Chapter Text
Chapter 17
“They’re amassing in the capitol, then?”
Yui nodded, “Yeah, that’s what Enka said. Yuto abandoned ‘im after ‘e lost the sword.”
“Is that why he was so sloppy?” Kurogane laughed, “That family can’t stick with anyone.”
“What d’ya mean by ‘sloppy?’”
The whole country knows to pray to whatever god protects them when I show my face.
Yui gulped. That gave him all the answer he needed, but Fai continued anyway.
I mingled in with his troops during an uplifting speech. Half his men were gone before we even started fighting.
"How the fuck did anyone get sent to me?" Yui tried to brush off the mass murder.
Fai looked up at him, Sorry.
His brother apologizing for doing what he had to do was not something Yui wanted. He knew Fai was on a revenge high. He was taking down people who needed to be defeated.
Yui had no room to judge after his proficiency in torture.
Yui shook his head, Love you, brother.
Fai smiled and let it drop.
"They were sent to you because those knights were more well trained than we've ever encountered," Kurogane frowned, "We can't take those in the capital lightly."
"They won't get me twice," Fuuma growled.
"We can't leave warrior's behind, but we can't have the camp close to the Capitol," Ferio veered the conversation to a more important topic.
Leave them in Jade?
Kurogane rolled his neck, "Not safe enough. If there's another army out there, they could take the city back and kill everyone left behind."
"What's the likelihood of them checking the villa?" Kamui asked, "Worse comes to worse they can barricade themselves in the tunnels until we return."
"Maybe," Kurogane thought, "They could collapse the tunnels, though."
"What 'bout the forest?"
They looked at Yui for an explanation.
He sighed and leaned against the table, "It's close to the tunnels, but far enough away from the villa. If they need to, hide in the trees. Not like we're leavin' mages behind that can be sensed."
"And when it's freezing cold at night?"
Yui looked at his brother, "Cuddle up. We got pelts for double what we need includin' the warriors and medics. I doubt they'll freeze."
Fai nodded, Otherwise we might have to send them south without us.
"Sending them south without us is not an option," Kurogane confirmed, "Please give me a better idea. Any of you."
"I'm hurt," Yui threw up his hand dramatically, "My brother thinks I'm a dumbass!"
"You're about to be uninvited from the planning."
Fuuma heaved a sigh, "Leave them in the forest. We can't keep waiting for better while our enemy builds their defense."
Kurogane clenched his jaw tight, "I'll tell them. We make for the capitol tonight."
They all made their way out of the tent to prepare. Before Yui got too far, Fai turned him around and brought him into a hug.
We're almost free.
Yui hugged him back, "Yeah, just a day's ride north."
Then we can just live, Fai tightened the hug, I want you to be free of this.
"Hey now," Yui laughed, "I got myself involved."
You didn't want all this.
"No, but I don't regret shit. Don't think any different."
Fai loosened his grip to look Yui in the eyes, Let's learn how to swim when we're south again!
Yui was unsure but had no reason to disagree, "Yeah sure. Bet you just want Kurogane to strip for ya."
I get that anyway.
"Yeah, but imagine 'im naked and wet."
Fai took a moment and blushed heavily.
"Yup," Yui grinned, "Somethin' to look forward to."
Shut up, Fai turned Yui back around and pushed him towards his tent, We need to prepare!
It was good they were ready for battle as soon as they left. They did not get a chance to once they came close to the capitol. The castle loomed, blocking the sun on the other side. Their father was somewhere in that thing, as was Yuto.
Today they would die.
Yui was quick to set up shop in a building near the gates of the castle. A cross was hastily painted on the outside by other medics while Karen rattled off orders to the remaining.
The fight had started outside the walls, leaving the medics to treat wounds long before they got in to set up a building. Yui was still treating a woman as they moved inside. It was chaos on a whole other level.
"Yui!"
His attention snapped to Karen's voice. Sakura was bleeding from his head and staggering towards him with Karen's help.
