Ashes Fade Away

*(13/?)

By Sakata Ri Houjun

*******************

Kouji made his way though his men.  The nervous

anticipation could be felt like a tangible presence. 

They had been slowly making their way towards the

castle and were planning on arriving tomorrow around

daybreak.  But as the sun had begun to set earlier,

they decided to set up an encampment to rest for the

coming battle.

Eve the scarred rogue couldn't seem to sit still which

was why he was walking about.  He was going over in

his head the careful plans he had helped to lay out

with His Highness Hotohori and Tamahome.  The princess

and her maid had also been there, but his friend,

Genrou, had been conspicuously absent. 

In fact, he'd been getting pretty lax recently

regarding his duties as a leader.  Kouji knew his

friend had to be nearby since he did ride off with

them that morning.

As he wandered among the other, he noticed all the

preparations being made.  The princess wasn't the only

woman to have joined in, but majority of the combat

would be handled by the men. 

He glanced over at a nearby campfire and almost missed

the vibrant hair that matched the flames.  Kouji

smiled in relief as he made his way to join Tasuki by

the fireside.

"Hey," he started as he plopped beside his friend. 

Tasuki glanced up from the fire and afforded a weak

smile that quickly dissolved as he returned his

attention to the sparks that shot up into the night

sky.

Kouji scowled at him a moment in irritation.  "Yer

thinking about him, aren't ya?"  He remembered their

first conversation about the robed sorcerer the first

night he crashed at his friend's place.  He knew that

Genrou would get infatuated with people he thought

were attractive.

Tasuki hung his head, caught.  "I can't help it.  I'm

sorry."

"Well you should be!"  Hell, you keep this up and yer

gonna get your self killed tomorrow!"  Kouji sighed

and placed his hand on the redhead's shoulder.  "I

don't mean to jump on ya like that, it's just that I'm

worried about you, that's all."

"Thanks."

Kouji looked at the distant expression on his friend's

face and blinked back as a new thought occurred to him.

 "He must be something really special, huh?"

"He is."

Kouji shook his head and chuckled.  "Ya always say

that."

"But he's different.  There's something about Chichiri

that...I don't know...makes me feel..," he trailed off

as he searched for the right words to describe the

magical feeling that he got whenever he was around the

mage.

"Complete?" Kouji offered.

Tasuki didn't even hesitate.  "Yeah..."

Kouji continued to stare at Tasuki, a bit bewildered

at the way his gaze seemed to glaze over with intense

emotion as he continued to watch the flames.  "You

love him?"

Tasuki stared at the fire, finding its warmth

comforting.  "I think I always have."

Kouji blew out a long breath.  "Now that’s pretty deep,

man."  He then chuckled again.  "Damn.  And here I was

wondering if it would ever happen.  Does he know?"

"Yeah.  I told him right before we left."

Kouji shook his head in disbelief.  "Now that's what I

call tact.  Did ya even take into consideration if you

should die tomorrow?"

"That's why I told him, asshole!"  Tasuki looked up at

his friend, anger evident on his face.

The blue-haired brigand recoiled from that verbal blow

and remained silent for a short time.  "Does he love

ya back?"

"I don't know."  His friend sounded strangely hurt.

"What do ya mean 'ya don't know'?"

Tasuki sighed as he returned his gaze to the fire. 

"He's been avoiding me but when I get him alone, he

talks to me and even shows his face.  I've already

told ya how beautiful he is.  But something must have

happened to him because every time I get close, he

freaks."

"But you must have done something right because it's

obvious that he trusts you, and only you.  From what I

can tell, he doesn't even speak to his companions." 

He paused to allow that to sink in before continuing. 

"I think he does love you, as hard as that might

seem."

"But he..."  Tasuki tried to protest, disbelieving his

friend.  "Kouji...When I kissed him..."

"Shit, Genrou.  You really do move fast, don't ya?"

Tasuki had the decency to look embarrassed as he

averted his eyes.  "But he was shocked and just stood

there while I..."  He closed his eyes to stop the

tears before they formed.  "I didn't want to see the

disgust or even the fear, so I just ran off."

"Now that was a stupid thing to do."

"I know, but at least this way, if I die, I can

imagine something other than what he must really think

of me."

Tasuki's world suddenly flashed red as pain shot

through his head.  He opened his eyes to see his

friend's annoyed expression as he frowned. 

"Are ya that dense?"

"What the fuck are ya talking about?  And why did you

have to hit me?"  Tasuki rubbed his throbbing head.

Kouji sighed as his anger abated and turned his eyes

to the fire.  "Ya said so yourself that he had to been

through some pretty rough shit.  Did you even stop to

consider that maybe, just maybe, he doesn't quite

understand?  I mean, if his life is as messed up at

you say it is, then imagine being confronted with

genuine, heartfelt emotions that aren't tied in any

way to whatever he's gone through.  Don’t ya think he

might be just a little bit scared?"

