Well, I'll start with an apology, as I haven't updated this story in well over a year. Part of the reason was because I stopped receiving email notifications from fanfiction and didn't see the new favorites, follows, and reviews for a long time; part of it was college; part of it was laziness and a disinterest in putting my writing up online. But I'm determined to finish this story at the very least, even if it takes me a few years, because it's one of my favorites that I've ever written and I've got the whole thing planned out and just HAVE to share it with you guys. So I'd like to apologize for keeping you so long, and also welcome any new readers who haven't had the pleasure of getting that email that says "Update" and getting excited about it yet! Because I'm excited about this story and I hope you guys still are! And thanks for the reviews for the last chapter and every chapter up until now, they're really the only things getting me back into this.

By the way, I'm an English major in college so even though I haven't been posting, I've been writing a lot over the last year and I expect my writing style has changed a little. I hope it's not a jarring change, and if anything for the better, but I just thought I should warn you, especially for future chapters (this one was mostly written a year ago).

Chapter 10: Strange Magic

Day 50

Fai took a long drink from his waterskin, not stopping even when water trickled down his chin and landed on his chest. He kept gulping down the cool liquid until the container was empty. He lowered it and gave a quiet, satisfied sigh as he looked around, not sure what to do with himself.

He and Kurogane had fallen into a regular routine, finally comfortable with this world that had become their home. They spent most mornings training, but every three or four days they'd take the morning slowly, sleeping in a bit and resting. And with all this new spare time, Fai also found freedom. He was no longer nervous about going places on his own, now that he was confident that most people on the compound knew him, so he often went for walks on his own on those lazy days, especially if Kurogane was meeting with Hiroto or someone else of equal importance (and boredom).

Today was a resting days, but he'd been drawn to the training grounds anyways. However, instead of going down to the shooting range to get some practice in he was sitting on the hill where he and Kurogane always shared lunch, just watching. But he'd been there for almost an hour and he was getting bored. He didn't know where Kurogane was, it was too early to look for Aoi at the stables, and he was looking for something else to do.

He scanned the area and his eyes were drawn to the small collection of houses and tents down on the plain below, on the other side of the sparring area from where he was sitting. He'd wandered down there several times before, the first time with Kurogane, but always by himself after that. It was where the wives and children of the men who battled alongside him every night lived. These women had accepted him immediately. Fascinated with his hair and skin, a couple of them had pulled him away from Kurogane the moment they saw him and brought him into their homes where they fed him and spoiled him despite his attempts to resist. At first he'd been overwhelmed by their light, quick voices and their laughter, but after they'd forced a bowl of porridge on him they'd left him by himself for the most part, only offering him tea or a snack every so often. Then they'd chatted and sewed and scolded their children and went about their daily lives with Fai sitting quietly in the corner. Ever since then he'd spent most of his days off with them, glad for the change of pace from his usual schedule.

The women in this world were amazing, really. Fai didn't know if they were not allowed in the army or if they chose not to fight, but he'd never noticed any female soldiers. However, that did not mean the warring culture didn't affect just about every aspect of their lives. Every single night these women and children sent their fathers and husbands and sons and brothers out, not knowing if they'd ever see them again. And every night they'd come to carry the injured away and sew up their wounds and identify the dead. Some of these women had seen more blood and death than many warriors ever would, and it showed in their eyes. Their kind, soft faces so often housed dark, weary eyes; but they kept going, despite the constant worry and pain. They were strong. Fai only wished he knew what they talked about while they patched the rips in their daughters' dresses or what they found to laugh at while they polished their husbands' swords.

He also wished he knew their names, and how to thank them for their kindness.

He could go visit them now. They'd greet him warmly, touch his hair and scold him for letting it get so long and tangled. The younger girls would comb it out for him, maybe even braid it, giggling the whole time. They'd give him something simple and delicious to eat, as they always did, even as they struggled to feed themselves. They'd make him feel like he was part of something kind and happy, even if just for a little while.

But for some reason the idea didn't appeal to him like it usually did. Maybe it was because he had other things on his mind.

With a soft grunt he got to his feet and stretched. He'd been sitting still for a long time. Turning his back on the open plain and the little village, he walked over the crest of the hill and started down the other side.

