There will be magic, chapter 21, RukixKai, RukaxYomi
Title: There will be magic
Author: yukigafuru
Chapters: 21/?
Pairings: RukaxYomi, KaixRuki for now
Bands: Gazette, Naitomea, D... (and a surprise)
Rating: PG-15 for now
Warnings: will be angst, yaoi, a bit of gore here and there
Genre: AU, Angst, Romance
Disclaimer: I am not connected to the real persons. This is just a figment of my imagination and I don't make any money nor profit in any way out of this (well, except gathering your love that is).
Summary: The age of magic and mystery is coming towards its end. But what if someone that has the gift to see the future can join forces with others who have the power to stop it? What will be born then? What will be found?
Chapter 21
With that said, the two of them returned to the others. It was a forced agreement but an agreement none the less, and thanks to that, Yomi had a smile on his lips. After they announced their decision and asked the other guys if they were ok with it, Yomi dealt another blow to his lover's pride.
“Ruka, I need to talk with Reita alone for a few moments.” He begged him with his eyes to understand and trust him and he was relieved to see the vampire reluctantly nodding.
Since they wanted to be out of the forest as fast as possible, Yomi didn't waste any time and dragged Reita away. Once they were far enough to not be heard by the others, even by Ruka's vampiric senses, Yomi started.
“Listen, Rei, I'm very happy to see you again but I think there's some things we need to settle.”
“Like you and Ruka?” Reita sneered a bit and that surprised as well as worried Yomi. He didn't reply, but just waited for the other to continue. It wasn't long before Reita said: “Listen, Yomi, I know that I promised to be back and I didn't and... And that you helping me find Hitsugi now is selfish but...” This wasn't what Yomi had wanted, not by a long shot. He didn't need apologies nor thanks. He needed to make sure that there was just friendship between them, because only then could he go back to his lover and declare that there was indeed nothing there.
“Reita, what do you feel for me?” Yomi dared. Reita seemed to flounder.
“I'm not sure, Yomi. I know it's horrible for me to say this, but... I did feel a bit jealous earlier and at the same time, I don't mind seeing the way Ruka is obviously possessive of you. Everything has passed so fast that I'm having a hard time coping with it.”
“Well, Reita, I need to make this clear. You've been more than a brother to me once. I don't know what kind of affection there was between us then, but that has obviously changed with time. I want us to be best friends, but anything beyond that... I love Ruka, I'm his mate and even if you'd want to change that, there is nothing you could do about it. If you're confused about your feelings now, then I hope you'll get them sorted up soon enough. Because I won't have my mate worry over something that might or might not be there. Understood?”
Reita chuckled.
“I remember a shier you. The years sure have changed you.”
Yomi smiled too.
“Yeah. But most of all, Ruka did. After everything, he's the only thing I have left.”
The perceptive tiger didn't let that comment slide and immediately asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Everyone is dead, Reita. My mom, my brothers... they were killed...” Reita obviously meant to say something but Yomi wouldn't let him. “And you were gone too, for years and years, and you may be back now, but the pillar in my life is Ruka now.”
Reita had enough sense to realize that Yomi didn't want to discuss anything further and he had no choice but to agree.
“I'm sorry for not coming back.”
“So am I. But we can get out friendship back. I hope we do.”
“Yeah.” And Reita was sincere. He was confused about his feelings, but on the other hand, he had never fessed up to himself that he had been in love with Yomi. He might have thought it once or twice, but he had never felt those three words burn him and somehow he had a feeling that meant he didn't really feel that kind of emotion. And right now, he was just happy to finally be able to get their friendship back. “Come on, let's go back before Ruka has my ass. Do you want me to talk with him?” He wasn't really looking forward to such a chat, but if it helped Yomi and made things go smoother between them, he could try.
Yomi chuckled.
“You obviously don't know Ruka. He'd have your neck as soon as you'd be out of my sight. No, in time, he'll just come to see you as a friend and calm down. He's funny like that.”
