[Lamento] Between Two Thieves, Part 2
Title: Between Two Thieves
Fandom: Lamento - Beyond the Void
Part: 2/6
Rating: overall R
Characters/Pairings: Bardo, RaixKonoe
Warnings: violence, backstory spoilers
Disclaimer: Lamento belongs to Nitro+Chiral.
Notes: Thanks to akuma_no_kage for betaing, and sexual_ennui and jllai_smile for the moral support.
Summary: We tend to crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future. ~ Fulton Oursler
Story Index | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Epilogue
Between Two Thieves
Chapter 2
It was amazing how quickly the world returned to normal after everything. How eager the people were to resume their lives in all their routine.
And yet, something had changed, an undercurrent of something indescribable flowing through the city, almost palpable in the way people moved, acted and spoke. It was less a presence of something new than it was an absence of something old, a sense of relief and renewed vigor that had swept over Ransen, as if the city were something stretching in the morning after a long nightmare.
The Sickness that had cost so many lives seemed to have disappeared almost overnight, with no new patients arriving at the healers' shrines, and those that had been afflicted with the disease, kept in constant agony as their bodies were being devoured by nothingness, noticed that its progression had halted as if the Sickness had simultaneously lost its hold on all of them.
In addition to that, reports were starting to arrive from other places-villages, outposts and traveling merchants-that Hollow was slowly but steadily retreating, its vile colors receding from the land, the taint seemingly eating away at itself. The disappearance of the phenomenon left nothing but barren land behind, as if Hollow's final strike had been to drain the life out of the very earth, but already, the forest was moving to reclaim the dead areas, small plants and shrubs settling down amidst the wilted ones, and with them returned the animals.
Of course, neither scholar nor diviner had an explanation for any of it, and rumors were flying wildly among the populace. Some thought that Hollow had been an illness of the forest which had also affected the Ribika, and that it had taken time for plant and cat to develop an immunity to it. Others scoffed at those suggestions, pointing out the day the living dead had invaded the city under the unholy glow of the blood-red moon, and whispered of curses and demon magic. Still others believed that they had been signs of Futatsu Zue's wrath, but that the god had decided to forgive his children. And so it went on, the theories only becoming more colorful and ludicrous the more people one talked to.
Those who knew the truth shared private smiles in the face of such superstitions and kept their silence, knowing full well that the truth was the most outrageous thing of all.
And although they parted ways soon after things had settled down, their lives remained irreversibly connected with one another. They still met occasionally, but spoke little about the circumstances that had brought them together in the first place-they had all quietly decided to concentrate on the future, and move on.
----
Bardo was startled out of his musings when the front door was opened with a little more force than necessary, or even common, among his guests. He quickly rose from his seat behind the reception, fully prepared to politely ask the entrant to leave-those that would mistreat hapless doors usually meant all kinds of trouble, and none of them worth the money-when a very familiar voice stopped him in mid-step.
"Let go of me, stupid cat!"
"I will," retorted another familiar voice, "once you can stand on your own two feet again. Which you currently can't. And no, you don't get to prove me otherwise."
A moment later, Konoe appeared in the doorway, attempting to drag his obviously reluctant partner inside while also supporting most of the man's weight. Rai seemed to have problems walking, judging by how he was trying to avoid placing pressure on his right leg, and was swaying slightly as if dizzy. Bardo's trained eyes soon found the cause of the trouble-though the silver-haired cat was trying to conceal it from prying eyes, there was no hiding the telltale dark, wet patch on his shirt, covering most of his side.
Rai growled.
"Bardo..." Konoe began, eyes darting from him to the guest register.
"Ah, sure. Upstairs is free," Bardo replied, before leaning across the counter to grab the nearest key from the board. He could ask questions later. "You need a hand?"
Shifting Rai's arm across his shoulders, Konoe smiled gratefully. "That'd be-"
"No."
They both looked at Rai, who was bristling despite his exhaustion, visibly displeased with the suggestion.
Konoe rolled his eyes and retracted his answer. "It'd be great if you could help with the door. I'm not sure I can manage the keys without both of us falling over."
"Of course," Bardo said, ignoring the scathing glare directed at him, and continued towards the stairs at a quick pace. The pair followed, albeit more slowly.
The stairs proved to be a difficult obstacle, especially since Rai absolutely refused to let Bardo help him, even going so far as to bare his fangs and hiss when Bardo attempted to ignore his protests. Konoe managed somehow, though, shooting Bardo a tired smile as he led them into the room, and half-hoisted Rai on the bed. Then he bent down, unbuckling the swords from Rai's hip and loosening the belts as best he could.
Rai's attention remained fixed on his movements.
Konoe sighed fondly, cupping his partner's cheek. "Stubborn man. Are you going to be good while I get some things?"
When Rai huffed an assent, he continued, "Stay put, don't prod it, and don't even think of licking your own blood. I'll be back soon."
Bardo, who had been standing in the doorway, trying to pretend like he was inspecting the grain of the floorboards, blinked when Konoe swept past him. He closed the door, turning to find Konoe already halfway down the hall.
"I'm heading out to buy some supplies," Konoe informed him. "We're out of healing herbs, and we could use some decent bandages... maybe painkillers..."
He continued mumbling to himself as he walked briskly towards the stairs.
"Wait up," Bardo called after him.
Konoe spun around, cloak swishing with the movement. "Eh?"
"Are you, uh, going to need anything?"
Konoe hesitated.