After reaching the base of the hill, Fai found himself facing a large, open plain similar to the one on the other side, but devoid of any buildings or people. In front of him was a stretch of long, unkempt grass which gave away abruptly to a clear section, consisting mostly of dirt and a few clumps of short, unhappy plants. It was no wonder why nothing grew there, what with the constant stamping and trampling beneath the boots of soldiers every night. For it was in this field that they gathered nightly before moving on to the battlefield. And it was this field that Fai wanted a closer look at.

He knew they were transported to their mysterious battlegrounds, but once again he felt like learning this one piece of information had left him with more questions than answers. Who or what transported them? And where did they go? And why? He often wondered if Kurogane knew any more about these matters than he did; the whole culture within the compound seemed to value secrecy. But he was determined that the language barrier, which he'd only just begun trying to breach recently, wouldn't stop him from forcing this world to reveal its secrets to him.

He reached the edge of the flattened, trampled earth and crouched down, investigating the line between grass and dirt. There was something about this area, a mysterious aura that was like a whisper at the back of his neck. He shivered and crossed the line, stepping into a zone that pulsed with some foreign power. It was similar to the atmosphere that always surrounded Yasha, but constant, lower and deeper, like background noise compared to a distinct tune.

He walked to what he judged to be the center of the packed dirt and turned around slowly on the spot. From what he could tell, the edge between the dirt and grass formed a perfect circle around him, with a distinct transition between the two areas. Standing there, Fai got the feeling he wasn't really in this dimension or the one where they fought their nightly battles; he felt like he was somewhere in between. A gentle breeze trailed across his skin, chilling him down to the bone like a winter gale. As he continued observing this strange space, he felt a tingling fear run up his spine and his stomach clenched with a familiar feeling of dread. He looked over his shoulder and gasped softly when he saw Yasha standing a few yards away.

Fai had not heard or seen Yasha approaching, even though he'd been staring out over the vast, flat plain just a minute before. It was like he'd just appeared there by magic. Fai's eyes narrowed slightly. Perhaps he had.

As though moving in slow motion, Yasha lifted a hand and tucked a strand of his long, flowing hair behind his ear. His calm eyes never left Fai's as he took a small, slow step closer, and then another and another until he was standing just a few feet away. Fai hadn't moved but with every inch gained by Yasha, the hair on the back of his neck stood up straighter. The power radiating from Yasha was like an electric current dancing across Fai's skin.

They stood there, staring at each other unblinkingly for several long moments. Fai didn't bother wasting a fake smile on this guy, and instead kept his mouth set in a firm line. Yasha, on the other hand, seemed to find Fai amusing. His usually emotionless face stirred into a semblance of a smile. The air between them seemed to tremble under the force of their stares.

Then without any warning, Yasha seemed to rush at Fai. His image grew larger and then he was right on top of him. Fai drew a breath to cry out but before any sound left him his vision had gone black.

When Fai awoke it was nearly dark. The sky was orange at the horizon and shifted through various shades of the rainbow, from yellow to green to blue to deep indigo overhead. Looking around he found he was still in the circle of packed dirt where the ritual transportation happened every night. He was alone, and as he picked himself up and started walking back towards the castle, he decided he had made one very important discovery that afternoon.

Yasha was more than he seemed; and he was not to be trusted.

…

Day 53

Kurogane had thought he'd accepted Yama as his home weeks ago, but there had still been a tiny glimmer of hope living inside of him that Syaoran, Sakura, and Mokona would appear in the courtyard someday and take them away to some new, fantastic world. But every day he felt that hope getting smaller and smaller and he found himself becoming more and more comfortable in his new home. Fai had also seemed to find peace here to some level. There was an ease and something akin to happiness here, despite the difficulties presented to them daily. It got to the point where Kurogane realized he was going days at a time without thinking about the kids at all. He'd felt guilty about it at first, but as it became more natural, he even forgot to feel guilt over it more and more often. He'd really become accustomed to this life.

Still, there was one thing that didn't reflect the way he was feeling, and it bothered him. His and Fai's room was so plain, so boring, so temporary feeling. It didn't have anything decorative or personal in it, other than their clothes and one wind chime. When they came back to it after a long evening of fighting, it didn't feel like they were coming home, but rather coming back to a room they happened to use. There were dozens of others just like it spread throughout Yama-jou.

