Gift fic for bakudanhatsugen
For: bakudanhatsugen
From: Naughty Reindeer
Title: Always there, with you
Fandom: the GazettE
Pairings: Kai/Aoi, mentioned Uruha/Reita
Genre: paranormal AU, humour, romance-ish
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~2.400
A/N: written for bakudanhatsugen Merry Christmas, dear! Unfortunately I found myself unable to provide angst that wouldn’t end badly (very badly) and since that wouldn’t be very christmassy, I went with vampires. And shifters. Hope you like it!
A/N 2: Did you know that in Ancient Egypt, during the Fourth dynasty, there was a priest whose name was Kai? Just sayin’, the name was in use there.
Summary: Kai never thought his life would go the way it did. Then again, it wasn’t necessarily bad.
Being the (allegedly) most powerful vampire in the 20th century Tokyo -no, sorry, that would be 21st century already, the time simply flied nowadays - wasn’t what Kai thought it would be. Not that he ever gave much thought to it, mind you (he’d always preferred to stay in the shadows, leaving ruling to others, and he never had thought Hyde would just retire suddenly, leaving him in charge), but still. The whole notion had some associations in his mind - and none of them had anything to do with reality.
Oh, how he missed Egypt and Rome. Things were so much easier back then, even if he had to deal with gods on almost daily basis; the politics wasn’t half as complicated even during the most turbulent times of the Republic.
“Can someone tell me why am I doing this, again?” Kai asked tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Because if you don’t, we’re fucked,” Ruki replied calmly, scribbling something in his lyrics notebook. “Oi, what rhymes with ‘divine’?” he called to Aoi, lifting his head up.
“You let him talk to me like that?” Aoi asked stiffly, pouring Kai another cup of coffee.
“Child, that’s no way to talk to your father,” Kai said sternly. “Happy?” he asked, turning to Aoi.
“Elated,” Aoi said dryly. “You’d think that even if he has no respect for me as his parent, he’d at least be smart enough not to mess with me because of my nature. I’m a panther shifter! I could snap him like a twig with my jaws - just like that!” he said, snapping his fingers. “And what would you do then, huh? What would you do?”
“Leave you the task of finding us a vocalist for the tour - one that would last more than a week,” Kai murmured, massaging his temples. “If you think you can do that, go ahead. Do that whole snapping thing.”
“Hey! No snapping my neck!” Ruki protested. “I gotta be at the council meeting too! No way in hell am I gonna go there looking like a shifter chew toy!”
“Then stop antagonizing your father and other shifters,” Kai said softly, his tone deadly calm. “You think I didn’t see what you did to Reita earlier? If he snaps - pun intended - you’ll have only yourself to blame. Working up a werewolf three days before full moon? That borders on suicidal! Do I really have to remind you about it every single month?”
“He asked for it!” Ruki protested.
“And you wonder why we still treat you like a child,” Aoi sighed, shaking his head.
“One more word from you and you will be the one preparing the presentation for the council meeting,” Kai growled. “And then presenting it.”
“My mouth is shut, sire,” Ruki said quickly, running his fingers across his lips in a zipping motion.
“It better be,” Kai glared at him, then sighed heavily as he looked back at the screen of his laptop.
*~*~*~*
They met at the very beginning of the Fourth dynasty, Aoi an he. King Sneferu was throwing a feast to celebrate conquering Nubia and completing another stage of his plan of building the pyramids and Kai knew that if he wanted to secure his position as one of the chief architects, he had to come. So he put himself into the hands of his servants and soon enough he was bathed and perfumed, his best wig and shendyt waiting for him until he had the appropriate amount of make-up applied, and then all that was left was to put his pendant and sandals on and let himself be taken to the Palace.