Kouji then laughed quietly to himself.  "And besides,

I know that yer kisses can leave a guy a little

breathless."

Both men looked up and locked eyes as old memories

resurfaced.  It had been after Tasuki had discovered

his family's death, and he wasn't coping very well. 

And while Kouji claimed he knew a lot about the

redheaded man, he didn't quite know everything.  At

the time, he just assumed that was the first Genrou

had seen of death.

The blue-haired brigand attempted to comfort Genrou

that night, but things soon led to the two waking up

in each other’s arms.  

What should have just been a one-night fling stretched

out for a few months, both unwilling to end this

relationship because they were convinced the other was

in love.  Soon, this chasm separated the two friends

and left them with only an awkwardness that almost

tore them apart.

However, when the two rogues realized they had been

sharing the same thoughts did they reconcile.  Their

physical relationship helped to strengthen their

bonds, allowing Tasuki and Kouji to grow even closer. 

But even since then, they hadn't slept together again

although it didn't stop either from taking on lovers,

both male and female.

Tasuki finally grinned.  "Maybe your right, but..."

"No buts about it, Genrou.  You love that mage and he

at least trust you enough not to fry your annoying

ass."

The redhead still looked a little afraid.  "So, what

should I do, then?"

Kouji shook his head.  "How about getting your mind on

this battle so you can survive and then, when we get

back home, you can find out for yourself if that guy

loves you?"

The younger rogue nodded to himself.  "Thanks, Kouji."

"Heh.  No problem."  Kouji grinned then as he decided

to try and get a rise out of his friend.  "I mean,

what kind of man would I be if I let such a talented

fighter such as yourself get killed?"

Tasuki reacted to way the blue-haired brigand had

predicted.  "Oh?  So ya admit that I'm talented?"

"Well, yer not as good as I am, but..."

That did it.  Tasuki launched himself at Kouji,

tackling him to the ground and pinning him with a

snarl.  "Oh yeah?  You won't be saying that when I'm

dancing on yer grave!"

The two old friends and once lovers locked eyes again

before chuckling at the jests and started to get up. 

Time and death had forged their relationship until it

was comfortable and it couldn't be broken, even though

Tasuki had fallen in love.

Suddenly, Tasuki jerked his head up as he perceived a

slight whistling sound.  Without thinking, he grabbed

a hold of Kouji and moved them both back a step.  An

arrow embedded itself into the soft earth at the

blue-haired brigand's feet.  Kouji's heart clenched in

fear a moment before giving way to anger as more

arrows pierced through the night sky, like a silent

rain of silver, a shout was raised about the

encampment.

The area immediately became a blur of panic as people

were caught unawares and began scrambling for weapons,

armor, horses, or cover.  both Kouji and Tasuki looked

ahead as the horizon became a sea of glinting metal. 

The knights of Isan were advancing.  The had been

found out.

"Genrou..," Kouji muttered, certain of their defeat.

"Get His Highness and the others outta here," Tasuki

stated firmly.  "I'll try to get our men together and

hold them off."

"But what about?"

"I can't think about that right now, remember?  It's

more important that our key players make it safely so

we can keep fighting."

Kouji grabbed a hold of Tasuki's should and gave a firm

squeeze.  "Just promise that you'll get yer ass back

home, back to Chichiri."

Tasuki grinned, flashing fangs.  "Don't worry.  I

already said that I'd outlive ya, and I will.  Don't

be such a fucking pessimist, Kouji."

Kouji squeezed once more, meeting his fierce golden

gaze before taking off to find Hotohori and the

others.  Tasuki ran in the opposite direction, heading

towards the horses.  He quickly vaulted onto one of

the saddled animals and kicked its ribs sharply.

"Everyone!" he shouted as he reigned in the horse once

he reached the middle of camp.  "Don't be afraid! 

King Akunin's pets may have surprised us, but was can

still give them one hell of a screwing!  What do ya

say that we pay those sons of bitches back for what

they've done to us?"

His words penetrated into the fog of panic and the

recent memories of events replayed in the minds of

those gathered there.  Then a surge of determination

swept through the crowd and they gave a cheer, rallying

to Tasuki as the leader he was.  Some one tossed him a

sword and the redhead faced the oncoming enemy.

'Here's hoping you've gotten away, Kouji,' he thought

as the first was of attackers reached the encampment

and the fight began.

Tasuki kicked his mount into action and he gave a

wordless yell, determined to fight to the end, for

Chichiri...

****************

Next Chapter:  Revelations of the heart...and another

body part.