From the Beginning: Ch. 5
Title: From the Beginning
Co-written by: youkohiei-fan and Zelinxia
Overall Summary: Canon AU. Eleven-year-old Kurogane and his father are summoned to Shirasagi Castle where he meets Fai, a boy from a different world. What becomes an instant friendship sets in stone an indelible bond for the two.
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Parting of Ways
Fai had dreaded this moment. When he had woken up he hadn’t want to get out of bed. Kurogane was leaving today. His things had all been packed up days after they had received the letter from the Amaterasu. The only solace he found was that they had spent the past two weeks together trying to make up for the time they would be apart.
Meanwhile, Kurogane sat in his own room. He was barely able to sleep over the course of last night. Half of it was due to the excitement of what it would be like to train under the Amaterasu’s shinobi army. Yet the other half weighed more heavily on his mind. Kurogane had never been away from home for more than a few days or so, so now leaving Suwa for at least a good three years was a wholly new thing for him. That length wasn’t even something his father would ever achieve or reach being away from home to meet his duties as the provincial lord.
Across the hall, Fai had dressed and decided to not ignore Kurogane on his last day here. The blonde walked the few feet to the door and knocked softly just in case Kurogane was still asleep.
Kurogane was a bit startled. “You can come in, Fai-kun.”
“Kuro-min knew who it was?” Fai asked with a chuckle as he slid the door open and stepped in. “You’re not even dressed for the day.”
“I’ve observed each person’s knocking pattern. They all have their own unique sounds,” Kurogane stated matter-of-factly. “Besides, only you would inquire after me so early after I had just woken up.”
“That’s really weird,” Fai said, giving the other a confused pout. “And I do not. I wasn’t sure if you were awake or not, Kuro-tan.”
Kurogane grumbled but that was soon over-ridden by a loud yawn that he uttered. He rubbed his eyes hoping that would make him more alert. The last thing he wanted was to be sleepy and not present to his parents and the palace servants before he left home.
“The servants should be by soon for breakfast.” Fai moved then to sit on the bed next to Kurogane. “You’ll be going in a few hours…”
Kurogane strangely found it hard all of a sudden to keep eye contact, so for now he kept his head down. He realized that he had never focused on his hands so much before. “I know.”
“Kuro-kun should be excited. He’ll be big and strong when he gets back.” Fai laughed and held his arms up, pretending he had large muscles.
Kurogane knew his departure was just as hard on Fai as it was for him, so he had to give credit to Fai for actually being strong in the face of this. He chuckled at the gesture.
“So, Kuro-chan should be cheerful instead of his usual gloomy self.” Fai reached over and pinched the boy’s cheeks, forcing him to smile.
“Oi!” Kurogane was unprepared for this that he instinctively leaned on his side. He lost his balance and fell over on the ground. Unfortunately he brought Fai down with him too.
“Aww…Kuro-min looks better when he smiles,” Fai said as he finally removed his hands. He poked the other’s chest and laughed. “You’re clumsy too.”
“Don’t you dare bother making me smile when I’m not in the mood to,” Kurogane huffed.
“It’s not fun any other way.” Pouting once more, Fai sighed and reached to tug on Kurogane’s sleeve. “Kuro-wan should get up and stop being lazy.”
“Alright, alright,” Kurogane growled. He got up and stomped over to his piles of traveling clothes. He hastily changed into them. Just then one of the servants came by, announcing that breakfast was ready in the dining room.
Fai hopped up and folded up Kurogane’s futon and covers, putting them in the corner of the room neatly. When he saw the taller boy, he chuckled at Kurogane. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
“Did I ever say it was hard?” Kurogane retorted with a smirk. “We should go. Hahaue and Chichiue are probably waiting for us.” He headed out of his room, knowing that Fai would follow after him.
“No, but you always complained about me not getting ready.” He followed after Kurogane down the winding halls and to the dining hall, teasing the other the entire way. When he walked in he noted Kurogane’s parents chatting happily as trays were set down in front of them. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Kurogane, Fai-kun,” the priestess greeted warmly. “Come and sit down.”
Fai smiled at the greeting as he sat across from Suwa’s lord and lady. “We’re probably late since Kuro-san wouldn’t get out of bed.”
Kurogane was too exasperated not to defend himself. He barely budged to sit down next to Fai. This was the last meal all four would share together for a while, he realized with a tight knot in his stomach. Shooing away the thought, Kurogane sat down. Someday when he returned back to Suwa it would be like this again, he thought hard.
“Being lazy, was he?” Kurogane’s father said with an inquisitive look.
Fai smiled around a piece of bread in his mouth before he nodded and swallowed. “Yep, he even fell onto the floor while I tried to get him up.”
“That’s because you were prodding my cheek,” Kurogane snapped in between drinking his tea, not even realizing that he was subjecting himself to even more teasing from his friend and father.
“Well, he is clumsy.” The older of the two folded his arms and nodded, looking deep in thought as he joked.
His wife laughed gently. “Now you two, we don’t want him getting flustered.
