Chapter Text
Annoying. That was most likely the first word that would come into Kurogane’s mind if someone asked him what he thought of the blonde mage that he had only met a day ago. With so little time that he had known this man called “Fai” he already had many opinions about him, and none of them were good. He was a strange guy, who was overly cheery, so cheery that instantly the ninja knew Fai was forcing himself, and Kurogane did not like that. That was probably what annoyed him most, other than constantly being called “Kuro-chan” and “Kuro-tan” and being made fun of by both Fai and Mokona. He couldn’t stand being around fake people, and for some reason fate hated him these past few days because he was not only banished from his world and princess, but he was also forced to go along with these people and made to share a room with the pest.
As Kurogane sat against the wall, beneath the window, in his room, he sighed quietly to himself, even though he was happily alone. Thoughts of Tomoyo, the one who he had sworn his whole entire being to, to protect and cherish, had sent him away and he had little clue on why. It was obvious she wanted him to learn something, she was treating him like a kid being put into a timeout, and that thought made his veins itch from the inside out. Once more he let out a sigh as the door opened and the blonde lithe man opened the door and stepped into the room, pausing for a moment when he noticed Kurogane.
His step faltered and he stared blankly for a split second before that annoying grin was brought to his features and he continued his way in while closing the door. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting to see you in here, Kuro-puu!” Fai chirped, crossing over and stopping just in front of the shinobi’s feet, hands on his hips.
Kurogane grunted as he glared up at Fai, voice rough and guarded as he said, “Stupid mage, what did I say about calling me those names?”
"Hmmmm?" Fai tilted his head to the side, eyes turning into small slits as his grin grew more. "Kuro-chan is going to ignore me?"
A growl was heard from Kurogane as he forced himself to remain seated and turned his gaze to a corner in the room. “It’s none of your business as to why I’m in here,” he muttered forcefully.
"I think I know why~," Fai sing-songed as he kneeled down in front of Kurogane and reached his hand out to softly touch one of the man’s bruises on his arms with the tips of his fingers, smile dying as he barely felt the skin flinch beneath them. "Kuro-moo is still hurt from that fight with the kudan earlier."
"It’s nothing. I barely felt a thing," Kurogane spat as he pulled his arm away from the other’s touch, feeling a strange tingling of sorts remain where the blonde had touched him. "Stop acting like you’re concerned."
"Oh! But, I am concerned! After all, we’re all friends here, ne?" Fai’s smile grew once more as he then poked the warrior on the forehead, "Ne, ne? Kuro-rin?"
Kurogane smacked the wizard’s hand away, once again feeling a strange sensation on his skin from where Fai had previously touched him. “We’re not friends,” he said with a glare.
A giggle came from Fai’s mouth as he nodded, “Kuro-tan is a lone wolf?”
"No, I just don’t associate myself with liars who-" Kurogane froze mid-sentence as he saw the change in the other’s expression. A moment had passed while Fai’s face fell and some look of either shock or hurt was painted on instead before the repair to his mask was done quickly and sloppily.
"Now, it’s not nice to call people names, Kuro-dan! You’ll set a bad example for the children!" Fai mock scolded his companion as he stood up, wagging a stern finger in Kurogane’s direction.
"What they do is none of my business," the ninja replied calmly. "If they want to let themselves be influenced by my actions then they really are just stupid kids."
Fai smacked Kurogane atop his head and frowned, “Kuro, what did I say about calling people names? It’s not nice! Does someone need a timeout?”
Kurogane flinched at the contact, and instantly his red eyes turned bloodthirsty as he jumped to his feet and grabbed the front of the male’s shirt, pulling him up so they were face to face, inches apart as the taller man bared his teeth. “Listen Mage, all I want is to get back home. I want nothing to do with any of you, so leave me alone, or else I’ll do something you’ll regret.”
"But, I…I…" the raven haired man waited for an answer patiently as he continued to glare down at the blonde. He could feel Fai’s breath on his chin as he tried to continue with his words, but Fai was left short as he just stared up at Kurogane.