Normally this wouldn't have bothered Kurogane. It was a trivial matter, in all honesty. What did it matter if one's room was plain or decorated? But he just felt like he needed something in order to identify that this was it, this was where he'd be spending his life and there was no question about it. Perhaps he was looking for closure to that period of time he'd spent traveling to different and exciting worlds. Whatever it was, he decided something needed to be done.

Despite the surety in his mind that he needed to do something to make the room feel more permanent, he was at a loss as to what would be fitting. So he took a day to find inspiration in the décor of other parts of the castle compound. In some buildings there were scrolls with beautiful calligraphy hanging on many of the walls, but Fai wouldn't be able to appreciate that, so he dismissed the idea. There were also some paintings and maps, but he didn't know where he would acquire one. Plants were nice, but he'd never really been known for…well, keeping them alive. Kurogane sighed as he passed a vase fully of fancy, delicate, curling ferns. No, those wouldn't do at all.

Discouraged, he took a break on his tour through the buildings in the inner rings of the compound and stepped outside for some fresh air. It was a warm afternoon, but not nearly so hot as it had been recently. It was quite pleasant to walk under the trees in the gardens and pause by the water features, smelling the wind and the water and the grass. Fai loved these gardens, and if he wasn't working hard alongside Aoi in the stables, he would have been running all over the place, pointing out flowers and rocks and benches with a genuine smile on his face.

Kurogane wished he could just transfer an entire courtyard into their room for Fai's viewing pleasure, but of course that was impossible. Then again, perhaps he had been looking in the wrong place for inspiration; perhaps he should have been out here the entire time. With a renewed vigor, he set off down the path, his eyes dancing from one object to the next, looking for the perfect thing to brighten their room and make it their own.

Kurogane delved further into these gardens, Yasha's own gardens, than he ever had before. He soon didn't recognize his surroundings, but kept surging forwards, hoping he'd run into inspiration as he was greeted with unknown species of plant, more intricate arrangements of stones, and fantastic man-made waterfalls.

Just as Kurogane was stepping over a small bridge, he saw the roof of a building, one he'd never seen before. Heading towards it, he soon realized it wasn't actually a closed building; the walls were made of wooden latticework covered in vines and flowers. He found an archway and ducked inside, not sure what exactly would be stored in such a place.

Kurogane's eyes widened with surprise. Inside it was warmer and more humid than it had been outside, and an abundance of plants and wooden cages populated the floor, walls, and even hung from the ceiling. Examining the closest cage, Kurogane found a small bird peering at him curiously through the bars. It twittered and fluttered from its perch down to the floor of the cage to peck at the dish of birdseed. Kurogane smiled. It was a cute, colorful little thing, mostly yellow with some black markings around the eyes and peachy cheeks. Its tail feathers were long and decorative, ending in a forked V shape.

"Do you like him?"

Kurogane's heart nearly leapt out of his chest at the sudden appearance of Yasha at his side. How had the king approached him so silently, escaping even a ninja's notice? "Yes, he's beautiful," Kurogane answered. He kept his eyes on the bird, but never let any of Yasha's movements escape his notice.

"He came from far, far away," Yasha said. His voice sounded like it was coming from far, far away, it was so muted. Kurogane kept his silence after that comment, waiting to see what the usually silent king would say or do next. After a few minutes Yasha tilted his head to the side just a little. "You should give him to Fai-san."

"What?"

"You want to bring something back to your room for Fai-san, no? Take him." Yasha nodded at the caged bird and then smiled. "I think he'll find it most interesting."

Yasha turned and left through the archway behind them. Kurogane stared in that direction long after he was gone, wondering how Yasha had known about his plan. He hadn't shared it with anybody. It was a personal venture, and supposed to be a surprise for Fai. And yet Yasha had known.

Though his stomach shifted uncomfortably when he thought about Yasha's words, he didn't dare disobey them. Gathering up the cage and a pouch full of seed lying beside it, he went straight back to the room he shared with Fai. The bird twittered cheerfully as he placed the wooden cage on the floor on Fai's side of the room.

