[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

The elven ship was sleek and immaculate, the crew polite when they spoke, which was seldom. Sand explained that elven vessels sailing for Evermeet tended to sail an odd path, one that slipped between Planes to reduce the normal week-long voyage to a matter of hours. As soon as Neverwinter disappeared from sight behind them, the elven vessel seemed to steer for a fog bank, and for the next couple of hours, there was nothing to see. When the fog lifted, the vessel was cutting smoothly across deep blue water, heading for an island that was lush and covered with thick forests. They made port at the capital city of Leuthilspar, although the family did not remain there. Instead, they traveled by elfgate to Drelagara, the city where Vale had been born and raised.

The streets of Drelagara were busy, busier than those of Evereska, with elves walking through the market square, baskets of purchases on their arms and laughter on their lips. There were gardens, not as extensive as Evereska, but beautiful and lush, and then there were the musicians.

Almost every garden boasted a musician, playing a delicate lute-like instrument, or a small harp, or an exquisite silver flute. Elves and elflings alike gathered around the musicians, listening raptly as they coaxed haunting melodies forth. With so many different musicians, and so many different songs, it should have been a cacophony, but the songs blended seamlessly into a single symphony, and Satoshi's eyes widened as he heard the heartsong of Evermeet.

Vale wore the clothing of the Evermeet Court, elaborate and elegant, and to Yuji's eye he looked like an elven prince out of a storybook. He wore a knee length silk tunic with a high collar in a pale green silk, fastened at the throat with a gold clasp and belted around his narrow waist by a band of woven gold cords. His trousers were emerald silk, slim and elegant, and on his feet he wore thin doeskin boots that ended at the ankle, dyed emerald green to match his trousers perfectly. Over his tunic Vale wore a formal sleeveless coat with stiffened shoulders in a pale gold silk, embroidered with both the star of Nosse Anorongil and the six-petaled flower of Nosse Hayashi in gold thread. His hair was loose and glossy, and he wore a thin gold circlet on his brow.

Beside him, Yuji looked both elegant and severe in his formal garb, the black and white striped hakama perfectly pleated over the black silk kimono with its snowy juban underneath. Yuji's haori with its five gorgeous kamon drew looks and approving murmurs from the elves they passed. Willow walked on the other side of Vale in an elven gown of burnt gold, her pale skin and auburn hair perfectly set off by the intricate gown. Hikaru rode in Willow's arms, dressed in an emerald green silk kimono, his tiny obi pale gold silk to match Vale's coat. Aika, in her deep ruby silk gown, held on to Willow's hand, her tiny matching satin slippers peeking out as she walked along.

Sand was dressed in Evereskan finery, his breeches and tall glossy boots black, and his silk tunic sapphire blue with a mithral clasp holding the high collar shut. His ankle length wide sleeved robe was also sapphire blue silk, and worked with mithral thread with his own House symbol. His glossy black hair was loose as well, and his circlet was mithral and set with a single moonstone. Satoshi walked beside Sand, as elegant as Yuji in his formal hakama, and Ryuu was in his own kimono and hakama, although Ryuu did not wear haori like Satoshi.

Erion had chosen the garb of Sildëyuir, a ankle-length tunic slit up to his hips over tight trousers and soft slippers, all in a heavy silvery silk. The circlet on his brow was intricate, delicate bands of silver gracefully intertwined, and a belt woven from thin silver chains rested just above slim hips. Beside him, Kansas was the night to match Erion's moonlight, his formal garb suiting him perfectly, his eyes stormy grey as he took in the sights of Drelagara.

Caradur, Lord Anorongil, stood at the front door of his family's home, his deep golden hair clubbed back into a neat ponytail. His blue eyes surveyed Vale and Yuji as they approached, Vale's head high and proud. Caradur wore simple breeches and boots, and a thigh-length tunic, informal clothing of the type worn at home. He arched one brow as Vale stopped and bowed formally.

"Heru Anorongil." Vale straightened and met his uncle's gaze unflinchingly. "I ask permission to enter, so that we may speak."

Caradur surveyed the family, and nodded. "You are all welcome within these walls." He turned to Vale and murmured, "Nae saian luume', it has been too long."

"It wasn't by my doing, heru en amin, my Lord." Vale's eyes flashed briefly. "But I thank you for welcoming my family."

Caradur's eyes widened slightly when he saw Hikaru, and Vale held out his hands to Willow, taking Hikaru and pulling her beside him.

"I present to you my husband and lifemate, Yuji, Lord Hayashi. Verno'amin, this is Caradur, Lord Anorongil, my uncle and head of this House." Vale watched as Caradur and Yuji exchanged the bows of equals. "I also present our wife, Willow, Lady Hayashi. I have three other spouses as well, and we have three children." Vale gestured to each in turn as he named them. "Mori Masato, also called Sand, en Nosse Iradil. Mori Satoshi en Nosse Iradil. Hayashi Tatsuya en Nosse Iradil. Tatsuya's betrothed, Erion en Nosse Iradil ar' Sulandorn. Our children, Mori Ryuu en Nosse Iradil, Aika en Nosse Hayashi, and Hikaru en Nosse Hayashi."

[Week 34: 5-29-11]

Pen Name: BronxWench

Story link: To Dust We Return

Review Replies: Review Replies

Type of fic: Flashfic

Rating: Adult+

Fandom: Games > Dragon Age: Origins

Warnings: Anal, AFFO, ChallengeFic, M/M

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale looked at Yuji with a smile. "I thought I would wear the hakama you bought for me, a'maelamin."

"You most certainly are not wearing that. While I enjoy such clothing myself, and wear it gladly, you are walking into an elven city, to petition elves for assistance." Sand's voice was sharp. "Are you Tel'Quessir? Or are you no longer one of the People?"

"Sand, this is between my husband and me," Yuji interjected, his own voice sharp. "Don't speak to Vale as though he's done something wrong."

Sand looked at Yuji, his expression shifting from irritation to contrition. "You are right, Yuji. My apologies to both you and to Vale for forgetting that you look to each other first, as do Satoshi and I." Sand bowed to them both. "I would like to explain myself, however, and offer my advice."

"I'm fine with advice," Yuji said, his own tone returning to normal. "And thank you for the apology."

"Vale should dress as who and what he is, a sun elf of a noble House. It will force their hand that way, whereas wearing hakama plays to their advantage." Sand spoke directly to Yuji. "The politics of Evermeet are subtle, and clothing can be as much a weapon as a sharp blade. If Vale arrives dressed to his station, he must be treated with appropriate courtesy."

"I understand," Yuji said with a nod. It was no different in Japan, and he appreciated Sand's concern for how Vale would be treated.

Sand turned to Vale. "I took the liberty, anoramin, of speaking to my tailor, and he has prepared Court robes for you. You are an elf of Evermeet, an archmage of no small power, a member of the governing Council of your guild, and husband to the founder of a noble elven House. These robes reflect that."

"I want the overcoat to bear the symbols of both Anorongil and Hayashi," Vale said firmly. "If I'm going to do this, I want it clear that I was born to Anorongil, a most respectable House, but I have chosen to live my life as Hayashi, in the noble House of my lifemate."

"As it should be," Sand agreed, "and as it will be done."

Vale gave Sand a sharp look. "I've never forgotten that I'm an elf, ithilamin. I appreciate what you've done, and you're right as far as Evermeet politics, but I don't appreciate being railroaded, or talked to like I'm incompetent. I'm damaged, I'll grant you that, but I'm not entirely incapable yet."

Yuji pulled Vale close, wrapping his arm around Vale and rubbing his back tenderly as he felt how stiff and tense the elf was. "No one thinks you're incompetent, my love. And you're not damaged, just hurt, and we're going to get you healed."

Vale sighed and relaxed into the loving touch. "I know, a'maelamin. I'm just eager to have this over and done with, so we can think about more important matters, like Willow and Satoshi's pregnancy, and Sora and Hawk's wedding." He gave Yuji a crooked little grin, but there was sorrow deep in those green eyes. "Maybe Willow and I can go to the tailor together tomorrow, and we can look for a dress for her as well?"

"I'd like that, sweets," Willow said, hurrying over to give Vale a kiss. "I want a gown that will look gorgeous when we all arrive in Evermeet."

"And Aika needs a new dress, and we can get Hikaru something as well, maybe a small kimono? I know he can't wear hakama yet, but he would look adorable in a kimono. Or should he wear a tunic and breeches?" Vale pulled Willow into the embrace, nuzzling into her hair.

"Vale, what makes you think getting you better isn't as important as anything else?" Willow chided him gently. "I like having a blond in my horde of husbands, you know. And I want another blond baby one day."

Yuji could feel Vale relaxing even more, their bond letting him feel Vale growing calmer, the sorrow retreating once again into the background. Yuji was concerned, however. Vale was starting to feel the strain, and Yuji worried that Vale would not be able to maintain his control over the memories that threatened to drown him.

"Did we bring any of that good whiskey?" Yuji asked, looking to lighten the mood further. Vale brightened immediately.

"I brought a couple of bottles, just in case, and some soda water for drinks as well." Vale looked pleased at his foresight, and Yuji gave him a beautiful smile.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's have a drink to celebrate House Hayashi and new beginnings." Yuji and Vale got the whiskey and glasses, and Taren brought ice, and the mood picked up once again as everyone began to chatter at once.

Much later, Yuji and Vale went upstairs, Vale seeming more tired than Yuji would have expected. They washed up and brushed their teeth, and Yuji brushed Vale's hair, knowing how it soothed Vale when he did that. Truthfully, Yuji enjoyed as much as Vale did, and he let his fingers trail through the silken tresses. There were shadows under Vale's eyes, and when Yuji led him to their bed, he eased Vale back and slid in beside him, pulling up the covers. Vale gave him a grateful look and a wan little smile, but he felt tense and a little stiff to Yuji.

Yuji wrapped his arms around Vale. "You need to rest, my love. Before you know it, we'll be in Evermeet."

Vale shifted slightly, turning to face Yuji. "It's funny, now that it's nearly time to leave, I'm terrified."

Yuji stroked Vale's cheek tenderly, his perfect eyes filled with love and concern. "Why terrified?"

"There's so much that can go wrong. What if my uncle rejects me publicly? I don't really care about myself, but that's a slander on you, and I can't bear that." Vale sighed a little. "And the priests."

"I thought the priests were the ones that could help you," Yuji said, puzzled.

Vale nuzzled his cheek into Yuji's hand with another sigh. "They are, but for some reason, I'm scared to death about facing them. There's something, I can't quite piece it together. It's not even a whole memory, just tatters of something. Just promise me that you'll stay with me when I see them."

"Of course I will," Yuji said firmly. "I won't leave you for a moment."

Vale looked calmer, and he nestled in closer to Yuji, the tension leaving his muscles, and Yuji pressed a loving kiss to Vale's forehead. He held his elf close as Vale's breathing evened out and Vale slipped into reverie, and Yuji let himself sleep, keeping his bond open should Vale need him.

It was quite late when Vale sat up, his eyes still blurred with reverie, and his voice a pitiful moan. "Amin uuma merna rin. Saes, uuma karna'amin." Vale shivered as Yuji sat upright and wrapped his arms around the elf. "Saes, leneema'amin quell. Amin milya telaa' sina nwalma."

"Vale? My love, what's wrong?" Yuji was not quite following the elven, but Vale's sorrowful tone told him all he needed to know. "Talk to me, my Vale."

Vale turned his head, his eyes focusing suddenly, and he shuddered as he let his head fall against Yuji's chest. "Uuma lemba'amin. Amin gorga." Vale's eyes were bright with unshed tears.

Yuji debated going for Sand in hopes of understanding Vale's whispered elven, but he did not want to leave Vale in such a state. Instead, he tilted Vale's face up slightly, looking into the elf's eyes. "I don't understand, Vale. What did you say?"

Vale blinked, a single tear tracking down his pale cheek. "Don't leave me. I'm afraid." Vale's breath hitched a little. "Did I say anything else?"

Yuji nodded, and with his musician's ear, he repeated back the elven words that Vale had spoken, not entirely surprised when Vale looked stricken. "What does that mean, my love?"

"The first part means, 'I don't want to remember. Please, don't make me.' I think I was talking to a priest, but I can't be sure." Vale looked at Yuji, another tear sliding down his cheek. "The second part means, 'Please, permit me to fade. I long for an end to this torment.' That's what I asked the healer when I was first brought to the temple. I remember that. It's one of the shreds that didn't make sense."

Yuji felt his heart leap in terror, and he cradled Vale's face between his hands. "Do you still long for that?"

"No!" Vale wrapped his own slim hands around Yuji's, his voice urgent. "Please, a'maelamin, believe me, I don't want to fade! What I want are answers, and for this to be fixed, so that I can live the rest of my days with you, loving you, and being able to be yours completely."

Yuji smiled in relief, his own voice trembling a little. "Then that's what we'll do, my sweet Vale. We'll get our answers, and we'll fix this, if I have to tear that temple apart with my bare hands to get it done." The naked relief on Vale's face nearly broke Yuji's heart, and he pulled Vale close, kissing him with all the endless love he felt for his elf. "I won't leave you for a minute, I promise you."

"Thank you," Vale murmured, and he clung to Yuji tightly for a moment before pulling back a little to look at Yuji. "I think I can return to reverie. I'll be able to rest, I'm sure of it."

Yuji eased Vale back onto the pillows, and pulled Vale into his arms, spooning himself tightly against his elven husband. Vale made a small contented noise, and he settled back into reverie after only a few minutes of being held, but Yuji lay awake for quite some time before falling into a light slumber.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Erion kissed Kansas very gently, his lips feather light against Kansas's lips. "The first moment I knew I was in love with you? That first kiss, do you remember? I was so surprised, and you thought I was upset, but it was because for the first time in my life, everything fell into place, and I was home. My soul was home."

Kansas's eyes went perfectly round, and he pulled Erion in for a tight hug, a tiny sob escaping his lips.

"And then we spent the night, wrapped in each others' arms, just kissing, and well, messing up our sleep pants," Erion giggled. "But waking up next to you? That was so perfect. I plan on waking up next to you for the rest of my life, if you don't mind."

"I think we can arrange for that to happen," Kansas agreed, his voice a little husky.

"Now, let's see about getting you some restful sleep," Erion murmured, stealing another sweet kiss. "Just hang on tight to me through our band, and follow me."

Erion called up one of his favorite memories, the first time they had made love in the maze in front of the statue of Hanali Celanil, the goddess blessing their union as Erion gave Kansas his virginity. "You can experience it, 'lokiamin. Just let yourself join with your dream-self."

Kansas kissed Erion gently, his eyes closing as he followed Erion into that night when their souls had fused irrevocably, when they knew they were lifemates. Erion sank fully into his reverie, feeling Kansas with him, joined in his memories, all the darkness held at bay by those tender moments.

XXX

Vale was in the kitchen when Satoshi wandered down with Sand, the two of them yawning hugely but with deliriously happy smiles on their faces. Vale looked at the fresh tattoos on Sand's upper arms, Sand having eschewed anything more than sleep pants as usual, and he smiled in appreciation.

"You two look incredibly pleased with yourselves," Vale said. "I like the new look, ithilamin." Vale returned to cutting something, deft nd precise, and Satoshi's eyes lit up.

"You brought kaki?" Satoshi exclaimed, reaching in to steal a piece and moaning happily as he savored it.

Sand looked at Satoshi and smiled at his husband's delight, sneaking in a quick kiss to taste the sweet juice on his lips. Taren shook her head at both of them, laughing as she handed them tea.

"I thought Willow would enjoy it, and I want Hikaru to try it as well. I like him to try new things," Vale explained. He lifted his head, listening, and his smile widened. "I think I hear our wife now." Hikaru let out a chortle of agreement, and Vale stooped to scoop him off the floor, offering him a tiny piece of kaki.

