Ashes Fade Away

*prologue

By Sakata Ri Houjun

Content:  Eventual Bloodshed, possible Lemon, lots of

Sap and Angst, and plenty of Yaoi

I live for the feedback!

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Long, slender fingers lightly traced the ancient runes

written on the aged pages as his lips silently mouthed

the words.  The soft candlelight threw shadows across

the finely chiseled features of the mage's visage,

highlighting his fine, blue hair.  His only solace in

the hell of his cursed fate was found in the ancient

texts given to him by his mentor and thus he threw

himself fully into the strengthening of his power in

hopes that his shattered life might be restored

someday.

So engrossed in the words of the spell he was learning

that he did not even hear the servant entering his

chambers.

"Master Chichiri?" the young girl spoke tentively.

He spun to face her, shock and anger mingling with the

candlelight shimmering in his gaze.  The girl took a

step back in fear, realizing her mistake.  The mage

hated being disturbed, but utterly despised nosy

servant more.  He took a deep breath to calm himself

before moving his hands to pull the heavy fabric of

his hood up over his head, plunging his face into

shadows.

"Forgive me, Master Chichiri."  The girl averted her

eyes as he stood before her, crossing his arms.  "I-I

did no mean..."

"Why have you entered my chambers unannounced?" he

interrupted with his oft yet forceful voice.

She gulped and faced him again, trying to erase his

face from her memory.  "His Majesty requests your

presence at once."

Chichiri heaved a sigh before nodding once in her

direction.  "I'll be before him presently.  You may

leave."

She froze, uncertain if he would lash out at her fro

her rudeness earlier.  When he made no move towards

her, she breathed in relief.  "Thank you, Master

Chichiri."

She backed towards the door, her eyes refraining from

peering directly into the shadow of the hood.  When

the door shut behind her, Chichiri brought his hands

up to push the hood back, revealing his face once more

to the candlelight.  With a shaking hand, he probed

the all-too-familiar contours of his face, remembering

the girl's fear, and cursed once again his hellish

fate.

~~~~~

"Sire, I am here as requested."  Chichiri knelt upon

the polished marble floor before the throne, his face

securely hidden despite the brilliance that attested

to the grandeur of the court.  He kept his gaze

downcast towards the floor that threw his reflection

back up at him.  He chose to continue to stare at his

own image rather than the man seated upon the throne.

King Akunin leaned forward to peer intently at his

advisor.  Such a young man, especially for a mage, but

loyal nonetheless with an uncanny sense that served

his purposes well.  His icy eyes approved of the stance

Chichiri had taken, one he thought was out of humility

and penitence.

Lightly toned skin was pulled taunt over high,

sculpted cheekbones and a curved nose.  Beady eyes

narrowed as he mouth pulled into an almost cruel

sneer, framed by a neatly trimmed beard of silvery

gray.  King Akunin then scanned the surrounding court,

covered in the opulence that attested to the power he

still exerted, even in his mellowing age.

He expected subordinates to be quashed before the

seeds of rebellion could be planted.  His enemies must

be made an example to strike fear into the hearts of

others.  For years, he had struggled to keep the

rabble from nipping at his heels, anarchy at the

forefront of their minds, to ensure his legacy would

live on through a strong lineage.

A lineage he sought to place in Chichiri's trusted,

young hands.

"My advisor and confidant, you remember that my bride

is to arrive soon upon the very shores of my kingdom?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Chichiri replied softly.  He

hadn't forgotten.  He, himself had arranged said

bride's arrival.

"She has never set foot upon my land and will be

afraid of our strange and foreign ways.  As my

advisor, it will be your duty to escort her safely to

her new home."  With one heavily jeweled hand, he

gestured about him, indicating the castle.

"Yes, Your Majesty," the mage answered as only a

servant should when dutifully obeying an order.  "I

shall make preparations at once."

"Splendid," chorused King Akunin.  "Of course, you will

not be without protection.  There has been a general

unrest among my subjects and the threat of a civil

uprising."

Chichiri's clenched his fists among the folds of his

robe, fully aware of just what King Akunin spoke of. 

The tyranny and cruelty of this man reached to the

 far corners of this once proud country.  Even

those who resided in the castle weren't entirely

untouched, Chichiri among them.

"I shall provide my finest knight to accompany you and

ensure the safety of my bride throughout the journey."

The mage heard the soft, yet sharp, footfalls of one

of the posted knights he had passed earlier moving to

where he knelt.  Chichiri tilted his head to afford

himself a better look at his companion.  Blue hair, so

dark it was almost black, was tied securely from a

rather youthful face.  A pair of gray eyes stared

ahead, ready and alert.  Underneath the armor, his

frame was lean and hardly appeared powerful, but that

was to the advantage of the young, skilled youth.

"Tamahome," King Akunin commanded and the man responded

by clicking his heels together, coming to attention.

"Yes, You Majesty.  I am ready."

Chichiri rose from his position, head still bowed and

gazed lowered again.  "We will depart and will return

with your bride, My Lord."

"Excellent."  He smiled that cruel smile again as he

waved a jeweled hand.  "Dismissed."

"Wait!" came the gentle yet commanding voice of the

young man who had been standing to the king's left. 

All present in the room cast their eyes upon him as he

strode towards the two who stood before King Akunin.

This man was the very image of his mother who had died

of a rare disease several years ago and was the

complete opposite of his father.  Side by side, one

would never guess this young prince was King Akunin's

own son.

Soft brown hair was swept back into a low ponytail at

his nape, loose strands framing a youthful yet regal

face.  Rich amber eyes that penetrated deep into the

hearts of all he looked upon, piercing and bewitching

all at once, locked with his father's for a moment. 

Although King Akunin had maintained an air of strength

and force of will that gave him his stunning

appearance at his age, he could never compete with his

son's beauty.

"Father, may I ask a favor of you?"

King Akunin's eyes narrowed and then he nodded.

"I wish to accompany them on their journey.  I fell

that, as the crown prince and your son, I should be

there to personally greet my future step-mother."

"Do you realize the danger you place yourself in?  If

my enemies knew..."

The prince smirked and placed his hand upon the ornate

hilt of his sword.  "If they knew, they’d most

certainly attack and I would slay the traitors.  I

have been trained since childhood to use this weapon. 

I am more than adequately capable of handling mere

peasants."

The king seemed to ponder his son's request for a

moment.  "very well.  Hotohori, you  as my son and

heir to the throne, shall accompany Chichiri and

Tamahome in escorting my future wife."

Hotohori gave a slight bow as a silent thanks towards

his father before turning to face his companions who

stood ready.  With t flip of his crimson cape, he

strode through the grand doors, Chichiri and Tamahome

following.  All three exited the hall together to 

begin their journey.

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First Chapter:  Your ship has sailed in