Title: Fantasia

Author: Regina Wren

E-mail: wren13 @ gmail.com

Fandom & Pairing: Janne Da Arc; ka-yu x yasu

Keywords: yaoi, romance, AU

Rating: Teens

Words: 19,435

Status: Complete

Disclaimer: I don't hold any rights over anyone contained herein, except for the story, which is mine. And just because I should probably point this out legally: this is a fantasy, plain and simple, it's not meant to harm anyone directly or indirectly, I'm not making any profit from this, and it's only meant for entertainment and enjoyment purposes.

Fantasia
By Regina Wren

Part 10

 

 

Strangely, Yasu was quiet after they set out that day. A far cry from yesterday, he remained walking close by Ka-yu's side today. The hunter gave him a concerned look but Yasu didn't seem upset or worried in any way; in fact he seemed very calm, and that was in a way even more unsettling. Had he been nervous it would have at least seemed normal. Either he wasn't very worried, or he was just very good at hiding it. Ka-yu was about to say something when Yasu lightly brushed against his arm and gave him a soft smile. That small gesture was somehow reassuring, even more than the unspoken words that lay behind it, telling him not to worry.

Above them the wind made the ancient branches creak, the way only centuries-old wood could sound. Pale green leaves, silvering slightly as though indestructible steel ran through the whole tree, rustled softly, but apart from the wind and their own footsteps everything was still. Surely things were always like this here. Ageless.

Ka-yu had grown so used to this quiet forest that the change in the air was nearly imperceptible. But suddenly You stopped causing Yasu to almost walk into him.

A dead stillness fell around them, like even the wind had been choked into silence. At the same time a hollowness opened up in Ka-yu's chest, something very near fear hitting him all at once. It was a feeling that made his heart pound, and his body subconsciously tensed, ready to spring into action in a second.

You wordlessly beckoned them forward. The loamy soil swallowed their footsteps, but it wasn't very reassuring; the sensation that the forest was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen, was much too real. An unnatural air held the whole place in suspense as though this sudden chill had frozen everything, arrested in time.

You and Yasu shared a look, and Ka-yu wondered if they could possibly be reading each other's thoughts because when You indicated Kiyo in one direction he felt Yasu tug his arm towards another. Either they'd decided to split up and search, or the fey knew exactly where the beast was and were surrounding their target, but he didn't dare ask and break the stillness, so he only followed Yasu mutely. Within a few steps You and Kiyo had disappeared among the trees.

Moving in this direction the forest sloped slightly downwards and each step Ka-yu took was filled with a dread he had never experienced before. He didn't want to be here, but more importantly he didn't want Yasu to be here. If anything went wrong... For the first time in his life the idea of turning his back and walking away seemed more appealing than anything else, but it was too late for that. His only choice now was try to keep Yasu alive long enough to work his spells. With that thought Ka-yu's resolve toughened and he took a breath, pushing from his mind how hard his heart was beating.

Apparently Yasu knew where he was going, but Ka-yu couldn't see or hear anything. There were only trees on all sides, the soft soil below, and the patchwork blanket of leaves and sky above. And everywhere this unearthly stillness.

Suddenly a raven cried. The thunder of branches crashing and wood splintering sounded nearby and Yasu froze in his tracks. At the same time the memory of black wings racing past sent a sick feeling through Ka-yu's gut.

Then they saw it. In the Duke's forest it has stood above the trees, but here the canopy was high enough to close over the demon's head; nonetheless the limbs functioning as legs were thicker than tree trunks. But that walking giant of shadows was unmistakable.

"Ka-yu, stay back!"

Yasu's carry-pack hitting the ground with a small thump, then Yasu was leaping past him, straight into the beast's path. Yasu literally glowed, radiating waves of energy that knocked the breath out of Ka-yu. Leaves scattered in all direction from where he stood and even Ka-yu took half a step back. He'd seen this wild power in Yasu before, but always restrained behind a very human façade. Now he was confronted but the full force of that awesome power he didn't doubt for a moment that it could singularly take on a Forest God.

Yasu's face was strained but calm, both hands extended as though signalling the demon to stop.

The land rumbled and vibrated like an earthquake, but when Ka-yu glanced around he saw that it was tree-roots pushing up through the ground. Soil fell away like water and roots moved to loop themselves around the legs of the demon. A howl of anger shook the trees as it suddenly found itself unable to move, and it sent a shiver down Ka-yu's back. That sound was more hostile than even the howl of wolves on winter nights; this was despair and rage crying out for revenge.