Willow wandered into the kitchen, Taren holding out a cup of tea, and she froze, looking at the platter of neatly sliced kaki. "Oh, fuck," she mumbled, and turned and fled, one hand over her mouth as she raced for the nearest bathroom.

Sand watched Willow in alarm, and Satoshi's face was a picture of dismay. Vale looked at Satoshi and began to laugh.

"Congratulations, mela en' coiamin," Vale grinned. "I do believe you're going to be a father again."

Satoshi turned to look at Vale, his eyes going nearly round. "You really think she's pregnant?"

Vale gestured at the platter of sliced fruit. "The kaki, my love, doesn't lie." Hikaru looked up and giggled as Vale fed him another small piece, his face beatific.

Taren looked at the cup of tea in her hand, and then at the expression of mixed elation and exasperation on Satoshi's face, and went back to her sweet rolls, shaking her head at the oddities of her adopted family.

Sand pulled Satoshi into a delighted kiss as Yuji walked in, raising an eyebrow and pouring himself some tea.

"Anyone care to tell me what's going on?" Yuji asked, going over to kiss Vale and then Hikaru.

Sand looked up, his blue eyes bright. "Willow is pregnant."

Yuji looked around, not seeing their wife. Taren brought over a tray of fresh sweet rolls, still hot from the oven, and smiled at Yuji.

"It's the kaki," Taren said with a perfectly straight face. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go and see if Willow needs a hand."

"I need to sit down a moment," Satoshi said, his eyes still wide. He looked at the platter of kaki, and he grew pale. "Suddenly, I don't feel so good."

"What is it, saiai?" Sand asked, instantly concerned. "Perhaps the rothe last night did not agree with you?"

Satoshi shook his head, and Taren swooped in to move the platter of fruit away from Satoshi, who gave her a grateful look. "You think it's possible to have the same symptoms as your wife?"

Yuji had to turn away and pour himself more tea while he struggled to keep from bursting into a fit of giggles. He put the kaki into a covered dsh and tucked away in Eryn's cool cabinet, and then turned around, only the twinkling of his eyes betraying his vast amusement.

Willow came back in and Yuji poured her a fresh cup of tea as she found a seat at the table, Taren right behind her. "Sorry, sweets," Willow said to Vale. "You went to the trouble of bringing that for me, and I can't even look at it."

Kansas and Erion sauntered in at that exact moment. "Can't look at what?" Kansas asked, yawning a little. He had slept deeply and well, Erion sharing warm and peaceful memories with him all night until dawn had called to them both, and then they had crawled back into bed to kiss and cuddle and drowse a bit longer.

"Don't even say it," Willow groaned, and Kansas's eyes widened as he caught on.

"Hey, that's wonderful news!" Kansas hugged Willow happily, and then turned to his very puzzled elf. "Willow's pregnant!"

"Oh," Erion said. "Oh!" His eyes lit up and he hugged Willow as well. "That's marvelous!" Then his eyes glittered with a spot of mischief as he looked around with sweet innocence. "So, who's the lucky father?"

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand cradled Satoshi in his arms, kissing his beautiful husband tenderly. "Close your eyes and rest a bit, cormamin. You were so perfect, so wonderfully wanton, saiai."

Satoshi's eyes fluttered closed for a few moments, but then he opened them again, reaching up to touch Sand's cheek. "Finish playing, poldoramin. I want to watch."

Sand's smile was radiant as he kissed Satoshi again, and reached for Kua, pulling him into a kiss. "Well then, my lovely playmate, we must entertain my husband."

Satoshi curled up on a pile of pillows and watched as Sand and Kua twined around each other, locked in a passionate kiss. Sand's fingers trailed through Kua's long hair, brushing it aside so that Sand could trail his tongue along the edge of one gracefully pointed ear. When Sand began to suckle the tip, Kua arched his back and ground himself against Sand, his cock hardening as Sand ran his hands down Kua's back to cup his firm ass. Kua moaned into the kiss, his long fingers toying with Sand's nipples, teasing them until they were hard pebbles against the pale skin.

Sand broke the kiss, looking into Kua's dark grey eyes, and he guided Kua onto his knees, positioning the other elf so that his head was near Satoshi. Kua moaned again, and claimed Satoshi's mouth in a tender kiss as Sand moved behind him, bending down to lap at Kua's pucker, tasting Satoshi's cum as he thrust his tongue into the loosened muscle. Kua pressed his ass back, impaling himself on Sand's thrusting tongue as he broke his kiss with Satoshi to snatch a shuddering breath.

Sand gave Kua's ass a last lingering swipe with his tongue, the stud making Kua shudder deliciously, and Sand moved with languid grace to press his thick cock against the twitching pucker. As Sand pressed the head of his cock into Kua, the other elf bucked his hips, sheathing Sand in a single fluid motion, his eyes fluttering as he was filled by Sand's thick cock. Sand withdrew, and then pressed back in, the ring in his cock rubbing against Kua's prostate in a way the elf had never experienced, and Kua moaned in a delirium of pleasure. Sand struck up a slow and sensuous pace, reaching around Kua to pull him upright so that he could toy with a tight little nipple as he fucked the tattooed elf. Kua leaned his head back on Sand's shoulder, turning his face so that Sand could plunder his mouth as they moved with sinuous grace against each other.

Satoshi moaned a little as he watched Sand and Kua play, Sand's deft fingers finding Kua's cock and stroking it firmly. Through their bond, Satoshi could feel the heat coiling in Sand's belly, and he wondered how Sand could keep from exploding as he drove Kua wild with his pierced cock. Kua's cock was dripping precum as Sand stroked it, and the tattooed elf shuddered as his balls tightened and drew up, Sand's hand moving faster. With a ragged howl, Kua let go, his cum painting thick ropes across his own chest as Sand guided his cock, and then Sand growled and came, Kua's sweet tight ass clamping almost painfully around his thick cock.

Kua moaned and sagged a little, and Sand eased himself out of Kua's ass, helping him down onto the mattress. Sand leaned forward over Kua, his tongue swiping up a long ribbon of cum from Kua's chest, making the other elf shiver in exhausted delight. Sand kissed Kua tenderly, easing him over next to Satoshi, and then Sand curled up on the other side of Satoshi, pulling the bed covers over the three of them as they settled into a nap, thoroughly sated.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Kua writhed deliciously under Satoshi's dual assault on his cock and his ass, his hands gripped in the bed covers. Sand teased Satoshi's eager little ass open with swipes of his tongue stud, and thrust his tongue past the tight pucker as Satoshi pushed back. It did not take much tongue-fucking for Satoshi to be ready for Sand's cock, and Sand slicked his thick cock with a generous amount of oil as he gave Satoshi's ass a few last swipes of his tongue. Satoshi mewled a little when Sand straightened, his strong hands wrapping around Satoshi's hips.

"Cormamin, Kua is ready for you to enter him. Fill him with your cock, and give him what he needs," Sand urged. Kua opened his arms to Satoshi, his grey eyes near black with desire, and Satoshi moaned as he released Kua's cock from his tight little mouth with a soft pop. Satoshi rubbed his cock with a little of the sweet oil, and he hooked his arms under Kua's knees, drawing them up and back as he positioned his cock at the elf's loosened pucker.

"Please," Kua murmured, his voice hoarse with longing. "Take me, beautiful one."

Satoshi moaned as he sank his cock into Kua's hot ass, the elf bucking to encourage Satoshi to bury himself fully. As Satoshi's balls came to rest against the firm globes of Kua's ass, Sand pressed the head of his cock into Satoshi's sweet ass, and Satoshi howled as Sand slid forward, easing himself in until his cock was fully sheathed in Satoshi's ass. Sand paused for a moment to let Satoshi adjust to him, leaning forward to nip at Satoshi's shoulder as Satoshi panted for a moment.

"Move, please, poldoramin," Satoshi managed, bucking his hips a little. As Sand pulled back, Satoshi withdrew a little from Kua's ass, and slammed back in when Sand thrust himself into Satoshi's ass. Kua howled even louder than Satoshi had, his cock jumping as Satoshi rammed his prostate dead on.

Sand set the rhythm, steady and not too fast, wanting to enjoy having his beloved Satoshi in the middle between him and Kua, fucking and being fucked. Satoshi was moaning almost non-stop, and through their bond, Sand shared his pleasure at the twinned sensations. Kua pulled Satoshi's mouth to his, plundering that tight little cavern with abandon as he nibbled at Satoshi's pierced lower lip between delirious kisses.

Sand wrapped one arm around Satoshi's waist, supporting himself that way while his other hand found Kua's weeping cock. Kua's fingers had drifted back to Satoshi's pierced nipples, and Kua twisted and tugged as Sand fisted his cock and began to stroke. It was all Kua could take, and after only a few firm strokes, Kua howled and arched his back, his cum painting his chest and Satoshi's chest, as well as Sand's hand.

Kua's ass tightened around Satoshi's cock, and the heat that was coiled in Satoshi's belly erupted as Satoshi came, spurt after spurt of cum filling Kua's ass as the elf writhed and howled. Sand licked Kua's cum off his hand as Satoshi's ass gripped him like a velvet vise, Satoshi's screams of pleasure sending a shiver up Sand's spine. Sand thrust a final time, burying his cock to the balls in Satoshi's spasming ass, and then he came as well, painting Satoshi's hot little passage with his searing cum.

Sand let himself fall to one side as he eased down, his thick cock still buried in Satoshi's ass as Satoshi shivered in his arms. Kua rolled with Satoshi as Satoshi released Kua's legs, and Kua threw his top leg over Satoshi to keep the imp's cock buried in his ass. Kua cradled Satoshi from the front while Sand held him from behind, both elves kissing and stroking the shuddering imp as he slowly relaxed. They lay like that for several minutes, Satoshi tracing the vines along Kua's chest while Kua toyed with Satoshi's nipple rings and nibbled at his lower lip. Sand nibbled on Satoshi's neck where it met his shoulder, lapping at the dark mark that Sand made sure to renew regularly.

Finally, with a mewl of regret, Kua untangled himself, letting Satoshi's cock slide out of his ass. Kua got off the bed and walked, naked and graceful, to his kitchen to make another tray of the grilled meat skewers. Kua brought in ale and fruit as well, and he poured the ale for Satoshi and kissed him as he gave him the tall mug. Kua handed Sand a mug as well, and poured for himself, drinking deeply before offering around the tray of skewers.

"I think we will need to restore ourselves before we can continue," Kua said, looking at Sand and Satoshi with a beautiful smile. "If you wish to stay and play some more, that is."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Kua finally broke the kiss, breathless, his eyes shining as he looked at Satoshi. "Oh, you are incredibly arousing, beautiful one." He stroked Satoshi's cheek softly, and nibbled another kiss. "So sweet, and so very delicious."

Satoshi blushed a little at the compliments, but his eyes were heated as he looked at Kua, and then at Sand, whose eyes were dark with desire.

"Oh, cormamin, that was beautiful to watch," Sand said huskily. "Kua, let us finish my tattoo quickly, shall we?" He reached over and pulled Kua down for a kiss, lingering over the elf's lips as Satoshi moaned.

Kua handed Sand another mild healing potion and began on the color work of the tattoo, his fingers deft and sure as the treehouse came alive under his nimble needles. Kua paused every so often to let Satoshi lap a little more blood from Sand's arm, watching as both Satoshi and Sand grew more aroused with each lick. When Kua was done with the basic color work, he handed Sand another potion, and leaned in to kiss Satoshi again, exploring Satoshi's piercings with his tongue. He sat back, his grey eyes smoky with desire.

"These are so intriguing," Kua said, running a thin finger over Satoshi's piercings. "They are for decoration, yes?"

"Mostly, yes," Satoshi agreed, his cheeks a little pink. He was not sure how to explain to this elf that they were also a focus when he was anxious.

"And your tongue!" Kua exclaimed, turning back to mix the colors for the detailing and shading. "You have a wonderful piercing through your tongue!"

"So do I," Sand remarked.

"Ah, I noticed that," Kua replied. "It must be marvelous when you love each other."

"Oh, it is," Sand chuckled. "Satoshi introduced me to the pleasures of that, and I decided that I wanted to be able to return the pleasure, as it were." Sand stretched a little, his muscles moving sinuously, his gorgeous ass making Satoshi want to rip off his jeans.

Kua noticed Satoshi's growing arousal, and knelt to kiss Satoshi sweetly, purring a little as his tongue danced over Satoshi's pierced tongue. "I hope to feel that elsewhere, later, if you are so inclined." He reached behind himself and presented a ripe strawberry to Satoshi, feeding it to him and delicately licking a drop of juice from Satoshi's lips.

Kua finished the details and shading, and Satoshi lapped at the last few trickles of blood with a wanton little moan. Kua smiled as he finished cleaning up, dropping his mithral needles into a cleaning solution and washing his color trays. He handed Sand a final mild potion once Satoshi was done licking at the blood, and once Sand had kissed the blood from Satoshi's lips. Then he tilted his head, looking at the beautiful sight of the two husbands kissing. Kua wandered back into his living area, and came back with a fresh pitcher of crisp cool ale, pouring for all of them.

Sand had moved from the bench and was curled up on the floor with Satoshi straddling his lap, and he looked at Kua over Satoshi's shoulder. Kua knelt behind Satoshi, sliding his arms around Satoshi and kissing Sand over Satoshi's shoulder. Satoshi turned his head and nuzzled Kua's gracefully pointed ear, feeling the elf shudder in delight. As Kua's long fingers moved up Satoshi's chest, he felt Satoshi's nipple rings and he moaned a little into Sand's mouth. Satoshi arched his back a little, pressing the steel nipple rings against Kua's fingers, and the elf tugged one experimentally.

Satoshi moaned, his head falling back against Kua's shoulder as Kua toyed with his nipple rings. "Please," Satoshi whispered, not even sure if it was Sand or Kua that he was asking, and not really caring. "Fuck me, please..."

Sand chuckled, and Kua stood and took Satoshi's hand, leading him into the apartment behind his shop. The sitting area was small and had only a pair of small couches and a low table, and there was a door that led into a much larger bedroom. Kua had opted for a very large, low bed, with ample room for two elves and a slender human, and Sand nuzzled up to Satoshi from behind.

"Cormamin," Sand purred. He was already unfastening his jeans, sliding them down and discarding his boxers just as quickly, his cock thick and erect, and Satoshi moaned at the sight of his husband, naked and newly tattooed, with Satoshi's koi swimming beneath Sand's moon on one arm, and the sweet little treehouse on the other. Satoshi turned to see Kua also undressing, opening the high collar of his tunic and peeling it over his head to reveal an astonishing sight. Kua's entire body was tattooed, and as the elf peeled off his breeches, Satoshi looked at the intricate array of vines and flowers of every imaginable hue that grew from his ankles and twined around his long legs to cover his torso and arms. Even Kua's proudly erect cock was tattooed, and on the front of his right shoulder was a dove so lifelike that Satoshi expected it to take wing at any moment. Kua turned, revealing that the pattern covered his pert ass and back as well.

"This was my master's work. Do you like it?" Kua asked.

"It's incredible," Satoshi murmured, reaching out to stroke the silky skin.

Kua stepped forward, sliding himself into Satoshi's arms and diving into another one of his passionate kisses, his hard cock rubbing against Satoshi. Sand stepped behind Satoshi, pressing his thick cock against Satoshi's ass, and Satoshi's eyes fluttered closed for a moment as he alternated between grinding his ass back against Sand and pressing forward into Kua. Sand was tugging Satoshi's hoodie off, and Satoshi moaned again, already nearly beyond words, the two elves rubbing against him and the taste of Sand's blood still lingering on his tongue. Sand reached around Satoshi to open his cargoes, and then tugged Satoshi's t-shirt up and off, and Kua's long fingers skated lightly along Satoshi's sides.

Satoshi froze, feeling those cool fingers moving over his scars, and he bit back a sob as he wriggled free to dart into a corner. Sand followed quickly, pulling Satoshi into his arms and kissing his amethyst hair. "It's alright, cormamin, I have you. They are part of what makes you who you are, and who I love more each day." Sand turned his head to look at Kua, who had an expression of worry on his face.

