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 9

 

Just as You had predicted, there was no sign of the forest demon that day. By the time the sun set they had gone on far into a land where the trees grew sparse and the ground was rocky and dusty. Night was spent in a grove of trees where the great boughs would provide some shelter in that wilderness of sky and stone. Here at least the leaves were still green, though the thick trunks were grey, as though they had become as hard and enduring as the stones around them.

Weary and worn out after two days without proper sleep, Yasu and Ka-yu slept curled around each other, for warmth and comfort.

When the sun rose again, Ka-yu found the fey still cradled warmly against his shoulder. Golden hair glowed red in the light, delicate strands falling over sleeping eyes, and Ka-yu raised his fingers to touch the soft strands. Yasu still slept deeply, and that tender touch was not enough to wake him just yet.

Ka-yu wasn't the type of person to go from one partner to another and when he was in a relationship he tended to stay there for a while. It was easy to envision a future with Yasu by his side, but that thought was too optimistic to hope for now. However, if he had his way he would stay in this world for as long as Yasu was here with him.

Who knew how much time they had left, either in faerie time, or in human time? If all this ended today, he would only have this memory for the rest of his life, which by faerie standards meant forever.

If only that thought felt as comforting as it sounded.

 

 

* * * * *

 

When Ka-yu sat down on a log by their camp-fire, You was watching him closely, a strange expression of sadness mixed with a content acceptance on his face.

"Something wrong?"

You shook his head. "No, not wrong." Instead a little smile appeared on his face. "Yasu must really like you if he's willing to give the rest of his life to you."

Ka-yu only looked at him puzzled. "Huh?"

Now You leaned forward to watch him across the bright flames. "He promised you his heart, Ka-yu. If a faerie gives a human their heart it means they will also become human. It's a promise that ties you together forever."

Ka-yu was quiet, unable to reply to that.

"Do you know what he told me last night?" You continued. "He said I was looking paler than usual. I'm beginning to fade from his vision and he's losing his glamour faster than ever. If he doesn't die first, our people will become completely invisible to him because as a human he won't have the gift of second sight like you," he stared into the fire but Ka-yu was still thinking.

"Wait, what do you mean, 'if he doesn't die first?'"

You's eyes flickered up to Ka-yu's face. "If his glamour fades before he has the chance to become human he'll die like those did when the demon touched them. We can only hope he has enough time."

They lapsed into silence again, sunk in reflection. But before either of them could give voice to the troubling thoughts they were interrupted by an unnaturally bright and happy voice.

"Hey people. Why so glum?"

As one they glanced up to see Yasu approaching, a smile on his face, his eyes flicking between the two of them.

"Nothing," You waved him off with a small smile. "Just thinking."

"Really? Don't strain yourself too hard then."

You calmly ignored the teasing. "You're cheerful this morning."

Yasu almost bounced on his toes, full of positive energy once again. Ironically he radiated nothing but life and joy as though he were thriving with health. "I have a good feeling about today," he said, glancing sideways at Ka-yu as he spoke.

"You and your feelings."

"Have I ever been wrong?"

"No..." You conceded slowly.

"You should have a little more faith in me," Yasu told his friend lightly as he straddled the log Ka-yu was sitting on. He leaned comfortably backwards against Ka-yu, who wrapped an arm around the trim waist beside him. Apparently Yasu had adopted him as his new leaning post.

You was smiling softly as he watched them. "Okay Yasu, what have you predicted that's turned you into this bouncing barrel of excitement?" It was true what we claimed though. Yasu's predictions had an uncanny tendency to turn out right and You wanted to be in on it.

"We're going to find the demon today," Yasu replied amiably as though he were commenting on the weather. Either Yasu really wasn't worried, or there was something he wasn't telling them, because this was not under You's definition of a good thing. Sure it was what they set out to do, but the prospect of success seemed as unlikely now as it did yesterday.

And there was something else bothering him. "When we find it, at least promise us you won't do anything hasty."

"You don't trust me very much, do you?" Yasu said, deftly dodging the request, while he swung his leg over the log so that he could face You properly.

"I do trust you, Yasu, but I know you too well. Whatever spells you have in mind, that thing is still a Forest God, and it's more powerful than anything else." There were shadows in his normally bright eyes, a darkness that haunted them. Ka-yu didn't have to ask to know that You was probably seeing in his mind the destruction of their village all over again.

But Yasu didn't appear to notice and was in too good a mood to spoil it by worrying. "We'll be fine," was his confident reply. "Besides," his smile widened as he rested a hand on Ka-yu's knee, "this big strong man will protect me."

Ka-yu had to laugh and even You relaxed, slipping into comfortable silliness for a moment. "Sure. Just don't get too distracted," he said with a with a sly look at both of them.

"Oh?"

Ka-yu reached for the naughty hand sliding up his thigh. "Yasu, behave yourself." He wrapped his fingers around Yasu's hand and gave it a rough squeeze.

Yasu was giggling impishly, his face lowered cutely, but You didn't miss the affectionate look on Ka-yu's face as he gazed at him.

The young soldier suppressed a sigh. A part of him wanted nothing but to share in Yasu's cheerful fun like always, but somehow he couldn't ignore the knowledge that this would all be over soon. One way or another.

Shuffling footsteps alerted them to Kiyo's arrival, the short man covering a yawn with his hand. "I thought you were still asleep," You said, hoping to make the horrible feeling inside go away if he distracted himself.

Kiyo nodded. "Well, I was... But no one can sleep through Yasu's voice."

"Hey!"

Kiyo just beamed playfully at the blond, his round face crinkling with his smile.

At least none of them were alone, even if their goal was a dangerous one. Whatever they had to face they were with friends, and just that fact provided some small comfort, and courage.