath, “いいよ, どうぞ.”

Fai furrows his brow. Can’t Kurogane learn to just say simple words in context so Fai can start to learn? That first word he just said was iiyo, similar to the iie from earlier. Did that mean iiyo is yes, and iie is no? What about the second word, dozo? Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Fai said iie, and that got Kurogane to stop, well, stopping him. Maybe it’s a useful word to keep around. He adds it to his very short vocabulary list as he gently prods Kurogane’s shoulder.

He flinches but tries to act like he didn’t. Slowly, eyes trained on Kurogane’s face, Fai slides down the edge of his robe to reveal his shoulder. It’s wrapped up in gauze, almost to his collarbone, but low enough to be kept hidden under his clothes, and finally looping under his armpit. A red spot grows slowly in the center, and Fai bites his lip. Clearly, no magical healing here. Kurogane is overexerting himself. Does he need to get a follow-up? Did he reopen the wound? What if it wasn’t cleaned properly, could it get infected?

Fai could never use his magic for healing, so he made sure he knew how to heal in more mundane ways. Steeling his resolve, Fai begins to unwrap the bandages. “ダメ.” Kurogane says sharply.

Why can’t you just stick with the same words? How many ways does Kuro-hurt know how to say no? He doesn’t want to dwell on that one, actually.

Instead, he meets Kurogane’s eyes, asks in a pleading voice, “Iie?”

It makes Kurogane’s breath stutter. Then he scowls and closes his eyes. “ いいよ , どうぞ .” There it was again. Iiyo, dozo. Maybe something like “go ahead”?

There will be time to learn later. Apparently having gotten permission, Fai unwinds his bandages, each layer growing redder and stickier with old dried blood. When the wound is exposed to air, Kurogane inhales on a hiss. It must sting. Fai scans the wound, doesn’t see any sign of infection. Yet. But blood has started to seep around a red mass in the wound. Ah, the medic must have packed it. From what he knows about wound care, that could be helpful for a deep puncture like this. But these need to be changed out, and he doesn’t have any suitable material around. Fai clucks his tongue. They need to see the medic again.

Roughly re-wrapping his shoulder, Kurogane moves to sit down. “Iie,” Fai says again, and Kurogane frowns at him. Did he misuse it this time? Maybe not, but at least it got his attention. He pulls at his hand, trying to get him to follow. Come on, he wishes he knew how to say. Just come with me.

With a sigh and a last longing look towards the food, Kurogane allows himself to be pulled along by Fai. Fortunately, Fai remembers where the medical wing is. The castle is confusingly laid out, by design, but he had lived nearly a century in Ruval Castle, where magical deception was the norm. Halls where the floor was an illusion over a pit trap, invisible doors, locks that could only be opened by holding a particular thought in one’s mind, walls that could be walked through, towers climbable only through flight spells. Comparatively, this place is simple enough to navigate.

There’s the main entrance hall, to which the dining area is adjacent. The other side leads to the medical wing, conveniently near the courtyyard. And of course, presumably the guest or living quarters, where they stayed, built up a subtle incline in line with the ascension of the mountain peak.

Fai finds the medical wing much quieter than it had been last night. Cries and groans of pain muted to shuffling noises, anesthetized moans, whispers of caretakers. He feels Kurogane studying his face as he flags down a medic.

He’s worrying too much, Kurogane thinks to himself in irritation. He’d been hurt worse before, this would heal on its own. Just because it ached a little, the wizard doesn’t have to get all upset about it.

So why is he being so insistent? The way he so quickly picked up on snapping no at him, what else was he learning? It made Kurogane realize how trapped Fai is without language, how he had to pull at threads to even get the word no. Stupid. He taught him how to say moon first. Like that’s actually helpful.

The medic checks his wound, replaces the cotton jammed in the opening and earning a grunt and a glare from Kuorgane at her rough treatment. Fai’s expression is the blank variety of unreadable, black eyes flat, straight lips, no affect. Watching closely as his shoulder is re-bandaged.

“It’s good you brought him back. I bet he doesn’t even remember the care routine we told him,” she tells Fai with a laugh. He returns nothing but a smile and a slight tilt of his head, which could either be a nod of agreement or ambivalent acknowledgment, working no matter the context.

“Just bring him around once a day, we can get the wound checked, cleaned, and wrapped up. He’ll be in fighting shape by the next full moon!”

His eyes only flicker with recognition at the word moon. Well, maybe Kurogane wasn’t entirely off basis teaching him that one. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep coming around until it’s better,” Kurogane jumps in to keep Fai from having to intuit a response. But she smirks at the wizard and leans over to whisper in his ear. Fai mimics her expression, forcing through a snide chuckle. She raises her eyebrow at him, and he freezes. Kurogane’s heart slams against his ribs, and he forces out the words, “Thank you for your hard work, but we should be getting back now.” He grabs the back of Fai’s collar and pulls him along, and the wizard stumbles after him.

Kurogane didn’t hear what she said, but clearly, she expected some kind of response, one Fai couldn’t give. Dammit, he is going to have to start teaching him in earnest, isn’t he? The ninja can’t even look at him right now, feeling too ashamed. It had been cruel of him to ignore Fai this long, even if he is irritating. Well, he can start fixing that now. When they get to an empty passageway, Kurogane checks the side rooms until he finds an unused training room, a long chamber filled with dummies and sandbags, and he pulls Fai inside with him, sliding the door closed behind him.

Fai looks… disheveled. His coat hangs askew off his narrow frame from Kurogane’s jostling, hair slightly mussed, eyes wide. Shit, he has no idea what Kurogane is doing, does he? Running a hand through his short hair, Kurogane takes a deep breath to steady himself as Fai leans against a wall, looking ready to bolt at any moment.

“Yes,” Kurogane says awkwardly, then nods his head purposefully. Fai’s expression fizzles into confusion. He repeats the word and the gesture, feeling like an idiot, but he needs to do this.

Recognition flits across his face. “Yes,” Fai repeats back in Nihongo. Simple, easy, no flaws in pronunciation.

Good. Kurogane shakes his head and says “No.” This one he already knows, and Fai’s mysterious smile finally meets his eyes.

“No,” the wizard repeats back confidently. Kurogane goes through what he can mime on short notice. Basic body parts – head, arms, legs, shoulder, stomach. Yes, no, left, right, up, down. Go, stop. Robe, sword (maybe just weapon? That one was hard to get across), shoe. They breeze through the words with Kurogane having little expectation of him remembering, but at least they have a baseline to practice.

When Kurogane runs out of ideas for what to say, Fai crosses his arms over his chest, glancing around the room in the ensuing silence. He mouths the words he had just learned, clearly going over them in his head. Kurogane trails his eyes around everywhere, trying to think of other things he can give Fai the words for, but he keeps landing back on the wizard himself. He looks so frail. He’s always thought that, but the way he’s defended himself in combat, the way he holds himself with an easy confidence, weight balanced perfectly at all times, shows warrior training. But he’s never seen him use a weapon unless he was forced to—a staff, like the wand he gave to the witch in Koryo country, and occasionally a sword, but he never used it to cut, only striking with the flat of the blade.

As a mage, he likely used to fight with his magic, but he knows how to navigate a battlefield even without using it and is dexterous enough for melee combat. And yet, he is so slender. His arms wrap tighter around himself, and Kurogane dimly realizes he’s still wearing the clothes from his home world. Manas had commented on the strangeness of their outfits - if they are to blend in, he'll need the right clothes. And though his clothes fit the oncoming winter Manas mentioned, they won't last if that's all he wears all day, every day. Especially if they have to be here a few weeks to find the kids.

“Come on,” Kurogane encourages, breaking the spell and catching Fai’s attention with the unfamiliar words. He plucks the hem of his own sleeve. “Robe,” he repeats, then adds, “let’s get you one.” He points to Fai to try to get that across. Fai tries to repeat the gesture with his own sleeve, repeating the word, but Kurogane sighs. That’s not what… “Come here,” he says, then takes Fai’s hand. Maybe if he can get across the meaning of this phrase, he can stop hand-holding Fai through this castle. Although it is convenient, to be able to hold on to him like this, take him where he wants.

Kurogane leads them out of the training room and navigates back to the quartermaster, where he was outfitted last night.

Kurogane has properly taught Fai some new words. The suddenness of it shocked him, especially when he pulled him aside in an empty room with a sudden eagerness Fai had come to associate with hidden trysts in secret rooms, a lifetime ago. Still, it was a relief to have a few basic words down, although he’s not sure what else Kurogane has in mind. He pointed to his clothes, then to Fai? If it had been someone other than Kurogane saying those things, it might have made him blush. Kurogane didn’t think of Fai like that, though; his dirty mind was just getting ahead of him.

More hallways and passageways and Kurogane has led him to another small room, this one no bigger than a closet. There’s a desk in front of a large wooden door, different than the sliding panels everywhere else. At the desk sits a gruff old man, beard trailing down to his sternum and small round glasses perched on his nose. Kurogane converses with him briefly, and Fai catches the word Kurogane just gave him for robe. Or maybe it was sleeve? Clothes? The exact translation might be a mystery for now, but clearly it related to what he was wearing.

The old man shuffles out from behind the desk and eyes Fai up and down. Fai glances at Kurogane, who just gives a little encouraging nod. The man lifts Fai’s arm, touches his neck, his waist, his thigh, but with businesslike efficiency, eyes darting mechanically, not lustfully, over his body. He then clucks his tongue and returns to his desk, eyes scanning over a ledger without even a side eye back to Fai. It’s over as quick as it started, Fai feeling strangely dazed. Eventually the man finds what he’s looking for, tapping something in the ledger and nodding, then disappearing behind the door at the back of the room. Fai stands still in shock. What could Kurogane possibly be planning?

The ninja looks almost bored, arms crossed, leaning against a wall. They wait for several minutes, Fai’s new words of absolutely no help. Finally, when the man returns, he has bundles of cloth in his arms and unceremoniously shoves them at Fai, who takes them reflexively.

“行くぞ,” Kurogane says again. That’s what he said right before he led him from the training room, but this time he’s staring meaningfully at Fai, not touching. What, another lesson? Does this phrase mean “follow me” or something? Fai takes a tentative step towards the ninja, who nods and actually smiles at him, turning and heading out the door.

Fai follows in a haze. Did Kurogane just get new clothes for him? He studies the bundle in his arms- thick woolen robes and cloaks, similar to what Kurogane is currently wearing, and his throat tightens. Warm clothes. It is a little drafty in the castle, but this would be a balmy warm summer in Ceres by comparison, plus his coat keeps him plenty warm. Fai barely even noticed it. Was Kurogane concerned about him? Or did he just need new clothes to fit in?

Regardless, before he puts on the new clothes, Fai desperately wants a bath. He knows they have food in their room, but if they are going to be a while, Fai wants to get clean before trying on this outfit. But how is he going to ask?

They eat in their room in silence, since Fai doesn’t know how to say thank you. Kurogane is being unusually considerate today, and Fai doesn’t trust it. But he might as well get what he can out of this good mood, so when they finish their meal, Fai grabs more paper and ink and begins to sketch: a tall black cat, like the one he drew instead of giving himself a name in Ôto. Putting his name to paper would have given evidence of his passing, something he couldn’t risk if (not if, when, it’s when ) Ashura pursued him through dimensions. Around the black cat, he drew a large basin, surrounding the cat with little peaks and waves he hoped conveyed water, and a wet washcloth on its head. He showed Kurogane his drawing and beamed hopefully, tapping the little drawing in earnest.

Kurogane looks like he wants to snap at him for wasting his time, but he gathers himself and studies the drawing intently. “風呂?” He asks. Fai wants to nod, but he might be asking what the hell is wrong with Fai, instead of saying the word for bath. But, with a sigh, starting to look a little weary, Kurogane stands and stands those words that are probably follow me.

This time, Kurogane leads them in a new direction, and Fai eagerly records the route so he can find the baths on his own next time. After a brief walk, Kurogane slides open the door to reveal the night sky, the waning moon shining just past the apex. So it’s sometime past midnight. Will we end up sleeping all day from now on?

But more than the fact they were now outside, which is certainly not a bathing area, Fai spots a massive pool of steaming water seemingly carved from the rock and earth. “温泉,” Kurogane says with a sweeping gesture, looking pleased like he carved this watery pit himself. Onsen? What the hell is that?

In the water, he noticed several men lounging about in the nude, soaking in the pool. Horror slowly dawns on him. Wait, these baths are...outdoors? And communal? Maybe… maybe he can wait until no one else uses them. But if someone walked in on him… if Kuro walked in on him…

He nearly squeaks in surprise when he catches Kurogane from the corner of his eye, eagerly stripping of his robes. He covers his mouth with horror. Am I... going to be bathing? With Kuro?!

Chapter Text

When Manas told Kurogane the layout of the castle and the various amenities, he had honestly been most excited about the hot springs behind the castle. It has been ages since he’s relaxed in a traditional outdoor bath; indoor plumbing confuses and irritates him. Knobs for cold and hot? Which direction? Sometimes they change! And they usually have bathing rooms near the outhouse, which they also put indoors! For Kurogane, nothing beats the ease and simplicity of soaking in a naturally heated pool. He had almost forgotten about it until the wizard asked about a bath, so he was happy to show him. So why is he now looking so confused and bothered?

Maybe he expects a separate area to disrobe and clean discreetly before getting in the water. Hanshin had something like that; Sorata called it a “shower.” But a quick scan around the area reveals no similar “showers” or stalls or anything of the sort, just lit torches casting the spring in warm flickering orange light. The current bathers have draped their clothes over some rocks that in all likelihood have been placed there for that very purpose. So with a shrug, Kurogane unwraps the ties to his robes and starts removing layers, walking towards the onsen.

Fai grabs his arm and stops him, his eyes wide and wild. Does he… not understand? “Bath,” he repeats again. Furo. The same word he used when looking at his goofy drawing. He points to the water for emphasis. It really is like speaking with a child. Fai’s eyebrows bunch up and he gapes, clearly wanting to express something, but with only a couple words, he is completely unable to. Kurogane extracts himself from Fai’s grip and resumes stripping. Fine. If he doesn’t want to bathe, he doesn’t have to, but Kurogane certainly does.

Nearer the edge of the spring, he sees a few other soldiers he recognizes, including Manas himself, lounging against a big rock in the middle of the large pool, the water up to his collarbone. “Kurogane-san,” he calls out, eyelids lowered to slits. He’d thought he had been asleep. “Wondered when you’d come join us.”

“Busy day,” he replies, throwing his outer robe over an unoccupied rock and pulling off his underrobe. “Busy evening.”

Manas chuckles knowingly. “Well, we’re going to resume daytime training operations by sunup. It’ll be hell for everyone, try to get some sleep tonight to get your schedule synced with the daylight.” The underrobe joins the upper layer, and Kurogane frees himself of his remaining clothes. Fai still lingers where he left him, eyes like saucers. Barely sparing him a glance and a huff, Kurogane lowers himself in the water, sighing at the heat immediately sinking into his muscles.

“Wouldn’t it be easier to stay on a night training routine?” Kurogane responds, inching his way deeper in the water. It’s hot enough that he wants to take it slow, every inch of skin stinging pleasantly as he wades further in. “Since these battles always happen at night, you should be training at night.”

“True,” Manas says with a sly grin, and Kurogane realizes he must get this question a lot. “Why didn’t I think of that. Training every evening. Sleeping all day. Can you imagine how much more effective we’d be?”

Kurogane glowers. He doesn’t deserve to be treated like a child. Manas shakes his head with a little laugh. “People don’t thrive well if deprived of sunlight. We have attempted nocturnal schedules, of course, but even when provided the best food, ample leave time, warm clothes and comfortable beds, the lack of sunlight eventually drains all morale. Day is the realm of light, of heat, of safety. Nighttime means battles. Death. Deception. Three nights every month, we lose at least a few soldiers. Have for as long as anyone can remember. No one ever has to see one of Ashura’s ilk in the daylight. Sunshine burns away some of the hardships of death, Kurogane-san. I don’t know about you, but not everyone can live bathed in the glory of battle.”

Poetic, pretty, simple words that Kurogane wants to scoff and rebut, but finds little argument against it. When he operated as a ninja, he frequently battled at night, under cover of darkness, sneaking and killing in secret, but more often he operated in broad daylight. He can’t imagine sacrificing one for the other. “Besides,” Manas says, stretching his arms over his head. “Though it hasn’t happened in a thousand years, sometimes Yama faces fighting from within, as well. We need to have soldiers prepared just in case.”

“Reasonable enough,” Kurogane concedes, finally up to his chest in water. The heat bleeds away any desire for argument anyway. “After a good soak, I’ll be more than ready for tomorrow.”

“And what about your companion, there?” Manas asks, eyes sliding towards Fai. He’s since stepped closer to the bath, but still fully dressed.

“Who knows what he’s up to,” Kurogane murmurs without thinking.

“Oh?” His eyebrows quirk up. “After listening to Koshi, I am surprised to see you both walking around so soon. I figured you would be...occupied. Lover’s quarrel, then?”

Kurogane whips his head around to Manas and storms towards him, though the water hampers his angry stride. “You too, Manas? Are you really going to provoke me with such ridiculous rumors?”

He must be in a good mood, because his black eyes simply twinkle in the light of the stars and torches. “I believe he has something to say about that, as well.” An indelicate splash catches Kurogane's attention, and he turns to see Fai—mostly undressed, though he notices twisted ties of his undergarments still cinch his hips before they vanish beneath the steam and the water. Fai’s face is tomato-red, the color extending to his ears and down his neck, but he makes a beeline to Kurogane, grabbing his arm on his uninjured side and preventing him from moving any further towards Manas.

“What are you doing?” He snaps before cursing himself silently. Fai can’t understand him, and now he can’t even answer him. And now with Manas watching so closely, so amused, it’s going to sow doubt. If Manas also thinks they’re in a relationship… ugh, this is getting too complicated, too fast.

Fai, however, surprises him as always when he barks out, curt and sharp, “Shoulder.”

Kurogane blinks. “What?”

With a gruff, Fai pokes Kurogane right in his injury, making him yelp. “Shoulder.” He insists.

Yes, that is the word for shoulder… no, wait, Fai means… right. He just got his shoulder re-bandaged. In his haste to get in Manas’s face, he got deeper and deeper until the water went past his elbows, threatening to soak the bottom of his new bandages. “Right,” Kurogane says slowly, realization dawning on him. “I shouldn’t get it wet, huh?” The doctor did mention something like that, when he first got it checked out. Keep it clean and dry, come back to have the packing and bandages replaced, don’t strain yourself, etc. But Fai hadn’t been there for that part, couldn’t have heard that part. He just knew what to do for a wound like this.

Manas watched the two with curious, probing eyes. “And you wonder why people are already talking,” he observes a little smugly.

Kurogane offers his best scowl of fury. “Whatever Koshi might have told you, she is wrong. We are not like that.”

Manas shrugs indifferently, still grinning. “Matters little to us, so long as you keep fighting. Say, maybe he could even perform for us. He is a minstrel of some kind, isn’t he? He sang a lovely little thing the other day.”

Damn mage. Why’d he have to show off? “We’ll talk about it,” he says, knowing that is likely impossible at this stage. “But no promises.”

Manas hums and lets the rock behind him take his full weight once more, eyes slipping all the way closed. Kurogane is about to move somewhere else and do the same, let the water and volcanic minerals cleanse his body and soothe his mind, when Manas asks, almost as an afterthought, “Where in Yama are you from again, Kurogane-san? You and Fai-san must have come a very long way to be so unfamiliar with the Moon Castle.”

Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Their usual bluff of “being from another country” won’t work here. There are no other countries, besides Shura, and he knows Shura and Yama are somehow inaccessible to the other. And of course, he knows of nowhere else in Yama.

Kurogane’s out emerges in the form of Fai, leaning heavily on Kurogane’s arm, breathing quick and shallow. “Fai? What happened to you?” He’d never seen Fai look so… worked up. Cheeks pale instead of red now, sweat beading at his temples and carving stark little lines on his face, eyes watery and blank, mouth hanging open, chest heaving –

“Catch him!” Manas snaps, surging forward, but Kurogane is still closer and gathers Fai against his chest just as his knees give out under him, falling limp into Kurogane’s arms.

“Heat exhaustion,” Manas sighs, slowly relaxing his corded muscles and lowering his extended hands, sinking back against the rock with a wary look. “Sometimes the heat and the steam get in peoples’ heads. Make sure he gets some water and rest and stays uncovered. And— ” he smile returns to a naughty sneer— “Don’t overexert yourselves.”

“I told you, we’re not—”

Manas tuts. “Now, now, get him out of here, I mean it!”

Nothing else to it. Given the angle Fai collapsed, it’s easiest to slip one arm under his head and the other under his knees and carry him back to solid ground. A few soldiers jeer at them, but Kurogane ignores them. Stepping back on shore, he’s able to shift his grip on Fai just enough to grab both their clothes, but obviously he can’t put them on like this. Damn mage. At least he’s light. In fact, he’s almost weightless, a long, gangly feather nestled against his bare chest.

Fai isn’t unconscious, per se, but his eyes are more hooded than usual, drooping, unfocused, breathing still shallow. A flash of heat zaps through him completely unrelated to the warmth of the springs. “Let’s… get you to bed,” he mutters, unable to look at that face.

Fai’s head swims. The bath had been distinctly mortifying on its own, and Kurogane… seeing Kurogane… no. No, he’s not going to dwell on every shift of corded muscle working under mottled scars across his back, the way his thighs flexed with every step. No, he’s not thinking about it.

But he knew he had to rush in to stop Kurogane from foolishly making his wounds worse or at least needing a second redressing in the same night. He didn’t predict, however, how his acclimation to the cold of Ceres would still make him susceptible to the muddling heat of the water. After just a few minutes, the heat licking up his legs and sides (bare, naked, in front of everyone, where Kurogane could see), the steam coiling around his neck and face, clogging his lungs, making him feel faint.

Ceres was—is— a country of eternal snow. Even on the warmest days, he still needed to wear layers of fur to stay warm. Because of that, baths were certainly never done outdoors– always inside, and private, in small rooms and small pools because to heat so much water and maintain that heat would be wasteful. So small, quick, personal baths were the norm, although being in the palace, and a user of magic, Fai certainly indulged in his share of decadent soaks from time to time. Certainly he’s lived in milder climates in their recent travels, but the heat of that pool was so intense, so fast, Fai couldn’t stand it. He remembers feeling dizzy, feeling weak, the head guard yelling something and then falling, falling…

Fai’s lying down. It takes him a while to realize that. His eyes are closed, but he still feels like he’s tipping backwards over a cliff, hurtling towards an unknown end. Steeling himself with intention, he catalogs every point of his body. Head, still and cushioned, resting on a pillow. Back, flat, lying on something soft. Arms at his sides, legs stretched out in front of him. All calm. Unmoving. The dizziness fades slightly as he reminds his traitorous brain that he’s not, in fact, spinning or falling or flying. His forehead is clammy from the sweat drying stickily in the cooler air.

But also, he’s naked.

He forces his eyes open, and even the light from a couple candles in the gloom hurt. He catches sight of Kurogane on the opposite wall, staring at him. At least he’s dressed. Fai scrambles for a sheet, for his clothes, for something to cover himself, but he moves sluggishly. Less a frantic scramble and more sleepy wobbling. He tries to push up on his elbows but he can’t support his own weight, slipping back down and his head thunking dully back on the thin pillow, hitting the wooden floor underneath audibly. 

Kurogane jumps to his side at that, running a soothing hand against the back of his head. Fai groans and squeezes his eyes shut, turning his head for good measure. The worst. This is the worst possible outcome, to anything, to everything.

“Robe,” he groans, relieved he at least has the words for that.

