Jump to content

BronxWench

Archive Mod
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    22,736

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    676

 Content Type 

Posts posted by BronxWench

    Sandcastles and Fireworks

    in General RP

    Posted

    Kerien and Tathar arrived at House Hayashi with bright smiles and gifts, at exactly the polite time.

    Kerien was wearing elven clothing, pale cream doeskin breeches and a silk tunic in a deep forest green, his raven hair elaborately braided and tipped with fine feathers, like the elves Satoshi had seen sparring with Tathar when communing with Kerien.

    Tathar was wearing dark gold, a simple gown that hugged her slender form, and a belt made of green gold ovals circled her slim hips. Her hair was pulled back in carved wooden combs, the wood as pale as Kerien's breeches where it was not inlaid with fine copper wire in a complex pattern of spirals.

    As promised, Tathar was holding a flat wicker basket that held a large shallow covered bowl, and Kerien offered a basket to Yuji that held several lovely glass flagons of Evermead. They also brought a carved and inlaid wooden box, which Kerien presented to Willow with a graceful bow.

    Vale had already warned Willow that the Japanese custom of refusing a gift would be likely to be misinterpreted by elves, and so she accepted the box with a sweet smile and opened it to find a pair of hair combs carved from the wood of the blue leaf tree, silky and with a pale blue tint to the wood. The delicate pattern of vines and lotus was carefully picked out in green gold and aquamarine, and Willow's delight made Kerien and Tathar relax immediately.

    Tathar's bowl held a feast food common among the wood elves, a sort of omelet made with succulent mushrooms that grew only in certain parts of the deep woods, and seasoned with fresh chives. It was served cut into small bars, and Mist's eyes lit up as she led Tathar to the kitchen to put the bowl down.

    Tathar fell in love with all the children immediately and much to everyone's surprise and delight, Takara attached herself to the wood elf warrior. Tathar was equally smitten with the little wildcat, and Takara behaved with lovely manners.

    The dinner was merry, the food delicious and indeed bountiful enough to feed half of Evereska, and it did not take long before Kerien and Tathar were being treated as part of the extended and very lively family, much to their delight. Tathar was open and warm, quick to laugh and she was obviously deeply in love with Kerien, a love he returned in equal measure.

    Kerien sought out Kansas, his green-gold eyes bright with excitement as Satoshi brought the elf over to meet the slender young man.

    Kerien bowed with elven grace. "I don't know if you remember me, but my eagle and I brought you down the Vale the first day you arrived in Evereska."

    Kansas's face lit up with the memory. "I do remember you. You told me that your eagle wouldn't mind if I shouted, and that she would scream with me. It was the most amazing ride." He ducked his head a bit, his smile sweet and shy. "I came to Evereska with my jitsubo to heal, and my healing started with that ride, so thank you again."

    "My eagle enjoyed it. They can sense a great deal, and even if they don't have words, we get to know what they're thinking after a time. Swiftwing could feel the sadness in you, and she was pleased when you found enjoyment in riding her." Kerien smiled warmly. "She remembers you well, and if you'd like, she has an offer for you."

    "For me?" Kansas's eyes grew wide. "Really?"

    Kerien nodded. "I haven't been able to ride her, because I've been spending most of my time at the Spring. Some of the other Kingfishers have taken her out with them, but it's not the same for her without a rider to share the joy. She's let me know that she'd be happy to have you ride her."

    Kansas's face was radiant, and tears of happiness beaded in his thick lashes. "I could ride her? That would be amazing. Her name is Swiftwing? That's a perfect name for her."

    Kerien laughed happily, and it was the same gentle laugh that Kansas remembered from that first day in Evereska. "She thinks so as well."

    Kansas bowed with a shy smile. "I would be most honored to go with you both, when you are healed and have the time. I've really wanted to get the chance to fly again, since that first time, but we've usually arrived here through the portals through the Academy since then."

    "Well, Swiftwing and I were sort of hoping that you would ride her now, while I can't," Kerien said, looking slightly shy himself. "She's really very easy to ride."

    Kansas gasped and his hand flew to his chest, as if to stop his heart from jumping out of it. His dark gray eyes were large and round and his voice trembled with excitement. "You want me to ride her? All alone? You mean it?"

    "Swiftwing suggested it, actually. She really enjoyed flying with you, and your enthusiasm makes her feel like soaring even higher, so yes." Kerien grinned happily. "Of all the eagles, she's one of the best to fly."

    Tears pearled in Kansas's lashes and started to trickle down his cheeks, and he reached out his hand for someone to catch him. Erion was a fraction quicker than Satoshi, and wrapped his arm around Kansas's waist tightly, feeling the young imp trembling from head to toe, but their bond was throbbing with love and happiness and over all, excitement. Wicked excitement.

    "I would love to fly with her. Can we go tomorrow? Please?" Kansas asked, his voice trembling so it was difficult to understand him, but his eyes were bright and filled with happiness.

    "Oh, yes," Kerien said, his eyes filled with joy. "You have no idea how happy that makes me, really. Swiftwing really needs to get back into the sky, and I know she'll enjoy having you as her rider. You can take your Erion as your passenger, you know. She doesn't mind carrying two."

    Kansas's eyes widened even more and he looked at Erion expectantly, his dark eyes pleading with Erion to say yes.

    "I'd love to go, 'lokiamin," Erion said, wrapping his arms around Kansas happily. "I'm an experienced passenger, too." He grinned at Kerien sheepishly. "Did you ever get tower patrol?"

    "Once or twice," Kerien replied dryly, and Erion blushed.

    "Sorry about that. But I used to pretend I was a Kingfisher, or even an eagle." Erion rested his chin on Kansas's shoulder.

    Kansas grabbed Kerien into a tight hug suddenly, without letting go of Erion, and effectively squeezed Erion's head between himself and Kerien, but he was so elated he barely noticed. "Thank you, Kerien. Thank you for this gift. It will be the closest I will ever come to flying on my own in this world, so thank you," he cried out, and then let go, to wrap his arms around Erion and squeeze him tightly. "We're going flying, my love. I can pretend like I'm flying, isilmeamin. I can't wait. It will be glorious."

    Kerien returned the hug, his happiness making him nearly giddy. "Thank you, Kansas. Thank you for loving my Swiftwing as much as I do. She's a fine eagle."

    Erion squealed with excitement and hugged Kansas tightly. "You will be flying, 'lokiamin. She'll go where you ask her to, so it's you flying."

    Kansas sobbed into the sleeve of his hoodie, and wiped at his tears as he nodded his head, and Satoshi reached out to stroke his back lovingly. "Erion. Why don't you two go out back for a smoke, and try to calm down. I don't want you to be crying in front of the kids. They get so confused by all the crying, even when it's happy crying." Satoshi kissed Kansas's cheek lovingly, and Erion got a quick kiss on the lips, and then Satoshi watched them walk towards the garden.

    He turned to Kerien with a happy smile and said quietly, "I'm sorry he got so emotional. I know it sounds nuts, but he has the soul of a dragon, and it's always been a dream of his to fly. So you are literally making a dream come true for him. Thank you for that, my friend. Thank you."

    Kerien waved his hand a bit, his cheeks a bit pink. "I'm just glad he likes the idea. Not everyone is as comfortable with the idea of riding an eagle. A pegasus seems safer, or even an asperii. And she really did want him as her rider while I'm incapacitated. She knows a good heart when she meets one."

