What You Wish For (Chapter 11)
Title: What You Wish For
Author: alliterationhor
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Spoilers: nope.
Rating: R for violence?
Status: 11/12 chapters.
Author's note: wow, I'm actually nervous about posting this one.
Fanfic archive here.
Comments/concrit appreciated.
Previous chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
What You Wish For
Come out, come out wherever you are . . .
-Guster, What You Wish For
Chapter Eleven
Ashura smiled, cold and beautiful.
“At last my little songbird has flown back into his cage.”
“Ashura.” Fai said softly.
Ashura had not changed, but Fai had. Fai was very different from the man he had been when he had left this dimension, and he looked at Ashura with different eyes now. He would do what was right, he would stop Ashura. Or he would give his life in the effort.
Still, there was a part of him that did not want to do this. There was a part of him that belonged to Ashura and always would. Despite how terrible he knew Ashura was, there was still much that Fai felt he owed to Ashura. But that would not stop him from doing what he came here to do.
Ashura glanced over at Kurogane, black eyes measuring the ninja with indifference. “And you have brought me another toy?”
Fai stepped forward. His voice was angry and bold, “He is not part of this. Leave him out of it.”
“Hey!” Kurogane looked over at Fai, red eyes glaring. “Shut up! I’m here to kill this bastard.”
Ashura looked at Fai and smiled a wicked smile. “You love him. How wonderful.” His smile turned sharp and unpleasant. “It will be a great pleasure to kill him while you watch.”
“That won’t be as easy as you think.” Kurogane informed him.
Ashura’s laugh was light, his voice utterly confident and condescending, “Neither of you can defeat me. Neither with a sword or with magic. I do not know fear.”
Kurogane grinned, happy to accept the challenge. His hand slid to Souhi’s hilt. “Then let me introduce you.”
“Kurogane.” Fai murmured, putting a hand on the ninja’s arm to still him.
Kurogane glared at Fai again. But he crossed his arms and stayed where he was-for the moment.
“That was a very annoying trick you pulled, my Second King.” Ashura commented, his voice a touch wistful. “It was such a good dream.”
“‘Second King’?” Kurogane asked Fai.
“It was one of his pet names for me.” Fai answered darkly.
“You cannot stop me, Fai. If you were capable, you would have done it then. But you did not.” Ashura’s voice was still sweet, but his tone was hard, “You tricked me once, but it will not be so easy this time.”
“We don’t intend to trick you. We intend to kill you.” Kurogane stated.
“No, I could not kill you then.” Fai answered. “But I have learned much since we last saw each other.”
“Yes. You have.” Ashura narrowed his black eyes at Fai, evaluating him. “You are stronger than you were then.” He smiled, white teeth bared and gleaming. “And you have learned swordplay. That is a surprise. That almost makes up for your insolence.”
“Are we going to attack him or not?” Kurogane asked impatiently.
Fai spoke in a low voice, “I would like to keep him talking for a little while. I am hoping he will let something slip, something I can use against him.”
Kurogane sighed. “I do know one thing. This bastard won’t be defeated by talking to him.”
“I know that too.” Fai replied. “But I think it is the best option we have at the moment.”
“The only options the two of you have are to join me, or be defeated by me.” Ashura informed them.
Fai returned, “And your only options are to surrender now, or we will kill you.”
“Since when was his surrender a part of the plan?” Kurogane grumbled.
“Ashura will not surrender.” Fai said, with a shrug. “But I thought I should give him the chance anyway.”
“How chivalrous of you.”
“It would have been nice if it had worked.”
“I offer you this one chance, Fai.” Ashura held out a long, elegant arm toward Fai, beckoning him closer. “Come stand at my side, my Second King. It is where you belong.”
“No.”
“We could rule dimensions together ...” Ashura whispered.
“You rule only a world of death.” Fai answered. “I do not want any part of that.”
“Your part in that is already sealed in fate. Your magic and your music were two of my greatest weapons. But ...” Ashura smiled sweetly. “I already have your music. I do not require your cooperation. I could throw you in the dungeon just as easily as I could have you sit by my side.”
“Dungeon?” Fai repeated with a disbelieving laugh. “You have killed everyone else. What difference would I make?”
“You have grown stronger.” Ashura’s voice was low and silky, subtly persuasive. “Even more skilled than before you fled this dimension with your tail between your legs. I will need a new army when I conquer the next dimension. I have your music, but if you die I cannot copy your skills into my new soldiers. It would be a pity to waste such abilities, especially after I took such pains to be certain your talents were so precisely cultivated.”