"Did I offend, beautiful one? Satoshi, I did not mean to cause you distress," Kua said.

"It is alright," Sand said gently. "My husband is worried about his scars. They are still so new for him, and it is not easy for him to show them."

"Oh, Satoshi," Kua said, his voice sweet and loving. "I had not even noticed them, beautiful man. But Sand is right. Scars make us who we are, and they show that we have endured and triumphed, and we are all the more beautiful for it." Kua took Satoshi's hand and ran it along the dove on his shoulder. Beneath the gorgeous color and shading was a texture Satoshi recognized immediately as scar tissue. "I was gathering plants for my colors, and I heard screams. A lone orc was bearing down on a young elven mother and her babe. I threw myself between them, and he savaged my flesh with his teeth. I managed to slip my dagger between his ribs, and I lived to tell my tale, as did the mother and babe. It was a good day."

Satoshi trembled a little, his fingers tracing the dove. He looked deeply into Kua's grey eyes, and all Satoshi saw was desire and admiration. Kua leaned in, his lips teasing over Satoshi's lips, and Satoshi moaned a little as his lips parted to let the elf kiss him. Sand was behind Satoshi again, his mouth busily worrying the back of Satoshi's shoulder, and his hands back to tugging at Satoshi's cargoes, slipping them down and palming Satoshi's aching cock through his boxers. Satoshi moaned into Kua's mouth, and the elf reached out to toy with Satoshi's nipple rings again, slowly bringing Satoshi back up to a fever pitch of desire.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand growled as he pounded Satoshi's ass, sinking his cock into the delicious heat and slamming Satoshi's prostate with every thrust, the ring through his cock making Satoshi howl into his arm. Through their bond, Sand could feel just how much Satoshi wanted and needed this, and Sand responded by sharing how perfect Satoshi's ass felt as it surrounded Sand's cock, tight and hot and eager.

Sand reached down and pulled Satoshi upright, one arm snaking around Satoshi's chest to twist his steel nipple rings and the other arm around Satoshi's waist, holding him steady as Sand continued to take Satoshi hard and fast. It only took a few thrusts for Sand to reach the point where he could no longer hold back, and he growled again as his balls emptied themselves convulsively, filling Satoshi's ass with a prodigious load of cum. Satoshi muffled his scream as best he could against his arm as he felt Sand's cum fill him, and Sand put his mouth next to Satoshi's ear, his breath hot.

"Do not come yet," Sand ordered. He eased his cock out of Satoshi's ass and gripped Satoshi's hips, pushing him until he stood, and turning Satoshi around to face him. Sand pushed Satoshi's hand away from his cock and slid his lips over the head, using his tongue stud to explore the cleft under the head. Satoshi moaned loudly, his hands fisted in Sand's hair and his muscular legs trembling as Sand swallowed his cock to the root, relaxing his throat to take Satoshi in fully. Sand made a purring noise, and Satoshi's moans increased in volume as the vibrations shot straight up from his cock to his spine. Sand swallowed hard a couple of times, and Satoshi's balls drew up as he came, spilling his load of cum down Sand's throat.

Sand drank Satoshi's cum eagerly, drawing back a little on Satoshi's cock to savor the taste of his beloved husband on his tongue as Satoshi trembled and mewled, his face flushed and gorgeous to the elf. Sand held the last mouthful of cum, not swallowing, and he released Satoshi's cock and stood with fluid grace, claiming Satoshi's mouth and letting Satoshi's cum roll off his plundering tongue to fill the imp's eager mouth. Sand continued to kiss Satoshi, his hands sliding into Satoshi's gorgeous amethyst hair as Satoshi pressed himself against Sand.

When they finally broke for air, Sand's blue eyes were nearly black with his desire for his wanton little husband, and Satoshi had to grab Sand's shoulders to support his trembling legs.

'We are not yet done, cormamin," Sand promised in a sultry growl. "I think I shall do the other arm as well, and then perhaps we can persuade our lovely artist to play with us."

Satoshi looked at Sand, his eyes wide. "You want to ask him to join us?"

"Do you mind?" Sand asked, as he helped Satoshi pull up his boxers and cargoes. Sand leaned in to swipe his tongue across Satoshi's lower lip, nibbling at the piercings and making Satoshi moan a little.

"No," Satoshi said, and Sand's smile grew at the boldness of his beautiful husband. "I want him to fuck me, and I want you to fuck me, and I want us both to fuck him."

"Then we shall plunder our pretty new friend together." Sand pulled up his own jeans with a wicked chuckle. He slid back onto the bench with sinuous grace, knowing full well that Satoshi was watching every wriggle of his hips as he settled himself comfortably on the bench.

The artist walked back in, his eyes warming as he looked at Satoshi, and then at Sand, sprawled invitingly on the bench. "What shall we do now, my friends?" he asked, his voice husky with lust, and Satoshi bit back a moan as his cock began to twitch in his cargoes.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

The elf waved a negligent hand. "Please feel free to smoke. It does not bother me in the least." He flashed Satoshi an understanding look. "The outline will be completed momentarily on the first piece of art. We can take a small break then, if you wish a few moments in private with your husband."

Sand shot Satoshi a look, his blue eyes nearly black with desire. Satoshi was perching on the edge of the chair, smoking a cigarette and trying to look completely nonchalant as he rocked his hips a little, seeking some sort of friction, any sort of friction against his ass. Sand bit back a moan as he watched his beautifully wanton husband, his own cock rock hard beneath him and aching.

"I think that might be a good idea," Sand managed, and Satoshi's eyes locked on the artist's dexterous fingers as the mithral needles flew along Sand's pale skin. The artist gave a satisfied nod, and stood after laying down the needle.

"I think I shall go and contemplate how I wish to approach the color," the elf said. "If you will excuse me?" He slipped out into the back garden, closing the door behind him.

Sand moaned as Satoshi all but launched himself out of the chair, the trickles of blood on Sand's arm acting like a magnet. Carefully avoiding the tattoo itself, Satoshi licked the pale skin clean of blood as Sand raised his hips to fumble with the zipper of his jeans, tugging them past his hips impatiently along with his silk boxers.

"Cormamin, I need you, now," Sand rasped, and he shifted to slide his legs off the bench, the pale globes of his ass perfectly presented.

Satoshi moaned loudly, opening his own cargoes and freeing his throbbing cock as he fumbled for the tube of lube in hs pocket. He slicked the head of his cock quickly with a small amount of the lube, and pressed the head of his cock against Sand's ass, breaching the tight pucker and sinking his cock into the waiting heat of his husband. Sand hissed in pleasure, his back arching, his raven hair spilling down his pale skin as he pressed back to take all of Satoshi's cock into his ass.

"Take me hard," Sand said, looking over his shoulder with a smoldering gaze.

Satoshi obliged, withdrawing almost all the way, and then slamming back into Sand's ass, his cock ramming Sand's prostate hard. Sand bit back a scream of pleasure, his back arching even more, and Satoshi grabbed Sand's slim hips to hold the elf steady as he pounded his willing husband into the bench relentlessly. Sand pushed back into every thrust, wanting to be plundered, to be thoroughly owned by his beautiful, wanton Satoshi.

"Oh, fuck, Masato, you're so fucking tight," Satoshi moaned, leaning forward as he brushed Sand's silky hair away from the nape of his neck, biting and sucking a livid mark into Sand's skin as Sand ground his ass into Satoshi's groin. Satoshi could not stand it a moment longer, his balls aching as they emptied, filling Sand's ass with searing hot cum. It was all Satoshi could do not to scream loud enough to be heard in Eryn's house, and he buried his face in Sand's shoulder as he shuddered and spilled. Sand growled with pleasure, arching like a cat to press himself against his shivering husband, all but purring his satisfaction at being taken.

Satoshi withdrew his cock from Sand's ass with a mewl, amazed that Sand had not come as well. Sand looked over his shoulder, those blue eyes filled with heat.

"Later, cormamin. I still have the color left on this tattoo, and then there is the second one." Sand chuckled wickedly as Satoshi whimpered, and he turned as he stood, pulling Satoshi in to plunder that tight little mouth hungrily. "Let us see how many times we can pleasure each other, shall we?" He swiped a trickle of blood from his arm onto his fingertip, sliding his finger into Satoshi's mouth. Sand adjusted his clothing quickly, and stretched out on the bench, waiting for the artist to return, and Satoshi lit another cigarette with shaking hands as he sat back down, trembling with anticipation.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand looked at the toad, with its sparkling wings, and his face lit up in delight. "Lokiai! Wherever did you find him?" Sand leaned over to pull Ryuu onto his lap as well, kissing Ryuu's forehead and cheek as he laughed merrily. "I thought my Little Dragon was lost forever. Do you remember this fine fellow, atara?" Sand held the toad up with great joy, stroking the smooth cool skin with surprising gentleness and affection. Sand murmured something quietly, and looked at Ryuu with a radiant smile. "Thank you, sochi-chan. He is a very beautiful faerie dragon, is he not?"

Ryuu beamed proudly at his tousan. "I catched him myself for you," Ryuu explained.

"Did Hawk otooji tell you the story of my Lokiai?" Sand laughed, hugging his son with glee as the rest of the family collapsed in laughter. Satoshi laughed so hard that he had to take his glasses off and wipe his eyes twice, and Yuji was sure he would have to resuscitate Vale and Willow, who clung to each other in near hysterics.

Ryuu began to giggle as he nodded vigorously, and Sand laughed again, looking nearly as young as Erion.

"I will show you the pond we made for my very first faerie dragon." Sand set Ryuu on his feet and stood, cradling his winged toad carefully. "Come, Lokiai, and we will show you where you can play while we are here. We will have to make a place for him at home in Tokyo, you know." Sand held out a hand to Ryuu. "I will need your help, of course."

Sand led Ryuu into the garden, showing him a small pond with some flat stones perfect for a toad to bask in the sun, and he set the toad carefully on a particularly cozy stone. Sand curled up on the ground with Ryuu on his lap, and they discussed what the faerie dragon might like to eat, and what they could feed him back home. Ryuu was quite excited about bringing Lokiai home and promised to help Sand take good care of him.

As they walked back to join the family, Sand looked at Ryuu with a mischievous smile. "You know, I do have a companion animal."

"You do?" Ryuu's eyes were wide.

"I do. He is not nearly as fancy as your faerie dragon, but Jaral has been my friend for a long time now. Would you like to meet him?" Sand asked.

"Oh, yes!" Ryuu squealed, wondering what Jaral could be.

"Jaral, you must come and meet my son, Ryuu," Sand said, and there was a small rustle in the bushes as a beautiful spotted cat poked his head out, blinked, and then emerged altogether. "Ryuu, this is Jaral, who is a very clever and resourceful friend. Jaral, this is my son, Ryuu."

Jaral dipped his head slightly and meowed, his large amber eyes watching Ryuu with great interest. He walked closer and rubbed against Ryuu, purring quite loudly and with evident pleasure.

"Jaral thinks you are very handsome and he also thinks you look quite intelligent," Sand informed Ryuu.

"You know what he says?" Ryuu said, his eyes going almost round. He looked at Jaral with renewed awe.

Sand nodded. "Wizards and their companions can talk in their thoughts. Jaral can be very talkative when he is in the mood."

Jaral meowed loudly, and bumped Ryuu's hand with his head, clearly asking to be stroked. Ryuu looked up at Sand, and Sand nodded, so Ryuu carefully stroked the soft fur. Jaral purred even louder, his tail waving happily.

"Why didn't Jaral come out sooner?" Ryuu asked. "Mama would love him. She loves cats."

"Does she?" Sand looked surprised and happy all at once. "Well, then, Jaral, it seems you will have to come and meet the rest of the family. Do refrain from spellcasting, however."

Jaral gave Sand a stare that seemed to say that the elf was an idiot for needing to even say that, and he paced next to Ryuu as they headed back to rejoin the others for lunch.

XXX

The council of Hill Elders was expecting Yuji, since Sand had sent word ahead that they would like an audience. Taren and Eryn had insisted on feeding everyone first, and Ryuu had covered Willow in happy kisses when she agreed that Jaral had to come home with them as well. Now the six spouses and Erion were seating in the audience room on comfortable padded couches while the elves of the council looked at them with great interest. Sora had joined them as well, and the council members had greeted her with great respect, which pleased Yuji more than he could say.

The leader of the council was a moon elf with thick black hair shot through with grey, and Yuji watched him with great interest as he smiled warmly at the family. "I am Lord Duirsar, High Elder of this council. What brings you before us today, friends?"

Yuji stood and bowed with great politeness. "I am Hayashi Yuji, great grandson of Hayashi Sora, who you know as Sora en Nosse Sathoness. My great grandmother's House doesn't exist anymore, since she was missing and her parents died, but I would like to form a new House so that the descendants of House Sathoness will always have a place in Evereska." Yuji was more than a little nervous as he made his speech, and only the warm love flowing from his spouses kept him from actually trembling.

Lord Duirsar nodded. "We asked Sora when she returned to us if she wished to take up the title of Lady Sathoness, and she declined. But it would be an ill thing for Evereska and for the elven folk if Hanali Celanil's children were refused a home in this place that honors her. The Hill Elders would be pleased to grant this request, and allow a new House to be formed, with you as its Lord. How shall your House be known?"

Yuji turned and looked at his spouses, and he smiled warmly at them all before turning back to Lord Duirsar. "It will be House Hayashi, in honor of my great grandfather, who loved and cherished my great grandmother, and made a home for a lost elven woman in his heart."

Sora brushed away tears of joy to hear Yuji honor her beloved Yuichi, and her smile was like the sun, it was so bright.

"Then let House Hayashi be recorded, and its name spoken with love by all elves." Lord Duirsar bowed and Yuji returned the bow, and then the older elf smiled, all ceremony put aside as he held out his hands to Yuji. "Let us have a little wine and celebrate, shall we? It's not often we get to form a new House."

The other Elders joined them, and Lord Duirsar told Yuji that he could submit a list of the members of his House at his convenience. Yuji gave him the scroll that Vale had written out for him, in espruar that was as graceful and elegant as kanji, and Lord Duirsar thanked Yuji with a bright smile. The elven Lord drew Sora and Yuji aside, and asked Sora again about the Sathoness estate, and he seemed happier than Yuji when Yuji accepted the estate for his new House. Yuji asked if he could use Sora's symbol, the six-petaled flower as the symbol of his House, with Sora's enthusiastic agreement, and Lord Duirsar agreed with great pleasure, telling Yuji that it showed a commendable wisdom to retain the link with House Sathoness.

Yuji looked over at Vale, and Vale moved gracefully to join Yuji, sliding into Yuji's embrace with delight. Lord Duirsar smiled from where he stood in conversation with Sand and Satoshi, the love between Vale and Yuji plain for all to see.

"Well, my love, you are part of a noble House now," Yuji murmured. "No matter what happens, you are always Vale en Nosse Hayashi, my sweet husband."

"Thank you, a'maelamin." Vale's emerald eyes shone with tears of joy. "I am the luckiest elf in the multiverse, to be so loved."

XXX

As the family was walking back to Eryn's house and making plans to tour the Sathoness estate in the morning, Sand told Yuji that he needed to make a stop on his way home. Taking Satoshi by the hand, Sand veered off down a quiet lane, and stopped before a small house, opening the door and stepping inside with a quick mischievous grin at Satoshi.

The elf inside the house stood and greeted them cordially. "Welcome, my friends. Are you here to consider some art for your body?"

"I am," Sand said, his eyes bright as he pulled out Kansas's renderings of his tattoo ideas. "Do you think you can replicate these?"

The elf considered the drawings, and smiled radiantly. "I can indeed. Whoever drew these is a master. I would be pleased to commission drawings from this master for my own work, if you could pass that on."

"I will indeed." Sand stripped off his upper clothing and made himself comfortable on the padded bench of the tattoo artist. "This is how we tattoo ourselves, cormamin."