“His absurd jealousy, does it bother you?”
“I suppose it should. Sometimes I think it does. But for me, alone in this world, knowing that I am the only thing he truly gives a damn about, knowing that he chose me to be as important to him as he is to me... I won't say it's not annoying, but I'd rather he be possessive like that. Does it make any sense?”
“Yeah, actually it does. You know, tigers are pretty possessive too. I hope my future lover won't be so too, though. One is certainly enough in a relationship.”
“Future lover?” Ruka intruded. It seemed that what they were talking about had finally entered into his hearing range.
“Well, if my best friend has a mate, I certainly can't lag behind, can I? Personally, I'd like a cute fairy or something... Tigresses are just too much, trust me.”
“Oh, I don't know about that, Reita.” Ruki supplied, amusement clear on his face. Everyone was just surprised that the normally quiet man would say something like that. The king voiced those feelings.
“Is there something you know about it, Ruki?”
“Oh, just that Asagi is laughing on the inside. And if he's laughing...” He didn't need to continue for the others, except Reita, to understand... 'That means your mate will certainly not be cute or a fairy.” Everyone snickered, internally, so as to not offend their new companion and that was the end of the topic.
“So would everyone mind explaining exactly where you're heading, before we leave this woods? Oh, and a short introduction wouldn't hurt seeing that you know a lot there is to know about me, and excepting Yomi and Ruka there, I know almost nothing about you.” The tiger asked. He wasn't the curious type anyway, so whatever Ruki had meant didn't bother him that much, but what he was asking now had nothing to do with curiosity and everything to do with plain common sense. The others quickly complied and in about a couple of hours, Reita was put up to date with what had happened.
“Well then, I think I can give some advice. It obviously favours me too, but I think you'll see the merits of it. I think you have at least seen a map of the known world, right? I know my parents made me bend over it more times that I can tell.”
Excepting Yomi and Ruki, the others nodded.
“Well, now, we're at the western borders of the dragon kingdom, the true western borders, not the mountains that actually divide the area lived by the dragons from the area lived by the humans. The tiger kingdom is in the west, so to get here, I actually crossed the centre in my tiger form. I think that we should head for the northern sea. It's obvious I want to go after the pirates. But well, have you ever considered that you might want to head north also? If your mate can't be in the centre, and I don't think he's in either the tiger, vampire or roc domains, then you're left with the centre and the human inhabited lands, the sea and the northern continent.” Reita explained, while sketching a map in the soft earth, so that Yomi and Ruki could understand it too. “However, this just happens to be the most southern part of the forest. It's ironical how you could have actually avoided passing through it completely if only you had gone a bit more towards the south. But then, I'd still be trapped here. So you're going to have to cross the centre lands to get to the sea. Just past this forest is the town of Dred. From there, if you go north-west in an almost perpendicular direction from that in which you've travelled till now, you will reach the harbour of Nesh. Interesting name, isn't it? Me, I'd like to think that a dragon played a prank on those stupid humans. So then, what do you think?”
“It's certainly a well thought plan, but then, why not avoid the centre for now and go a bit backwards, and travel in dragon territory again? We can still reach the sea that way.” Kai voiced.
“The forest won't let you go back.” Reita calmly replied.
“Why not cross the forest then?”
“The forest won't let you do that either. You'll be walking in circles before you know it.”
It seemed that Reita had an answer for everything. Still, the others were unsure about travelling through such a dangerous territory and heading towards the northern continent, where neither of their kin had ever been before.
“Asagi agrees with his plan.” Ruki suddenly voiced. The seer glared at Ruki and the way the little man could read his feelings. It was somehow a relief for he could still help them without interfering directly, but for someone as private as he had been, the panther could be annoying. Still, he would rather put his feelings aside and help them, and he also knew that Ruki was voicing his feelings precisely because Asagi himself wanted him to. After all, the panther read him like an open book.