The feast itself wasn’t bad - Sneferu really knew how to throw the best parties - and between the exotic dancers, acrobats and the musicians playing King’s favorite melodies Kai had quite a good time. Then he scented something in the air - a cat, and a big one at that, which wasn’t that surprising, really, but there was something else there, something musky, something partly human, and Kai couldn’t help his head snapping in the direction from which the scent was coming from. A man was standing there, his posture proud, looking around like he owned the place, and seeing the pendant on his chest - a clear mark of his shifter status - Kai wasn’t surprised in the least. Considered as gods’ chosen servants and the sign of their blessing, shifters - especially the feline ones - were untouchable.
This one, however, didn’t look like he had anything against a little bit of touching, Kai thought, seeing the heat in the shifter’s eyes. Testing his theory, he stood up and slowly left the room, going into the hallway and then into one of the nearest balconies.
“It’s been long since I saw any of your kind,” a low voice said behind him just a few minutes later.
“It’s been long since I saw any of your kind either,” Kai said, turning around. “A black panther shifter?” he asked, breathing in the scent of the shifter in front of him. “That’s rare.”
“Rare enough for you to want to take a sip?” the shifter asked, tilting his head to the side as if inviting Kai to sink his fangs into his long neck.
“I wouldn’t offer if you don’t want to be bitten,” Kai countered calmly.
“Oh, I have nothing against a few bites or scratches,” the shifter purred, coming closer and putting one of his hands on Kai’s chest, his nails shifting into claws. “Unless you’re not willing to provide those along the bite, of course. Then you’ll have to look for someone else to drink from.”
“Oh, I think we can work something out,” Kai reassured him.
It wasn’t until their third meeting that he learned the man’s name. Irtyu - color of heavens and water, color of the dominion of the gods. Kai found it oddly fitting.
Choosing the name ‘Aoi’ when they moved to Japan centuries later seemed only natural.
*~*~*~*
“I’m the vampire king of the whole Tokio and I have to prepare freaking PowerPoint presentation for the Vampire Council meeting, by myself, because the Council likes ‘personal touch’” Kai moaned. “You know, I can deal with the paperwork. I can deal with rogue vampires thinking they can outsmart, outbid and outfight me. I can deal with the politics - maintaining peace between local covens and shifter packs, making sure no one provokes the ghosts, demons and witches and no one chews on humans too much. But this? This is the proverbial last straw. No wonder Hyde got tired with this whole mess. I would resign too if it didn’t mean they would immediately put me on the board of freaking United Paranormals.”
“I was wondering why Gackt suddenly wanted to schedule a lunch with you,” Aoi mused, sitting next to Kai and looking at the presentation over his shoulder. “You spelled ‘bloodthirsty’ and ‘casualties’ wrong.”
“He wanted to tell me just how much the Council appreciates all that I did in Tokyo for the Paranormal society and how useful my talents would be when applied where it really matters,” Kai spat, typing furiously. “The elections for the new Treasurer are coming and it’s all the same thing all over again - Chinese, Japanese and Italian covens trying to come up with a candidate that would put the Romanians out of the chair. You know that they had it for the last 400 hundred years?”
“I just don’t understand why it has to be a vampire,” Aoi muttered. “A shifter could be just as good a Treasurer as any bloodsucker.”
Kai eyed him, his eyebrows up, “You really want to argue with the foundational treaty of UP?”
“No, not really,” Aoi admitted. “The last time I tried, Uruha made me a two-hour long lecture on why the succubi are in charge of the Entertainment Commission and not the dryads. As if I wasn’t there when the treaty was being drawn.”
“The after-parties would be so much more fun if the dryads were organizing them,” Ruki mumbled from his end of the table. “What? I’m just saying!” he said when Aoi glared at him.
“You’re saying what, darling?” Uruha asked, floating into the room.
“Nothing,” Ruki reassured him quickly. “I’m saying nothing. And I’m shutting up. Again,” he added, shooting a nervous glance towards Kai.
*~*~*~*
It wasn’t until the fifth dynasty that they formalized their relationship. Kai was the one insisting on making it official - he realized suddenly that although they had long lives, shifters didn’t live as long as vampires and, since he couldn’t imagine his life without Irtyu by his side, it was high time he did something about it. So he proposed - stating in advance that saying ‘no’ wasn’t an option - found some god that was willing to marry them and when the wedding and honey moon was done, he went about making sure Irtyu was there with him a thousand, two and more years later. He wanted Irtyu for himself, he wanted him to stay with him forever, and he always got what he wanted.