“I will die before I let you use me again.” Fai promised, voice low.
Ashura smiled again, but this was a smile that nightmares were made of. “Oh, my Second King. I will never let you die.”
“I cannot matter to you that much.”
Ashura stood up, his white robes swirling with his movement. His voice was ugly now, and sharp: “You really are an ignorant whelp. Did you never wonder why I picked up some dirty brat from the side of the road? Did you never wonder why I made you my favourite pet?” Ashura’s voice betrayed disgust, “Did you never wonder why I did not kill you when you wept over the dead bones of your family?”
Fai had to force the words from his lips, “Yes, I wondered.”
Ashura waved a graceful hand and fire burst in front of their eyes. The flames formed red words, glowing like embers in the air.
Two kings will rule across the stars, one kingdom terrible and great.
But if one king shall fall at the other’s hand no power is his fate.
“The prophecy.” Fai stared at Ashura in disbelief. “You thought that prophecy was about you and I?”
Ashura smirked, his lips curling disdainfully. “You never did figure that out, did you.”
Another flicker of Ashura’s hand and the words faded.
“That is why you called me your Second King.” Fai laughed, a hollow sound. “You bastard.”
“Enough of this,” Kurogane muttered. He had no more patience for talk; he raised Souhi and ran toward Ashura.
Ashura twisted his hand in front of him and Kurogane was suddenly suspended in the air. Ashura dropped his hand and Kurogane fell to the floor.
Fai gave Kurogane a look that clearly said, “I told you so.”
“Shut up.” Kurogane growled. He stood, raised Souhi again and slashed her through the air as he roared, “Hama Ryuuoujin!”
A thick blast of brilliant blue fire shot toward Ashura. Ashura did not move. The flame only curled around the protective circle of magic Ashura had around him, not even disturbing a hair on his head.
Ashura raised a hand and flicked two fingers toward Kurogane; the blue energy concentrated around Ashura, then exploded toward Kurogane.
Kurogane jumped out of the path of the blue fire. He was not very pleased that Ashura had used his own attack against him. In fact, he decided, it quite pissed him off.
Fai looked over at Kurogane and said nothing.
“Well, now we know that doesn’t work.” Kurogane remarked.
“Hm.”
“If you crave violence so eagerly, I would be happy to oblige you.” Ashura said, and snapped his fingers.
A sword burst out of the air and flew at Kurogane; he blocked it easily.
A few more blows were exchanged between Souhi and the sword that obeyed Ashura. They were blows that offered Kurogane no trouble to counter, and he found himself disappointed.
“You’re not very good, old man.” Kurogane called across the chamber, laughing.
Ashura bristled, his eyes narrowed.
Fai sighed. “He might not be very good, but you are wasting your strength.”
“You suggest I should stand here and let the pointy sword poke me wherever it wants?”
“No. But you cannot win against a sword alone. You need to strike your opponent,” Fai pointed toward the end of the chamber, “and he is safely over there.”
“Good point. Why aren’t you helping?”
A corner of Fai’s mouth curved in a smile. “I know Kuro-pon well. You wanted to fight.”
Kurogane grunted as Souhi clashed with Ashura’s sword again. “I wanted to fight someone worthy. This is child’s play.”
Fifty swords burst out of the air, surrounding Kurogane, each of their points aimed at his throat.
Kurogane stayed perfectly still, but his red eyes fixed on Ashura and glared a promise of death at the bastard. “That. is. cheating.” he growled.
Ashura laughed in amusement, the sound ringing through the polished halls like music.
“Let him go.” Fai demanded, taking a step toward Ashura.
“No. I want to see what my little songbird has learned in his time away.” Ashura snapped his fingers again. The sword that had been battling with Kurogane now flew at Fai. “And so, a demonstration is in order.”
Fai raised his sword; metal clattered against metal. Fai knew too well that this was pointless. Ashura was only trying to wear them down, and it was working. On the bright side, at least, Fai had no trouble countering Ashura’s attack.
“You are right!” he called to Kurogane. “He is not very good.”
Ashura smiled a hard, evil smile. “Perhaps it is time to make this game a little more interesting.”
The sword in front of Fai and the swords surrounding Kurogane disappeared.
Kurogane’s consciousness was suddenly shoved into the back of his mind. He could feel and see his arms and legs moving, but they moved without his will. Ashura was inside his mind, and Ashura was in control.