    Satoshi nodded, his eyes trailing after the youngsters, a look of fathomless love on his face. "And that he has. His life was hard before I found him, and it's a marvel that he even survived it, and even more so that the came through it such a good person. But believe me, after fifteen minutes tomorrow, you'll be sending the rest of your companions up there to get them down again, because he'll be having your eagle doing cartwheels up there, diving and flying upside down if he can convince her to."

    Satoshi laughed sweetly, and shook his head. "He used to dream about being a dragon, and flying through the skies, and then he would tell me about it with such passion, that sometimes I was afraid he might just take off flying."

    "Well, he can, tomorrow, and anytime he's here. Eagles choose their riders, you know. Most have a primary rider and maybe one secondary rider, but Swiftwing's unusual in allowing the recruits to fly her. She's got a large heart herself." Kerien's smile was sweet and tender. "That's why she chose Kansas."

    "I can't wait to meet her. Anyone who cares for my Kansas is a friend in my book, so I am most honored and happy that she has chosen him," Satoshi said and waved toward the back deck, where he was sure they would find at least half of his husbands smoking, and he wanted a cigarette himself.

    Kerien allowed Satoshi to guide him to the back deck, and he laughed when he saw Vale curled up with Yuji, smoking happily. Erion was smoking as well, although none of the other elves seemed to want to smoke. The humans, however, made up for them, and Kerien grinned a little. He watched as Kenji and Sadao talked animatedly, gesturing with growing excitement until they both jumped up and hurried down to the lawn to mock spar a bit, to the vast amusement of the boys. Ichirou called down various bits of advice to Sadao, while Yori smothered a laugh and waved to Kenji just as Sadao took him down with one of Ichirou's judo moves.

    "That's cheating!" Kenji screamed with laughter on his voice, and Sadao laughed happily, as he stuck his tongue out at Kenji, answering, "What is? Taking advice from my eight year old son? It took you down, didn't it, old man?"

    "Who are you calling old, you little pipsqueak?" Kenji roared, and rolled up onto his feet, swiping at Sadao's legs in the same motion, making the Kempo trainer jump back, but land awkwardly so he stumbled and Kenji used the opening to jump on him and take him down. But Sadao was quicker than Kenji was used to, now that his knee was not bothering him anymore, and Sadao grabbed him around the waist and they went down together, rolling over the grass to rise again, graceful as dancers, but not letting go of each other.

    "You've started to forget your Kempo, old man," Satoshi shouted and Kenji growled at him, "Shut up, pipsqueak, or I'll be mopping the floor with you next."

    "You ain't mopping the floor with anyone, Kenji otooji," Momo and Ryuu shouted at the same time, and then hooted with laughter and gave each other a high five.

    Kerien laughed as well, leaning over the deck railing and watching with great enthusiasm. The fighting style was all new to him, but he found himself wondering how much of it Tathar and her fellow warriors could use in the woods, and he realized it would be more than useful.

    "Tathar, come and see this," Kerien called, his smile brightening as Tathar joined him at the deck rail, Takara on her hip. "Watch how they move."

    Tathar was soon wide-eyed and biting her lip to keep from calling out advice of her own, admiring the graceful economy of movement and the power behind the seemingly casual moves.

    Kenji and Sadao were suddenly aware that they had an actual audience, so they started to spar for real, without any dirty tricks or Judo moves, and Ichirou sprawled over Momo's lap and complained that this was no fun, even though his dark eyes were trained on the sparring in front of him and he remained respectfully silent.

    Satoshi and Yori moved over to the railing and watched intently, Satoshi vaguely aware of Masato and Erion joining them.

    After a long while Sadao flipped Kenji easily over his hip, the older man landing flat on his back with a loud oomph, and Kenji clapped the ground twice with his flat palm before he raised his hands in defeat and laughed. "I give up. You're a hundred times better than me at this. How about we play around with the swords for a bit now?" he said, and Sadao let out a derisive laugh as he helped Kenji to his feet again.

    "What? So you can slice me up like a sushi roll? I think not. Get one of your sword boys to play with you. Satoshi? It's been a long time since you held your sword. Why don't you play with your uncle for a bit, since he's feeling like a ten year old all of a sudden." Sadao scampered away, as Kenji gave him a sound kick in the ass, and Satoshi bit his lip as he looked at Sand, shaking his head a little bit, his eyes shadowed with worry.

    "What is it, cormamin?" Sand asked quietly, his arm slipping around Satoshi's waist. "Why are you looking concerned? Is it because Kenji is feeling so good?"

    Satoshi shook his head sharply, and for a moment he looked for all the world like Ryuu, when he was refusing to talk about something that made him shy.

    "Noh... I don't know if I can. What if I'm not strong enough?" Satoshi whispered so low that Sand had to lean in to hear him properly.

    Yori disappeared inside and appeared again, a moment later with a large bag, pulling out two bamboo swords and tossing one at Kenji. "Here, saiai. Let's see if I can use this thing now," he said with a small smile and Kenji nodded at Sand quickly before he turned to Yori and let his husband take the first attack.

    Sand sucked in a quick breath, his eyes fixed on Yori, and Tathar watched intently, assessing the bamboo swords quickly. Her pine green eyes narrowed in concentration, and she barely noticed Kerien's hand on her back.

    Yori lifted his arms, the bamboo sword seeming like an extension of his body as he advanced on Kenji. The stance looked wide open and useless in battle, but the moment Kenji moved his sword, the deadly precision of their discipline became obvious.

    The bamboo swords groaned with the weight of their blows, but Yori's radiant smile spread over his lips and quickly they were attacking and blocking with such a speed that it was hard to keep track of who was advancing and who was retreating.

    "You should spar, cormamin. You're strong enough. I know you are." Sand flashed Satoshi a brilliant smile. "I love to watch you spar with Kenji. I can't tell which one is the sempai half the time."

    "They are beautiful, as beautiful as they are deadly," Tathar said with great appreciation in her voice. "That is a lethal blade. The single edge is deceptive."

    Satoshi shook his head a little, his eyes uncertain, his hands rubbing together. "I don't know. I'm not strong enough. I haven't trained in months, and my body isn't as strong anymore."

    Sadao came up beside Satoshi and answered him in a low voice, "The body still remembers, you know. Even if the strength isn't quite what it was, you still remember how to wield that blade and as soon as you hold one in your hands you will remember again."

    Satoshi looked around at Sand again, his eyes seeking reassurance, while his hands clenched and unclenched, reminding him that he was indeed fully healed now.

    "He's right, cormamin. You've trained for too long for you to have forgotten. The minute the blade is in your hand, you'll fall right into it. A few months away from training isn't nearly enough for someone at your level of skill." Sand looked into Satoshi's eyes, his own eyes brimming with confidence. "You can do this, and you'll be magnificent. I'll be up here, wanting you."

    Satoshi's eyes darkened a little more as he stared at Sand, and then turned back to look at Sadao, and finally he turned around to look at his father. Satoru was sitting on one of the lounge chairs, his arms tight around Eryn and he nodded his head encouragingly at Satoshi.

    "Oh, please do," Tathar urged. "This style of fighting is so interesting. I can see it working in the close quarters of the wooded places, where I patrol."

    Satoshi drew a quick deep breath, and nodded his head decisively, then stalked over to the bag that Yori had brought out. Sure enough, his old katana was there, wrapped in its old leather wrapping, and in the side pocket there were cloths and a bottle of oil to oil the steel blade.

    Satoshi sat down cross-legged and unsheathed his sword, wiping it down with the same tender care as he had shown his children when they were infants, and oiled the blade carefully, wiping it down until it gleamed in the evening light.