Of course, as Kai wasn’t able to deny him anything, Irtyu always got whatever he wanted too. It was only fair, after all - even if what Irtyu wanted was a ‘child’ of their own. And so when the time has come and Irtyu has chosen Ruki as another member of their family, Kai didn’t hesitate before turning him.
He didn’t regret it - most of the time, that is. Ruki could be really annoying sometimes.
*~*~*~*
“You threatening him with the presentation again?” Uruha tsked, shaking his head, and leaned over Kai to look at the screen of his laptop. “That can be written up as a harassment, you know. He could sue you. And you spelled ‘caution’ wrong .”
“He can try,” Kai hissed, correcting the typo. “Every judge would find me innocent after having to work with him for an hour. I deserve a sainthood, really, for putting up with him for so long.”
“No one asked you to change me,” Ruki murmured, his tone obvious indication that he was sulking. “You could have just left me to die.”
“Right. Because it’s not like he,” Kai motioned to Aoi, “would have never forgiven me that.”
“I would,” Aoi protested. “After four or five hundred years.”
“Well, I find our bed much more comfortable than the couch,” Kai said dryly. “So I give you your long wished-for child and what do I have from it?”
“An awesome heir?” Ruki supplied.
“Somehow I don’t think that’s the right answer,” Uruha smirked. “Anyway, as the situation is heading towards the dangerous waters of a family fight, I think I’d better leave and help Reita with his pre-full moon jitters. His energy is simply delicious at this time of the month and the sex…” he sighed dreamily, “is simply spectacular, so see you later.” He waved at them and vanished, teleporting himself.
“A headache,” Kai said wryly, waving back to Uruha. “I have a freaking headache because my own - and only - child is making everything in his power to make my life a living hell.”
“He did take care of that last rogue for you,” Aoi reminded him. “Machiavelli himself wouldn’t do it better.”
“Machiavelli!” Kai snorted. “You have no idea just how glad I am he’s dead already. He was charging unimaginable amounts for your son’s education.”
“Oh, so it’s my son now?” Aoi asked, rising his eyebrows. “Funny thing, I can remember you calling him your son just yesterday morning.”
Kai shrugged. “That was after he signed that deal with Onis. Today he’s annoying the hell out of me instead of helping me with this damn presentation, so obviously he’s your son today.”
“Dear heavens, give me that,” Ruki snapped, reaching for Kai’s laptop. “I’ll finish the damn presentation, making sure it’s just right for them to leave you here and not push into UP. There’s no way in hell I’m moving to Europe this century.”
“Look at our soon,” Kai said fondly. “We did good with him, didn’t we?”
Aoi rolled his eyes. “Of course, darling,” he said, leaning in and kissing Kai’s forehead. “We were, after all, rising him together.”
Ruki glared at them from above the laptop’s screen. “Could you please go and find yourself a room? I’m trying to work here.”
“No need to tell us twice, son,” Kai said cheerfully, standing up and pulling Aoi with him. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow then,” he called from the hallway, heading for his and Aoi’s quarters.
*~*~*~*
Kai had never had any qualms about admitting that if it wasn’t for Aoi - and later for Ruki, but then he wouldn’t have Ruki if not Aoi either - most probably he wouldn’t be alive anymore. He saw it happen to those he had considered harder, better, stronger than himself. Sometimes they were simply too tired to carry on anymore, sometimes they were too fed up with world and sometimes - sometimes after losing yet another person they cared for, either to death or betrayal, they saw no reason to continue their life.
Not many of those that used to frequent his houses in Ineb-Hedj, Niwt-imn, Alexandria and Roma were still around.
He was one of the Oldest now; his life was recounted in awe, his name was starring in countless chapters of not only his race’s journals, he was the one others looked up to. But it wasn’t important - not to him, at least. It was never his dream, to be all of that - all he ever wanted was a quiet, happy life with Irtyu - and later also Ruki - at his side. If he woke up every morning with the will to live, looking forward to the day ahead of him, that was more than enough.