"I'm not an apothecary, but I've got some emergency stuff, and..."
Konoe's face brightened. "If you could spare some clean towels...?"
"Sure thing," Bardo said, making an encouraging gesture. It was obvious that Konoe wanted to ask for more, but was holding back for the sake of politeness.
"Um, and water. Hot water would be great. Some alcohol, the strong stuff. And maybe a pair of scissors?"
Bardo nodded. The list sounded reasonable to treat a wound of that size.
A shadow darted across Konoe's face, a hint of anxiety coming to the surface. "I... hate to trouble you more than we already do, but... could you please look after him while I'm gone? I put a compression bandage on him, but he's still bleeding." He sighed. "And I know he won't listen to me."
"You think he'll listen to me?" Bardo asked, snorting.
A small smile. "You have my permission to knock him out if he tries anything."
"Right."
The young cat had almost disappeared down the stairs when Bardo thought to add something else. "Oh, and Konoe? I'll take care of him, don't worry."
Konoe's lips twisted. "If I worried about something like that, I'd go crazy."
Bardo stood looking after him for a moment, before turning and heading for the supply closet.
----
Careful not to spill anything, Bardo pressed down on the handle with his elbow, nudging the door open with one foot.
The room was quiet, save for the sound of labored breathing. For a moment, he even thought that Rai might have fallen unconscious-and wouldn't that be a mess-but then the body on the bed shifted, Rai lifting his head to look at him.
"Hey."
"Go away..." Rai grumbled, sinking back against the cushion.
Bardo decided to ignore the less than warm welcome, approaching the bed and setting down the bowl of water and an armful of towels on the nightstand. "Sorry, can't do that. Your sweetcake told me to check up on you, and who am I to disappoint someone so cute?"
Rai glared at him balefully. "You've seen me. Now go away."
Well now, that wasn't too different from the last time they had been in this type of situation. Rai was still as difficult a patient as ever. The image of a wounded animal, snapping and snarling at anyone who came too close, rose to his mind unbidden. He decided to better be safe than sorry, and inconspicuously moved the pair of scissors out of Rai's reach. All the while, he could feel Rai's gaze on him, searing the back of his neck like hot iron.
Scary.
It made him wonder, as he picked up the bowl, if Rai was always this charming, and if yes, what sort of masochist Konoe had to be to settle for him.
A growl stopped him in mid-motion. Rai was now subjecting the poor bowl to his intense stare. "I can do it myself."
Bardo had to fight to keep his lips from twitching. Still so proud. What a foolish, hard-headed boy. "Konoe says to keep you still. You don't want to pass out from blood loss, do you," he said amiably, holding the bowl to Rai's lips.
His ears flat against the top of his head, Rai accepted the drink, tongue darting out to rapidly lap up the water.
"Want more?"
"T'che." Rai chose to ignore him, turning his head away.
Heaving a quiet sigh, Bardo set aside the bowl. He could always bring more, later. His gaze fell to the wound in Rai's side, half-hidden by his torn shirt, sticky with blood. The makeshift bandage underneath didn't seem nearly as soaked, though, which was a good sign. Bardo bent down, reaching out to part the shredded fabric and take a closer look, when Rai's voice made him falter.
"Don't touch me."
Something in the cool flatness of the words took Bardo by surprise. It seemed different from before, when all Rai had been doing was sulking and trying to keep his dignity intact. He inwardly shook his head. Now was not the time to humor Rai's pride.
"Aw, come on, Rai, I just want to see if-"
Rai's left hand shot out, clamping down on his wrist in a crushing grip. Bardo rocked back, taken aback by the coldly burning fury in the single blue eye.
"I said, don't touch me!" Rai growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You have no right...!"
He cut himself off, shoving Bardo's hand away from himself in unveiled disgust, before a spasm in his side forced him to lie back down, hissing quietly.
----
In the end, Bardo couldn't recall what had made him set his feet in motion, except that he was suddenly back in the hallway, leaning against the closed door to Rai's room.
You have no right.
He had known that Rai did not exactly harbor friendly feelings towards him, but to hear those words, so coldly, so easily spoken, was something entirely different from the threats, glares and enraged yells of "stupid cat" he usually received. It put into words exactly what Rai was feeling, and... he had been scared of that, hadn't he? Somewhere deep down, he had been hoping that it was all part of Rai's personality, that he treated all people in more or less the same callous manner, that it was not Bardo himself whom he despised.
He raked a hand through his hair.
You have no right.
What a fool he had been, to think that Rai would allow that wound to heal.
----
He had been trying to immerse himself in writing a shopping list-quite unsuccessfully, he realized, staring with dismay at the scribble proclaiming the necessary restock of two barrels of "bastard"-when Konoe returned, flushed and out of breath, clutching a package to his chest.
"I'm back," the young cat proclaimed unnecessarily, eyes darting towards the stairs.
"He's fine," Bardo replied, secretly shoving away the guilt that was trying to settle in his stomach-he wasn't sure that Rai was really all right; after all, he had spent the last ten minutes here and not upstairs, even though Konoe had basically entrusted Rai to him...
"Bardo?" Konoe was eyeing him shrewdly, and not for the first time, he had to wonder if that gaze could uncover all he was trying to hide. "Did something happen?"
"What?" He blinked, inwardly shaking himself. "Oh, nothing, nothing." Konoe was looking like he didn't believe that in the least, so he added, "Everything you wanted is upstairs. If you need anything else, just yell."