“Well, then it's decided, isn't it?” The dragon king said. If the seer knew they had to go to the northern continent, then they had to. “Since it will be night soon, let's leave the forest tomorrow morning.”
After that, they proceeded to making a small fire and the evening's meal and resting their bones. The woods had a strange effect on them, tiring them more than they had imagined. Kai was so fast asleep that he didn't notice Ruki waking up in the middle of the night. The panther approached Reita, who in turn woke up. The two of them walked away from the rest of their party.
“I might be able to stop you from turning into a tiger, give you back your inner balance.” Ruki suddenly proposed.
“Might... that means you're not sure if you can or not. There are risks, aren't there?”
“There's something strange with this forest, and I'm scared of what might be beyond it even more. My powers are... fluctuating. If and only if your unbalance comes from what you told us, then I might be able to help. But if it doesn't... I could end up making you unable to switch back to human form or turn you crazy or even worse...”
“Kill me.” Reita sighed. Life was never easy, but then life without risks... “I'll take that risk.”
“Wait. Before that... How sure are you about the cause of this?”
“I... I just assumed. What other reason could there be? I'm the only one who failed in their training as a kid and I'm the only one this is happening to.”
“I just feel there's something more. What if you're just like Yomi and Ruka? And me and Kai for that matter?”
“How so?”
“Incomplete without their mate.” That certainly was a heavy statement so silence settled over them like a thick shroud.
“Are you serious? You know that finding your soul mate is a one in a million chance and I certainly doubt that all of the other tigers that travelled the world found theirs.”
“And yet, it so happens, that four of us here have found not just love, but our soul mates. What are the chances of that? Oh, and let's not forget the dragon king is searching for his. I think this quest we're following is bigger than any of us...”
“Then why did you tell me this?” Reita huffed, obviously exasperated.
“Because I just couldn't shut up about it. It's an option and it's not my choice.”
“Could it affect you too?” Reita asked, a little light suddenly blinking in his head.
“That doesn't matter.” Ruki tried to shrug it off.
“It could, couldn't it? You were saying something about the effects of the forest. Well, that's that, isn't it? I don't want anything to happen to you, since that would obviously put a damper in this quest of yours. As long as you guys help me find Hitsugi, I'm fine as it is.”
Ruki nodded. He knew the other was telling him the truth. Reita was like hard, cold metal, unwavering in his decisions, strong and dependable, ready to protect everyone, fierce and loyal. He was so similar to Kai in certain ways. Kai was like that too, only Kai was gentler, less obstinate, less impulsive too. He could certainly see why Yomi and Reita would be attracted. It was the age old story of opposites attracting, the childishness and sheer light that was Yomi drawn to the safe arms of Reita. Or Ruka for that matter. Truth be told, the emotional difference between Ruka and Yomi was even bigger than between Yomi and Reita. Reita could be childish, because metal could still be malleable. In fact, a thought suddenly struck Ruki. Reita was like metal, but something didn't quite click. Reita was mercury. Funny he was also a white tiger.
“Have you ever been told you were like liquid metal?”
Reita seemed surprised by the suddenness.
“No. What made you think that?”
“I'm a panther you know. Well, apparently not any panther, I'm a love cervere. Well, to put it short, I'm loved by all and I can read emotions. Your emotions strike me that way.”
Ruki honestly replied. He liked Reita. He was attracted somehow to the tiger, as if they had something in common, as if they were meant to meet.
“What are you like, Ruki?” Reita asked, a smile on his lips. “Loved by all, right?”
“Hey! I was told that!” Ruki pouted. This side of him was new to him. Reita made him feel things, so different from what he felt for Kai. For Kai, he burned. Every single cell in his body was on fire when Kai was near. Whereas Reita, it was still warm, but like being under the soft rays of the summer's sun, peaceful and safe. Ruki couldn't name the feeling.
“Well, I can't read emotions, Ruki. But even I can tell you're a great guy. Friends?” Reita proposed and extended his hand.