*~*~*~*
“I know that look,” Kai murmured, pulling Aoi close after he closed the door to their bedroom. “Thinking of redecorating again, are you?”
Aoi sighed, circling his arms around Kai’s neck. “I just miss our bedroom in your residence in Alexandria.”
“Our residence,” Kai corrected him. “You know that Ruki will hate it, right? He’ll call it your midlife crisis and say ancient Egypt is called ancient for a reason and shouldn’t be used as a reference for modern furnishing.”
“Well, we have to keep him on his toes just as he does it to us, don’t we?” Aoi smiled. “It keeps us feeling young, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” Kai agreed, leaning in for a kiss.
More importantly, it kept them alive.
-end-
Footnotes:
Kai (fl. 26th century B.C.E.) Mortuary priest of the Fourth Dynasty.
He served as a member of the mortuary cult of Khufu (Cheops, r. 2551-2528 B.C.E.) at Giza. Vast numbers of priests resided in the pyramidal complex of Khufu after his death, as his mortuary cult remained popular. Kai was buried in western Giza, and his tomb is called “the Nefertari of Giza,” “the beautiful one.” He is depicted in reliefs with his wife in the tomb chambers, and there are a false door and raised, elaborate carvings. A statue of Kai was also recovered.
[Margaret Bunson, Encyclopedia of ancient Egypt, Infobase Publishing, 2002, p. 191]
shendyt - that short kilt they were wearing in Ancient Egypt
irtyu - Ancient Egyptian for blue
Ineb-Hedj - Ancient Egyptian name of Mephis, the capital city of Egypt during the ruling of the 4th dynasty.
Niwt-imn - Ancient Egyptian name of Thebes, the capital city of Egypt during part of the 11th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom) and most of the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom)
Sneferu was the first king of the 4th dynasty of Ancient Egypt and the one that started building the pyramids.
From: Naughty Reindeer
Title: Always there, with you
Fandom: the GazettE
Pairings: Kai/Aoi, mentioned Uruha/Reita
Genre: paranormal AU, humour, romance-ish
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~2.400
A/N: written for bakudanhatsugen Merry Christmas, dear! Unfortunately I found myself unable to provide angst that wouldn’t end badly (very badly) and since that wouldn’t be very christmassy, I went with vampires. And shifters. Hope you like it!
A/N 2: Did you know that in Ancient Egypt, during the Fourth dynasty, there was a priest whose name was Kai? Just sayin’, the name was in use there.
Summary: Kai never thought his life would go the way it did. Then again, it wasn’t necessarily bad.
Being the (allegedly) most powerful vampire in the 20th century Tokyo -no, sorry, that would be 21st century already, the time simply flied nowadays - wasn’t what Kai thought it would be. Not that he ever gave much thought to it, mind you (he’d always preferred to stay in the shadows, leaving ruling to others, and he never had thought Hyde would just retire suddenly, leaving him in charge), but still. The whole notion had some associations in his mind - and none of them had anything to do with reality.
Oh, how he missed Egypt and Rome. Things were so much easier back then, even if he had to deal with gods on almost daily basis; the politics wasn’t half as complicated even during the most turbulent times of the Republic.
“Can someone tell me why am I doing this, again?” Kai asked tiredly, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Because if you don’t, we’re fucked,” Ruki replied calmly, scribbling something in his lyrics notebook. “Oi, what rhymes with ‘divine’?” he called to Aoi, lifting his head up.
“You let him talk to me like that?” Aoi asked stiffly, pouring Kai another cup of coffee.
“Child, that’s no way to talk to your father,” Kai said sternly. “Happy?” he asked, turning to Aoi.
“Elated,” Aoi said dryly. “You’d think that even if he has no respect for me as his parent, he’d at least be smart enough not to mess with me because of my nature. I’m a panther shifter! I could snap him like a twig with my jaws - just like that!” he said, snapping his fingers. “And what would you do then, huh? What would you do?”