Satoshi watched as the elf took out a tray of different sized and shaped mithral needles. The elf then took out various small bottles of inks, and proceeded to mix the colors for the tattoo, stopping to check each one with Sand.

"How do you apply the ink?" Satoshi asked, intrigued.

The elf looked up, his smile bright. "I dip the needle in the color I wish to use, and insert it into the skin. I have been doing this for many years, so it does not take as long as it sounds." He tilted his head slightly. "Do you also wish to decorate your body, or have you done so already, beyond your wonderful piercings?"

The elf's interest was so genuine that Satoshi pushed up his shirt sleeve to show the elf his green and silver koi swimming down his left arm, and the outline of the second koi on his right arm, still awaiting color. The elf touched the green and silver koi with gentle reverence. "Your artist is most accomplished," he complimented Satoshi. "One day, when it is done, I would be honored if you show me the new tattoo."

"I will," Satoshi agreed, and he settled himself to watch as the elf began to work, outlining the tattoo with great speed and precision, the tiny drops of blood shining like garnet against Sand's pale skin.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Hawk paused outside Eryn's house, and tugged Sora close for a hug, tilting her face up so that he could kiss her tenderly. "You're trembling. My sweet Sora, you've faced so much in your life, and survived things that would have shattered a lesser woman, and you're afraid of what my mother will say?"

Sora hugged Hawk and gave a nervous giggle. "It's silly, I know. Eryn is my friend, and I shouldn't be so nervous, but I am. Can we just get this over with, so I can breathe again/"

Hawk gave Sora another kiss, and led her into Eryn's house. He headed directly for the living room, where Eryn was curled up on a comfortable couch reading a tome. She looked up, her smile bright, and she put the tome aside and stood, holding her arms out in welcome.

"I heard you had both arrived," Eryn said as Hawk hugged his mother. "Let me look at you, utinuamin. You look wonderful, fully healed and splendid."

"I feel wonderful, atara," Hawk confirmed, releasing Eryn so she could hug Sora.

"And Sora, you look wonderful as well. I think the time in your old home did you good as well." Eryn hugged her friend as well, her smile radiant. "I'm so glad to have you both home, though. Selfish of me, really, but this house has been too quiet."

"It may still be quiet," Hawk said, putting his arm around Sora.

"Hawk asked me to marry him," Sora added. "I'd like your blessing, because I very much want to be his wife."

Eryn looked at the pair in front of her, her eldest son and the elven woman who had survived kidnapping and lived a full life on another Prime before she had even reached the age of majority. The moonstone ring on Sora's hand spoke volumes to Eryn, since she had last seen that ring when she gave it to Sand, to bestow on his genasi. Hawk could only have gotten it from Sand, which meant her youngest child heartily approved of this match, and truthfully, Eryn approved as well. Judging by the look on Sora's face, though, Eryn needed to say so, and quickly.

"Oh, Sora, my sweet friend, of course you have my blessing," Eryn said, her face utterly radiant. "I couldn't be happier, actually. I seem to recall my son mentioning a certain Sathoness daughter in a tone of utter bewitchment some years back."

Sora's cheeks turned rosy, and she looked up at Hawk, who was attempting to look innocent. "Really?"

"Really," Eryn confirmed. "So, you see, my dear Sora, I've been thinking of you as my daughter in law for quite some time already." She hugged Sora again, and pressed a kiss to Sora's forehead.

Sora nearly gasped with relief, and Hawk's arm tightened around her waist.

"I'll be staying at Sora's house, for as long as she can put up with me mucking about in her space." Hawk looked at Sora, and the naked love on his face made Eryn's heart leap with joy for the two elves.

Sora laughed, completely at ease now. "Oh, I might get tired of you after time ends."

"So, when did you plan on getting married?" Eryn asked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation, and Sora felt the butterflies in her stomach start up all over again.

XXX

The house was a flurry of activity as everyone prepared for the trip to Evereska, and eventually, Evermeet. Vale was especially nervous, and Yuji devoted a great deal of time to making sure that Vale did not have a relapse from sheer anticipation. Sand and Satoshi did their best to relieve the strain on Vale as well, and Kansas and Erion took it upon themselves to take charge of the children. Hikaru was delighted by the change in playmates, and did his best to devour Erion's hair, much to the young elf's amusement. Ryuu insisted on packing his own things, and he and Kansas consulted very seriously on what he really needed, and what he could leave home.

The night before they were going to leave, Yuji found Vale in the garden, a cigarette in his hand, staring up at the moon.

"Vale? Is everything alright, my love?" Yuji asked, sitting next to Vale and pulling Vale to lean back against him.

Vale gave him a small smile, looking slightly wan. "I'm just a little wound up, a'maelamin. I keep thinking about what it'll be like to go back to Evermeet. It's been so long since I was there last."

Yuji wrapped his arms around Vale, opening his bond to bathe his husband in his endless love. "When did you go there last?"

Vale thought for a moment. "It had to be about a century and a half ago. I slipped in quietly, and spent a couple of days with Ardiel, my sister. I didn't let anyone else know I was there. I just needed to see her, I suppose." He turned his head to smile at Yuji. "I'm alright, really. I don't feel like I'm losing control. I'd ask for help if I did, I promise."

Yuji smiled back, pressing a kiss to Vale's forehead. "I know you would, and we're all here for you if you need us."

"I think I'd like to try and take reverie," Vale said, snuggling closer to Yuji. "Will you hold me?"

Yuji stood and pulled Vale to his feet and into a hug. "All night long." Yuji promised, and Vale let Yuji lead him upstairs to their room.

XXX

The portal shimmered as Sand opened it, and Ryuu held tightly to Satoshi's hand, his eyes shining at the prospect of seeing his oniisan Falon again. Sand had Aika in his arms, and he and Satoshi led the way through the portal, emerging in their Neverwinter home. Kansas took Willow's hand, and they went through the portal, followed by Erion with Hikaru, who was wide-eyed at the sight of the portal.

Yuji looked at Vale, pulling his beloved elf into a tender kiss. "It's going to be fine, my love. We'll go to Evereska, form our House, and then we'll go to Evermeet and get the clerics to set everything right again. Just be strong a little longer. You've been so perfect, and you've held on so well."

Vale looked at Yuji, his green eyes just a little pale. "I'll be strong, Yuji, I promise. As long as I have you beside me, I can do this. I love you so much, a'maelamin, and I want to be whole for you again."

"Then let's go see about making you a member of a noble House." Yuji held Vale's hand tightly, and together they stepped through the portal.

They did not linger in Neverwinter, going straight to the Cloaktower and stepping through that portal to Evereska. When they arrived at Eryn's house, they were met by a merry group indeed. Mist and Santhiel were there, and Falon caught Ryuu as the little boy launched himself into the young elf's arms. Eryn's eyes were shining with tears of joy at having her family there again, and she hugged everyone with such happiness. Hawk and Sora were there as well, both looking blissfully in love, and Taren was delighted beyond words when Aika ran over to hug her.

"Welcome home," Eryn said, her heart overflowing with happiness. "Oh, I am so happy to have you all here again."

[Week 33: 5-22-11]

Pen Name: BronxWench

Story link: Dust to Dust

Review Replies: Review Replies

Type of fic: Flashfic

Rating: Adult+

Fandom: Games > Dragon Age: Origins

Warnings: Anal, AFFO, ChallengeFic, HJ, M/M

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale's eyes widened, and he flung himself into Yuji's arms with his old exuberance. "You would do that for me? A'maelamin, you have no idea how wonderful that would be!" Vale kissed Yuji and his joy flowed through their bond. "It means I'm not relying on my uncle to understand, or to accept me. I can walk with my head high, and be proud of who I am, and how I love. It means I can ignore the narrow-minded bigots and they will have to accept me because I am part of a noble House."

Yuji laughed at how happy Vale was, pleased that he could give Vale this comfort. Between the nights out together and Vale's own determined effort to keep his pain at bay, things had been peaceful enough, but Yuji was always aware of the underlying current of pain in Vale, and more than anything, he wanted to see that banished. Yuji did think that the idea of forming his own elven House was a bit silly, but if it gave Vale peace of mind, it was well worth it.

"Then we'll tell everyone at dinner, and start making the arrangements," Yuji said, running his hands through Vale's silky hair. "But which do you prefer? Should we ask that House Sathoness be restored, or should it be House Hayashi?"

Vale looked thoughtful for a moment. "I really think it should be House Hayashi. Our children will all be given the option to choose an elven lifespan, and if they do choose that, knowing that they are part of an elven House that bears their name is important. We should probably ask Sora, if we can get her to think about anything other than her wedding, that is." Vale grinned. "Have they even set a date yet?"

"Not as far as I know," Yuji laughed.

Hikaru sat up on his little blanket and let out an imperious little shriek, and Vale sat up and picked up the little half-elf, who chortled with glee. Hikaru's feet pressed against Vale's thighs, and he straightened his chubby little legs as Vale held him under the arms, pushing himself into a standing position. The little half-elf looked surprised, and then emitted a triumphantly loud screech that ended in a merry giggle. As Vale cooed encouragement, Hikaru sat and stood several more times, his happy yelps mingling with Yuji and Vale's laughter.

"He's growing so fast," Vale said, and there was a slightly wistful note in his voice.

"They always do," Yuji reassured his husband. "Sometimes it feels like they grow overnight. It was yesterday that we needed to feed Aika, right?"

Vale looked at Yuji, seeing all the love in those perfect eyes, and he laughed. "That's true, my love. When I came here she wasn't even walking, and now look at her. Going to school every day in her little uniform." He leaned in and nuzzled Hikaru. "And before we know it, you'll be in your little uniform and going off to school as well."

Dinner was lively, with everyone excited about going back to Evereska, especially Erion, who was eager to show the results of his exams to Mist and Santhiel. Satoshi reassured Vale that his work at the studio was completely up to date, and he would be able to take time off with no problem since Kohaku was going away and the new talent that worked with him was touring. They decided it would take about a week for everyone to be ready to go, since Kansas begged to have his friends over for dinner before they left. Vale was quick to confirm that he was fine with the wait, and was feeling quite good thanks to everyone's help and love. Vale gave Satoshi a particularly bright smile, since Satoshi had been able to lift away the pain whenever it began to bleed through too much.

Later that night, as they were getting ready for bed, Vale made a point of bumping into Yuji gently, or swaying a little as he walked, and Yuji finally grabbed the elf as he walked past, pulling him into a searing kiss. "You're wicked when you tease," Yuji growled, his eyes raking his beautiful elf, who merely laughed and melted into Yuji's arms. Yuji nibbled on a plump lower lip for a moment, one hand straying up to tease and tug a golden nipple ring, his cock hardening almost instantly when Vale gave a wanton little moan. Vale's slim hand slipped into Yuji's silk pajama pants to palm Yuji's cock, and Yuji retaliated by nipping the tip of a pointed ear. Vale's head fell back, and Yuji latched on to the wonderfully dark mark under Vale's jaw, over his pulse point, worrying it to make sure it stayed just as dark. Vale stroked Yuji's cock firmly, and then twisted, lithe and fast, tugging Yuji's pajama bottoms down and slipping his hot mouth over the head of Yuji's cock.

Yuji fell back on the bed as Vale swirled his tongue around the head, pressing his tongue stud firmly into the sensitive cleft underneath. One slim hand cupped Yuji's balls, rolling them gently in his palm, a long finger delving beneath them to press Yuji's prostate from the outside. The other hand scrabbled in Yuji's jeans for his tube of lube, all while Vale's lips slid down the length of Yuji's cock until Vale's nose was buried in the soft curls of Yuji's groin. Yuji groaned loudly, his hands fisting in Vale's thick hair as Vale swallowed, humming a little to send shivers right up Yuji's spine.

Vale withdrew his mouth slowly, sucking so hard that his cheeks were hollowed, his tongue stud teasing along the underside of Yuji's cock as the elf pulled back. Vale immediately lowered his mouth to lap at Yuji's balls, and then worked his way along underneath them until he reached Yuji's tight little pucker. Vale lapped gently at Yuji's ass, teasing the muscle until it twitched and opened a little. Vale pressed his tongue against it, pushing hard until he gained entry, thrusting his tongue in and out of Yuji's ass with a wanton little growl, and Yuji howled as he was breached by that talented tongue.

Vale fucked Yuji with his tongue until Yuji was shivering, and then he rose up, slicking his cock with a little lube as he urged Yuji to turn over. Yuji knelt with his ass in the air, moaning in anticipation as Vale pressed the head of his cock against Yuji's ass, slim hands wrapping around Yuji's hips for leverage as he pushed the head of his cock into that tight ass. Yuji's howl rang out loudly enough to rattle the windows, and he pressed his ass back, driving himself further onto Vale's cock as Vale pressed in, his piercing scraping over Yuji's prostate and making Yuji howl again. Vale set a hard pace, fucking Yuji with long thrusts, pounding his prostate relentlessly as Yuji moaned and quivered beneath him, his cock leaking precum onto the bed. Vale let out a moan as he felt his balls empty, and he filled Yuji's ass with spurt after spurt of hot cum. Yuji shivered, the heat filling him as Vale gave a few last thrusts, letting Yuji's sweet ass milk him dry.

When Vale eased out of Yuji's ass, Yuji turned over and tumbled the elf onto the bed, his cock rock hard and aching. Vale managed to let out a yelp of delight before Yuji was on him, covering Vale's mouth with his own and plundering it thoroughly. Yuji flipped Vale over, pulling that sweet golden ass into the air, and he spat into his hand, lubricating his cock with a mixture of spit and precum. Vale's tight little pucker was already twitching, eager to be taken, and Yuji lost no time in sinking himself in to the balls, his cock bathed in the heat of Vale's ass. Vale gave that wanton little moan again, pressing his ass back against Yuji, grinding into his groin, and Yuji groaned.

Yuji tried to keep the pace fast but not punishing, until Vale reared up and leaned back into Yuji, pressing his sweet ass down and managing to find Yuji's ear with one hand. Vale teased the sensitive shell with his long fingers, turning his head to let Yuji plunder his mouth for a moment. His emerald eyes were dark with desire, and Yuji wrapped one arm around the elf's waist as he slammed his cock into that tight little ass. For the first time since his collapse, Vale howled with pleasure, his head falling back onto Yuji's shoulder, and Yuji's heart soared as he plundered his eager elf. Vale's cock was hard again, and Yuji's long musician's fingers wrapped around it, stroking in time with his powerful thrusts. Yuji could feel how close Vale was, and the heat in his belly said he was just as close. A few more thrusts, and Vale screamed his release, his cum arching out to spatter the bed covers as his ass molded itself around Yuji's cock. Yuji howled, his teeth clamping on a delicate ear tip as his balls exploded, and he filled Vale's ass with an endless stream of cum.

Yuji's muscles were trembling as he eased Vale forward, letting his beloved elf collapse in a boneless heap on the bed as Yuji sank down with him. Yuji's cock was still buried in the tight little ass, and Vale wriggled backward, pressing himself down and trying to hold on to Yuji's cock for as long as he could. Finally, Yuji's cock slipped free, and Vale sighed a little for the loss, turning around to give Yuji a radiant smile as Yuji gathered him close.

"I love you," Vale whispered, snuggling against Yuji with a contented purr. Yuji pressed a tender kiss to Vale's golden head, feeling the sweet heat of his elf fill his arms.

"I love you, my Vale," Yuji murmured, listening as Vale's breathing evened out as he slipped into a blissful reverie. Yuji let his own eyes close, smiling as he drifted off to sleep with the sound of Vale's sweet screams in his ears.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale looked at each memory that Yuji showed him, and when Yuji invited him to live them, Vale did so with eager abandon, kissing a toad, tossing cherry blossoms, looking out on a magnificent vista that soothed the turmoil in his soul. When Yuji returned them to a garden filled with cherry blossoms, and left Vale to wander this incredible world, Vale whispered, "I love you, my perfect Yuji. Sleep well, beloved."