Kurogane hesitates and he slowly reclaims his hand. Finally, he hears a little snap of cloth and cool, lightweight fabric settles over his torso and thighs. Not a blanket, and he doesn’t feel particularly dressed, but it is something. Fighting the nausea, Fai turns away from Kurogane to lie on his side, pulling the robe tightly around himself.

He doesn’t think about Kurogane naked. He doesn’t think about him being carried, mostly naked, in Kurogane’s naked arms, all the way to their room, like a bride. He doesn’t think about anything, and eventually, Kurogane settles on his side of the room.

He listens to Kurogane’s breathing ease into sleep, and thinks about all the things he can never be for him.

Chapter Text

Fai wakes to Kurogane shuffling about their room, sunlight pouring over his face. He groans, groggy and confused, his brain still on a nighttime sleep schedule. The sound pricks at Kurogane’s ears and he turns sharply to face Fai, and Fai thinks he catches a fleeting look of concern before settling back into his gruff, slightly annoyed default expression. Fai’s brain swims through a fog, trying to understand that face… then Kurogane’s hand is on his forehead, and the sense memory jolts him awake. The outdoor bath. The heat. Naked. I passed out. Kurogane…

He’s still draped in a thin cotton underrobe instead of a blanket. He wants to throw it away before he realizes he still naked under here. His face flushes from the feel of Kurogane’s hand and the knowledge he’s so close, and he’s not wearing anything, and the furrow between his brows deepens.

If he’s still worried about heat exhaustion, Fai feels fine. He brushes his hand away with a look he hopes is irritation, and Kurogane, for his part, doesn’t push him. He stands up and continues getting dressed, strapping sections of leather armor across his arms and torso.

Fai sits up, keeping the robe pulled high over his chest, watching curiously. Armor? Why would he need armor? Unless… no, no it’s definitely daylight outside. And he’s sure Kurogane told him, as best he could, their fights happen only at night, and only during the full moon. Which they should be past by now. Why did he need armor?

Kurogane spares him one more look, opens his mouth, then closes it without saying anything. He reaches for the door.

“Wait!” Fai yells before he can stop himself. Kurogane looks back, an eyebrow raised. Fai’s brain, still waking up, runs through the words he learned last night to try to piece together something usable. “Fai… follow me, Kuro-puu?” He tries, and Kurogane’s eyes widen a little. Then he grins.

“君,” Kurogane says, pointing at Fai, then stops and frowns. “No… 私.” Then points again. Watashi? Was he giving him some kind of nickname? But then Kurogane repeats slowly. “私はあなたと来ます.” He says the words slowly and purposefully, not like he’s lecturing or trying to converse. He thinks he hears a version of the follow me phrase in there. Is Kurogane correcting his grammar?

Fai repeats the phrase back with hesitation, and Kurogane nods in encouragement. Fai says it again, and he smiles. Strange, how such a simple expression can pierce right through his heart. Then Kurogane leans against the edge of the sliding door and waits. And waits. And… oh. Oh, Fai said he wanted to go with Kurogane, so now Kurogane is waiting for him. So that means… he needs to get dressed. With Kurogane watching.

Certainly he didn’t intend this. Fai was the one who didn’t want to be left alone. Kurogane was just doing as he asked. But did he have to look so intently with those black eyes of his? Scowling, Fai holds the robe close around his body, trying to cover himself as much as possible as he stands. He shuffles over to the new clothing Kurogane had retrieved for him, not sure where to proceed. Right, these were more of those complicated robe things, with innumerable ties and long wide sleeves and layers that Fai could never keep up with. And these have multiple layers!

Kurogane sighs, and before Fai can even attempt to dress himself, Kurogane crosses the room and reaching for the robes, trying to pull the underrobe from Fai’s grip. He struggles for a moment before realizing how useless that is, then gives up, subjecting himself to the humiliation of being dressed like a child.

Luckily, Kurogane is quick and efficient, pulling and tying on three layers of robes before cinching the whole look with a pale blue ties around his waist. The look Kurogane then offers verges on kind. “Fai follow Kurogane?” he asks encouragingly, holding out his hand. Fai swallows.

“Anywhere,” he murmurs in his native tongue. Back in the bar called Clover, Fai had told Kurogane how much he wished he could be swept away like this. Fai places his hand in his, and allows himself to be led away.

Today is the day Kurogane is supposed to begin training. Well, that’s the official story, but Manas said after seeing how Kurogane handled himself at the Moon Castle, today would be more like a demonstration for the others. Prove that he was certainly worth recruitment outside the festival.

It was kind of funny to hear Fai awkwardly say he wanted to come with him. Well, it makes sense; Kurogane did feel a little bad for how much he’s left him behind. But to hear him say it so insistently, poise and elegance forgone with faulty grammar, his face still flushed from the heat exhaustion, the wizard seemed unguarded for the first time. Vulnerable. Cute.

Anyway.

Kurogane weaves through the halls, which are now bustling with activity. Since returning from their last battle, Yasha’s castle had been a fairly quiet, desolate place, with soldiers sleeping at odd hours, or in the training halls while awake. Now, everyone is resuming a daytime routine, and all the able-bodied are meeting in a training ground halfway down the mountain. It's the nearest place with relatively flat, clear ground, the only place that could easily fit the whole army.

It'll take half the day just to get there, so they plan to camp out there for two weeks. The soldiers bring tents, armor, mounts, and a number of other supplies fit for a campaigning army, despite the fact the castle is just up the hill. But apparently, this is quite normal, to spend a week out of the safe fortifications of the castle walls and training like a real army. Upon arriving at a landscape of cleared forest and trampled, starved grass, the veteran soldiers immediately set out re-establishing the camp: erecting flimsy wooden barriers, training dummies of sticks and hay, sandbags and bales of feed for their mounts, and pitching tents and establishing communication lines through the camp. For an army that never has to travel to their war theater, they move with disciplined efficiency. 

Fai follows him like a child, staying close, occasionally grabbing the back of his robes when they pass through a big crowd. Some people recognize him and snicker as they march, earning hard glares from Kurogane. But for the most part, he does not get recognized, most people eyeing him with confused suspicion, or not at all.

The morning sunlight nips at his eyes, and he flinches. Just a few nights of sunless activity and he’s already forgotten the feel of sunshine on his skin. Fai also cups his hands over his eyes, squinting. The mountain air is clean and fresh, still with a bite of chill from the night. The old quartermaster is already set up outside a small canvas tent, sharpening a small dagger, oblivious to the scurrying soldiers around him. There’s a flurry of men and women showing off scars, healing wounds, reenacting scenes from their battles for friends in other divisions. It’s almost like a game, and Kurogane realizes that it might be for many of them. If they were recruited during some kind of test of strength contest at a festival, then the army may be full of reckless show-offs instead of disciplined warriors.

“Lively crowd, don’t you think?” Manas appears near Kurogane. Sneaky old guy. Kurogane had thought he sensed the quiet, pensive gray of his aura nearby, but he'll need to get better at keeping track of his new commander.

“Almost too lively,” he grumbles, scanning the crowd. “This is your training week? It’s like they’re already getting ready for the festival.”

Manas side-eyes Kurogane. “I did remind you about how difficult it can be to maintain morale when we only keep nighttime hours, didn’t I? Letting the warriors have their fun when the next battle is long away is a critical part of keeping those spirits high. Some still have never wielded a sword against an enemy, and view our cyclic battles as a chance for glory. They have not had to see a friend die, see the light drain out of another’s face.” Steely eyes lock black to black. “But you have, haven’t you?”

Kurogane’s not sure he can answer. Last night, Manas had already tried pressing him on the specifics of where he was from, and Kurogane didn’t want to get himself trapped in a lie. “I’ve seen my share of violence,” he settles on.

“Enough that you can help me whip these newbies into shape?” He asks, eyes hard.

Kurogane smirks. He heads over to a large stack of empty crates piled outside the main palisade, near the quartermaster. It seems he is always surrounded by all manner of equipment—containers for various small accouterments, like whetstones, slings, and bowstrings, now emptied as they were being distributed where needed to the trainees.

Kurogane fills his hand with Sohi, naturally extending this length of his arm, and he feels complete. “Hama Ryū-ō Jin!” He roars, gathering his chi deep in his chest. The warm life energy swirls in his heart, filling him with purpose, and even with his injured shoulder, the force of the familiar energy fuels him. When Sohi connects to the target, the blade gleams in a bright yellow-green sheen, and through the force of the swing, the crates all explode in a flashy, spectacular fashion. Everyone stops.

“Listen up!” He yells to the crowd, who are now to a one fixed on him. “My name is Kurogane. If you want to do more than just survive up in the Moon Castle, and earn a wish for King Yasha, then you’ll do as I say.” Hushed whispers spring up in pockets as the soldiers begin to crowd around him. Manas and Fai stand to the side, staring. Fai has his usual smiling mask to cover his surprise, while Manas has his arms crossed, grinning.

“Now play close attention,” Kurogane barks with authority, cutting off the wisps of chatter. “Some of you whelps may be good with a sword, or a bow, or a dagger. But that won’t save you in the heat of combat. Martial skill alone does not prepare you for war. This –” he holds up Sohi – “is an extension of your will. Your body. You must use it as well as you use your own two hands and your own two feet. That’s step one. Step two –” he grins maliciously, “is don’t get killed.”

Everyone is exchanging glances now, a little bit afraid, a little bit annoyed. “Who thinks they can master the move I just performed?” Silence. He tries again. “Does anyone even know how I managed such destruction with just a swing of a sword?” Nothing. He growls in irritation, now. “Fine!” He snaps, moving towards a row of dummies.

He orders the soldiers to stand in a row and attack a dummy with their choice of weapon, trying to see if any of them are in touch with their chi. One after the other after the other. He hears some murmur that only Yasha-o and Ashura-o have ever been seen attacking with such force, and curious, sometimes hateful glares are directed to Kurogane. Kurogane glowers at the lot of them, resting Sohi up against his shoulder. “Well?” He cries. “A whole army of seasoned soldiers, and not one can impress me?”

An arrow whizzes past him with such speed and force he's sure the fletching nicks his cheek. He jerks away, wheels towards the targets behind him to see black-and-white feathers vanish through one dummy, then another, then another, before lodging with a twaaaa-aang! into the forth. Kurogane is impressed, though he wishes his new star warrior would have waited their turn. He scans the crowd, looking for the candidate actually worthy of praise…

And spies Fai on a small berm of earth, directly opposite him. The sun catches his yellow hair and it shimmers like the dawn’s rays on a summer lake. A bow in his right, empty string thrumming near his drawn-back left hand.

He no longer looks cute. He looks like a soldier. And he’s beaming with arrogant pride.

Chapter Text

It’s not magic. Fai knows it’s not magic because he can’t do magic, not with his eyes like this. But from what he saw of Syaoran’s training with Kurogane, there is another force he could use, one Kurogane is familiar with. He never caught the name of this power, but Kurogane described it as the force of one’s soul, sharpened and made manifest, channeled into one’s weapon for devastating power. It’s not a power Fai has ever used before.

But when he sees it again on the training ground, he wonders. Maybe it’s not a skill he has, like how he could never use healing magic. Maybe it’s something he would have to hone over years, like Kurogane did. But watching other young soldiers approach the dummy and fail to demonstrate their skills, and Kurogane growing obviously annoyed at their failures, Fai can’t help but wonder. He’s been in fights. He has sharpened, manifested, channeled his magic to create devastating spells. He’s fought monsters for King Ashura. Could he channel a similar energy to fight with?

In a camp filled with soldiers, it’s not hard to spot spare weapons on racks. He scans through swords, clubs, whips, daggers, and staves. While a staff is similar to his wand, sadly lost to the witch several worlds ago, none of them feel right for this moment. Until he spots the bows and arrows. He’s passingly familiar with their use, after all, even though weapons were never his forte. Besides, if he’s going to join these battles with Kurogane (and he will, he refuses to be left behind any more), keeping away from the hectic rush of melee will make sure he doesn’t get hit. He doesn’t like getting hurt. And the only damage Kurogane took was from an arrow. If he can snipe targets that Kurogane can't engage hand-to-hand, they may have a better chance of surviving.

When he slings the quiver over his shoulder, Manas gives him a curious look, raising his eyebrow. Fai merely smiles, cresting the hill and nocking an arrow. He draws it back, taking aim at the target no one else had been able to best. Inhale, exhale. He focuses. Seeks instinctively for the well of power that has been missing ever since they arrived, but goes even deeper, for wherever his “soul” might be. Something small, warm, and glowing answers his call.

He steels his resolve. Like he might imbue his staff with a charm of banishment to drive away a monster, he focuses that light and power into the arrow. When he has a clear shot, no students or soldiers in his way, he releases the bowstring, and grins a little smug at the force of the blow.

More than relief at having this new power, Fai feels a rush of something hot and proud surfing through him when he catches Kurogane’s disbelieving face. The crowd also stares at him in awe, Manas nodding at him approvingly, but Kurogane’s face is the only one that matters. Kurogane hurriedly tells the crowd something, then storms up the hill like he’s about to yell at Fai. What, for “using magic”? Even he must know that wasn’t magic. It was the same power Kurogane has.

Still, it’s not like he can understand him still anyway. But when he summits the hill, Manas speaks to him with an encouraging inflection, glancing between Fai and Kurogane. The wizard isn’t sure if he’s actually being addressed or not, but he doesn’t hear his name. Kurogane answers on his behalf regardless, and they exchange a few words while Fai watches placidly, trying to tamp the sudden anxiousness crowding his chest. He didn’t step out of line, did he…?

But Kurogane doesn’t look worried or upset. Surprised, a little irritated maybe, but that’s not unusual for the ninja. Kurogane shoots him a look too complex for Fai to untangle, before jerking his head back down towards the crowd. Then he takes off, clearly expecting Fai to follow, which he does, slowly.

What had he gotten himself into.

Damn show off wizard, damn him for stepping in where he doesn’t belong.

He’d seen Fai fight. Or rather, he’d seen Fai sidestepping attacks and making jokes and twisting around enemies, usually while teasing him with those infuriating nicknames. Maneuvering like an expert soldier, while usually not landing a single hit. The way he fought the demoness in Koryo, when they sparred on that tournament world, each time Fai flowed like water, every movement planned like a tactician. And yet he always acted like a coward.

To see him willingly pick up a weapon, to use chi so causally when Kurogane had trained his whole life to master it, utterly infuriated him. The wizard never ceased to confound him.

Especially because he was so damn impressed.

Manas was right to say he belonged in the army, too. But without the ability to understand commands or orders, and with maybe only the barest knowledge about the Moon Castle anyway, that might put him in more danger than he realizes. Stupid show off.

The soldiers barely accepted of Kurogane taking over today’s training, but at least he could speak. What would they do after being upstaged by Fai? He has to keep the wizard even closer. He manages to continue the training, beginning from scratch with basic breathing and visualization exercises to encourage chi focus and tuning, though he could tell not all of them were taking it seriously. This just isn’t the native way of fighting for the people here. Still, even without the use of chi, Kurogane couldn’t believe that neither Yasha nor Ashura have won this battle over the course of generations. How could it have remained a stalemate for so long?

Kurogane manages to discreetly teach Fai the words for bow, string, arrow, target, and fire as he uses him for an example. He notes, with some more barely concealed irritation, that Fai’s form and stance are perfect. Damn him yet again. Is there anything the bastard isn’t good at?

Fai goes along with every little thing, watching Kurogane hawkishly, even staring at his lips as though he could divine the meaning of his words from shape alone. He does everything Kurogane shows him, moving where he points, standing where he's directed, shooting every target he sets up.

When they finally wrap up for a break, Koshi finds him restringing a bow that a careless welp had snapped with an overeager draw.

“So,” she begins with a smirk, crossing her arms and propping one foot on a tent pole. “Pretty sneaky.”

“Manas put me in charge of today’s training, I can’t imagine how that’s--”

“What, that old geezer? No, not about this. I mean about the way you snuck your lover into skipping recruitment, too.”

Kurogane’s face flushes at the word lover before he can even process the rest of the accusation. “He’s not my — why would you think — wait, I didn’t do anything.”

She chuckles and shakes her head. “Don’t deny it, I’ve seen people try it before, but I gotta say, you’re ballsy about it. You join up under some strange circumstances, but I saw you fight. You deserve a place here. But then your demure little companion, who almost never speaks, who Manas says is a minstrel of some kind apparently, suddenly picks up a bow and attacks with the same kind of energy you just showed off? Maybe you’re both performers, able to pull off a double act so good. You could do a show for us!” Her words sting but her tone is jovial, wicked smirk betraying how much she loves the chance to tease her new superior officer. Kurogane wants to groan into his hands and barely resists the temptation.

“First of all,” he begins slowly. “I repeat: he is not my lover. Second, I am just as surprised by his stunt as you are. I had no idea he was interesting in joining the army.”

She tilts her head. “Really, you never talked about it?”

Kurogane opens his mouth, shuts it. “I told you he doesn’t talk much. Not even to me.”

Koshi pats him on the back sympathetically. “Believe me, I know it’s tough when your partner is mad at you. When my wife found out I joined with Yasha’s forces she didn’t speak to me for a week.”

Kurogane glowers at the bow that is steadfastly refusing to be restrung, and every jab from Koshi is robbing what fraying concentration he has. “Yes, well, is that all then?”

She takes a step back and frowns, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “No, not exactly. Just watch out for him, okay?”

That gets Kurogane’s attention, and her jerks up. “What does that mean?”

She holds out her hand defensively. “I don’t mean anything by it, calm down. Just… there’s lots of folk here who tried really hard to impress Manas at the games last month, and before. Who are real proud of their skills. And to suddenly see two strangers show up under odd circumstances, circumventing the festival and suddenly taking charge, it’s going to ruffle some feathers.” Her voice drops to barely a whisper. “I think he’s tougher than he looks, but some people might see him as a way to hurt you both. I’ll knock anyone’s heads who imply that, but I can see it in their eyes already. Watch our for yourselves, okay?”

She smiles once more, like the conversation never happened, and claps him on the back once more. “Anyway, break’s almost over. See you out there soon!”

Kurogane restrings the bow in record time before rushing off to grab Fai from wherever he ended up. He knows Fai is far from the vulnerable fop he likes to appear, but he’s at a severe disadvantage when he can’t understand anyone. He needs to keep him even closer.

Chapter Text

Training continues for the next few days much the same. Kurogane and Fai head to the field from their shared tent, Kurogane leading the troops in practice brawls, offering guidance in using and channeling chi as well as he can through a healing injury (none as quick as study as Syaoran, to his disappointment), and pairing off individuals for sparring. At first, he hesitates to pair Fai off against anyone, not sure if he can accurately give him instructions, if Fai would understand when to stop, and secretly, deep down, still worried over what Koshi said the other day. He justifies himself by telling the others that Fai doesn’t need training, that he is a soldier just like Kurogane, but of course the idiot wizard’s whole demeanor completely undermines that argument. After three days, Manas pulls Kurogane aside and quietly reminds him that his lover doesn’t get special treatment, completely ignoring his usual protestations.

“If anyone is still listening, he is not my lover,” he growls for the thousandth time. “And I have seen him in combat. He could run circles around any of these troops.”

Manas takes the barb in stride. “Be that as it may, people can still sense the disparity. If you keep setting him aside as something special, then it may sow agitation among the ranks. I trust you, Kurogane-san; I can sense your warrior’s truth. We fought alongside one another. But you are still unknown, and you have not earned the trust of your troops just yet. You need to be aware of how you present yourself.”

Kurogane grits his teeth. Working all his life for Princess Tomoyo, he never had to command troops. He worked as a ninja: stealthy, alone, unmatched. He ranked higher than any of Princess Tomoyo’s other agents, and could direct them at times, but all ninja reported directly to her. Being in a position of command — no, of leadership — of needing to earn and maintain trust, was a little unusual. And Fai…

Manas is implying the same thing Koshi did. That the rank-and-file distrust Fai. That they might pose a threat. It rankles Kurogane’s nerves. “Understood,” is all he says, while silently swearing that any soldier who threaten him or Fai will be eliminated.

Fai’s grasp on the language barely manages to solidify even the few concepts he already knows. Kurogane quickly runs out of ideas of how to explain more abstract concepts, even basic grammar and sentence construction. Fai learns a little bit through context, but his word order, his pronunciation, his minimal vocabulary reveal his proficiency as being less than a child’s. Still, he trusts Fai, and he knows Manas is right. Fai is always quick to figure out what Kurogane asks of him. When he calls Fai’s name and pairs him off against another archer, Feros, he merely smiles and nods.

He sets up the two in a small obstacle course of tall sparring dummies, stacked barrels, and half-pitched canvas tents that had originally been set up for mending. Instead of a traditional ring for melee fighters, he had been sending ranged fighters here to have a chance to use cover and angles to their best advantage. Feros had already shown himself a skilled marksman, as had Fai. He thinks the match-up very fair, and instructs the others in his current group to observe.

Fai navigates the terrain with ease, as he had expected, but Feros knows the game as well, and he has something to prove. They fire a few warning shots with their blunt, untipped arrows, but neither manage to land a hit on the other for a full minute, an age in terms of combat time. The long-limbed wizard finds himself at a slight disadvantage, even, unable to keep himself in cover and gain any high ground on the even field. Small, compact Feros might not have as much draw strength as Fai, but he flits between cover easily, staying low, a small target. One of his arrows thunks hard against the wood where Fai had just been standing, his erstwhile opponent barely managing to avoid the hit. Kurogane wonders if Fai is planning to lose on purpose. Maybe he senses the growing tension between him and the others and is playing it easy. He never once considers that Fai might lose to lack of skill. But the wizard’s pride would never allow him to throw a match.

After two more grueling minutes, Fai snakes his away across the field, using his dexterity and speed to move himself closer and closer to Feros. Kurogane is confused at first — drawing closer is only advantageous for Feros’s short draw; Fai has the range with his long bow. Closing ranks just means his opponent needs less force behind his arrow. But he realizes what Fai is doing only moments before it happens.

Fai tracks his opponent until he is cornered behind a pile of sandbags, pushing him hard and fast to where he’s unable to properly knock his arrow and fire a single shot. Then Fai leaps unexpectedly into his cover, catches him by the neck by hooking the wood of his bow over his head, and pointing the blunt end of the arrow into his face, grinning pleasantly all the while. Even from the hillside, observing, Kurogane can see Feros quivering. His soldiers erupt into roars, mostly impressed, some certainly less positive.

“Did you see that?!”

“By the gods, what a technique!”

“It shouldn’t count; he barely fired a shot.”

“That’s what’s so impressive! The best warriors shouldn’t need to draw their weapon if they don’t need to.”

Kurogane settles them down, calling out to the two below. “Feros! Fai! Good work. Get back up here.”

Fai releases Feros and smirks up at him, following only after Feros starts to move. Kurogane notes how Fai probably didn’t recognize the command and resolves to try to use more words Fai already knows. Feros is greeted warmly by his fellows, claps on the back and encouraging words, while Fai stands apart, bow slung over his shoulder. Kurogane can’t offer the same even if he wanted to; how can he teach words of praise? How can he explain a concept of good? Ugh, thinking like this makes his head hurt.

“Fai,” Kurogane orders, and nods over to the weapons tent. Fai meets his eyes with an unreadable expression, then walks away to, hopefully, put his bow back and return to their tent, as they had done the last few days. He catches a few of Feros’s friends glaring at his back, and he memorizes their faces.

“Hey!” He snaps, and everyone jerks back to attention. “We got one more drill to run before we break!”

“What about him?” One grumble reaches his ears from the crowd.

“What about who?” Kurogane growls, scanning the assemblage for who spoke.

“You never make him run laps or do final drills.” The complainer is a woman, standing awfully close to Feros, her hand protectively on his elbow. “Why not, Commander?”

