Here we go, guys! The new and very improved FUTAGO! (Which means "twin" in Japanese). For any new readers, I warn you again that this is full of spoilers. Perhaps not now, but definitely later on.

With that, I hope you all enjoy!

Futago

Prologue-

Fai had to be dead. That was the only explanation for his sudden company, this strange man dressed in dark, sweeping robes of foreign origin. His graying hair, dark, unlike his people's had been, unlike his own bright, pale blonde. The same pale color as his brother's down below. Of their own accord, his icy blue eyes darted to the window, looking down through the soft haze where his twin brother lay in the snow. Yuui sat up against the wall towards the high, lone window that gave him chance to see his pathetic double up in that forsaken tower. But, though the haze was gone for this brief moment, his brother's eyes were closed.

"Save him," Fai heard his raspy, dry voice whisper. He turned his dead eyes on the foreign man. "Please… save him. The one at the bottom of this tower."

The man seemed to pause his thoughts, Fai could somehow tell, though he hadn't moved. At last, his eyes flickered to the small window. Fai's eyes didn't leave his face. The man cocked an incredulous eyebrow. "Choosing your brother over yourself? I don't believe he would do the same thing to you, if I came to him."

"Him," Fai immediately said, his strong expression never once fading. "Not me."

The man's lips curled up. He reminded Fai a little of his uncle, looking down at the two twins, asking them which would choose to die. This strange man had to be of no good. But to take his brother away from this horrible place; to take his brother somewhere where he'd be warm and fed and happy….

Fai would do anything.

"There will be a price," the man said airily, already knowing Fai didn't care in the least. At his sure nod, he smiled. "Very well. I am Fei Wong Reed. You shall not be allowed to see your brother until the day I die, and he shall be subject to a life of sorrow for the rest of his days. That will be the price. Also… I will not be taking you from this tower."

Fai felt his eyes widen in sheer terror. His heart frantically pounded in his frail chest- surely it was loud enough for Fei Wong to hear. Swallowing hard, Fai stonily nodded. "As long as you get him away from here."

It was almost as if his life flashed before his eyes. We don't really want to put you in the tower. You're the king's nephews- if one of you would choose to die, the whole kingdom would be safe; isn't that your responsibility? Would you selfishly choose to live and let the rest of us die? You're no family of mine, you terrible curses!

He clamped his eyes shut. He could practically feel Fei Wong's laugh wrack through his body. Fai thought he had already gone- but Fei Wong spoke again, a smirk in his words. "I will send him to a king by the name of Ashura from one of the neighboring countries of this world. He will care for your brother," Reed explained to the ashen faced boy. "All the while, you'll stay in this tower, alone and without hope of leaving here while your magic is sealed here."

Fai couldn't respond. To be left here, alone…. His breath hitched, but Fei Wong Reed had already disappeared. Fai pulled himself up to the window, looking down through tearing eyes at his brother. Reed appeared before him, stunning Yuui into waking up. Even though he was too high up to hear what they were saying, Fai knew Reed was asking Yuui the same thing he'd asked Fai.

Yuui's eyes grew wide.

He pointed to himself.

Fai felt his world crash to the ground. Of course. Of course. Reed had been right. He'd chosen himself over his brother… but that was alright, wasn't it? Yuui deserved to live. Fai was the reason they'd been sent away in the first place. It was his fault Yuui had to see all the death fall before him.

Not even a second later, Fai heard a soft voice call out to him. "Do you wish to get out?"

He flickered turquoise eyes to the woman standing before him. Like Reed had been, she looked so foreign. Midnight hair and eyes, tall and shapely. The black dress she wore fit her tightly, trailing along the ground. The woman smiled. Unlike Reed, this time, the smile held no foreboding malice. She knelt down and took his hand. "You have a wish. To get out of this tower, correct?"

Fai helplessly looked back down at Yuui. He and Fei Wong were still speaking. "But… but I still want Yuui to get out more than me," he told her. "M-my twin, at the bottom of this tower."

The woman nodded, rising to her feet. "To give you the freedom you desire would be a heavy price. Instead, I shall lift the spell binding on this prison in order for you to use your magic and leave yourself. There will still be a price, however."

A small smile came upon Fai's face. Like with Yuui, so long as he got out, Fai would pay any price. This place was death, but Fai was alive. He was never meant to stay here. "I'll do it, Ma'am."

"Call me Yuuko." The smile mirrored on Yuuko's face as well. "I do not wish this upon either of you… but it must be done." Looking down at him a solemn expression, Yuuko said, "Your brother will think you are dead."

Just at the same time, Fai turned to the window and saw an illusion of himself falling out the window. Yuui screamed out, and Fai clamped his eyes shut. The scream reverberated against the entire tower, settling itself in Fai's mind. "He… he thinks I'm dead," Fai whimpered. "He thinks-"

The woman combed through the tangles in his hair. "I'm sorry… Fai. You must wait until King Ashura takes your brother before you can escape. Because of Reed's curse upon you, you cannot lay eyes on him either. I truly am sorry."

Fai didn't even notice he was laughing until the witch blinked in surprise. "It doesn't matter," the boy murmured with a tired smile. "I'll get to see him again after Fei Wong Reed dies. Then he'll know I'm not dead, and things will get better."

Yuuko had nothing to say to that. Instead, she put her hands on his shoulders, causing him to look up and meet her eyes. "I'll put you into a deep sleep, Fai. You'll wake up with enough magic power to escape and travel through dimensions, where you will find my home."

Fai's eyes began to close on their own. "But… what will happen… to Yuui…?"

As he slumped over, Yuuko murmured, "He will live in sorrow. But he won't be alone."