    Yori stopped and nodded his head at Satoshi where he sat behind Kenji and Kenji turned on his heel with a small smile. He hurried over and took his own katana out of the bag, unwrapping it and grabbing another cloth, wiped the blade quickly, not needing to oil it, since he had done so only yesterday.

    As Satoshi rose to his feet, sheathing his sword again, Kenji looked up at the deck and said loudly, so everyone would hear him, "Please, all of you remain up there on the deck, and please keep all the children there too. I do not want anyone to get hurt here."

    Then he turned to Satoshi, and smiled softly, bowing respectfully, holding his sheathed sword by his hip. Satoshi did the same, and bowed a little deeper, the pupil greeting his master. They both drew their swords at the same time, and Kenji allowed Satoshi to take the first attack, going slow and carefully while he reorientated himself with his sword.

    After about ten minutes of the careful manueverings, Satoshi started to pick up speed, and Kenji could see the confidence rising in his eyes, until finally they were battling each other with the beautiful liquid grace of the old samurai, their swords singing together like a pair of lovers, and both showed it beyond question that they were deadly warriors.

    Hikaru wandered over, and Vale scooped him up quickly. "Watch gifu and Kenji otooji. They're very good, aren't they?"

    Sand shivered, the memories of all the various times he and Satoshi had sparred like this, sometimes master and sometimes pupil, rose up in his mind. Satoshi was glorious, his focus absolute and his grace making Sand's eyes shine with pride.

    "They are truly masters," Tathar breathed softly, her eyes glowing with admiration. "I could learn a great deal from them, a great deal indeed, and I've been wielding a longsword for centuries."

    Sand smiled. "I am just beginning to learn this blade myself, and I am a bladesinger."

    Sadao and Yori exchanged a glance and then moved over to stand next to the new elves and Sand, and Sadao dared to speak up first.

    "Satoshi and Kenji are masters in our world. Kenji is the sixth best in our country, of those who have surpassed a certain level and Satoshi is the seventh. Satoshi has been training this discipline since he was seven, and he started wielding a blade when he was only ten. That is extremely rare in this discipline. Usually the sharp blades are reserved only for those who have mastered the discipline already."

    Yori nodded his head and continued, "I used to be that good, before I was injured and my arm was paralyzed. I was only recently healed, by Masato and Akira, and I've been playing around with the swords since. I know I'll never be as good as I was, but even after fifteen years the body remembers. As for Satoshi, he is a natural with that sword. It's almost like he was born with one in his hands."

    Tathar nodded. "I've been sparring since I was old enough to pick up a practice sword. My clan, my family, are protectors of Evereska. We patrol the wooded places, and make sure that nothing gets a foothold where it shouldn't. I've seen a great many warriors, but you are all superb. That's not an idle observation, since I lead my patrol and have done for a very long time now."

    Kerien's voice was just as soft, and filled with respect. "I'm an archer myself, although I still need to know how to use a blade for when the fighting gets close." He gestured ruefully at his left arm. "Then again, sometimes it gets close faster than you can react. I lost my arm, nearly to the shoulder, over a month ago. If it wasn't for one of the other Guards, who had the sense to bind off the stump and get me back here to the healers and the Spring, I'd be dead."

    Yori twitched a little when Kerien mentioned his own arm, and Sadao reached out to pat Yori's shoulder, encouraging his friend to ask what had been burning on his lips the whole evening.

    Yori blushed faintly, but then bowed respectfully to Kerien and asked quietly, "Can I see your arm, Kerien? As I'm sure Satoshi has told you, magic isn't actually thought to exist in my world, much like elves are only the subject of stories. So, when Eryn healed my arm completely on the day we came here, I couldn't really believe it. And even though I can see that Satoshi is healed, his injuries were more internal than external, so there is little evidence that he is healed, other than his returned strength and agility."

    Yori bowed his head slightly, gathering courage to say what he wanted to say next. "I suffered my injury in an accident. The arm was nearly torn off at the shoulder, but the doctor who received me at the emergency ward was drunk. His staff claims to have not noticed that he was drunk, and he claimed that he had only had a couple of drinks. But either way, he slipped up, and partially severed a nerve in my shoulder, causing me excruciating pain, and a partial loss of function. He hid his mistake and when I was taken in for another surgery, that surgeon completely severed the nerve when he was trying to fix it, and with it my arm was paralyzed. I was in constant pain, and that caused me to hide in medication to try and mask the pain. But now, I feel as if I had never been injured."

    Kerien looked at Yori, sympathy for the beautiful young man shining in his green-gold eyes. He extended his left arm and pulled the loose silk sleeve of his tunic up over his shoulder, baring his arm from the shoulder down to the stub that was becoming his wrist.

    "My arm was grabbed by a creature we call a harpy, a savage beast. The impact snapped my bone here." Kerien gestured just below the shoulder, near the top of the bicep. "She tightened her talons, trying to yank me off my eagle, but instead, because the bone was broken, she only managed to tear my arm off. My eagle landed, the other Guard tied off my stump, and I wound up back in Evereska. It happened so fast that I'm not even sure I remember it hurting at the time, but it certainly hurt later. The healers sent me to the Spring, and I sat there, with my arm submerged in the water, feeling the bone grow and the muscles and tendons and nerves regenerate. It's... painful."

    Kerien gestured for Yori to feel his arm. "I'm up to the wrist already. The healers say I'm progressing much faster because I don't use the black lotus to dull the pain. I use the meditation technique Satoshi taught me. He explained a little to me about bushido, and it is most honorable and wise. But this is the hard part, all the small bones, and the nerves. There are so many nerves in the hand. But I will heal, and I will pick up a bow again, and I will return to being a Kingfisher. My only regret is that I lost my father's bow. It was in my hand when my arm was taken. But at least my injury was something that could be expected. I'm a warrior, much like the samurai of your culture that Satoshi told me about. We serve, and if need be, we die."

    Yori studied Kerien's arm with great interest while the elf spoke, and small tears gathered in his eyes as he imagined the pain that Kerien must have felt while his arm healed. He could vaguely recall the pain that had been such a large part of his own healing, the pain that had remained with him for the rest of his life, until Sand and Vale had come into his life.

    "There are no scars or any damage anywhere. Your arm is really regrown. This is amazing. This is a secret that will need to be kept very close to the heart, or my world would strive to exploit it until there was no magic left in it. This is truly marvelous. How I wish I could have come here when I first had my accident," Yori said with wonder in his voice, but Sadao reached out and stroked his arm gently, and Yori blushed faintly, his dark eyes turning shy. "I should not say such things. The accident made me who I am today, I suppose, and if I had not suffered that injury, I might not have ended up spending my life with Kenji. But I will keep you in my prayers, Kerien, and ask my gods to bless you on your path to healing."

    Kerien bowed gracefully. "Your prayers do me honor, and if you don't mind, I will ask my gods to watch over you as well." He tilted his head slightly as he straightened again. "But you had Lady Eryn to heal you. That is truly wonderful. She is one of the most powerful elven healers alive. I've met her, of course, but only because I serve under Santhiel." He paused, his eyes twinkling a little. "She's not nearly as frightening since she turned over her title to her eldest son, and married again."

    Yori giggled sweetly, and nodded. "I only met her after she and Satoru-san started being together, and I thought she was the sweetest woman. But for some reason she scares Akira-san and Yuji-san stiff."