The sarcasm bleeds from her voice, and Kurogane bites back a glower. He tries to remember Manas’s words about unity and leadership, but his thoughts are full of Fai and his safety. “Maybe if someone managed to beat him, I’d make him run fundamentals, too, but given he’s the only one who can use his chi, I’d say he’s earned the right to skip drills.”

There’s far too many looks of discontent among the soldiers, and Kurogane’s chest burns with fury. Why can’t they just do what he says and shut up? “Laps!” he barks instead. “Now!”

Fai doesn’t quite see the point of the training. He picked up a bow because he wanted to make sure he could protect Kurogane, and archery was the one martial skill he hadn’t seen from the ninja. He hadn’t considered at the moment he grabbed the weapon the logistics and formalities involved in joining the soldiers. He only knew he needed to be a warrior in his own right, not just a consort. Still, Kurogane knew Fai could hold his own. They had fought together, and even sparred together on occasion. Fai had a long history of fighting monsters for Ceres, not that Kurogane would ever know that.

And he hadn’t made him participate for the last few days, either. What was different about today? Did he want to make sure he knew how to use a bow? He’d never used one in front of Kurogane, after all. Although, he hadn’t exactly proven his use of it today, if that’s the case.

And he dismissed him before the others. Was he displeased? Hard to say. The others were certainly glaring at him, but they hardly mattered. Whenever they leave this world, they would cease to have any impact in their lives. Kurogane is the one he needed.

Needed what, to keep appeased? To keep an eye on? He rubbed a hand through his hair as he headed back to their tent, pitched near Manas's in what he assumes would be the section for higher-ranking officials. A few people whispered as he walked by, but he ignored them. Probably more rumors. He didn’t mind them, but without Kurogane around to blush and fuss, it’s less interesting to engage.

He passes through a small crowd, not recognizing any of the faces, and one of them grabs his shoulder and slams him into the wooden barricade around their camp.

Faces, bodies, people Fai hadn’t bothered to recount, hadn’t cared to learn more than their outlines in passing, all staring at him with a singular expression of hatred.

Chapter Text

“あなたはあなたが特別だと思いますか?”

Fai just stares, too many words, too fast, too sudden. He scans the expressions of the group: sneers and glowers. But he doesn’t remember slighting any of them, just seeing them around the training grounds. He tenses, ready to fight back, when more hands and knees and arms pin him firmly in place, and his heart starts racing. Instinctively, he reaches for his magic and panics again when he finds nothing answering his call.

“まだ何も言うことはありませんか?” His tone is mocking, and he jostles him hard, rattling his thoughts around in his head. Fai tries to kick out but someone strikes his knees and pain bursts in his ligaments, making him hiss. A cold, familiar calm settles over his bones. The promise of violence ignites in his bones. Here, he doesn’t need his words.

They jeer and shake him some more, and Fai meets them with calm indifference. They cannot touch him. They cannot harm him. They are inconsequential blips in his long life, and he can destroy them without much effort. The knowledge sinks into his blood, fills him, and even without magic, he knows. There are only four of them, unarmed, unsuspecting. Fai has been around worse, seen worse.

One man grabs him by the hair and yanks hard, jerking his head sharply to the side. His scalp flares with the sting but he doesn’t flinch, making eye contact with his attacker. The man might have asked him a question. Even if Fai could have understood it, he wouldn't respond. Another man to his right shouts something, probably enraged at Fai’s silence and lack of reaction, and telegraphs his attack so loudly he could have sensed it with his eyes closed. He twists and yanks one hand free of its ensnaring group, a flash of movement too fast for these idiots to catch. Catching the clumsy fist in his hand, Fai wrenches his wrist sharply to the side to a satisfying snap!

The man howls and clutches his injured arm to his chest, babbling as tears well in his eyes. Fai’s upper lip curls in disgust. These are Yasha’s soldiers? The ones Kurogane is now aligned with? No wonder he spoke so harshly to the gathered warriors, if this is an approximation of their skill. The wrist isn’t even broken; Fai knows it would likely be too much of an inconvenience to do permanent damage.

The one with his fist in Fai’s hair slams his head against the wood, and Fai just manages to clench his jaw closed to avoid biting his own tongue. Well, this certainly needs to stop. He grabs for the hand in his hair, but instead of trying to pull it off, just pins it to his skull so he has some control back. It throws his attacker off guard enough that Fai manages to drop in elbow into the man’s bicep, aiming the pointed bone between two muscle groups, causing his arm to spasm and fall limp. Fai’s fingers on the tangling hand loosen the grip on his hair and he pulls it off with minimal scalp damage, then he twists it, and uses his leverage to fling the man to the dirt.

There’s two more left, but they glance at each other in fear. The man on the ground groans something, snarls his words, and the fear is replaced by determination. Fai relaxes back into a fighting stance, one that looks like he isn’t ready to fight at all, angling his shoulders towards the nearest one on their feet.

A distinct, gravelly voice hollers down across the field, making everyone but Fai jump in shock. Kurogane.

Fai has never seen him look so livid, not even when the witch demanded his sword as payment to travel between worlds. Black eyes almost glowing with an inner fire, he barks out four short words – presumably their names – and storms up to the group with murder in his eyes. Fai relaxes somewhat, but keeps an eye out behind them. They may not be alone, after all.

Kurogane hauls to his feet the man Fai threw on the ground, barking short, clipped orders at him, handling them roughly as he shoves each one of them down towards the large tent where Manas can usually be found. The ninja stands close to Fai, watching until the men are all gone, then Kurogane grabs the back of his collar, half dragging him the rest of the way back to their tent.

Why is Kurogane upset? Did he think he picked a fight? He should know him better by now… except. He doesn’t actually know him at all, does he? That’s kind of the point.

Their little camp is larger than most others, almost as big as their room in the castle, and - as far as Fai has noticed - they're the only ones currently sharing sleeping arrangements. In the relative privacy behind canvas walls, Kurogane immediately scans over Fai’s face, eyes searching for something. Fai gasps when Kurogane’s fingers gently touch his cheek, and Kurogane’s eyebrows pinch in concern at the noise.

“Kuro-gentle, what are you doing…?”

Kurogane fusses at him, too flustered by whatever he’s doing to use words Fai understands. His hands flutter down his shoulders, arms, stomach, and Fai flinches again and pushes him away. The furrow between his brow deepens, and he reaches out once more, but Fai…

“No!” He snaps in Kurogane’s language, and the ninja freezes. Fai can feel the heat on his face, flushed and embarrassed. Now, and the other night, when he insisted on dressing Fai… he touches him so casually, sometimes, like it’s nothing. But touching other people reminds him of the flesh under his hands, decaying bodies piling up, climbing an ever-growing mound of corpses trying to get to his brother, and he never wanted to touch anyone else ever again. And yet, Kurogane’s skin feels so nice against his that it sets his mind on fire.

“Fai,” Kurogane says firmly. “No 痛み?”

Itami, that was new. Fai frowns and shrugs. Kurogane groans with irritation, then his eyes spark with revelation. Itami, he says again. Then slaps himself on the wrist, the crack resounding in the small room. Fai starts. Kurogane points to the red glowing welt forming on his skin and repeats the word. Does it mean pain? Injury? Slap? Hurt? He also points to his injured shoulder, repeating the word. He knows the word for shoulder, so this one must mean wound, or injury.

“Fai, no itami,” he assures.

The worried look eases from Kurogane’s face. He looks like he has more he wants to say, but stops himself, chewing the inside of his lip. Fai can see the words burning behind his eyes, but knows they cannot reach him. His fingers long to touch his face, brush the rest of his concern from his face. But his hands weren’t meant for comfort. He learned long ago, his hands were never meant to heal. Kurogane seems satisfied, but before he leaves, Fai sees him make some kind of decision, resolution settling across his features. He runs a hand through Fai's hair, just once, barely more than a ruffle he might begrudgingly offer to Syaoran. But it takes Fai's breath away. Then Kurogane is gone, returned to the field. 

Chapter Text

Kurogane's aura radiates heat like a firestorm, burning down everything in his path as he cuts through the short distance between his and Fai's shared tent and Manas's tent. Those four arrogant fucking whelps need to learn their place, and the cost for insubordination is severe. When he lifts the tent flap of the field commander, ducking into the space large enough for a small office complete with desks, scrollshelves, and even a full war table and map, he ignores everything but the shivering little runts covering near Manas, who stands solemn and grim.

"Kurogane—" he begins, but Kurogane ignores him to address the four.

"You pathetic little cowards, ganging up on one of your own! How spineless can you be? Pathetic weaklings, no wonder Yasha's forces haven't succeeded in all these years if these are the kind of recruits you allow in!"

"Kurogane," Manas tries again, tone pitching into a warning, but Kurogane isn't done.

"Only the lowest scum would attack their own comrades. That one is just as much a brother to you as the weaklings standing beside you. I will not stand for—"

"No, he's not," the leader mumbles under his breath. He's the one Fai managed to knock off his feet before he got there.

"What was that?" Kurogane asks, voice so furious and low the growl actually hurts his own throat.

"I said," the runt speaks louder, and to his miserable credit he can actually meet Kurogane's eyes, even though his voice and legs wobble, "he's not one of us! You both just came out of nowhere, no one even knows you, and suddenly you're in charge?!" His voice grows more confident and hysterical as he goes. "You, at least, you at least fought with us, got injured with us. I can accept that. But him!" He points to the tent flap, as though Fai were waiting right outside. "You don't make him run laps, do drills, he doesn't even win the archery trial fairly, he just, just showed off, mocking Feros, not using his bow properly! And we're supposed to just accept this! I worked hard to get here, I earned my place! I don't know either of you, and that blond one, he… he doesn't even speak! Manas, sir, how can we really trust these two?!" He finally turns and stares at his commander, helpless and exasperated and terrified.

Manas's eyes don't leave Kurogane's. Expression cold and hard as steel, he seeks out something in the heat and fury of Kurogane's features.

"I have my reasons," Manas finally answers, unblinking. "It's not your job to question my leadership or authority, do you understand, Dorcey?" The little prick's eyes dart between Kurogane and Manas as though hoping one of them would break, but when neither of the commanders flinches, he just swallows and offers Manas a curt bow.

"Yes, sir."

"Pack up your tents and return to the castle. You're on kitchen duty for the next moon. All of you." The group collectively flinch but bow their heads, murmuring sorry, sirs as they flee with their tails tucked.

Kurogane has half a mind to grab Manas by the collar and ask what the hell he thinks he's doing, and he shows remarkable restraint when he only asks, "Is that how you discipline your soldiers, here? A slap on the wrist for infighting?"

"I don't know what kind of experience leads you to believe you can command an army better than me," Manas bites back with surprising calm, "but I see infighting like that all the time. From good natured hazing to all-out brawls over personal disputes. But we can't afford to lose able-bodied fighters to such petty nonsense. I trust your abilities as a soldier and a leader, Kurogane-san, but I worry your companion is a blind spot for you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He just sighs. "I mean that you two are clearly close, but there's a reason we normally don't allow lovers, spouses, or partners to join at the same time. If I'm to have you as my right hand man in this army, you need to have eyes all around you, not just on him."

The implication rankles Kurogane's senses. No matter how much he's denied having that kind of relationship, he can't deny that he has been… close, lately. It feels like he's been trying his best to keep him away, but the damn mage is so clingy. It's not like it's his fault, and he can't exactly tell Manas the man barely speaks a word of the language and needs to be guided everywhere he goes… shit. 

Kurogane doesn't really give a damn about Yasha and his army. Normally, his goal would just be to find the feather and leave, travel between worlds until he returns to Nihon. But without Sakura and Syaoran, their reason for staying together is gone. It's been a week, now, and the kid and the princess haven't shown up with the white pork bun. He has no reason to hunt for a feather, or even stick with the mage. He just needs some way to leave this place and go home. And suddenly, he has an idea.

"Manas, you said if the Yasha clan can take over the Moon Castle, you'll be granted a wish. Tell me more about that."

Fai curls up on his bedroll in the tent, knees to his chest. His fingers shake slightly from the adrenaline of combat, and definitely not from the way Kurogane stroked his hair just now.

What… what was that about? Kurogane isn't the physically affectionate type, and even if he were, he's made it clear multiple times he doesn't like Fai at all. And that's fine with Fai, it helps him stay grounded when he feels particularly lonely and flirty. But that little touch knocked down so many of his walls, so fast, it actually left him light headed.

He could care less what those kids did to him. But the slightest care from Kurogane has him reeling. Kurogane showing him any kindness, any compassion… makes him weak. It's pathetic. He needs to purge these feelings somehow—find the princess and Syaoran soon, collect more feathers, complete his mission. He needs to bring his brother back before his Ashura finds him, and the longer they stay here, the more danger he is in. He presses the heel of his palms into his eyes, never realizing how badly he would miss his magic, now that it's gone.

The Moon Castle sounds like the best place to check. Whatever problems these soldiers have with Fai, it's irrelevant as long as he can fight alongside Kurogane. He doesn’t know what reason these people have for going up there, whatever is worth fighting for, but it could be feather-related. So many odd things occur in these countries where the feathers are concerned, and even though they were separated, there has to be a reason they were brought to this exact place. As long as he can hunt for the feather, maybe he can find some way to use its power to tear a way back to the dimension witch. Surely she would have an answer. But how to find a feather, if he'd be able to use it, if anyone would fight him for it… that's the question. But he can't let himself fall any further from his mission than he has already. He can't let this stupid isolated world, this stupid ridiculous handsome fun sexy strong caring man, distract him. They may be missing half their group, but they can still — no, he can still do what he needs to do, and return Sakura's feather when they reunite.

But… that doesn't exactly solve his current predicament, that being him sitting alone in the tent he shares with Kurogane, trying to corral the beating of his heart after avoiding getting a different kind of beating. Is it safe for him to leave? Are more soldiers going to attack him? It seemed like it was a rogue group, either mad or jealous or just aggressive enough to pick a fight, but he's not sure if he did anything wrong. Kurogane still seems confident enough to stroll about the camp on his own, so he doesn't think these people have turned on them… yet. But still, probably best to wait for Kurogane to return. It's not like anyone else would provide better conversation or an interesting challenge.

It doesn't take too long, in fact, before Kurogane returns, lifting the tent flap and hovering in the trapezoid of light haloing his dark shape. Fai's about to use one of his precious new words to ask what when Kurogane simply says, "Fai, follow Kurogane."

Confused, but happy to at least understand his words, Fai quickly stands and hurries after Kurogane, who leads him through tents, arcades of training dummies and stands, past impromptu sparring rings and cooking fires, until they're at an elevated platform that has a good view of the whole training camp. Kurogane places both index fingers in his mouth, angling them just so, and lets out a long, loud, shrill whistle that makes Fai jump. Most of the soldiers down below have a similar reaction, stopping and stumbling in what they're doing and looking up at the two of them perched high above.

"聞いて!" Kurogane bellows loud enough for the whole camp to hear. Fai even sees some birds startle from their nests and flee from the nearby treeline. "私の名前はくろがねです。ご存知ない場合は、私があなたの新しいフィールド キャプテンです。この—" He suddenly grabs Fai's wrist, holding his arm up high. Which would have been bad enough, except Kurogane also loops his other arm around Fai's waist and hugs him close, chest to chest, strong and furiously intimate. "彼は私のもの." Fai has no idea what Kurogane just said, but despite the booming volume of his voice, the possessive low growl rumbles down to his core, across the connection of their bodies. Kurogane says a few more things, and he hears his own name, so is this like… some kind of introduction? A threat? He squirms, trying to escape the embarrassingly close hold. After everything that's happened lately, Kurogane's touch is too much, and his face feels hot.

"Kuro-close, what are you doing? What's going on?" In a rush, he repeats his question best he can in the local language. "Kuro... what? Stop..."

And then. Kurogane's head tucks close to his, and he whispers something just to Fai, more words he doesn't understand. "ごめん。我慢するだけ。" And before Fai can think of what the hell is going on and what he's expected to do here, Kurogane's mouth fits clumsily against his own.

Chapter Text

This is the worst plan Kurogane has ever attempted. His talk with Manas had been enlightening. He'd wondered why all these soldiers fought so much, why so many applied for the army all these years, just to earn one wish for their lord. But no, they believed, each of them, that whoever was present for this supposed wish-granting would all get a wish granted, not just Yasha, not one collective wish for the whole. Whether or not Kurogane believed that—and he didn't—it sounded like the kind of phenomenon where they might find a feather. And without the pork bun to guide their way, they'd have to make due. If it was a feather, then maybe they'd find the kid and the princess with it. And if it wasn't… well, maybe they could wish themselves away. If there was a better way to get a wish than from that damned witch, Kurogane would take it in a heartbeat. 

But, until then, they needed to fight. And more than that, they needed to win. To do that, Manas said, the army needed to be whole. A cohesive unit, following orders, conquering Ashura with a force they'd never levied before. And on and on he went, the pitch of his voice changing like he was hinting at something, but Kurogane wasn't getting it. So finally, demanding he just say what he means, Manas told him, "The soldiers need to trust you. They need to trust you have their best interest, and they need to know who that man at your side is."

"He's my traveling companion. I'm his guard." Kurogane answers automatically. Manas offers him a thin smile.

"I don't believe that man needs anyone to protect him. But he does look at you with a certain need. And you show him certain favors you show no one else. While you are in the eye of the people, either rebuke him those favors and allow him to mingle normally with everyone else, or demonstrate why, exactly, he is worthy of your special favor."

Kurogane sucks his teeth, annoyed. Fai can't exactly mingle with the others, so that option is out automatically. If Kurogane were a good language teacher, Fai might have a passable grasp of the language in a few months, could blend in, gather his own intel, and they could pincer this entire world, find the feather, find their friends, and be back to their travels as soon as possible.

Except, Kurogane is not a good teacher. Kurogane isn't sure he can teach him much more than he already has. With a lurching of his stomach, he realizes what he needs to do, the cover that had been bestowed upon them from the beginning. Even though Manas said partners are not usually allowed in the army, Fai had already demonstrated his skills and ability, and it led to jealousy. Doubtless there will be those who decry as favoritism that Kurogane could bring his "lover" with him, but through his strength and their unity as one unit, he hopes it will at least scare anyone off from messing with Fai again. He'll need to lean into this lie to avoid uncomfortable questions he can't afford to answer. It will make their stay, however long it is, more tolerable, except for the small fact it will make him miserable. 

So he brings Fai to the watchtower. Gets the attention of the majority of the army. And with shameful boldness, declares that Fai is his and kisses him in front of everyone. 

He offers only a strained apology to the mage before, knowing he won't understand but needing to get it off his chest at least. Declaring Fai as his lover feels like the worst possible decision he could make for himself, but logically, he can't deny the effectiveness. It will keep Fai by his side, it will explain why they are always together, and most importantly, it'll keep people like that punk Dorcey from attacking the one he cares about despite himself. All his instincts scream that Fai can't be trusted, that he's hiding something. Every time Fai meets his interrogations with smiles and silence, he trusts him even less. 

But he can't leave him behind. The old Kurogane probably would have, but he convinces himself that it's better to keep his enemies close. 

That's his cover, anyway. 

So when he presses his stiff lips to Fai's, he hopes it looks convincing, hopes people don't see the grimace between his brows or the way Fai freezes in shock or the way he stares at Kurogane after its done like he's never seen him before. 

Just don't think about it. Don't think about it.  

"You got a problem with him," he declares, still holding Fai by the wrist, close to his chest. "You have a problem with me. But trust that I can lead us all to victory." 

He can't look Fai in the eye, doesn't know how he can answer the question writ across his deceptively gentle face. All he can do is let him go and climb down off the tower and resume his duties, leaving Fai confused but hopefully safe. 

The fuck. The fuck? In all the hells Fai has lived in and all the horrors he's endured, what in the blasted abyss was that ?! 

Kuro-pu… Kurogane. Kissed him. Kissed him. 

And seemed compelled to, from the horrendous disgusted stillness of his lips and the nasty grimace on his face. Why would he kiss Fai when he clearly hates him so much? And right after those men attacked him… they couldn't be connected, could they? Today has been intense enough without adding this mess to it all. 

A prank. That's all he could figure. That Fai is now being hazed in some kind of initiation, or perhaps Kuro-cruel has given up any semblance of tolerance now that he doesn't have to make nice for the children. It's a mockery, of his embarrassment in the bath, the humiliation of being carried naked through the castle for everyone to see. Who knows what even happened when he was unconscious? 

Heart burning with fury and a shocking amount of hurt, Fai marches himself to the armory where he got his bow, then palms a loose blade into the loose sleeves of his robes. He won't be made a fool of again. 

When he meets Kurogane on the training grounds, the atmosphere has definitely changed. Before, the others gave him looks of ambivalence at best, and worst, thinly veiled suspicion. But now they glance away in embarrassment, or snicker behind their sleeves, or grin salaciously. He hates this. He hates it. Kurogane noticing his latent, unwanted attraction and using it to mock and demean him… it doesn't sound like the Kuro-puu he knows, but then again, what does he really know about the man anyway? Why wouldn't this be the inevitable outcome?

When Kurogane runs drills, a nudge and a glare tells him he's supposed to run them, too. When they spar, Fai dances around each opponent with ease, knocking them on their backs without breaking a sweat. The soldiers still give him distance, but they jabber around him in relaxed, easy tones. No one seems like they are particularly hostile, no reason for why he was attacked earlier. Just like that, Fai has been brought into the fold, just like anyone else. 

No reason for the kiss, except mockery. Making the others less afraid of him? Kurogane's way of saying only he can bully Fai? 

The questions spinning in his head exhaust him more than the training. When they finally retire to their tent, their first moment alone all day, Fai has no strength left for whatever insults he's saved for him in private. 

"Sleep?" Kurogane asks in a gruff tone, one of the few words he'd managed to teach Fai. 

"Yes," he snaps back, more upset than he'd like to sound. 

Kurogane looks… bothered by something. Not meeting his eyes, rubbing the back of his neck. Chagrined, perhaps? Maybe he actually feels ashamed for what he did earlier. 

"Fai," he starts, tone hinting at more words forthcoming, but his eyebrows pinch and the lines at the corners of his frown deepen, and he says nothing else. 

And that's it. Fai has had it with his half-assed attitude, his unwillingness to even try, his belittling of Fai's intelligence, his pride, his feelings. 

When Kurogane spreads out his bedroll, back to him, before grumbling the words he assumes are "good night" that he's said the last few nights together in this tent, Fai stands, crosses the three steps it takes to reach him, and shoves him to his back. 

Kurogane has a fleeting second to look startled, maybe angry, before Fai is kissing him, pressing his body against him, lying on top, hands cupping his cheeks to keep him still rather than any sort of gentle caress, pressing cold lips to a stammering, angry mouth. Kurogane bucks and tries to shake him off but Fai is wiley, he's slick, and he hooks his feet under Kurogane's thighs and locks them together, arms encircling his neck tight enough to suffocate. Kurogane tries to speak, probably yell at him, but Fai just deepens to kiss and swallows his words, refusing to let him have the upper hand right now. 

If Kurogane can take a kiss from Fai, why can't he take something he wants in return? At least Fai has the decency to keep it private. 

When Kurogane rips them apart by yanking on the back of Fai's hair, wrenching strands out by the root, he considers letting out an obscene moan just to see what he'd do, or even turning his stolen blade against him and pressing it to his throat, but he can't muster the strength. He's tired, he's hurt, he's angry, and all he can do is glare down at the man beneath him and refuse to debase himself by crying. 

The sight is worth it, anyway—Kurogane looks absolutely peaked, flushed bright red even in the low light of the tent, lips swollen, dark eyes wide, wild. Well, well, don't tell me he enjoyed that. Fai tucks that knowledge away for later. 

Kurogane gulps down a deep breath—the first he's had for a few minutes, probably—and with unbearable, unearned gentleness, touches Fai on the lips. "唇," he murmurs, voice low and interested. Fai shivers and remembers suddenly he is straddling Kurogane's lap. Then he taps Fai on the mouth, then his own lips, and says, "キス." 