“Thank you, Hahaue,” he expressed his appreciation, hoping that the other two would get a clue once and for all. Fai gave a half-hearted pout, but agreed. He didn’t want Kurogane mad at him before he left.
“Alright dear, we’ll lay off for now,” Toriho said with a sheepish grin.
Satisfied that she calmly rectified the table, Lady Suwa went back to eating in peace. She noticed that Kurogane was barely touching his food. “Kurogane, you need to eat. You have a long journey to Shirasagi,” Tsumebe gently admonished.
“Alright Hahaue.” Kurogane sighed, picking up his set of chopsticks again and dipping it into one of the dishes.
Fai watched as Kurogane’s parents said goodbye to each other, as his friend’s mother had already told her son the same. They all stood out near the palace gates where several men were already seated on their horses for the journey to the capital. He turned his attention back to Kurogane and smiled. “Kuro-san had better promise to write once he gets his new room.”
“I know, you don’t have to remind me,” Kurogane said with a half-hearted smile. “You can always count on the messenger hawks to deliver your messages and letters.”
“I know. I still need practice though.” Looking sheepish, the blonde grinned. “Kuro-pon will have to come and fish with me when he comes back too.”
“Heh, we’ll have to see about that. In all honesty, by the time I come back I might even begin to assume the role of Suwa’s lord, or at least take a lot more responsibilities,” Kurogane reflected.
“Kuro-san won’t be that old.” Fai said, thinking that if the other’s father heard he’d be in a headlock now. He sighed, thinking that they would be both adults when they would see each other next. With a blush, he leaned forward and kissed Kurogane’s cheek. It was a simple way to cast a small charm on the boy and Fai did not want his friend to be hurt. “Kuro-rinta had better be careful.”
Kurogane meant to reply back in his normal rate, but he found himself tongue tied. Why, at that moment, had Fai kissed him? He hoped his father hadn’t seen that, otherwise he wouldn’t hear the end of it on their journey. He meekly nodded his head, fighting to not blush. “You too.”
“Come on, kiddo, we’ve got to get going!”
Fai turned to see Suwa’s lord hop up on his horse and turn the animal around towards the gate. “I’ll see you later, Kuro-min.”
Kurogane hoisted himself onto his horse. “I promise I’ll come back,” he only said to Fai before he cantered out to greet his father and the other men on their horses.
“Don’t worry Fai-kun, they’ll be alright.” He looked beside him to see Kurogane’s mother smiling down at him. In return, he nodded, knowing she was right.
“This is only the beginning of another journey for Kurogane,” the priestess reflected. The two stood there, watching the party trotting their way out of the palace and eventually out of the province.
Co-written by: youkohiei-fan and Zelinxia
Overall Summary: Canon AU. Eleven-year-old Kurogane and his father are summoned to Shirasagi Castle where he meets Fai, a boy from a different world. What becomes an instant friendship sets in stone an indelible bond for the two.
Chapter: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Parting of Ways
Fai had dreaded this moment. When he had woken up he hadn’t want to get out of bed. Kurogane was leaving today. His things had all been packed up days after they had received the letter from the Amaterasu. The only solace he found was that they had spent the past two weeks together trying to make up for the time they would be apart.
Meanwhile, Kurogane sat in his own room. He was barely able to sleep over the course of last night. Half of it was due to the excitement of what it would be like to train under the Amaterasu’s shinobi army. Yet the other half weighed more heavily on his mind. Kurogane had never been away from home for more than a few days or so, so now leaving Suwa for at least a good three years was a wholly new thing for him. That length wasn’t even something his father would ever achieve or reach being away from home to meet his duties as the provincial lord.
Across the hall, Fai had dressed and decided to not ignore Kurogane on his last day here. The blonde walked the few feet to the door and knocked softly just in case Kurogane was still asleep.
Kurogane was a bit startled. “You can come in, Fai-kun.”
“Kuro-min knew who it was?” Fai asked with a chuckle as he slid the door open and stepped in. “You’re not even dressed for the day.”
“I’ve observed each person’s knocking pattern. They all have their own unique sounds,” Kurogane stated matter-of-factly. “Besides, only you would inquire after me so early after I had just woken up.”
“That’s really weird,” Fai said, giving the other a confused pout. “And I do not. I wasn’t sure if you were awake or not, Kuro-tan.”
Kurogane grumbled but that was soon over-ridden by a loud yawn that he uttered. He rubbed his eyes hoping that would make him more alert. The last thing he wanted was to be sleepy and not present to his parents and the palace servants before he left home.
“The servants should be by soon for breakfast.” Fai moved then to sit on the bed next to Kurogane. “You’ll be going in a few hours…”
Kurogane strangely found it hard all of a sudden to keep eye contact, so for now he kept his head down. He realized that he had never focused on his hands so much before. “I know.”
“Kuro-kun should be excited. He’ll be big and strong when he gets back.” Fai laughed and held his arms up, pretending he had large muscles.
Kurogane knew his departure was just as hard on Fai as it was for him, so he had to give credit to Fai for actually being strong in the face of this. He chuckled at the gesture.