It was a violation in the worst possible way.
Kurogane took a second to be glad, in the small space he had left that was still his own, that Ashura had no interest in his personal thoughts or his memories. Ashura was only concerned with control of his body.
And his body was charging toward Fai with his sword drawn, aimed to kill.
Fai leapt out of the way easily.
Kurogane’s body turned and his sword slashed at Fai again. Fai twisted away from the blade and flipped himself behind the ninja. Kurogane watched his arm, helplessly, his sword slicing through the air toward Fai. This time Fai used his sword to block the blow, and he grunted a little at the strength of the impact.
Ashura’s sword had used Ashura’s own skill, which was not impressive to either of them. Ashura was using Kurogane’s body and Kurogane’s skill now, which were considerably better than Ashura’s.
But Fai knew the steps to this dance.
He had begun learning this dance back in Yama. He had practiced long hours with a sword, making his muscles learn the skill that they had no instinct for. He had perfected this dance in Nihon.
Kurogane might have the advantage of strength and skill in swordplay, but Fai had an equal advantage because he knew Kurogane and he knew how Kurogane fought. The two of them were quite evenly matched.
“It is fortunate you are such a good teacher, Kuro-tan.” he said, with a grin.
This is ridiculous, Kurogane thought. We came here to fight him, not each other.
Ashura’s lips pinched together in dissatisfaction. The game was not going how he had expected, and he was not pleased.
“He makes no difference, Fai. It is so easy. Strike him down.”
He makes all the difference, Fai thought.
“Strike him down and you and I will rule in absolute power.”
Fai and Kurogane’s swords collided again, the clash of metal ringing in the empty stone room.
“We could be immortal, you and I. With you by my side, no power on this or any world could stop us. We would be gods ...”
Ashura’s voice carried to Fai across the hall as if Ashura was whispering into his ear, his voice low and smooth and beautiful and hypnotic. Fai gritted his teeth; he could feel Ashura tapping at his mind, trying to find a way in past his defenses.
“No.” Fai wrote something quickly in the air, then grabbed it and hurled it at Ashura. “Never again.”
It exploded against the barrier of protective magic, and Ashura laughed. “I know you are more talented than that. I made you more talented than that. Everything you are, I made you. Have you no gratitude?”
Fai was filled with gratitude. He was grateful to Syaoran and Sakura and Mokona, for showing him that there was still innocence and bravery in the world, grateful to them for making him see that there are some things worth protecting with your life. He was grateful to Kurogane, for not letting him pretend the rest of his life away, for making him live, for loving him and letting Fai love him. He was grateful to Souma and Chii, for being the truest of friends. He was grateful to Tomoyo, for giving him a chance, a home, and friendship beyond what he deserved. He was grateful to Kurogane and Tomoyo for giving him a place in the world that was truly his own, a place he could be proud of.
But if one king shall fall at the other’s hand . . .
Fai took a deep breath. He looked over at Ashura, his blue eyes glittering cold as ice. His voice was clear and strong, carrying perfectly across the marble hall:
“I am grateful to you for one thing only. And that is for making me into someone who will destroy you.”
Kurogane’s arm raised his sword again and he charged at Fai. Fai sprang out of the way, his body poised to jump again. But at the last second, instead of dodging out of the way, Fai did not move.
Kurogane realized a second before it happened what Fai was going to do-
NO!
Kurogane watched in horror as his blade sliced deep into Fai’s stomach.
“I’m sorry.” Fai whispered.
“NO!!!”
Fai fell, blue eyes glazed over in pain.
The shout had come from Kurogane, and the violence of his reaction was enough to force Ashura out of his mind.
Ashura muttered, “Fool.”
Kurogane knelt and gathered Fai’s limp body into his arms. “Well, he’s right about that.” he whispered. “You are a fool.”
Fai started to laugh. “On my deathbed and you are still not nice to me?”
“What?”
Fai was still laughing, close to hysterically. He struggled against Kurogane to stand up again.
“You idiot-what are you doing?”
Fai grasped the handle of the sword and pulled it out of his stomach slowly. The blade came away clean.
Kurogane frowned, and stared in confusion. There was no wound, no blood. There was only a long slash through Fai’s clothes. “What-?”
Fai laughed again; this time the sound was bitter. “You will not let me die, hm?”
Ashura gazed at Fai coldly. “You are of no value to me dead.”
Kurogane sighed with relief; he wanted to punch Fai and kiss him at the same time. “You idiot.”
