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 5

 

 

 

The day dawned clear and bright, like the storm had never existed. The sun again lit a clear blue sky, as though the clouds had washed it clean. Drops of rain still sparkled on the leaves, light glinting off them and making the trees shine as though they were adorned all over with tiny lights.

Ka-yu was unusually well rested and awake after that sleep, which lifted his spirits considerably. The journey that day was also easier than it had been the day before, through a deep, quiet forest, where the scent of fresh earth after the rain filled the air. The forest floor was littered with leaves and tiny buds of flowers waved at the travellers from among the shadowy trunks. But once again there were few animals to greet them, even though both men knew well how to move quietly through a forest.

The forest lay peaceful and still around them, and Ka-yu noticed in wonder that the trees here were even taller and broader than those of the day before. Their thick foliage let very little light reach the ground, and the trunks all grew huddled densely, but at least the ground was flat and less broken by surfacing roots.

Ka-yu squinted upwards trying to see how far over their heads the treetops reached, but his vision revealed only limitless green above him. "Are we shrinking, or are these trees getting bigger as we go on?"

Yasu stopped dancing in and out of sight between the tree trunks for a moment to answer. "These trees are all hundreds of years old. They're the reason this place is called The Valley of the Giants."

The majesty of the forest never let up, and Ka-yu was reminded of the small, weak trees of the Duke's forest. They couldn't compare with these beauties, and it was humbling to think he had the opportunity to see this.

 

 

* * * * *

They had been walking for most of the day, and Ka-yu was beginning to wonder when they would ever reach this place Yasu called home, when the elf suddenly stumbled, like he had on the hillside the day before.

"Yasu!" Ka-yu was by his side almost immediately, but this time Yasu didn't have the strength to stay on his feet, and collapsed bonelessly into Ka-yu's arms. He was snow white and his eyelids flickered in an effort to stay open.

"Yasu! You need help..."

The blonde raised a weak arm to point straight ahead. "That way. 'S not far..." he managed to say before his eyes slid closed and he passed out.

Ka-yu was left clutching the other body to himself with only those vague directions to guide him. "Please, Yasu. Hold on," he only murmured before picking up the light weight of the other being. Carefully, as though that body would break, he carried Yasu in his arms, and set out in the direction he had indicated. He had said it wasn't far, and Ka-yu just hoped the fey's definition of 'not far' coincided with his own.

The forest seemed to be deserted all around, only the wind giving life to the still trees. There was nothing to indicate any kind of habitation, let alone a whole village anywhere nearby, but he had to keep going, and keep hoping. The soft soil muffled his steps as he walked with all his senses heightened for any sound of life anywhere.

Even so he was surprised at the sudden appearance of another man infront of him. Ka-yu stopped short when the man about his own age seemingly materialised out of the forest itself.

He was slender and pretty, and he had that same mystifying aura that suggested he too was a forest-sprite, but his stance was defensive as he faced Ka-yu, like he was on guard. It was only when he caught sight of the fey in Ka-yu's arms that his blue eyes widened in surprise. A second later those eyes flickered warily to Ka-yu, and the hunts master could almost hear the thought that shot though the other's head. Human!

"Please..." Ka-yu pleaded, surprised at how shaky his voice sounded. "Help him."

For a moment the other hesitated before he seemed to make up his mind. "Follow me." At once his slender figure spun to flit away into the trees, and Ka-yu did his best to keep up. It was only a few steps, but he hurried anyway, not losing sight of his new guide through the trees.

"Up here," the man beckoned to him. A staircase had been woven with hemp ropes and wood, and suspended from the branches of the trees leading upwards into the greenery. Ka-yu tested it hesitantly, but it seemed to be sturdy and firmly anchored, so he concentrated on keeping his balance as he climbed the stairs.

"Don't worry. No faerie will ever let you fall unless they want you to," his guide called out to him, already half hidden in the thick branches above. It didn't stop Ka-yu from being careful though, no matter how secure the stairway felt. He didn't want to drop Yasu, and he wasn't entirely sure that a strong wind wouldn't sway that stairway dangerously.

The climb seemed to go on forever, making Ka-yu wonder just how big these trees really were, though it really couldn't have been that far. Finally Ka-yu finally found himself stumbling onto a platform in the branches. Most surprising however was the house that had been built around the trunk of the tree. Wood and bark strapped together formed a cosy little tree-cottage that looked like it had come straight from the pages of a children's book.

He'd barely arrived when the door swung open and a stout little man rushed out. "Great Gods! What happened?"

"I don't know," Ka-yu admitted, hating how absolutely helpless that thought made him feel. "He just collapsed..."

"Bring him inside. Quickly!" the shorter man instructed, leading the way through the door with a comment to lay the fey he was carrying on the bed.

Yasu's face remained unchanged as Ka-yu put him gently down. His eyes were closed peacefully, dark lashes falling over pale cheeks, and golden hair framing the normally cheerful face. That sight was anything but reassuring.

The short man stepped up to the bed to grasp the limp wrist lightly.

"Will Yasu be alright?" Ka-yu asked, running a hand through his hair with a sigh, a subconscious reaction that surfaced when he was worried.

The other two men glanced at each other before the shorter one replied. "He'll be fine."

But the blue eyed guide interrupted with a meaningful look at Ka-yu. "Come with me," was all he said, heading towards the door.

Ka-yu's eyes lingered on his unconscious companion, and then fell on the smaller man sitting beside him.

