There will be magic, chapter 53, RukaxYomi, KaixRuki, AoixReita
Title: There will be magic
Author: yukigafuru
Chapters: 53/?
Pairings: RukaxYomi, KaixRuki, AoixReita for now
Bands: Gazette, Naitomea, D... (and a surprise)
Rating: PG-15-PG-17 overall
Warnings: will be angst, yaoi, a bit of gore here and there, light mpreg
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 53
While the others snooped around the marketplace, Ruka and Reita were on their way to the cemetery. For the two of them, it was fairly easy to find out where it was, for there was something special about a cemetery. A burial ground was like a different dimension, a place connected to the town and the living and at the same time, part of nature, unaffected by time. It was made and maintained by people, it contained the memories and feelings of those who visited their loved ones, and that set it apart from the mountains and hills, rivers and forests. And yet, it was no longer a part of human society, it was a place where death and not life reigned. This union of energies was picked up by the vampire.
They just had to pass a few houses on the main road and then go right on a narrow pathway, marked by old willows whose branches reached across the path, embracing each other like lovers finding each other after a long separation. The sun’s rays barely filtered through the myriad of leaves, casting just enough light so that walking on the path was like swimming through an immaterial sparkling curtain pierced here and there -where there were fewer branches- by pillars of light. The pathway didn’t cut straight through the plain, but rather followed the line of trees, winding left and right, getting further and further away from the town, until its noises were drowned in the rattling of leaves, the murmur of the wind caressing the trees and the sparkling cries of robins.
At the end of the willow road was the cemetery, its white gates opened wide permitting entry while its tall fences, turned beige by rains and winds, put a barrier between this dimension and the outside world. Like the simple gates, lacking in any type of decoration except for the white varnishing, making them almost shine in the sun, the gravestones were simple, merely square rocks marking each grave. Only the names etched deep within the rock threw shadows on the white granite, making it look like the markers changed slightly throughout the day. The illusion was further deepened by the neatly cut meadow, cut so closely to the earth that it did not shake in the wind; a green live carpet.
“Damn!” Ruka cursed. It was obvious from Reita’s disappointed face that he too had realized the problem they were faced with.
“How are we supposed to find nightshade when everything is cut to the ground?” Ruka asked.
“It makes you wish this town’s people weren’t so pacific, doesn’t it?” Reita rhetorically asked.
Deadly nightshade grew in a meter and half shrubs and had green berries ripening into black. It was easily recognizable and widely known as being poisonous. Animals could eat it without a problem, but in humans, it provoked hallucinations and death. Because of the habit children have of tasting everything, it was not allowed to grow in gardens or around towns, but its robustness, green leaves and black berries made it a favourite in cemeteries. It possibly had something to do with its fruits being called “fruits of the dead”. Isre obviously felt differently. Not only did the town, thanks to its generous and lively people, regenerate and heal its villagers and those scarce travellers that wondered around these parts, but the cemetery was also just a place for repose and remembrance. It was obvious that no ghosts had ever disturbed the villagers of Isre.
“What now?” Reita worriedly asked.
“There’s nothing we can do but go back. We’ll probably have to leave a bit earlier than planned, take a one day detour that leads us to some sort of forest or even another town. The nightshade prefers shady places and it shouldn’t be that hard to find it somewhere else.
“Do you think Aoi knew?” Reita caught himself worrying.
“Know what?”
“That we wouldn’t find it. He seemed pretty sure that these three ingredients would pose a problem.”
“I don’t know how he could have.”
“Sometimes Aoi knows things. I don’t even know how. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was a seer or something like that.”
“Well, he is the expert on poisons.” Ruka added his two-pence. It also made him think what if the nightshade didn’t grow around these parts? Perhaps Aoi really had had a reason for saying that. “Maybe we should go back to the inn and ask him?”
Reita agreed. There was nothing else they could do anyway. They turned towards the gates and at a slow pace passed a few neatly aligned graves when Ruka froze.
“Ruka, is something wrong?” Ruka turned his head slightly towards the tiger before turning a hundred and eighty degrees around and marching straight towards the farthest end of the cemetery. Reita ran after the vampire.