    Yori tilted his head a little as if he was thinking something over, and then added in a low voice, "Perhaps it is because I knew Mori Shizuko. Now there was a frightening woman. She was all of politeness and courtesy to my face, but behind mine and Kenji's back she would spew the most vile poison. She was Kenji's older sister, and Satoshi-san's mother, and Satoru-san's first wife. She had no love for her child and only used him and Satoru-san as accessories when it suited her. At all other times, she expected Satoshi-san to be invisible."

    Yori shuddered visibly and shook his head, looking back over at Kenji and Satoshi where they danced with each other, so utterly focused on their swordplay that both of them had become unaware that they had an audience.

    It was Tathar who spoke up, her voice very quiet. "What a vile creature. Satoshi saved my Kerien's sanity. He's loving, and generous, and if my children are half as beautiful as he is, inside and out, I'll thank the Seldarine a thousand times a day."

    Kerien slipped his arm around Tathar's slim waist. "Our children will be loved, and cherished, and we'll make sure they know it, my wood sprite. And your family will spoil them terribly and love them endlessly. All thousand of them."

    "Is that my family, or how many elflings you think we're having?" Tathar teased, her eyes bright.

    Yori smiled and nodded. "Satoshi-san is a magnificent man. He suffered an injury himself only a few weeks after my accident, and yet once we were both recovered and Yuji-san had started to mend from his illness, Satoshi-san started to come to the dojo again to train, and he often spent time with me and Kenji. He never once assumed anything about my injuries, and he never tried to help me unless I asked him for help. While many others treated me like an invalid, Satoshi-san always treated me like I was still healthy. He only helped when I gave up trying. And it was because of that silent encouragement that I started telling others to let me try first, and ask for help if I needed it."

    Yori looked over at Sadao for a second, and then both of them looked behind themselves to look at their sons.

    Ichirou was still draped over Momo's lap like a lounging lapdog, and Momo was tickling him teasingly, while Masaaki slept soundly in a portable crib beside Satoru, who had assumed the role of grandfather without the slightest hesitation.

    "Children are a wonderful gift. My Ichirou sadly has found himself not welcome with his mother and her new husband, but I think Mamoru more than makes up for it. We are trying to get full custody over Ichirou, and he says he would rather live with us, than in a home where he feels like he doesn't belong. I don't think his mother loves him any less, rather that she is just too infatuated with her new husband and their new child, to see what she is doing to Ichirou. But I thank the gods every day that I have him. Even when he's kicking my ass with his sneaky judo moves," Sadao said with a bright smile, winking at Ichirou when the boy looked up, as if he had heard his name spoken. Yori nodded his head vigorously with the brightest of smiles.

    "Masaaki is a gift. In our country, same sex couples have only very recently been allowed to legally marry and adopt children. Kenji and I had of course seen Ryuu and Hikaru and the girls growing up, but neither of us had ever really thought about having kids because it was hardly possible because of the law. But then they all brought Hikaru over for a feast at our house, and I fell in love with that little blond bundle. So, when the laws were changed, Kenji and I decided to adopt a child. We heard of a teenaged girl who had fallen pregnant after a rape, and we offered to help her with her medical bills and with tutoring so she would not have to drop out of school, and she gave us our son. If we had not stepped in, she would have been expelled from her school, and she was close to being disowned by her family. It was a terrible thing, but the girl is happy now, and living her life as a teenager, content in the knowledge that she gave a child to two people who love him beyond measure. And I have to admit. I love being a father." Yori giggled sweetly and Sadao joined him, clapping him on the shoulder gently.

    "We've talked about it for some time, and I think this injury has convinced me that we need to start our family. If something happens to us, Tathar's family will take in our elflings, and they'll be raised with as much love and care as we could give them. We can get our patrol schedules adjusted so that one of us is always home." Kerien looked at the children lovingly, Hikaru busily trying to get Vale and Yuji to kiss so he could watch.

    Tathar smiled as she followed Kerien's gaze. "At least four elflings, my pretty elf. I want a large brood." She turned around to nuzzle Takara, who was napping happily on her shoulder. "At least one of them has to be a wildcat." She giggled softly. "But Yori, your Masaaki is simply gorgeous, and Sadao, Ichirou is the sweetest boy. How is he liking Evereska? Have you taken them to the Pond?"

    "Oh, yes. Hikaru was already here when we arrived and he and Ryuu demanded that everyone go to the Pond together. I will admit that swimming naked in such a public place had me quite nervous, but after a little bit I just sort of forgot about it. But Ichirou loved it. He demanded that we build one in our back garden when we get the house we're waiting to buy. Although sadly there isn't room, since the garden is about the size of this deck." Sadao laughed happily, and Ichirou shouted at him, "I'm telling you the neighbors will love it if we change all of our back gardens into a pond."

    Sadao arched an eyebrow at Tathar and nodded. "See, that's one thing you'll have to get used to. Your kids always know better. Like Ichirou over there, decided that if I ever break up with Mamoru, then Ichirou is just going to marry him, because he plans on keeping Mamoru."

    Tathar started to laugh, muffling it in Kerien's shoulder so as not to disturb the warriors below. Vale drifted over, Hikaru bright-eyed in his arms.

    "If you break up with Momo, Hikaru says we're keeping you," Vale told Sadao. The little half-elf nodded vigorously.

    "Momo otooji's pretty smart, so I don't think he'll be silly," Hikaru said, sounding slightly disappointed. "But I want to keep Ichirou itoko, too. So don't be silly, otooji. Go be husbands with him."

    Sadao burst out laughing, and neither Kenji nor Satoshi were the least bit disturbed by it. "I have every intention of being with Mamoru until I'm all old and wrinkled and gross, Hikaru-kun. And I have a feeling that he'll want to be with me then too. So, don't you worry. You'll get to keep Ichirou itoko for as long as you want. But thank you very much for wanting to keep me."

    Yori sniggered a little bit and held his arms out to Hikaru, asking, "But what about me? Have you completely forgotten me, now that you've got a prettier otooji to play with?"

    Hikaru looked at Yori and put his arms around Yori's neck, nuzzling into Yori happily. "I never forget my Yori otooji. And I love my Masaaki itoko too. But you and Kenji otooji is husbands already, so I know I can't lose you. And you is as pretty as gifu with your sword." Hikaru giggled as Yori's hair tickled his nose a little. "I'm just a silly kame-sama but I loves all my family."

    Yori nuzzled Hikaru's silken hair and silently he rejoiced that he could hold the little half elf without the slightest pain in his arm. "I know that you love us all very very much. And I love you very much too, Hikaru-kun. And I really think that you will never lose either Momo-san or Sadao-san. Just look at them, Hikaru-kun. See how much they love each other."

    Yori turned so that Hikaru could see Sadao and Momo where they sat on the lounge, Ichirou climbing all over his father, while Momo kissed him lovingly and Sadao's eyes shone with his love for Momo.

    "They kiss pretty," Hikaru said. "A girl at school kissed me but it was too wet. She lickeded her lips first." Hikaru looked mildly indignant. "So tousan told me to watch and see how a kiss is 'posed to be. But nobody else is lickeding their lips first and making them all mushy."

    Vale made a face behind Hikaru's back, groaning silently. "Listen, ai'aure, you can't run around watching everyone kiss, you know. Sometimes people don't want to be watched, or to hear your opinion about their kisses."

    "I know, chichi. And I know I'm not 'posed to tell everyone in school that you and tousan are always kissing." Hikaru heaved a long-suffering sigh and looked at Yori. "Just 'cause chichi's the columbine."

    Yori snickered into Hikaru's hair and tried his very best to compose himself before he even dared to answer. "Well, yes. It's not very polite to be talking about the concubine in school. Even though tousan and chichi are not shy about it at home or in public, then it's not very polite for you be talking about it."

