Dragon, Phoenix, Wolf and Blossom.

Thanks to PleiadesWolfe for their review, now you shall find out exactly what will happen when Fai is sober.

Huge thanks go to my beta, Dr. Scientist. I love you, baby!

I know that I said that I was going to stay away from Fai’s point of view… but it just sort of happened. Damned, irresistible, Mage *shakes fist*

Spoilers:
We’re still in Outo so the spoilers are more or less identical to those from the first chapter. And I mean, if you still haven’t read past volume 6 yet then what have you been doing? Seriously!

he set about decoding the garbled information that was rattling around in his brain. He had been drunk last night. That little fact worried him even more than the knowledge that he had crawled into Kurogane’s bed and most likely made a fool of himself. He hadn’t been able to get drunk for years now and had even entertained the idea that he may have become immune to the effects of alcohol.

He ran a hand through his hair absentmindedly as he thought about everything that he had done last night. Pretending to be an actual Big Kitty wasn’t a big deal; it wasn’t too far from how he usually acted in front of the others anyway. What was a big deal, however, was that he had made his intentions toward a certain ninja very clear last night.

He groaned and slumped forward. That certainly was not how he had planned to make his first serious advance on the other man.
He was lucky that he hadn’t scared Kuro-chi off… well, it was done now. No point crying over spilt laki juice, he thought to himself with a little chuckle. Especially when, if he remembered correctly, Kuro-pii had been more than willing last night. At least until the ninja had noticed how drunk he was…

If you still want to do this when you’re sober then that’s fine. But I’m not going to take advantage of you when you’re like this…

Such a Kurogane thing to say, Fai thought as he hugged the ninja’s pillow to his chest, burying his face in it and inhaling deeply. A sincere smile spread across the magician’s fair features and for the first time in decades he felt something like happiness bloom in his chest.


-oOo-


Sakura had been up for several hours. Since Fai hadn’t come down this morning she had had to make breakfast for Syaoran-kun, Kurogane-san and Moko-chan instead.
Syaoran-kun had gone out with Kurogane-san to start sword training; leaving her alone with Mokona and feeling very useless. She waited for more than an hour and when Fai-san still hadn’t made an appearance she decided to open the café herself.

It was all going smoothly. She didn’t even have to cook anything since yesterday afternoon she and Fai-san had made more than enough sweets and cakes to feed the morning crowd. Then she had Moko-chan to help her wait the tables.
She made sure to ask the customers subtle questions that could help them find her feather. It was when she was heading to one particular table to do just that when she noticed the familiar pair of young men sitting there.

They looked just like Oni-chan and Yukito-san.

Unlike Kurogane, Sakura had gotten used to the idea of meeting people who looked like, but weren’t, people you knew. So she only faltered slightly before continuing to their table and taking their order. While she wrote down everything they wanted she couldn’t help but notice the lingering, meaningful glances that the two boys shared. Her smile broadened when she realised that they obviously had the same relationship that her brother had with their high-priest. Even if this Touya wasn’t her Oni-chan and this Yukito wasn’t her Yukito-san it was wonderful that they had still found each other.

It seemed as if love had the power to cross dimensions.


-oOo-


Syaoran was in so much pain. Each and every step he took sent bolts of white-hot agony through his skull and made him see stars. He knew that he should be paying closer attention to where they were going but he was finding it very hard to concentrate on the map in his hand.

He had been staring at it blurrily for a few minutes when it was snatched roughly from his grasp.

“No more alcohol for you” Kurogane-san growled down at him. “Any of you.”

“Yes…” he managed to croak back as he followed Kurogane through the streets.

“It took hours to get you all to bed last night. Those two pretending to be cats! And you with that ladle!” the ninja continued to grumble.

Ladle? Syaoran blinked in confusion. What was I doing with a ladle?
He didn’t have time to voice his question because Kurogane-san had disappeared into a shop.

They had reached their destination.


-oOo-


Fai did up the last of the buttons on his shirt and tied his bow-tie quickly, a quick glance at the clock confirmed that it was almost lunchtime and he winced guiltily. He felt bad for having slept in so late; they had missed out on a whole morning’s worth of customers. He took each step carefully as he descended down the stairs, mindful of his injured leg.

He pushed the door open and immediately reeled from the sudden onslaught of noise. The café was open and extremely full. His headache was back with a vengeance as he battled his way to the bar, climbing behind it and resting his forehead on the warm wooden counter.

“Good morning, Fai-san!” Sakura and Mokona chirped happily at him. He looked up at them blearily. “I opened the café to let the morning customers in.”

He started to pry himself off the bar but Mokona chose that moment to jump on his head, knocking him back down and sending fresh waves of pain crashing over him. He groaned and clutched at the counter feebly.

“Are you all right?” Sakura asked worriedly.

“There is this buzzing pain in my head…” He mumbled back.

“Fai has a hangover!” Mokona cried, poking the wizard’s cheek. “Mokona knows because Yuuko always has them!”