“What are you doing?” Reita breathlessly asked. Ruka had moved so fast that at some point the tiger had had difficulties keeping him in sight. The cemetery was fairly large and the neat rows of grave stones, strong morning light and deep green grass, combined with the vampire’s speed helped create the illusion that Ruka disappeared for a few moments.
“I heard something.” Ruka whispered, his voice low, rumbling like a stretched cord. Reita stayed silent and turned his attention to the surroundings. All he could hear was the wind.
“I can’t hear anything.” Reita stated after a long while of silence. Ruka had not moved from the spot. Ruka immediately shut him up.
“There it was again... It’s coming from underground.”
“What?” A shocked tiger exclaimed and he almost jumped into the sky when he felt something move under his legs. They were standing on a grave. “You don’t think the dead just moved, do you?”
“Unless they’re un-dead, no. But something is down there.”
“So what do you suggest, that we dig? Come on, Ruka, this has nothing to do with us. We came looking for the nightshade and that’s it.” Reita did not like the way the vampire kept his mouth closed or the stubborn shine in his eyes. It spelled trouble. “Come on, Ruka. We really shouldn’t bother.” He mumbled, hoping that he would reach the vampire. “We have a few hours ahead of us. What if we called the pegasus and surveyed the plain from above? We might even scout a bit the surrounding areas.” There was no move from the tense man next to him, until minutes later when all of a sudden, Ruka turned towards the cemetery gates and at a measured pace, Reita following behind him, left the cemetery.
“What was that?” The tiger asked.
“I don’t know. But it isn’t here anymore. It passed right beneath us. It was several feet underground. Even if we would have dug, we wouldn’t have found anything but bones.”
“If it’s left, then why do you look worried?”
“Because I’m wondering where it’s gone.” Ruka answered and his eyes narrowed just a bit.
An hour later they were back at the inn, Reita on Aoi’s bed, where the mishepishu was sleeping soundly, exhausted after the night before, while Ruka pulled Asagi to the side and had a brief conversation with the seer that no one else heard. The others were still out looking for the ingredients. Reita hoped that they would have better luck than them.
Asagi, Ruki and Ruka left the room, and except Ni~ya who was barley alive on the bed next to the window, Reita found himself alone with a sleeping Aoi. He took off his shirt and trousers allowing them to pile on the floor and climbed in the bed, borrowing heat from Aoi’s own naked skin and settled in a contented sleep-in with his lover. He dreamt of heat and love.
Meanwhile, Ruki, Ruka and Asagi had a few plans of their own. Making sure that the inn keeper did not see them, they sneaked out of the place and headed for the cemetery. They were about to cross the white gates when Asagi seemed to hesitate and Ruka finally demanded an explanation.
“I still don’t see how this has anything to do with your visions.”
“There’s something about this town. It’s all around me, like a delicate smell that catches you unaware and then poisons you.”
“You’re afraid.” Ruki whispered and then wound his arm around the seer’s waist, offering what little comfort he could.
“I am.” Asagi admitted.
However, he entered the cemetery with sure steps and then walked towards the same direction Ruka had charged for earlier. Yet the vampire did not sense anything this time around. He had already told the seer about his worries and the cemetery incident and he presumed that his confession had been the trigger for Asagi to come here, but Ruka had not told him where exactly he had felt the thing passing under his feet. It seemed more than a coincidence the fact that the seer found himself on the same grave.
Ruka watched the seer carefully, noticing the way his hands shook and his eyes seemed to be unwilling or unable to look up from the ground. Until, all of a sudden, Asagi’s head snapped up and took a long look at the grave stone in front of him. It read “Suika Welons” and just under it was the picture of a crystal nightshade shrub. It was surprising that they had missed that, which was an understatement, considering that both the vampire and the dragon had carefully surveyed the surroundings during those long minutes when they had been standing on the same grave.
Faster than in a blink of an eye, Asagi was kneeling on the ground, his face hidden by his hands and Ruka noticed with consternation that the seer’s shoulders shook slightly. He was crying. Ruki was immediately by his side, trying to console him, but nothing worked and for more than ten minutes, silent sobs shook Asagi’s body. When the crying finally subsided, Ruka dared ask.