"Fuckin' shit!"
He helped Sakura sit and started healing him, "Yer hit with a magic blade. This'll take a bit."
"We don't have time!" Karen said and ran to another man.
"Bring anyone who needs me, to me," Yui said and prepared himself to heal multiple people.
Karen was usually fast to work, but she was stopped completely in her tracks staring at the door. A man was there that was not part of their army. He was an enemy in the medics building.
Yui continued to heal Sakura even as Yuto came into the house. There were few people in the house that were ready to go back to battle, and he knew no one could fight the Hand of Yasha. No one other than Fai.
“There’re only medics an’ wounded here,” Yui said, focusing on his healing.
“For how long?”
Yui could not stifle the shiver that tore through him. All the other knights and soldiers were respectful of medics. If they were to attack a medic, their own would be at risk.
He pulled away from Sakura and stepped forward, finally looking at his eldest brother, “Fai is makin’ his way to the castle. He may already be inside.”
Yuto smiled a hollow smile, “You’d give up your brother’s position?”
“He’s your opponent, an’ ‘e’ll kill ya.”
“You’re sure our line will end today?”
Yui took a deep breath. He was not a fool. Yuto had not come here for information or by accident. It was fate.
“Karen, protect everyone,” he said and glared up at Yuto, “No one else here’s gonna die.”
The shield went up behind him, blocking some struggling warriors from coming to his aide.
“You’re confident in the powers of a low rung mage,” Yuto grabbed the back of Yui’s head and held tight to his hair, “Do you honestly believe Yasha’s power can’t break through that.”
Yui grinned, “I don’t give a shit about Yasha, Ashura, or any of ‘em. Ya won’t break that shield. It’s a fuckin’ fact.”
“Yui!”
He heard Sakura’s voice muffled through the shield. If they met in the next life, he would have to apologize. He would have a lot of apologizing to do, if he ever met any of them again.
“We’ll see,” Yuto chuckled.
Yui shouted when Yuto’s hand broke through his body. If Yuto had not kept his head up, Yui would have doubled over in pain. As quickly as he had struck, Yuto pulled his arm free and dropped him to the ground.
Yui coughed up blood and tried his best not to move. The pain faded to numbness just before he heard Fai’s scream in his head. Yui smiled and hoped Fai could hear him now.
I love ya, brother.
Yui rolled his eyes to watch Yuto try to attack the shield. His bloody hand bounced off. Light began to accumulate around both hands, but the moment he went for the shield it dispersed.
He laughed and choked on more blood, “Yasha’s… pissed.”
Yuto’s glare was a more than satisfying final sight.
- - -
It was not a shockwave like he thought it might be. That is what he felt when Kurogane was hurt. Somewhere in the way his bones rattled, the way his chest ripped open, he knew this was not ‘hurt.’
Yui was dead.
The warmth of his kind soul wrapped around him before Fai sent it onward, just as he had his mother, so many years ago. Once a bridge, always a bridge, even if claimed by the other court.
Then, he was once more empty.
The scream rifled through the smoke, making everyone, tribe or other, fall to their knees. There was no stopping the sound as it ripped across their minds. For all the pain it brought everyone else, Fai knew he heard it the loudest.
His body seized with the pain. This loss was unbearably deep, and he wanted nothing more than to release it on those responsible.
The smoke plumed around him. He had no idea how far it stretched, but there were friend and foe alike ripped from the sun’s rays. Flames licked up his throat. The feeling was familiar. He had done this once and failed.
Not this time.
He blew the flames, catching the smoke on fire. The flames consumed everyone in its path. If it weren't for Ashura's active protection, the tribe would have suffered greatly. Not that it mattered to him, not anymore.
This was the death of everything he needed to survive.
Kurogane was at his side as soon as the fire dispersed, "Fai! What happened?!"
The warriors stood up and moved forward. They were almost inside the castle now, so close to killing the king. That, at least, he would do before he lost everything.
Yui is dead.
