From the Beginning: Ch. 6
Title: From the Beginning
Co-written by: youkohiei-fan and Zelinxia
Overall Summary: Canon AU. Eleven-year-old Kurogane and his father are summoned to Shirasagi Castle where he meets Fai, a boy from a different world. What becomes an instant friendship sets in stone an indelible bond for the two.
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Correspondence
Six months later
Fai had seen a hawk with the emblem of the capital wrapped around its chest overhead minutes ago and was now running through the city just outside the palace. Kurogane had no doubt sent him a letter and the blonde couldn’t wait to read it. He had been practicing every day on his writing and reading and was pretty good at both now.
The hawk perched on a post, set up beside the mew, where one of the workers removed the letter tied to its leg. When the worker saw a young blonde arriving at the post, panting for breath, he recognized him as the special guest - or rather - member of the Suwa Palace. “Is this for you?”
Fai nodded as he stepped into the area where the news from the messenger hawks were kept. “Yes, I’ve been expecting something from the capital.” He smiled and could barely contain his joy.
“Well here you go then.” He smiled and handed it over to Fai. “Say, is it by any chance from the young lord?”
“Yes. He’s supposed to send updates.” Fai thanked the messenger before he quickly dashed away, heading for the castle so he could inform Kurogane’s parents that he had finally written back.
“I wonder why Fai-kun ran off so suddenly like that?” the lord mused. He and his wife were standing on the veranda steps, with one arm over her shoulders.
“Who knows, perhaps he noticed something exciting,” the priestess responded.
When Fai spotted them, he smiled brightly, holding up the small parcel that had been strapped to the hawk’s leg. “Kuro-san finally wrote back.”
Kurogane’s parents were pleasantly surprised. “Well, it’s about time the brat wrote back to us,” the lord remarked with a grin.
“It is. He was being slow.” Fai unfurled the tiny scroll, breaking its seal, and saw that there were three small letters. He handed one to each adult and looked over his own.
“Dear Fai-kun,” it began.
“Sorry this took a while. How are things going on at home? I hope you’re doing your part to help run the palace, now that I’m away for about half a year. Training over here has been intense! The first few months I had to wake up before the crack of dawn and start physical training before I could start the beginner shinobi routine. The head of the army is actually a young woman - Souma’s her name. I’ve been doing my part to keep up, and I’m liking what I’m seeing and doing so far. As for meeting the imperial family…they’re interesting. Especially the Tsukuyomi. She’s pretty smart and can already put up strong kekkais for a seven year old! She and I have been getting along - is that how she treated you when you first came? Anyways, I have to get going now. It’s dinner time. Write back.
“Kurogane”
Fai smiled. He should have known that Kurogane would meet Tomoyo. It made him realize that Kurogane would have at least some friends at the capital and he was happy about that.
“Well, what did your letter say, Fai-kun? Did he write to you how grueling training is over there?” Lord Suwa asked.
“He said he met the Tsukuyomi and that he has to get up early for his training.” He informed them with a laugh. Fai could just see Kurogane rolling out of his bed half asleep every morning and the thought amused him.
“Splendid,” he noted. He informed that he had to head to a meeting with his men.
“Fai-kun, should we practice casting stronger kekkais?” Tsumebe asked him.
“Alright.” Fai folded his letter and tucked it in his clothes. His magic grew with every use and he was quickly becoming stronger than Suwa’s priestess herself. By the time Kurogane would be back he would powerful.
Tsumebe was silently musing over what she and her husband have conversed about over the past few months, especially since Fai had been devoted to strengthening his kekkais ever since Kurogane had left. Given that the lord hoped his son would exceed him in swordsmanship, it was noted among them that perhaps someday Fai would assume the duty of keeping the barriers over Suwa. Was this what the Tsukuyomi had in store for the young man?
Six months later
“Kurogane, you got a new letter from Fai-san.” Tomoyo giggled as she waved the still sealed letter in her small hand. As the princess she had asked the falconers to send her any letters for her newest ninja as she found teasing him too fun to pass up.
The young lord sighed. He couldn’t really yell at the young princess like he would to Fai or his father so instead he just bore with her taunts. He reached out and mildly tried to wrench it from her. To his dismay she reacted fast and stepped back, refusing to hand it over that simply. “Oi, Tomoyo-hime!”