Vale considered his options, and chose to return to the hillside overlooking the old estate, the high perch and its extraordinary view once again acting to soothe him. Vale considered his options once again, his soul-self blurring briefly as his garb changed to the formal finery of the Evermeet Court. Vale nodded, accepting that judgment by his soul, and set about doing what he could in the meantime. He lit incense at the tomb, kneeling and offering prayers to the Seldarine for the keeping of Yuichi's soul. Human though he had been, Yuichi had loved an elven woman and had begun a lineage that had resulted in Yuji's birth, something Vale would honor until time ended. As he finished his prayer, something bright appeared, a piece of something, and Vale picked it up.

Vale wandered next into the house that had been Sora's, smiling as he saw a faint image of a toad appear. He bowed with great respect to the grandmother toad, and opened the door so that she could hop away on her quest, and where she had been, another bright fragment caught Vale's eye. He retraced his path through Yuji's memories, acknowledging each one, and collecting the bright shards until he was back in the garden where Yuji had led him in the end. Vale curled up under a tree, heedless of his finery, and laid the shards out in front of him, piecing them together with deft fingers. When Vale was finished, a mirror lay on a bed of fallen cherry blossoms in front of him, and he watched as the pieces fused together into a seamless whole.

Vale lifted the mirror and gazed into it. At first, he saw a somber sun elf, clad in the finery of his heritage, with emerald streaked sungold hair and wide green eyes, The image shifted, and he was gazing at a Japanese man with perfect eyes and lips that begged to be kissed, his fingers dancing over the ivory keys of a grand piano and coaxing forth music that tugged at Vale and drew him inexorably closer. The image shifted one more time, and Vale saw an older sun elf with burnished gold hair and blue eyes, his face serene, standing in front of an archway filled with sunlight.

Vale stood, and the mirror shrank as a chain emerged from one edge, a fine web of cracks covering its surface once again. Vale hung the now pendant sized mirror around his neck, and raised his face to the sky, letting the cherry blossoms rain down on him like the love that had showered him from his family this night. A radiant smile lit Vale's face, and he let himself fall backward with perfect trust, the cherry blossoms catching him and cradling him safely through the night.

It was just dawn when Vale emerged from reverie, wrapped in Yuji's arms as Yuji slept. Vale lay there, the emerging sun painting Yuji golden, and Vale watched those plump lips part slightly in a sigh. Even without the monitor, Vale heard Hikaru stir in his crib, beginning to stir as sleep lifted slowly. He could feel the pulse of magic as Kansas and Erion greeted the dawn and drew strength from the rising sun and each other. And in the stillness, Vale heard something else, faint but unmistakable to one who had been raised on Evermeet. Vale heard the heartsong of his family, what Akihito would have embraced as his honne, what Yuji had crafted from the vastness of his heart, and Vale knew that one day, he would be able to share this song with Satoshi, who could translate it into something that the ear could hear even as it flowed through and restored the soul. The thought made Vale smile, and that was when Yuji woke, his perfect eyes a little bleary as Vale reached for a breath mint and slipped it between Yuji's lips.

"How long have you been awake?" Yuji asked, looking at his beloved elf with a slightly puzzled expression.

"Not long, a'maelamin, only a few minutes," Vale replied, still smiling as he brushed the hair away from Yuji's eyes with graceful fingers. "Thank you for last night, for everything you did for me, for loving me so well, and so deeply, and for those beautiful memories. I'll cherish them, and walk in them in reverie again."

Yuji looked at Vale, seeing the shadows under his eyes all but gone, a beautiful smile on his lips, and his eyes a vivid emerald green. The sparkle that danced in them was not as bright as it had been, but it was stronger than it had been since Vale had bared his soul to Yuji, and there was a calm peace in them that made Yuji's heart soar even as his throat tightened with emotion.

"You look better, my love. You were able to take reverie?" Yuji reached out and cupped Vale's cheek in one hand tenderly.

Vale nodded, and leaned in to kiss Yuji very gently. "I found both rest and an answer, a'maelamin. When it's possible to travel, I need to return to Evermeet. Only there can I fix this permanently, but I think I've found a temporary fix, and it was your memories that led me to it."

Yuji looked at Vale, puzzled. "A temporary fix?"

"A way to hold the worst of it at bay," Vale explained. "Hiding those memories away won't work. It didn't work all along, actually, and what happened was bound to happen, sooner or later. The clerics of Evermeet did this, and they have to undo it, fix what they broke." Vale looked at Yuji with infinite love. "I was never broken. I was an elfling, and terrified, and that should have been addressed, not swept away. Their shame and narrow-minded bigotry is what caused me the real harm." Vale's smile widened a little. "I forgot what Anadan taught me. What I am is nothing to be ashamed of. I'll walk the streets of Drelagara with your collar displayed for all to see, because I'm proud to be yours. If that's more than my House can bear, then I'll renounce my House. I'm Hayashi Akira, and that's all I need. Your name, and your love."

"But how are you holding those memories at bay?" Yuji asked, his beautiful eyes worried. "I don't want this to be something that's going to collapse and leave you worse than before. I can't bear that, Vale."

"I don't know if I have the words to explain it. It's like a web, and the pain gets reflected away. I get the memories, but without the pain." Vale kissed Yuji again, sweet and soft. "It'll hold, long enough for us to be able to get to Evermeet. I figure if we go there over the summer, that'll be plenty of time. Erion and Kansas will be done with their exams, and the school will be closed. I just hope Satoshi can get time away from the studio."

Yuji looked at Vale, feeling the calm confidence that flowed out through their bond. "How did you figure this out?"

Vale rested his forehead against Yuji's tenderly. "You gave me the answer, or actually, your grandfather did. I'm embracing my honne."

Yuji just shook his head as Vale slid out of bed and walked over to the ensuite bathroom to warm up the shower, his hips swaying gracefully. Yuji followed, part of him rejoicing that Vale seemed to have recovered his equilibrium after the shock the other night, and part of him hoping that this was not just a temporary respite. They washed thoroughly, Vale shampooing Yuji's hair and massaging his scalp with strong fingers, but Vale did not angle for sex, which would have been something Yuji would have expected. Even when Yuji returned the favor and shampooed Vale's hair, the elf did not bump his ass back against Yuji's cock, one of the reasons that their showers always took so long.

As they were drying off, Vale gave Yuji a slightly apologetic look. "I don't want to push things too much, a'maelamin. I love you, and I love when you take me in the shower, but I want to make sure this holds."

"You've taken up mind reading?" Yuji said, shaking his head. He chuckled a little. "I was just worrying about the same thing, my love."

Yuji dressed and went downstairs to start breakfast, and Vale followed him in a few minutes, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt.

"Do you mind if I take today off as well?" Vale asked. "If this works, I'd like to try working on Monday, even for a half-day, if you think it's okay."

"The school year is almost over," Yuji pointed out as Vale poured himself some tea.

"I know, and there's all the end of the school year paperwork to do. I don't want to dump all that on Willow. She'll have my head for soup," Vale said, widening his eyes in mock horror. "Besides, work will keep my mind occupied, instead of my sitting at home and dwelling on things."

Yuji nodded, hearing the sense in that. "If you're still feeling good by Monday, we'll do a half-day and see how it goes."

"Thank you!" Vale gave Yuji a kiss, grinning happily. His head lifted as he heard Hikaru, and he shot Yuji a plaintive look.

Yuji shook his head, knowing that Willow would see to Hikaru, and she came down a few minutes later with the half-elf in her arms. Vale had poured tea for her, and he took Hikaru as he passed Willow the tea, Willow still groggy enough not to react to the sight of Vale looking almost normal. Sand and Satoshi came in a moment later, and Sand arched an eyebrow at Yuji as he poured his tea and headed for the garden, Yuji following.

"How is he?" Sand asked as Yuji lit a cigarette.

"He's telling me that he's managed to block the pain," Yuji said. "He wants to go to Evermeet, though. He says it's the only way to fix this."

Sand nodded, sipping his tea, his expression thoughtful. "I think he may be correct in that assumption, although I confess I am not sure about how well he can block the pain. I will keep an eye on him today, since by his state of dress, I am assuming he is not going to the school."

"I appreciate that, my love." Yuji paused for a moment. "Sand? What can you tell me about elven Houses?"

"Is there anything specific, or are you asking in general?" Sand looked at Yuji, curious.

Yuji sighed, running his hand through his hair and tugging on the back a little. "Vale mentioned something about the Houses on Evermeet, noble Houses and non-noble Houses. How does that work? What makes a House noble?"

"Ah," Sand replied. "Evermeet is much like any other elven land in that respect. The noble Houses are all either descended directly from one of the Seldarine, or can trace their ancestry back as far as the first elves that came to Toril from the Feywild. On Evermeet, my House is recognized as a noble House because my mother is a direct blood descendant of Sehanine Moonbow. You are also of noble birth in your own right."

"Your mother said something about my being able to form my own House?" Yuji looked at the moon elf. "How do I do that?"

"It is quite simple in your case." Sand smiled, taking another long sip of tea. "You have Sora, who is the last living member of House Sathoness, a noble House, and you are her blood descendant. House Sathoness was declared defunct, and its property is held by the Council, but our government does not work quite like yours does with respect to property. Sora has had access to funds from her family, and the Council would gladly give her back the estate as well. If you apply to create a new House in your name, Sora can support your request, and could even ask that you be given the Sathoness estate in support of your claim. The Council will record House Hayashi as a noble House, and that declaration will be send by messenger to all the elven homelands."

"Thank you, Sand. If I think of any other questions, I'll ask you tonight." Yuji finished his cigarette. "And I really do appreciate you keeping an eye on Vale today. I want so much for him to be right, and for this fix of his to work, but I'm afraid that this might just be false hope." Yuji kissed Sand tenderly, knowing that the moon elf would care for Vale with as much love as Yuji himself.

Sand returned the kiss, his blue eyes warm and gentle. "We will see him through this, my love, all of us together. I will tell you this, though. He loves you so very much, and that gives him a strength that is greater than anything else. He wants to be whole again, and fully yours again, and that is a powerful motivation." Sand smiled. "Now go to work, and call me if you need to. I will keep my phone close."

[The Great Sue Hunt]

Rae looked at Jonathan, and then at BW, and a beautifully mischievous smile lit up her face. "Is it just me, or does anyone else want to take Bruce up on that little challenge?" She sniffed indignantly. "Don't leave this room or it'll be worse?"

BW grinned. "Exactly what I was hoping you'd say. I will tell you one thing, though. He wags his finger in my face again, and he'll lose that arm."

"What do you propose?" Crane asked, raising an eyebrow at the two women.

"Whatever it was that Bruce got called away to deal with, odds are that our traveling companions are up to their eyeballs in the middle of it." BW sighed a little. Traveling with a disaster magnet like Foe was proving to be slightly more than just interesting. It was downright reckless and foolhardy, and it had been a long time since she'd had this much fun.

"My phone!" Rae exclaimed. "Foe has my phone!" She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a small device. "This is a GPS tracker, and I can use it to locate my phone, and therefore Foe and the rest of his group."

"And transportation?" Jonathan asked.

BW chuckled. "This would probably be a good time to move to the parking lot. I'm going to need a little more room. How are you with heights, Jonathan?"

Rae knew exactly what BW had in mind, but Jonathan looked puzzled as he followed the two women to the parking lot. As luck would have it, it was largely deserted, weddings being not on anyone else's mind at the moment. Aside from their vehicle and the minister's car, there was plenty of clear space, and BW shifted into her dragonic form, her scales glittering like rubies in the light of the parking lot's lamps. She unfurled her wings with a sigh of relief.

"That feels good," BW purred.

To his credit, Crane stood his ground, but Rae looked at his expression and burst out laughing. "You're a dragon," he said flatly.

"Jonathan's immune to fear," Rae said. "It looks like he's not immune to surprise, though."

"I'm a dragon when I choose to take this form," BW replied, doing her best to keep her voice soft. "I'm also a little noticeable, so if you'd be good enough to climb aboard? Rae, are you flying or riding?"

Rae clapped happily. "I'm riding, if you can take us both."

BW nodded her majestic head. "You're both quite light. I'll barely notice the weight."

"Do you breathe fire?" Jonathan asked as he clambered up BW's foreleg and turned to offer Rae a hand.

BW turned her head and favored him with a slight glare. "I breathe oxygen, just like you do. I can emit a jet of flame at will, however." She waited until Jonathan and Rae were settled. "I'm going to assume that you're familiar with the concept of the multiverse, numerous universes that exist simultaneously and overlap to some extent. The universe that I frequent numbers dragons among its residents, and most can take human form at will. I seem to have picked up the ability to take draconic form along the way, something that comes in handy from time to time."

Rae conjured a golden chain around BW's sinuous neck, and grabbed on to it. "Put your arms around my waist and hold on," she instructed Crane.

"NORAD's going to have a field day with this," Jonathan muttered as he put his arms around Rae. "Not to mention the air traffic controllers at LAS."

BW chuckled. "I promise not to buzz any airplanes. Now, just tell me which way to go." BW gathered herself and launched with a push of her powerful hind legs, her large wings beating and carrying Jonathan and Rae aloft rapidly.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Yuji sat Vale on the bed, and helped him to take off his hoodie. Vale managed to peel off his t-shirt and the thick socks while Yuji was putting away his hoodie, and Yuji chuckled at the sight of his beloved elf shedding clothing with great abandon. Vale looked up and blushed a little as he caught Yuji's amusement.

"Do you think I scared them too much, a'maelamin?" Vale asked, his wide green eyes fixed on Yuji. "I don't want them to be afraid for me, or of me. I'm pretty sure that I'm not dangerous."

Yuji leaned over and cupped Vale's face between his hands, kissing him tenderly. "I think they probably think you're very brave to share your secret. Do you want to brush your teeth?"

"Yes, please," Vale said, letting Yuji help him into the ensuite bathroom. Vale scrubbed his face and brushed his teeth, and in the brighter light of the bathroom, Yuji could see that Vale's color was a little better despite the shadows under his eyes. When Vale turned to look at Yuji, sensing his husband's perusal, Yuji was pleased to see that the green eyes were not as dull and lifeless, the color a bit darker.

Vale busied himself brushing his hair while Yuji brushed his teeth, and then Yuji led Vale back to their bed.He pulled back the covers and was about to help Vale into bed when Vale stopped him, and reached up to stroke Yuji's cheek.

"I know it's too risky for us to try a scene, but do you think we could just make love, just you and me?" Vale's eyes held such pleading mingled with love that Yuji's breath caught in his throat for a moment. "I just need you to love me."

Yuji leaned in and nibbled a kiss from Vale's lips, half afraid that he was doing the wrong thing, and half afraid that Vale would be worse if he refused. Vale returned the kiss with such gentle sweetness that Yuji moaned a little as he deepened the kiss, his arms sliding around Vale and pulling his beloved elf close, where he belonged. Vale melted into his arms, radiating love and joy through their bond, the pain fading into the background as Vale pressed himself against Yuji, feeling Yuji's cock hardening as they kissed. Vale's hands slid under Yuji's t-shirt, stroking Yuji's back with such tenderness that Yuji moaned again.

Yuji broke the kiss and stepped back to peel off his t-shirt, his pants tight against his aching erection. Vale's cheeks were beautifully flushed, and his eyes were almost as bright as normal as he watched Yuji undress. Vale slipped his thumbs under the waistband of his sleep pants and pushed them down past his slim hips, stepping out of them and sighing with pleasure as Yuji eased him back onto the bed, plundering his mouth with another heated kiss as he lay next to his husband.

