Fic: kurofai: Syntax & Swordfights, Part 4
Title: Syntax and Swordfights (Yama drabbles Part 4/6)
Author: soleil_et_pluie
Rating: G
Pairing: kurofai
Length: 1,387
Disclaimer: Dun own.
Summary: "Fighting together changes people." Cliffhangers resolved! Bandits! Daggers! Possible plot furtherance!
Author’s Notes: Well, do excuse; this chapter, in interests of resolving things, has a lot of action, which I am more than a little trepidatious about writing. Mostly, at heart, I am a sap, and I try to produce well-written fluff. We hope. :D Which will follow, seeing as the next chapter is basically also written! I luff you all!
Kurogane comes to in a strange tent with dim lighting, head groggy. It takes a moment to orient himself and realize Fai’s back is pressing against his own. They are bound together against a pole. Fai’s cheek is bruised and his blonde head is hanging limply. However, their captors have not bothered to take their clothes or even some of their remaining equipment. He wonders what they did bother to search and take besides Fai’s bow and Kurogane’s sword. He shifts his hands and reaches into his boot, pulling out a tiny knife. He rearranges his bound hands and slits the rope. Then he begins cutting through the ropes lashing them together. As soon as he finishes and the tension is released, Fai’s body tumbles sideways and Kurogane quickly pulls the other up, into his lap.
“Oi,” he whispers. Kurogane carefully slices the ropes binding Fai’s hands and pats his cheek gently. His breathing is all right, but even with all this moving he hasn’t stirred. Why won’t he wake up? His face is pale, and the bruise actually extends over his head, where there is a worrying lump. Frustrated, Kurogane slaps Fai a little bit harder.
Finally, the eyes flutter open and Fai smiles disarmingly, but his hands are fluttering like he can’t direct them properly, going in the wrong directions. One hand finds Kurogane’s collar and grips painfully.
“Concussion…?” Kurogane murmurs, wondering.
In that moment, there is a scuffling noise outside. The flap of the tent is thrown aside and a bunch of the no-longer faceless bandits enter. Village ruffians, not hardened warriors, but how did they manage to knock out both of them? And that strange darkness?
“All right, scum.” One of them gestures to the one closest to Kurogane and Fai, making to tie them up again.
Fai stands dizzily, as if drunk, and in one motion, pulls a tiny throwing knife from somewhere in the folds of his clothes. His hand sweeps the air in an arch. One of the bandits chokes, a horrible sound, and collapses, blood spurting from his throat.
Fai turns, deadpan, swaying on the spot, his eyes locking with Kurogane’s, who now somewhat resembles a gaping fish.
“I am… not… concussed,” he asserts. Kurogane has to admire Fai’s ability to conjugate even with temporary brain damage. Kurogane stands quickly to support Fai, who lurches backwards into him, looking simultaneously angry and confused at his own inability to balance.
Kurogane lets go of Fai just enough to slam into the nearest bandit, and swiftly pulls his weapon from the man’s sheath.
“Who’s in charge here?! He’s your only hope of keeping your lives!”
Kurogane crouches, ready for the death spin. The bandits look both infuriated and afraid.
“Now!” Kurogane pulls back the sword, ready to go- and one of them capitulates.
“Put it down!! You can see him, but you won’t like it!” At this, the gap-tooth bandit grins.
****
They walk through the mountain hideaway, and wretched, bedraggled faces peer up at them from tents and dwellings. Some look like villagers, some like bandits, and some have the dreadful, empty, and hopeless expression of the dying.
Fai knows what those faces mean. Something terrible has passed through this mountain village; the people still live in fear of its shadow; or are possibly still suffering from it. His head is pounding, soft and persistent, and he cannot keep his balance. He leans on Kurogane out of necessity. The ninja not only doesn’t push him away, but looks rather apprehensive, as if Fai might start killing people or drop dead. He feels like doing both. Because Fai has always been unable to cast healing magic, for years he studied it in persistent determination. This is another of those moments- he cannot help these people. It burns in him like it burns that he has been unable to help Ashura. The best he could manage was to seal his King in ice and water, and run away.