It takes Fai's overheated brain too long to realize what he's doing. Even now, he's trying to teach him? The word for lips, mouth… kiss? Or was he asking why he did it? 

"キス?" He repeats back, testing the word, seeing his reaction, and Kurogane blushes even more. 

He stammers something, all words Fai doesn't recognize, before squeezing his eyes shut and apparently counting to ten. "No," he finally says, shaking his head as though to make sure he is understood. 

Ah. That answers two questions. Fai now knows what the word is for "kiss," and that Kurogane does not, in fact, like kissing him.

Fai wants to ask why, then. Why did he kiss him earlier. What does it mean. Why he did it in front of everyone. What are they, what is their cover story, what is their plan, what are they going to do. But he doesn't have the words, can't say anything. So he pulls away, slower than he should, trying to savor this last contact they'll have like this, and returns to his own bedroll. He pulls the thin blanket around himself, settles into the thin cotton pad, and tells Kurogane good night (or what he hopes is goodnight) without looking at him. Kurogane does not say anything back. 

Chapter Text

Kurogane doesn't sleep that night. How can he? After having to kiss Fai in front of everyone for his own safety and the security of their cover story, Fai pinned him to the ground to kiss him back. And it wasn't a passionate kiss of heated delirium, it wasn't a reciprocation of affection that he didn't think either had for the other. Fai had been furious, kissing him like his lips and tongue were a poison he was trying to force Kurogane to swallow. A kiss full of hatred and spite and anger, the kind he'd never seen the wizard show with such earnestness. It was the most honest and straightforward that man had ever been.

And he hates how that aroused him.

It wasn't the kiss itself, because it was not meant to entice, lacking any finesse or delicacy or consideration for the sensitive pain receptors under his skin, born less of genuine eroticism and more a very specific, very targeted attack. No, the act of kissing Fai didn't ignite anything in Kurogane. But the sincerity of Fai's emotions, the eagerness with which he attacked his mouth, forced his tongue between his teeth, the way he sought to bite the most vulnerable parts of him, seeking openings and opportunities to strike, a warrior seeking weak points in armor, that kind of skill and determination Kurogane knew well, respected well.

He just doesn't know how to respond.

Any traditional incitement of a duel he could mete in kind, clashing of blades and swords. But he is far less confident in a physical altercation like the kind Fai had initiated, and lacking the words to even understand the direct source of his ire, he isn't sure how he should proceed. He could grab him, pin him, flip him, take over and show him... show him what? Fai isn't kissing him for that, he has to tell himself. He's kissing him in revenge. Something as simple as an apology is too abstract a concept to explain by hand waving, and who knows how he might interpret a conciliatory gesture like a gift of alcohol.

When he finally pulls Fai away, lips red and wet and eyes full of hurt. he crawls into his sleeping cot, pulls the blankets around himself, and turns his back to Fai. Kurogane spends most of the night alternating between forcing his eyes shut to stew in his own wretched thoughts and staring at Fai's sleeping back, wondering what the morning will bring.

All to naught. When the gray morning lights the inside of their tent, Fai wakes soundlessly, clumsily dresses himself for the day, and slips outside without a glance. Looks like Fai doesn't want to discuss it either. Fine by him. If Kurogane successfully convinced the soldiers to leave Fai alone, that's good enough for him.

Despite lacking in words, Fai manages to find his routine quite well. He falls in with the other archers, stoic but friendly at least, following along in running drills and practicing technique. Kurogane has a hard time keeping an eye on him for the next few days, catching himself scanning large crowds for that messy mop of blond hair just to find his doey dark eyes darting away from his general direction. Fai avoids him at night too, either staying out too late or going back to bed early, curled up in his blankets pretending to be asleep.

But at least, he seems to be safe, for now.

Kurogane's afternoons fall into a comfortable routine, leading drills of melee combat and attempting to refine their chi. Every few nights, he visits with Manas to discuss strategy, plans, studying maps of the castle that have been drawn over countless battles. It's a dusty, empty plateau consisting of flat plains broken up by rocky outcroppings and sudden sheer cliffs, unnatural and perfect for confounding battle plans. Some nights he takes the maps back to his tent, studying them by lamplight while Fai staunchly ignores him. Whenever he thinks of a viable strategy, he runs it by Manas only to learn they have tried that, and Ashura's forces have countered them. Any of Ashura's plans likewise they have found workarounds. But, Manas also notes, the last few years have been less driven by strategy and more attacking anyone wearing the wrong uniform.

Kurogane quickly grows bored and frustrated with the stagnation. He had been hoping that if they can conquer the castle quickly, they may find one of the princess's feathers, or at least some other great power they can use to leave this country and, if not reunite with the kids, get him back to Nihon and Princess Tomoyo. Yasha's army is competent enough, if he ignores the isolated incidents of brazen insolence. But no matter how many nights he puzzles over maps and war tables, how long he surveys the training and equipment, he can't think of any way to get them an edge over their opponents, break a stalemate that's lasted centuries.

Except… maybe for the two of them.

Kurogane's well-earned arrogance is at least tempered by the understanding one soldier may turn the tide of a single battle, but rarely a whole war. But him and Fai, together? They both heartily outmatch any individual soldier here, and his brief experience on the field leads him to believe they outclass Ashura's individual soldiers as well. But would the two of them make any difference? Even if it's only one battle, they only need to win once, according to the legend Manas told him. One victory to take control of the moon castle and have a wish granted.

All they have to do is win one battle. They have three days in each month to try to win just one time. And the faster they win, the faster they can leave and resume their journey.

That's how they spend the remainder of the training camp — Kurogane in his own world, and Fai managing affairs in his.

They wrap up their training session at the end of the two weeks, and the main body of the army breaks down tents, packs supplies, and prepares for the half day journey up the mountain. However, as Kurogane disassembles their tent, Manas finds him.

"Kurogane-san. Before you leave, I wanted to ask you something. Where is your companion?"

Kurogane shrugs, trying to look busy as he arranges his pack. "Not sure. He headed out as soon as he woke up."

Manas chuckles. "He's seemed awfully cold towards you lately."

Kurogane didn't even want to address that. "He's a reserved guy." A damn lie. The wizard has always been the most obnoxiously chipper, bright, and outgoing member of their original ragtag team, maybe excepting the pork bun. But at least here in Yama, he's acted reserved and quiet enough to fit.

"You both make quite the match, then."

Kurogane wants to snap something in half. Instead, he barks back, "I thought you wanted to ask me something important."

"Yes, of course." Manas manages to reign in his mirth. "I was going to take a few of the supply carts all the way down the mountain to restock the castle, and also check on the preparations for the Moon Festival. Would you and your Fai want to join me? I was hoping you could help us oversee the competition this month, help us gauge the worthiness of our new soldiers."

Kurogane ignores the "your Fai" part. Be pointless to protest now after boldly declaring Fai is, in fact, his. "You gather the supplies? Not the quartermaster? Not King Yasha?

Manas nods, like he expects the question. "The quartermaster distributes resources to the army and keeps stock of our inventory, and when we run low, he sends me to negotiate and restock. We don't purchase what we need directly — instead, the villagers offer us what they have in excess, and we don't take more than what we need. That way, we don't risk unrest at our doorstep."

An interesting dynamic. Manas implying the loyalty of all Yama residents is not rock-steady, that maybe they don't even pay tithe to Lord Yasha, just offering whatever they have. "Has unrest been a problem before?"

Manas levels him a steely gaze. "Discontent exists everywhere. Everyone who joins us wants to win glory, honor, and the chance to have their wish granted. But everyone down there—" Manas sweeps his arm towards the horizon. "They risk losing a husband, wife, daughter, son. Family. They give us their food and their steel and see nothing in return but an unfulfilled promise. King Yasha has kept the peace for centuries, but—"

He cuts himself off, biting his tongue. "But there is always a risk." He finishes, voice quieter. "Regardless, we approach the situation delicately. We see what supplies they are able to give us, and what we need. Additionally, the games offer entertainment and hope, so it's our duty to see it done."

"And evidently mine, too." Kurogane grumbles.

Manas brightens. "Cheer up, soldier. I think your timely arrival and skill will be quite the morale boost. Maybe just what we need to turn the tide of the war."

And Kurogane realizes, with a sinking despair, even if they do manage to win the castle and earn a wish, how can he be sure it will be he who makes the wish? He does not believe the fantasy of "everyone gets their wish." No matter what happens, Kurogane's wish must be first, just in case.

Manas claps him on the shoulder before departing for the rest of camp, and Kurogane wonders if he has a secret wish of his own.

Chapter Text

Kurogane doesn't try to talk to Fai for the rest of their little camping trip. Seems he's well and truly disgusted with him, after all. Fai makes every excuse to get out of their tent, make himself seem part of the group as best as he's able, in case his erstwhile companion decides to completely turn him out. Survival instinct kicks in. After those other soldiers tried to corner and attack him, he's still unsure what his status is in this place, nor how he's perceived, but if he relies on Kurogane to tell his story, then he is vulnerable to manipulation, betrayal.

If there's one thing Fai knows how to do, it's survive.

So he goes about the camp, into and among the soldiers. He pays careful attention to body language, tone, and facial expressions to move among the crowd, train alongside them. He modulates his skillset to a level high enough to be impressive, intimidating, and useful but not so much that he attracts jealousy or unwanted attention. Above the pack but still part of the group. He especially gives attention to the archer he dueled against, wondering if maybe his friends acted on his behalf after their match, allowing himself to lose to him during target practice to hopefully calm any bad blood. He keeps his little stolen dagger close to him at all times, hidden and secure.

Kurogane keeps whatever plans he's been making to himself, meeting with the one called Manas, the one he assumes to be de facto leader. Looking at documents late at night while Fai pretends to sleep. And not once does he try to really speak to Fai in all that time, though sometimes he catches him… looking. A glance across the camp, moments where he feels Kurogane's black eyes digging between his shoulder blades just before sleep takes him, always with an impossible expression, dark and serious like usual but… stormy. There's thoughts behind those eyes Fai can't hope to guess at.

After a few days of silence crushing around him harder than even their first day here, the atmosphere of the camp noticeably shifts. Everyone is breaking down their tents, harnessing those reptilian mounts he's mentally begun calling a dracquis, piling weapons into crates and loading those onto carts. Fai hangs back from the groups he'd been trying to ingratiate himself with, trying to run a dozen different scenarios to explain what he's seeing. Clearly, it's time to leave, and this training camp is over. But he'd been so focused trying to avoid Kurogane at night, he hadn't been paying attention to the phases of the moon. Has it shifted back to full already? Do they camp out here to practice until it's time to resume their battles? He has no sense for the movement of the astral bodies yet, no way to tell how long a day lasts, how long their lunar cycle takes, and he's gripped with sudden fear of losing Kurogane once more to the three-night battle.

Despite the new realization of Kurogane's true hatred of him… life here would be much, much harder without him. He's not sure if what he's done so far has proven him worthy enough to go to battle with Kurogane, and frankly, not sure if Kurogane would even want him at his side. Still, he needs them to stick together, for as long as possible. Until he finds Mokona and the princess, he needs Kurogane.

His mind burns with questions, more and more he doesn't understand, scattered words he can't string into a single sentence. Fear of isolation, fear of abandonment, fear of his own inadequacy. Outside of the expected path he was meant to travel, forces fighting over abstract concepts with him as one of the pieces.

As he watches soldiers break camp with military precision, a hand claps on his shoulder.

"Fai." Kurogane, with that unreadably serious expression, points behind him towards the large tent, still upright for now. "Follow."

Fai rolls his hand off his shoulder. The touch burns like a brand. "No."

Kurogane's expression twists further. His mouth tries to form a dozen words, but he seems to be trying to find a word Fai actually knows. "Fai… Kurogane… walk… down…" is all he manages before he growls and runs a hand through his hair, having exhausted the few things he's taught Fai. Then he bows his head, looking for the first time ever humble and small. "お願いしま." Well, that's different. If Fai didn't know better, he'd assume this was an apology. He's not sure how to react, not wanting to assume a meaning he's sure Kurogane does not intend, but then he gets on his knees, bowing his head so deeply his forehead touches the ground. The other soldiers glance at them and quickly look away, as though embarrassed or trying to give them space. Not the same giggling or snickering they do sometimes when they're together, which could mean almost anything, but clearly trying to give them space for something… sincere. "お願いしま." He says again, staring at the dirt. Now Fai is getting uncomfortable, unsure what he can say to end this interaction. Until he does.

"Kuro-pi." He finally says, and Kurogane jerks up at the nickname. Fai can't look at him, just finds himself smiling, ever so slightly. "Yes."

Kurogane almost trips over himself with how fast he stands, like he can't wait to pretend like he wasn't just on his knees begging. But Fai definitely knows what pleading looks like in his language, now.

Fai follows Kurogane to Manas's tent, where the two talk rapidfire about something he certainly can't follow with his handful of words. They then reach an agreement and head out while more soldiers arrive to help break down Manas's larger, impressive commander's tent and move out all of his supplies. Fai hovers behind Kurogane, trying not to look confused and useless, which is how he feels far more often than he'd like. Manas mounts one of those dracquis creatures, who is strapped to a large, empty cart. Kurogane climbs into the cart and gestures for Fai to follow.

The ride is bumpy and slow and distinctly downhill. Fai grows increasingly anxious that they're leaving the only people they'd ever seen in this country. Constantly moving places, from the castle to a tent and now to this? Are they being kicked out of the army? Taken to some kind of prison? Unlikely, they aren't in shackles, and the small bit of banter between Kurogane and Manas seemed even-keeled. Kurogane certainly won't accept imprisonment without a fight. Fai keeps looking towards Kurogane, question in his eyes, but the other man just looks away, defeated.

Well. That tells him nothing, and does little to assuage his anxieties.

When they finally make it to the base of the mountain, the sun is full and high in the sky, and in little time at all, Manas drives them to a fairly large village. They greet Manas with warm, friendly expressions as they go about their daily lives, carrying wicker baskets of vegetables and grains on their backs, bundles of cloth and packs of tools, scurrying to and fro. Kurogane looks relaxed but still cautiously scanning the environment, so their destination is not unexpected, and he seems as keen to be absorbing details as Fai. Their cart ambles through a marketplace, with stalls and vendors hawking various wares, fish and salted meats and rice and all manner of fruits in varying shapes and colors, and it reminds Fai he has yet to eat all day today. Fai notes with some interest that the villagers rely on smaller versions of the creatures Manas rides, lizards more the size of large dogs than horses, with notably softer, gentler features. Seems whatever creatures the army uses are definitely more military, but no sign of any more familiar work animal.

While they pause briefly for Manas to discuss business with a few vendors, they don't exchange any currency Fai can see, and they don't gather any supplies, instead continuing on through the wide roads that seem designed for a steed his size, despite lacking any of their own.

Fai wonders at the relationship between this village and the castle on the mountain. They don't seem to fear Manas, but surely a country engaged in whatever war or conflict like theirs must take its toll. But no one seems especially surprised or bothered by him; in fact, some people seem excited, with young people running up to him to call his name, wave at him, some even hoisting crude weapons aloft — not in threat, but almost with pride. Fai also notes how few young people he sees, and how many elderly people in the village carry scars. Just how long has this country been at war?

After trudging deeper into the village, they make their final stop at a large, open arena. Manas hitches his steed to a post and directs the two of them from the cart, leading them around. It's clearly an arena of some sort, with tiered bench seating constructed around a large dirt field, divided into sections by wooden fences and gates. Banners hang off taller seating towers, bearing the Yasha emblem. Dozens of people — civilians, Fai assumes, since they are dressed in simple robes — check scrolls, repaint the fences, mend the benches, wheel sandbags and weapons and armor and racks to another smaller huts in the field that seem to be storage or staging areas. It's impressively large, at least as large as the training area on the mountain if not larger, and the people move with practiced efficiency.

Fai's heart arrests in his chest. It looks like they're preparing for a battle arena fit for the entire army, but only Fai, Kurogane, and the leader of the military are here.

Are they… going to be dueling each other?

Chapter Text

The village makes Kurogane a bit nostalgic. While not quite the same attitudes among the villagers, the rustic lifestyle reminded him a bit too strongly of home. Mothers and fathers and their children… he'd been apart from people like this for too long. Intentionally distanced himself after swearing fealty to Princess Tomoyo. And now people call to Manas, loudly declaring their prowess, their eagerness for the festival, old soldiers scarred over nodding at Manas with sage understanding, much like the demon hunters Kurogane grew up with. Just because these peoples' battles are routine and scheduled and only last three days of the month doesn't mean people have not gotten wounded or killed. Some of these old folk have lost children. Some of these children have lost family. And yet they still treat Manas like an old friend.

Everyone has a wish they'd like to be granted, after all. But how long can their morale sustain on the hope of a wish alone?

The festival grounds are more formal than he expected, with old, permanent facilities for sparring, for athletics, a track for cavalry and feats of physical strength, all measured out and encircled to be viewed by most of the army and half the village itself, judging by the capacity the stands could hold. "How many participants do you get each month?" Kurogane asked asked as they entered the main grounds.

"At least 50 each month. We start accepting challengers at 16 years, and the cutoff is over 50, so there is a wide range of skill and experience. We only accept as many as we need to replace the injured or killed, so the number we take in also changes. Anyone who isn't accepted one round almost always participates in the next, and the next, until they either age out or win."

That irks Kurogane. "So if they're not good enough for years and years, eventually once all the talented warriors are gone, you accept the likes of some half-ass?"

Manas just shrugs. "Yes. Because that means either they have learned their lesson and improved over their peers, or we have taken good warriors who fell in combat, so we need to fill rank."

"And you only replace to what you had before? Why can't you draft every villager, overwhelm Ashura with numbers?"

"If we ask for too much, the village will suffer, and then so will our supply lines. Too many soldiers and not enough plows means a starving army, means more deaths, means less of us to fight for generations."

Gruesome. The entire economy of this country is focused on creating just enough soldiers to keep an eternal stalemate. Never risking a great loss means never risking a victory, either. "You only fight every three days. Why can't they do both?"

Manas quirks an eyebrow. "Do you know how long it takes to grow a month's worth of rice for a whole army? To mine and forge hundreds of swords? To mend and sew our clothes, our armor? To raise and feed and tend to our steeds? And how long it takes to turn from one skill to another? No, we cannot take away our skilled craftspeople, we cannot upset the balance needed to keep the army going."

Eternal war means an eternal stalemate. But that must mean Ashura faces the same problems. "Where do the Ashuran forces recruit?"

Manas shrugs again. "No one knows. No one has ever seen a pale-eyed Ashuran in this country."

Kurogane stews on that while Manas leaves to speak with a village organizer. If Ashura's forces are so far away that they've never been seen here, could that be where the kid and the princess are? Maybe they're somewhere in Ashura country, in this dimension but so far away as to be inaccessible. But if no one knows where Ashura country might be, how the hells will he ever find them?

At his side, he can see how anxious Fai has become. He hates that he can't reassure him at all, can't figure out how to explain what this means. He already had to humiliate himself with a dogeza just to show him what an apology was. Fai must have still been angry at him at the embarrassing kiss, and there was just no other way to get the message across. He seemed… better, but still not quite himself. Still standoffish and wary. Kurogane couldn't blame him, with everything going on and no way to really understand it.

"Fai," he starts, and the wizard looks at him, a soft hazy smile hiding the pure anxiety underneath the surface. "Fai, no… hurt," he tries. "Kurogane, no hurt." How pathetic, that he's babbling like a child. Fai's face falls into polite confusion, which isn't necessarily better. He would try to draw a picture, try to mime more, but Manas is not far away, and there are others around that might question what he's doing, draw unwanted attention. He doesn't know how to say they're not in trouble, that they don't have to fight, it's preparation for a festival to recruit soldiers — every aspect of simple language fails him to explain their specific, unique situation. He quickly points between the two of them. "Us," he explains. Fai nods once, now focusing, and Kurogane hopes he truly is smarter than he acts. "Us, safe." A new word. A hard concept to express. He takes Fai's hand and places it over the mostly-healed arrow wound in his shoulder. Fai jerks at his touch but doesn't pull completely away. "Safe," he says again, quieter. But Fai still doesn't understand.

"Shoulder?" He asks. "Hurt?"

"No, no hurt," he tries again, wanting to swear but needing to choose his words carefully. Dammit, he can't even distinguish this from "heal," can he? Now Fai thinks something is wrong with his shoulder.

Well, fuck. He's already embarrassed himself once, he's already lost enough face. So he pulls Fai into a hug, protective and tight, hoping he finds this something reassuring. Fai has seemed to enjoy snuggling with the pork bun throughout their journey, and though he eschews physical contact with the others, he can only hope his feelings get across. "Us, safe. No hurt."

Fai trembles in his arms, a full-body shudder before he pulls away from him. There's a strange vulnerability in his dark eyes, for just an instant, before he covers it up with a sly smirk just in time for Manas to return.

"I see the lovers have made up," he teases.

"Shut up," Kurogane growls, and Fai laughs as though he understands what's being discussed. Maybe he does. Damn him. Was that even necessary? Maybe he misread this whole thing… and yet, maybe he's just imagining it… but Fai does seem more at ease. His expression doesn't look different to a casual observer, someone who hasn't been journeying with him like Kurogane has been. But he's looped his arms behind his head, making his little fake whistle noise as he surveys the landscape. The tension is gone from his shoulders, the strained muscles of his fake smile relaxed into a more sardonic smile. Still fake, but not forced. Well. Good, then. He's not sure what Fai took from that, but it helped. Hopefully. "So? All good?"

"Everything is in order, as usual."

"Was there a reason you wanted the two of us, in particular, down here for this? The festival isn't until the end of the week, isn't it?"

"True. But I wanted you to come down and see the festival before we got started."

That rankles Kurogane's nerves. "...tell me the real reason why."

"The real reason?" Manas has the audacity to feign ignorance, face too carefully blank. He's hiding something.

"You don't need two new near-strangers to inspect a festival you know we've never attended days before it happens. There's something you're not telling me."

Manas dignifies him with a small, mysterious smile. "Observant as always. Just as I noticed you watching the town when we arrived. This is the first time you've ever been here, isn't it?"

Dammit. Fai must sense the shift in tone, as he drops his arms and takes one step closer to Kurogane, almost defensively.

"What about it?"

"I just can't help but wonder where the two of you might have come from. If you came from this town, or further away. And now, how you could have scaled the mountain, wearing the clothes you were wearing, but seemingly never having stopped at this village."

Kurogane glances at Fai. Fai's eyes narrow, and his posture shifts almost imperceptibly, readying for a fight, in case it comes to that.

"You know we're not from Ashura's forces. You've already tested my loyalty once, Manas."

Manas holds up his hands. "I don't doubt that, Kurogane-san. And I do not doubt your strength, nor Fai-san's. But you can understand my curiosity how Yama has hidden warriors of your caliber for so long, how you found your way here while knowing nothing of the Moon Castle, of this town, or our mission."

He desperately wishes Fai could understand, could speak to this. That damn mage is a skilled liar, and though Kurogane hates how he can weave falsehoods as easy as he breathes, it is a skill that comes in handy in times like these. How to blend in, how to deflect negative attention, how to pass bold and unnoticed in strange lands. Maybe a little truth would sate his suspicions. "We have come a long way. We had others in our party — a young man and woman — " he pauses, trying to decide how to describe Mokona, and decides not to bother. "But there was an incident. We were separated, got lost, and ended up at the mountain. We're still not sure where our companions could be."

Manas nods, taking his time to absorb this information. Fai keeps glancing at him, waiting for a hint, some direction, some sign. Then Manas finally says, "...fair enough. That doesn't answer all my questions, but I don't see any reason you would have to make such a lie. Very well. Your companions, are they fighters, like yourselves?"

