(Fic) Reign - Chapter Four
Title: Reign
Chapter: Four
Rating: PG-13 (PG for this chapter)
Genre: Fantasy/Friendship/Romance/Humor
Pairings or Characters: KuroFai in later chapters, Sakura, Syaoron, Ashura, Yuuko, Kamui, Subaru, Mokona
Challenge: None - one of those spurr of the moment fics.
Summary: At a young age, Kurogane woke up in the cold country of Celes with no memory and no name, only to be shipped off to the castle, where he was supposed to train to be a knight. That training included, but not limited to, dealing with the young (annoying, idiotic, moronic) Prince. AU
Author's Notes: Finally - one of them updat-y thingies! Enjoy~!
.:Reign:.
.:17:.
“ - And do you know what Ashura-san taught me?!” Fai continued to ramble, sprawled languidly across the (lumpy, thin-sheeted, kinda poky - like it was stuffed with straw) mattress in the Guard’s quarters, flipping through a large book of definitive divination and interpreting the signs without really paying attention to it. “Beyond Celes, there are mountain ranges that harbor all sorts of ingredients for potions, although even if all of them were harvested, the appropriate source of magical energy they exuded would not be enough to save even an old man with a cold without being enhanced by a person’s own magical abilities? Oh, and the amethyst prevents drunken-ness if purple, but if it’s in a different light and is displayed as blueish-green, it’s a sign of ill fortune and sickness?”
Kurogane sat on the floor, back to the bedpost farthest from Fai, sword in lap and sharpening stone in hand. With bold, smooth strokes, he scratched the rock over the edge, examining the blade after each brush for the finite sharpness he had achieved. Generally, he had been ignoring the mage that had monopolized his bed; letting Fai talk randomly about his ‘exciting’ adventure to the outskirts of Celes with the king, and the lesson he had received about various potions and rocks and their benefits. He, of course, as a member of the royal guard, had no use for these plants and stones, but he imagined that perhaps the other did, when the lord of the land sent him to other places to fix things with his powers.
Shing.
“ - and Jade and Emerald -”
Shing.
“ - and when there’s a solar eclipse -”
Shing.
“ - Exorcisms are most viable -”
Shing.
Silence.
Shing.
Kurogane paused, and turned around to make sure the mage hadn’t...choked or something, only to find intense blue eyes staring at him, slenderly pointed chin cupped in his hands and a slightly playful smile that had not lost it’s childish nature in the age of adolescence dancing across his lips. Somehow, though calm and peaceful and innocent, that gaze made the hairs on the back of the brunette’s neck stand on edge. How was it that out of all the people in Celes, he had managed to attract the weirdest of them all?
“What!?!” Kurogane demanded.
Fai chuckled. “Have I ever shown you my tattoo, Kuro-chii?”
Slightly taken aback, Kurogane narrowed his eyes suspiciously. The magician had mentioned the marking before, but he had never, ever offered to show it to him (as far as he knew, the only person who had ever seen it was Fai himself and Ashura, who had apparently placed it) and Kurogane had never asked to see it. “You know I haven’t.”
“Hmm, I guess you’re right...” Fai rolled onto his back, head dangling off the edge of the mattress, making it so that his hair fell completely away from his head, although he still peered at Kurogane interestedly. “...Would you like to?”
He could not think of an answer. No, I do not want to see any more of you than I already do. Yes, I want you to show me your secrets. No, I don’t want to know anything more about you. Yes, I want you to take your cloths off. No, I don’t want to. Yes, go ahead.
Two minutes of silence, the inner workings of Kurogane’s mind working furiously, knowing that he’d have to open up a small part of himself, too, as compensation. He continued to glare, attempting to give no indication of a still undecided answer, but it seemed, somehow, his schooled expression slipped, because Fai grinned and sat up. With one swift movement (before Kurogane could protest) his cloak was unlaced and shrugged off.
“Wait - mage -!!!”
And then Fai’s hands flew to the lower hem of his shirt and easily pulled it over his head, exposing milky smooth skin, pale and sinewy abs, and outstanding collar bones. Blond hair was slightly ruffled, and was peppered lightly over his chest in a peach-fuzz type of way. But...it was bland.
“I don’t see any tattoo,” Kurogane growled, sulking a bit at his protests not being heeded.