A hangover! He could almost kick himself, it was that obvious. And there he had been worried that he had been poisoned by that kiji or something…
The source of his headache and general sickness now apparent he began to worry about the children who had both been just as (or more) drunk than he.

“Sakura-chan? Are you alright?”

“Yes! I got up really early this morning!” she beamed with such vigour that the magician had to wince a little at her cheeriness and bright smile. She stepped behind the bar to fetch him some water.

As he took the glass from her hand he remembered that there was still an important matter to take care of. “By the way…” he began nonchalantly. “Where’s the doggie duo?”

“Syaoran-kun is starting sword training today with Kurogane-san.”

The wizard hid his disappointment well (as he did with most emotions); it looked like he would have to wait until this evening to get his favourite ninja alone.


-oOo-


Kurogane was grateful that this was the kid’s first (and therefore most simple) lesson because the boy’s concentration was shot. Dulled under one hell of a hangover he was making all kinds of mistakes. There was a dull thwack followed by a yelp when the kid hit himself in the face with his sheathed sword. Kurogane grimaced and was glad that he hadn’t started the brat out with a bare blade. Hopefully that smack with a potentially lethal weapon would teach the brat not to drink so much in the future…

Kurogane might have voiced some comment on the kid’s poor performance if it wasn’t for the fact that he was more than a little distracted himself. Not by a hangover like the boy but by the nervous twist in his stomach every time he thought back to the previous night.

A slight blush would creep onto his face when he remembered waking up this morning; his arms wrapped tightly around the mage and his nose still buried in blonde hair. It had been nice; waking up with the wizard in his arms.
He wondered briefly if he should have stayed and waited for the other man to wake up. But he had promised the kid sword lessons… and he had been too afraid of how the other man would react to waking up beside him. Better to give them both most of the day apart to think things over.
The excitement and hope he felt made him feel like a fool. The magician had probably only behaved the way he had because of how drunk he had been.

Maybe he wanted to? Maybe he’s wanted you for as long as you’ve wanted him? A hopeful voice piped up in the back of his head but he quelled it. There was no point in worrying about it now, he would find out exactly what the other man’s intentions were tonight when he and the brat got home.


-oOo-


When the time came for the café to close, Fai was feeling much better. His headache was gone and he didn’t feel dizzy anymore. He was beginning to think that maybe having to wait the entire day to see Kuro-bun again might have been for the best. It was certainly going to help that he could at least think straight now.

The bell above the door jingled as Syaoran-kun stepped inside; his clothes were tattered and wet, earning a startled cry from Sakura-chan. Kurogane sat down on the stool directly in front of the magician. Fai ignored the ninja for the moment, choosing instead to inquire about Syaoran-kun’s wounds. “Did another Kiji attack you?”

Syaoran made a pained face before answering. “No… I’m going to go get changed now.”

Fai watched Sakura start after the boy. “Sakura-chan, here.” Fai called after her, handing her a jar of salve. “It’s for his wounds.” He assured her when he saw the confusion on her face. She said her thanks and went scampering after Syaoran.
Now that both of the children (and Mokona) had left the room, Fai turned his attention to the man sitting in front of him. He only barely suppressed a giggle when he saw the ninja’s face; full of grim determination and a little bit of fear. The wizard decided that it might be best to restore some sense of normality before he got to discussing his behaviour the night before.

“Training for sword fighting?” he asked casually, resting his elbows on the bar.


-oOo-


The question surprised Kurogane, but he tried not to show it. Wasn’t he going to talk about what had happened between them? Did he even remember? That thought made Kurogane’s heart drop.
If the other man could recall his conversation with the kid then that was a good indication that he probably remembered everything else as well. “Weren’t you drunk last night?”

The magician gave him a knowing smile, and the ninja knew that the blonde had seen right through his plan before he had even had a chance to implement it. “I was drunk but I still remember Syaoran-kun asking you about teaching him to use a sword.”

The statement hung in the air for a few moments, Kurogane staring at the mage and getting an unreadable smile in return. The conversation shifted to the subject of the kiji and their sudden change in behaviour. The mage prepared a small meal for him while they spoke and Kurogane was surprised to see not one sweet thing on the plate, only things that he actually deemed edible. He cast a suspicious look at the other man, the mage never made things that he liked to eat. Ever. Not to mention that he was beginning to wonder if the blonde was just going to act as if nothing had happened.

“Something on your mind, Kuro-chi?” the mage whispered surprisingly close to his ear, startling Kurogane from his thoughts.

He found himself looking directly into those bright blue eyes. He sat mesmerised as the magician oiled across the bar, pushing aside his plate and sitting in front of Kurogane; draping his long legs around the ninja’s hips.

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to.” He replied, trying to sound menacing but his voice just came out as a whisper.
Their lips came together so naturally that Kurogane wasn’t really sure (nor did he care) when it had happened or who had initiated the kiss. It was deep and slow, flash fire tingling as it shot throughout his body; pooling as a slow burn in his stomach.
He pulled the mage off the bar and into his lap; grinding their arousals together and making the magician moan into their kiss.

