Chapter Text
Chapter 16
Fai licked his lips. Something feral was in his slitted eyes, but Yui had learned not to be frightened. That look meant only good things for the tribe. Considering the limp body he was dragging in by blonde hair, it was a very good thing.
He threw the body forward, Enka.
Their elder brother, second in line for the throne. He was a wizard as well, only he specialized in wards. Enka was the most studious of the siblings. In his childhood he had mastered the royal libraries archive of wards, making him the youngest Grandmaster there had ever been. It had not been enough today.
The smoke blanketed the inner circle. Everyone at the feast would hear Fai until the Red Sun set. The rowdy Suwa people were no longer afraid of his power. They stomped a quick beat and yelled at his victory.
Kurogane tore a bite from his roasted meat, “Enka? I expected more.”
Fai strode past Enka as he struggled to get up. His legs were clearly twisted even from where Yui sat. One was snapped so viscously the bone was jutting out from his skin. There was no way Fai had used his magic for that.
Once upon a time, he kissed me goodnight. Fai climbed into Kurogane's lap and gave him a sultry kiss, He made the ward that kept me locked away.
“I’ll do it again,” Enka shuddered out.
He was dying. Enka had to know that much. His threat was hollow.
Fuuma snorted, “Does he really think he can?”
Kamui sniffed, “He can’t even stand.”
“I will,” Enka coughed up blood, “I will!”
Fai leaned back like a toddler unable to hold himself up, with only Kurogane’s arms keeping him steady, No one’s stopping you, big brother.
Enka’s hand shook as he reached out. His blood served as his ink while the ground was his paper. He was drawing something complicated, likely the most powerful deadening ward he knew. If he could only finish it, his lineage would have a chance.
Fuuma stomped on his hand, a sickening crunch ending the drawing. Enka screamed and buried his face in the dirt.
Oh, someone stopped you, Fai taunted, Perhaps your left hand?
Yui made his way forward. As much as he hated the idea, he knew he had to partially heal Enka. It was important they squeeze information from him before he was slaughtered. Otherwise Yui would not get his revenge.
“Fai, didn’t I say not to make me do this?” Yui scowled at his half-brother.
I could always get in his head, Fai reminded.
“We agreed I could question ‘em. But I need ‘em alive to do that,” he reached out to heal Enka.
He twitched away from Yui’s touch, “Keep your whore-son filth away!”
Fai slipped off Kurogane’s lap and disappeared into the smoke.
Yui grabbed Enka’s arm and started healing him just before Fai had his throat.
Our mother was a proud woman that your Queen could only envy, Fai bared down on his windpipe, cracking it as fast as Yui could heal.
He glared at Enka, watching his face twist in agony. Shattered breaths came out as Yui healed his throat, only to have it crushed again. It could continue until Yui ran out of energy
Fai tightened his grip.
“Fai!”
He glanced down at Yui. Fai’s eyes were feral, but recognition bloomed, and he pulled his hand away, He is not worth your pain.
Yui looked up, There wouldn’t be pain if ya controlled yerself. Pull it together.
Fai bit his lip.
Yui was sure his brother wanted to be mad. He wanted to kick and scream until Yui relented, but he was right. He also spared Fai the embarrassment of being told off out loud.
Fai turned and made his way back to Kurogane’s lap, I can’t wait to kill him.
Kurogane laughed, “Bloodthirsty like always. Didn’t get your fill in the battle?”
Never, Fai cooed, that’s why you married me.
The Red Sun set behind the tents and the smoke dissipated like it was a dream. It was good timing for the tribe. Yui especially wanted nothing to do with that conversation.
Yui turned his attention to Enka, “I’d tell ya to behave but yer fucked either way. Be a lot easier if ya just spoke up.”
“Yasha will curse you all before this is over.”
“Not before Ashura has yer head,” Yui sighed, “Make sure ya tie ‘im up tight. If ‘e can draw, he can get free.”
“Won’t do him much good,” Fuuma started tying his feet.
Yui pulled his hand away, leaving his legs hopelessly broken. His internal bleeding was fixed and that would keep him alive and well for the time being, “I don’t wanna take chances.”
Fuuma eyed him, “You’re as bloodthirsty as your brother.”
“Ya just find that out?”
“Nah, I watched you torture the last guy.”
Yui could not help but smile, “Thanks.”
- - -
“Dear sweet Yui just tortured a guy.”
Yui wiped his hands on the drying cloth, “Dear sweet Yui don’t exist, ya fucker.”
Sakura laughed, “That’s a compliment to me.”
“It’s just accurate,” Yui snorted, “I’m goin’ to relax.”
Sakura followed quickly, “Breaking your brother ain’t relaxing?”