“Leave you the task of finding us a vocalist for the tour - one that would last more than a week,” Kai murmured, massaging his temples. “If you think you can do that, go ahead. Do that whole snapping thing.”
“Hey! No snapping my neck!” Ruki protested. “I gotta be at the council meeting too! No way in hell am I gonna go there looking like a shifter chew toy!”
“Then stop antagonizing your father and other shifters,” Kai said softly, his tone deadly calm. “You think I didn’t see what you did to Reita earlier? If he snaps - pun intended - you’ll have only yourself to blame. Working up a werewolf three days before full moon? That borders on suicidal! Do I really have to remind you about it every single month?”
“He asked for it!” Ruki protested.
“And you wonder why we still treat you like a child,” Aoi sighed, shaking his head.
“One more word from you and you will be the one preparing the presentation for the council meeting,” Kai growled. “And then presenting it.”
“My mouth is shut, sire,” Ruki said quickly, running his fingers across his lips in a zipping motion.
“It better be,” Kai glared at him, then sighed heavily as he looked back at the screen of his laptop.
*~*~*~*
They met at the very beginning of the Fourth dynasty, Aoi an he. King Sneferu was throwing a feast to celebrate conquering Nubia and completing another stage of his plan of building the pyramids and Kai knew that if he wanted to secure his position as one of the chief architects, he had to come. So he put himself into the hands of his servants and soon enough he was bathed and perfumed, his best wig and shendyt waiting for him until he had the appropriate amount of make-up applied, and then all that was left was to put his pendant and sandals on and let himself be taken to the Palace.
The feast itself wasn’t bad - Sneferu really knew how to throw the best parties - and between the exotic dancers, acrobats and the musicians playing King’s favorite melodies Kai had quite a good time. Then he scented something in the air - a cat, and a big one at that, which wasn’t that surprising, really, but there was something else there, something musky, something partly human, and Kai couldn’t help his head snapping in the direction from which the scent was coming from. A man was standing there, his posture proud, looking around like he owned the place, and seeing the pendant on his chest - a clear mark of his shifter status - Kai wasn’t surprised in the least. Considered as gods’ chosen servants and the sign of their blessing, shifters - especially the feline ones - were untouchable.
This one, however, didn’t look like he had anything against a little bit of touching, Kai thought, seeing the heat in the shifter’s eyes. Testing his theory, he stood up and slowly left the room, going into the hallway and then into one of the nearest balconies.
“It’s been long since I saw any of your kind,” a low voice said behind him just a few minutes later.
“It’s been long since I saw any of your kind either,” Kai said, turning around. “A black panther shifter?” he asked, breathing in the scent of the shifter in front of him. “That’s rare.”
“Rare enough for you to want to take a sip?” the shifter asked, tilting his head to the side as if inviting Kai to sink his fangs into his long neck.
“I wouldn’t offer if you don’t want to be bitten,” Kai countered calmly.
“Oh, I have nothing against a few bites or scratches,” the shifter purred, coming closer and putting one of his hands on Kai’s chest, his nails shifting into claws. “Unless you’re not willing to provide those along the bite, of course. Then you’ll have to look for someone else to drink from.”
“Oh, I think we can work something out,” Kai reassured him.
It wasn’t until their third meeting that he learned the man’s name. Irtyu - color of heavens and water, color of the dominion of the gods. Kai found it oddly fitting.
Choosing the name ‘Aoi’ when they moved to Japan centuries later seemed only natural.
*~*~*~*
“I’m the vampire king of the whole Tokio and I have to prepare freaking PowerPoint presentation for the Vampire Council meeting, by myself, because the Council likes ‘personal touch’” Kai moaned. “You know, I can deal with the paperwork. I can deal with rogue vampires thinking they can outsmart, outbid and outfight me. I can deal with the politics - maintaining peace between local covens and shifter packs, making sure no one provokes the ghosts, demons and witches and no one chews on humans too much. But this? This is the proverbial last straw. No wonder Hyde got tired with this whole mess. I would resign too if it didn’t mean they would immediately put me on the board of freaking United Paranormals.”