“What’s wrong...” Seeing as he got no answer and that Asagi was now staring hauntingly at the grave stone, he took a guess. “Who was she?”
Asagi deemed him with an answer. Ruka wondered what shook him most, the answer or the fact that, due to crying, even the white of the seer’s eyes had turned red. His eyes looked exactly like two quivering, pulsing lakes of blood. He did not seem human anymore.
“My sister.”
And then Ruka somehow understood. This was the place where everything had started.
Ruki convinced the vampire that it was better leave Asagi alone for a while and so, the two of them settled on waiting for him near the white pillars.
“What do you think happened here?” Ruka asked the panther.
“Do you know what I heard a human say, long ago? Life is born from destruction. I’m hoping that this is the point that makes Asagi alive again.”
Ruka didn’t understand exactly what Ruki was talking about, but they both settled to watch the seer from afar.
Asagi was still kneeling on the ground, his knees digging into the grass and dirt, as if trying to fulfil one wish Asagi held locked in his very soul: to be with his sister again. But he did not dig, his hands did not move, his eyes did not shed more tears. He just stood there, immobile, almost without breathing or blinking, looking at his sister’s name, and remembering what had happened long ago.
And then, before his eyes, the picture changed. The white of the grave stone against the beige of the cemetery walls, framed by the blue of the sky and the green of the earth, changed into a poppy covered hill covered by the thick shade of a centenary acacia. And leaning against the dark trunk was a honey blonde man, his lean legs stretched before him, in a pose of relaxation, his hands pillowing his head. The man opened his eyes, deep pools of brown amber and looked straight at him. Asagi found himself walking towards the other man and then kneeling in front of him when the other beckoned him.
Asagi leaned more towards the lean figure in front of him and was a bit startled when he was pulled down and wrapped in warm muscular arms, his head resting on the other’s chest. He could hear the man's heart-beat, a strong empowering rhythm and it made him feel more alive than he had ever felt before.
“It’s okay. Don’t cry.” The amber eyed man spoke so softly into Asagi’s ear, it seemed a whisper, and yet the reassuring phrase had a disconcerting reaction. It pulled at Asagi’s heart strings and made him burrow deeper into the embrace and allow himself to cry. He cried for what seemed like an eternity, while being gently rocked by the other.
“Whatever comes, I’m here. And very soon I’ll be by your side.“
Asagi couldn’t believe his ears. It couldn’t be possible, he did not deserve this beautiful creature to look at him, let alone accept him as his lover. He wanted to voice that but any opposition died in his throat when lithe fingers caressed the nape of his neck and glided through his long dark hair.
“I’m the one that’s lucky, Asagi. I love you.”
As soon as the soft words were spoken, Asagi felt the vision starting to unravel. Frightened, he raised his head from the other’s chest, looked deep into his eyes and asked:
“What’s your name?”
The golden-brown seemed sad when his mate shook his head, indicating that he couldn’t answer that, but just before his image completely floated away, he reassured Asagi one more time.
“It won’t be long now, my love. Wait for me.”
And with that, Asagi was back in the cemetery, kneeling in front of his sister’s grave, in the same position as earlier. To Ruka’s eyes nothing seemed to have changed, but Ruki was able to read Asagi because even from the distance, it was impossible to miss the strong emotions raging their way through the man’s heart: where earlier there had been despair and defeat, now was hope and love.
A/N: If this fic turns out to be 100 chapters long, I'm blaming the bunnies. This chapter wasn't even supposed to be like this. They were supposed to find a spooky uncared for cemetery and the nightshade conveniently at the gates. And look what my rodents wrote instead. I mean I'm happy Asagi's mate gives us some fluff, but still, how long will this thing get? Ahhh
I'm hoping you guys aren't getting tired by this though and that you like it as much as until now. And well, in defense of my bunnies, I really wouldn't be able to do it without them, so certain sacrifices of lovely cakes and chocolate must be made. Hopping towards the next challenge, me, Yuki (and my cohorts). Love you all and squishes
Author: yukigafuru
Chapters: 53/?