They reach the square. Villagers are tending to the sick across the tiny houses. A large fire burns in the square and there sits the man obviously the leader, his dark features pinched in a deep-set anger.
Fai notices it immediately, but says nothing. The crude totem has been braced and decorated by snapped arrows, while a large egg is lashed to the shield. He lets go of Kurogane’s arm quickly, swaying as little as possible, and faces the man.
“So. Welcome. What brings you to our… lovely mountain home?” He sneers.
“What happened here?!” Kurogane is never subtle.
“What happened?!” This seems to be the wrong question. “What happened is plague! Do they teach you nothing but the arts of killing in that war-camp?”
“Yasha-” Kurogane begins angrily.
“They didn’t come! We sent messenger after messenger, begging, pleading! ‘Our village is assaulted by plague, noble lord! We humbly beg whatever you can spare!’ but Lord Yasha would rather play at war for a legend on some forgotten moon castle than care for his people! And now you, his war lackeys, come to tell us-- what? We are ‘under arrest’?! You will rot like they left us to rot!”
“And the villagers?”
The leader spreads his hands.
“All around. The village is well-known for its healers. They are here, tending the sick. Those the gods have not yet taken from us.”
“Did you ask these people?!” Kurogane looks rather flushed. “Did they agree? You took them here, did you never think they didn’t want to come to an area with plague?!”
The leader looks apoplectic. “Mayhap we can just send one of you back maimed to tell Yasha what has happened in his neglected countryside!”
“Dagger,” Fai whispers to Kurogane, pinching his side. The taller man ruffles his cloak, and shifts his hand, then passes it swiftly to Fai.
“Perhaps one of his war dogs he will believe!! Then he will see how he has left his own people to death and suffering!”
Then the nausea hits Fai in slow, terrible waves. He lurches forward and catches a glimpse of Kurogane’s expression, not given enough time to change from shock to panic. He feels a jolt, stopping him. Kurogane grabs him at his waist and shoulder and hauls him up straight.
Fai sways. Then he steps forward, and hurls the dagger, swift and straight, into the totem.
The otherworldly egg breaks open and ichor oozes out. A burst of negative energy sweeps around the square, and purple lightening, magic unleashed and broken, arches around furiously, looking like a giant hand searching for a victim.
Kurogane’s eyes light up in instant understanding.
“MEN!” The leader barks furiously. They have just signed their death warrant by destroying the source of the magical darkness, the bandits’ secret weapon. Fai and Kurogane are surrounded quickly.
“ENOUGH!” Kurogane thunders. “You can come with us, then! Personally! Come back with us to Lord Yasha and I will make sure he hears your words!!”
The lightening crawls across the square and dives into the clustered bandits. The terrible screams echo in the mountainous place and soon the rest of the men are trying desperately to close in on Fai and Kurogane and avoid the deathly, apparently semi-sentient lightening. “Just kill them!” rings through the bandits.
Fai walks towards the man, his eyes dead.
“Stop. Now. Or you send all your men to their death. I can… fix your bad magic.”
Kurogane gives his best death glare. The lightening dives again, scattering, separating, and soon it is raining down everywhere. Men are screaming. Only Fai and Kurogane are rock-still. The leader is trembling in fury and fear.
“STOP IT, THEN! Now! Or you will die!”
Only Kurogane notices Fai’s knees twitching. He pulls the mage to the bleeding magic totem. Fai pulls the dagger out of the egg and slashes the rest of the ropes, snaps all the arrows. The lightening disappears with the now-wrecked totem.
Kurogane turns.
“Get your fastest horse, and all our equipment, and our steeds. We leave right now, if your people really matter to you. Unless you are too much of a coward to come alone.”
It works, and soon people are scrambling in every direction. Fai feels consciousness draining out of him, and sinks against Kurogane, who jumps mildly, blushes and clutches him as he passes out.