Kurogane's face hardened. There was an understanding there that made Fai melt into his side.
He moved a stray strand of Fai's hair behind his ear and kissed him hard, "They will regret everything they've done."
Fai gripped the back of Kurogane's head, They will never be free of me.
"Make them suffer in the next life."
Fai nodded once and they both ran for the castle doors. He blew them open and let their warriors run in. There were plenty of soldiers and knights waiting for them, but that was to be expected. The king was just above them in the throne room. It would have been strange to find this place unprotected.
A quick scan of the soldiers told him they had all prayed just before this. That was normal now as well. They had learned from his mass murder before capturing Enka. Fai would have to find them with his own strength.
Good. He wanted them to suffer. Every broken bone was soothing. Every cut off scream sounded like an angel chorus. Their pain, more than ever before, was his joy. He needed the blood to soak his knife as proof of his vengeance on this ugly kingdom.
"We don't have time to fuck around here," Kurogane growled, "We need to get to your father."
That was easy enough to do. He ripped the helmet off a soldier and pried open his mind. There were many useless images of family and children, but they did not matter. All that mattered was his perfect view of the throne room.
The memory was from earlier that day. A briefing on how to save themselves and the country from the foreign hoard. His eldest brother spoke of prayer and Yasha's blessing bestowed unto him. They could not lose with it, so he said.
They would lose. They were all as good as dead.
Fai grabbed Kurogane's hand and covered them in smoke. In the blink of an eye, they were two of four people in the throne room.
Yuto stood to the side of their father, dressed in etched armor praising their god. He was not smiling, a fact that made Fai all the happier. It was most likely You that had knocked him down to this anger. A failure shone behind those crystalline blue eyes.
Yui beat you.
He tensed, but stayed silent.
Their father did not. He stood, in full regalia, and pointed at the two intruders, "In the name of our savior Yasha, you shall perish this day!"
Fai stepped forward and let his smoke cloud the floor, Your god cannot stop me.
"You're going to find revenge is never sweet. Yuto, kill them where they stand!"
Yuto let a wry smile slip onto his face, "They will die."
He grabbed his father's coat by the collar and dragged him out of the chair. Yuto took the crown from the trail old man and threw him at Fai, "Consider him a consolation prize, hm?"
Fai's father tried to get up, but Kuorgane's heavy shoe came down on his back.
"You really have no loyalty to anyone!" Kurogane barked, "Isn't that a value of Yasha's?!"
Yuto chuckled and put the crown on his head, "I already have his power, why would I lower myself ever again?"
That's why you'll die, Fai said calmly, A Hand can't be unchosen, but they can be killed!
"Oh, try it whoreson! You couldn't take me before and you will never be able to!"
Fai stepped on his father's neck, I only need to know one thing. Why did you attack the medics?
"Why? Your bastard brother had to die. Isn't it that simple?"
Fai crunched down on the neck, ignoring the snap of bone and gurgles of pain. His smoke fanned over the floor, creeping closer to Yuto.
Kuro-rin.
Kurogane understood what Fai was asking. He could see the determination blazing to life in those red eyes. He was ready for this, and Fai would not fail him.
"Alright," Kurogane drew his sword, "You're not getting away this time."
Yuto took a bow and pulled a set of knives from his hips, "You'll have to excuse me, my sword is no more."
"Didn't suit you anyway," Kurogane smirked and lunged in.
Yuto dove into the fight, stopping Kurogane slash in its place. The other came close to stabbing Kurogane's rib cage, but Fai was not going to let that happen.
The smoke spiraled around Yuto's hand and jerked it away long enough for Kurogane to unleash a magic wave from his sword. They both skidded backwards before racing towards each other.
"Two versus one?" Yuto sad as he was parried once more, "Honorable."
"Hah!" Kurogane forced Yuto to take a step back, "Says the man who stole a crown!"
"It's my birthright," he shrugged and took a swipe at Kurogane's cheek.