Oh, so that was what it was: friendship. Ruki's answer was to jump into the tiger's strong arms and hug him tight.
Reita had felt Kai approaching them and he knew how close the other was. He wondered how Kai would see this. He certainly had had enough of jealousy for one day... Ruki suddenly let go and spun around, murmuring the roc's name. Immediately, the roc came out of the shadows, a smile on his lips.
“Hey, Ru. You weren't there so I woke up to find you.”
“You don't seem upset.” Reita carefully stated.
“Why should I be? If Ruki trusts you and likes you, I'm imagining I will too. Welcome to the brotherhood.”
“The what?” Reita asked, whereas Ruki simply inclined his head.
“Never mind Kai. He's just asking you whether you'd like to be friends too.” Ruki translated.
“Yeah, sure.” Reita said. He wasn't really sure, but Kai seemed okay. And he was Ruki's lover...
“Great!” A cheerful Kai almost shouted and then hugged him too. Well, this was a bit strange, Reita thought, but he hugged the man back. Somehow Reita could see why Kai was Ruki's mate. Only he heard the soft whisper: “Don't you dare hurt him!” It was a warning, a vicious one at that, implying that if he did, he'd be dead, but Reita knew better anyway. Ruki was precious and he deserved to be protected. “I won't.” he promised. And he suspected that promise would be the cement to bind them in a strong friendship. Yeah, he liked Kai after all.
“Okay, Ruki, back to bed.” Kai had disentangled himself from Reita and in a blink of an eye, was scooping Ruki up and carrying him back to their improvised bed. Reita lingered for a few moments, watching the night's starry sky. He felt content, the first night to feel like that in a very long time and also a bit excited. “A mate, huh?”
A/N: That would be a sketch of a map. I really should learn more photoshop or sth but no time right now. I still figured you guys might want a bit of a map of the territories. The green thing is the forest and where they are now. Oh, and of course there's more unknown people and kingdoms there, but where would be the surprise if I just wrote them on a map? Hugs to all of you.
Author: yukigafuru
Chapters: 21/?
Pairings: RukaxYomi, KaixRuki for now
Bands: Gazette, Naitomea, D... (and a surprise)
Rating: PG-15 for now
Warnings: will be angst, yaoi, a bit of gore here and there
Genre: AU, Angst, Romance
Disclaimer: I am not connected to the real persons. This is just a figment of my imagination and I don't make any money nor profit in any way out of this (well, except gathering your love that is).
Summary: The age of magic and mystery is coming towards its end. But what if someone that has the gift to see the future can join forces with others who have the power to stop it? What will be born then? What will be found?
Chapter 21
With that said, the two of them returned to the others. It was a forced agreement but an agreement none the less, and thanks to that, Yomi had a smile on his lips. After they announced their decision and asked the other guys if they were ok with it, Yomi dealt another blow to his lover's pride.
“Ruka, I need to talk with Reita alone for a few moments.” He begged him with his eyes to understand and trust him and he was relieved to see the vampire reluctantly nodding.
Since they wanted to be out of the forest as fast as possible, Yomi didn't waste any time and dragged Reita away. Once they were far enough to not be heard by the others, even by Ruka's vampiric senses, Yomi started.
“Listen, Rei, I'm very happy to see you again but I think there's some things we need to settle.”
“Like you and Ruka?” Reita sneered a bit and that surprised as well as worried Yomi. He didn't reply, but just waited for the other to continue. It wasn't long before Reita said: “Listen, Yomi, I know that I promised to be back and I didn't and... And that you helping me find Hitsugi now is selfish but...” This wasn't what Yomi had wanted, not by a long shot. He didn't need apologies nor thanks. He needed to make sure that there was just friendship between them, because only then could he go back to his lover and declare that there was indeed nothing there.
“Reita, what do you feel for me?” Yomi dared. Reita seemed to flounder.