“So, Kuro-chan should be cheerful instead of his usual gloomy self.” Fai reached over and pinched the boy’s cheeks, forcing him to smile.
“Oi!” Kurogane was unprepared for this that he instinctively leaned on his side. He lost his balance and fell over on the ground. Unfortunately he brought Fai down with him too.
“Aww…Kuro-min looks better when he smiles,” Fai said as he finally removed his hands. He poked the other’s chest and laughed. “You’re clumsy too.”
“Don’t you dare bother making me smile when I’m not in the mood to,” Kurogane huffed.
“It’s not fun any other way.” Pouting once more, Fai sighed and reached to tug on Kurogane’s sleeve. “Kuro-wan should get up and stop being lazy.”
“Alright, alright,” Kurogane growled. He got up and stomped over to his piles of traveling clothes. He hastily changed into them. Just then one of the servants came by, announcing that breakfast was ready in the dining room.
Fai hopped up and folded up Kurogane’s futon and covers, putting them in the corner of the room neatly. When he saw the taller boy, he chuckled at Kurogane. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”
“Did I ever say it was hard?” Kurogane retorted with a smirk. “We should go. Hahaue and Chichiue are probably waiting for us.” He headed out of his room, knowing that Fai would follow after him.
“No, but you always complained about me not getting ready.” He followed after Kurogane down the winding halls and to the dining hall, teasing the other the entire way. When he walked in he noted Kurogane’s parents chatting happily as trays were set down in front of them. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, Kurogane, Fai-kun,” the priestess greeted warmly. “Come and sit down.”
Fai smiled at the greeting as he sat across from Suwa’s lord and lady. “We’re probably late since Kuro-san wouldn’t get out of bed.”
Kurogane was too exasperated not to defend himself. He barely budged to sit down next to Fai. This was the last meal all four would share together for a while, he realized with a tight knot in his stomach. Shooing away the thought, Kurogane sat down. Someday when he returned back to Suwa it would be like this again, he thought hard.
“Being lazy, was he?” Kurogane’s father said with an inquisitive look.
Fai smiled around a piece of bread in his mouth before he nodded and swallowed. “Yep, he even fell onto the floor while I tried to get him up.”
“That’s because you were prodding my cheek,” Kurogane snapped in between drinking his tea, not even realizing that he was subjecting himself to even more teasing from his friend and father.
“Well, he is clumsy.” The older of the two folded his arms and nodded, looking deep in thought as he joked.
His wife laughed gently. “Now you two, we don’t want him getting flustered.
“Thank you, Hahaue,” he expressed his appreciation, hoping that the other two would get a clue once and for all. Fai gave a half-hearted pout, but agreed. He didn’t want Kurogane mad at him before he left.
“Alright dear, we’ll lay off for now,” Toriho said with a sheepish grin.
Satisfied that she calmly rectified the table, Lady Suwa went back to eating in peace. She noticed that Kurogane was barely touching his food. “Kurogane, you need to eat. You have a long journey to Shirasagi,” Tsumebe gently admonished.
“Alright Hahaue.” Kurogane sighed, picking up his set of chopsticks again and dipping it into one of the dishes.
Fai watched as Kurogane’s parents said goodbye to each other, as his friend’s mother had already told her son the same. They all stood out near the palace gates where several men were already seated on their horses for the journey to the capital. He turned his attention back to Kurogane and smiled. “Kuro-san had better promise to write once he gets his new room.”
“I know, you don’t have to remind me,” Kurogane said with a half-hearted smile. “You can always count on the messenger hawks to deliver your messages and letters.”
“I know. I still need practice though.” Looking sheepish, the blonde grinned. “Kuro-pon will have to come and fish with me when he comes back too.”
“Heh, we’ll have to see about that. In all honesty, by the time I come back I might even begin to assume the role of Suwa’s lord, or at least take a lot more responsibilities,” Kurogane reflected.
“Kuro-san won’t be that old.” Fai said, thinking that if the other’s father heard he’d be in a headlock now. He sighed, thinking that they would be both adults when they would see each other next. With a blush, he leaned forward and kissed Kurogane’s cheek. It was a simple way to cast a small charm on the boy and Fai did not want his friend to be hurt. “Kuro-rinta had better be careful.”
Kurogane meant to reply back in his normal rate, but he found himself tongue tied. Why, at that moment, had Fai kissed him? He hoped his father hadn’t seen that, otherwise he wouldn’t hear the end of it on their journey. He meekly nodded his head, fighting to not blush. “You too.”
“Come on, kiddo, we’ve got to get going!”
Fai turned to see Suwa’s lord hop up on his horse and turn the animal around towards the gate. “I’ll see you later, Kuro-min.”
Kurogane hoisted himself onto his horse. “I promise I’ll come back,” he only said to Fai before he cantered out to greet his father and the other men on their horses.
“Don’t worry Fai-kun, they’ll be alright.” He looked beside him to see Kurogane’s mother smiling down at him. In return, he nodded, knowing she was right.
“This is only the beginning of another journey for Kurogane,” the priestess reflected. The two stood there, watching the party trotting their way out of the palace and eventually out of the province.