    "Tousan was 'splaining about not telling everyone about home stuff. But kissing's not home stuff." Hikaru beamed happily and snuggled with Yori, the half elf surprisingly light in Yori's arms. "I don't want to kiss any more girls at school. I'm too young to be husbands with them."

    Tathar was struggling not to laugh at Hikaru's sweetly serious decision, and Kerien lost his struggle and laughed until he cried. "At least four," he managed to gasp out to Tathar.

    Yori nodded at Tathar with a smile, stroking Hikaru's soft hair lovingly. "Like I said, children are worth all the messes they make for us. Satoshi-san and Sadao-san have told me enough stories to make me realize that."

    The clash of steel against steel silenced suddenly, and Satoshi chuckled softly, Kenji's voice rising in a small laugh. "And there you have it, Satoshi. You have surpassed me. And you have healed perfectly," Kenji said and bowed his head a little.

    Satoshi's sword rested flat against Kenji's shoulder, Kenji's sword resting against Satoshi's sword a fraction too low to block the blow.

    Satoshi withdrew his sword and bowed deeply, his voice respectful. "I learned all that I know from you, sensei. Thank you for your guidance."

    Kenji bowed back as well, and they sheathed their swords after wiping them down with great reverence.

    Sand vaulted lightly over the deck railing, landing with catlike grace and ease, waiting quietly until Satoshi and Kenji had properly finished, but his eyes shone with love and pride as he watched his slender husband bow with great respect to Kenji.

    From the deck above, Tathar spoke, her voice soft and yet carrying easily. "That was one of the most superb displays of mastery I have ever seen. Thank you for the gift of your beautiful demonstration. I am humbled by such prowess."

    Satoshi bowed deeply to their audience, as did Kenji. Satoshi held his arms out to Sand, wincing a little bit when he handed his sword to Kenji to put it back in the bag. Satoshi looked at his hands when Sand moved to embrace him and winced again.

    "Crap, look at this, Masato. I'm getting blisters already."

    Sand turned Satoshi's hands over, looking at the blisters. A couple had already broken, and Sand looked thoughtful. He dug in the pocket of his jeans, pulling out a small jar. "I stopped by the Academy of War today, and got this. It's an ointment that the swordmasters use for blistered pupils. It heals the blisters while leaving the calluses intact." He opened the jar, and the ointment's clean herbal smell wafted out. "It might sting briefly, but then it should numb the sore bits."

    Kenji moved to the deck, wiping sweat of his forehead, and bowed again to Tathar. "Thank you very much for watching. I would be honored if you would allow me to watch you train someday before we leave."

    Tathar bowed deeply. "I'd be honored. I'll be practicing tomorrow, and I'd be happy to have you watch. There's usually a few elves looking to spar at the Academy."

    "If no one else is there, I'll spar with you," Sand offered.

    Satoshi hissed a little as Sand covered his blisters with the ointment but then he sighed and nodded his head with a loving smile. "Ah, that's so much better. I knew it would take time to work those calluses up again. Thank you, my love," he said, tilting his face up for a kiss.

    Kenji smiled when Sand offered to spar with Tathar and Satoshi hurried up to the deck, grabbing Kenji around the shoulders. "Oh, that would be awesome. I've missed seeing Masato training. I'll come with you to watch. I wish I had my song sword, then I could swing that around for a bit."

    Kenji laughed and grabbed Satoshi around the waist. "Actually I have it in the bag. Yuki-kun showed me where you keep it, and I decided to take it with me."

    "You do? Brilliant. Masato? You think you want to kick my ass a little bit tomorrow?" Satoshi asked with a happy laugh.

    Sand kissed Satoshi deeply, his eyes dancing with joy. "I'll spar with you happily, my gorgeous love. I have my katana as well, so you can make me work hard to keep up with you as well."

    "I promise to try and give you a hard time," Tathar laughed. "I'm no bladedancer, but I do know my way around a longsword."

    Santhiel wandered over, Falon trailing behind him. "Don't let Tathar fool you. She leads her patrol because she's the best."

    Falon smiled a little, the elfling seeming a little more subdued than usual. Santhiel did not seem to notice, and in fact, Falon made an effort to look a bit livelier whenever his father looked his way.

    Satoshi laughed at Santhiel's words, but then he noticed Falon and his eyes darkened a little.

    Without any outward sign of his mood changing he turned to Falon and grabbed the elfling by the arm saying cheerfully, "Falon, would you mind helping me? I want to bring out some fruits for the kids and some tui and whiskey for the rest of us."

    "Sure, Satoshi," Falon replied. "Atar, I get a little tui tonight, right?" He looked over at Santhiel hopefully, and Santhiel laughed and nodded.

    "Of course you can have tui. You're old enough, and I know you aren't going to guzzle it like you'll never see it again." Santhiel stroked Falon's hair lightly. "You know I'm proud of you, ai'er."

    Falon ducked his head a little, and followed Satoshi to the kitchen.

    Once they were in the kitchen, out of earshot of everyone else, Satoshi turned to Falon and asked quietly, his eyes dark with concern. "How are you, Falon? Are you alright?"

    Falon opened his mouth to answer, and then looked into Satoshi's gorgeous eyes and sighed a little. "I'm just being an idiot, I think. I almost didn't recognize Erion, when he came home this time. I mean, I just saw him in Tokyo, so I don't know why it hit me like it did here, but he looks so different. Maybe I'm just being a complete elfling here, and expecting everything to stay the same forever until I'm ready for it to change."

    Falon got a tray out and started putting bowls of fruit and some chocolates from Tokyo onto the tray while he tried to find words for what he was feeling.

    Satoshi reached out and stopped Falon, his eyes filled with warmth and love for the young elf. "It must be hard for you, because Erion is living so fast now. He's living his life like a human, but you are still here, living like an elf. He has to grow up fast and become a grown up long before he would have to do, if he were living here."

    He stroked Falon's raven hair and smiled at him, "Think of it this way. You are what? Seven years younger than me? The same age as Momo, right? To an elf you are an elfling, only expected to show a bit of maturity. In my world you would be a teenager, and you would be expected to be grown up in about five to ten years."

    "I know." Falon smiled a little, leaning into the touch almost automatically, the way he would when Santhiel or Mist would stroke his hair. "But the hardest part for me is that he seems more at home in Tokyo than he does here anymore. I like Tokyo, but after a while, I'm ready to come home. I miss being here, with the slower pace of things. Erion seems to thrive in Tokyo, and even when he's growling about exams and stuff, he's still got that sparkle in his eye, like it's a challenge he knows he can beat." Falon looked at Satoshi, his cheeks a little flushed under his tan. "How stupid does that sound?"

    "It doesn't. Not at all. It's just the way things work over there. We seem to thrive on stress and that fast pace. And Erion is very driven. He wants to make us all proud of him, and especially your parents. They let him leave with us, when he was just barely turned forty, and had only been with Kansas for a few weeks. And on top of it all, Kansas and Erion had been given permission to bond, long before he was old enough. So, he has worked really hard to make sure that he lives up to every expectation, even if they are slightly exaggerated in his own head." Satoshi continued to stroke Falon's hair, wanting to hold the young elf and reassure him.

    Falon shrugged a little at his own words. "He graduates in April, right? And then he'll look to get a job, probably working where Kansas works. But that means it'll be harder for him to get away when atara has the new baby. She's due in Flamerule, July." Falon turned suddenly and walked into Satoshi's arms. "I'm stupid and selfish, but I miss him. This visit just really made me realize how much."