"Thanks." Smiling gratefully, Konoe vanished up the steps.
----
Rai's ears perked when he heard the door creak, half expecting it to be that man, but it was Konoe, carrying an unfamiliar bundle in his arms.
He struggled to sit up, to at least not lie there limply like a pathetic weakling, but Konoe quickly stepped to his side, pushing him down into the pillow while seating himself on the edge of the bed.
"What have I told you about moving?" he asked, faint disapproval in his voice, and Rai growled half-heartedly, but didn't struggle. He was in no state to refuse Konoe, and his sanga knew it.
Konoe withdrew, working on untying the package sitting in his lap. "How's the pain?"
"Fine," he grumbled, stiffening when his body immediately had to prove him wrong.
Konoe was watching him intently, but thankfully let it slide. He pushed back the folds of cloth to reveal an assortment of bandages, a reel of some kind of thread, stacks of herbs, both fresh and dried, tied with pieces of string, and a small jar that most likely contained some kind of ointment. Trust Konoe to go overboard when supply-shopping. Half the amount would have easily sufficed.
Konoe pulled a few leaves out of one stack, folding them between his fingers. "Here," he said, holding them out to him. "This should help against the pain."
Rai shook his head. "No drugs."
"They're not just painkillers, they'll help you recover, too. Go on, take them. I swear I'm not trying to poison you."
Rolling his eye at the ridiculous statement, Rai decided to comply. If he did not, Konoe would only come up with a whole list of reasons why he should eat them, complete with wide, pleading eyes, and then he would have to give in, anyway. He opened his mouth, allowing Konoe to place the herbs on his tongue.
He chewed, a bittersweet flavor spreading in his mouth.
Konoe had reached for the nightstand, now holding a pair of scissors. Rai watched as he gently peeled the blood-soaked shirt from his skin-it stung uncomfortably-and then began to cut the rest of the shirt open, up to his armpit and past his shoulder.
"We'll just have to get a new one," he remarked, and Rai snorted. As if he would be worried about a shirt.
A slight dizziness overcame him as Konoe helped him to sit with one hand on his back, the other removing the makeshift bandage as quickly as possible. It hurt a lot less than he had expected, and when Konoe eased him back down, the room tilted and spun strangely.
His gaze followed Konoe as he opened a small bottle of amber liquid-alcohol, some kind of hard liquor-and by the time he was tipping the bottle to soak a towel with it, Rai could scarcely keep his eye open anymore. This wasn't normal, he shouldn't be this tired, why-
A wave of panic surged from somewhere deep within, momentarily dispelling the sleepiness. "What... what did you...?"
"Shhhh," Konoe murmured, stroking his cheek. "It will help you rest. I'll take care of you, don't worry."
Befuddled indignation. "I-I'm not...!"
But he did not get any further than this, before sleep claimed him.
----
Bardo was sweeping the dining room when he heard the stairs creak softly.
A moment later, Konoe entered, his steps slow and measured, his face very pale. He was using the wall to steady himself.
Bardo immediately dropped the broom, coming over to offer his arm for support, but Konoe shook his head minutely. "I'm alright."
Stubborn kitten, Bardo thought, and accompanied him to the nearest table, a hand hovering above his back in case Konoe lost his balance.
Konoe sat down heavily, taking deep breaths. "...I'm sorry."
"Psh," Bardo said, waving his hand, before turning and disappearing into the kitchen.
Although he had been carrying on with daily tasks around the inn-what else could he have done?-his mind had kept straying to the ill-tempered patient upstairs. A part of him had been claimed by the stubborn white kitten from so long ago, who had always tried to conceal when he was hurt, or sick, or upset. That part refused to stop worrying, even though the kitten had grown into a stiff-necked, bitter young man. Idly, he wondered how Konoe managed to put up with him.
Pouring the tea he had thoughtfully prepared into two mugs, Bardo grabbed a bottle of herbal liquor and made his way into the dining room again.
Konoe looked up when he shoved a mug at him, but wordlessly declined when he uncorked the bottle and offered to pour something into the tea.
"Are you sure?" Bardo asked. "It might make you feel better."
Konoe shook his head. "I'm fine, just drained."
Bardo peered at him closely, and he smiled tiredly. "I promise I'm okay. It always happens when I sing the healing song."
He picked up the mug, blowing at the steam. "Thanks for the tea, though."
Bardo shrugged in acceptance, before pouring a shot into his own mug. He could use it, after having a friend show up on his doorstep, bleeding like a struck pig. He wasn't used to this kind of life anymore.
They sat in silence for a while, lapping at the tea. Eventually, Bardo asked, "Is he going to be alright?"
A stupid question, maybe, since he doubted that Konoe would be sitting around calmly sipping tea if Rai was indeed bleeding to death upstairs, but he knew that he wasn't going to stop worrying unless he received verbal confirmation. He thought that he was entitled to a little irrationality, every now and then.
The smile on Konoe's face was much brighter, this time. "He's sleeping now. I stitched everything up... two or three weeks of rest, and the song will help it heal nicely. Provided, of course, that he does stay in bed."
He rolled his eyes.
Bardo nodded, an answering smile on his own lips. He remembered all too well how hard it had been to convince that child to rest, and he could imagine that this particular trait had only been amplified in the adult Rai. Then, something else caught his attention.
"Two or three weeks? Are you sure? That wound is nothing you can just walk off."
"The song will take care of it for the most part."