Kurogane thinks of the kid, Syaoran, his skill and intuitive fighting style, the way they trained in Ôto country together. Of his protectiveness of the princess, her frail constitution, but also her incredible luck. "One is. The kid — Syaoran. He serves as a protector to the girl, called Sakura. We were journeying together, looking for something of Sakura's. Something valuable."

Manas seems like he wants to ask about the feathers, and Kurogane is not sure he has a good enough answer. But instead, he says "The only thing worth anything in this country is up in that castle. You may not have known what you seek, but it is there. It's called our people for generations. That's why we're here. That's why we fight. If your friends are as driven and strong as you, perhaps they will find their way here and join us, and then we can tip the tides of war to our favor. Then we can all get our wish."

Chapter Text

Fai used to think Kurogane was easy to understand. Violent, aggressive, quick to anger, but loyal, observant. He has managed to throw Fai off balance a few times, through noting something about Fai he tries to keep concealed, or making a too-clever observation, but every day of their journey together has meant more information, more understanding, and less avenues to be surprised.

But without a shared language, Kurogane is more mysterious than ever.

A few gentle, careful, considerate words, but for what, comfort? Assurance? Trying to teach him something? Or was it part of a ruse, now that they're here in a village, in front of others, in front of the general-apparent? That word. Us. 安全. "Us" are what? Us, together? Is he trying to explain their cover story? Us, embrace? It's no apology, at least not if his earlier interpretation is correct. He had pointed to his healed shoulder wound, so was it us, healed? No hurt — is he asking for Fai to "heal," or to forgive him? Regardless of his intent, the sincerity of his actions and the depth of his words crossed the language barrier, and whatever he tried to say, it's apparent that Kurogane is not, at least, ready to throw him away. He is still trying to reach out, somehow, though what he's trying to communicate is too abstract to be certain of.

Which must be the case with whatever their mission is, here. No one seems hostile towards them, and in fact they receive polite bows and gentle words in kind tones from the people working this… Training arena, or stadium, whatever it might be. Manas seems to be explaining and pointing out things to Kurogane, who interrupts occasionally with short, clipped comments and questions. The area is large, well maintained, and old, judging by the different coloration and styles of wood, paint, new parts replacing those broken or worn down, and other clear signs of long-term upkeep. Seating for bystanders, backrooms for storage or the participants, (or trainees, competitors, prisoners, gladiators, whatever they may be). The banner of Yasha hangs high off platforms overlooking the main fields and some young people come by to test the heft and sharpness of blades, the drawing of arrows, the handling of glaives and spears. They don't seem to be from the army — other volunteers, preparing for the event?

A show of strength, then? A loyalty ritual? Are the soldiers expected to perform, parade? Will they be part of the pageantry, or is Manas explaining how they will be excluded by it?

After a while of exploring the grounds and exchanging words Fai couldn't hope to summarize, they head back to the main entrance. Manas remounts the dracquis and drives the cart and wagon off, but Kurogane stays. Fai glances at him, letting his expression ask the question he cannot.

"Fai and Kurogane stay," is all he says.

Fai makes a noise of confusion, the best he can ask lacking any more definite interrogatives.

Kurogane looks around helplessly for a moment before pointing to a nearby stand selling large round green striped fruits. "Manas, food." He explains, then points over some trees towards where a side of the castle mountain is barely visible.

"And us?" Fai prods further. Kurogane rubs the back of his neck, seeming unsure how to answer. He looks around for a few moments, before pointing out another stand, near the arena. At first, Fai thinks it's another merchant selling food or goods, but it's one woman with no displays of any kind, just several scrolls of paper. People approach her and instead of buying and leaving with a scroll, they speak for a few minutes before signing the paper and leaving. Kurogane tries and fails to use simple words to explain before he growls and shrugs, walking away.

He doesn't look to see if Fai is following, but he has an idea. Upon approaching the woman attending the stand, she smiles at him, bowing her head in polite acknowledgement. She says something that Fai can't make any sense of, but he expected as much, so he just smiles back and moves his head in what could either be a nod of agreement or a polite reciprocal bow. He glances down at the paper and sees a lot of those… symbols. The writing style he's seen before and couldn't make any sense of, even with Mokona's help. But he's seen how people write in similar countries, how Kurogane has written and tries to read similar writing. It seems like a list going down from right to left, one line with a few characters on each. He scans the page, not really able to tell if any symbols are repeated or align to anything else. They are each unique, like a name.

But it's not like he'd write his name, of course. Even though Fai's stolen his, he can't leave a trace like that of any part of himself, in any world he's in. It's a gamble, and perhaps a reckless one, but Fai doesn't want to be led around and feel so helpless for however long they're in this world. So he holds out his hand, asking for the calligraphy brush resting against the inkstone. She frowns only slightly but hands him the brush. With a quick and magnificent flourish, he draws a cartoon of his own grinning face on the next line.

The woman makes spluttering noises of confusion, but Fai is already heading off, hoping to catch up to Kuro–pon.

It seems like a nice village. Healthy and well-maintained, strong villagers, well-supplied. All the children seem to play exclusively war games with each other. Every little one is swinging tree branches and wooden dowels and scrap metal cast-offs as they scurry under the feet of their parents and neighbors, chasing each other around. About the only words he can make out from them are proud rallies of "Yasha!" followed by perjorative howling "Ashura!" Girls and boys, not a doll or stick-and-wheel or pretend shop among them — though, he must admit to himself, he's no expert in childhood games, given the unfortunate circumstances of his own youth.

Without Manas nor the intimidating ninja around, people pay him little mind. His hair is lighter than most of the villagers, which earn him a few curious glances, but after meeting his eyes, they break their stare, unphased. And of course, each of the villagers have eyes as black as the soldiers as well. Though he's grown familiar with the lack of his magical senses, it, and the language barrier, remains a stark reminder how dangerous and unpredictable their adventure can be.

Before he finds Kurogane, he finds Manas, as his draconian steed and wagon take up more room than even his tall and imposing companion. As Kurogane had tried to explain, the wagon is now overflowing with barrels of fruit and vegetables, bags of rice, dried and fresh meats, and fish. Fai tries to hang back in the crowd and not be seen, but the general spots him and calls him over.

Fai makes a noise of surprise and, he hopes, approval at the haul he's acquired. So, this had ultimately been a supply run? Are they to head back up the mountain, now? Or will he and Kurogane be staying? More things he cannot ask, and unfortunately Manas seems to have questions for him as well, speaking several sentences in a row, quick and complex. Fai might have heard words for castle, and soldier/army, and weapon/sword/armor, but he can't quite be sure. Then Manas asks him a question, pausing and looking at him expectantly. All Fai can do is smile and meet his even gaze. Whatever reaction he anticipated, it isn't this, and his face mixes to confusion and suspicion.

Fortunately, Kurogane chooses this moment to return to them, glaring at Fai and answering whatever Manas had asked in a short quip that manages to make Manas laugh, dissolving any tension Fai unwittingly brewed. Wow, look at Kuro go~ Fai smiles along with Manas, impressed. Kurogane seems to have done a decent job maintaining their cover, allowing them to move freely about this country and not getting them tossed in a cell. Which would make searching for their companions much harder, certainly. Kurogane can't get all the credit, of course, so Fai wraps both arms around one of Kurogane's, hugging him tight as they walk alongside Manas's cart, which is now too full to carry them.

Kurogane glowers and makes a half-hearted attempt to throw him off, but Fai clings like a curtain. It's easier like this, to pretend like they had in countless worlds before, to be a gnat in Kurogane's side, to amuse himself with his bluster and temper, and if it serves them well in this world, all the better. And it seems like it works, because Manas continues driving the cart without suspicion or a single curious glance. Whatever kiss or embrace Kurogane springs on him must be an act of desperation, but there's no reason Fai can't cling to these selfish moments whenever he can. It may be painful to admit his affection runs so deep, but as cover? A good enough excuse, and he might as well get his fill.

And perhaps, hopefully, if Fai's hunch is correct, Fai will have his own way to cement their path together in this world.

Chapter Text

Back at Yasha's Castle, back in a standard soldier room, back to a new normal of a routine. Kurogane finds it hard to believe the schedule changes these warriors are accustomed to — three days of fighting, then recovery, then training, then drills, then a festival to plan, host, and evaluate. After the festival, they'll have new recruits to get battle-ready in just a few weeks before starting the cycle over again with a brutal three-day war that's been locked in a stalemate for generations. And absolutely no way to convey this to his clueless wizard companion, who manages to join in for the daily drills and chores and maintenance around the castle, helping mend armor, sharpen blades, and tend to the animals.

While he tries to teach Fai new words here and there, he still hasn't come up with a method better than pointing to an object and giving its name. At best, Fai has managed to learn a few basic sentences that are in no way helpful to their situation: saying hi, saying goodbye, saying his name, saying good morning and good night. Decent greetings and good enough for day to day, passing interactions, but every time he tries to explain what they're preparing for down the mountain, he stumbles over himself, as pantomimes and drawings can't quite convey what he means. One time, out of desperation, he draws an abysmal picture of the festival ground, stick warriors entering, then joining the larger army at the top of the mountain. When Fai sees it, his eyes glimmer in that frustrating, all-knowing way, and he just laughs.

When it's finally time for the festival, Kurogane, Fai, and the other soldiers all make the long march down to the town. More "morale improvement," as Manas describes it. The soldiers get to see friends and maybe family, if they're from the town below, or spend the three nights of the new moon traveling to outlying villages, if they can, to see loved ones. There's drink, there's food, there's games to watch and judge. He's surprised the local economy can manage such routine festivals, and Manas mentions that everyone has learned to share and make due. In the colder months, food is more scarce, the festival quieter, but their needs are also less, as Ashura's forces seem to be similarly slowed by the cold, wherever they may be.

Kurogane wants to ask how far they recruit from, wants to know the bounds and limits of this land and how they can maybe explore Ashura's country, if it's part of this same dimension, to see if Syaoran and Sakura found their way there. But of course he can't, can't risk undermining the recently-acquired trust and respect of the soldiers, can't risk introducing the idea they may go AWOL soon. This isn't their fight, Kurogane keeps reminding himself. Even if he wanted to fight for the sake of fighting (and if he's honest with himself, he does), Princess Tomoyo has already seen to that reckless impulse. Being in a place like this, that may demand he take life to survive and keep his place, is a risky temptation for someone like him.

So they go back down the mountain. Soldiers split off to caterwaul and galavant, welcomed by excited cheers and warm embraces. Notably, Kurogane and Fai have no one and nowhere to be. Except…

Except Fai wanders off on his own, without even a glance back to Kurogane. He calls out for him, grabs him by the arm, but he can barely even ask what the mage is thinking, let alone get an answer back worth anything. Fai just points down the dirt path, where a small section of soldiers have run off. Kurogane isn't interested in letting him go alone, but he's interrupted.

"Oi, Kurogane!" Koshi, the redheaded woman, runs over, with another woman trailing behind her that Kurogane doesn't recognize. Koshi has been easy enough to get along with, a fellow soldier as eager for battle as him, though sometimes too jovial for his liking. Still, after their training in the mountains, he can't deny her effectiveness in combat. The one behind her doesn't look any less battle-hardened, sleeves rolled and tied back showing impressively large forearms and actually wearing work trousers of all things instead of the kimono common among the village men and women. Her dark hair is tied back in a tight twisted braid. "Wanted to introduce you to my wife, Michi! Wait, where's your lover?"

Kurogane's eyebrow twitched. Of course, Fai found his opportunity to slip away when he was distracted by Koshi, and when he looked over his shoulder he saw the gray blue of his kimono vanish down an alley. Dammit. "Off doing his own thing, apparently," he growled, unable to hide his annoyance.

"Sounds like someone else I know," Michi comments in a deadpan, throwing a scathing look to Koshi, but she just laughs.

"Maybe, but not exactly! They're both Lord Yasha's soldiers. And I keep telling you, you're strong enough to join up too! Then I could see you more than one week a month."

Michi scoffs. "And I keep telling you, I don't need to fight for some abstract wish. I already got mine."

Koshi blushes and pulls her wife into a huge hug, and though her face looks annoyed and maybe slightly pained at the crushing embrace, she wraps her arms around Koshi as well.

"I thought everyone in Yama was interested in the wish of the Moon Castle," Kurogane says.

Once she's finally able to breathe normally, Michi clears her throat before answering. "Most people, yes. But there's a few of us quite happy with our lives. If there's any change to be made in my life, I can make it with my own two hands."

Kurogane couldn't help but agree. Also notable that there are indeed people who aren't as happy about the endless war of Yama — and perhaps the fortifications at Yasha's castle weren't just for show.

The main contest is supposed to start in a few hours, and Kurogane has already been separated from Fai, yet again. Though they cleared up one misunderstanding, there's no way of knowing if any other soldier, or hell, even a random villager, might try to corner and attack the mage again. Though Fai is more than capable, he's more afraid of his fighting skills and lack of language to bring undo suspicion back upon them. Koshi and Michi offer to take him around the various celebratory festival venues to catch up with him, assuming he had just been eager to begin the fun. Normally, he'd agree, as the wizard is as prone to flights of fancy as he is to lie, but he's not sure if Fai truly knows what this day is or that it's a kind of warrior shore leave.

From stages of dancers, poetry recitals, plays depicting Yasha's imminent victory over Ashura, pubs and drinking stands, there is no sign of the blond anywhere to be had. As the hours wear on, Kurogane gets increasingly nervous, and he's about to run off when they run into Manas.

"Kurogane-san, Koshi-san. And nice to see you again, Michi-san. The festival is about to begin. Let's get to the stands. And Kurogane, you can sit at the high seats with me to observe. Where is Fai?"

"Lost him in the crowd," Kurogane says, scanning the streets for a scraggly mop of yellow.

"Well, he is welcome to sit with us when he's finished enjoying the festivities." Manas begins to head towards the highest sears, the ones with the best view of the entire arena, completely oblivious to or outright ignoring Kurogane's obvious apprehension.

They visited this area not too long ago. Fai knows where it is, though whether or not he knows the when and why and importance of it all is still a mystery to Kurogane. Whether or not Fai will find his way back here, whether or not someone else gave him trouble, whether or not he got lost or is doing something else behind his back… it's a level of situational awareness he doesn't like to be without. The wizard is hard enough to trust without disappearing on his own.

Fai is not at their seats. Nor does Kurogane see him anywhere else in the audience. While people's eye color is all the same, there is quite a diversity of hair colors, though black and red and brown is still the most common — no blond he sees resembles the cheekily grinning Fai.

Manas stands at the platform railing, overlooking the arena. All eyes train on him, quieting without him making a sound. Apparently, Lord Yasha himself used to oversee these events, but for the last several months, he's stayed secluded in the castle. During their tour, Manas explained to him how Yasha used to do all these tasks, how seeing him lightened the heart of the people, reminded them of the goal, united Yama country towards their purpose. But after being heavily wounded in combat, directly from Ashura, his lord has been… quiet. Distant. Rarely speaks, and only moves from his audience chambers for battle. He'd taken it upon himself to fulfill Yasha's leadership position, but while the people know and respect him, he worries that if Yasha does not recover from whatever reclusive mood he's been in, then the scales of battle may finally tip against them.

That's why this event is so important to him, and to the country, he explained. That's why he is so careful with everyone's motives, their morale, their loyalty. He can't afford anyone to get any rebellious ideas, because if Yasha cannot manage them, everything his country has ever fought for will be lost.

Manas says something to that effect in his opening speech, reminding everyone what is at stake, granting the wishes of the country, bringing Yama together, beating Ashura and claiming their birthright… though he takes pain to avoid mentioning Yasha himself. He calls for the competitors to make their appearance, and Kurogane watches various armored hopefuls, many young, some old, emerge from the holding area buildings to the center sandy field.

And in the middle of them all is a mess of blond hair and mischievous, smiling black eyes staring right up at him.

Chapter Text

Kurogane's fists clench in his lap, teeth gritting in fury and trepidation. What has that fucking idiot gotten himself into now?!

Manas continues his speech as though he hadn't noticed. Kurogane ignores the words he's saying as he scans the crowds. They're above everyone else, but not so high up he can't see people's faces. Some of the soldiers he recognizes seem to have noticed Fai, chattering amongst themselves. He manages to spot that punk Dorcey, the one who led the attack on Fai at the mountain camp a few weeks ago, pointing and chattering heatedly with his friends, before they duck away and out of the wooden stands, disappearing where Kurogane can't see. He is about to chase after them when Manas finishes whatever he's saying, and the viewers erupt in cheers as the competitors on the field bow towards them. Fai winks directly to Kurogane as he does so.

Manas retakes his seat next to Kurogane, raising a curious eyebrow. "I didn't realize Fai-san decided to compete. I'm afraid the competition will be even more challenging for the newcomers this year."

"Yeah," Kurogane grumbles, still scanning the crowd for Dorcey. The competitors, including Fai, line up side by side, as the first challenge is a foot race. "I didn't know either."

"He didn't tell you?"

"He doesn't tell me much," he complains, glowering down at him. Fai's face is too relaxed, smiling with his eyes nearly closed. Does he even know what he's getting in to…? "He must have signed up earlier when I wasn't paying attention."

"I wonder why. He had already secured his spot with the soldiers."

Kurogane scoffed, crossing his arms. One of the festival leaders whistled shrilly between two fingers, and the racers took off. Kurogane noted with a curled lip how the wizard took a half second longer before starting his run. Either intentionally giving himself a handicap, or maybe he doesn't truly understand the games… Likely both. "Has he, though?" Kurogane questioned Manas. "He was still attacked by insubordinate soldiers that got off with a wrist slap. Maybe he felt like showing off how skilled he actually is."

Though he knows that probably isn't the reason. He has no idea how aware Fai is of the situation, of why he was attacked, why Kurogane ended up kissing him… other than being mad at him, which he seems over now, at least? Unless this stunt is some other way of getting back at him… Ugh, Kurogane can't help to guess what's going on in that damn wizard's mind.

Manas stares at him, intense obsidian eyes glittering, boring into the side of his head. "Or maybe," he counters quietly, "he feels demeaned and belittled by your favoritism of him."

Kurogane stops watching Fai overtake his opponents at an overly-leisurely pace to match Manas's dagger-like glare. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Manas sighs. "It means exactly what I said," he explains with a great deal of strained patience in his voice. "I already told you how your favoritism and closeness with your partner is isolating for a lot of the warriors. And I told you we don't normally allow romantic partners or spouses to enter the ranks at the same time — prioritizing one life over anyone else's is not a call I want to force on anyone, or lose anyone for the same. Not to mention the threat of insubordination if one must take orders from someone ranked higher than their partner."

"Oh, so you do care about your soldiers not following orders?"

Manas clenches one fist. "I already told you I respect your experience and skill, Kurogane-san. That does not mean I will allow you to speak so freely with me. I am the general acting out Lord Yasha's will, both on and off the battlefield. You have experience in combat, but you don't know as much as I do about these soldiers, these people, this war. I did what I had to do to keep things in line."

I did what I had to do. The excuse of weak leaders across any dimension. "Why did you have to do it? Why doesn't Lord Yasha still perform his own duties?"

As soon as he finishes the sentence, Kurogane knows he has gone too far. Manas's face turns cold and furious, but they are interrupted by cheers from below. When they look down, the competitors are at or passed the finish line. Surprisingly, Fai seems to have pulled his punches on this one, ranking third of the two dozen or so initiates. He's standing slightly apart from them all, hands cushioning the back of his head, body lean and relaxed, starkly contrasting to some others who are already sweating and heaving and doubled-over.

"Looks like he's done well," Manas says, reigning his voice back to emotionless flatness.

Knowing he can do even better, Kurogane just mutters, "We'll see what else he can do."

So. Some kind of contest, then, and a fairly easy one to start. Fai could assume some kind of physical demonstration or performance or something then they saw the area before, and even hazard to guess he placed his "name" on a sign-up list, but really, the actual events could only be a mystery. This event seemed important for him and Kurogane to be shown around, and when he saw Kurogane and Manas in a position of power and authority above the arena, under the banner of Yasha, more suspicions were confirmed. This must be some entertainment for the village, or maybe some recounting or retelling of the battles fought. The lack of pageantry so far however, and the fact these are common villagers and no one from the castle army, introduces some additional puzzles to solve.

Fai follows along with his group and heeds the directions from the ones he considers coordinators, who shuffle the groups this way and that. Several people have tried to speak with him, but he just smiles and refuses to answer, and so far, no one has tried to stop him from anything. Kuro-pi's face when he sees him on the field is worth almost every bit of annoyance and frustration these past few weeks. He should have waved.

While it only took a second to confirm the first event is in fact a race, Fai didn't want to make himself too big a target and win too easily — after all, though he's not exactly sure what the prize is, he thinks landing somewhere in second or third place is probably admirable enough for his purposes. And since he's not sure what all the contests will be, or how many they'll do, or for how long, he can afford to throw a few of them. These contests are nothing compared to the magical and physical training he went through as the Ceres court magician, after all.

After the race, they are shooed into one of the huts, which has benches and small leather bags of water. A few attendants inside guide others towards supplies and answering questions, and seem politely familiar but staunchly professional. Everyone is speaking quietly amongst themselves, and Fai notes with interest that all of the competitors, even ones ranked dead last, were still present. So, he can surmise this is not an elimination contest. Are they allowing room for those who fail early to rise back to the top, judged based on total scores?

Maybe about ten minutes later, someone calls out, and the whole group gets up to go. Hopefully, if they ever break into smaller groups, they'll actually use his name, but so far it's everyone at once. And hopefully, Far can continue guessing what the event is based on the actions of the people around him, and it won't be something obtuse or some kind individual performance or have rules he's unaware of. If this is simply some kind of physical and/or combat-based competition, he is confident he can succeed.

The next competition is some kind of javelin throw. Fai notes he's placed third to throw, and that the lineup matches the rankings from the footrace. He allows himself to lose this one, keeping his arm and elbow stiff and choking back the full force of the throw, placing his light spear tied for last. When they are recycled through a third contest, Fai is not last, to his surprise, but somewhere towards the middle, suggesting maybe they are averaging out his position using some type of scoring system.

For the third challenge, Fai waits indoors while they call on people one by one, and he tenses, worried his "name" on the sign up sheet might pose a challenge, but they seem familiar enough with him, and do use his name when it's his turn. As he heads out, he notes someone staring daggers at him before hailing an attendant to whisper in their ear.

As he follows the guide back onto the field, he's lead to a fully-dressed mount, who levels him a red-eyed stare. The guide offers him a hand to get him up into the saddle, even though Fai had spent a few days familiarizing himself with these creatures during their training on the mountain. He pats the side of its long neck as he takes the reigns. The attendant seems mildly surprised, and Fai realizes most competitors likely haven't had any experience with the large versions of these creatures.

The attendant reads him off a brief monolog, which Fai hopes aren't complicated instructions for completing this challenge, and he only catches a few familiar words for running and jumping. The arena is the same as the foot race from earlier, only with a few barricades of wooden gates and sandbags that he'll presumably need to navigate. When the helper says something that sounds like a question asking if Fai is ready, he nods, waits for the whistle, then urges the dracquis to run, using the commands he picked up from the training ground, tugging the reigns this way and that, kicking its flanks to urge it faster.

When Fai crosses the finish line, another attendant helps him down, and though he cannot tell how he did on his own, when they bring him out for the next event, he's gone up several placements, suggesting he did well.

They all race the dracquises in a standard race next, with no obstacles. The next round takes even longer, and they wait in their holding area for a long time. This time, two competitors at once are called on, then fitted with simple armor and handed blunt-tipped wooden spears, and they stay on the field for agonizingly long minutes at a time before returning, sweaty and exhausted, sometimes limping or holding minor injuries which the attendants look at and treat on the spot, if needed.