Pairings: RukaxYomi, KaixRuki, AoixReita for now
Bands: Gazette, Naitomea, D... (and a surprise)
Rating: PG-15-PG-17 overall
Warnings: will be angst, yaoi, a bit of gore here and there, light mpreg
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 53
While the others snooped around the marketplace, Ruka and Reita were on their way to the cemetery. For the two of them, it was fairly easy to find out where it was, for there was something special about a cemetery. A burial ground was like a different dimension, a place connected to the town and the living and at the same time, part of nature, unaffected by time. It was made and maintained by people, it contained the memories and feelings of those who visited their loved ones, and that set it apart from the mountains and hills, rivers and forests. And yet, it was no longer a part of human society, it was a place where death and not life reigned. This union of energies was picked up by the vampire.
They just had to pass a few houses on the main road and then go right on a narrow pathway, marked by old willows whose branches reached across the path, embracing each other like lovers finding each other after a long separation. The sun’s rays barely filtered through the myriad of leaves, casting just enough light so that walking on the path was like swimming through an immaterial sparkling curtain pierced here and there -where there were fewer branches- by pillars of light. The pathway didn’t cut straight through the plain, but rather followed the line of trees, winding left and right, getting further and further away from the town, until its noises were drowned in the rattling of leaves, the murmur of the wind caressing the trees and the sparkling cries of robins.
At the end of the willow road was the cemetery, its white gates opened wide permitting entry while its tall fences, turned beige by rains and winds, put a barrier between this dimension and the outside world. Like the simple gates, lacking in any type of decoration except for the white varnishing, making them almost shine in the sun, the gravestones were simple, merely square rocks marking each grave. Only the names etched deep within the rock threw shadows on the white granite, making it look like the markers changed slightly throughout the day. The illusion was further deepened by the neatly cut meadow, cut so closely to the earth that it did not shake in the wind; a green live carpet.
“Damn!” Ruka cursed. It was obvious from Reita’s disappointed face that he too had realized the problem they were faced with.
“How are we supposed to find nightshade when everything is cut to the ground?” Ruka asked.
“It makes you wish this town’s people weren’t so pacific, doesn’t it?” Reita rhetorically asked.
Deadly nightshade grew in a meter and half shrubs and had green berries ripening into black. It was easily recognizable and widely known as being poisonous. Animals could eat it without a problem, but in humans, it provoked hallucinations and death. Because of the habit children have of tasting everything, it was not allowed to grow in gardens or around towns, but its robustness, green leaves and black berries made it a favourite in cemeteries. It possibly had something to do with its fruits being called “fruits of the dead”. Isre obviously felt differently. Not only did the town, thanks to its generous and lively people, regenerate and heal its villagers and those scarce travellers that wondered around these parts, but the cemetery was also just a place for repose and remembrance. It was obvious that no ghosts had ever disturbed the villagers of Isre.
“What now?” Reita worriedly asked.
“There’s nothing we can do but go back. We’ll probably have to leave a bit earlier than planned, take a one day detour that leads us to some sort of forest or even another town. The nightshade prefers shady places and it shouldn’t be that hard to find it somewhere else.
“Do you think Aoi knew?” Reita caught himself worrying.
“Know what?”
“That we wouldn’t find it. He seemed pretty sure that these three ingredients would pose a problem.”
“I don’t know how he could have.”
“Sometimes Aoi knows things. I don’t even know how. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was a seer or something like that.”
“Well, he is the expert on poisons.” Ruka added his two-pence. It also made him think what if the nightshade didn’t grow around these parts? Perhaps Aoi really had had a reason for saying that. “Maybe we should go back to the inn and ask him?”
Reita agreed. There was nothing else they could do anyway. They turned towards the gates and at a slow pace passed a few neatly aligned graves when Ruka froze.
“Ruka, is something wrong?” Ruka turned his head slightly towards the tiger before turning a hundred and eighty degrees around and marching straight towards the farthest end of the cemetery. Reita ran after the vampire.