He was just pouring some more seeds into the dish at the bottom of the cage when Fai slid the door open, humming cheerfully.

"Good morning!" he said in that awkward way of his, unaware of his fallacy. Kurogane suppressed a laugh. Fai was beginning to understand a lot of the phrases he used on a regular basis and was starting to try them out himself, but the translation was not perfect. He'd obviously mistaken Kurogane's daily 'good morning' for a more generic greeting like 'hello'. But it didn't really matter, since Kurogane was the only one he spoke in front of; in fact, he thought it was kind of cute.

"Good morning," he acquiesced. Then Fai seemed to notice the birdcage behind him and he gasped in delight. Pushing Kurogane out of the way, he knelt down and began talking to the bird, smiling at its chirped responses.

Kurogane stood back and watched his friend interact with their new pet and he felt content. Their room was certainly livelier with this colorful addition, but it also had a more personal feel. The simple knowledge that a living creature awaited them in this room to feed it and play with it created a warmer atmosphere. He hoped that Fai felt the same way about it.

"Belle," Fai was saying as he tugged on Kurogane's sleeve. "Belle!"

"Is that what you want to call it?" Kurogane muttered. He supposed it meant something to Fai, but he also knew he wouldn't be able to pronounce that word the same way. He couldn't differentiate between separate 'l' and 'r' sounds the same way Fai did. "Be-ru," he said in his best attempt. Fai laughed, pleased.

"Beru," he repeated. He smiled softly to himself and said it again. "Beru." He poked his finger between the bars of the cage and rubbed his pet's cheek, babbling and calling it 'Beru' all the while.

After another moment's thought, Kurogane decided the name was perfect. After all, it was a word in Fai's language with the pronunciation of his language. The mixing of their two worlds seemed appropriate for the name of their new pet.

He gave a small sigh and shook his head. If only all their communications could be so simple.

…

Day 57

Fai hadn't let himself feel very much for years. And it had gotten to the point where he didn't really think about it anymore; it was just second-nature to keep emotions and feelings at bay. To feel was to get hurt, after all. Keeping his distance was so much easier, so much cleaner and more efficient.

But he and Kurogane had been in this world for about two months now and it was getting difficult to maintain the distance he preferred to keep. He was getting too comfortable here, he could feel his guard lowering more and more every day despite his best efforts to keep it raised. And messy emotions kept suddenly overwhelming him, making him behave in unexpected ways.

Fear was one of those emotions. He felt it on the battlefield, a place where he'd seldom experienced it before. The notion of fearing for his own life had never occurred to him, but now it wasn't just him out there. He was responsible for Kurogane as well, the strange warrior who fought but refused to kill. Fai felt like he had to constantly look out for him and make sure he wasn't being overwhelmed, and at times he felt an intense fear for things that could or might happen. It was an undesired emotion, and one that reminded him why he preferred to not deal with such things.

There was helplessness as well. He was more familiar with this emotion. Usually he kept himself so busy and tired that it didn't have time to worm its way into his heart and mind, but occasionally the silence still got to him. It was the times when he'd suddenly feel like he was entirely alone in this world. Feelings that were given names like panic and desperation would make his heart pound and his knees lock and he would usually seek out Kurogane and grab ahold of his sleeve and tail him around for a while until he'd calmed himself down.

And then there was this entirely new feeling, this light, warm thing in his chest sometimes. It was kind of like happiness, but somehow not quite. The feeling was mostly reserved for the precious moments he spent alone with Kurogane, in the mornings, at mealtimes, at night after his companion had fallen asleep and his deep, slow breathing filled their room.

Yes, time with Kurogane was definitely the most important to him. They didn't talk much, of course. Sometimes Fai still felt like he was going to explode if he stayed quiet any longer, and then he'd tell Kurogane anything that popped into his mind. But Kurogane didn't speak much when it was just them, unless it was one of the few phrases or words Fai had come to recognize. He didn't know their exact translations, but he understood their meanings. There was one that meant it was time to eat (meal? food?), one that meant it was time to go to the battleground (moon? war?), and one that was associated with Fai himself. Kurogane didn't say his name directly very often anymore, he'd come to call him by some sort of nickname. Fai didn't know what it meant, but he knew that it referred to him, and his heart leapt up into his throat when he heard it.