He had never heard of a healing song working so quickly... Konoe had to have tremendous power. He wondered if the kitten was even aware of it. It was hard to tell with him, Konoe seemed such an unusual mix of innocent and experienced.
"Ah." He lifted his mug again. "What happened, anyway? That didn't look like a sword cut."
Konoe sighed. "We were asked to investigate a monster sighting about half a day's walk from here. But nobody knew it had... offspring." Something flashed in his eyes. "Not anymore, though."
Bardo said nothing, and after a moment, the fierceness in Konoe's eyes dissipated as if it had never been. He smiled again. "I haven't thanked you yet, for taking care of Rai."
"Don't mention it."
"And I'm sorry if he was cruel."
Bardo's eyes widened. How in the world...?!
Konoe sighed, shaking his head. "He can be vicious when he is feeling weak."
Lowering his ears, Bardo scanned the room for something else to focus on than Konoe's soft, knowing gaze. He didn't want to remember the startling amount of hatred from Rai, or contemplate the grain of truth hidden in his hurtful words. His eyes settled on a spider trying to set up shop between the beams in the far corner. That would have to go, later.
"Bardo?"
Reluctantly, he returned his attention to the table and shrugged. "It's nothing you have to apologize for. There is a lot of bad blood between us."
"Still, for what it's worth, I'm glad you were there with him."
He didn't like the seriousness of their conversation, or the fact that he suddenly felt so grateful, so hungry, for Konoe's comforting words. He grinned, scratching his head in embarrassment. "Aah, stop that. Go keep watch by your man. He'll want to see your face more than mine when he wakes up."
Konoe chuckled, standing up. His face was looking much better. He moved to take care of the mugs, but Bardo rose as well, and waved him away. "I've got it."
"Okay."
He gathered the mugs and the bottle, while Konoe made his way towards the exit.
"Oh, and Bardo...?"
"Hm?" He turned.
Konoe had stopped in the doorframe, looking back at him. "I really do mean it... thanks."
He was not blushing, damn it! Men of his age did not blush, not even when subjected to such a sweet smile. "Oh, shoo! Off with you!"
Now, to do something about that spider...
----
Warm. He was warm.
The warmth was surrounding him, permeating him, rocking him like a strong and gentle sea.
And... song? Someone was singing, a sweetly wistful melody.
He tried to turn his head to listen better, but found that he did not have the strength.
Something cool and damp touched his brow, and the warmth surged, wrapping around him like an embrace.
He sighed deeply, feeling weightless and protected. It had been a long time since he had last been so warm.
----
When he came to, Konoe was curled around him, thoroughly bathing his ears.
Rai sighed, quietly enjoying the attention, the warm damp tongue smoothing his fur, the gentle fingers stroking his face and arms.
"I dreamt of song."
The tongue didn't pause in its ministrations, Konoe apparently not surprised that he was awake.
"You used your healing song on me, didn't you."
He couldn't see Konoe's face, couldn't gauge if he was tired, but his side felt much better, the pain dull and removed, as if it were happening outside his own body. Healing always exhausted Konoe, though, and he didn't like that he had not been awake to stop him from wasting his energy. Pain meant little to him, after all, but Konoe tended to disagree, and quite loudly at that, so he didn't say anything.
"...thank you."
Konoe paused, then bent down further to bury his nose in his hair. His arms tightened. "Stupid man."
Rai blinked.
"Stupid, reckless man. You're going to be the death of me one of these days."
Rai snorted. He was not going to apologize.
The fingers resumed their soothing caress. "I could have handled it, you know. I knew what I was doing."
"Hn."
"Don't you 'hn' me," Konoe said, his voice still soft, but the reproach clear. "You'll have to accept that we're partners, someday."
What?! His eye widened. What was that supposed to mean?
"I do."
His sanga sighed, rubbing his nose against his scalp. "Then trust me to handle myself. Don't place yourself in danger like that. I don't need saving quite as often as you think I do."
No, not going to apologize.
"You were lucky, this time. Doesn't mean that this will hold." Konoe paused again, and when he continued, his voice was very low, "Don't you dare leave me."
The intensity in his voice was startling, the undercurrent of pain even more so. He hadn't meant to cause pain. He had meant to prevent it. There had been nothing to worry about, the attack would not have been fatal to him, under any circumstances. But explaining this to Konoe was out of the question, at least for now.
A soft kiss. "If you dare leave me, I promise you I will find a way to revive you and make you wish you could've stayed dead."
That made him laugh, although a sharp stab from his side immediately told him to be still. He rolled his eye, tilting his head to bump noses with Konoe. "Of course."
Konoe smiled slightly against his lips.
- TBC -
----
A/N:
- By now, it is probably obvious what I am trying to do here. This story is going to have parallel narratives, alternately dealing with the past and the present.
- Before the Bardo-route players protest that Rai and Bardo do come out on better terms on that route... this story is (obviously) set after the Rai-route ending, where issues between those two never really get addressed.
- Futatsu Zue's name has been left untranslated because it's a deity name.
- I realize Rai is being uncharacteristically accepting here, but hey. Blood loss, knock-out drugs and mother-hen Konoe. XD
- Konoe talks about the healing song in the game, wondering if it's possibly to learn how to heal people. I don't see why he shouldn't be able to, given who his papa was, but I imagine it is pretty draining.
- Aaand Rai's POV makes an appearance. I feel his side of things is necessary to explain why he reacts the way he does, and it is as much his past as it is Bardo's. Bardo's POV will remain the main narrative, though.