“I'm not sure, Yomi. I know it's horrible for me to say this, but... I did feel a bit jealous earlier and at the same time, I don't mind seeing the way Ruka is obviously possessive of you. Everything has passed so fast that I'm having a hard time coping with it.”
“Well, Reita, I need to make this clear. You've been more than a brother to me once. I don't know what kind of affection there was between us then, but that has obviously changed with time. I want us to be best friends, but anything beyond that... I love Ruka, I'm his mate and even if you'd want to change that, there is nothing you could do about it. If you're confused about your feelings now, then I hope you'll get them sorted up soon enough. Because I won't have my mate worry over something that might or might not be there. Understood?”
Reita chuckled.
“I remember a shier you. The years sure have changed you.”
Yomi smiled too.
“Yeah. But most of all, Ruka did. After everything, he's the only thing I have left.”
The perceptive tiger didn't let that comment slide and immediately asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Everyone is dead, Reita. My mom, my brothers... they were killed...” Reita obviously meant to say something but Yomi wouldn't let him. “And you were gone too, for years and years, and you may be back now, but the pillar in my life is Ruka now.”
Reita had enough sense to realize that Yomi didn't want to discuss anything further and he had no choice but to agree.
“I'm sorry for not coming back.”
“So am I. But we can get out friendship back. I hope we do.”
“Yeah.” And Reita was sincere. He was confused about his feelings, but on the other hand, he had never fessed up to himself that he had been in love with Yomi. He might have thought it once or twice, but he had never felt those three words burn him and somehow he had a feeling that meant he didn't really feel that kind of emotion. And right now, he was just happy to finally be able to get their friendship back. “Come on, let's go back before Ruka has my ass. Do you want me to talk with him?” He wasn't really looking forward to such a chat, but if it helped Yomi and made things go smoother between them, he could try.
Yomi chuckled.
“You obviously don't know Ruka. He'd have your neck as soon as you'd be out of my sight. No, in time, he'll just come to see you as a friend and calm down. He's funny like that.”
“His absurd jealousy, does it bother you?”
“I suppose it should. Sometimes I think it does. But for me, alone in this world, knowing that I am the only thing he truly gives a damn about, knowing that he chose me to be as important to him as he is to me... I won't say it's not annoying, but I'd rather he be possessive like that. Does it make any sense?”
“Yeah, actually it does. You know, tigers are pretty possessive too. I hope my future lover won't be so too, though. One is certainly enough in a relationship.”
“Future lover?” Ruka intruded. It seemed that what they were talking about had finally entered into his hearing range.
“Well, if my best friend has a mate, I certainly can't lag behind, can I? Personally, I'd like a cute fairy or something... Tigresses are just too much, trust me.”
“Oh, I don't know about that, Reita.” Ruki supplied, amusement clear on his face. Everyone was just surprised that the normally quiet man would say something like that. The king voiced those feelings.
“Is there something you know about it, Ruki?”
“Oh, just that Asagi is laughing on the inside. And if he's laughing...” He didn't need to continue for the others, except Reita, to understand... 'That means your mate will certainly not be cute or a fairy.” Everyone snickered, internally, so as to not offend their new companion and that was the end of the topic.
“So would everyone mind explaining exactly where you're heading, before we leave this woods? Oh, and a short introduction wouldn't hurt seeing that you know a lot there is to know about me, and excepting Yomi and Ruka there, I know almost nothing about you.” The tiger asked. He wasn't the curious type anyway, so whatever Ruki had meant didn't bother him that much, but what he was asking now had nothing to do with curiosity and everything to do with plain common sense. The others quickly complied and in about a couple of hours, Reita was put up to date with what had happened.
“Well then, I think I can give some advice. It obviously favours me too, but I think you'll see the merits of it. I think you have at least seen a map of the known world, right? I know my parents made me bend over it more times that I can tell.”
Excepting Yomi and Ruki, the others nodded.