Meanwhile branches reached for the creature like arms trying to wrap themselves around it. The demon lashed out against them, but surrounded by trees it was hopelessly outnumbered. Restraints fastened themselves like ropes around its arms, binding it tightly.

Something indefinable made Ka-yu glance over at Yasu then. A drop of sweat trickled down the fey's pale face and his arms trembled violently. A moment later his eyes rolled back, and his legs gave out. Without warning all the power was gone and a limp figure crumpled onto the ground like it was nothing more than an empty shell.

"Yasu!"

But Ka-yu's voice was drowned out by the sound of wood shattering. No longer having to fight Yasu's restraints the demon pulled savagely at the branches and roots. Even these great trees stood no chance against that fury. In only a few moments the demon had destroyed dozens of branches and freed its legs.

Purposeful and angry now it strode towards the fallen figure. Yasu didn't move, lying pale and still.

Ka-yu didn't stop to think. Those instincts that had saved him from rabid wild dogs spurred him into action now. His hunting knife was in his hand as he stepped between Yasu and the beast.

Where were You and Kiyo? The demon moved straight towards him; if only he could hold it back till they got here, and keep it away from Yasu.

His eyes narrowed.

One great shadowy paw reached for him and Ka-yu slashed at it defensively, then dropped the rolled out of the way.

A howl of pain echoed after him. The moment he was on his feet again he fixed the demon in his sights once more. It had stumbled back, withdrawing that one paw and clutching it close like it had been burnt.

And Ka-yu's head swam. He had injured it somehow. That strike at its paw had hurt it; there was no doubt about that. When no faerie weapon had any effect a simple hunting knife had done so much.

Then it dawned on him.

Yasu hadn't been able to touch the knife, instead leaving it strapped to his leg that first night. Then he'd been forced to walk around the rifle where it lay on the ground rather than step over it.

The one thing fey creatures were powerless against.

Ka-yu's mind became suddenly very clear. In one movement he was sliding the rifle off his shoulder, the action smooth and familiar. Now he knew what to do there was no more fear, and no more doubt. Lifting the weapon against his shoulder he sighted along the barrel, taking aim between two dark eyes that glittered like jewels in the surrounding darkness. He could feel those eyes drawing him in, seizing his entire being.

But Ka-yu's finger had already moved on the trigger, his aim true.

He didn't see that tiny bullet bury itself deep in the demon's body. All he saw was those onyx eyes sucking up his whole attention, hypnotic and potent. Time and space swirled away from him on all sides. The world didn't exist anymore. Held breathless Ka-yu was immobilised. The eyes of a Forest God reflected the entire universe, stars spiralling away into eternity, time and space endless and infinitely old, and that vision was impossible to pull away from.

The only thing that saved Ka-yu was the death that came so quickly to the god, and the light that faded before it could take him with it. When those shadows began to dissolve the enchantment fell away, releasing the young hunter back into his own body.

His knees buckled and Ka-yu slumped to the ground, dropping his rifle and his fingers sinking into the soft turf. His lungs fought to pull breath back into his body and his vision clouded. Someone called his name but the sudden rush of oxygen in his veins left him light-headed and dizzy. He didn't know what was going on but when his vision finally cleared enough to look up he saw a forest filled with sooty charcoal smoke.

The body that had composed the Forest God was breaking up like storm clouds coming apart on the wind. Smoke drifts spread into the sky, black losing its consistency, fading into grey as it dissolved into nothing more than grimy smoke. There was nothing more left of the figure they'd been chasing.

Yasu!

Ka-yu clambered to his feet. Kiyo was already there, one hand resting on the blond man's chest. His face looked concerned as he studied Yasu, and Ka-yu's heart clenched at the sight.

"Is he...?" Ka-yu started to say but stopped when You laid a hand on his shoulder. It didn't ease that terrible feeling of dread inside him though.

"He's..." Kiyo, said slowly, lingering. Too slowly.

"What?"

"He's human, Ka-yu." There was wonder in his voice and disbelief, but a smile tugged at his lips. "That's why he passed out. He used the last of his glamour to stop the demon. He'll been alright when he wakes up, don't worry."

Ka-yu slumped suddenly, tension released like a spring. His legs trembled and a tightness closed his throat, making it painful to swallow. After all that he wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry with relief.

You just gave his shoulder a friendly squeeze. "Take care of him for us, Ka-yu."

In the sky above them dozens of black birds dispersed in all directions. The last of the smoke was dispersing, leaving a faint curtain of dust in the air. Each sunbeam that fell through the leaves became visible, shifting when the wind blew, and as the smoke cleared it left behind a sparkling blue sky.