"Baka," Kurogane would say quietly and Fai would turn, alert and ready. He often wondered exactly what the word meant. Kurogane would say it when he was exasperated, when he needed to get Fai's attention, and even quite tenderly during their quieter moments together.

It had been quite a relief to him when Kurogane stopped using his name in all manner of embarrassing situations. He himself avoided saying 'Kurogane' aloud as often as possible, preferring his silly nicknames. After all, even though he was feeling more now than he had in years, he had his limits. He didn't know whether it would come across as formal or informal to his companion, but for now he thought it best to stay in his comfort zone and continue teasing and poking fun. If he could hide that warm feeling from Kurogane for even one more day, he would do it.

…

Day 60

Fai could feel the surging, powerful muscle of the animal below him as the yoroisaku* paced back and forth, seemingly unable to stay still. Fai's eyes scanned the area around them and his fingers shifted slightly on the grip of his bow. The battle was spread out before him, different colors of armor and clothing mixing until it all seemed the same dark, muddy color. Some nights, like this one, it was difficult for the archers to single out any one fighter in particular. They mostly spent their time surveying, watching for anything unusual, and when they saw the opportunity they attacked with frightening speed and accuracy.

(*previously known as tokage; see note at end of chapter for explanation)

These were the times when Fai felt a bit of nervousness nibbling away at his stomach. Everything was chaotic and confusing, and that made it dangerous. Fai wasn't so much worried about himself, but Kurogane was still in that strange habit of refusing to kill anyone, despite the fact they were on a battlefield. So Fai usually hovered behind him, following through with his arrows where Kurogane refused to with his sword.

But tonight, under the eye of the enormous full moon, he felt calmer than usual. Kurogane seemed to be focused on the task at hand and he was disarming and incapacitating soldier after soldier with an ease and fluidity he often lacked. And once a man had been sent spinning from his encounter with Kurogane, Fai's arrows easily found the chinks in his armor and he'd fall, some to writhe and cry out as the battle wore on, others to fall still immediately. The mounds of the dead and wounded grew at Kurogane's feet, staining the ground with blood.

Fai loosed another arrow and watched it find its mark, sinking into the neck of a young man in dark armor. Without pausing for an instant Kurogane moved on to the next soldier in line. They'd gotten good at working together this way over the past couple of weeks, finding a rhythm in their battle styles and adapting to each other.

Fai led his yoroisaku around to Kurogane's right side. He wanted to draw a bit closer for a better angle on his opponents. The beast responded to the slightest of tugs on the reins, and the precision with which Fai could control it always amazed him. As he pulled up nearer to Kurogane he could see every graceful movement flowing to the next. He looked absolutely untouchable as his face took on a grim smile; one without joy. Fai's vision seem to sharpen as he watched Kurogane's every parry, stroke, and jab. He could see every speck of blood on Kurogane's cheek, the small dents and imperfections on his breastplate. He dispatched another man, sending him to the ground and Fai calmly nocked an arrow and sent it into his chest. The next soldier took his fallen comrade's place and Kurogane immediately turned his focus on him. And that was when Fai's heart stopped.

He'd seen this before.

A cold fear flooded his stomach as he remembered his dream from more than a month ago. He opened his mouth to warn Kurogane, but there was nothing he could do. The yoroisaku beneath him sensed his discomfort and stamped its feet, snorting.

The noise seemed to alert Kurogane to the fact that something was wrong and he glanced over his shoulder at Fai. It was the last thing he should have done, and Fai felt frozen to the spot as Kurogane's enemy took advantage of his distraction. He began to push Kurogane back and the smile slid off his face as he grit his teeth and tried to hold his own. But as he stepped back, his foot slid on the blood-covered rock and he stumbled. His foe, seeing the opening, lunged forward.

As the sword, gleaming in the moonlight, moved towards Kurogane's exposed side as though it was in slow motion, Fai slid to the ground. He was running towards Kurogane and pulling his readied arrow back as the sword pierced Kurogane's side.