Fai looked down over his shoulder and grinned. “Stop with the sweet-talk, Kuro-rin.”
Kurogane took Fai’s proffered hand and stood up again. “When we get out of here, you’re going to pay for that.” he growled.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Well.” Fai handed Souhi back to Kurogane. “It would seem there is no other way than to kill him.”
“That was my plan.” Kurogane pointed out. “You’re not allowed to come up with plans anymore.”
“Alright.” Fai agreed, smiling. “So have you got a plan, then?”
“Decapitation sound good?”
“It is worth a shot.”
Together, they ran back in for round three.
* * *
Kurogane and Fai were taking a moment to breathe.
Ashura was still unwounded and at the moment he looked bored.
The most Fai and Kurogane had suffered were some bruises. Both of them were aware they were not making much progress with their ‘kill the bastard’ plan.
“I could go on forever.” Ashura called to them. “But you two will tire at some point. Have you considered what will become of you then?”
“Bastard does have something of a point.” Kurogane remarked. “We can’t keep this up forever.”
“This is the last chance I will give you.” Ashura smiled, teeth glittering like ice. “I would be happy to accept your surrender. I will let you both live. I will even be so generous as to lock you both in the same chamber in the dungeon. That way, my little songbird, as your magic keeps you young, you will get to witness the one you love grow old and die and turn to dust.”
“To surrender to you would be much worse than death.” Fai informed him. “We respectfully decline.”
Kurogane glanced at Fai, sidelong. “Hey.”
“Yes?”
“How old are you?”
Fai gave him a look. “Can we talk about it later?”
“Alright. But I want an answer.”
* * *
They still had not gotten close enough to Ashura to even stir a hair on his head.
“Have you got any ideas?” Kurogane asked, hoping that it was not too obvious how hard he was breathing.
“I was going to ask you the same question.” Fai answered, with a sigh.
“He’s just playing with us.” Kurogane growled, glaring across the chamber. “It’s really pissing me off.”
“There has to be something.” Fai murmured thoughtfully. “He is not invincible. There must be something we are missing ...”
“Hate.”
Fai glanced over at Kurogane, who was still glaring at Ashura. “What was that?”
“The bastard is filled with so much hate. When he was inside my head, I could feel it.” Kurogane muttered, his voice low. “So much hate, like poison.”
If for nothing else, Kurogane really wanted to kill the bastard just for that. It felt like poison, like pollution, like a dirty fingerprint on his mind. It felt as though Ashura’s invasion had left his mind unclean somehow.
“Hm.”
Kurogane turned his head further toward Fai, but kept his eyes on Ashura. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m wondering. Did I have the answer all along?”
“The answer?”
“I think so.” Fai nodded, glancing quickly at Kurogane. “Listen. Plan.”
“I told you-”
“Decapitation is still part of the plan. You distract him for a second. And be ready.”
Kurogane looked at Fai for a long, serious moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
“Here we go.”
Fai and Kurogane charged at Ashura with their swords drawn. Ashura swept them off their feet with a graceful flicker of his hand. Kurogane recovered a second quicker than Fai and charged at Ashura again with a roar.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fai throw something at Ashura. It penetrated though the barrier of protective magic and hit Ashura. The protective circle dissolved.
There was a crack like thunder that reverberated through the halls. It did not stop, it kept rolling louder and louder and louder.
It sounded like the sky was breaking.
Kurogane stopped, his ears ringing.
It was too loud for him to hear it, but he saw Fai shout “NOW!” over the tumult of thunder.
Ashura was shaking so terribly that his entire image seemed to blur. He stretched out an arm toward Fai and a blast of black magic shot from his palm and hit Fai, making him crash into the wall.
A second later, Ashura’s head struck the floor.
The entire castle was shaking under Kurogane’s feet now. The roar was still pounding in his ears and he thought for a moment that he might go deaf.
Kurogane slid Souhi into her sheath as he ran toward Fai, who was slumped brokenly against the wall. Kurogane pulled Fai up and draped the mage over his shoulder, muttering, “If you’re dead I will kill you.”
The castle was quaking with even more intensity now, as if it was trying to pull itself apart.
Kurogane did not look back, he just kept running.
Through the halls they had taken to get to the throne room; he knew the castle was collapsing behind him. Down the stairs; he knew the castle was catching up to him.
Kurogane kept running as hard as he could. He knew he was not going to make it.
He knew he was going to have to-
Kurogane closed his eyes and jumped.