***********
Author: soleil_et_pluie
Rating: G
Pairing: kurofai
Length: 1,387
Disclaimer: Dun own.
Summary: "Fighting together changes people." Cliffhangers resolved! Bandits! Daggers! Possible plot furtherance!
Author’s Notes: Well, do excuse; this chapter, in interests of resolving things, has a lot of action, which I am more than a little trepidatious about writing. Mostly, at heart, I am a sap, and I try to produce well-written fluff. We hope. :D Which will follow, seeing as the next chapter is basically also written! I luff you all!
Kurogane comes to in a strange tent with dim lighting, head groggy. It takes a moment to orient himself and realize Fai’s back is pressing against his own. They are bound together against a pole. Fai’s cheek is bruised and his blonde head is hanging limply. However, their captors have not bothered to take their clothes or even some of their remaining equipment. He wonders what they did bother to search and take besides Fai’s bow and Kurogane’s sword. He shifts his hands and reaches into his boot, pulling out a tiny knife. He rearranges his bound hands and slits the rope. Then he begins cutting through the ropes lashing them together. As soon as he finishes and the tension is released, Fai’s body tumbles sideways and Kurogane quickly pulls the other up, into his lap.
“Oi,” he whispers. Kurogane carefully slices the ropes binding Fai’s hands and pats his cheek gently. His breathing is all right, but even with all this moving he hasn’t stirred. Why won’t he wake up? His face is pale, and the bruise actually extends over his head, where there is a worrying lump. Frustrated, Kurogane slaps Fai a little bit harder.
Finally, the eyes flutter open and Fai smiles disarmingly, but his hands are fluttering like he can’t direct them properly, going in the wrong directions. One hand finds Kurogane’s collar and grips painfully.
“Concussion…?” Kurogane murmurs, wondering.
In that moment, there is a scuffling noise outside. The flap of the tent is thrown aside and a bunch of the no-longer faceless bandits enter. Village ruffians, not hardened warriors, but how did they manage to knock out both of them? And that strange darkness?
“All right, scum.” One of them gestures to the one closest to Kurogane and Fai, making to tie them up again.
Fai stands dizzily, as if drunk, and in one motion, pulls a tiny throwing knife from somewhere in the folds of his clothes. His hand sweeps the air in an arch. One of the bandits chokes, a horrible sound, and collapses, blood spurting from his throat.
Fai turns, deadpan, swaying on the spot, his eyes locking with Kurogane’s, who now somewhat resembles a gaping fish.
“I am… not… concussed,” he asserts. Kurogane has to admire Fai’s ability to conjugate even with temporary brain damage. Kurogane stands quickly to support Fai, who lurches backwards into him, looking simultaneously angry and confused at his own inability to balance.
Kurogane lets go of Fai just enough to slam into the nearest bandit, and swiftly pulls his weapon from the man’s sheath.
“Who’s in charge here?! He’s your only hope of keeping your lives!”
Kurogane crouches, ready for the death spin. The bandits look both infuriated and afraid.
“Now!” Kurogane pulls back the sword, ready to go- and one of them capitulates.
“Put it down!! You can see him, but you won’t like it!” At this, the gap-tooth bandit grins.
****
They walk through the mountain hideaway, and wretched, bedraggled faces peer up at them from tents and dwellings. Some look like villagers, some like bandits, and some have the dreadful, empty, and hopeless expression of the dying.
Fai knows what those faces mean. Something terrible has passed through this mountain village; the people still live in fear of its shadow; or are possibly still suffering from it. His head is pounding, soft and persistent, and he cannot keep his balance. He leans on Kurogane out of necessity. The ninja not only doesn’t push him away, but looks rather apprehensive, as if Fai might start killing people or drop dead. He feels like doing both. Because Fai has always been unable to cast healing magic, for years he studied it in persistent determination. This is another of those moments- he cannot help these people. It burns in him like it burns that he has been unable to help Ashura. The best he could manage was to seal his King in ice and water, and run away.