“I was wondering why Gackt suddenly wanted to schedule a lunch with you,” Aoi mused, sitting next to Kai and looking at the presentation over his shoulder. “You spelled ‘bloodthirsty’ and ‘casualties’ wrong.”
“He wanted to tell me just how much the Council appreciates all that I did in Tokyo for the Paranormal society and how useful my talents would be when applied where it really matters,” Kai spat, typing furiously. “The elections for the new Treasurer are coming and it’s all the same thing all over again - Chinese, Japanese and Italian covens trying to come up with a candidate that would put the Romanians out of the chair. You know that they had it for the last 400 hundred years?”
“I just don’t understand why it has to be a vampire,” Aoi muttered. “A shifter could be just as good a Treasurer as any bloodsucker.”
Kai eyed him, his eyebrows up, “You really want to argue with the foundational treaty of UP?”
“No, not really,” Aoi admitted. “The last time I tried, Uruha made me a two-hour long lecture on why the succubi are in charge of the Entertainment Commission and not the dryads. As if I wasn’t there when the treaty was being drawn.”
“The after-parties would be so much more fun if the dryads were organizing them,” Ruki mumbled from his end of the table. “What? I’m just saying!” he said when Aoi glared at him.
“You’re saying what, darling?” Uruha asked, floating into the room.
“Nothing,” Ruki reassured him quickly. “I’m saying nothing. And I’m shutting up. Again,” he added, shooting a nervous glance towards Kai.
*~*~*~*
It wasn’t until the fifth dynasty that they formalized their relationship. Kai was the one insisting on making it official - he realized suddenly that although they had long lives, shifters didn’t live as long as vampires and, since he couldn’t imagine his life without Irtyu by his side, it was high time he did something about it. So he proposed - stating in advance that saying ‘no’ wasn’t an option - found some god that was willing to marry them and when the wedding and honey moon was done, he went about making sure Irtyu was there with him a thousand, two and more years later. He wanted Irtyu for himself, he wanted him to stay with him forever, and he always got what he wanted.
Of course, as Kai wasn’t able to deny him anything, Irtyu always got whatever he wanted too. It was only fair, after all - even if what Irtyu wanted was a ‘child’ of their own. And so when the time has come and Irtyu has chosen Ruki as another member of their family, Kai didn’t hesitate before turning him.
He didn’t regret it - most of the time, that is. Ruki could be really annoying sometimes.
*~*~*~*
“You threatening him with the presentation again?” Uruha tsked, shaking his head, and leaned over Kai to look at the screen of his laptop. “That can be written up as a harassment, you know. He could sue you. And you spelled ‘caution’ wrong .”
“He can try,” Kai hissed, correcting the typo. “Every judge would find me innocent after having to work with him for an hour. I deserve a sainthood, really, for putting up with him for so long.”
“No one asked you to change me,” Ruki murmured, his tone obvious indication that he was sulking. “You could have just left me to die.”
“Right. Because it’s not like he,” Kai motioned to Aoi, “would have never forgiven me that.”
“I would,” Aoi protested. “After four or five hundred years.”
“Well, I find our bed much more comfortable than the couch,” Kai said dryly. “So I give you your long wished-for child and what do I have from it?”
“An awesome heir?” Ruki supplied.
“Somehow I don’t think that’s the right answer,” Uruha smirked. “Anyway, as the situation is heading towards the dangerous waters of a family fight, I think I’d better leave and help Reita with his pre-full moon jitters. His energy is simply delicious at this time of the month and the sex…” he sighed dreamily, “is simply spectacular, so see you later.” He waved at them and vanished, teleporting himself.
“A headache,” Kai said wryly, waving back to Uruha. “I have a freaking headache because my own - and only - child is making everything in his power to make my life a living hell.”
“He did take care of that last rogue for you,” Aoi reminded him. “Machiavelli himself wouldn’t do it better.”