    Satoshi wrapped Falon into a tight embrace, stroking his hair gently, much like he was in the habit of doing with Ryuu. "I know it's hard. Even though I didn't remember my brothers, I knew that I had them once, so I sometimes missed them. I can understand. And we'll make sure that he gets time to come and visit. And you are always welcome to Tokyo. We love having you there."

    Satoshi leaned his head against Falon's head, still stroking that silken black hair. "You are not selfish, Falon. Not at all. He is your only brother, and you were so close before we all came barging into your life. But I can tell you this. Erion loves you endlessly, and I'm sure that he would understand perfectly if you talk to him about this. You should grab him while we are here and talk to him about this. He'll understand, I know he will."

    "I don't know if I know how to be a big brother for Gillina without Erion." Falon nuzzled into Satoshi almost like Hikaru would, and a tear slipped down his cheek. "I guess maybe I took it for granted that he'd be here whenever I needed someone to lean on. My friends are all my age, and they aren't going to have answers for me. They seem even sillier in comparison to Erion now, you know? And I'm just a stupid little elfling who's feeling sorry for himself and I'm going to mess up this dinner by being mopey and emotional." Falon took a couple of deep breaths, trying to bring himself under control. "Not exactly Vale Guard material, never mind a Sword of Evereska, you think? I was thinking that maybe I could become a proper knight, and that would make everyone proud. More silliness, probably."

    Falon took a deep breath and looked up at Satoshi, managing a stronger smile. "It's not like I've lost him for good, and I don't know why I'm being such an idiot. But I'll take your advice and talk to Erion. And thank you, Satoshi. Thank you for asking, and for listening to me. I won't always be such an elfling, I promise." Falon scrubbed the heels of his hands along his cheeks. "I really like the way your friend Kerien's hair was braided. Those are warrior braids in the wood elf style. He's entitled to them because he's married into a clan. I can't wear them, but I love how they look."

    Satoshi grabbed a towel and wet one corner in cold water, pressing it gently against Falon's cheeks to prevent them from reddening, allowing him to wipe his eyes himself.

    "You are not being mopey at all, and you're still an elfling. True that you are no little elfling anymore, but you are still an elfling. And trust me on this, I was once a mopey and stupid little kid. So was Yuji, and I'm sure Vale and Masato both had their moments once or twice, when they were elflings. I'm even willing to bet that your father's had a moment or two, too. And I know for a fact that Erion had moments after he came to Tokyo. Kansas even considered sending him back once, because he was afraid that Erion wouldn't handle it."

    Satoshi stroked Falon's cheek, then moved his hand down to the young elf's shoulder. "You are going to make a great warrior one day, and you'll make all of us very proud. And I know that you won't always be an elfling. You'll grow up, just like the rest of us, and your mother will bemoan that you grow up too fast. But right now, it's alright to feel uncertain, because things are changing fast for you, especially with Erion gone."

    Falon bristled slightly. "Kansas thought about sending Erion back? Was he trying to kill him? The first time should have been enough, don't you think?" The automatic defense of his beloved older brother was so typically Falon, and he had the grace to blush after the words slipped out.

    Satoshi's eyes widened a little bit with surprise and he tightened his hold on Falon's shoulder. "Falon, relax. He only thought about it, and he talked to me about it. And he realized that he would never be able to send Erion back, unless he went with him. It was just that he loves Erion so much, and when Erion got slightly overwhelmed with everything that was going on, Kansas worried that he was forcing Erion to grow up too quickly and far too soon. He though he was doing the right thing. Both when he considered it, and when he tried to break up with Erion here. He didn't want to steal Erion's life away before Erion even started to live." Satoshi's eyes filled with tears at the memory, and he looked down to hide his tears.

    "I know, I'm sorry," Falon said, miserable, and he hung his head in shame. "It's just that no one bothered to tell me anything that was happening back then, and I had to figure it out mostly on my own. Atar and atara were more worried about Erion, of course, and I understood that. But he's my brother, and I couldn't stand losing him, not like that. So hearing that Kansas was thinking about it again, even if he realized he couldn't do it..." Falon's voice trailed off. "See, I don't think of him as Kansas's, or yours, or Yuji's. He's Erion, just Erion. I'm lucky enough to have him for a brother, but he's his own elf, and he's smart enough and strong enough to find his own path. I just wish my path had been alongside his for a little longer, is all. Like I said, selfish. It's not about what I want. It never was, and it shouldn't be. It's about what Erion wants."

    Satoshi quickly dried his tears on his sleeve and looked back up at Falon, pulling the elf into another hug. "Trust me. Kansas didn't even think about it lightly, and he did think that he and Erion could have a long distance relationship, like Vale and Masato did when Vale came to Tokyo. But he only thought about it for a moment, and then realized that they could never be parted again."

    Satoshi held Falon's shoulders tightly and looked the elf in the eyes, his face utterly serious and he spoke like he would to an equal, not someone younger than him. "I understand that you only see him as your brother, not as Kansas's elf or mine or anyone else's. And I can understand that you could not stand losing him. Believe me, now that I know how I lost my own brothers, I do understand. And I wish that you could have him for longer than you did, but you need to talk to him about that. I can't help you there. But if you want to, I am always here to talk to as well. You can send me a message and I'll be here as quick as I can, or you can come to Neverwinter or Tokyo. I'm here for you too."

    "Not even as my brother, but just as Erion. Just..." Falon shook his head, unable to find the words. "It doesn't matter. You're right. I do need to talk to Erion, but maybe not this trip. Maybe after Gillina arrives, or maybe I need to come to Tokyo to talk to him. That feels like the right choice, to speak to him where he's at home. But thank you, Satoshi. Thank you for not talking down to me, and for treating me like I'm not a total idiot. Who knows, maybe there's hope for me after all. Maybe dreaming of becoming a Sword isn't so stupid after all."

    Falon smiled again, and although it was not his usual sunny grin, it was brighter than before. He added some fruit juice to the tray and lifted it easily, his slender frame more muscular than it looked. "I guess we should go placate the masses, eh?"

    Satoshi stroked Falon's raven hair, much like he would a younger brother's, and nodded. "Are you feeling better? Then we shall go and throw ourselves before the lions, and hope we get to keep our fingers." He laughed softly and grabbed the other tray, winking at Falon. "And I think you'd make an awesome Sword of Evereska."

    The refreshments were greeted with eager delight, and Falon slipped away quietly after he had handed out fruit juice to the bouncing younger children. Tathar was talking earnestly with Kenji, comparing notes about training techniques, one slim hand stroking the bamboo practice sword as if memorizing its shape. Kerien was talking to Santhiel and Sand, and whatever they were discussing, the eagle rider seemed pleased and even slightly bashful. Sand looked up and waved Satoshi over, his face bright with love.

    Satoshi sighed inwardly when he noticed Falon slip away but then Sand waved him over and Satoshi hurried over, his eyes dark, but a bright smile on his face. "Yes, my love? What are the three of you plotting over here in the corner?" Satoshi said with a small laugh, but it did not sound completely sincere.

    "Plotting? Never," Sand laughed, and leaned in to kiss Satoshi sweetly. "Santhiel is merely making poor Kerien blush because he's offered to retrain Kerien personally." Sand kissed Satoshi again, and grinned. "You taste wonderful. Is that the good whiskey I'm tasting?"

    Satoshi smacked his lips and nodded his head, snickering as he answered, "Mmm, might be that delicious sun elf I tasted in the kitchen too, I'm not sure..."