Kurogane still waited, and waited for the counter but noticed that there would never be one as Fai’s eyes burned into his. Even though all he wanted to do was to either hear a reply or kick the mage out on his ass, he couldn’t help but to join Fai and stare back into his. He could slowly feel his expression softening and the grip he had on the other’s clothing was loosening by the minute, and once he could no longer feel the shorter man’s breath against him, he snapped back into reality quickly and just dropped the blonde, hands falling to his sides.
Fai said nothing as he continued to stare up at Kurogane, even though the other had turned away and began to walk around him. The sapphire blue eyes remained where they were, and no noise came out of the pale lips as he heard the ninja open the door and say, “Don’t follow me,” and close the door as he left. He listened intently to hear the heavy footsteps leave, and once he was sure Kurogane had gone far enough, he let his trembling knees fall harshly to the ground.
In a daze, Fai’s gaze never tore away from that spot, until he felt the full force of a throb in his chest, where then his eyes fell to the floor and, as he fell back and sat down, he threw his hands up to cover his face. Biting his bottom lip as he held his emotions back, his thoughts raced and he could hear his pulse pounding in every sensitive spot on his body.
So soon, and this was already happening. Being around other people, being around people who captured his interest, his attention, being around people like Kurogane…even if it was one out of disgust or annoyance, a bond was starting to form between them.
A knock then came to the door, but Fai didn’t answer. Though, when the door opened and revealed that it was Syaoran who had knocked, Fai hurriedly gathered himself once more and turned from his sitting position and clumsily stood on his feet. “Syaoran-kun, is there something that you needed? Is Sakura-chan all right?”
"Fai-san?" the boy called inquisitively.
"Yes?" a smile was planted on the pale face.
"Are you all right? Did something happen?"
"Oh, I just felt a little dizzy, but I’m fine, really, no worries. Now, what was it that you wanted?"
"Uh…" Syaoran thought for a moment sheepishly before continuing, "I-I was wondering if you were wanting to take a bath. I just got out and I prepared a new one, and so…"
Fai smiled softly as he walked over and pat the boy on the head, and softly spoke, “Thank you, but maybe you should see if Kuro-mii would like one instead, I’m not up for one at the moment.”
"Um…a-all right," Syaoran nodded, face slightly flushed as he bowed and left, leaving Fai once more by himself in the tiny room.
He sighed and smiled wryly to himself. Even with Syaoran. These people, I can’t help but like them. I haven’t even met Sakura yet, but if this is happening with those two, and Syaoran feels deeply for her, then she must be as kind as Syaoran… Another sigh escaped him as his head hung, hands once again flying up to meet with his cheeks. Please, don’t let me taint those children. Don’t let me taint Kurogane.
A permanent scowl could be seen on Kurogane’s face as he undressed for the bath. Mumbling his thoughts under his breath that included many curses. He had no idea what happened in the bedroom between him and the mage. Only that one second he was ready to kill the blonde goof and hang his dead corpse on the antenna on the roof, and the next second he felt strange, like all his hatred for the man left him once their eyes met.
Kurogane scoffed to himself as he eased his way into the steaming water of the tub. Nothing happened, he thought. Nothing at all. It was then that as he made to grab the washcloth, he noticed that one of the bruises on his arm was gone. He was a very perceptive person, so he would notice these types of things instantly, and as he examined his forearm, he noticed that it was where the magician had touched him. He ran his fingers over where the bruise used to be and could still faintly feel that tingling sensation that the pale fingers had left on him.
A thought instantly popped into his mind. Kurogane shot up, splashing the water out of its container and nearly slipping onto his back before he rushed out of the tub and towards the mirror in the bathroom. He stared intently at his forehead and indeed, a bruise was missing, again where the wizard had touched him.
The ninja stood there, wet and confused. Only one thought had crossed his mind but he quickly dismissed it. He’d be damned if he had to ever thank the blue-eyed man. They had nothing to do with each other, and that was how it was going to stay until he could get home and be with Tomoyo once again.
That was how it was supposed to be…
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