They reach the square. Villagers are tending to the sick across the tiny houses. A large fire burns in the square and there sits the man obviously the leader, his dark features pinched in a deep-set anger.
Fai notices it immediately, but says nothing. The crude totem has been braced and decorated by snapped arrows, while a large egg is lashed to the shield. He lets go of Kurogane’s arm quickly, swaying as little as possible, and faces the man.
“So. Welcome. What brings you to our… lovely mountain home?” He sneers.
“What happened here?!” Kurogane is never subtle.
“What happened?!” This seems to be the wrong question. “What happened is plague! Do they teach you nothing but the arts of killing in that war-camp?”
“Yasha-” Kurogane begins angrily.
“They didn’t come! We sent messenger after messenger, begging, pleading! ‘Our village is assaulted by plague, noble lord! We humbly beg whatever you can spare!’ but Lord Yasha would rather play at war for a legend on some forgotten moon castle than care for his people! And now you, his war lackeys, come to tell us-- what? We are ‘under arrest’?! You will rot like they left us to rot!”
“And the villagers?”
The leader spreads his hands.
“All around. The village is well-known for its healers. They are here, tending the sick. Those the gods have not yet taken from us.”
“Did you ask these people?!” Kurogane looks rather flushed. “Did they agree? You took them here, did you never think they didn’t want to come to an area with plague?!”
The leader looks apoplectic. “Mayhap we can just send one of you back maimed to tell Yasha what has happened in his neglected countryside!”
“Dagger,” Fai whispers to Kurogane, pinching his side. The taller man ruffles his cloak, and shifts his hand, then passes it swiftly to Fai.
“Perhaps one of his war dogs he will believe!! Then he will see how he has left his own people to death and suffering!”
Then the nausea hits Fai in slow, terrible waves. He lurches forward and catches a glimpse of Kurogane’s expression, not given enough time to change from shock to panic. He feels a jolt, stopping him. Kurogane grabs him at his waist and shoulder and hauls him up straight.
Fai sways. Then he steps forward, and hurls the dagger, swift and straight, into the totem.
The otherworldly egg breaks open and ichor oozes out. A burst of negative energy sweeps around the square, and purple lightening, magic unleashed and broken, arches around furiously, looking like a giant hand searching for a victim.
Kurogane’s eyes light up in instant understanding.
“MEN!” The leader barks furiously. They have just signed their death warrant by destroying the source of the magical darkness, the bandits’ secret weapon. Fai and Kurogane are surrounded quickly.
“ENOUGH!” Kurogane thunders. “You can come with us, then! Personally! Come back with us to Lord Yasha and I will make sure he hears your words!!”
The lightening crawls across the square and dives into the clustered bandits. The terrible screams echo in the mountainous place and soon the rest of the men are trying desperately to close in on Fai and Kurogane and avoid the deathly, apparently semi-sentient lightening. “Just kill them!” rings through the bandits.
Fai walks towards the man, his eyes dead.
“Stop. Now. Or you send all your men to their death. I can… fix your bad magic.”
Kurogane gives his best death glare. The lightening dives again, scattering, separating, and soon it is raining down everywhere. Men are screaming. Only Fai and Kurogane are rock-still. The leader is trembling in fury and fear.
“STOP IT, THEN! Now! Or you will die!”
Only Kurogane notices Fai’s knees twitching. He pulls the mage to the bleeding magic totem. Fai pulls the dagger out of the egg and slashes the rest of the ropes, snaps all the arrows. The lightening disappears with the now-wrecked totem.
Kurogane turns.
“Get your fastest horse, and all our equipment, and our steeds. We leave right now, if your people really matter to you. Unless you are too much of a coward to come alone.”
It works, and soon people are scrambling in every direction. Fai feels consciousness draining out of him, and sinks against Kurogane, who jumps mildly, blushes and clutches him as he passes out.
***********