Vale shifted a little grinding himself against Yuji's cock, his own cock just as hard as it slid alongside Yuji's. Yuji's hands were buried in Vale's silky hair, and he stroked the sweep of Vale's ears, teasing Vale with little tweaks of the sensitive ear tips. Vale moaned softly, his back arching to press himself against Yuji, and then he began to nibble small kisses down Yuji's throat, working his way down to Yuji's chest, his hot mouth closing around one of Yuji's nipples and suckling it until it was hard and erect. Vale moved to the other nipple, Yuji's hands fisting in Vale's hair, and Vale trailed kisses all along Yuji's flat belly until he reached Yuji's cock.

Almost reverently, Vale swiped his tongue over the head of Yuji's cock, lapping away the precum beaded there, the stud in his tongue running over the slit and making Yuji shiver with anticipation. Vale slid his mouth over the head of Yuji's cock, hot and wet, his tongue teasing the cleft underneath, and he lowered his mouth slowly to engulf Yuji in that sweet heat. Yuji moaned loudly, Vale's talented tongue pressing along the underside of his cock, and when his cock bumped the back of Vale's throat, the elf tilted his head slightly and let Yuji's cock slip into his throat. Vale hummed happily, the vibrations running from Yuji's cock right up his spine, and his hands tightened in Vale's hair as he tugged the elf back upward. Vale released Yuji's cock slowly, and he looked up with sparkling eyes and flushed cheeks.

Yuji growled, undone as always by the sight of Vale's kiss-swollen lips wrapped around his cock, and the pleasure that Vale took in sucking on his cock. But now, Yuji wanted to be buried in Vale's sweet ass, pressed to the hilt into that tight heat, and he rolled Vale over onto his back as he knelt between the long pale thighs of his elf. Yuji lifted Vale's ass, sliding it onto his own thighs, the head of his cock bumping against Vale's tight little pucker, and Vale mewled softly in anticipation as Yuji pressed past the twitching muscle. Vale bucked his hips, pressing himself further onto Yuji's cock, and Yuji realized he had completely forgotten lube, used to Vale preparing himself each morning.

Before Yuji could pull out of Vale's ass, Vale managed to press down a little further, and Yuji felt the slickness around his cock as Vale let out a sweet little moan, his eyes fluttering closed with bliss. Yuji shivered a little at the thought of Vale making the effort to prepare himself that morning, and then he remembered how Vale had told both Willow and Sand that he would be good. In his shattered and desperate state, Vale had obviously decided that being good meant preparing himself for Yuji as he had promised to do in their contract, and Yuji's throat tightened a little with the realization of how much that contract meant to Vale. Yuji decided that he could not mention it, could not ask Vale to forgo his morning preparation, could not take that away from his beloved elf.

Instead, Yuji pressed himself fully into Vale, his cock sliding easily into the tight heat of Vale's ass until Yuji's balls were snug against the warm globes of that sweet ass. Vale moaned softly, rocking his hips to urge Yuji to move, his cock leaking precum onto his tight belly as he looked up with shining eyes, such joy emanating from him that Yuji was once again breathless. Yuji withdrew almost all the way, and then pressed in again, slow and tender, taking his time as he plumbed that sweet ass and watched joy color Vale's ears tips rosy. Vale's legs were wrapped around Yuji's hips and his slim hands were fisted in the bed covers as Yuji's cock churned within him. Yuji tilted Vale's hips just so, and hit Vale's prostate dead on, and the elf mewled in ecstasy, his back arching beautifully into Yuji's tender thrusts.

One hand left the bed covers and Vale fisted his own cock, stroking it in time with Yuji's deep, sensuous thrusts as he gasped softly, his breathing already ragged. Yuji knew Vale, knew every twitch that his beloved elf would make, and he knew Vale was close even if Vale was not howling his pleasure loud enough to rattle the windows, Vale's thighs trembled against Yuji's hips, and with the faintest of moans, Vale's back arched and he painted himself with ribbons of cum, his ass clenching tightly on Yuji's cock as Vale gasped in helpless abandon, his orgasm carrying him blissfully away. Yuji managed another couple of thrusts into that spasming heat, and his own balls drew up and emptied as he pumped what felt like an endless stream of cum into Vale's ass. With a small roar, Yuji reached down and pulled Vale up into his arms, holding his elf tightly as they rode out their orgasms together, Vale's lips seeking his to claim a kiss.

When they broke for breath, Yuji looked at Vale, flushed and panting, his emerald eyes sparkling, and his heart soared.

"Yuji," Vale whispered, his eyes shining. "I love you. I love you so much."

Oh, my perfect Vale," Yuji replied. "I love you more than I can say, a'maelamin."

Yuji eased Vale off his cock, both of them shivering a little at the separation, and Yuji cradled Vale in his arms as they lay back against the soft, plump pillows. Yuji pulled the covers over them, feathering kisses across Vale's lips, and Vale smiled so radiantly as he nestled against Yuji.

"Will you share my reverie?" Vale asked, his voice soft and relaxed.

"Of course, my love," Yuji replied. "Just tell me what I need to do."

"Open our bond, and follow me down into reverie. I see it as a golden ribbon between us, and I just follow where it leads until I find you," Vale said. "I'll be waiting for you, and when you open your memories to me, I'll follow where you lead."

"Then let go, and take reverie, and I'll be with you," Yuji promised, and watched as Vale's breathing evened out and became steady, his emerald eyes shining in the moonlight.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale sat up and leaned into the embrace, trembling slightly. "Satoshi eased the pain, a'amelamin, and in its place, he left love. I can't believe he did that for me." Vale let himself relax into Yuji's arms, relishing the contact with his beloved husband. Between Satoshi's gentle gift and Yuji's arms, Vale could feel some of the darkness lifting away and clarity returning.

"I don't know why you're so surprised, my love." Yuji stroked the silky blond hair tenderly.

Vale nuzzled closer, radiating more calm than pain. "I know. It's silly, but things I thought I knew, memories that I was sure were real, aren't real." Vale tilted his head up to look at Yuji, his green eyes still too flat and dull for Yuji's liking. "I always remembered my mother loving me, always, and it turns out that she hated me at the end. It makes it hard to trust what I remember, until I can figure out how to tell the true memories from the fake."

"I promise you, my sweet Vale, that this family loves you, and has since you sashayed your pretty kilted self into our lives on that vacation." Yuji looked right into those wide eyes, and he saw a little flicker of something deep within them, something bright and familiar.

Vale smiled, and although it was a small smile, it was sweet and loving. "Then I can trust those memories, like I trust you. That's one good thing, you know. I've never doubted that I can trust you."

Yuji pressed a tender kiss on Vale's forehead. "And you never should, my love. I will not break trust with you, just like you've never broken trust with me."

Vale sagged a little into Yuji's arms, relief flowing through his bond with Yuji. "I haven't broken trust. That's good. That's good to know."

Satoshi and Sand came out of the bathroom, and Satoshi looked absolutely radiant as he walked over to Vale and Yuji. "Go help Willow, my love. I'll sit with Vale for a bit."

Yuji gave Vale a last tender kiss, and then settled him back a bit. "Do you want to eat down here with us, a'maelamin?"

"Yes, please," Vale said, his voice soft and calm. "I'd like that. It feels good to be with everyone."

Yuji went to stand, and Vale caught his arm, his slim hand trembling a little. "Yuji? When the children are in bed, I think I need to explain to everyone what's happened. It's not fair otherwise. When I get confused, or when I'm not sure about something I remember, I want them to know why."

Yuji stroked Vale's cheek gently. "Are you sure, my love?"

Vale nodded. "I don't want to hide, not from any of you." He looked at Satoshi. "I love you all so much, and I don't doubt that, either. I trust you all, and I want you all to be able to trust me, at least as much as you can until I figure this out, and I know I'll need all of you to help me." Vale held out a hand to Satoshi, and he offered him a shy, sweet smile that made Satoshi sit and pull Vale into his arms.

"Thank you, mela en' coiamin, thank you so much," Vale said, his voice trembling slightly. "You took away pain, and you left love in its place. I love you so much, my precious Satoshi."

Satoshi's cheeks were crimson, but his smile was radiant as he held Vale tightly. 'It was nothing, my love. You're welcome, though, and I'm glad if I helped."

"This helps, too," Vale said, his head resting on Satoshi's shoulder. "It feels so right to be in your arms. I'm not afraid when you hold me, when any of you hold me. I know I'm safe."

Satoshi choked back a small sob. "You're safe with us, Vale. I promise you."

Vale nodded, content in Satoshi's arms, and the peace he felt was evident to Satoshi. Sand watched them for a moment, and then smiled and went to set the table for dinner. While he was getting down the plates, Sand leaned over and spoke very quietly to Yuji.

"Thank you, my love. Vale could not be in better hands than yours. If there is anything that I can do to help, please ask." Sand kissed Yuji's cheek, his blue eyes warm with love.

Yuji looked at the moon elf, his smile beautiful. "Thank you, Sand. I will ask, I promise."

Dinner started out subdued, but Vale held out his arms for Hikaru, and he nuzzled the little half-elf with a sweet smile, feeding him small bites of his dinner and making up silly meanings for Hikaru's little shrieks until Ryuu and Aika started to giggle. Vale looked much better than he had that morning, and Yuji was delighted when Vale ate everything that Willow served him, even having a bit more of the curry. Yuji was frankly amazed that Vale was able handle the dinner conversation as well as he was, and even though Vale was still a little pale, he asked Erion and Kansas how their studying was going, and asked Satoshi about his new talent. Yuji could tell that the effort was tiring Vale, but he felt such a fierce swell of love for his brave elf.

After dinner, Ryuu tugged Vale over to the reverie couch and crawled up to cuddle with Vale, stroking his cheeks and petting his golden hair. Vale snuggled back, and told Ryuu a story he had learned from Adalon, which made Ryuu's eyes go almost perfectly round. Yuji kept peering in to make sure Vale was alright, but the elf seemed to take comfort in his cuddle with Ryuu. Aika then decided that there was more than enough room for her as well, and Vale wound up with a child on either side, his arms around them and the glimmer in the depths of his eyes stronger as Aika and Ryuu told him about their day. For a moment, Yuji could almost believe that Vale was fine, and would rise in the morning with his eyes bright, eager to kiss Yuji awake and steal a sweet moment before he was summoned by Hikaru.

Kageoshi arrived, and he and Erion hurried off to cram together, both of them looking slightly wrung out from the stress of their first major exams. Kansas also disappeared into his books, determined to get the highest scores and ensure his graduation, and both Yuji and Satoshi watched him go with pride in his growing maturity. Aika and Ryuu sat down together to watch a short video, giggling quietly, and Sand and Satoshi indulged in their nightly ritual of doing the dinner dishes and stealing kisses. Willow was frowning at her laptop, and Vale was watching her with a smile, Hikaru beside him savaging a teething rusk as Yuji came over to sit next to Vale.

"You look tired, a'maelamin," Yuji said, stroking Vale's hair lovingly.

Vale looked up, and nodded. "I'm sorry. Neither one of us got much rest last night." He looked down briefly at Hikaru, and then looked back up, his eyes meeting Yuji's perfect eyes. "Do you think you could share reverie with me tonight? I'm not sure if I'll be able to deal with my memories by myself."

"Yes, of course I will," Yuji replied "If you tell me how, maybe I can share a memory or two of mine with you."

The relief in Vale's eyes made Yuji shiver a little. He wondered how hard this had to be for the normally self-sufficient battlemage to be reduced to such an emotional wreck. Vale was about to reply, when Hikaru gave a small yelp and looked at his rusk in puzzlement.

"What is it, sochi-chan?" Vale asked. He teased Hikaru's mouth open gently to reveal a pearly new tooth. Hikaru was deeply puzzled by his tooth, just as he had been with the three that had preceded it, and Vale looked at Yuji with a spontaneous smile. "Hikaru has a new tooth."

"Will you show me," Yuji said to Hikaru, lifting the small half elf who shrieked happily and tried to eat his tousan's nose. Willow came over, and she got to fuss over the new tooth as well, and Hikaru was carried off for a bottle and bed, looking quite pleased with himself for being so clever as to cut a new tooth.

Yuji pulled Vale close, and held his beloved elf as Sand corralled Ryuu and Aika and herded them upstairs, negotiating about the duration of bedtime reading and the selections to be read. From the giggles that drifted downstairs, it appeared that Sand had been out-negotiated, and each child would get one story of their choice, although Sand won on the matter of the shelf that was open to perusal.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" Yuji asked.

"I am," Vale replied. "It's important, a'maelamin. I need to do this."

"Yes, but it could wait until tomorrow if you're too tired." Yuji cupped Vale's cheek tenderly. "I don't want you pushing yourself too hard. And before you protest, love, you know you do push your own limits."

Vale reached up to stroke Yuji's cheek. "I promise I'm not pushing too hard. It just feels like I should, like it will help."

"Alright then." Yuji kissed Vale and got up to gather everyone in the living room, even Erion, who asked Kageoshi to wait for him in the garden for a few minutes when Yuji promised that it would be a quick talk. When everyone had gathered, Yuji sat beside Vale on the reverie couch, his arm around Vale as the elf looked at his family.

"Yuji asked me about my past, back home in Evermeet. We discovered, the hard way, that my earliest memories had been blocked, supposedly to protect me." Vale slipped his hand inside Yuji's hand, taking strength and courage from Yuji's presence. "My father killed my lover, and then killed himself. My mother willed herself to fade mostly because she was ashamed of her husband, and of me. My lover was also my dominant, and my parents considered me to be a deviant. I was with my lover when my father killed him, and i went into shock. To help me recover, my memories were blocked, and some were even altered or replaced with manufactured memories. Breaking past that block caused a second breakdown."

Vale paused to look at Yuji, and Yuji was thrilled to see that Vale's eyes were just that bit brighter. "I'm here, a'maelamin."

"I'm not sure if everything I remember is real or not, but one thing I do know. I love you all, and I trust you, and I know you'll help me if I'm unsure, or frightened." Vale took a deep breath. "Because I'm telling you, it's incredibly frightening to suddenly not know what's true and what's not. But this, what we have? This is true, and I'll get this sorted out because I have you all beside me." Vale held his head up, looking at his family in the certain knowledge that he had done the right thing.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale looked into Yuji's eyes, and each word fell on his soul like cool water, easing the burning pain that had wracked him all morning. Vale reached one slim hand up and touched Yuji's cheekbone, the faintest glimmer appearing in his wide green eyes, the color darkening a little as Vale absorbed what Yuji was telling him. He drew in a deep breath, trembling a little, and then he nodded.

"I've been so afraid," Vale admitted as Yuji sat up and helped Vale to sit up as well. "I thought I ruined everything between us. But I love you, Yuji, and I trust you, and all I want is to be yours." He took the plate that Yuji offered him, and then accepted a pair of chopsticks, lifting a bite of omelet to his lips.

"Nothing between us is ruined, and if anything, we'll be stronger than ever." Yuji looked at Vale and smiled approvingly as Vale took a bite of his rice. "You've given me another gift. You trusted me to catch you when you fell. I hope I lived up to your trust."

Vale looked at Yuji, his face solemn. "You've always lived up to my trust, a'maelamin. I fell last night, and you caught me." He took another bite of lunch, and then another, and Yuji felt something tight inside him relax as he watched Vale eat every morsel on his plate, sipping the cool tea Yuji had brought up for him.

When they were done eating, Yuji took the plates and placed them back on the tray, looking at Vale tenderly. "Do you feel like a small change of scenery? You stayed in bed all morning for me, my sweet Vale. I thought maybe we could watch a movie downstairs, if you'd like."

Vale nodded again, his green eyes still pale, and not nearly as bright as they normally were, but still infinitely better than they had been when Yuji left that morning. Even more encouraging, he was looking at Yuji directly, not averting his eyes. Vale opened the dresser and found a t-shirt for Vale, and helped Vale to put it on. Vale was still shaky, but he moved with a little more assurance, a little more grace, and Yuji's heart lifted even more. Yuji brought over thick socks as well, even though he knew Vale did not really like wearing them. Yuji was taking no chances with Vale's health, though, given the shock Vale had been through, and he slid them onto Vale's slim feet tenderly.