“Well, now, we're at the western borders of the dragon kingdom, the true western borders, not the mountains that actually divide the area lived by the dragons from the area lived by the humans. The tiger kingdom is in the west, so to get here, I actually crossed the centre in my tiger form. I think that we should head for the northern sea. It's obvious I want to go after the pirates. But well, have you ever considered that you might want to head north also? If your mate can't be in the centre, and I don't think he's in either the tiger, vampire or roc domains, then you're left with the centre and the human inhabited lands, the sea and the northern continent.” Reita explained, while sketching a map in the soft earth, so that Yomi and Ruki could understand it too. “However, this just happens to be the most southern part of the forest. It's ironical how you could have actually avoided passing through it completely if only you had gone a bit more towards the south. But then, I'd still be trapped here. So you're going to have to cross the centre lands to get to the sea. Just past this forest is the town of Dred. From there, if you go north-west in an almost perpendicular direction from that in which you've travelled till now, you will reach the harbour of Nesh. Interesting name, isn't it? Me, I'd like to think that a dragon played a prank on those stupid humans. So then, what do you think?”
“It's certainly a well thought plan, but then, why not avoid the centre for now and go a bit backwards, and travel in dragon territory again? We can still reach the sea that way.” Kai voiced.
“The forest won't let you go back.” Reita calmly replied.
“Why not cross the forest then?”
“The forest won't let you do that either. You'll be walking in circles before you know it.”
It seemed that Reita had an answer for everything. Still, the others were unsure about travelling through such a dangerous territory and heading towards the northern continent, where neither of their kin had ever been before.
“Asagi agrees with his plan.” Ruki suddenly voiced. The seer glared at Ruki and the way the little man could read his feelings. It was somehow a relief for he could still help them without interfering directly, but for someone as private as he had been, the panther could be annoying. Still, he would rather put his feelings aside and help them, and he also knew that Ruki was voicing his feelings precisely because Asagi himself wanted him to. After all, the panther read him like an open book.
“Well, then it's decided, isn't it?” The dragon king said. If the seer knew they had to go to the northern continent, then they had to. “Since it will be night soon, let's leave the forest tomorrow morning.”
After that, they proceeded to making a small fire and the evening's meal and resting their bones. The woods had a strange effect on them, tiring them more than they had imagined. Kai was so fast asleep that he didn't notice Ruki waking up in the middle of the night. The panther approached Reita, who in turn woke up. The two of them walked away from the rest of their party.
“I might be able to stop you from turning into a tiger, give you back your inner balance.” Ruki suddenly proposed.
“Might... that means you're not sure if you can or not. There are risks, aren't there?”
“There's something strange with this forest, and I'm scared of what might be beyond it even more. My powers are... fluctuating. If and only if your unbalance comes from what you told us, then I might be able to help. But if it doesn't... I could end up making you unable to switch back to human form or turn you crazy or even worse...”
“Kill me.” Reita sighed. Life was never easy, but then life without risks... “I'll take that risk.”
“Wait. Before that... How sure are you about the cause of this?”
“I... I just assumed. What other reason could there be? I'm the only one who failed in their training as a kid and I'm the only one this is happening to.”
“I just feel there's something more. What if you're just like Yomi and Ruka? And me and Kai for that matter?”
“How so?”
“Incomplete without their mate.” That certainly was a heavy statement so silence settled over them like a thick shroud.
“Are you serious? You know that finding your soul mate is a one in a million chance and I certainly doubt that all of the other tigers that travelled the world found theirs.”
“And yet, it so happens, that four of us here have found not just love, but our soul mates. What are the chances of that? Oh, and let's not forget the dragon king is searching for his. I think this quest we're following is bigger than any of us...”
“Then why did you tell me this?” Reita huffed, obviously exasperated.
“Because I just couldn't shut up about it. It's an option and it's not my choice.”
“Could it affect you too?” Reita asked, a little light suddenly blinking in his head.
“That doesn't matter.” Ruki tried to shrug it off.
