(no subject)
Summary: Ninjas are trained to kill without remorse. It’s this that makes Kurogane realise that he’ll never be a ninja again.
Pairing: KuroFai
Fandom: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, Infinity-ish.
Rating / Warnings: T, Character death
Themes: death, friendship, love
Last Fool Standing
Fai smiled up at Kurogane from the ninja’s lap, blood tainting his pale lips, dripping from the corners of his mouth into his dull blonde hair that had long since passed his shoulders. His breathing was shallow, and every so often a weak cough would bring forth more blood and more hurt. But, despite the sharp dagger protruding from his stomach, there was no fear or pain in his eyes. He smiled, not saying a word, and not needing to.
Kurogane reached down and brushed the long bangs from the magician’s face, murmuring soft words of appreciation, trust and, oddly enough, praise. Fai’s smile strengthened, his breath starting to slow along with his heartbeat.
“Kurogane.”
The ninja winced at the lack of suffix, honorific or any nickname whatsoever, turning to meet the mage’s gaze.
“You said that if I really wanted to die, you’d kill me. But until then I’d have to live.”
Kurogane quirked an eyebrow, both curious and confused. Fai smiled serenely and held the dagger in his hand up for Kurogane to see, its blade gleaming in the candlelight.
Silence panned between them, broken only by the raindrops hitting the windowpanes.
“You damn idiot…” Kurogane mumbled, holding Fai’s cold hand tight in his own. Fai’s weak grip tightened briefly, the life in the wizard’s body draining quicker with each passing second, but his magic stubbornly keeping him alive, only prolonging his inevitable passing.
“I had a brother…” Fai whispered, his voice loud in the silent room, moonlight falling across his tired face, “He was--” he coughed harshly and Kurogane helped him turn on his side, telling him to not talk if he could help it. Fai ignored him and continued, his eyes dulling and his body getting heavier. “He was killed when we were younger, and I vowed to… to bring him back to life.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“But, I can’t anymore… his body is in Celes, and I can never return.”
“I have been for a long time…”
“You could still live… If you drink my blood, you could heal…”
“No.”
“I’m ready to die.”
“And why the hell not?”
Fai looked to where he knew the window was, but the glassiness of his eyes told Kurogane that he couldn’t actually see it.
“This life was never mine to live… I suppose…”
If the wizard weren’t dying in his arms, Kurogane might have hit him.
“Stop with the damn mind games and answer me straight for once, mage!” he snarled instead, but without anger or hate.
Fai only smiled, closing his eyes and nuzzling slightly into Kurogane’s lap.
“I’m ready,” he repeated quietly, his magic struggling to keep his weary heart beating, “Take it out.”
“At least give me a name,” Kurogane persisted, knowing Fai knew what he meant.
A soft sigh of contented breath was exhaled, the word “Ashura” floating along with it, the wizard falling into his last slumber.
Kurogane regretfully closed his hand around the dagger’s handle a second time, drawing it from Fai’s body in one swift stroke, deep red blood coating its silver blade. Fai shuddered, spluttering slightly, his eyes open and staring into Kurogane’s. Blood fell from his mouth, thicker and faster than before. He coughed harshly to the side, staining the hard wood floor around them.
He looked back into Kurogane’s eyes, his skin white and beautiful as the snowy world he was from, and smiled one last time, a “Thank you” dying with him.