Vale reached out and touched Yuji's cheek lightly, and Yuji looked up, a little surprised.

"You brushed my hair last night, didn't you? That's a real memory, right?" Vale looked at Yuji almost hesitantly.

Yuji smiled, and knelt to pull Vale to him. "Yes, I did. You had your hair in a braid, and I know you never rest well with your hair that tight."

Vale managed a small smile, probably the most beautiful thing Yuji had seen. It faded quickly, but Vale snuggled closer, his voice slightly muffled. "The memories are all jumbled up now. It's hard to tell what's real and what's not. I think I can figure it out, if you help me."

"Of course I'll help you," Yuji replied, raining kisses on Vale's golden hair.

Yuji found a warm hoodie, and Vale slipped it on and then took Yuji's hand and stood, slowly and carefully. Yuji put his arm around Vale's waist, and helped his elf downstairs, guiding him into the living room. Sand was clearing up the last of the lunch dishes, and he turned and gave Yuji and Vale a radiant smile.

"Go and get comfortable in the living room. Willow set everything up for your movie, and I will go and get the tray," Sand said, his voice loving and tender. "Hikaru was sleepy, so Willow brought him up for his nap. But he will be pleased to cuddle with his chichi and his tousan when he wakes, I am sure."

Yuji smiled his thanks, and guided Vale over to the oversized reverie couch that Vale so loved. There were plenty of pillows piled up on it, and warm blankets folded at the foot, and Vale arranged some of the pillows into a nest, curling up against Yuji and resting his head on Yuji's shoulder. Yuji pulled a blanket up and over Vale, cradling the elf with infinite tenderness. Willow came in a few moments later, bending over to kiss both her husbands sweetly, and then she curled up on the couch with Sand while Yuji pressed the remote to start the movie.

"This is called 'House of Flying Daggers' and it's a Chinese film. I think you'll like it," Yuji murmured, pressing a kiss to Vale's head. He felt the slightest stirring in their bond, a delicate little burst of love and trust and faith, and he had to blink hard a couple of times to hold back the tears that welled up. "It's very beautiful to watch."

As Yuji had hoped, the beautiful choreography and cinematography held Vale's attention, and his eyes even widened once or twice during the movie. But for the most part, Vale was content to remain curled up next to Yuji. one arm across Yuji's chest as Yuji held him close. The awful fear that had been radiating from Vale after his broken reverie was all but gone, and although Vale was still in a great deal of emotional pain, he was calmer and less panicked than he had been. Yuji stroked Vale's back tenderly, and opened his bond to wrap Vale in as much love and reassurance as he could.

As the closing credits were playing, a delighted shriek rang through the baby monitor, and Willow chuckled as she uncurled herself from Sand's arms. Vale looked over at her, a little surprised, since Hikaru had always cooed when he woke before. Willow caught his look and gave Vale a wry grin.

"This is new, sweetheart. Our son decided this week that he has a voice. He now has a whole vocabulary of shrieks." Willow laughed at Vale's expression. "I'm waiting for his first word, which should be any day now. He's going to look right at me and say 'mama' and I'll be as thrilled as when Ryuu did it and when Aika did it." She laughed again as another shriek erupted from the monitor, and she ran lightly up the stairs to fetch the suddenly boisterous little half-elf.

Vale had looked a little wistful as Willow was talking, and Yuji gave him a sympathetic hug. "I missed things like that with all the kids. I was at work for so many things, but it's alright. It works out in the end, because they still seem to love us, no matter what."

Vale tilted his head to look up at Yuji, the tiniest hint of a smile on his lips. "I'll settle for that." He turned again, and pulled himself into a more upright position as Willow came downstairs, crooning to Hikaru.

"Look who's here, my loud boy. It's chichi and tousan, and they want to have a snuggle with you. What do you think, hm?" Willow laughed as Hikaru let out another shriek of delight. She handed the small half-elf to Vale, who nuzzled Hikaru and pressed kisses to his blond head.

"Hello, sochi-chan," Vale murmured, inhaling the familiar scent of his son. He settled Hikaru between him and Yuji, and watched the small half-elf with great concentration, as if he was comparing his memories with the real infant. Yuji smiled as HIkaru immediately fisted one chubby little hand in Vale's hair and tried to eat it, as Sand jumped up to find the teething rusks. The small giggle from Vale made Yuji's heart soar, and he hugged his husband and their son with tears of joy in his eyes.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale took the soup and dipped up a mouthful, his movements still a little awkward, but something flickered in his eyes as Willow cooed encouragement. He made sure to eat the egg, since Satoshi had left it for him, and the thought made him tear up a bit. He also managed most of the fish and about half the rice, and then he looked at Willow apologetically.

"I'm sorry, lirimaer," Vale whispered, his voice husky and raw. "Please, you need to rest, too. You're supposed to be making a baby with Satoshi. I remember."

Willow just stroked his cheek gently. "I'm fine, sweets. Bringing you breakfast isn't going to affect anything."

"I didn't get Hikaru this morning." Vale looked crestfallen. "I'm sorry, I just..." Vale's voice trailed off, and a few tears rolled down his cheeks as he let his head fall back against the plumped pillows.

"Oh, sweets," Willow said, dismayed. She moved the breakfast tray away and scooted closer to the elf, pulling him into her arms, his head against her shoulder, and she stroked him while he sobbed forlornly. "Whatever happened, baby, we'll make it better. I promise, Vale. We love you, we all love you, and we'll take care of you, like you try to take care of everyone else."

Vale could not stop the tears, as much as he wanted to stop, as much as he hated being so weak and pathetic. But Willow was cradling him, much as Ardiel had done so long ago, and he wept like a bereft elfling, hopeless and heartbroken. Willow stroked him until his sobs finally faded, and then she helped him to lean back, and got a warm wet cloth to wash his face.

"Try and rest, sweets. I'll ask Sand to stop in a little later, alright?" Willow kissed him tenderly on the forehead. "I love you, Vale."

From somewhere, Vale dredged up a pale smile. "I love you, Willow. I'll rest. I'll be good." He let his eyes close, and he listened to Willow as she gathered the tray and left, her delicate scent lingering in the air.

Vale let his mind drift, not daring to try for reverie although he felt exhausted. Instead, he just watched the newly uncovered memories crawl across his mind, remembering when he had been able to make his mother smile with pride, remembering when he was not an abomination. His throat tightened, and he felt a wave of despair rise up, and his eyes burned with hot tears that he forced back, the effort exhausting him even more.

Vale had lost track of time altogether, but suddenly the door slid open and Sand entered, graceful and elegant, and sat beside him on the bed.

"Anoramin, oh, my love, whatever has happened?" Sand asked, his voice tender and full of love.

Vale looked at Sand, his green eyes dull with pain. "I broke, ithilamin. I don't know how to fix it."

Sand cupped Vale's cheek with one faintly scarred hand. "We will find a way, anoramin. You are not alone."

"I failed him," Vale whispered, his voice breaking a little. "I'm not what he thought I was. I'm a broken thing."

"You are not a broken thing, my love." Sand's voice held quiet assurance. "You are hurt, yes, but never broken."

"I remember, ithilamin. I remember, and it hurts so much. Amin uuma merna rin. I don't want to remember." Vale looked at Sand. "Amin hiraetha, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never wanted this to happen."

"Hush, anoramin," Sand soothed, and he pulled Vale close. "We will help you mend this, and you will be better for getting all this poison out into the open." Sand tilted Vale's face up, kissing him sweetly on the lips. "Amin mela lle, anoramin, ten'oio."

"How is Hikaru?" Vale asked, as Sand eased him back onto the pillows. "I've failed him, too."

"Hikaru is fine, and you have not failed him." Sand smoothed the golden hair gently. "When Yuji comes home, perhaps I can bring Hikaru to see you for a bit."

Vale nodded. "I'd like that. I'll be very good, and stay in bed like Yuji asked. Then I can see Hikaru." Vale let his eyes close again, his throat aching.

Sand watched him for a moment, his heart aching for his beloved sun elf. Whatever had happened between Vale and Yuji, it was far worse than Sand had feared. Sand knew what Vale had put himself through when Sand was abruptly sent away and forced to lie to Vale about why. Nathe had told Sand about the blinding rage, and the abject despair that had led Vale to drink himself senseless for a month before he could collapse into a true sleep for two days. That had been bad, but this hopeless surrender was far worse, and Sand had to hope that Yuji would be able to pull Vale out of this black pit. Sand vowed to do what he could to assist, but he feared what would happen if Yuji could not help Vale put all the pieces back together.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale trembled as Yuji's arms went around him, and then, as he listened to Yuji and realized that Yuji was not about to rip the collar from his neck, Vale crumbled into Yuji's arms, letting himself fall into the embrace and Yuji's words. Yuji was weeping, his tears hot against Vale's skin, but Vale could not cry. His eyes burned, and his throat was too tight to let any more words come out, but his arms wrapped tentatively around Yuji as he lost himself in the feel of his husband's embrace.

Vale let Yuji lead him upstairs, following docilely, and he cooperated mutely as Yuji helped him out of his jeans and boxers, and into his favorite linen sleep pants. Yuji offered Vale a t-shirt, but Vale shook his head a little, knowing on some level that he needed to feel Yuji's skin against his. When Yuji undid Vale's braid, and began to brush Vale's hair, Vale let himself get lost in the soothing touch, almost mesmerized by the rhythmic strokes of the brush, his head falling back slightly. Then Yuji eased Vale down, holding Vale tightly in his arms, his long musician's fingers stroking Vale's face and trailing through his hair as Yuji feathered kisses across Vale's forehead and head.

Vale shivered into the embrace, still dry-eyed, not even able to find words to tell Yuji that he was sorry, so very sorry for causing such a commotion. Part of him just yearned to slide away into reverie, and wake to find that the whole night had been an awful dream, but the dull ache in the pit of Vale's stomach warned the elf that this was sadly real, and could not be brushed away in reverie. His slim hand crept up to touch Yuji's face gently, tracing Yuji's lips, and then Vale turned his face away and buried it in Yuji's shoulder, breathing in the scent of his husband until he slipped into a fitful reverie.

Vale stretched his arms out, extending them fully, his breath hitching a little as Anadan fastened the padded restraints around his wrists. This was new but so far Anadan had not pushed Vale very hard, and it had been easy to submit to his master. Vale found himself looking forward to the challenge, whatever it would be.

"Very nice, pet. You look delicious like that." Anadan chuckled, his voice dark and rich, sending a jolt of desire straight to Vale's belly. "My rules for today will be a little different, pet, so listen closely. I've been very easy on you, and that will change."

Vale's green eyes widened slightly, but he remained very still and listened, staring up into the beautiful grey eyes of his master. Anadan's thick black hair hung straight and glossy to his waist, and his skin was as pale as moonlight, his nipples a dusky rose. His cock was substantial, rising up from a nest of silky black curls, and Vale's mouth watered at the sight of it.

"You are to hold very still, no matter what I do to you. I have not restrained your legs, pet, and that is because I want you to learn to control your body and your impulses. That is the core of obedience. You control how you react, and that is how I know you desire to please me with your obedience." Anadan ran his finger lightly down the inside of Vale's thigh, watching as the skin shivered beneath his touch. Vale held his leg still with an effort, and Anadan smiled. "There, you see? You already seek to master yourself, and in so doing, submit to my will. You please me, my pet."

Vale's eyes widened as Anadan turned away and considered objects he had laid out on a small table, objects that were masked from Vale's view. Anadan spoke over his shoulder. "Part your legs, pet, with your knees bent."

Vale obediently raised his knees and parted his legs as fully as he could, feeling oddly exposed. His cock, already hard, twitched slightly as he assumed the wanton pose.

"Relax and breathe out when I tell you." Anadan placed something hard and cool, something that had been concealed by his hands, at the tight pucker between Vale's cheeks. Anadan laid one hand on Vale's stomach, his face serene. "Breathe out."

Vale obeyed, and felt the hard cool object press into his ass, slick and sliding past the ring of muscle with surprising ease. Then it came to rest against Vale's prostate, and Anadan gave a small flick of his wrist, and Vale sucked in a harsh breath as white light exploded behind his eyes. Vale managed not to move his legs, but his back arched involuntarily, and Anadan frowned slightly.

"Explain your disobedience, pet." Anadan held Vale's gaze steadily.

Vale sucked in another breath and forced his back to relax. "I was unprepared for the sensations that the object you inserted caused in me, master."

Anadan nodded. "And so another lesson is learned. You will not always be prepared for what I might choose to do to you, but that does not excuse disobedience. This one time, we will forgo punishment. In future, there will be three strokes of the crop for each time you disobey. If you flinch from the crop, another stroke will be added, but I will never give you more than ten strokes."

Vale nodded his head. "Thank you for your correction, master, and for your generosity."

Anadan smiled slightly. "Very good, my pet." He reached down and adjusted the object, and once again Vale felt the rush of pleasure as his prostate was prodded. This time, Vale managed not to arch off the bed, but his breathing was rapid and harsh, and a tremble ran up his legs as he forced them to remain in place.

Anadan feathered his fingers along the underside of Vale's cock, and Vale moaned softly. His ass clenched involuntarily around the object inside him, and his moan rose to a brief scream. Anadan chuckled as Vale watched a dribble of precum run down across the head of his cock to drip on his trembling belly. Vale looked up at Anadan, and the moon elf leaned forward and kissed Vale with great tenderness.

"You were born for this, my pet," Anadan said as he slid the object carefully out of Vale's ass. "Your desire to submit, to please me with your obedience is greater than I have ever encountered." He kissed Vale again, his grey eyes warm and filled with love and approval. "You may choose how we love, my pet, and whether or not you wish to remain restrained."

Vale's ass felt empty without the object, and the oil that had slicked it left him feeling more than prepared. His green eyes darkened with his desire to be taken, and he looked up at Anadan. "I wish to be taken by you, my master, like this. Restrained and utterly under your control."

Anadan opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. The moon elf stiffened, his expression odd, and Vale registered the flash of something bright as a spurt of blood shot out of Anadan's mouth. Vale screamed as the blood hit him, and Anadan slumped forward, revealing his assailant.

"No, father!" Vale screamed, feeling something in his throat tear. Anadan's blood burned Vale's skin but with his wrists restrained, Vale could do little except watch the dagger rise and fall, again and again, until everything faded into blessed darkness.

Vale struggled against Yuji's embrace, tearing free and sitting up, his eyes focused on something only he could see, and his fingers scrabbled at the skin of his chest, leaving bloody furrows behind.

"N'uma, atar!" Vale cried out, the pleading in his voice wrenching to hear. "Ikotane saiagar... ta naara'amin..." Vale's voice trailed off into choked sobs, and the tears finally came.

N'uma, atar! (No, father!)

Ikotane saiagar... ta naara'amin... (So much blood... it burns me...)

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale ran a trembling finger over the picture, his green eyes wide, Yuji's words penetrating him like a knife. Yuji could feel Vale's dismay washing over him like a cold wave, and something else. It took a moment for Yuji to identify it as fear, but before he could ask, Vale spoke, his voice so soft that Yuji had to strain to understand his words.

"Can I have a few minutes alone?" Vale looked up at Yuji, his eyes pleading. "Meet me in the garden, and I will tell you everything. I need about fifteen minutes."

"Vale," Yuji began, but Vale shook his head.

"No, you're right. You've told me everything, and I need to do the same." Vale took a deep breath, his next words more to himself than to Yuji. "No matter what it costs."

Vale turned and fled downstairs, stopping only to grab his cigarettes and a full bottle of whiskey. He padded out into the garden and sat on one of the benches, turning his thoughts deep inside, to the place in his memories that he always shied away from. The wall had been there since just before his thirty-ninth birthday, and Vale knew, had always known, that what lay beyond would tear him apart. But he had no choice now. Vale's options were to continue to protect himself, or honor his contract with Yuji, and Vale could not do anything but comply with Yuji's demand.