“What are you doing?” Reita breathlessly asked. Ruka had moved so fast that at some point the tiger had had difficulties keeping him in sight. The cemetery was fairly large and the neat rows of grave stones, strong morning light and deep green grass, combined with the vampire’s speed helped create the illusion that Ruka disappeared for a few moments.
“I heard something.” Ruka whispered, his voice low, rumbling like a stretched cord. Reita stayed silent and turned his attention to the surroundings. All he could hear was the wind.
“I can’t hear anything.” Reita stated after a long while of silence. Ruka had not moved from the spot. Ruka immediately shut him up.
“There it was again... It’s coming from underground.”
“What?” A shocked tiger exclaimed and he almost jumped into the sky when he felt something move under his legs. They were standing on a grave. “You don’t think the dead just moved, do you?”
“Unless they’re un-dead, no. But something is down there.”
“So what do you suggest, that we dig? Come on, Ruka, this has nothing to do with us. We came looking for the nightshade and that’s it.” Reita did not like the way the vampire kept his mouth closed or the stubborn shine in his eyes. It spelled trouble. “Come on, Ruka. We really shouldn’t bother.” He mumbled, hoping that he would reach the vampire. “We have a few hours ahead of us. What if we called the pegasus and surveyed the plain from above? We might even scout a bit the surrounding areas.” There was no move from the tense man next to him, until minutes later when all of a sudden, Ruka turned towards the cemetery gates and at a measured pace, Reita following behind him, left the cemetery.
“What was that?” The tiger asked.
“I don’t know. But it isn’t here anymore. It passed right beneath us. It was several feet underground. Even if we would have dug, we wouldn’t have found anything but bones.”
“If it’s left, then why do you look worried?”
“Because I’m wondering where it’s gone.” Ruka answered and his eyes narrowed just a bit.
An hour later they were back at the inn, Reita on Aoi’s bed, where the mishepishu was sleeping soundly, exhausted after the night before, while Ruka pulled Asagi to the side and had a brief conversation with the seer that no one else heard. The others were still out looking for the ingredients. Reita hoped that they would have better luck than them.
Asagi, Ruki and Ruka left the room, and except Ni~ya who was barley alive on the bed next to the window, Reita found himself alone with a sleeping Aoi. He took off his shirt and trousers allowing them to pile on the floor and climbed in the bed, borrowing heat from Aoi’s own naked skin and settled in a contented sleep-in with his lover. He dreamt of heat and love.
Meanwhile, Ruki, Ruka and Asagi had a few plans of their own. Making sure that the inn keeper did not see them, they sneaked out of the place and headed for the cemetery. They were about to cross the white gates when Asagi seemed to hesitate and Ruka finally demanded an explanation.
“I still don’t see how this has anything to do with your visions.”
“There’s something about this town. It’s all around me, like a delicate smell that catches you unaware and then poisons you.”
“You’re afraid.” Ruki whispered and then wound his arm around the seer’s waist, offering what little comfort he could.
“I am.” Asagi admitted.
However, he entered the cemetery with sure steps and then walked towards the same direction Ruka had charged for earlier. Yet the vampire did not sense anything this time around. He had already told the seer about his worries and the cemetery incident and he presumed that his confession had been the trigger for Asagi to come here, but Ruka had not told him where exactly he had felt the thing passing under his feet. It seemed more than a coincidence the fact that the seer found himself on the same grave.
Ruka watched the seer carefully, noticing the way his hands shook and his eyes seemed to be unwilling or unable to look up from the ground. Until, all of a sudden, Asagi’s head snapped up and took a long look at the grave stone in front of him. It read “Suika Welons” and just under it was the picture of a crystal nightshade shrub. It was surprising that they had missed that, which was an understatement, considering that both the vampire and the dragon had carefully surveyed the surroundings during those long minutes when they had been standing on the same grave.
Faster than in a blink of an eye, Asagi was kneeling on the ground, his face hidden by his hands and Ruka noticed with consternation that the seer’s shoulders shook slightly. He was crying. Ruki was immediately by his side, trying to console him, but nothing worked and for more than ten minutes, silent sobs shook Asagi’s body. When the crying finally subsided, Ruka dared ask.