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Fandom: Lamento - Beyond the Void
Part: 2/6
Rating: overall R
Characters/Pairings: Bardo, RaixKonoe
Warnings: violence, backstory spoilers
Disclaimer: Lamento belongs to Nitro+Chiral.
Notes: Thanks to akuma_no_kage for betaing, and sexual_ennui and jllai_smile for the moral support.
Summary: We tend to crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future. ~ Fulton Oursler
Story Index | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Epilogue
Between Two Thieves
Chapter 2
It was amazing how quickly the world returned to normal after everything. How eager the people were to resume their lives in all their routine.
And yet, something had changed, an undercurrent of something indescribable flowing through the city, almost palpable in the way people moved, acted and spoke. It was less a presence of something new than it was an absence of something old, a sense of relief and renewed vigor that had swept over Ransen, as if the city were something stretching in the morning after a long nightmare.
The Sickness that had cost so many lives seemed to have disappeared almost overnight, with no new patients arriving at the healers' shrines, and those that had been afflicted with the disease, kept in constant agony as their bodies were being devoured by nothingness, noticed that its progression had halted as if the Sickness had simultaneously lost its hold on all of them.
In addition to that, reports were starting to arrive from other places-villages, outposts and traveling merchants-that Hollow was slowly but steadily retreating, its vile colors receding from the land, the taint seemingly eating away at itself. The disappearance of the phenomenon left nothing but barren land behind, as if Hollow's final strike had been to drain the life out of the very earth, but already, the forest was moving to reclaim the dead areas, small plants and shrubs settling down amidst the wilted ones, and with them returned the animals.
Of course, neither scholar nor diviner had an explanation for any of it, and rumors were flying wildly among the populace. Some thought that Hollow had been an illness of the forest which had also affected the Ribika, and that it had taken time for plant and cat to develop an immunity to it. Others scoffed at those suggestions, pointing out the day the living dead had invaded the city under the unholy glow of the blood-red moon, and whispered of curses and demon magic. Still others believed that they had been signs of Futatsu Zue's wrath, but that the god had decided to forgive his children. And so it went on, the theories only becoming more colorful and ludicrous the more people one talked to.
Those who knew the truth shared private smiles in the face of such superstitions and kept their silence, knowing full well that the truth was the most outrageous thing of all.
And although they parted ways soon after things had settled down, their lives remained irreversibly connected with one another. They still met occasionally, but spoke little about the circumstances that had brought them together in the first place-they had all quietly decided to concentrate on the future, and move on.
----
Bardo was startled out of his musings when the front door was opened with a little more force than necessary, or even common, among his guests. He quickly rose from his seat behind the reception, fully prepared to politely ask the entrant to leave-those that would mistreat hapless doors usually meant all kinds of trouble, and none of them worth the money-when a very familiar voice stopped him in mid-step.
"Let go of me, stupid cat!"
"I will," retorted another familiar voice, "once you can stand on your own two feet again. Which you currently can't. And no, you don't get to prove me otherwise."
A moment later, Konoe appeared in the doorway, attempting to drag his obviously reluctant partner inside while also supporting most of the man's weight. Rai seemed to have problems walking, judging by how he was trying to avoid placing pressure on his right leg, and was swaying slightly as if dizzy. Bardo's trained eyes soon found the cause of the trouble-though the silver-haired cat was trying to conceal it from prying eyes, there was no hiding the telltale dark, wet patch on his shirt, covering most of his side.
Rai growled.
"Bardo..." Konoe began, eyes darting from him to the guest register.
"Ah, sure. Upstairs is free," Bardo replied, before leaning across the counter to grab the nearest key from the board. He could ask questions later. "You need a hand?"
Shifting Rai's arm across his shoulders, Konoe smiled gratefully. "That'd be-"
"No."
They both looked at Rai, who was bristling despite his exhaustion, visibly displeased with the suggestion.
Konoe rolled his eyes and retracted his answer. "It'd be great if you could help with the door. I'm not sure I can manage the keys without both of us falling over."
"Of course," Bardo said, ignoring the scathing glare directed at him, and continued towards the stairs at a quick pace. The pair followed, albeit more slowly.
The stairs proved to be a difficult obstacle, especially since Rai absolutely refused to let Bardo help him, even going so far as to bare his fangs and hiss when Bardo attempted to ignore his protests. Konoe managed somehow, though, shooting Bardo a tired smile as he led them into the room, and half-hoisted Rai on the bed. Then he bent down, unbuckling the swords from Rai's hip and loosening the belts as best he could.
Rai's attention remained fixed on his movements.
Konoe sighed fondly, cupping his partner's cheek. "Stubborn man. Are you going to be good while I get some things?"
When Rai huffed an assent, he continued, "Stay put, don't prod it, and don't even think of licking your own blood. I'll be back soon."
Bardo, who had been standing in the doorway, trying to pretend like he was inspecting the grain of the floorboards, blinked when Konoe swept past him. He closed the door, turning to find Konoe already halfway down the hall.
"I'm heading out to buy some supplies," Konoe informed him. "We're out of healing herbs, and we could use some decent bandages... maybe painkillers..."
He continued mumbling to himself as he walked briskly towards the stairs.
"Wait up," Bardo called after him.
Konoe spun around, cloak swishing with the movement. "Eh?"
"Are you, uh, going to need anything?"
Konoe hesitated.
"I'm not an apothecary, but I've got some emergency stuff, and..."