Author: alliterationhor
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Spoilers: nope.
Rating: R for violence?
Status: 11/12 chapters.
Author's note: wow, I'm actually nervous about posting this one.
Fanfic archive here.
Comments/concrit appreciated.
Previous chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
What You Wish For
Come out, come out wherever you are . . .
-Guster, What You Wish For
Chapter Eleven
Ashura smiled, cold and beautiful.
“At last my little songbird has flown back into his cage.”
“Ashura.” Fai said softly.
Ashura had not changed, but Fai had. Fai was very different from the man he had been when he had left this dimension, and he looked at Ashura with different eyes now. He would do what was right, he would stop Ashura. Or he would give his life in the effort.
Still, there was a part of him that did not want to do this. There was a part of him that belonged to Ashura and always would. Despite how terrible he knew Ashura was, there was still much that Fai felt he owed to Ashura. But that would not stop him from doing what he came here to do.
Ashura glanced over at Kurogane, black eyes measuring the ninja with indifference. “And you have brought me another toy?”
Fai stepped forward. His voice was angry and bold, “He is not part of this. Leave him out of it.”
“Hey!” Kurogane looked over at Fai, red eyes glaring. “Shut up! I’m here to kill this bastard.”
Ashura looked at Fai and smiled a wicked smile. “You love him. How wonderful.” His smile turned sharp and unpleasant. “It will be a great pleasure to kill him while you watch.”
“That won’t be as easy as you think.” Kurogane informed him.
Ashura’s laugh was light, his voice utterly confident and condescending, “Neither of you can defeat me. Neither with a sword or with magic. I do not know fear.”
Kurogane grinned, happy to accept the challenge. His hand slid to Souhi’s hilt. “Then let me introduce you.”
“Kurogane.” Fai murmured, putting a hand on the ninja’s arm to still him.
Kurogane glared at Fai again. But he crossed his arms and stayed where he was-for the moment.
“That was a very annoying trick you pulled, my Second King.” Ashura commented, his voice a touch wistful. “It was such a good dream.”
“‘Second King’?” Kurogane asked Fai.
“It was one of his pet names for me.” Fai answered darkly.
“You cannot stop me, Fai. If you were capable, you would have done it then. But you did not.” Ashura’s voice was still sweet, but his tone was hard, “You tricked me once, but it will not be so easy this time.”
“We don’t intend to trick you. We intend to kill you.” Kurogane stated.
“No, I could not kill you then.” Fai answered. “But I have learned much since we last saw each other.”
“Yes. You have.” Ashura narrowed his black eyes at Fai, evaluating him. “You are stronger than you were then.” He smiled, white teeth bared and gleaming. “And you have learned swordplay. That is a surprise. That almost makes up for your insolence.”
“Are we going to attack him or not?” Kurogane asked impatiently.
Fai spoke in a low voice, “I would like to keep him talking for a little while. I am hoping he will let something slip, something I can use against him.”
Kurogane sighed. “I do know one thing. This bastard won’t be defeated by talking to him.”
“I know that too.” Fai replied. “But I think it is the best option we have at the moment.”
“The only options the two of you have are to join me, or be defeated by me.” Ashura informed them.
Fai returned, “And your only options are to surrender now, or we will kill you.”
“Since when was his surrender a part of the plan?” Kurogane grumbled.
“Ashura will not surrender.” Fai said, with a shrug. “But I thought I should give him the chance anyway.”
“How chivalrous of you.”
“It would have been nice if it had worked.”
“I offer you this one chance, Fai.” Ashura held out a long, elegant arm toward Fai, beckoning him closer. “Come stand at my side, my Second King. It is where you belong.”
“No.”
“We could rule dimensions together ...” Ashura whispered.
“You rule only a world of death.” Fai answered. “I do not want any part of that.”
“Your part in that is already sealed in fate. Your magic and your music were two of my greatest weapons. But ...” Ashura smiled sweetly. “I already have your music. I do not require your cooperation. I could throw you in the dungeon just as easily as I could have you sit by my side.”
“Dungeon?” Fai repeated with a disbelieving laugh. “You have killed everyone else. What difference would I make?”
“You have grown stronger.” Ashura’s voice was low and silky, subtly persuasive. “Even more skilled than before you fled this dimension with your tail between your legs. I will need a new army when I conquer the next dimension. I have your music, but if you die I cannot copy your skills into my new soldiers. It would be a pity to waste such abilities, especially after I took such pains to be certain your talents were so precisely cultivated.”