Kurogane cried out as he crumpled to the ground, a dark stain spreading across his robes, but Fai didn't take the time to look. Even as Kurogane's opponent pulled his sword back for a finishing blow, Fai had already shot an arrow into his neck and was drawing another one for insurance. As the attacker fell, choking on his own blood, Fai stood over Kurogane's body and unleashed an attack the likes of which he didn't know he had in him. Arrows flew across the battlefield with deadly speed and accuracy as he shot at everything that moved, in a kind of trance. He hoped, somewhere in the back of his mind, that he wasn't attacking his own allies, but that seemed to be a minor concern. The only thing he could hear was Kurogane's ragged breathing and his own pulse pounding in his ears.

Men from both sides scattered beneath the rain of arrows, until he was standing in the middle of a ring of bare rock and fallen warriors. His vision blurred as the battle stopped around him and hundreds of people stared at the lone fighter, wild-eyed and trembling as his hands reached for another arrow. He nocked it but never got the chance to shoot, for just as he raised his bow, the world around them all went black.

As the familiar field materialized around him, Fai came back to himself with a gasp. He dropped his bow and fell to his knees beside Kurogane, whose eyes were closed. He felt panic clawing at his heart as he eyes raked over Kurogane's pale face and bloodied clothes. "Kurogane," he whispered as he pulled his friend's headpiece off and touched his sweaty face. He was breathing, but he was shaking. Fai had to help him.

He looked up to see people milling around, helping the wounded and taking count of the dead. Nobody was paying attention to him anymore; in fact, they seemed to be avoiding him, as though they were afraid. His eyes jumped from face to unfamiliar face, looking for eyes that reflected his own urgency, but none returned his gaze. There was only one person he could think of at the moment.

"Hiroto!" he shouted, his voice cracking from the sudden outburst. He didn't remember the last time he'd shouted, but he was now. "Hiroto! Hiroto!"

Those around him took a step back and stared as he continued to yell, but it had the intended effect. After a few seconds a lone figure shoved his way through the crowd and crouched next to Fai. It was Hiroto, to Fai's relief. "Please, help him Hiroto," Fai said as Hiroto took in Kurogane's injuries.

Though he couldn't understand Fai's words, the message was clear enough. Hiroto wasted no time in taking charge of the situation, giving orders to those bystanders that were healthy themselves. A stretcher, made from a length of cloth stretched between two poles, was brought over and a couple of men heaved Kurogane onto it. Fai went to help them, but found himself being held back by Hiroto. He tried to pull free from his grasp, but Hiroto remained firm, telling him something in a calm, soothing voice. Fai didn't appreciate the lecture at that moment.

"Kurogane!" he called as his friend was taken away from him. He just wanted to know that Kurogane would be okay; that was all that mattered to him. But it looked like Hiroto was determined to keep him where he was.

As he was lifted by two strong men, Kurogane's eyes fluttered open. The black orbs, glistening beneath the light of the full moon, found Fai's and held his gaze as he was carried off, out of the clearing. He opened his mouth and even though he spoke quietly, his voice was the only thing Fai could hear. As though they were only inches apart from each other, he heard Kurogane say a single word in a calm voice, the only one that he needed to hear.

"Fai."

Yoroisaku –I've hated calling the horse-lizard things "tokage" ever since I first forced myself to name them and I considered it a placemarker until I came up with something better. So I've decided to create a new word (eek!). I've got minimal knowledge of Japanese, and what I've got is self-taught, so I understand this is by no means perfect and if it's just totally wrong please tell me. But I've come up with a word that hopefully means "armored beast" using kanji that mean, surprise surprise, armor and beast: 鎧畜 So if you've got experience with Japanese let me know if that's horrible and offensive or if it'll do for the purposes of a fictional story. XD

Belle/Beru – I've seen other people use French as Fai's native language, so that's the kind of thing I was going for, Belle meaning 'beauty' in French and 'Beru' being the Japanese pronunciation of the word 'bell'.

Baka – I hope you guys understand this one, but yeah, it means 'idiot' to put it simply.

Thanks for reading! I may be slow at updating, but I am determined to do this and I will be forever grateful for the support of those of you that have stuck with me so far and plan on continuing to do so. You guys are the best!