That same man from before seems to be staring at Fai, though he can't tell why based on his expression. Just every now and then, while Fai waits, eyes training back and forth throughout the room, every time he looks at this man, with reddish brown hair to his shoulders and a warm, tanned face, he cuts his eyes away sharply like he doesn't want to be caught looking. Everyone else regards him with some wariness and caution, but this one… he keeps looking.

When Fai's name is called, he heads to the building's entrance where he's outfitted with some simple leather armor and sturdy but crude metal helmet, which unfortunately obscures his vision quite a bit, only allowing him to see through a narrow visor. Another name is called, but he doesn't catch who among his fellows he'll be facing before they are also outfitted and their head is covered.

When they take to the field, to cheers and waves, their handlers lead them each to a tall black dracquis, helping them mount before handing them their own wooden spears. Fai follows his opponent to the biggest and most open arena, where they are both closed in by fences. Fai's narrow field of view blocks him from seeing Kurogane in the stands, and now all he has to go on for this contest is measuring his opponent's move.

They circle each other briefly, trying to understand the mood and movements of their mount while keep a careful eye on each other. Fai doesn't have much experience with mounted fighting like this, especially not this type of creature, so in that he and the other are likely evenly matched. Both take a few tentative jabs at the other, testing speed, responsiveness, power. Fai isn't sure of his goal here — unseat them? Outlast them? Score a certain number of points? And if so, what are the legal strikes? At least he's fairly sure they aren't meant to kill, otherwise they'd have blades.

His opponent strikes once, sure and swift, and Fai allows it to graze his right arm, to test the crowd's reaction and the force of the enemy's strikes. Surprisingly, it rips through the light cloth and padded armor, just nicking his skin. Impressive for what he thought was too blunt to draw blood.

He only moves when his opponent does, only strikes where the other was aiming, just to make sure he's not too out of line. But they can't keep dancing around each other, and this feels too important to just allow himself to lose. He risks fully taking his eyes off the other combatant to look up at Kurogane in the stands to see what he is doing, and then his vision turns to white hot pain.

Chapter Text

Kurogane shoots up out of his seat when he sees Fai double over on his mount, gripping his arm. The crowd gasps, a mix of excitement and concern. The wound doesn't look that serious, but even though Kurogane can't see his face past the metal helmet, the mere fact that Fai is reacting so sharply is cause for concern. He's rarely surprised by an opponent, and to express his pain is even more rare. So when he switches his spear to a one-hand grip, leaving his right arm stiff and cradled against his chest, Kurogane storms down from his seat, intent in finding that fucking kid from before. He must be involved with this somehow.

"Kurogane!" Manas calls after him, but Kurogane ignores him, intent on his mission. People startle and move out of his way as he races down a few short flights of steps and pushes his way back down to the dirt path outside the festival arena. Luckily, with most people in the stands, the immediate area is pretty empty. But that also means Kurogane has no lead where to go next.

Then there's no choice. He turns to head into the arena to beat that fighter himself, but he stands face to face with Manas.

"Kurogane," he growls. "What do you think you're doing?"

"What you refuse to do!" He snaps back. "Your soldiers fight each other during training and you let it slide, and now during a spar someone is cheating somehow. This ends now!"

"How do you know they're 'cheating'?" Manas asks coolly. "The only real rules to the challenge are to defeat your opponent using the tools given, and kill no one. So far they are doing exactly that."

"Because something is wrong with him," Kurogane shoots back. "Fai's arm was only grazed, but the pain hit him nearly a minute later? That's not normal. I know him. This isn't normal for him to react like this. They're doing something and I intend to find out what."

Manas crossed his arms. "By doing what, exactly?"

"By getting Fai out of there."

"And hurting him more in the end?"

Kurogane narrows his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"The same thing it's meant every time I have told you this, Kurogane. That Fai is clearly a capable warrior — you both are. But your favoritism and coddling is clearly only driving him away. After all, that's why he joined the festival, isn't it?"

Kurogane blinks, thrown off guard. Driving him away? Dammit, the wizard is nothing but distant to him at all times. Sure, he was probably pissed off about the kiss thing, or just confused, but lately he's been back to his dopey self, after he apologized… after Kurogane stopped treating him like he was made of glass. But what's that about joining the festival? Kurogane can't exactly admit Fai has no way of knowing what the event really is, so his reasons for joining are almost certainly just a whimsy. So he merely says, "What he does is his own business. It's got nothing to do with me."

"Until you think he can't do something himself, then it's your business only?"

"Shut up!" He snaps. Fai is still in that arena, and it's been minutes already. The crowd has been cheering and gasping and varying degrees, but he can still hear the sounds of the beasts' clawed feet scraping the earth and weapons clashing and parrying, so he knows it's not over yet, but he has no way of knowing how it's going. "It doesn't matter! I saw those fucking kids run off as soon as the match started. Him and his friends must be involved."

Manas raised an eyebrow. "Dorcey and his friends? They're from this village. Perhaps they left for other reasons, to see other events."

But Kurogane's already shaking his head. "No. I know they're involved with this, somehow. And I'm going to find them."

Manas looks like he's debating whether or not to believe them. If he gets in Kurogane's way… he can't afford to usurp his authority, not if they want any safe harbor to find the others, but he won't allow him to risk Fai any further. "Alright then. Let's look into this."

Fai has a much harder time commanding his mount, with his right arm limp, hurting sharp and white, spasming at random intermittent intervals. He has to force it close to his chest, reigns limp in a fist that won't close, commanding the dracquis by the squeeze of his legs. The spear is wooden and light enough, but awkward and unwieldy for one arm alone.

The pain can only be from poison; such a scratch would normally barely register otherwise. But were both their weapons poisoned? Was this part of the game? He couldn't tell from the jeers and gasps if this was unexpected or exciting for them. The only way he could learn is wounding his opponent, if he's given a chance. But with his movement impeded, he won't be able to position himself well.

He can't read the expression on the other's face, but he continues to strut about the arena with confidence and caution, as though he's still wary of Fai's retaliation, staying out of spear range. Fai tests the weight of his weapon, and comes to a conclusion.

As his opponent circles him and tests his limits, Fai learns that this caution makes him predictable. Once he's assured of the trajectory, he strikes, throwing his spear with as much force as he can manage with one hand — which is perhaps too much, as the spear clangs loudly off the helmet. The rider stiffens, then falls limp, then collapses off the dracquis.

Despite it all, cheers fill the arena, and he assumes either by unmounting or knocking out his opponent, he's found victory. But that doesn't stop the horrific pain in his arm, and when the assistants run out to check on them both, instead of listening to their questions or trying to answer them in his broken poorly accented pidgin speech, he just allows himself to collapse in their arms, faking half-consciousness.

He's not sure how much of the event is left, if this injury disqualifies him, if this was a valid move for his opponent to make, or how much danger he's really in. So far, the pain remains in just his arm, which he hopes is a good sign, but he does hope it won't get any worse. He couldn't catch a glimpse of Kurogane. He hopes he isn't too disappointed at Fai's poor fighting.

They take him back into the depths of the arena, though it's not the same holding pen from before. This seems to be more of a first aid area, with a couple of cots and some new faces he assumes are doctors or at least medical volunteers. Shortly after, his opponent is dragged in as well, sans helmet, and Fai notices his opponent was that man from earlier, who kept staring at him. Maybe he'd been planning this all along. He still hadn't regained consciousness.

The medics, for lack of a better term, fuss and chitter in rapid, worried voices. He doesn't catch much, just a few of the basics— arm; something that might be injury, cut, wound; bandage; people calling his name, and even that of Manas. Once, he thinks he hears Kurogane's name. After they wrap his arm and hang it in a simple cloth sling around his neck, a woman kneels next to him and asks something solemnly. Fai merely blinks. It's clearly a question, and one Fai considers carefully. Is she asking if he wants to continue? Or if he needs to quit? If he's okay, or doing worse? The ambiguity is too much to guess at, so he waits. Finally, she holds up a wooden sword to him, hilt first, offering, and now the question is clear: Can you still fight?

Fai nods and grabs the weapon with his only good arm.

Kurogane finds the traitor at a shop stall in town, hurriedly bargaining for something, but he doesn't let the guy get another word out before he yanks him by the hair and throws him into the street. He stumbles, barely keeping his feet under him, and turns to snap back before he sees his attacker. Then his eyes grow wide and, to Kurogane's shock, he immediately falls into an apologetic dogeza. "Kurogane-san! Sir! This isn't what it seems! I was just—!"

"Quiet!" Kurogane snaps, kicking him so hard he rolls onto his back. "I've had enough of you and your lot. Time to pay for your treachery!"

"Kurogane!" Manas barks with such authority it actually makes Kurogane freeze for a moment. The grizzled gray commander storms over and hauls Dorcey to his feet himself, who can't even lift up his head, just punches one fist into his opposite palm and bends at the waist into another deep bow.

"Commander, it was my brother Fai-san had to face in the spear duel. I had written to him of my earlier complaints of the lieutenant and my initial discontent, and I even pointed him out when we saw him perusing the festival events. But when I saw that he had signed up for the Moon Festival, I mistakenly commented my surprise to my brother. I swear I had no idea he had gotten ahold of Moon Lotus poison, or how, or that he planned to use it on Fai-san. I know now from seeing him compete that Fai-san is a strong and admirable warrior and I leave it to Commander Manas to decide who serves in Lord Yasha's army. Please, I was only looking for an antidote, that was all."

The boy speaks so fast and with so much information, Kurogane's furious brain can only catch so much. Since when has Fai been a lieutenant? Moon Lotus? Poison?!

Before Kurogane can wring the boy's neck, Manas stills him with one glance. Speaking low but calm to Dorcey, he says, "No need for that now. Moon Lotus is not fatal and the effects fade with the waxing of the moon."

"But… the competition…!"

"He will either need to concede or struggle on. That is his decision now."

"And… my brother…?" Dorcey raises his head slightly, not enough to look Manas in the eye but managing to look at his boots.

"Will be dealt with accordingly. Thank you for your honesty."

With that, Manas turns heel and storms back to the arena. Kurogane surges after him, demanding in a furious but low enough voice the guy behind them cannot hear: "The hell? You found out someone poisoned another competitor and you let him go? Again?"

"If you were listening," he answers with deadly calm, "you would know he did not do it. He was in fact trying to remedy the situation, and even admitted to his brother's violation. The real perpetrator will be dealt with swiftly."

"And Fai?"

"Again," Manas repeats, more than patient, "it's Moon Lotus poison. A flower local to this area that blooms only during a new moon. When blooming, it produces a painful, paralyzing poison. Young ones often dose each other as prank or rite of passage. The poison lasts as long as the moon is dark, and fades when the moon grows bright again. His life is in no danger."

Dammit, did that mean Fai would be dealing with this for three nights?! The competition happens on the first night, then the second night is the judging, and the third and final night of the Moon Festival is the induction ceremony. If there is no way to shorten the poisoned effect… Fai will be suffering through all of it.

Kurogane will make sure the punishment fits the crime.

Fai struggles through the next several events in a haze. A similar duel using wooden swords, then archery, then hand to hand combat. Through it all, Fai's arm remains sharp and useless, painful and throbbing with any strain or attempt to move it. His opponents alternate between graciously avoiding his injury and trying to exploit it, but out of sheer spite and grit, he doesn't let them win. In events like archery, where he needs two hands, he grits his teeth and forces his arm into move, only making the pain worse and hurting his performance, but he still manages to score slightly above the median.

His opponent manages to regain consciousness at some point and competes in some more individual events, but any challenge between competitors, he's conspicuously benched.

By the time an attendant sounds the final shrill whistle, he is exhausted, hurting all over from guarding his limp and burning arm, from overcompensating and overusing it, aching from the unnatural ways he has to move. It's not until all the competitors are brought back to the field that he deigns look up to see Kurogane back on his elevated perch, looking utterly murderous, and Manas sitting at his side with an equally disturbed expression.

Manas stands and speaks a few words, his voice terse, but otherwise he thinks the speech is congratulatory, to some degree. The crowd cheers, maybe a little less enthused than they were before the speech. Even the one who wounded him stands with them, but he keeps his eyes on the ground, wearing a tense expression of dread and fury. But when they're ushered from the stadium through the roar of an adoring crowd, Fai is shocked when he bumps into his dark and gloomy ninja, who immediately grabs around the waist, hosts him over his shoulder, and carries him off like a bridal battle trophy.

Chapter Text

After Kurogane hauls Fai's ass to the same military doctor that oversaw his arrow wound to make sure Manas is correct in his assessment, Kurogane brings Fai to one of the inns hosting Yasha's forces while they're in town. Fai doesn’t even try to hide his bewildered confusion at the whole thing, arm still carefully wrapped and hung in a sling. When they are finally alone, Kurogane faces down the daunting task of trying to explain what happened, and to make Fai explain what the hell he had been thinking, signing up for this.

Clearing his throat, he begins somewhere simple. "Fai… arm hurt?"

Cheekily, the little shit merely grins, holding up his arm like he's not still in incredible pain. It's still bent at a sharp and painful angle, wrist out of alignment with his forearm, elbow crooked out away from his center, but he had seen during the doctor's exam how any attempt to straighten it only made it worse.

"Fai okay," he says, smiling wide enough his eyes closed.

"No," he shoots back, shaking his head. "Fai is… You are hurt."

"Kuro-chi," he teases, laughing, and for some reason that just pisses him off more. Kurogane grabs his arm, not pulling or anything, but squeezing lightly. Normally it would barely even catch the wizard's attention, but this time Fai cries out involuntarily, flinching from the touch and his whole happy facade dropping in an instant.

"Just… Talk to me," Kurogane tries, knowing these aren't words Fai knows well. "Tell me. Are you hurt?"

Fai takes a moment, meeting his gaze with a steady, even, emotionless stare. Finally, he admits it: "Kuro-pi… my arm hurt."

Kurogane nods. Before he speaks, he grabs for some more parchment and ink — with the illusion of Fai having some musical or performance background, Kurogane uses the excuse he likes to compose in his free time, keeping them well-supplied both writing materials. He draws a crude impression of a flower, certainly not accurate to a real Moon Lotus, considering he'd never seen one, but enough to start with. He then draws a dark new moon above it, and liquid dripping from the stamen of the flower, then a small little skull next to the liquid, hoping that expresses the idea of danger. Kurogane taps the drawing, explaining, "Poison."

"Poison…" Fai repeats, brow furrowing. He doesn't seem surprised, so he must have guessed as much. "Bad?" He asks.

He must be asking how serious it is, so he shakes his head. "Not bad. But painful. Hurts. For three nights." He holds up three fingers for emphasis. Fai's expression is complicated as he works out the meaning, but at least he looks less worried. He taps the skull, and looks at him with a question mark in his eyes.

Kurogane shakes his head again, and tries to think of how to explain. "Fai… good. Fai safe. No hurt. No… death. Just hurt, for three nights."

Fai winces and clutches his arm again, but nods. "Kuro-la…" he starts the say something, but closes his mouth, and instead just embraces him. Kurogane stiffens, instincts wanting to shove him away, but he's mindful of the arm clutched to his chest, how the good arm holding his back shakes and quivers, how tight his holding on. And he realizes what Fai is trying to say.

"Thank you," Kurogane pronounces, slow and clear. "Thank you."

Fai sleeps poorly that night. Normally he's so still when he sleeps, but all night he tosses and turns, making small noises of pain and his face contorting with it even when he's assuredly under. It means Kurogane sleeps poorly as well, waking up with every kicked blanket and whimper, even when he's on the other side of the room. He can't help but check Fai's pulse each time, listen to his breathing, fingers on his elegant wrist and ear next to his nose and mouth. Not that he doesn't trust the doctors and medics, but… well, maybe he doesn't trust them entirely. Not after… he didn't bother to learn the guy's name. After what he did.

Kurogane sees to the punishment, of course. Before the official results are announced, Manas pulls the guy aside and makes sure he knows that he will never be allowed to serve under Yasha. At first, Kurogane is stunned to think this is the only consequence — poison a fellow competitor and his punishment is a peaceful civilian life? But not only that, his brother, Dorcey, is discharged from service as well, and any member of their household is refused from serving for their lifetime. Kurogane comes to realize not only the extreme loss of face and shame this brings to their family, but the pervading belief among the populace: that whoever wins the Moon Castle, though everyone gets a wish, the soldiers present would be among the first to have a boon granted, because who knows how long it might take, what changes a wish could make on the world? To guarantee you get yours, you need to be there, on the front line.

Kurogane can't believe these people buy into this fantasy so fully. Not only something so unbelievably naive and utopian as getting a wish granted, free of retribution or payment, but that everyone in the whole kingdom gets one? That there is not one person in Yama that may wish for someone else to not have a wish, that a wish may destroy lives, may fundamentally change their world? Obvious foolishness. If even there is a wish to be earned, it's likely at the behest of a feather, and for all the power he's seen them hold and the miracles they can work, they are at best, singular and temporary. If anyone would get their wish granted, it's the leader of this country, Lord Yasha.

Kurogane ought to find time to speak with him. Manas has said he enacts Lord Yasha's will — and other than the singular time they were brought before him, and the glimpses of him in battle, that seems, if anything, underestimating his role. Yasha's presence within his own army is shockingly scarce, from training to recruitment to morale, all of it has been overseen, planned, and enacted from Manas, without even an attempt to claim it was on Yasha's direct orders. It's obviously a sensitive topic, as Manas looked ready to draw steel last time Kurogane brought it up.

Manas may be in denial, but Kurogane can plainly see, whatever strange system they'd had in place to ensure a constant war for centuries is no longer working. Soldiers are weaker, authority is weaker, and if not for the unfortunate coincidence of Kurogane and Fai's arrival to bolster against the changing tide, he can't imagine they would hold out for another year. An army, like any living thing, cannot abide without a head to guide it, and the center of Yama and the focus of the entire mission is Yasha.

Fai can barely stand for the next night of judging, where all competitors left are marched through the arena to the cheers and adoration of the crowd. Fai looks drunk — worse than drunk, since he's usually even more obnoxiously cheery when he's deep in his cups. His arm is still useless, bound, and the lack of sleep and constant pain have thrown him off more than he's seen from the wizard. To let the fatigue show so clearly spikes his worry once again that something more serious is wrong, here, but doctors checked him once more before the presentation, and apparently all is proceeding as expected, though she did note that Fai's overuse of the arm likely weakened him more than he should have been. And for what? What victory had he been hoping to accomplish, here? He was already in the army, and the soldiers seemed fine with him. What did he think this was going to be?

Manas gives another hollow speech about victory and sacrifice and triumph and togetherness, while Fai sways in the wind and stares into the middle distance. Only when Manas reads off the list of new recruits does recognition spark back in his eyes. Kurogane sees that perfect mask slide on his features effortlessly, and when his name is called, Fai steps forward to wave with his good arm and smile as he's fitted with his own armor marked with Yasha's crescent moon insignia. The other successful candidates receive the same, and they are led off to join with the rest of the army, waiting among the crowds in the stands, as new comrades-in-arms. At the end of the procession, Manas claps Kurogane on the shoulder.

"I must say, a bold move on his part."

Kurogane had been eager to get back down there to check on Fai, as normally a grin that wide only means he's lying twice as much, but that comment makes him stop. "Yeah. I'll say. Trying to poison someone out of spite in order to get recruited… obviously, that wasn't gonna end well for him."

Manas quirks an eyebrow. "I don't mean Dorcey and his brother. I mean Fai."

"Fai, bold?" Sure, he could be bold… and irritatingly so, but he had little to fear from fighting amateurs. Though it was stupid of him to sign up for contest he couldn't have known anything about. "Hardly."

"No, I mean it. I told you, the way you showed Fai such favoritism and leniency led to discord and conflict. You tried to resolve it in your own… declarative way, but I can see Fai wanted to earn the respect of his fellow soldiers himself, the same way they all had to earn it. I think by winning his way in, proving himself like this, was truly bold and clever of him."

Could that… really have been the reason Fai signed up? Not just some foolish whim of his… while he might be childish at times, he certainly doesn't make a habit of putting himself in unknown, potentially dangerous situations like this, when he had no way of knowing the rules, the outcome, or the meaning of the event… It made sense that he'd do as Manas thought, but he couldn't have…

Manas's black eyes glint knowingly. "Or, did you think he wouldn't do such a thing, since you never explained what the Festival is? He certainly wouldn't have any way of knowing, would he?"

Kurogane's heart stops cold. "What did you say?"

"After all, Fai can't hear, can he?"

Chapter Text

"...what do you mean? of course he can!" Kurogane shoots back automatically, but he feels a cold sweat form on the back of his neck.

Manas just stares at him, steely and level. "Perhaps you're right, he can hear a little bit, but I think his hearing is not the same as you or I, isn't it? The two of you barely talk, and when you do, I've seen you use a lot more of your hands to talk than you do with anyone else, and even fewer words."

"We're just…" He tries to think of am excuse, that maybe they were more "physically" affectionate because of their "relationship," but he can't force the words out, and even then his pointing and gesticulating isn't inherently romantic. "We just know each other well. We need few words."

Manas sighs. "Kurogane. That may be true, but I've seen and heard from others that Fai rarely responds to anyone else, doesn't speak to anyone else, and the few words he has been heard to say sound… off. Not like your accent, like he's unfamiliar with the words, like he can't hear them well. Even that time he sang to me… the tune was lovely, but I know of musicians who learn to continue their trade even after losing their hearing, or learn how to play despite it. You tried to hide it because you assumed he wouldn't be allowed to fight with us if he were deaf, didn't you?"

This old soldier is more observant and clever than he ever anticipated… the fact he's drawn this conclusion, after all their weeks together… perhaps it was foolish to hide Fai's inability to speak for all this time. Even though his conclusion wasn't entirely accurate, it may be a decent cover. Kurogane doesn't say anything, waiting to see where Manas is going.

When Kurogane offers no admission or excuse, he keeps going. "... you should have no such worries from me, Kurogane. I have seen how hard Fai has worked, how well he has learned to move and adapt to our environment. The fact he signed up for the festival to prove his worth, despite your coddling of him, despite not knowing all he was getting involved in, shows his determination to fight alongside us. You are both welcomed to fight under Lord Yasha's banner."

Kurogane is stunned. This is not at all how he expected this conversation to go, nor how accepting Manas might be. He finds himself laughing, crude and boisterous and even a little relieved. "You really are desperate for soldiers, aren't you?"

Manas just smiles back, weary and tired and lacking any of Kurogane's humor.

Fai spends days in delirium. The pain isn't the worst he's ever felt but it's rare to have something so painful last so long, so consistently, no ebbing or waning or finding any relief. But Kurogane tried to assure him that it wasn't a deadly poison, and no one seemed especially worried over him, just checking on him and offering what few comforts they could. It exhausted him, and he slept more than he usually did, and his dreams were pained and bloody. Dreams of his brother. Dreams of Ashura. Dreams of what he will have to do when this little journey of his comes to an end and he will have to strike down the man who is spending hours at his bedside.

The lack of restful sleep affects him more than he anticipated. He spent untold sleepless days and weeks and maybe years while trapped in his timeless prison, but it didn't bother him as much as true sleep deprivation. Nightmares and pain keep him awake, confounded by mild fevers, and he's grateful for the space to recuperate quietly in their room, with occasional checks from the doctors. Kurogane told him it would only last three days, but the time passes as slowly as that hellish void from his childhood as he waits for the pain to pass, trusting Kurogane's understanding of his situation.

When Fai finally awakens after some number of days, he suddenly feels perfectly fine. Flexing the fingers of his right hand, he finds it moves perfectly fine, arm pliant under his command once more. Whatever poison that had been in his system must have cleared, and shockingly he feels no lingering side effects whatsoever.