“Say please!” she demanded, her kimono fluttering around her. Souma sighed off to the side, thinking Kurogane still needed a lot of work. “Maybe I should read it aloud? I’m sure Fai-san wouldn’t mind.”
Kurogane waved his hands in protest. “No need for that, Tomoyo-hime. Please, can I just see the letter?” He could tell Souma was feeling exasperated by this mockery.
“Here you go.” Tomoyo wasn’t that cruel as she knew Kurogane waited for his letters every few weeks. Souma shook her head as she poured her princess tea. “Go and read your little note, boy.”
“I’m not a boy,” Kurogane growled, much to Souma’s horror. He carefully peeled off the wax of Suwa’s seal and unfolded the three separate parchments. He read through the ones his parent wrote to him - which were filled with current events in Suwa. After that he picked up the one Fai wrote. It was the first time he ever saw Fai writing a full letter in his native language.
“Kuro-san, I hope you’re not getting picked on too much. The festival you told me about last time sounded fun, there was one here in Suwa too, but nothing too big. Your father said he was going to take me to fight oni soon since my attack spells are getting stronger. I might even be stronger than Kuro-chan by the time you come home. You’d better write back sooner this time too.
“Fai (^.w.^)~”
Kurogane blinked several times, wondering if that was indeed a cat that Fai drew after signing off his name. Sure enough after tilting the paper in different angles he confirmed it was inked in. The lad wondered what possessed Fai to do something like that. Kurogane shook his head at Fai’s bold assumption he would be stronger than him in the end. Tch, he thought as he neatly rolled up all three letters. Kurogane wondered if he had enough time to write one back, since he never knew when he had the opportunity.
“Was Fai-san’s letter any good?” Tomoyo questioned from her seat with a smile. “It must be if you’re looking at it like that.”
“More like it’s full of interesting things that can only spell out him,” Kurogane answered. “Tomoyo-hime, do you think I have time to write back some letters?” he queried the young princess.
“Of course. I don’t need you alert all the time when I have Souma here too.” Souma thought the princess was being far too soft on Kurogane, but she supposed they were both children. “Your shift will end soon, Kurogane.”
“Thanks Tomoyo-hime.” Kurogane eyed his katana that was lying next to him on the floor. Ever since he came to train at Shirasagi he was also appointed to be one of Tomoyo’s bodyguards for the moment. So instead of assuming the role and responsibilities of the Young Lord of Suwa, his temporary position was a shinobi-in-training for the castle.
“Be sure to send Fai-san lots of love. Maybe I should send him some sweets too?” she pondered aloud, thinking that the hawks weren’t big enough to carry anything more than a few letters and that she might have to send a rider out instead.
Kurogane flushed at the mention of sending Fai ‘lots of love’. “Nah, he has enough sweets at home. Gods know he doesn’t need more of them.” His friend was notorious for consuming a lot of sweets. It was a trade off - Kurogane liked raw fish but detested sweets while Fai was the opposite.
“You’re no fun at all, Kurogane.” Tomoyo gave a half hearted pout and stuck her tongue out at the boy.
“Why does everyone say that?” Kurogane huffed instantly.
“Kurogane-san!” Souma admonished the lad. She was going to develop a small headache; she could feel it coming.
Tomoyo laughed, amused at both her ninjas as they glared at each other. It seemed they would make good friends in the years to come.
“Tomoyo-hime, how could you let Kurogane-san treat you so?” Souma asked, still diverting her hostile, yet friendly glare at the younger ninja.
“He doesn’t mean it.” She smiled warmly to ease the woman’s worries. “Now, go and write your letters Kurogane. I bet Fai-san will be mad if you’re late again.”
Kurogane bowed down quickly before he dashed out of Tomoyo’s chamber. In his own room, he pulled out fresh rolls of parchment along with the bottle of ink and brush.
Dipping the brush, Kurogane started scrawling the kanji to write back to Fai. He wondered if Tomoyo and Fai sent letters back and forth to each other poking fun at him. Even worse, what if his father also got involved?
---
A/N: Because the story takes place over quite a few years in approximately 100,000 words, I'll make sure to keep tabs how old they are here and there so there isn't any confusion. That means at the end of this, they should be around 15.