“It could, couldn't it? You were saying something about the effects of the forest. Well, that's that, isn't it? I don't want anything to happen to you, since that would obviously put a damper in this quest of yours. As long as you guys help me find Hitsugi, I'm fine as it is.”
Ruki nodded. He knew the other was telling him the truth. Reita was like hard, cold metal, unwavering in his decisions, strong and dependable, ready to protect everyone, fierce and loyal. He was so similar to Kai in certain ways. Kai was like that too, only Kai was gentler, less obstinate, less impulsive too. He could certainly see why Yomi and Reita would be attracted. It was the age old story of opposites attracting, the childishness and sheer light that was Yomi drawn to the safe arms of Reita. Or Ruka for that matter. Truth be told, the emotional difference between Ruka and Yomi was even bigger than between Yomi and Reita. Reita could be childish, because metal could still be malleable. In fact, a thought suddenly struck Ruki. Reita was like metal, but something didn't quite click. Reita was mercury. Funny he was also a white tiger.
“Have you ever been told you were like liquid metal?”
Reita seemed surprised by the suddenness.
“No. What made you think that?”
“I'm a panther you know. Well, apparently not any panther, I'm a love cervere. Well, to put it short, I'm loved by all and I can read emotions. Your emotions strike me that way.”
Ruki honestly replied. He liked Reita. He was attracted somehow to the tiger, as if they had something in common, as if they were meant to meet.
“What are you like, Ruki?” Reita asked, a smile on his lips. “Loved by all, right?”
“Hey! I was told that!” Ruki pouted. This side of him was new to him. Reita made him feel things, so different from what he felt for Kai. For Kai, he burned. Every single cell in his body was on fire when Kai was near. Whereas Reita, it was still warm, but like being under the soft rays of the summer's sun, peaceful and safe. Ruki couldn't name the feeling.
“Well, I can't read emotions, Ruki. But even I can tell you're a great guy. Friends?” Reita proposed and extended his hand.
Oh, so that was what it was: friendship. Ruki's answer was to jump into the tiger's strong arms and hug him tight.
Reita had felt Kai approaching them and he knew how close the other was. He wondered how Kai would see this. He certainly had had enough of jealousy for one day... Ruki suddenly let go and spun around, murmuring the roc's name. Immediately, the roc came out of the shadows, a smile on his lips.
“Hey, Ru. You weren't there so I woke up to find you.”
“You don't seem upset.” Reita carefully stated.
“Why should I be? If Ruki trusts you and likes you, I'm imagining I will too. Welcome to the brotherhood.”
“The what?” Reita asked, whereas Ruki simply inclined his head.
“Never mind Kai. He's just asking you whether you'd like to be friends too.” Ruki translated.
“Yeah, sure.” Reita said. He wasn't really sure, but Kai seemed okay. And he was Ruki's lover...
“Great!” A cheerful Kai almost shouted and then hugged him too. Well, this was a bit strange, Reita thought, but he hugged the man back. Somehow Reita could see why Kai was Ruki's mate. Only he heard the soft whisper: “Don't you dare hurt him!” It was a warning, a vicious one at that, implying that if he did, he'd be dead, but Reita knew better anyway. Ruki was precious and he deserved to be protected. “I won't.” he promised. And he suspected that promise would be the cement to bind them in a strong friendship. Yeah, he liked Kai after all.
“Okay, Ruki, back to bed.” Kai had disentangled himself from Reita and in a blink of an eye, was scooping Ruki up and carrying him back to their improvised bed. Reita lingered for a few moments, watching the night's starry sky. He felt content, the first night to feel like that in a very long time and also a bit excited. “A mate, huh?”
A/N: That would be a sketch of a map. I really should learn more photoshop or sth but no time right now. I still figured you guys might want a bit of a map of the territories. The green thing is the forest and where they are now. Oh, and of course there's more unknown people and kingdoms there, but where would be the surprise if I just wrote them on a map? Hugs to all of you.