“Machiavelli!” Kai snorted. “You have no idea just how glad I am he’s dead already. He was charging unimaginable amounts for your son’s education.”
“Oh, so it’s my son now?” Aoi asked, rising his eyebrows. “Funny thing, I can remember you calling him your son just yesterday morning.”
Kai shrugged. “That was after he signed that deal with Onis. Today he’s annoying the hell out of me instead of helping me with this damn presentation, so obviously he’s your son today.”
“Dear heavens, give me that,” Ruki snapped, reaching for Kai’s laptop. “I’ll finish the damn presentation, making sure it’s just right for them to leave you here and not push into UP. There’s no way in hell I’m moving to Europe this century.”
“Look at our soon,” Kai said fondly. “We did good with him, didn’t we?”
Aoi rolled his eyes. “Of course, darling,” he said, leaning in and kissing Kai’s forehead. “We were, after all, rising him together.”
Ruki glared at them from above the laptop’s screen. “Could you please go and find yourself a room? I’m trying to work here.”
“No need to tell us twice, son,” Kai said cheerfully, standing up and pulling Aoi with him. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow then,” he called from the hallway, heading for his and Aoi’s quarters.
*~*~*~*
Kai had never had any qualms about admitting that if it wasn’t for Aoi - and later for Ruki, but then he wouldn’t have Ruki if not Aoi either - most probably he wouldn’t be alive anymore. He saw it happen to those he had considered harder, better, stronger than himself. Sometimes they were simply too tired to carry on anymore, sometimes they were too fed up with world and sometimes - sometimes after losing yet another person they cared for, either to death or betrayal, they saw no reason to continue their life.
Not many of those that used to frequent his houses in Ineb-Hedj, Niwt-imn, Alexandria and Roma were still around.
He was one of the Oldest now; his life was recounted in awe, his name was starring in countless chapters of not only his race’s journals, he was the one others looked up to. But it wasn’t important - not to him, at least. It was never his dream, to be all of that - all he ever wanted was a quiet, happy life with Irtyu - and later also Ruki - at his side. If he woke up every morning with the will to live, looking forward to the day ahead of him, that was more than enough.
*~*~*~*
“I know that look,” Kai murmured, pulling Aoi close after he closed the door to their bedroom. “Thinking of redecorating again, are you?”
Aoi sighed, circling his arms around Kai’s neck. “I just miss our bedroom in your residence in Alexandria.”
“Our residence,” Kai corrected him. “You know that Ruki will hate it, right? He’ll call it your midlife crisis and say ancient Egypt is called ancient for a reason and shouldn’t be used as a reference for modern furnishing.”
“Well, we have to keep him on his toes just as he does it to us, don’t we?” Aoi smiled. “It keeps us feeling young, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” Kai agreed, leaning in for a kiss.
More importantly, it kept them alive.
-end-
Footnotes:
Kai (fl. 26th century B.C.E.) Mortuary priest of the Fourth Dynasty.
He served as a member of the mortuary cult of Khufu (Cheops, r. 2551-2528 B.C.E.) at Giza. Vast numbers of priests resided in the pyramidal complex of Khufu after his death, as his mortuary cult remained popular. Kai was buried in western Giza, and his tomb is called “the Nefertari of Giza,” “the beautiful one.” He is depicted in reliefs with his wife in the tomb chambers, and there are a false door and raised, elaborate carvings. A statue of Kai was also recovered.
[Margaret Bunson, Encyclopedia of ancient Egypt, Infobase Publishing, 2002, p. 191]
shendyt - that short kilt they were wearing in Ancient Egypt
irtyu - Ancient Egyptian for blue
Ineb-Hedj - Ancient Egyptian name of Mephis, the capital city of Egypt during the ruling of the 4th dynasty.
Niwt-imn - Ancient Egyptian name of Thebes, the capital city of Egypt during part of the 11th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom) and most of the 18th Dynasty (New Kingdom)
Sneferu was the first king of the 4th dynasty of Ancient Egypt and the one that started building the pyramids.