Co-written by: youkohiei-fan and Zelinxia
Overall Summary: Canon AU. Eleven-year-old Kurogane and his father are summoned to Shirasagi Castle where he meets Fai, a boy from a different world. What becomes an instant friendship sets in stone an indelible bond for the two.
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Correspondence
Six months later
Fai had seen a hawk with the emblem of the capital wrapped around its chest overhead minutes ago and was now running through the city just outside the palace. Kurogane had no doubt sent him a letter and the blonde couldn’t wait to read it. He had been practicing every day on his writing and reading and was pretty good at both now.
The hawk perched on a post, set up beside the mew, where one of the workers removed the letter tied to its leg. When the worker saw a young blonde arriving at the post, panting for breath, he recognized him as the special guest - or rather - member of the Suwa Palace. “Is this for you?”
Fai nodded as he stepped into the area where the news from the messenger hawks were kept. “Yes, I’ve been expecting something from the capital.” He smiled and could barely contain his joy.
“Well here you go then.” He smiled and handed it over to Fai. “Say, is it by any chance from the young lord?”
“Yes. He’s supposed to send updates.” Fai thanked the messenger before he quickly dashed away, heading for the castle so he could inform Kurogane’s parents that he had finally written back.
“I wonder why Fai-kun ran off so suddenly like that?” the lord mused. He and his wife were standing on the veranda steps, with one arm over her shoulders.
“Who knows, perhaps he noticed something exciting,” the priestess responded.
When Fai spotted them, he smiled brightly, holding up the small parcel that had been strapped to the hawk’s leg. “Kuro-san finally wrote back.”
Kurogane’s parents were pleasantly surprised. “Well, it’s about time the brat wrote back to us,” the lord remarked with a grin.
“It is. He was being slow.” Fai unfurled the tiny scroll, breaking its seal, and saw that there were three small letters. He handed one to each adult and looked over his own.
“Dear Fai-kun,” it began.
“Sorry this took a while. How are things going on at home? I hope you’re doing your part to help run the palace, now that I’m away for about half a year. Training over here has been intense! The first few months I had to wake up before the crack of dawn and start physical training before I could start the beginner shinobi routine. The head of the army is actually a young woman - Souma’s her name. I’ve been doing my part to keep up, and I’m liking what I’m seeing and doing so far. As for meeting the imperial family…they’re interesting. Especially the Tsukuyomi. She’s pretty smart and can already put up strong kekkais for a seven year old! She and I have been getting along - is that how she treated you when you first came? Anyways, I have to get going now. It’s dinner time. Write back.
“Kurogane”
Fai smiled. He should have known that Kurogane would meet Tomoyo. It made him realize that Kurogane would have at least some friends at the capital and he was happy about that.
“Well, what did your letter say, Fai-kun? Did he write to you how grueling training is over there?” Lord Suwa asked.
“He said he met the Tsukuyomi and that he has to get up early for his training.” He informed them with a laugh. Fai could just see Kurogane rolling out of his bed half asleep every morning and the thought amused him.
“Splendid,” he noted. He informed that he had to head to a meeting with his men.
“Fai-kun, should we practice casting stronger kekkais?” Tsumebe asked him.
“Alright.” Fai folded his letter and tucked it in his clothes. His magic grew with every use and he was quickly becoming stronger than Suwa’s priestess herself. By the time Kurogane would be back he would powerful.
Tsumebe was silently musing over what she and her husband have conversed about over the past few months, especially since Fai had been devoted to strengthening his kekkais ever since Kurogane had left. Given that the lord hoped his son would exceed him in swordsmanship, it was noted among them that perhaps someday Fai would assume the duty of keeping the barriers over Suwa. Was this what the Tsukuyomi had in store for the young man?
Six months later
“Kurogane, you got a new letter from Fai-san.” Tomoyo giggled as she waved the still sealed letter in her small hand. As the princess she had asked the falconers to send her any letters for her newest ninja as she found teasing him too fun to pass up.
The young lord sighed. He couldn’t really yell at the young princess like he would to Fai or his father so instead he just bore with her taunts. He reached out and mildly tried to wrench it from her. To his dismay she reacted fast and stepped back, refusing to hand it over that simply. “Oi, Tomoyo-hime!”
