From This Moment On(1)

    Hikou followed after the others as they went to prepare for the fight with Arcadia, disappearing into his room as they passed it. He stared at the ground for a moment and wondered what the others truly thought.
    “What if they don’t trust me because of it? What if Houjun hates me now for loving him?” he wondered aloud, sinking to the floor. “What if Arcadia’s just too much for us? She could kill us all…”
    “‘What if’ is a dangerous question, boy,” a voice spoke from nowhere. He rushed to his feet and looked around.
    “Taiitsu-kun?” he asked.
    “You doubt yourself,” she said, appearing before him. “And that is why she’ll win. You have to have faith in your friends as well as yourself.”
    “But…she’s so powerful…”
    “So are you, or have you forgotten that you could have killed both Tasuki and Tamahome if Chichiri hadn’t stepped forward?” She rested a hand on his shoulder and looked into his golden eyes. “I know what happened to you during those eight years was hard and I know what she did to you, but don’t let her keep control over you. You have to let go of the pain of your past, as Houjun has. Only then will you see that you have everything you need to win.” She floated back and smiled at him knowingly. “There’s someone here who can help you even more if you trust them. You know what to do.”
    “I…” he bowed his head and sighed. “I’ll talk to him, then, if you think it will help.”
    “It always helps to talk to someone, Hikou. Open yourself to him and let him help you heal.” With that said, she vanished and left the mage to his thoughts. Swallowing hard, he left his room and went down the hall, praying to Suzaku he could find the answers he needed.

    Kouji sighed as he pulled on a pair of boots and tightened his belt. He was reaching for his scythe when there was a knock on his door.
    “Come in,” he called, turning to face the visitor. He was startled to see Hikou come in but hurriedly straightened up before he could notice. “What’s up?”
    “I…I came to give you your boots back,” he lied, handing them to him. “I got some from my room and thought you’d want them back.”
    Kouji cocked his head a bit and took them with one hand. “Sure...thanks…” he said before quickly seizing the mage’s wrist with his free hand. “Now what’s bothering you?”
    Hikou sighed and looked down at Kouji’s hand. “I…I need to talk to someone…”
    “Alright,” he nodded and guided him to his bed. “I’m listenin’.” They sat down on the edge of the untouched bed (he slept with Hikou, remember?) and Hikou closed his eyes.
    “I…I don’t think we can beat Arcadia,” he stated.
    “An’ why not?” Kouji asked, studying Hikou’s face.
    “I’ve tried three times now to defeat her, and each time I’ve lost. I…I don’t think that we can even hope to stop her…”
    “Now is dat anyway at talk? I’ve seen ya sparrin’ with some a the others and I know yer not da type a guy dat gives up dis easily.”
    “It’s not the same, Kouji,” Hikou said. He took a breath to steady himself and his thoughts before continuing. “When…when I was trapped in their realm, I tried to escape once…She caught me and saw to it I wouldn’t try again.” He shuddered at the memory of what happened to him and could only wonder how long it had been. “I…I just don’t think we can stop her even with Houjun and Tasuki here.”
    “What’d she do ta ya?” the bandit pressed slightly. He took the man’s hand between his hands and leaned a little closer.
    “She…she had several of the stronger demons…torture me, if you will…” he said, a shudder running through him as he tried not to remember the incident.
    “Did they rape you?” Kouji almost whispered. Hikou only replied with a faint nod before bowing his head. ‘Bastards,’ he thought. He wrapped his arms around his shoulders and pulled him under his chin. “She can’t hurt ya dis time, though,” he said, stroking his back. “Chiri and Genrou’ll be with ya…and so’ll I.”
    “But…still…do we even stand a chance? I thought that now, since I was free from their hold, I could stand a chance against her, but after last night…”
    “You went after her alone,” Kouji replied. “I won’t let her lay a hand on ya, ok? I promise.”
    “Why?” Hikou asked, pulling away from the bandit and standing up. He went to the window and looked up at the dark clouds that blotted out the mid-day sky and dumped snow on the mountain. “Why do you even care? You can hardly say you know me.”
    “But,” the bandit said, wrapping his arms around the mage’s waist from behind. “I want at know you, Hikou. Ever since I met cha I’ve just wanted ta be with ya, but yer always runnin’ off or I’m helping my men. Would it kill ya ta stick around once in a while and ferget yer problems?” He sighed and tightened his grip a little. “I want care, Hikou, ’cause I…I love you.”

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Just to be mean cause I don’t know if this is a good way for the story to go, no da-_-;; R and R and I’ll continue if you like it so far.
Question:
1) Lemon now
2) Lemon later
3) Both
You decide and I’ll do my best, no da!
~Mysia Ri

(1) I’m listening to said song and needed a better title than “I Love You” -_-;;