“Nah, that’s work. Relaxin’ is laying on that hill just outside the tree line.”
“Specific, how did you ever relax before?” he teased.
“Recently,” Yui pointed at Sakura’s crotch, “With that. Before that, well I can point at a lotta people.”
“I believe it,” he helped Yui sit on the hill overlooking the training ground, “Do me a favor and watch me kick ass.”
“Ya didn’t yesterday,” Yui reminded.
“Ouch, maybe I needed some encouragement.”
Yui pulled him down for a hasty makeout, “You get more if you can knock one of them down.”
“Deal,” Sakura wink and ran down the hill.
Yui had to admit he wanted to watch the training because of Sakura. It was like a gladiator match, only now he had a man in the running. A man that is better at stealth killing, but a man nonetheless.
He chuckled as Sakura was thrown to the ground after a whiffed kick.
Are you going to marry Sakura?
Yui jumped at the sudden voice in his head. He looked for Fai and found him half hidden behind a tree. He looked almost too innocent.
"Droppin’ some eaves?" Yui waved him over.
I wanted to see you.
Yui laid his head on Fai's lap, "Why do ya think I'll marry ‘im?"
You spend every day and night with him.
"Not just with ‘im," Yui mused, "I'm with ya right now."
You haven't talked to me in three days. You wouldn't leave me so long for someone you didn't love.
Yui laced one hand with Fai's, "'Love's a tricky word. I love you."
I'm family-
"I love Kurogane."
Fai frowned, I'll fight you for him.
"Oh, I know," Yui snorted, "but I love ‘im, and I'd die if I married that bear."
Sakura is... Your brother?
"That couldn't’ve sounded right in yer head."
You said it out loud, Fai stuck out his tongue.
"What I meant," Yui deadpanned, "was ‘e's my best friend. Other than you."
He's precious to you, but not enough to marry?
They were getting there, but Fai had no real basis for understanding friendship. Family was all he had and everyone he cared for was his 'family.' The concept of emotional and physical relationships was still new to him and solely connected to his marriage with Kurogane. Trying to comprehend a bed mate was beyond him.
"Remember when Kurogane put ya in my bed to rest?"
Always, Fai hissed.
"He thought you were havin’ fun but didn't love ‘im, right?"
Kuro-chan... wasn't being an idiot?
Yui shook his head, "He was dense as fuck an’ slow to boot, but sex friends’re a thing."
Fai contemplated the thought, leaving a long silence between them.
He is your Kuro-chan... But not for life?
Yui sat up, fingers still laced, "See, Sakura taught me how to pull my horn. He also gave me fantasies that blew my mind. We'll always share that, but I don't wanna marry ‘im. I don't wanna marry anyone."
You could have started with that, Fai pouted.
"But then you'd never know ‘bout fuck buddies," Yui grinned, "Do ya get it?"
You don't want a... Kuro makes me feel fluffy. You don't want that.
"The word yer lookin’ for is... Ah dammit," Yui switched to his native tongue, "Romance."
Enbun... I think. Maybe Koiji? There are so many words for it, Fai translated as the words flooded in.
"Right, I don't want it and I definitely don't feel fluffy with Sakura."
Just horny.
"Right," Yui pecked Fai's lips and pulled him into a hug, "I missed you."
I didn't leave.
Yui released him, "What’ve ya been doin’?"
Fai's eyes lit up. He turned to pull a folded paper from his belt. Carefully, he unfolded it in the grass. A line art cat and black dog greeted them. It was very well done, but...
Yui covered his grin. It did not stop the laughter from bubbling into an eruption. He fell over with tears in his eyes.
"He's so cute an’ grumpy," He supplied between laughing fits.
Fai frowned at the picture, Do you think it looks funny?
Yui tried to read his brother as he caught his breath, "Didja draw this?"
Fai nodded.
"I thought it was a gift it's so pretty!"
A smile spread across Fai's face, Really?
"Yeah, I laughed because that dog’s a dead ringer fer Kurogane. Does ‘e like it?"
Fai kept grinning like a fool, He was mad. I'm hanging it.
Yui traced the lines of the cat, "Ya got this good in three days?"
Kobato showed me! She's a lot better.
"Yeah, I've seen ‘er... uh... Ushagi? The bunny thing with a daisy? Kids’re creative."
They're her friend, Fai insisted.
Yui knew he could not see the creatures she did, but Fai always treated them like they were real. Yui wondered if a God gave her vision. Most likely it was just her imagination creating talking bunnies and dogs to play with. She would grow out of it eventually.
Yui hummed, "Think ya could do one for me?"
What do you want?
He shrugged, "Whatever yer feelin'. It's not fair Kurogane gets one an’ I don't."