“I will die before I let you use me again.” Fai promised, voice low.
Ashura smiled again, but this was a smile that nightmares were made of. “Oh, my Second King. I will never let you die.”
“I cannot matter to you that much.”
Ashura stood up, his white robes swirling with his movement. His voice was ugly now, and sharp: “You really are an ignorant whelp. Did you never wonder why I picked up some dirty brat from the side of the road? Did you never wonder why I made you my favourite pet?” Ashura’s voice betrayed disgust, “Did you never wonder why I did not kill you when you wept over the dead bones of your family?”
Fai had to force the words from his lips, “Yes, I wondered.”
Ashura waved a graceful hand and fire burst in front of their eyes. The flames formed red words, glowing like embers in the air.
Two kings will rule across the stars, one kingdom terrible and great.
But if one king shall fall at the other’s hand no power is his fate.
“The prophecy.” Fai stared at Ashura in disbelief. “You thought that prophecy was about you and I?”
Ashura smirked, his lips curling disdainfully. “You never did figure that out, did you.”
Another flicker of Ashura’s hand and the words faded.
“That is why you called me your Second King.” Fai laughed, a hollow sound. “You bastard.”
“Enough of this,” Kurogane muttered. He had no more patience for talk; he raised Souhi and ran toward Ashura.
Ashura twisted his hand in front of him and Kurogane was suddenly suspended in the air. Ashura dropped his hand and Kurogane fell to the floor.
Fai gave Kurogane a look that clearly said, “I told you so.”
“Shut up.” Kurogane growled. He stood, raised Souhi again and slashed her through the air as he roared, “Hama Ryuuoujin!”
A thick blast of brilliant blue fire shot toward Ashura. Ashura did not move. The flame only curled around the protective circle of magic Ashura had around him, not even disturbing a hair on his head.
Ashura raised a hand and flicked two fingers toward Kurogane; the blue energy concentrated around Ashura, then exploded toward Kurogane.
Kurogane jumped out of the path of the blue fire. He was not very pleased that Ashura had used his own attack against him. In fact, he decided, it quite pissed him off.
Fai looked over at Kurogane and said nothing.
“Well, now we know that doesn’t work.” Kurogane remarked.
“Hm.”
“If you crave violence so eagerly, I would be happy to oblige you.” Ashura said, and snapped his fingers.
A sword burst out of the air and flew at Kurogane; he blocked it easily.
A few more blows were exchanged between Souhi and the sword that obeyed Ashura. They were blows that offered Kurogane no trouble to counter, and he found himself disappointed.
“You’re not very good, old man.” Kurogane called across the chamber, laughing.
Ashura bristled, his eyes narrowed.
Fai sighed. “He might not be very good, but you are wasting your strength.”
“You suggest I should stand here and let the pointy sword poke me wherever it wants?”
“No. But you cannot win against a sword alone. You need to strike your opponent,” Fai pointed toward the end of the chamber, “and he is safely over there.”
“Good point. Why aren’t you helping?”
A corner of Fai’s mouth curved in a smile. “I know Kuro-pon well. You wanted to fight.”
Kurogane grunted as Souhi clashed with Ashura’s sword again. “I wanted to fight someone worthy. This is child’s play.”
Fifty swords burst out of the air, surrounding Kurogane, each of their points aimed at his throat.
Kurogane stayed perfectly still, but his red eyes fixed on Ashura and glared a promise of death at the bastard. “That. is. cheating.” he growled.
Ashura laughed in amusement, the sound ringing through the polished halls like music.
“Let him go.” Fai demanded, taking a step toward Ashura.
“No. I want to see what my little songbird has learned in his time away.” Ashura snapped his fingers again. The sword that had been battling with Kurogane now flew at Fai. “And so, a demonstration is in order.”
Fai raised his sword; metal clattered against metal. Fai knew too well that this was pointless. Ashura was only trying to wear them down, and it was working. On the bright side, at least, Fai had no trouble countering Ashura’s attack.
“You are right!” he called to Kurogane. “He is not very good.”
Ashura smiled a hard, evil smile. “Perhaps it is time to make this game a little more interesting.”
The sword in front of Fai and the swords surrounding Kurogane disappeared.
Kurogane’s consciousness was suddenly shoved into the back of his mind. He could feel and see his arms and legs moving, but they moved without his will. Ashura was inside his mind, and Ashura was in control.