“Say please!” she demanded, her kimono fluttering around her. Souma sighed off to the side, thinking Kurogane still needed a lot of work. “Maybe I should read it aloud? I’m sure Fai-san wouldn’t mind.”
Kurogane waved his hands in protest. “No need for that, Tomoyo-hime. Please, can I just see the letter?” He could tell Souma was feeling exasperated by this mockery.
“Here you go.” Tomoyo wasn’t that cruel as she knew Kurogane waited for his letters every few weeks. Souma shook her head as she poured her princess tea. “Go and read your little note, boy.”
“I’m not a boy,” Kurogane growled, much to Souma’s horror. He carefully peeled off the wax of Suwa’s seal and unfolded the three separate parchments. He read through the ones his parent wrote to him - which were filled with current events in Suwa. After that he picked up the one Fai wrote. It was the first time he ever saw Fai writing a full letter in his native language.
“Kuro-san, I hope you’re not getting picked on too much. The festival you told me about last time sounded fun, there was one here in Suwa too, but nothing too big. Your father said he was going to take me to fight oni soon since my attack spells are getting stronger. I might even be stronger than Kuro-chan by the time you come home. You’d better write back sooner this time too.
“Fai (^.w.^)~”
Kurogane blinked several times, wondering if that was indeed a cat that Fai drew after signing off his name. Sure enough after tilting the paper in different angles he confirmed it was inked in. The lad wondered what possessed Fai to do something like that. Kurogane shook his head at Fai’s bold assumption he would be stronger than him in the end. Tch, he thought as he neatly rolled up all three letters. Kurogane wondered if he had enough time to write one back, since he never knew when he had the opportunity.
“Was Fai-san’s letter any good?” Tomoyo questioned from her seat with a smile. “It must be if you’re looking at it like that.”
“More like it’s full of interesting things that can only spell out him,” Kurogane answered. “Tomoyo-hime, do you think I have time to write back some letters?” he queried the young princess.
“Of course. I don’t need you alert all the time when I have Souma here too.” Souma thought the princess was being far too soft on Kurogane, but she supposed they were both children. “Your shift will end soon, Kurogane.”
“Thanks Tomoyo-hime.” Kurogane eyed his katana that was lying next to him on the floor. Ever since he came to train at Shirasagi he was also appointed to be one of Tomoyo’s bodyguards for the moment. So instead of assuming the role and responsibilities of the Young Lord of Suwa, his temporary position was a shinobi-in-training for the castle.
“Be sure to send Fai-san lots of love. Maybe I should send him some sweets too?” she pondered aloud, thinking that the hawks weren’t big enough to carry anything more than a few letters and that she might have to send a rider out instead.
Kurogane flushed at the mention of sending Fai ‘lots of love’. “Nah, he has enough sweets at home. Gods know he doesn’t need more of them.” His friend was notorious for consuming a lot of sweets. It was a trade off - Kurogane liked raw fish but detested sweets while Fai was the opposite.
“You’re no fun at all, Kurogane.” Tomoyo gave a half hearted pout and stuck her tongue out at the boy.
“Why does everyone say that?” Kurogane huffed instantly.
“Kurogane-san!” Souma admonished the lad. She was going to develop a small headache; she could feel it coming.
Tomoyo laughed, amused at both her ninjas as they glared at each other. It seemed they would make good friends in the years to come.
“Tomoyo-hime, how could you let Kurogane-san treat you so?” Souma asked, still diverting her hostile, yet friendly glare at the younger ninja.
“He doesn’t mean it.” She smiled warmly to ease the woman’s worries. “Now, go and write your letters Kurogane. I bet Fai-san will be mad if you’re late again.”
Kurogane bowed down quickly before he dashed out of Tomoyo’s chamber. In his own room, he pulled out fresh rolls of parchment along with the bottle of ink and brush.
Dipping the brush, Kurogane started scrawling the kanji to write back to Fai. He wondered if Tomoyo and Fai sent letters back and forth to each other poking fun at him. Even worse, what if his father also got involved?
---
A/N: Because the story takes place over quite a few years in approximately 100,000 words, I'll make sure to keep tabs how old they are here and there so there isn't any confusion. That means at the end of this, they should be around 15.