With the blonde writhing in his lap Kurogane couldn’t stop the predatory grin that spread across his features as they withdrew. Fai was smiling too, and to the ninja’s surprise it seemed genuine.

“Kuro-tan…” the magician whispered breathily, “let’s go upstairs.”

Kurogane did not have to be told more than once. He stood up, the other man’s legs still wrapped tightly around his waist, and headed for the stairs. It was a treacherous journey for the ninja; trying to navigate the stairs with the magician pressed tantalisingly against him and nipping at his neck. More than once he almost gave up, wanting to stop and just take the other man against the wall, but the chance that the children and the manjuu might catch them motivated him to continue on his torturous trek to the wizard’s bedroom.

Once inside, the wizard dislodged himself from Kurogane and slinked toward the bed. The ninja turned the lock in the door absentmindedly before advancing on the other man. Their mouths met again as he began to unbutton the mage’s shirt, sliding the material off the deceptively delicate shoulders. He soon divested the other man of the rest of his clothes and the magician broke away from him; sprawling out on the bed and watching Kurogane with heavy lidded, hungry, blue eyes.

As he undressed himself, Kurogane drank in the sight before him. He had always thought that the wizard was attractive, but the man laid out in front of him was more than that… he was beautiful. Perfect ivory skin covered every inch of him; marred only by the attractive blush that had spread across his cheekbones. The ninja’s eyes were drawn down the pale chest along the flat stomach and to the delicious dip of the navel, until his gaze fell on the other man’s arousal nestled on a bed of short blonde curls; his own erection twitched in anticipation.
Now naked, Kurogane climbed onto the bed and lowered himself onto the other man who had opened his legs in obvious invitation. Kurogane grasped the wizard’s erection in his hand and squeezed gently. The magician bucked underneath him and gasped something that sounded suspiciously like “please”
Kurogane’s grin was back and it was all teeth. “What?” he asked with another squeeze.

Another gasp before blue eyes fluttered open and regarded him lustily, “Please…” he replied, his voice husky. “I want…”
The ninja cut him off by giving up on the teasing and starting a steady rhythm with his hand. The mage’s eyes slammed shut and he arched into the ninja’s touch. “Do you have something?” Kurogane asked hopefully.

“In the bedside table.” The magician replied, whining at the loss of contact when Kurogane leaned over to root through the drawer. He found a small tube and lifted it up for inspection, it was certainly different from the oils that he knew men used in his world, but it would do. He thoroughly coated two of his fingers and slipped his hand down between their bodies, sliding one finger inside of the magician slowly; earning a gasp and an appreciative wiggle from the other man. He moved his free hand back to the wizard’s arousal, pumping steadily as he moved his finger carefully; adding another one after a few moments. He hooked his fingers experimentally and was rewarded with a deep groan from the mage, who seemed to melt into the bed. Encouraged, he did it again and again, enjoying the mewls and moans that the simple action elicited. Soon the magician was literally writhing beneath him, his breathing coming in short, fast, gasps that could only mean one thing.
Kurogane didn’t want the other man to finish just yet. He removed both hands from the wizard and grabbed the tube again; squeezing a generous amount of the clear liquid onto his palm. His eyes fluttered shut as he coated himself in one stroke, the sudden sensation on his neglected arousal almost making him come right then. He exhaled deeply, reigning in his control before positioning himself between the other man’s legs.

He pushed forward slowly and carefully despite his brain screaming at him to just thrust forward. When he was all of the way inside he opened his eyes. Looking down at the wizard he felt his heart jump. The magician’s mask had fallen away entirely; pale skin flushed and eyes glazed and full of so many raw emotions that Kurogane had to resist the urge to look away. Instead he planted a soft kiss on the bridge of the other man’s nose and began to move carefully, never taking his eyes off the blonde below him.
They started slowly, long drawn out thrusts that made him feel like he was going to drown. Kurogane never wanted it to end. Soon, however, his control wavered and the pace began to pick up; the mage’s hips rising to meet his with every thrust, the ninja’s hand working frantically on the other’s arousal. Their grunts and the crude sound of skin against skin were loud in the air as they neared completion. Suddenly the wizard went rigid under him, making a strangled sound that sounded like a cross between a moan and the yowl of a cat as he coated both of their stomachs. Kurogane wasn’t far behind, pushed over the edge by the magician’s walls clenching tightly around him and biting harshly into the other man’s shoulder as he rode his release.

Sweaty and panting, Kurogane rolled onto his back, bringing the magician with him so that the smaller man lay on top. They lay there in silence and it wasn’t long before Kurogane felt the mage’s breathing become shallow and even. He could feel sleep beginning to wash over him too, but before he let it claim him he called forward the image of the magician’s real face. There was something about that expression that made him feel strange.
His eyes slid shut as he lost the battle with sleep. Just one thought went through his mind as he lost consciousness.

That was the kind of face that could make you fall in love
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