Konoe's face brightened. "If you could spare some clean towels...?"
"Sure thing," Bardo said, making an encouraging gesture. It was obvious that Konoe wanted to ask for more, but was holding back for the sake of politeness.
"Um, and water. Hot water would be great. Some alcohol, the strong stuff. And maybe a pair of scissors?"
Bardo nodded. The list sounded reasonable to treat a wound of that size.
A shadow darted across Konoe's face, a hint of anxiety coming to the surface. "I... hate to trouble you more than we already do, but... could you please look after him while I'm gone? I put a compression bandage on him, but he's still bleeding." He sighed. "And I know he won't listen to me."
"You think he'll listen to me?" Bardo asked, snorting.
A small smile. "You have my permission to knock him out if he tries anything."
"Right."
The young cat had almost disappeared down the stairs when Bardo thought to add something else. "Oh, and Konoe? I'll take care of him, don't worry."
Konoe's lips twisted. "If I worried about something like that, I'd go crazy."
Bardo stood looking after him for a moment, before turning and heading for the supply closet.
----
Careful not to spill anything, Bardo pressed down on the handle with his elbow, nudging the door open with one foot.
The room was quiet, save for the sound of labored breathing. For a moment, he even thought that Rai might have fallen unconscious-and wouldn't that be a mess-but then the body on the bed shifted, Rai lifting his head to look at him.
"Hey."
"Go away..." Rai grumbled, sinking back against the cushion.
Bardo decided to ignore the less than warm welcome, approaching the bed and setting down the bowl of water and an armful of towels on the nightstand. "Sorry, can't do that. Your sweetcake told me to check up on you, and who am I to disappoint someone so cute?"
Rai glared at him balefully. "You've seen me. Now go away."
Well now, that wasn't too different from the last time they had been in this type of situation. Rai was still as difficult a patient as ever. The image of a wounded animal, snapping and snarling at anyone who came too close, rose to his mind unbidden. He decided to better be safe than sorry, and inconspicuously moved the pair of scissors out of Rai's reach. All the while, he could feel Rai's gaze on him, searing the back of his neck like hot iron.
Scary.
It made him wonder, as he picked up the bowl, if Rai was always this charming, and if yes, what sort of masochist Konoe had to be to settle for him.
A growl stopped him in mid-motion. Rai was now subjecting the poor bowl to his intense stare. "I can do it myself."
Bardo had to fight to keep his lips from twitching. Still so proud. What a foolish, hard-headed boy. "Konoe says to keep you still. You don't want to pass out from blood loss, do you," he said amiably, holding the bowl to Rai's lips.
His ears flat against the top of his head, Rai accepted the drink, tongue darting out to rapidly lap up the water.
"Want more?"
"T'che." Rai chose to ignore him, turning his head away.
Heaving a quiet sigh, Bardo set aside the bowl. He could always bring more, later. His gaze fell to the wound in Rai's side, half-hidden by his torn shirt, sticky with blood. The makeshift bandage underneath didn't seem nearly as soaked, though, which was a good sign. Bardo bent down, reaching out to part the shredded fabric and take a closer look, when Rai's voice made him falter.
"Don't touch me."
Something in the cool flatness of the words took Bardo by surprise. It seemed different from before, when all Rai had been doing was sulking and trying to keep his dignity intact. He inwardly shook his head. Now was not the time to humor Rai's pride.
"Aw, come on, Rai, I just want to see if-"
Rai's left hand shot out, clamping down on his wrist in a crushing grip. Bardo rocked back, taken aback by the coldly burning fury in the single blue eye.
"I said, don't touch me!" Rai growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You have no right...!"
He cut himself off, shoving Bardo's hand away from himself in unveiled disgust, before a spasm in his side forced him to lie back down, hissing quietly.
----
In the end, Bardo couldn't recall what had made him set his feet in motion, except that he was suddenly back in the hallway, leaning against the closed door to Rai's room.
You have no right.
He had known that Rai did not exactly harbor friendly feelings towards him, but to hear those words, so coldly, so easily spoken, was something entirely different from the threats, glares and enraged yells of "stupid cat" he usually received. It put into words exactly what Rai was feeling, and... he had been scared of that, hadn't he? Somewhere deep down, he had been hoping that it was all part of Rai's personality, that he treated all people in more or less the same callous manner, that it was not Bardo himself whom he despised.
He raked a hand through his hair.
You have no right.
What a fool he had been, to think that Rai would allow that wound to heal.
----
He had been trying to immerse himself in writing a shopping list-quite unsuccessfully, he realized, staring with dismay at the scribble proclaiming the necessary restock of two barrels of "bastard"-when Konoe returned, flushed and out of breath, clutching a package to his chest.
"I'm back," the young cat proclaimed unnecessarily, eyes darting towards the stairs.
"He's fine," Bardo replied, secretly shoving away the guilt that was trying to settle in his stomach-he wasn't sure that Rai was really all right; after all, he had spent the last ten minutes here and not upstairs, even though Konoe had basically entrusted Rai to him...
"Bardo?" Konoe was eyeing him shrewdly, and not for the first time, he had to wonder if that gaze could uncover all he was trying to hide. "Did something happen?"
"What?" He blinked, inwardly shaking himself. "Oh, nothing, nothing." Konoe was looking like he didn't believe that in the least, so he added, "Everything you wanted is upstairs. If you need anything else, just yell."
"Thanks." Smiling gratefully, Konoe vanished up the steps.