    Satoshi laughed sweetly and then shook his head quickly, and waved his hand at Kerien. "Come, my friend, let me rescue you from these two. They take exceptional delight in teasing people and make them blush until their heads explode."

    Satoshi held out his hand to take Kerien's hand and quirked his head towards the house a little, hoping that the elf would go with him.

    Kerien reached out and slid his hand into Satoshi's with a bright grin. "Thank you, mellonamin. You'd think I was the only Kingfisher around, the way Santhiel was talking, and your Masato just encourages him. Wicked elves, the pair of them. I should send Tathar after them, but then again, she'll get to trounce Masato tomorrow on the practice grounds." He let Satoshi lead him into the house, his smile bright. "Thank you again for inviting us to dinner tonight. This has been amazing, and wonderful."

    Satoshi laughed happily at Kerien's words, and nodded his head, making sure that Sand and Santhiel heard him as he walked into the house with Kerien. "Oh, just be grateful Hawk wasn't there too, because the three of them together are just a menace. They love to tease people. And I can't wait to see Tathar kick Masato's ass tomorrow."

    Satoshi led Kerien through the dining and living rooms and into the hallway that lead to his rooms. "You are welcome, my friend. You really helped me during my time in the Spring, and I honestly think I may have healed better because you helped me so much. And getting to help you only made it better. But now I have a small surprise for you."

    Satoshi led Kerien to his bedroom and to the dresser where his electric guitar lay. He opened the case and waved at his beauty with a proud smile. "This is my other baby. This is my electric guitar. I call him Red moon. I'll play something for you if you want."

    While Kerien looked at the guitar, Satoshi slipped back to the bed and crawled under it hurriedly to grab the bow that lay under the bed.

    Standing up again, he grasped the wrapped bow in both hands and then said timidly, "Kerien? I have something for you as well. Something to say thank you for everything you did for me. Please accept this small token of my friendship." Satoshi held out the wrapped bow and bowed deeply, his heart hammering in his chest so wildly he was sure Kerien could hear it.

    Kerien took the bow with a sweet smile, and he laid it on the bed to open it, his hand deft as he undid the wrapping. As the bow was revealed, Kerien gasped, his green-gold eyes filling with tears.

    "Satoshi! Is this really...? How did you...?" Abandoning all attempts at speech, Kerien flung himself into Satoshi's arms, wrapping his own arms around the slender pierced man. "Thank you, diola lle, may you be blessed forever." Kerien's cheeks were wet with tears, and his smile was utterly radiant. "I won't even ask how you managed to make this happen, but you've returned the second greatest treasure of my life to me. My father's bow, oh, Satoshi!"

    Satoshi laughed shyly, and wrapped his arms tightly around Kerien as well, stroking the strong back and his voice wavered slightly when he answered, "Well, you should thank Santhiel too, he was the one who made sure they found your bow again. I only asked to be allowed to give it back, to thank you for everything you did."

    "This bow means so much to me. My father put it in my hand the day my Swiftwing chose me as her rider, and he told me he was proud of me. There's a story behind this bow, and I promise I will tell you, but I've never used another bow since my father gave me this one." Kerien looked at the bowstring that had been wrapped with the bow. "It only lets me string it. I know how odd that sounds, but this bow is unlike any other. It can't be drawn without its consent." His fingers traced the fine dark wood lovingly. "I'm going to finish healing, and train with Santhiel, and I'll whisper your name to the Seldarine in praise when I loose my first arrow from it again."

    Satoshi blushed and bowed deeply, his eyes sparkling with joy. "I will be honored if you do that. And I would love to hear the story of this bow some day. I could feel that there is power in it, when I carried it home. It is so beautiful, and I can't wait to get to see it strung and in use. It must make the most beautiful song when you use it."

    Satoshi smiled and nodded his head a little, his blush darkening slightly. "Although, I do understand about strange weapons. When I bought my guitar I felt as if I was holding a dear friend, and it has always felt that way since. It changes moods with my mood. And sometimes it even has moods when I don't. And the katana that I used earlier. There is a long and complicated story behind that. I'll tell you sometime, if you want to hear it, but that sword also seems to only allow a select few to wield it. That's one of the reasons Kenji passed it on to me."

    "We'll share our stories," Kerien said, his smile radiant. "Maybe tomorrow, while we watch our beloveds spar? Truthfully, Tathar will have to work hard to keep up with your Masato if he's a bladedancer. She'll insist that he use the full potential of his skill." Kerien laughed, a warm and loving sound. "She never settles for less from an opponent. I think it comes of having all those brothers."

    Satoshi nodded, and reached over to help Kerien wrap the bow up again. "I was raised an only child, so I wouldn't know. But I have noticed that competitiveness is often a trait in siblings. Especially if one is a girl and the rest boys," he said with a small smile, and silently offered to carry the bow to the living room, so they could join the family again.

    "Oh no, I can carry the bow. You need to bring your Red Moon. I want to hear you play that guitar." Kerien smiled so sweetly at Satoshi that Satoshi could not help but smile back. "I loved the other guitar, but this one looks fierce and marvelous. Does it sound very different?"

    Satoshi's cheeks flamed as crimson as the guitar and he bowed his head as he handed the bow back to Kerien.

    "Ah, right, I promised you I'd play," he mumbled and then moved over to take the guitar and the amp and speaker. "Yes, it sounds very very different. It is electric, so the sound is delivered through the amplifier and the speaker, and it gives the option on a far larger range of sound that you can create. Come, let's go and render half of Evereska deaf."

    Satoshi smiled and nodded for Kerien to walk ahead while he followed with the wicked guitar hanging on his shoulder and the small portable speaker and amp in either hand.

    Sand all but shouted with joy when he saw Satoshi, guitar on his shoulder, and his speaker and amp in his hands, and he sent Ichirou and Ryuu inside to drag everyone else into the living room. Kerien went over to Santhiel and thanked him quietly, his face shining, and Tathar looked at Satoshi before hugging him tightly, her slim body trembling with emotion.

    "You found his father's bow? How incredible that is!" Tathar kissed Satoshi's cheeks, first one and then the other. "The Seldarine sent you to us, I know it."

    Satoshi blushed heavily when Tathar kissed him, and shook his head a little. "Oh, no. Santhiel and the others found it. I just asked to be allowed to return it, because I wanted to thank him for what he did for me. So, I went to Santhiel and asked him about the bow, and he had it at the barracks actually. He didn't think Kerien would like it back, because of what happened."

    "You thought to seek it out, though. Don't belittle your actions. They were the act of a true friend, and I'm grateful that Kerien found such a friend when he needed it most." Tathar looked at the guitar,and her smile grew. "Now I'll shut up and let you dazzle us all."

    Satoshi bowed his head, his cheeks flaming, and Yuji came up beside them, having heard the last of Tathar's words. He grabbed Satoshi gently and turned the pierced imp to face him, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on his lips, whispering, "She's right, you know. You always do that, without realizing how much they mean to the people you do them for. So, please, enjoy that you have a new friend, a true friend who will be your friend for your whole life. Please, don't belittle what you did for him."

    Satoshi bowed his head and looked up sideways up at Yuji, his voice trembling a little bit. "You really think so?"

    "I don't think so. I know so," Yuji answered and kissed Satoshi again, a quick kiss before he turned to help Satoshi set up the amp and the speaker.

    Satoshi's blush did not fade while he tuned his guitar to perfection, then turned up the volume to a level that he knew the elves could tolerate, and then looked at the whole family where they had gathered in the living room in front of him.