Kurogane is sitting in his usual pose: on a stool across from him, sword across his lap and head lolling back against the wall in sleep. Fai sits up, propping his chin in his hand as he stares at him. Those steely blue-gray robes he's been wearing in this country do a lot to soften his appearance from his usual red and black ensemble. He tries to push the memory of the nightmares from his mind, how one day he may use his magic to bind and draw the life from that man, of driving a blade deep into his chest and watching the rage and hurt and betrayal drain out of his eyes along with the blood spilling over Fai's hands… he doesn't think of that inevitable future, and focuses instead on how soft and vulnerable he looks in this moment.

But as a skilled warrior, of course he's a light sleeper, and perhaps he can sense Fai's attention on him, because his eyes crack open and he looks instantly awake to see Fai sitting up and seeming better.

"Fai…! Fai… no hurt?" He asks, nearly choking himself to use words Fai knows.

"Good morning, Kuro-kiki," he answers with a smile. He waves with his right arm. "Fai no hurt."

Kurogane lets out a sigh of relief, which Fai finds endlessly endearing for the fact that the ninja doesn't seem to realize he did it. Then he immediately starts on a long and aggravated rant that is too fast, complicated, and heated for him to follow, but he knows well enough by now that it's all bluster. Fai just leans back and laughs.

He's probably mad about signing up for the event and getting himself hurt. When Kurogane gets out all his frustration, he asks one question, or rather one word, which through context Fai assumes to be "Why?"

Why indeed… and how the ninja expects him to answer is an even better question. Was it for the thrill of doing something new and exciting that he had confidence in his ability to overcome? Was it to poke at the limitations of this unusually limiting circumstance, see what he could get away with, see what would break? Or was it simply to feel useful again, to stop feeling led around by Kurogane and helplessly confused about this world, to take action and grab his problems by the throat head-on? Certainly not; direct confrontation isn't how he normally manages things. Teasing Kurogane is about the most direct he gets these days.

Maybe he did it for Kurogane, then. See how he would react, how he'd change, what he would do, trusting somehow that if he made some faux pas Kurogane would save him.

But Fai can't say any of that, even if he wants to. So he just smiles and stares and says nothing, causing that furrowing between Kurogane's eyes to deepen.

"Not… again," he says slowly, not looking directly at him. Fai's pretty sure that's what he says, anyway, lacking the context. He'd heard "again" a lot during training and just assumed, but he's not sure what "again" he might mean this time.

"Kuro-tan?" Fai asks, hoping for some clarification.

Kurogane still doesn't look at him. "Fai… fight with Kurogane. Moon Castle. Fai follow Kurogane." Then seeming at a loss for words Fai knows, he just mumbles "頑張ったんですね。証明するものは何もありません." Fai cocks his head to the side, quizzical, but Kurogane doesn't explain, instead switching topics.

"Fai. Manas, he… sees Fai."

"Sees?" Fai repeats, wondering if Kurogane was using an easier word to say something else.

Growling, he tries a few times before resorting to pantomime again. "Manas…" he points to his head, "Fai no…" then he points to his mouth. There's a strange moment where Fai wonders if Kurogane is trying to talk about their kiss… But what did Manas know about it? Or, no… he "knows" something else.

Fai frowns, then his own brows furrow like Kurogane's. Did he… know Fai didn't understand the language? And is that… bad? Fai looks back to Kurogane, who seems… troubled, but Fai can't tell what this means for their story.

"But… Fai follow Kuro-li? Fight, Moon Castle?"

Kurogane nods.

Then Fai smiles. In that case, he's not worried about anything else. He has what he wants now. Anything else, they can manage, as long as he's there with Kurogane.

Chapter Text

After the festival and induction ceremony, the new recruits who signed alongside Fai march up the mountain alongside the main body of the army, to many excited waves and a few tears from the villagers. Fai, having already been training alongside them for weeks, hangs back from the well-wishing goodbyes, instead staying close to Kurogane. Which would have been a relief in their first days here, to have the idiot mage stay close to him, but for once Kurogane finally feels a shift in the aura of the soldiers around them. They treat Kurogane as a respected veteran, as they almost always have, and now Fai is more openly accepted as a fine warrior in his own right. And perhaps Manas hinted at Fai's… language problem, as he hears few people mention it as a point of suspicion anymore. Or maybe they saw what happened to Dorcey and his brother. Regardless, Kurogane finally feels confident in their acceptance.

Now the grueling work of preparing their dozen or so new recruits begins in earnest. Or so Kurogane thinks, but they don't camp back at the training ground like he expects — they head straight back to the castle, to much fanfare and pageantry. Kurogane hadn't realized it, since all he saw were soldiers, and medics, but there are assortments of servants who stayed behind, now swinging banners and flags and even throwing flowers. It's a bit much, especially considering this must happen every single month. And for just a few dozen recruits? It's like they've already won the war. Maybe this is another of those "morale" things Manas always speaks of. Soldiers need to stay motivated to fight an endless unwinnable war.

After a small welcoming feast, the sun begins to die past the horizon, and the sliver of a crescent moon starts to rise, not bright enough to illuminate the castle floating above them. Following a routine unknown to Kurogane, most of the seasoned soldiers say their goodbyes and head to their quarters — high ranking soldiers live in the castle itself, newer or lower ranks live in a large barracks on the castle compound. When Kurogane catches Esha heading outside, he asks, "Where is everyone going?"

A bit surprised, they say "Oh, right… I forget you're still new. It seems like you've always been with us, Kurogane-san! Well, the new recruits will be formally sworn to service by Lord Yasha, and that is a private ceremony the rest of us aren't allowed to see. So we're all heading to bed now."

Fai is busy drinking and laughing with Koshi, one of the last few willing to leave the feast. She does plenty of talking for the both of them. "Do you think Fai and I should be there, then?"

A spark flashes in their eyes. "Oh! Fai-san was part of the festival, wasn't he…? You both were introduced to Lord Yasha when we first found you, but that wasn't the same, was it…? You should ask Manas, I'm sure he could tell you. I think he's fitting the new recruits with ceremonial equipment to meet His Lordship, if you want to catch him."

Kurogane thanks Esha and lets them on their way. He's about to call Fai over, but given Manas's new assumption, it might be useful to maintain the illusion of Fai's hearing problems, so he walks over to him and puts a hand on his shoulder. Fai, the bastard, bats his eyelashes prettily at him. "Kuro-chu?"

Kurogane ignores that, mostly to annoy Fai but also he won't have the answers he seeks anyway. "Koshi, Esha said new recruits are introduced to Lord Yasha in a formal private ceremony?"

"Oh damn, is it that time of night already? Man, talking to Fai really makes the night go by!" He can't imagine what kind of conversation they could have been having. Likely Koshi drunkenly talking to herself while Fai nodded and woo'd. "I suppose we better head out, then!"

"Wait a moment. Are we supposed to join them? Is he?"

Koshi glances between the two of them. "Ah, I get what you mean… but I'm not sure. I would assume you would, as a formal way to get introduced to Lord Yasha as a member of the army. You've already spilled blood with us once, you and Fai both should be there!"

Fai notices the shift between them but doesn't say anything, sensing Kurogane's resolve and the determined cadence of Koshi's words. Fai manages a quick "Thank you, see you later," that is only a little bit too lilting to sound natural but Koshi either doesn't notice or doesn't care. Kurogane takes off and Fai follows close behind.

"Kuro-kuro?" Fai asks, clearly wanting some hint about where they're going.

"See Yasha," is all he says. Fai steels his expression and quickens his pace.

So, a meeting with Lord Yasha, then. Fai hasn't seen the lord once since their initial visit. He's not sure if this has something to do with the ceremony or an appointment or something Kurogane requested, but it feels urgent, important. They hurry to a large room where the new recruits are being outfitted by the quartermaster in the armor and ornamentation of Yasha — blue and black and silver, crescent moon headbands and heavy weapons.

Kurogane finds Manas, speaking encouraging words to a new soldier, and pulls him aside to have a few hushed words. Fai doesn't recognize anything he asks, but Manas nods, and soon enough he and Kurogane are also fitted with armor and placed in a row before being marched to the throne room.

There Yasha sits, in his dark windowless room lit by scant, meager candles, casting the room in a hazy gloomy. On his throne, his dark hair only identifiable by being blacker than the shadows around him, so still Fai couldn't even be sure he was breathing. Fai feels himself instinctively reach out, pulling for the well of power behind his eyes, trying to sense what level of skill or ability or manner of creature he is, only to remember his magic still remains locked behind the black of his eyes. But even without his magic, Fai knows something is wrong with this scene.

Yasha casts his eyes across the room, looking through each recruit, and the temperature of the room seems to drop significantly. Kurogane, by his side, stiffens, also apparently sensing something amiss. Everyone seems to be waiting for something, including Manas, and the tension is so thick it's nearly choking. But when nothing happens, Manas awkwardly steps forward to say a few words, then introducing every new soldier by name. When their name is called, they step in front of Yasha, bow deeply, and say a few words— the same words, luckily for Fai. Even Kurogane, though his eyes burn with some unspeakable angst, kneels and swears his oath. Fai is last, kneeling and doing his best to speak the words quick and quiet. But no one is paying attention to him, only Yasha, looking over them with unnatural calm and stillness.

It surprises even Fai when he does speak, voice low and deep and solemn, just a few words. A tremor runs through the room, and though Fai doesn't know what he said, it affects him, too, and the relief is palpable when they're marched back out of the room.

Everyone gossips furiously, some giggling in exhausted hysteria, but Kurogane's eyes remain hard as steel. They both change back into their regular gray and blue robes before Fai has to rush after Kurogane back to their room, still trying to cinch the sash around his waist.

"Kuro-rah, what?"

But he can't answer, only shaking his head. He looks at Fai, really looks at him, studying him with an intensity that makes him feel warm inside. "Fai saw Yasha," is all he says. Fai understands instantly. You felt it too, didn't you?

"Yes."

Kurogane struggles to find the words, but can't get out anything more coherent than "... next moon. Castle-fight. Look Yasha." It's broken and stuttering, but Fai agrees.

When they go to fight in a few weeks, they'll keep a close eye on this Lord Yasha.

Chapter Text

Something is wrong with Yasha. Kurogane can't put his finger on it, but when they were back in the room with him, surrounded by the anxious energy of new soldiers, he felt… something off. Something wrong with his aura. He couldn't sense the digital creatures in Ôto Country because they were fake, with no life force. Yasha certainly has an aura, but it's… twisted, somehow. Itching at the edges of his consciousness. He's never felt something quite like it, and he doesn't like it.

He tries to ask Manas about it as they work on training the new recruits, having them racing the mounts and striking training dummies and running drills around the castle grounds, but he evades every time. No time to talk, a recruit was just unmounted, ask me again when I'm not checking for broken bones, etc. For days it continues like this, Manas refusing to acknowledge when Yasha stopped performing his duties, when the behavior started to change, why he's the one leading this army. Kurogane could only imagine it was some battle fatigue, that maybe even the unflappable, indefatigable Yasha was rattled by a close call, and since then he's been a scared recluse. Obviously something shameful for a war-leader, and not something you want made public. Kurogane wants to ask if there's ever been a succession crisis, if there's anyone lined up to take Yasha's place, but Yasha seems to be some long-lived entity, much older than the other people of this world, having been the sole individual in charge for centuries. If Yasha is truly unable and unfit to lead, who will head up these battles? Manas has been breaking his back trying to maintain the ceremony and rituals that Yasha had led, but sooner or later, it will hit a breaking point. He has already noticed the cracks.

So that's why he's relieved when the new recruit training finally concludes, and the night of the full moon approaches. He prepares Fai as best he can, in limited words, what to expect, what he remembers of the first fight: They will stand in the courtyard of upright stones, and the bright light will overtake them, and then they will be at the castle, surrounded by enemies, and the fight will commence right away.

Dressed in his formal Yasha armor, Fai had spent the last few weeks training while riding one of these beasts. No verbal commands seem necessary to ride them, so he has already qualified to ride one mounted into battle. It makes Kurogane nervous - his blond hair is lighter than most of the army, and being taller will make him a target. The mage can hold his own, but they've rarely been in a true military operation before — Fai's techniques consistent of avoiding, parrying, taking out opponents one by one. Will he be able to keep up? Will Kurogane even be able to protect him?

He's worried about himself, too — he was injured by surprise last time, but without the ability to kill, he may not be as effective a fighter as everyone expects him to be.

He clings to Sohi. He stays close to Fai as they march, grim and silent in their dark uniform. Yasha is last to join, walking too slowly, too deliberately, only mounting his steed at the front of the assembled forces at the last possible moment. He does not look back to them, does not speak a word. Kurogane keeps near the fighters he knows to be reliable — Koshi, Soma, Andare, Manas — and feels his guts clench when the stones activate, filling the field in blinding white.

Fai is relieved to finally go to this Moon Castle, to whatever war they are fighting. Finally, no longer alone. But he can't escape the fact that he is gleefully marching near-blind into a war zone, and despite Kurogane's best efforts, he still is not sure what he's prepared to see.

A shattered, stony field, uneven and unpredictable. The blood-red eye of the full moon looks close enough to touch, making the battlefield look as clear as day. And across the way he sees them, looking so much like them, but wearing red, white, and gold instead of his own blue, black, and silver. White dracquises, paler hair and paler eyes of all colors, under banners of blazing flames. And in front of them all, a lithe, delicate form, riding astride a great white beast, leads the charge. Ashura. She bears little resemblance to Fai's own king of the same name — his ears are pointed, his face is younger, hair pulled in a ponytail. Fai is momentarily relieved he won't have to act out that particular nightmare just yet. But then, she raises her arm, sword in hand, then swings it down, and all sense of calm or peace evaporates as both sides rush into battle.

Fai loosely knocks an arrow to his bow, squeezing his mount with his knees to surge forward. He's been practicing riding this way, the reigns looped into the bend of his elbow, eyes darting the field as they race overland, and he starts picking targets right away. Knocking a sword out of someone's hand there, pinning a too-loose sleeve to a rock behind them, making a dracquis stumble by dinging an arrow off a rock in its path. But no killing blows. He stays alert, focused, but tries to judge the skill and lethality of the other fighters, tries to keep an eye on their own people.

Kurogane is a dark aura in his periphery, leaping into combat with wide swings and a fierce smile. Emboldened, in his element, perfectly in sync with his blade. He hits with such force, so fast, it's difficult to tell the crumbling enemies are merely knocked unconscious, struck with the flat of the blade.

As he races through the edges of the battlefield, picking easy shots, he also watches Yasha. The laconic leader sits on his grand mount, on a precipice over the battle. Watching, quietly. That graceful figure of Ashura stares intently at Yasha, his eyes holding some kind of determined longing, and though they move towards and around each other, neither attacks. They're not searching for weaknesses, however, but almost seem to move as mirror images, parroting each other, testing each other. Fai doesn't know what to make of it. Neither side's soldiers pay them any heed, striking down their opponents with practiced determination.

And Fai realizes his critical mistake as he hears a frenzied shout, and the familiar pattern of a chant — the words are strange, but he's heard the rhythm before.

A blue dragon of pure energy and light rushes in front of him, knocking down a dozen soldiers that had been charging Fai, completely unaware. He turns to see Kurogane, a dozen feet away and glaring, his sword still gleaming from the force of his swing. He starts to smile sheepishly and wave, embarrassed he let himself get so distracted, when he sees another mounted swordsman charging up behind Kurogane's flank, and Fai's heart crumbles.

Before he can even think, he's rushing forward, darkness and red flying past him, and though Kurogane is not easy to sneak up on, already turning toward the attacker, the mounted swordsman is moving faster, with more force, nearly tramples him under hoof, and Fai sees Kurogane go down. Fai's bow drops, and he dives off the dracquis, not even trying to reach for his magic, not even conscious of its lack, but instead he's on foot, wrestling down the soldier, unseating him even as his own steed bucks and stomps in confusion. The three of them are pushing, shoving, too-long blades trying to find purchase in someone's flesh. Fai's fingers clasp on the hilt of a blade — not an enemy's, not Kurogane's, but his own. The dagger he'd palmed so many weeks ago from the mountainside training camp in lonely fury, that he still carried with him, stashed behind the decorative blue sash around his hip. The blade is small but it'll do, and Fai sticks it in between the gap of armor between pauldron and breastplate, jamming it as deep in the soldier's chest as he could. Warm blood flows over his hands and his wrists, and he catches the man's eyes — green, surprised eyes — as he quickly grows pale, pulling away, stumbling, tripping to the ground. Fai turns, finds Kurogane on his knees, cheek bloodied and lip ragged, hands red and purpled from the fight over Sohi, but otherwise uninjured.

Kurogane stares at Fai, then at the man, still alive but apparently in shock at having been stabbed, hands unsure if they should remove the dagger or not. Blood drips between Fai's fingers.

That scene seems to freeze before them, captured in the flash of light as the battle reaches its end. And like poison powder dissolving in wine, the standing stones materialize around them.

The battlefield is gone. They are home, and seem no worse for wear. The soldier Fai stabbed is no longer there, but the blood remains on his hands.

He did it.

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It's not the first time Fai has killed. He had to take lives before as the court sorcerer of Ceres, though usually those were beasts. He tries to avoid taking human life if he can help it, mostly to avoid the inconvenience and headache. But this may be the first time he's killed someone since starting this journey — especially in such a brutally physical way. A real, thinking, breathing person.

Or well, that's the most likely outcome. The battle ended right after he stabbed him, so potentially he could receive medical care and survive. He's not sure what abilities or facilities Ashura's army may have, but it must be roughly equivalent to Yasha. Kurogane was struck by an arrow a month ago and is doing fine.

But that was Kurogane. And Fai saw the look in that man's eyes when he plunged the dagger in, when the blood poured over his hands.

He doesn't allow himself to dwell. He has no compunctions against killing, of course. Death is part of every reality in the multiverse. And of course, there are more battles to be fought. Two more moons to go.

This time, Fai keeps his wits about him. Yasha and Ashura intrigue him, but not so much that he'll risk his and Kurogane's safety. He resumes his earlier tactics, using his mounted speed and quick reflexes to move about the edge of the battlefield, picking off quick and easy targets with his bow. More lives added to his ledger, he supposes.

Ashura and Yasha continue their dance as ever, never closing, never retreating, never taking the first move. Fai is fascinated — is this a game to them? No wonder this war has raged for so long. As he picks off another enemy charging towards him, he realizes how still they both are. How they seem to stand apart, no one paying them any mind. Out of curiosity more than killing intent, Fai knocks another arrow to his bowstring and fires at the heart of the enemy leader.

Ashura turns toward him, milliseconds before he lets his arrow fly, and smiles at him. A massive spinning weapon interrupts the flight of his arrow, spinning around dizzyingly fast for something so large, only to turn a wide arc and return to the hand of its owner, a youngish looking man with tawny brown hair in a ponytail, glowering at Fai with eyes full of hatred. Well, it seems someone is paying attention. Ashura then raises her sword arm and strikes, unleashing a devastating blast of energy that Fai barely manages to retreat from. He's locked in with Ashura's attendant, or bodyguard, whatever he is, trading blow for blow at a distance until the light takes his vision and the army returns to the standing stones.

Fai finds Kurogane once the wounded are cleared off and everyone returns to their quarters at the dawn, eager to rest and recover for the next and final battle of the month. Kurogane looks irritated — moreso than usual, perhaps, but by now Fai and Kurogane have learned that detailed conversations are pretty useless, especially in public. Besides, he can take an educated guess as to why Kuro-chan is mad at him — there's no way he missed Fai's foolish strike on the enemy leader.

Back at their room, Kurogane keeps giving him that look, the one that makes a pleasant tingle race between his shoulder blades. "Yasha and Ashura," is all he says.

Fai nods. Kurogane saw it too. But then he uses a new word, one he thinks he's heard Kurogane says during training, when he's using those fancy moves that are like magic but also not: chi. It reminds him so much of the construct he left to guard his brother with that it nearly startles him, but he schools his expression while he strains to make sense of Kurogane's jumbled words that he half knows.

Kurogane seems impressed the opposing clan leader can use chi, something few in the Yasha clan seem to have mastered. Apparently, Yasha has shown little interest in engaging in the fight, and also reluctant to use his powers, if he has any at all.

"Fai and Kurogane, fight… Ashura?" Fai probes. Maybe if they break the stalemate, they can make progress on finding the rest of the group. But Kurogane barks out a loud, clear, harsh no!

"We stay safe," he growls. "And wait."

Fai isn't exactly happy to hear that. They've waited enough, haven't they? It's been over a month, by this world's reckoning, two full moons, and Fai still struggles to understand basic conversations, they haven't been able to search anywhere for the kids, and they have no hope of leaving this place. Fai hasn't felt the alert of his King Ashura waking, but with his magic sealed, would he? If he stays too long, would the king find him? He can't stay here forever. No matter how much he might enjoy the fantasy of life with Kurogane.

Still, he acquiesces to Kurogane's concern, rolling his eyes and pinching his cheeks before saying "Okay, Fai waits with Kurogane," laughing at the flustered annoyed redness blossoming under his skin.

But when the moon begins to sink past the horizon and Kuro's breathing has settled to deep, even breaths, Fai slips from their room, moving quietly through the misty dark of pre-dawn, essentially the middle of the night for the nocturnal-rotation soldiers. His hand hovers on the sliding door of Yasha's throne room, the only part of the castle Fai has ever seen him in. Does he sleep here? It would make sense if his private chambers are secret, but Fai suspects the lord of Yama may be both more and less secretive than he suspected.

Sliding open the door with a near silent rasp of wood on paper, Fai allows only enough of a gap to slip inside the room, dark with candles unlit, thankfully empty of any attendants or servants. And in the throne room, the dark, hunched figure of Yasha silhouettes against the gloom of the grand hall. Fai's magical senses are dull, but he still has his instincts, honed over multiple natural lifespans.

He can feel Yasha watching him. He knows this intrusion is not undetected, but curiously the lord makes no move against him, does not call for guards or even reach for his blade. Fai creeps all the way to his side, within arm's length of him. They stare into each other's eyes, black to doll-like glassy black. Yasha's face is even, bland, unbothered by this new soldier getting so close to him. Doesn't seem tired after the day's battle, sitting in his throne with no signs of sleep, fatigue, or pain. Does not even draw breath.

Fai knows creatures like this. Slow, methodical, emotionless, steady, never tiring, but taking no initiative of their own. Showing no interest, no personality, no motive, no drive, no leadership.

Undeath. An aborted wish to return one to the living, half formed and imperfect. The impossible dream Fai himself is chasing, the reason he aligned himself to that man, all those years ago. A version of that wish now stares back at him, empty and soulless.

Fai takes one step back, then another. Yasha does not react. Like a zombie or puppet awaiting some unseen command, Fai does not register among this creature's priorities.

He makes it back to his room unscathed, where Kurogane still slumbers, taking deep, methodical breaths… And in his sleep, somehow found his way into Fai's bedroll. Fai stares, stunned, then wraps his arms around his middle, to hold back a laugh or a sob.

Kurogane said he wants them to wait. Doesn't want to take unnecessary risk. He wants to turn home, after all, and this is probably close enough to his home. But Fai's not sure how much more of this he can take.

Chapter Text

Kurogane wakes up to the smug wizard's smile far too close to his face. He's shoving him away before he can even register it fully, Fai laughing and rolling away, clearly proud of himself even as Kurogane groggily checks the window to estimate how much sleep he'd gotten. He hates how comfortable and warm his futon feels, even with Fai no longer sharing his space, and he wants to go back to that blissful hazy place in a dream he's already forgotten, but the sun is already beginning to set. It's time to eat dinner — or breakfast? — and get ready for the final battle.

It's been harder than he expected, trying to keep an eye out for Fai in the rush of combat. Normally, he wouldn't be worried about the mage, but he's made a lot of questionable decisions since being in Yama, ones Kurogane can't always entirely understand. He never thought he'd miss the man's overly giddy banter.