----
Rai's ears perked when he heard the door creak, half expecting it to be that man, but it was Konoe, carrying an unfamiliar bundle in his arms.
He struggled to sit up, to at least not lie there limply like a pathetic weakling, but Konoe quickly stepped to his side, pushing him down into the pillow while seating himself on the edge of the bed.
"What have I told you about moving?" he asked, faint disapproval in his voice, and Rai growled half-heartedly, but didn't struggle. He was in no state to refuse Konoe, and his sanga knew it.
Konoe withdrew, working on untying the package sitting in his lap. "How's the pain?"
"Fine," he grumbled, stiffening when his body immediately had to prove him wrong.
Konoe was watching him intently, but thankfully let it slide. He pushed back the folds of cloth to reveal an assortment of bandages, a reel of some kind of thread, stacks of herbs, both fresh and dried, tied with pieces of string, and a small jar that most likely contained some kind of ointment. Trust Konoe to go overboard when supply-shopping. Half the amount would have easily sufficed.
Konoe pulled a few leaves out of one stack, folding them between his fingers. "Here," he said, holding them out to him. "This should help against the pain."
Rai shook his head. "No drugs."
"They're not just painkillers, they'll help you recover, too. Go on, take them. I swear I'm not trying to poison you."
Rolling his eye at the ridiculous statement, Rai decided to comply. If he did not, Konoe would only come up with a whole list of reasons why he should eat them, complete with wide, pleading eyes, and then he would have to give in, anyway. He opened his mouth, allowing Konoe to place the herbs on his tongue.
He chewed, a bittersweet flavor spreading in his mouth.
Konoe had reached for the nightstand, now holding a pair of scissors. Rai watched as he gently peeled the blood-soaked shirt from his skin-it stung uncomfortably-and then began to cut the rest of the shirt open, up to his armpit and past his shoulder.
"We'll just have to get a new one," he remarked, and Rai snorted. As if he would be worried about a shirt.
A slight dizziness overcame him as Konoe helped him to sit with one hand on his back, the other removing the makeshift bandage as quickly as possible. It hurt a lot less than he had expected, and when Konoe eased him back down, the room tilted and spun strangely.
His gaze followed Konoe as he opened a small bottle of amber liquid-alcohol, some kind of hard liquor-and by the time he was tipping the bottle to soak a towel with it, Rai could scarcely keep his eye open anymore. This wasn't normal, he shouldn't be this tired, why-
A wave of panic surged from somewhere deep within, momentarily dispelling the sleepiness. "What... what did you...?"
"Shhhh," Konoe murmured, stroking his cheek. "It will help you rest. I'll take care of you, don't worry."
Befuddled indignation. "I-I'm not...!"
But he did not get any further than this, before sleep claimed him.
----
Bardo was sweeping the dining room when he heard the stairs creak softly.
A moment later, Konoe entered, his steps slow and measured, his face very pale. He was using the wall to steady himself.
Bardo immediately dropped the broom, coming over to offer his arm for support, but Konoe shook his head minutely. "I'm alright."
Stubborn kitten, Bardo thought, and accompanied him to the nearest table, a hand hovering above his back in case Konoe lost his balance.
Konoe sat down heavily, taking deep breaths. "...I'm sorry."
"Psh," Bardo said, waving his hand, before turning and disappearing into the kitchen.
Although he had been carrying on with daily tasks around the inn-what else could he have done?-his mind had kept straying to the ill-tempered patient upstairs. A part of him had been claimed by the stubborn white kitten from so long ago, who had always tried to conceal when he was hurt, or sick, or upset. That part refused to stop worrying, even though the kitten had grown into a stiff-necked, bitter young man. Idly, he wondered how Konoe managed to put up with him.
Pouring the tea he had thoughtfully prepared into two mugs, Bardo grabbed a bottle of herbal liquor and made his way into the dining room again.
Konoe looked up when he shoved a mug at him, but wordlessly declined when he uncorked the bottle and offered to pour something into the tea.
"Are you sure?" Bardo asked. "It might make you feel better."
Konoe shook his head. "I'm fine, just drained."
Bardo peered at him closely, and he smiled tiredly. "I promise I'm okay. It always happens when I sing the healing song."
He picked up the mug, blowing at the steam. "Thanks for the tea, though."
Bardo shrugged in acceptance, before pouring a shot into his own mug. He could use it, after having a friend show up on his doorstep, bleeding like a struck pig. He wasn't used to this kind of life anymore.
They sat in silence for a while, lapping at the tea. Eventually, Bardo asked, "Is he going to be alright?"
A stupid question, maybe, since he doubted that Konoe would be sitting around calmly sipping tea if Rai was indeed bleeding to death upstairs, but he knew that he wasn't going to stop worrying unless he received verbal confirmation. He thought that he was entitled to a little irrationality, every now and then.
The smile on Konoe's face was much brighter, this time. "He's sleeping now. I stitched everything up... two or three weeks of rest, and the song will help it heal nicely. Provided, of course, that he does stay in bed."
He rolled his eyes.
Bardo nodded, an answering smile on his own lips. He remembered all too well how hard it had been to convince that child to rest, and he could imagine that this particular trait had only been amplified in the adult Rai. Then, something else caught his attention.
"Two or three weeks? Are you sure? That wound is nothing you can just walk off."
"The song will take care of it for the most part."