“What’s wrong...” Seeing as he got no answer and that Asagi was now staring hauntingly at the grave stone, he took a guess. “Who was she?”
Asagi deemed him with an answer. Ruka wondered what shook him most, the answer or the fact that, due to crying, even the white of the seer’s eyes had turned red. His eyes looked exactly like two quivering, pulsing lakes of blood. He did not seem human anymore.
“My sister.”
And then Ruka somehow understood. This was the place where everything had started.
Ruki convinced the vampire that it was better leave Asagi alone for a while and so, the two of them settled on waiting for him near the white pillars.
“What do you think happened here?” Ruka asked the panther.
“Do you know what I heard a human say, long ago? Life is born from destruction. I’m hoping that this is the point that makes Asagi alive again.”
Ruka didn’t understand exactly what Ruki was talking about, but they both settled to watch the seer from afar.
Asagi was still kneeling on the ground, his knees digging into the grass and dirt, as if trying to fulfil one wish Asagi held locked in his very soul: to be with his sister again. But he did not dig, his hands did not move, his eyes did not shed more tears. He just stood there, immobile, almost without breathing or blinking, looking at his sister’s name, and remembering what had happened long ago.
And then, before his eyes, the picture changed. The white of the grave stone against the beige of the cemetery walls, framed by the blue of the sky and the green of the earth, changed into a poppy covered hill covered by the thick shade of a centenary acacia. And leaning against the dark trunk was a honey blonde man, his lean legs stretched before him, in a pose of relaxation, his hands pillowing his head. The man opened his eyes, deep pools of brown amber and looked straight at him. Asagi found himself walking towards the other man and then kneeling in front of him when the other beckoned him.
Asagi leaned more towards the lean figure in front of him and was a bit startled when he was pulled down and wrapped in warm muscular arms, his head resting on the other’s chest. He could hear the man's heart-beat, a strong empowering rhythm and it made him feel more alive than he had ever felt before.
“It’s okay. Don’t cry.” The amber eyed man spoke so softly into Asagi’s ear, it seemed a whisper, and yet the reassuring phrase had a disconcerting reaction. It pulled at Asagi’s heart strings and made him burrow deeper into the embrace and allow himself to cry. He cried for what seemed like an eternity, while being gently rocked by the other.
“Whatever comes, I’m here. And very soon I’ll be by your side.“
Asagi couldn’t believe his ears. It couldn’t be possible, he did not deserve this beautiful creature to look at him, let alone accept him as his lover. He wanted to voice that but any opposition died in his throat when lithe fingers caressed the nape of his neck and glided through his long dark hair.
“I’m the one that’s lucky, Asagi. I love you.”
As soon as the soft words were spoken, Asagi felt the vision starting to unravel. Frightened, he raised his head from the other’s chest, looked deep into his eyes and asked:
“What’s your name?”
The golden-brown seemed sad when his mate shook his head, indicating that he couldn’t answer that, but just before his image completely floated away, he reassured Asagi one more time.
“It won’t be long now, my love. Wait for me.”
And with that, Asagi was back in the cemetery, kneeling in front of his sister’s grave, in the same position as earlier. To Ruka’s eyes nothing seemed to have changed, but Ruki was able to read Asagi because even from the distance, it was impossible to miss the strong emotions raging their way through the man’s heart: where earlier there had been despair and defeat, now was hope and love.
A/N: If this fic turns out to be 100 chapters long, I'm blaming the bunnies. This chapter wasn't even supposed to be like this. They were supposed to find a spooky uncared for cemetery and the nightshade conveniently at the gates. And look what my rodents wrote instead. I mean I'm happy Asagi's mate gives us some fluff, but still, how long will this thing get? Ahhh
I'm hoping you guys aren't getting tired by this though and that you like it as much as until now. And well, in defense of my bunnies, I really wouldn't be able to do it without them, so certain sacrifices of lovely cakes and chocolate must be made. Hopping towards the next challenge, me, Yuki (and my cohorts). Love you all and squishes