The latter smiled kindly. "Go on. I'll take care of Yasu. He'll be alright." Somehow that sweet face was enough to reassure Ka-yu for the moment, and he grudgingly followed the blue-eyed man outside.

Already he missed Yasu's light hearted chatter, and that saucy glint in his eyes. Whatever effect Yasu had on him, Ka-yu was powerless to fight it. And already he dreaded the day they would have to return to their own lives, in their own worlds. That life seemed so dreary to him now that he was used to constantly having Yasu's smile around. He shook his head at himself. In too deep already.

Pale blue eyes were watching him closely. "You know, it's dangerous to loose your heart to someone from another world."

"I know," Ka-yu grumbled. "I know. Try telling Yasu that."

A spark of amusement came to life in the sky-coloured eyes, a laughing twinkle that made the slender pixie look at once more at ease. Damn fey folk and their cheeky sense of humour.

"I should have known Yasu would have a hand in this," he grinned. "What's your name?"

"Ka-yu."

"Well, Ka-yu, you must mean quite something to Yasu if he told you his name. That's not a thing to take lightly. We guard our names tightly; if another being knows our name they can summon us whenever and wherever they want. Names have a lot of power in this place, and Yasu obviously trusts you a lot if he's willing to give you that much power." He paused for a moment. "But Yasu's my best friend and I don't doubt his judgement if he believes in someone. My name is You, and the cute, pudgy one inside is Kiyo. Thank you for carrying Yasu back here."

Ka-yu was beginning to see why Yasu might make friends with this slender blue-eyed man. They had the same laughing eyes and the same sense of humour. "It was nothing," Ka-yu said with a glance at the closed door. "He helped me after I ran into that forest demon."

You's eyebrows furrowed. "Trusting a stranger like that? That doesn't sound like Yasu..." he stopped. "You saw that demon?"

"Yeah. It made my horse bolt and me hit my head on a tree trunk."

You smiled but shook his head. "That demon has been the cause of too many of our people dying. Our weapons are useless against it and more and more parts of the forest are dying. We can't fight it. All we can do is run and hide while we grow weaker. Yasu is not the only one to be suffering like this." For a moment You glanced up at the leafy canopy over their heads, the broken sunlight casting a dappling pattern on his face. "Our lives have always been linked with the forest, and we can't live without it. I just hope Yasu doesn't end up being the next victim."

Ka-yu's chest tightened. Yasu was dying. Like the plants he'd exhausted himself to revive, he was withering and fading. But unlike him, Ka-yu had no healing powers to save him. Kiyo was taking care of him now, but how long would it be until there was no going back, and no power on earth could revive him again?

The only sound that broke the silence now was the rustling wind and the faint hum of bees among the flowering vines. Branches and greenery crowded all around, leaves shining brightly where the sun hit them, the warm air an enticing promise of the summer ahead.

It was a voice from inside the tree-cottage that interrupted the quiet. "No, I told you, I don't want to stay here!"

Ka-yu grinned, all gloomy thoughts falling away like magic. He didn't stop to think, but straightened and entered the house quite a bit quicker than he'd left it. Immediately his eyes went to the bed and the blonde sitting up on it.

At the same time Yasu's eyes fell on him. "Ka-yuuu..." he whined. "He won't let me get up!" he pointed at Kiyo to emphasise the point.

"I said you need rest to recover," Kiyo told him sensibly.

Yasu tossed his hair over his shoulder indignantly. "I feel fine," he pouted stubbornly.

Ka-yu had to bite back a laugh at Yasu's frustration. The energetic pixie certainly hated being confined, even if it was only to bed.

You spoke from beside Ka-yu. "Give it up, Kiyo. He's only going to sneak out the moment your back is turned anyway. You know how stubborn he can be."

Kiyo turned to the hunts master. "Can't you convince him to be sensible?"

Ka-yu spread his hands helplessly, feeling that trying to make Yasu to do anything was like trying to tie up the air. "Let the patient decide. If he says he feels fine, let him go."

Kiyo rolled his eyes in resignation.

Yasu, who recognised his victory, beamed as he swung out of bed. "Thanks Kiyo. I knew you loved me," he swept past the smaller man to join Ka-yu without stopping for breath. "Have they shown you around yet?"

"No. You were hardly out for long."

"Good," Yasu grinned, grabbing hold of Ka-yu's hand and dragging him back out the door, "because I wanted to show you the place I live for myself."

His friends were momentarily forgotten as he led a curious Ka-yu outside to the tree platform. Around the side of the house the branches opened up, giving a clear view of the trees around them. And looking out over that open area made Ka-yu stop short in awe.

Trees all around them soared into the sky, and all of them had little cottages built into their branches. Spiralling staircases and hanging walkways had been woven from rope and bark to connect trees and houses. Climbing plants and thousands of colourful flowers adorned the trees so that occasionally only a window or doorway broke the garden-like setting. Meanwhile the scent of flowers hung over it all, subtle and refreshing at once, while the dancing beams of light made the whole village shimmer.

The fey folk really did live among the plants as part of the land themselves, and the Eden they had built shone with care and splendour.

"Yasu. It's beautiful."

Yasu's smile could have rivalled the sun for its brilliance. "And this," he turned to another door behind them and swung it open, "is my place."

"Right next door to your friends."

"Of course," he nodded and disappeared inside.

Yasu must have the best place to live in the whole world, to be able to view paradise from his windows, Ka-yu thought before he followed him inside.