It was a violation in the worst possible way.
Kurogane took a second to be glad, in the small space he had left that was still his own, that Ashura had no interest in his personal thoughts or his memories. Ashura was only concerned with control of his body.
And his body was charging toward Fai with his sword drawn, aimed to kill.
Fai leapt out of the way easily.
Kurogane’s body turned and his sword slashed at Fai again. Fai twisted away from the blade and flipped himself behind the ninja. Kurogane watched his arm, helplessly, his sword slicing through the air toward Fai. This time Fai used his sword to block the blow, and he grunted a little at the strength of the impact.
Ashura’s sword had used Ashura’s own skill, which was not impressive to either of them. Ashura was using Kurogane’s body and Kurogane’s skill now, which were considerably better than Ashura’s.
But Fai knew the steps to this dance.
He had begun learning this dance back in Yama. He had practiced long hours with a sword, making his muscles learn the skill that they had no instinct for. He had perfected this dance in Nihon.
Kurogane might have the advantage of strength and skill in swordplay, but Fai had an equal advantage because he knew Kurogane and he knew how Kurogane fought. The two of them were quite evenly matched.
“It is fortunate you are such a good teacher, Kuro-tan.” he said, with a grin.
This is ridiculous, Kurogane thought. We came here to fight him, not each other.
Ashura’s lips pinched together in dissatisfaction. The game was not going how he had expected, and he was not pleased.
“He makes no difference, Fai. It is so easy. Strike him down.”
He makes all the difference, Fai thought.
“Strike him down and you and I will rule in absolute power.”
Fai and Kurogane’s swords collided again, the clash of metal ringing in the empty stone room.
“We could be immortal, you and I. With you by my side, no power on this or any world could stop us. We would be gods ...”
Ashura’s voice carried to Fai across the hall as if Ashura was whispering into his ear, his voice low and smooth and beautiful and hypnotic. Fai gritted his teeth; he could feel Ashura tapping at his mind, trying to find a way in past his defenses.
“No.” Fai wrote something quickly in the air, then grabbed it and hurled it at Ashura. “Never again.”
It exploded against the barrier of protective magic, and Ashura laughed. “I know you are more talented than that. I made you more talented than that. Everything you are, I made you. Have you no gratitude?”
Fai was filled with gratitude. He was grateful to Syaoran and Sakura and Mokona, for showing him that there was still innocence and bravery in the world, grateful to them for making him see that there are some things worth protecting with your life. He was grateful to Kurogane, for not letting him pretend the rest of his life away, for making him live, for loving him and letting Fai love him. He was grateful to Souma and Chii, for being the truest of friends. He was grateful to Tomoyo, for giving him a chance, a home, and friendship beyond what he deserved. He was grateful to Kurogane and Tomoyo for giving him a place in the world that was truly his own, a place he could be proud of.
But if one king shall fall at the other’s hand . . .
Fai took a deep breath. He looked over at Ashura, his blue eyes glittering cold as ice. His voice was clear and strong, carrying perfectly across the marble hall:
“I am grateful to you for one thing only. And that is for making me into someone who will destroy you.”
Kurogane’s arm raised his sword again and he charged at Fai. Fai sprang out of the way, his body poised to jump again. But at the last second, instead of dodging out of the way, Fai did not move.
Kurogane realized a second before it happened what Fai was going to do-
NO!
Kurogane watched in horror as his blade sliced deep into Fai’s stomach.
“I’m sorry.” Fai whispered.
“NO!!!”
Fai fell, blue eyes glazed over in pain.
The shout had come from Kurogane, and the violence of his reaction was enough to force Ashura out of his mind.
Ashura muttered, “Fool.”
Kurogane knelt and gathered Fai’s limp body into his arms. “Well, he’s right about that.” he whispered. “You are a fool.”
Fai started to laugh. “On my deathbed and you are still not nice to me?”
“What?”
Fai was still laughing, close to hysterically. He struggled against Kurogane to stand up again.
“You idiot-what are you doing?”
Fai grasped the handle of the sword and pulled it out of his stomach slowly. The blade came away clean.
Kurogane frowned, and stared in confusion. There was no wound, no blood. There was only a long slash through Fai’s clothes. “What-?”
Fai laughed again; this time the sound was bitter. “You will not let me die, hm?”
Ashura gazed at Fai coldly. “You are of no value to me dead.”
Kurogane sighed with relief; he wanted to punch Fai and kiss him at the same time. “You idiot.”