But Fai continued to smile, even if now...it looked kinda pained. “That’s because it’s on my back.”
Crawling on his knees, the blond turned around, and as he did so, the milky skin continued, but became...marred. Thick, yet intricate lines were traced along the pale expanse of shoulder blades and spine. It seemed glossy, shiny, much more like fresh ink on parchment rather than ink under the skin, and seemed to catch the light. It didn’t seem like words, nor any recognizable symbol. It looked...ancient and old and practically radiated power. Something about it made Kurogane want to touch it, trace the lines, familiarize himself with the symbol. But he never would.
“It’s a binding spell,” Fai said quietly, flexing a bit.
Kurogane’s eyes jumped back up from the base of the print (obscured, as it seemed, by the line of his pants) as the blond’s head twisted around to look him in the eyes. “Oh?” the warrior asked, and was relieved to find his voice was completely calm. “What’s it binding?”
Fai shrugged. “My magic. Ashura-san bound my magic.”
Crimson eyes widened. “Why?”
“....Do you really not remember anything about your home, Kuro-kun?”
Clever, Kurogane thought. But over the years, he had come to expect nothing less from the prince. “I told you - nothing.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Lucky...”
He had to resist a massive eye roll, and slid Sōhi back into its leather sheath before moving forward into a kneeling position and glaring openly and distastefully at Fai. “You’ve said that before.”
“I have?” Fai seemed generally surprised.
“Yes. Why?”
“Touche.”
“Answer the goddamned question, mage. You always seem intently difficult for no good reason.”
Fai stiffened, his eyes purposefully adverting eye contact as he reached for his shirt again. His mouth, for once, did not move. He just shook his head.
Kurogane sighed dramatically and, faced away as the blond pulled on his shirt again. He did not pick up his sword again, simply glaring at the opposite wall as the rustling of fabric sounded behind him. There wasn’t a careless ‘fump’ of Fai flopping carelessly down on his mattress as he expected, and soon enough there was a hand on his shoulder.
“Do you want me to leave, Kuro-chii?” He hated that tone - it was hurt and serious, and THAT was uncharacteristic for royalty in general.
Kurogane snorted dismissively. “Do whatever you want.”
Silence.
Fump.
Chapter: Four
Rating: PG-13 (PG for this chapter)
Genre: Fantasy/Friendship/Romance/Humor
Pairings or Characters: KuroFai in later chapters, Sakura, Syaoron, Ashura, Yuuko, Kamui, Subaru, Mokona
Challenge: None - one of those spurr of the moment fics.
Summary: At a young age, Kurogane woke up in the cold country of Celes with no memory and no name, only to be shipped off to the castle, where he was supposed to train to be a knight. That training included, but not limited to, dealing with the young (annoying, idiotic, moronic) Prince. AU
Author's Notes: Finally - one of them updat-y thingies! Enjoy~!
.:Reign:.
.:17:.
“ - And do you know what Ashura-san taught me?!” Fai continued to ramble, sprawled languidly across the (lumpy, thin-sheeted, kinda poky - like it was stuffed with straw) mattress in the Guard’s quarters, flipping through a large book of definitive divination and interpreting the signs without really paying attention to it. “Beyond Celes, there are mountain ranges that harbor all sorts of ingredients for potions, although even if all of them were harvested, the appropriate source of magical energy they exuded would not be enough to save even an old man with a cold without being enhanced by a person’s own magical abilities? Oh, and the amethyst prevents drunken-ness if purple, but if it’s in a different light and is displayed as blueish-green, it’s a sign of ill fortune and sickness?”
Kurogane sat on the floor, back to the bedpost farthest from Fai, sword in lap and sharpening stone in hand. With bold, smooth strokes, he scratched the rock over the edge, examining the blade after each brush for the finite sharpness he had achieved. Generally, he had been ignoring the mage that had monopolized his bed; letting Fai talk randomly about his ‘exciting’ adventure to the outskirts of Celes with the king, and the lesson he had received about various potions and rocks and their benefits. He, of course, as a member of the royal guard, had no use for these plants and stones, but he imagined that perhaps the other did, when the lord of the land sent him to other places to fix things with his powers.
Shing.
“ - and Jade and Emerald -”
Shing.
“ - and when there’s a solar eclipse -”
Shing.
“ - Exorcisms are most viable -”
Shing.