It split cleanly and started dripping blood. Fai felt the sting on his own, but ignored it. He had a job to do, and he had to focus if they were to succeed.
Kurogane blocked the knives and forced them down with his sword. He knocked his head against Yuto's, almost making him fall over, "You seem slower. Did the medics wear you out?"
Yuto frowned, starting to get angry, "You're hardly a challenge, the medics were at least feisty."
Fai bit back the hurt in his heart. He wanted to rip out Yuto's throat so he could no longer defile the words his brother spoke. He had to remind himself Yuto had no way of knowing that would hurt, and he could not let him know.
Fai slowly made his smoke grow thicker. They were fighting knee deep in the stuff, and it was even crowding Yuto. It's what he had suspected would happen. Yui had died to make sure Yuto lost any favor he had.
Fai could attack him.
Kurogane did not give him a backwards glance. He knew well enough that it was time. The experiment was a success, and this was always meant to be Fai's kill.
He locked blades with Yuto, "You know, it really pisses me off that I can't have your head."
Yuto narrowed his eyes, "I'll take a trophy, then."
One knife slipped free and tore through Kurogane's arm. Kurogane stood his ground with his attached arm, shaking with the force of Yuto's weight against him. Still, Kurogane was sent to the ground, covered by the smoke Fai made.
Fai was already hidden under the smoke and grabbed Kurogane's sword from his weakening grip. His magic tore the daggers away from an unsuspecting Yuto. In one swing, Fai took his arm as payment for Kurogane. He swung around and pierced the sword through his gut.
I wish I could give you the pain you gave me, but you won't survive long enough.
Yuto gasped and tried to push Fai away. He did not succeed.
Fai twisted the blade and sliced it upward. His midsection had a large cut through it now, and the blade was free from the dying man.
Yuto fell to the ground, still gasping for air. He was trying to reach for weapons, for help, for anything. The only one who might help him he had betrayed. The crown still stuck to his head was proof of that.
Fai stepped around the body and snatched the horrible thing. The crown weighed heavy in his hands. Crystals and gold threads shined back at him. This is what he wanted beyond all else. All the bodies that fell before him, all the time pushing through cities. It was finally done.
An echo from his father still rang through the empty halls. His dying wails were still set in Fai’s mind. That man’s revenge from beyond the grave.
Revenge is never sweet.
Fai was losing everything. His brother was dead, but he had killed his murderer. Kurogane was bleeding out, but here Fai was with the crown. He had seen it coming, of course. It was fate.
The Valeria line was ending.
“It feels good, doesn’t it?”
Fai looked down at Kurogane’s bloodied grin. He matched it and shattered the ancient relic, I’ve never known such peace.
He cleared the area around the two of them and sat next to his husband.
Kurogane coughed up more blood when he tried to laugh. “You’ve never been more beautiful.”
Fai lightly fingered the blood on Kurogane’s cheek. He painted his lips with it, We match.
Kurogane reached up and smeared the makeshift lipstick, “This is the best dying vision I could have.”
Then close your eyes, Fai leaned down after he obeyed, and let me take your last breath.
The kiss was as good as the first, and every other in between. The taste of blood was still Kurogane’s taste. It was his home, his solace.
Fai knew he had been selfish all along. Even at the end, he was still insisting on Kurogane’s world being filled with himself. He could only see him, only crave him.
Kurogane’s arm fell from his cheek. As the last air escaped his lungs, Fai breathed in. Only then did he separate himself from the body. Kurogane’s eyes were obediently closed. The last thing he saw and felt was Fai.
He was so happy.
I’ll follow after you, my Kuro-chan.
Smoke filled the room and spread through the walls. The shaking began with the topmost spire. From there, the tower caved in. Like dominoes, the building began falling brick by brick.
Fai laid himself next to Kurogane’s body. His head rested comfortably in the crook of his remaining arm. Even with the heat draining from his body, Fai felt warm and welcome. He giggled and ran his hand over Kurogane’s chest.
Fai had no fear when the ceiling came crashing down.