And the both of them are fixed on Yasha and Ashura, the strange way they engage each other in combat. Kurogane didn't know enough of the land when they first arrived to notice, but both leaders tend to keep apart from the others, and the rank-and-file almost never attempt to fight them themselves. All the common soldiers fighting and killing while their leaders merely poked and prodded at each other. Are they both so powerful they have to limit the intensity of their engagements? Or is this just a performance, trapped in some eternal cycle? Ashura and Yasha seem to live much, much longer than the average citizen of this world — are they some kind of gods? Or monsters? Perhaps… only monsters would throw away lives so recklessly.

This month's battle ended the same as they always do, a stalemate announced by the glow of the moon stealing their sight and sending them back to the mountaintop castle. And another big meal in the dining hall, this time with Fai and Kurogane welcomed with open arms. The wizard takes to the booze immediately, laughing and drinking and playing pranks so that it's not so obvious he barely understands anything.

Fai had asked the other night if they should try to fight Ashura, and Kurogane told him no. Based on what little he's seen, when Ashura actually puts in the effort, he might actually be a match for them both, not to mention having to fight off her bodyguards. Kurogane broods about their chances over the entire raucous meal, trying to plan if they have any chance of winning this battle. Maybe if they could find Ashura's palace, he could use his honed ninja skills… after all, sneaking into the homes and past the fortifications of his enemies for stealth assassinations was a large part of his work for Princess Tomoyo. But of course, no one knew where Ashura and his forces were, where they lived after the moon battles. In fact, Kurogane had no idea what the boundaries of Yama country even were.

And the kids… Sakura, Syaoran. Even the pork bun. They could still be out there somewhere, in danger. The princess has enough of her feathers by now to be stable, but could she get sick if she doesn't get another feather eventually? He tangles his hand in his hair, exasperated. They could keep fighting in this endless war, try to end the stalemate, but what about the rest of the time? All this training, trying to improve the soldiers… he's thinking about the camp on the mountain, the New Moon Festival, all the training and marching and practicing and fucking morale building Manas has been doing while Yasha just waits for the battles, only to sit on the back of his horse and do nothing. Maybe Kurogane would be okay with that life, but with Tomoyo's curse on him, being a warrior unable to kill, having to have Fai kill for him… it feels wrong. And he needs to, wants to, find where those kids are.

So he comes up with a plan, and finds Manas at the end of the feast.

Fai is having far too much fun drinking and playing to notice Kurogane leave the big dinner, and too buzzed and content to care when he goes to bed alone. This time, he doesn't feel confused, isolated, worried about the future. He knows how this world works, for the most part, he knows their place in it, and while there's still uncertainties, he's confident in knowing what tomorrow will bring and feels assured in his allowance to sleep in for a few hours.

Which is why he is so confused and grumpy when Kurogane wakes him just after dawn, after he only got a few hours of sleep, slings him on the back of a dracquis, and loads a large heavy camping sack on the beast's rump before telling him to follow him down the mountain. When he asks where they're going, Kurogane only says "Sakura and Syaoran."

Did he have news of them?! Did he hear about them somewhere in this world? Fai's heart soars with anxious excitement before Kurogane kills his enthusiasm with a shake of his head. As their steeds march down the winding mountain road, he unrolls a vellum map and loops a winding, aimless path with his finger, down the mountain and off to uncharted areas. A search, then. Not as exciting, but it will feel good to get out and try to find the children. Once his hangover recedes, of course.

They make a quick stop at the village at the base of the mountain, where Kurogane trades for some food and other essentials, and then they're off again. While Fai is initially excited, it quickly turns dull and boring, riding in near silence along a beautiful but sparse countryside. There's little he can talk about even if he was able to, and he though he traveled Ceres as court magician for many years, he was used to the loneliness, then. It feels odd now, to have a companion he does enjoy being around despite his better judgment, and to be unable to talk and laugh and tease him as they did before… it leaves him feeling even colder than the night air.

But when they make camp, he finds Kurogane unrolling his blankets close to him. And Fai grows accustomed to smelling his sweat and musk and breath before he falls asleep, until it starts to fill his dreams. As hours turn to days to weeks of walking and riding, Fai starts to have… increasingly lurid dreams, of Kurogane's deep, low voice and his large rough hands and his smell. Sometimes he wakes up and has to check that they still have all their clothing on. Sometimes he needs to take a walk in the frigid night air, reminding himself of Ceres, of cold nights shared with King Ashura. That's usually enough to sober him back to reality.

He's not sure why Kurogane suddenly seems so comfortable sleeping so near him. Maybe it's to make sure Fai doesn't run off. Maybe it's simple practicality, as they venture far enough and long enough that some nights they have to hunker in a tent to keep snow off their backs. When they sleep in some of the small, remote villages, Kurogane even gets them just one room, often with just a single bed to share.

It drives Fai mad. Is this a ploy? He thought he knew Kurogane so well, well enough to assume he'd never be like this, not with Fai, and yet as they pass days and nights together, searching, asking, wandering, sleeping and eating together, he starts to doubt everything. Some nights he can't sleep, staring at the furrow that remains between his brows even in slumber, wondering if he should kiss him. Wondering if Kurogane wants him too, but doesn't know how to ask. Fai knows the word for kiss… Kurogane taught him that. But can he… should he? Would he?

It can't. He can't, because if he's misreading the signs, then who knows what Kurogane would do? Leave him in the wilderness? Unlikely, as they hunt and fish and forage and trade and search, how Kurogane stays near him, within eyesight, at all times. Not after all the times Kurogane has protected him. But there's no one to perform for here, not anymore. No distraction or disguise to maintain, and he still allows Fai to be so close.

After several weeks, enough for the moon to wane to complete darkness and start to grow once more, Kurogane finally begins marching them back towards the castle. They still have obligations there, apparently, and must return in time for the next battle. But even when they're back at their new home, with new soldiers to greet and warm food in their bellies, Kurogane's behavior doesn't change. He doesn't distance himself from Fai anymore, and it seems everyone has accepted them as a pair.

When they return to the Moon Castle, Kurogane fights alongside him, as Fai picks off distant warriors with his bow, Kurogane knocks them aside and unconscious so no one can get close. They're a fearsome duo, killing and wounding and incapacitating countless Ashura soldiers. But somehow, they still can't end this endless stalemate.

Kurogane and Fai often go wandering between battles. Inquiring in town about the kids, for any news from distant lands. But no matter what news they hear, how far they can roam between lunar cycles, they never find anyone but black-eyed Yama country citizens, never hear any word of newcomers from other lands.

It becomes a stale, dull routine. Fight, wander, travel, train, eat, drink, sleep. Hunting, riding, learning word by word, dreaming in a foreign tongue. Every day is different, but nothing is ever new. All they can do is fight, wander, train, travel, sleep, drink, eat. Different but still the same. He feels like that wraith of Yasha, only going about the motions, following routine battles. Kurogane enjoys the fights, he can tell, but even he is losing hope.

Fai can feel it as well. He looses track of days. He doesn't mark the passage of time anymore, only counting each lunar battle. So when, during the height of battle, fighting what must have been their sixth cycle at least, when a great light splits the sky and reality seems to warp around a column of air, he continues to fight. He retreats to Yasha's side, in case this is some new, strange attack from the Ashura clan.

Because he has forgotten, in taking on this role for so long. After being here so long. He's forgotten what Mokona's magic looks like, since he hasn't felt any magic for all this time.

And when the wings retreat to a small white creature, and two small children lie collapsed on a battlefield, his hand goes for his bow before he even thinks about what's happening. He looks to Kurogane, on the other side of Yasha, right by Fai's side as always. And suddenly… Fai understands everything. Every word, every cry, every shouting charge and gurgling last words. It overwhelms his senses, to suddenly hear, to understand everything so perfectly like it's his native tongue. No longer straining to hear familiar words and remember their meaning, no exhaustion wearing down his mind.

And it's all thanks to Mokona.

Before either of them can move, Ashura approaches the children. They're too far from them, and too close to the enemy — they'll never make it there on time. And even so, they have faced enough of these battles, they can feel it — the battle is nearing its end. Sakura and Syaoran are right there, looking up at Ashura, her sword in hand. Fai and Kurogane stare at them, but they cannot see them. When the lights glow and the Moon Castle under their feet becomes mossy mountain turf, the children do not return with them.

They are with Ashura, now.

Chapter Text

Fai stares at Kurogane, a mixture of shock and joy on his face. It was them! It had to be them, right?! Kurogane grabs Fai's wrist and practically drags them back to the castle, completely ignoring the hushed gossip of the rest of the army. When they're finally alone, Kurogane turns to Fai.

"You saw them, didn't you? Syaoran and the princess, even that white pork bun! I can't believe after all this time, they just showed up out of nowhere!"

Fai stares at Kurogane, surprised and mildly amused, then just says, "Ma ei saa sinust ikka veel aru."

Kurogane stares back, then growls and kicks over the table. "Are you fucking kidding me? Still?! How far away are they, now?!"

Fai shrugs, but laughs. He walks to the window, pointing to the sky, then points to his ears.

"Wait… up there… you could understand me? Uhh, I mean… Fai… hear… at Moon Castle?"

He nods, looking confident, assured. More like himself than he has for months. He had gotten so dull, so lifeless, not even trying to be the same annoyingly cheerful wizard he'd known for so long. Even after all the time they'd spent together, Kurogane trying to cheer him up, trying to make sure he didn't go do more stupid shit, trying to keep him safe, he seemed to only grow more and more despondent. But now! But now, perhaps they can finally finish their journey!

"Go sleep," he barks at Fai, too eager, too full of energy to rest for the night. "I'll talk to Manas."

There's still two more fights to be had until the next moon. And Kurogane will be damned if he's gonna be waiting another month — he's getting that kid back for all the time it took them to catch up.

When he finds Manas, still just entering the castle with the others, Kurogane interrupts before he can even finish his first question.

"Kurogane-san, do you know —"

"Manas, you remember those kids I told you about — the young man and girl we were travelling with before? That was them!"

"That was…?"

"Yes. I'd know them anywhere."

Manas frowns. "But… they seemed to know Ashura. They vanished with the rest of his clan. You know members of the Ashura clan?!"

Oh. Shit. Maybe he hasn't thought this through. Kurogane quickly scrambles for a cover: "Apparently so. Maybe after all this time, they betrayed us and joined Ashura's side. When next we go to battle, if they're there, I want to be the one to lead the attack against them."

Manas looks deeply troubled by this. "These children… you said they know how to fight, didn't you?"

Kurogane has to pause to decide how to answer. "The boy is good. I trained him myself, but he has a lot to learn still. Probably too dangerous for your people to handle, still. The girl… she's not a fighter. I don't suspect she will be there again."

Manas nods, not wholly convinced, but after all this time fighting alongside each other, Manas trusts Kurogane. "...very well. I'll let the rest of the troops know not to engage, unless they have to. But Kurogane…" Manas levels a steely glare at him. "This changes nothing, correct? You're not planning to defect as well, are you?"

Kurogane scoffs. Of course he plans to leave as soon as he gets his hands around that damned pork bun. But he's sure as hell not planning to join Ashura's side. After he makes sure the kid has kept up his training, and as soon as they can all get together again, they're leaving this world. "Of course not."

Back in their room, Kurogane and Fai take turns resting where they can, eating, and discussing as much as possible. Clearly, they're too far away now to understand each other, but at the Moon Castle, they are in Mokona's range. Kurogane explains that when they return the next night, he will have to fight Syaoran. That alarms Fai at first, but Kurogane rolls his eyes, basically saying he just wants to keep the kid on his toes. That makes him laugh, and Fai agrees to back him up.

As they both mount their beasts and head to the standing stones, Fai's heart swells with excitement. Finally, things feel right again. Back on track. While this journey has been perilous, and will certainly only get worse as they continue on, the hope of resuming his journey, of getting his wish granted in the end… it will make this diversion, and all those unbelievable nights together, worth it.

When they're back on the battlefield, predictably, Syaoran is standing next to King Ashura, and every word spoken by every Yasha soldier sounds as clear and erudite as anyone from his home country. Syaoran, in his own over-eagerness, immediately charges toward them, shouting for them both.

Thinking his charge an attack, both sides launch into battle. "Well now, is King Ashura so lacking for soldiers she sends children into battle?" Kurogane taunts over the fray. Fai sits in his saddle and smiles, content to merely watch. All the pressure of the last several months, every painstaking hour of spending so long so close to Kurogane, feeling like he's betrayed his brother and his cause, wondering if the princess is okay, if Syaoran is still out there, searching for feathers… it's all faded away, like everything is back to normal.

Kurogane unsheathes his sword and swings, launching his chi in a blast of fiery blue dragon's fire. Syaoran expertly dodges, leaping off his mount and landing perfectly on his feet. Kurogane launches another attack, not even leaving the dracquis, and Syaoran slices through the attack with a swing from Hien. Only then does Kurogane dismount, walking out to meet him on the battlefield.

As Kurogane hinted back at the castle, the rest of the army had been warned away from the two of them, and they're given a wide berth, trading blows, once with Syaoran getting the upper hand, then Kurogane, until Syaoran is knocked flat on his back. Kurogane holds Sohi's blade to his throat, making idle threats, clearly trying to chastise his protege for allowing himself to be beaten so quickly. But surprisingly, a powerful blast of energy forces Kurogane to retreat — Fai follows the source to Ashura herself, staring Kurogane down with a dangerous smirk. Fai rides to his side, but unhurried, still smiling — despite the high stakes, this is actually quite fun, almost like a friendly spar. It reminds him of the oni-hunting in Ôto, which felt serious but was in the end just a game.

"Now that's unusual," Kurogane barks. "King Ashura, defending a lowly pawn?"

Despite the fact they can all understand each other, Ashura does not answer, replying merely with a wicked grin. Kurogane readies his sword to strike back, but that bodyguard of hers rides up just in time, grabbing that flying boomerang hanging from his back. Just as he holds it upright for an attack, and Kurogane switches his grip on his sword to ready for an intercept, Fai interrupts with two swift arrows, knocking the enemy's weapon off balance and nearly forcing him to drop it.

Kurogane turns to Fai, irritated. "Keep out of this! This is my fight!"

Remembering all the times Kurogane stepped in to save him, the times Fai has killed Ashura's soldiers to alleviate the pressure of Kurogane, he merely smiles at him.

Unbeknownst to them all, on a cliff high above, Yasha raises his sword. Beads of light glow to life around the blade, and the sword's gleam shoots up towards the sky, nearly piercing the moon. Just before the attack lands, Fai turns and sees what is about to happen, nudging Kurogane to look.

In all their battles, they had never seen Yasha attack, and certainly not with chi such as this — Chi is life energy, and Fai knows that Yasha has precious little of that left, shade that he is. The soldiers, Yasha clan and Ashura clan alike, freeze in their engagements, stepping back and looking to the ground, as it begins to shake and crack under them. Yasha's blue light shatters the ground beneath their feet, sending soldiers from both sides crumbling, his power whipping around like a tsunami, knocking them aside. Fai, Kurogane, Syaoran, and Ashura are on the only patch of ground he didn't seem to attack, disrupting all other soldiers and seemingly keeping them from their battle. Kurogane, brash as always, turns to the silent deathly king he supposedly serves, snapping "You stay out of this too, Yasha!"

The king stands on a cliff overlooking the endless war. Some soldiers have been crushed, others merely thrown off balance, but the majority of the battlefield is entirely impassable now, dust from the crushed rocks blanketing the field and creating an eerie reddish mist lit by the huge moon overhead. Ashura and Yasha meet each other's eyes, and… something passes between the two of them. Syaoran looks confused, glancing around, while Fai and Kurogane both glare at the two kings. They have spent enough time together, and neither of them need to speak to share their feelings. Whatever history these two immortals have, whatever started this war, it will be finished very soon.

But not tonight. Tonight, the moon forces them out, and the Yasha clan army returns, limping and confused, to their castle.

Manas storms over to Kurogane and Fai, even as his own King quietly returns to the castle, refusing to speak. "What in the sky and all the earth happened?!"

Fai watches Yasha go, ignoring Manas and trusting Kurogane to answer whatever his question may be. "Your battle is nearly done," Kurogane says, holstering Sohi for now. "Tell the men to stay in bed. They won't be needed tomorrow night."

Manas locks his initial reaction behind a steel wall, refusing to show any emotion. "And what does that mean?"

"You haven't seen King Yasha attack like that in a long time, have you?" Kurogane asks, quieter. "And especially not risking his own soldiers."

Manas bows his head. Even now, the wounded are being carried off to the medical wing. Far more injuries than they've sustained in the past half year, many hurt after Yasha's attack.

"Yasha hurt a lot of the enemy, but he hurt a lot of our own, too. Tell them they can stay behind tomorrow."

"But!" Manas snaps, fury finally bleeding into his expression. "If no one is there to take the field for King Yasha, then he will be destroyed! The Castle, the wish, all that we have ever fought for will be forfeit!"

Kurogane gestures to the few dozen soldiers still standing in the field, waiting for orders. "Look at who is left. Look at what has been happening. Can't you feel it in the air? The fog of war is changing. The stalemate is ending. Something has to give. Tomorrow night… will end it all."

He could see it in Ashura's eyes. In Yasha's. In Syaoran and Fai. Whatever force held these two in Yama all on their own, whatever brought Syaoran and the others back together… something in the air is changing. Something in Syaoran is changing, too. Kurogane can't say he understands it, but he can feel it in his bones.

When night falls again, Manas is still there, along with the few soldiers still combat ready. Kurogane almost feels pity for them. "Manas…"

"We aren't giving up," he declares forcefully. "Not after everything we've been through."

Fai glances at king Yasha, taking his usual place at the center of the standing stones in the courtyard. Silent as always. Kurogane claps Manas on the shoulder. "Take care of everyone for me, old man."

"What?"

Before he can ask anything else, Yasha speaks. "Manas. Stay behind tonight. That's an order."

The old man'sface turns to ash. It may have been the first time he has spoken an order for a year. The other soldiers go just as pale, turning to the only commander they've known for so long.

Manas hesitates, then barks out "Everyone! Pull back. Take it easy tonight." He gives Kurogane and Fai one final look, as though wanting to ask why they're allowed to stay, but he, Yasha's most loyal commander, is not. But Yasha does not answer, and he does not order them away. And perhaps he has learned, in all their time together, that Kurogane and Fai do not belong here. Whatever faults and tribulations of this world, it does not belong to them, and whatever is happening at the Moon Castle tonight, it is not for him to witness. With great reluctance and a scowl swallowed behind his teeth, he turns and leads the remnants of the army back into the castle. They stand, alone with Yasha, ready to face the final battle.

When they arrive, they are unsurprised to see Ashura, also alone with only two of her own retinue: her bodyguard, and Syaoran. Syaoran and Kurogane quickly pair off to battle, but it's merely a distraction, and soon they break apart, interrupted by Ashura walking between them, towards Yasha. He looks oblivious to anything but Yasha, and Syaoran and Kurogane make way for the king. Fai knocks two arrows on his bow, making Ashura's other guard bristle, but he knows this is not his battle. Ashura cares little for him. He rises in the air, graceful as a bird, her sword alight with mystical flame. Yasha watches him, eyes blank, waiting.

"My wish will be granted," she proclaims, before driving her sword through Yasha's heart. Yasha smiles at her, and he smiles back, brushing Yasha's hair aside to plant a kiss on the scar across his eye. Yasha's body glows, blinding white, and erupts into an explosion of energy. When it fades, Ashura holds Yasha's armor and sword, weeping, and a feather floats above his head. Syaoran, to his credit, does not immediately run to seize it, while Fai and Kurogane watch, along with Ashura's guard. Light fills the field, and fittingly, Sakura is suddenly there, holding Mokona.

King Ashura calls them both to her side, and though she speaks softly, everyone can hear her tell of King Yasha, and how she slew him in battle, many many months ago. How he had fallen ill in secret, weakening him until Ashura was able to inflict a mortal wound upon him, the slash across his eye. The feather had created a projection of him, enough power to feign mortal energy and the power of his chi, but not his true self. "Now I, Ashura, claim the Moon Castle. Grant my true wish!" She drives her sword into the ground, but her true wish clearly could never be granted. Even with this mythic castle, the dead cannot be brought back to life, and the castle cracks and breaks apart under the weight of her impossible wish.

Fai kicks off his steed, plucking up the princess and Kurogane onto the back of the powerful creature, before finally grabbing for Syaoran.

The castle teleports them back to the ground — on the Ashura side, of all things, where her soldiers stand and weep and mourn the loss of their king. Then Mokona opens his mouth wide, wings spread, and they're back in the land of Shara.

Fai's eyes are blue, and Kurogane's are red. He can understand everyone, and immediately begins to tease and taunt Kurogane, much to his delight. And as well as things can be in their doomed journey, things are well.

Chapter Text

But it would not always be such. After Recourt, Tokyo, Infinity and Ceres… and now Nihon. Debts paid and lives lost, sacrifices and curses. Fai is no longer the same. Kurogane is no longer the same. But in the quiet of the night, in a palace much like one they shared for many nights, long ago, Fai looks up at the moon once more.

"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" He murmurs, making his companion behind him start.

"What did you say?" Kurogane snaps. He's still flexing his new arm, testing it out. The mechanics whir and click slightly as he moves.

"The moon in Nihon… it just looks beautiful."

Kurogane stands beside him, at the open sliding door. The rock garden is cultivated to peaceful elegance, the midnight black sky glowing softly in full silver moonlight. "You did it again," Kurogane murmurs.

"Again?"

Kurogane smiles, a strange rarity considering everything they've gone through lately. "Confessed your love to me." Fai jolts at that. When had he ever…? Kurogane just laughs at his expression, another thing Fai has not seen for a long time. "Back in Yama country… do you remember? When you were still learning the language? Our word for moon sounds a lot like love. The first time you said moon… you instead said, I love you."

Fai freezes. His feelings toward Kurogane… after Tokyo, he forced himself to close his heart. It had gotten too real, too intense. Kurogane had given too much. And now, looking at this arm, paid for by the last of his magic and Yuko's own machinations… lost so he could rescue Fai from the collapsing dimension of Ceres… having to drink his blood to survive…

But he did survive. He survived Tokyo, and Ceres, and losing Ashura… and Kurogane stood with him through it all.

"And here in Nihon… we don't like being too direct. Most people, anyway. A poet once said that instead of confessing your love, you should just say how beautiful the moon is. You confessed to me again."

Fai sighs, but it comes out more like a laugh. Tired, exasperated, helpless.

"I had always wondered why you stayed so close to me, in Yama. I thought I annoyed you. I tried to annoy you. But you stuck with me anyway. You drove me so crazy in the end. The way you kissed me that time…"

"Yeah, and you kissed me back."

Fai waves his hand. "That didn't count. I was mad at you."

Kurogane scoffs. "Yeah, I know."

"But still… I never knew how you felt about me. I assumed you hated me. I waited until the day you learned about my lies, and thought some day I'd have to kill you." That makes Kurogane still beside him. "But… you didn't. You saved my life so many times. I didn't know how to feel about you. Couldn't understand my own thoughts.

"And I still don't know how I feel. Our journey isn't over yet… we won't be safe once we leave here. But I do know, regardless of how I feel about you… I know I will live for you."

Kurogane cups a hand under his chin, forcing Fai to look in his eyes. His real hand. Rough calloused skin on his body, touching him with more delicacy than he ever thought he'd deserve. "That's all I ever wanted from you. To want to live. To be yourself."

Then his lips met Fai's. No show, no lie, no trickery. Just softness, and care, and a gentleness so sweet tears burn in Fai's only remaining eye. A warmth that chased away all the cold frozen memories of Ceres, of Valeria, of his cursed past and the ashes of his brother. Now he is Fai. Now he can be himself, along with his Kurogane.

They don't need words for their feelings. Just as death is the same in all worlds, so is love.