Fai looked down over his shoulder and grinned. “Stop with the sweet-talk, Kuro-rin.”
Kurogane took Fai’s proffered hand and stood up again. “When we get out of here, you’re going to pay for that.” he growled.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
“Well.” Fai handed Souhi back to Kurogane. “It would seem there is no other way than to kill him.”
“That was my plan.” Kurogane pointed out. “You’re not allowed to come up with plans anymore.”
“Alright.” Fai agreed, smiling. “So have you got a plan, then?”
“Decapitation sound good?”
“It is worth a shot.”
Together, they ran back in for round three.
* * *
Kurogane and Fai were taking a moment to breathe.
Ashura was still unwounded and at the moment he looked bored.
The most Fai and Kurogane had suffered were some bruises. Both of them were aware they were not making much progress with their ‘kill the bastard’ plan.
“I could go on forever.” Ashura called to them. “But you two will tire at some point. Have you considered what will become of you then?”
“Bastard does have something of a point.” Kurogane remarked. “We can’t keep this up forever.”
“This is the last chance I will give you.” Ashura smiled, teeth glittering like ice. “I would be happy to accept your surrender. I will let you both live. I will even be so generous as to lock you both in the same chamber in the dungeon. That way, my little songbird, as your magic keeps you young, you will get to witness the one you love grow old and die and turn to dust.”
“To surrender to you would be much worse than death.” Fai informed him. “We respectfully decline.”
Kurogane glanced at Fai, sidelong. “Hey.”
“Yes?”
“How old are you?”
Fai gave him a look. “Can we talk about it later?”
“Alright. But I want an answer.”
* * *
They still had not gotten close enough to Ashura to even stir a hair on his head.
“Have you got any ideas?” Kurogane asked, hoping that it was not too obvious how hard he was breathing.
“I was going to ask you the same question.” Fai answered, with a sigh.
“He’s just playing with us.” Kurogane growled, glaring across the chamber. “It’s really pissing me off.”
“There has to be something.” Fai murmured thoughtfully. “He is not invincible. There must be something we are missing ...”
“Hate.”
Fai glanced over at Kurogane, who was still glaring at Ashura. “What was that?”
“The bastard is filled with so much hate. When he was inside my head, I could feel it.” Kurogane muttered, his voice low. “So much hate, like poison.”
If for nothing else, Kurogane really wanted to kill the bastard just for that. It felt like poison, like pollution, like a dirty fingerprint on his mind. It felt as though Ashura’s invasion had left his mind unclean somehow.
“Hm.”
Kurogane turned his head further toward Fai, but kept his eyes on Ashura. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m wondering. Did I have the answer all along?”
“The answer?”
“I think so.” Fai nodded, glancing quickly at Kurogane. “Listen. Plan.”
“I told you-”
“Decapitation is still part of the plan. You distract him for a second. And be ready.”
Kurogane looked at Fai for a long, serious moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
“Here we go.”
Fai and Kurogane charged at Ashura with their swords drawn. Ashura swept them off their feet with a graceful flicker of his hand. Kurogane recovered a second quicker than Fai and charged at Ashura again with a roar.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fai throw something at Ashura. It penetrated though the barrier of protective magic and hit Ashura. The protective circle dissolved.
There was a crack like thunder that reverberated through the halls. It did not stop, it kept rolling louder and louder and louder.
It sounded like the sky was breaking.
Kurogane stopped, his ears ringing.
It was too loud for him to hear it, but he saw Fai shout “NOW!” over the tumult of thunder.
Ashura was shaking so terribly that his entire image seemed to blur. He stretched out an arm toward Fai and a blast of black magic shot from his palm and hit Fai, making him crash into the wall.
A second later, Ashura’s head struck the floor.
The entire castle was shaking under Kurogane’s feet now. The roar was still pounding in his ears and he thought for a moment that he might go deaf.
Kurogane slid Souhi into her sheath as he ran toward Fai, who was slumped brokenly against the wall. Kurogane pulled Fai up and draped the mage over his shoulder, muttering, “If you’re dead I will kill you.”
The castle was quaking with even more intensity now, as if it was trying to pull itself apart.
Kurogane did not look back, he just kept running.
Through the halls they had taken to get to the throne room; he knew the castle was collapsing behind him. Down the stairs; he knew the castle was catching up to him.
Kurogane kept running as hard as he could. He knew he was not going to make it.
He knew he was going to have to-
Kurogane closed his eyes and jumped.