    Ryuu and Ichirou sat on the floor at the very front, Ryuu practically shivering with excitement, and Ichirou's eyes were wide with anticipation, and without thinking about it, Satoshi's fingers started stroking the strings and Ryuu's song roared out of the speakers.

    Ryuu let out a small scream of joy, and threw his hands in the air as he nodded his head a little, counting the beat, and when Satoshi opened his mouth to start singing, Ryuu started singing along at the top of his voice.

    Sand curled up with Ryuu and Ichirou, his face utterly radiant, and Erion hurried over to listen with shining eyes, Kansas beside him. He waved Falon over and pulled his younger brother down next to him, wrapping an arm around the elfling.

    Vale managed to intercept Hikaru as he ran over, heading for gifu. Giggling happily, Hikaru settled for nestling in between Vale and Willow, while Yuji sat on the other side of her with Aika snuggled up.

    Eryn was cuddling Michi while Satoru held Masaaki, cooing at him.

    Takara had reclaimed Tathar, and Kerien had joined the little wildcat and her newest worshiper.

    Santhiel held Mist, one hand resting on the small swell of her belly, the star elf looking radiantly happy.

    Sadao and Momo were on one couch, while Yori and Kenji were on another, and they listened to Satoshi with tears of joy, realizing that he was playing with all the skill and dexterity of his youth.

    Yuji stared in utter awe, tears of happiness trickling down his cheeks, and his arms were tight around Aika and Willow, his hand tangling gently in Vale's hair.

    Kansas leaned against Erion, shivering with happiness as he listened and Ryuu's bright voice mingled so well with Satoshi's voice as they sang together the song about the little dragon who wanted to learn to fly on his own.

    Satoshi's eyes were hooded, trained on the strings of his guitar, and it was obvious that he was utterly lost to his music, and when Ryuu's song ended, his fingers moved seamlessly on into another song.

    Ryuu sighed loudly when his song finished and then looked around with bright eyes, announcing to all present before Satoshi started playing the next song, "That was my song. Chichi wrote that for me, because I'm a little dragon. I'm a little bronze dragon."

    "You are a beautiful bronze dragon, sochi-kun," Sand said, and nuzzled Ryuu. "You should have a song of your own, and chichi makes the best songs."

    "That's your song?" Ichirou asked, impressed. "Wow, that's amazing! Satoshi otooji, that was perfect!"

    Hikaru watched Satoshi with bright green eyes, waiting for Satoshi to play more music, the little half elf utterly enchanted.

    "What are you thinking, ai'aure?" Vale asked, and Hikaru beamed back at his father.

    "I was remembering gifu on the big stage," Hikaru said with a happy sigh, and snugged back in to listen.

    Satoshi started another song, and his fingers danced over the strings so fast that sometimes it was hard to see.

    Satoru leaned against Eryn, his arms tight around his wife, and he nuzzled her hair softly, warm tears melting into her skin as he sighed.

    "I've missed this. Listening to him play always brought such joy to my heart. It is wonderful to be allowed to hear him again," Satoru whispered into Eryn's ear, pressing a loving kiss to her shoulder.

    "Look how beautiful he looks," Eryn agreed. "He just glows when he plays."

    Falon curled up next to Erion, tucking himself under Erion's arm and just letting himself feel the closeness of his older brother, the heat of his skin as familiar as breathing to the elfling. His raven head rested on Erion's shoulder, and Mist touched Santhiel's arm lightly and nodded at their sons, Erion sandwiched between Falon and Kansas, his face rapt as he listened to Satoshi.

    "He's a little pale," Mist murmured, and Santhiel's eyes widened in recognition.

    "He looks alarmingly like his grandfather," Santhiel replied, his voice barely a breath.

    Yori snuggled in with Kenji and stared wide eyed at Satoshi, Kenji's hand stroking Yori's sternum softly, a habit he had started when Yori had been addicted to his drugs, and coming down from his high. It was a familiar touch that Yori relished now. He turned his head a little to look at Kenji, reaching up with his healed left hand to stroke the small tears from Kenji's lashes, and the older man looked down to smile lovingly at Yori, pressing a kiss to his temple, then leaned his head against Yori's and turned his eyes back to Satoshi.

    On the other couch, Sadao cuddled in with Momo, his eyes a little heavy, but his soul and heart were swept away with the music, and the warmth of Momo beside him. He had never dared to hope for this, when he had decided to stop hiding who he really was, but now he was happier than ever. Although quite confused about this whole elf thing, but it was becoming easier and easier with every moment.

    Satoshi's fingers slowed down on the third song, and the beautiful song soared through the living room, so slow and caressing, a love song born from the depths of his heart, and no less beautiful even though there were no words to go with the song.

    Sadao turned a little on the couch and drew a necklace off his neck, and silently hung it around Momo's neck, the youngster startling a little and looking down.

    "Just so I never lose you," Sadao whispered quietly, and Momo's eyes brightened, burning with love as he nodded and kissed Sadao deeply, Ichirou for once not making a gagging sound at them.

    Aika snuggled in with Yuji, listening with rapt attention, but then suddenly during Satoshi's third song, she reached her hand up and touched Yuji's cheek to get his attention, just like Hikaru always did, and asked quietly, "Is gifu an angel?"

    Vale leaned over. "I think gifu's heart is more beautiful than even an angel's heart. Maybe gifu is our angel of love."

    Aika stared back at Vale for a moment and then broke out in a most radiant smile. "I knewed it. He can play more beautifully than the angels," she whispered hoarsely back, and then Satoshi moved on into one more song.

    The first notes of Kageoshi's song started drifting out over the living room, and Satoshi's face grew somber, filled with love for the young boy who had died, as well as sorrow for his loss.

    Momo snuggled in tighter with Sadao, and his lover wrapped his arms tightly around Momo, stroking his hair lovingly.

    Kansas reached up and stroked his hand under Erion's silver hair to stroke the back of his neck, a loving smile on his lips as he leaned forwards a little to look into Erion's face, asking silently if Erion was alright.

    Erion looked into Kansas's eyes, his beautiful silver-grey eyes serene, and he smiled at Kansas with tender love. "I'm fine, 'lokiamin. I'll meet him again one day." Erion looked completely at peace with the thought, and he reached up to touch Kansas's face gently. "I love you so much. Thank you."

    Falon brushed away a small tear of his own, but he watched Satoshi and listened to the song, his face still and calm, his blue eyes slightly hooded.

    Kansas smiled and leaned in to press a quick kiss to Erion's lips, and nodded his head, whispering, "I love you endlessly, isilmeamin. Forever. And we will meet him again."

    The song ended, the last notes lingering on the air, and Kerien wiped away the tears from his cheek with his one hand, his smile incandescent. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice soft. "Thank you, mellonamin, for your music." He touched his heart and bowed, and Tathar did the same, her face no less radiant.

    Satoshi blushed crimson, his gorgeous eyes lowering almost automatically. "I'm a little rusty, so that wasn't really my best," He murmured, but Sand hurried over to claim Satoshi's lips in a sweet and loving kiss.

    "The very Seldarine stop to listen when you play, saiai. You're better than ever." Sand hugged Satoshi, and Ryuu ran over to pounce on his chichi. "And Kohaku had better watch out, because I think my two best dragons make a wonderful duet."

    Satoshi squeaked, Yuji burst out with his wonderful goofy laugh, and everyone began to talk all at once, the dinner party gradually winding down on that perfect note.

×
×
  • Create New...