Silence.
Shing.
Kurogane paused, and turned around to make sure the mage hadn’t...choked or something, only to find intense blue eyes staring at him, slenderly pointed chin cupped in his hands and a slightly playful smile that had not lost it’s childish nature in the age of adolescence dancing across his lips. Somehow, though calm and peaceful and innocent, that gaze made the hairs on the back of the brunette’s neck stand on edge. How was it that out of all the people in Celes, he had managed to attract the weirdest of them all?
“What!?!” Kurogane demanded.
Fai chuckled. “Have I ever shown you my tattoo, Kuro-chii?”
Slightly taken aback, Kurogane narrowed his eyes suspiciously. The magician had mentioned the marking before, but he had never, ever offered to show it to him (as far as he knew, the only person who had ever seen it was Fai himself and Ashura, who had apparently placed it) and Kurogane had never asked to see it. “You know I haven’t.”
“Hmm, I guess you’re right...” Fai rolled onto his back, head dangling off the edge of the mattress, making it so that his hair fell completely away from his head, although he still peered at Kurogane interestedly. “...Would you like to?”
He could not think of an answer. No, I do not want to see any more of you than I already do. Yes, I want you to show me your secrets. No, I don’t want to know anything more about you. Yes, I want you to take your cloths off. No, I don’t want to. Yes, go ahead.
Two minutes of silence, the inner workings of Kurogane’s mind working furiously, knowing that he’d have to open up a small part of himself, too, as compensation. He continued to glare, attempting to give no indication of a still undecided answer, but it seemed, somehow, his schooled expression slipped, because Fai grinned and sat up. With one swift movement (before Kurogane could protest) his cloak was unlaced and shrugged off.
“Wait - mage -!!!”
And then Fai’s hands flew to the lower hem of his shirt and easily pulled it over his head, exposing milky smooth skin, pale and sinewy abs, and outstanding collar bones. Blond hair was slightly ruffled, and was peppered lightly over his chest in a peach-fuzz type of way. But...it was bland.
“I don’t see any tattoo,” Kurogane growled, sulking a bit at his protests not being heeded.
But Fai continued to smile, even if now...it looked kinda pained. “That’s because it’s on my back.”
Crawling on his knees, the blond turned around, and as he did so, the milky skin continued, but became...marred. Thick, yet intricate lines were traced along the pale expanse of shoulder blades and spine. It seemed glossy, shiny, much more like fresh ink on parchment rather than ink under the skin, and seemed to catch the light. It didn’t seem like words, nor any recognizable symbol. It looked...ancient and old and practically radiated power. Something about it made Kurogane want to touch it, trace the lines, familiarize himself with the symbol. But he never would.
“It’s a binding spell,” Fai said quietly, flexing a bit.
Kurogane’s eyes jumped back up from the base of the print (obscured, as it seemed, by the line of his pants) as the blond’s head twisted around to look him in the eyes. “Oh?” the warrior asked, and was relieved to find his voice was completely calm. “What’s it binding?”
Fai shrugged. “My magic. Ashura-san bound my magic.”
Crimson eyes widened. “Why?”
“....Do you really not remember anything about your home, Kuro-kun?”
Clever, Kurogane thought. But over the years, he had come to expect nothing less from the prince. “I told you - nothing.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Lucky...”
He had to resist a massive eye roll, and slid Sōhi back into its leather sheath before moving forward into a kneeling position and glaring openly and distastefully at Fai. “You’ve said that before.”
“I have?” Fai seemed generally surprised.
“Yes. Why?”
“Touche.”
“Answer the goddamned question, mage. You always seem intently difficult for no good reason.”
Fai stiffened, his eyes purposefully adverting eye contact as he reached for his shirt again. His mouth, for once, did not move. He just shook his head.
Kurogane sighed dramatically and, faced away as the blond pulled on his shirt again. He did not pick up his sword again, simply glaring at the opposite wall as the rustling of fabric sounded behind him. There wasn’t a careless ‘fump’ of Fai flopping carelessly down on his mattress as he expected, and soon enough there was a hand on his shoulder.
“Do you want me to leave, Kuro-chii?” He hated that tone - it was hurt and serious, and THAT was uncharacteristic for royalty in general.
Kurogane snorted dismissively. “Do whatever you want.”
Silence.
Fump.