He had never heard of a healing song working so quickly... Konoe had to have tremendous power. He wondered if the kitten was even aware of it. It was hard to tell with him, Konoe seemed such an unusual mix of innocent and experienced.
"Ah." He lifted his mug again. "What happened, anyway? That didn't look like a sword cut."
Konoe sighed. "We were asked to investigate a monster sighting about half a day's walk from here. But nobody knew it had... offspring." Something flashed in his eyes. "Not anymore, though."
Bardo said nothing, and after a moment, the fierceness in Konoe's eyes dissipated as if it had never been. He smiled again. "I haven't thanked you yet, for taking care of Rai."
"Don't mention it."
"And I'm sorry if he was cruel."
Bardo's eyes widened. How in the world...?!
Konoe sighed, shaking his head. "He can be vicious when he is feeling weak."
Lowering his ears, Bardo scanned the room for something else to focus on than Konoe's soft, knowing gaze. He didn't want to remember the startling amount of hatred from Rai, or contemplate the grain of truth hidden in his hurtful words. His eyes settled on a spider trying to set up shop between the beams in the far corner. That would have to go, later.
"Bardo?"
Reluctantly, he returned his attention to the table and shrugged. "It's nothing you have to apologize for. There is a lot of bad blood between us."
"Still, for what it's worth, I'm glad you were there with him."
He didn't like the seriousness of their conversation, or the fact that he suddenly felt so grateful, so hungry, for Konoe's comforting words. He grinned, scratching his head in embarrassment. "Aah, stop that. Go keep watch by your man. He'll want to see your face more than mine when he wakes up."
Konoe chuckled, standing up. His face was looking much better. He moved to take care of the mugs, but Bardo rose as well, and waved him away. "I've got it."
"Okay."
He gathered the mugs and the bottle, while Konoe made his way towards the exit.
"Oh, and Bardo...?"
"Hm?" He turned.
Konoe had stopped in the doorframe, looking back at him. "I really do mean it... thanks."
He was not blushing, damn it! Men of his age did not blush, not even when subjected to such a sweet smile. "Oh, shoo! Off with you!"
Now, to do something about that spider...
----
Warm. He was warm.
The warmth was surrounding him, permeating him, rocking him like a strong and gentle sea.
And... song? Someone was singing, a sweetly wistful melody.
He tried to turn his head to listen better, but found that he did not have the strength.
Something cool and damp touched his brow, and the warmth surged, wrapping around him like an embrace.
He sighed deeply, feeling weightless and protected. It had been a long time since he had last been so warm.
----
When he came to, Konoe was curled around him, thoroughly bathing his ears.
Rai sighed, quietly enjoying the attention, the warm damp tongue smoothing his fur, the gentle fingers stroking his face and arms.
"I dreamt of song."
The tongue didn't pause in its ministrations, Konoe apparently not surprised that he was awake.
"You used your healing song on me, didn't you."
He couldn't see Konoe's face, couldn't gauge if he was tired, but his side felt much better, the pain dull and removed, as if it were happening outside his own body. Healing always exhausted Konoe, though, and he didn't like that he had not been awake to stop him from wasting his energy. Pain meant little to him, after all, but Konoe tended to disagree, and quite loudly at that, so he didn't say anything.
"...thank you."
Konoe paused, then bent down further to bury his nose in his hair. His arms tightened. "Stupid man."
Rai blinked.
"Stupid, reckless man. You're going to be the death of me one of these days."
Rai snorted. He was not going to apologize.
The fingers resumed their soothing caress. "I could have handled it, you know. I knew what I was doing."
"Hn."
"Don't you 'hn' me," Konoe said, his voice still soft, but the reproach clear. "You'll have to accept that we're partners, someday."
What?! His eye widened. What was that supposed to mean?
"I do."
His sanga sighed, rubbing his nose against his scalp. "Then trust me to handle myself. Don't place yourself in danger like that. I don't need saving quite as often as you think I do."
No, not going to apologize.
"You were lucky, this time. Doesn't mean that this will hold." Konoe paused again, and when he continued, his voice was very low, "Don't you dare leave me."
The intensity in his voice was startling, the undercurrent of pain even more so. He hadn't meant to cause pain. He had meant to prevent it. There had been nothing to worry about, the attack would not have been fatal to him, under any circumstances. But explaining this to Konoe was out of the question, at least for now.
A soft kiss. "If you dare leave me, I promise you I will find a way to revive you and make you wish you could've stayed dead."
That made him laugh, although a sharp stab from his side immediately told him to be still. He rolled his eye, tilting his head to bump noses with Konoe. "Of course."
Konoe smiled slightly against his lips.
- TBC -
----
A/N:
- By now, it is probably obvious what I am trying to do here. This story is going to have parallel narratives, alternately dealing with the past and the present.
- Before the Bardo-route players protest that Rai and Bardo do come out on better terms on that route... this story is (obviously) set after the Rai-route ending, where issues between those two never really get addressed.
- Futatsu Zue's name has been left untranslated because it's a deity name.
- I realize Rai is being uncharacteristically accepting here, but hey. Blood loss, knock-out drugs and mother-hen Konoe. XD
- Konoe talks about the healing song in the game, wondering if it's possibly to learn how to heal people. I don't see why he shouldn't be able to, given who his papa was, but I imagine it is pretty draining.
- Aaand Rai's POV makes an appearance. I feel his side of things is necessary to explain why he reacts the way he does, and it is as much his past as it is Bardo's. Bardo's POV will remain the main narrative, though.
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