Vale reached up to touch the emerald circle at his throat, wondering if he would still be wearing it by the time this night was over. It was out of his hands, though, and Vale carefully raised his shields to protect the rest of his family, only Yuji able to sense him now. He cracked the seal on the whiskey bottle, took a long swallow, and set about dismantling the barrier in his mind.

When Yuji got to the garden, Vale was sitting with his back to Yuji, his hair still in the tight braid, his skin golden in the dim light. He had drawn his knees up, his skin showing golden through the tears in his favorite tattered jeans, his slim bare feet crossed at the ankle, and his arms around his legs. The open bottle of whiskey was on the bench in front of him, and a lit cigarette dangled from slim fingers.

Yuji sat facing Vale, whose head was lowered. "I'm here, Vale. Are you ready to talk?" Yuji's voice trembled slightly with his own emotions, concern for Vale warring with his own anger and disappointment.

Vale took a drag from his cigarette, and then slowly raised his head to look at Yuji, his wide green eyes paler than Yuji had ever seen them. "I'm ready." Vale's voice was absolutely flat, no emotion coloring it at all, and his face was ghostly pale. He took another drag from his cigarette, his movements awkward and almost clumsy, nothing of his usual grace present. "I told you I was born on Evermeet, and that my parents are dead, and that I have one sister. I told you that I left when I was one hundred, and that my uncle is head of our House. At least, I think that's what I've told you. It's not because I'm trying to hide anything from you that I don't talk about my past. It's because my past is something I've tried very hard to forget, to erase as completely as possible from my mind, and I've felt that way since I was younger than Erion."

Vale paused and took a deep drink of whiskey, the long column of his throat stark in the moonlight. Yuji almost objected, but there was something about Vale's demeanor that made Yuji bite back the words. Whiskey had little effect on Vale, and if it made this easier on the elf, Yuji would not object. He watched as Vale put the bottle down carefully, put out his cigarette, and immediately lit another one before continuing in that same flat voice.

"On Evermeet, among the sun elves, you have the noble Houses, and the respectable Houses, which are not noble, but hope to have a son or daughter marry into a noble House. So, that means being very scrupulous and observing all the proprieties. House Anorongil is a respectable House with its seat in the city of Drelagara. Unlike Evereska or Suldanessellar, only males are allowed to be head of a sun elf House on Evermeet, and so our House is headed by my uncle Caradur, my father's eldest brother. My father, Ithion, had made a good marriage with a daughter of another very respectable House. Valeriel, my mother. They had a daughter, Ardiel, and their life was ideal for many years. Ardiel was grown and already on her own, a priestess and healer in the temple of Corellon, when I was born. I imagine I was a bit of a surprise, but I was very much loved and wanted, as much as Ardiel." Vale paused for more whiskey and then continued.

"When I was an elfling of about twenty, it was determined that I was a sorcerer, a natural adept at magic. My parents were quite proud, and they imagined a life for me in one of the mage towers of Evermeet, a very respectable pursuit, and one that might even attract a noble spouse. So, I had the best masters and I learned quickly, and I made my parents very happy." Vale finished his cigarette, stubbing it out with that same awkward care. "Like most elflings, I was curious about life, and love, and the ways of love. I begged my father to take me to the temple of Hanali, to allow me to seek the company of one of the aina'melarim. I don't really know how to translate that properly. Holy courtesans? Sacred whores? They are males and females that worship Hanali by offering themselves as lovers. We elves need the comfort of intimacy, of touching and being touched. For a lot of young elves on Evermeet, an aina'melar will be their first lover. For those who've lost a spouse, or who've never managed to find one, the aina'melarim offer a sort of solace."

Vale made a small noise, somewhere between a laugh and a sob. "And they're all beautiful. Oh, Seldarine, they are exquisite, sun elves and moon elves and even a wood elf or two. They rarely walk around the marketplace, or at least they don't in their ritual clothing, but when you see them for the first time, it's almost overwhelming. Do you remember those sheer pants I wore, the night I waited for you in my collar? I told you that's what the males wear. Just that, and some jewelry. They don't need anything more. Females wear a long shift that closes at the top of the shoulder and at the waist, but is open everywhere else, in the same sheer cloth. Both outfits are designed to fall away with a gentle tug."

"I remember," Yuji said gently. "I asked you to wear them for me since then."

Vale nodded, remembering. "Where was I? On Evermeet, there are a lot of rules, mostly designed to make sure everyone is being respectable, so it's no surprise that there are rules about the aina'melarim. You never ask their name. They don't use names. You also aren't supposed to try to see the same aina'melar more than once, or at least not twice in a row. There aren't so many aina'melarim, but the idea is to try and avoid repeating right away. And even when you do repeat, you have to pretend not to recognize each other. You see, they're supposed to represent Hanali, and so they're not supposed to fall in love with one worshiper, or to let one worshiper fall in love with them.

"Anyway, when you go to the temple, you're escorted into this room, and the aina'melarim sort of drift in and out of the room. You look at them, and they look at you, and if you both feel a pull to talk to each other, you do. There's wine, and plates and bowls of little things to nibble on, and there's a shallow gold bowl where you can leave notes, or poems, or prayers, or small remembrances. It's all very relaxed, very easygoing and meant to feel graceful and sensual. It's like the rest of Evermeet with all its proprieties doesn't exist when you're there." Vale took another deep pull on the whiskey bottle, and lit a cigarette, his eyes growing even paler.

"So, my father brought me in, and explained that although I wasn't quite forty yet, I was still very studious and careful and respectable, and would behave properly. The senior priestess on duty agreed, and she escorted me into the room. I could barely breathe. I thought they were eldarin come straight from the Feywild, they were so gorgeous and untamed and wanton. Someone handed me a glass of wine, and I sipped it, and I started to wander around and look at the beautiful paintings and statues and little carved objects. The aina'melarim were just too beautiful to look at for long. Someone laid a hand on my shoulder and I turned around and it was a female sun elf, with pale gold hair that fell to her ankles and eyes the color of a summer sky. She smiled and touched my cheek and I followed her to a private room." Vale went to run a hand through his hair, startled to find the braid. His hand fell away and Yuji went to reach for it, but Vale wrapped it around his legs again.

"If you do that, I won't be able to go on. Don't make me fail in this." Vale's eyes were as flat as his voice, no sparkle left in them, nothing of his lively joy remaining. "So I lost my virginity at thirty-eight in a temple bedchamber, and I went home with my head in the clouds, and the next morning, I went back to my studies and I worked like a madman. I wanted to prove to my father that I deserved another trip to the temple. Apparently, he agreed, or maybe he decided that he'd found the best way to motivate me, not that I was ever a bad student. Still, with the temple dangled as a reward, I became the best student. Once a tenday, I was allowed to go to the temple, and I'd be escorted to that room, and I'd be lost in that strange and magical world."

Vale stubbed out his cigarette with those same awkward motions. "I think it was my third time there that a male approached me, and I went with him willingly, and he was gentle and careful, and I enjoyed him. I was always a little shy, not really sure about starting anything once someone would choose me, but I thought it was because I didn't know much about lovemaking, and the aina'melarim didn't seem to think it was unusual. Then, I think it was the fifth time I went, a male approached me, a moon elf, and when we went to a room, everything was different."

Yuji watched, almost breathless with the need to hold his elf, as a single tear rolled down Vale's cheek. Vale seemed unaware of it, and his voice was as flat as ever when he resumed speaking.

"Maybe he recognized something in me that no one else did. I don't know. I never got a chance to ask, actually. The first thing he did was to tell me that I was to obey him absolutely, to submit to him. I didn't question him. Why would I? I was used to my masters telling me to obey them. I was used to my parents expecting me to obey them, and to obey the rules of our society. It sounded right, and I thought that maybe I was ready to advance in my learning about lovemaking. I did as he instructed and he praised me for obedience, and when it came, my release was shattering. I think I actually cried. He was very tender with me afterward, and I didn't want to leave him." Vale reached for the whiskey carefully, and he took a very long drink.

"The next time I went to the temple, I didn't see him, but there was a poem in the bowl that spoke of a grove and of submitting to the will of Hanali, and a shiver ran up my spine. Like the temple in Evereska, our temple of Hanali has a garden with secluded grottoes, and the tradition is to leave a marker just outside the entrance of the grotto to show that it's occupied and sometimes as a signal to a lover. A corner was torn from the parchment of the poem, and I wandered out to the garden and walked through it until I found a grotto marked with a torn corner of parchment. My mouth was as dry as that parchment when I walked into the grotto, where he was waiting for me." Vale looked straight into Yuji's eyes, and Yuji sobbed a little at the hopelessness in Vale's eyes.

"Being what we are, dominant and submissive, is almost unheard of among elves. The very idea that one person controls another so completely is bordering on concepts that are alien to most elves. One partner might be more forceful, or tend to take the lead, but there's always an underlying sense that it can be reversed at any time. So what we were doing, this aina'melar and I, was certainly not respectable. It was actually perverse, by the customs of the sun elves of Evermeet. He explained this to me, and he told me that he wanted me to understand fully what he offered. He never tried to deceive me, or pretend he was anything other than what he was. He derived his pleasure from dominating a partner, and he sensed in me a need to submit myself sexually. Everything he said felt right on some deep and hidden level, and I forgot all about being respectable, right then and there. I wanted him, and I wanted him to own me." Vale reached clumsily for his cigarettes, his hands trembling badly as he lit one.

"Sometimes we met in a grotto, and sometimes I would go into that room and let him approach me. Either way, he was the only aina'melar I slept with from that day forward. Anadan was my master, and I was his willing pet. I worked ten times as hard at my studies, not wanting to lose my temple privilege, because then how would I see him? I was so young, and I thought I was utterly in love, and Anadan taught me that what I was was not a thing to be ashamed of, that I was rare and precious, and that my submission to him was a worthy offering before Hanali. That's a heady thing for an elfling, and it's the only thing of worth I brought with me from Evermeet." Vale paused, gathering himself to continue. "Even though it's not supposed to happen, a lot of young elves fall in love with a particular aina'melar, and when that happens, a parent or maybe a priest will speak to the young elf and gently discourage them. The aina'melar might not appear in that room for a bit, or be absent whenever the young elf is around, and the infatuation passes. I suppose someone mentioned to my father that I might be infatuated with Anadan, and he decided to come to the temple one day to speak with me, or maybe to a priest. I don't know. I'll never know."

"Vale," Yuji breathed softly. His whole body ached with the effort it took not to rush to Vale's side and cradle his elf close, and beg him to scream, curse, anything but this flat, dull hopelessness.

"I was already in a bedchamber with Anadan. We had been exploring restraints, and he had fastened my arms to the headboard of the bed. I was so focused on him, on listening to him so that my obedience would be perfect, that I never heard my father come in. I didn't realize he was there until I heard him say my name as he drew his dagger and plunged it into Anadan, over and over and over. I remember screaming as Anadan's blood splattered me, and I remember the look on my father's face. I don't remember anything else until I woke in the temple, in the healer's hall. Ardiel was there, and I clung to her like the elfling I still was while she told me what had happened." A second tear traced its way down Vale's pale cheek. "My father had rushed out of the temple, and had gone home to my mother, Anadan's blood still on his hands. He told her what he had done, and then he washed carefully and wrote a letter admitting his guilt as a kinslayer. That's what we call it when one elf kills another. It's unforgivable except in times of war or as punishment for a terrible crime. My father was disgraced, irretrievably, and his only chance to redeem his family was to admit his sole guilt and accept the punishment for kinslaying, which was death. Rather than suffer a public execution, my father killed himself, with my mother as his witness."

"I'm sorry," Yuji whispered, his own eyes welling.

Vale took another swallow from the whiskey bottle, which was more than half empty. "My mother never sent for me, or sent anyone to find me. I wasn't found until the next day, still restrained, covered in Anadan's blood and half mad with grief and shock. I had screamed until I had no voice left, but the rooms are designed to keep sound in, and no one even knew I was there until someone came to clean the room. Anadan was on the floor, my father's dagger still in him. I was brought to the temple and word was sent to my sister."

Yuji stared at Vale in mute horror, unable to imagine what that had been like for the young elf that Vale had been.

"I had been in the healer's hall for two days, drifting in and out of consciousness, before I recognized Ardiel. She told me later that they feared I would fade. I was so badly traumatized, so broken by what I had seen. Ardiel brought me home, and my mother looked at me with outright loathing. She called me an abomination and told me I had driven my father to his crime by my perversions. Then she retreated to her rooms and faded, the disgraced wife of a kinslayer, mother to an abomination, unable to show her face in public. Ardiel was ordered to turn me over to my uncle, to place me in his care until my majority. She would have taken me into her home, but her husband forbade that, fearing I would somehow poison their son, Darathur." Vale took a shuddering breath, and then drank again.

"My uncle Caradur is a cold man. He is very proud and very proper, and his name is spoken with great respect among the other sun elves, including those of noble Houses. My uncle's staunch reputation saved House Anorongil. He told me that no blame was attached to me, that I had been taken advantage of by a twisted elf, and that it was my father's moral weakness that led him into the folly of kinslaying. Oddly enough, my uncle was being as kind as he knew how to be, and while I can't say that I love him, I suppose I do respect him. His eldest son and heir is another story entirely. Morcaunen made my life a misery at every opportunity for sixty very long years. I don't know. Maybe it was because my uncle tried to show me kindness, and he'd never done that for Morcaunen. Maybe my cousin is just a twisted bastard. I don't know." Vale took a long pull of whiskey, his fingers bone-white around the neck of the bottle.

"Those next sixty years were spent in study and apprenticeship, and in seclusion in my uncle's house. The priests of Corellon helped me to wall away those memories so that I wouldn't wake screaming from reverie every night, so that I wouldn't lose my mind. I went nowhere and saw no one unless I was practicing my craft. For all intent and purpose, I was a recluse, or perhaps a prisoner. The only one who ever sought me out was Ardiel." Vale closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them. "There was one master during my apprenticeship who took pity on me, I suppose. He was a moon elf, and he told me about a guild of mages, the Guild of the Many Starred Cloaks, that hired out their services to the goodly human realms. They had towers in Waterdeep and Neverwinter, and there were elves among their numbers, and he suggested that I might find a place with them. I kept that like a bright spark of hope, buried deep in my heart."

Vale examined the whiskey bottle, and then drank the rest in a single long swallow. He looked straight at Yuji with those dull eyes, his expression bleak. "On the day I turned one hundred, I boarded the first ship leaving Evermeet, which happened to be bound for Neverwinter, and I've only returned to Evermeet twice since then. The elf that I was died the day I left, and I haven't bothered to mourn him. So, that's all of it, my sordid little tale all told. Do you forgive me for not telling you sooner? Or have I broken things between us too badly to be fixed this time?"

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale wiggled a bit, shifting his head where it rested on Yuji's belly. "So many questions, a'maelamin," he chuckled. "I was hardly there long enough to justify all that."

Yuji ran a hand across Vale's silky hair. "I want to know, love."

Vale sighed a little. "I don't remember the house I grew up in all that well. I wasn't quite forty when my parents died, and I was fostered by my uncle, Lord Anorongil. My sister was grown and married, and had her son already." Vale smiled up at Yuji. "I told you she was a healer, right? She's a priestess of Corellon, like Eryn."

"I think you did tell me," Yuji said. "But I think you said she was a doctor."

"Mm, probably," Vale agreed. "I was still not all that comfortable with translating concepts. I didn't know how to explain a cleric other than to say that."

Yuji stroked Vale's cheek, running his fingers along the angle of Vale's jaw. "So she's older than you."

"Oh, yes," Vale said. "Much older. She was already married when I was born." Vale shifted again, his green eyes clear and bright. "So, the house. I remember my uncle's house fairly well. It was large, very large, like Eryn's but even bigger. It was all white marble, and there was a pool in the center of the house, indoors! In Drelagara, the houses, especially the family estates, are raised by magic right out of the ground. It's like growing a house, literally, and they are formed from a single piece of marble. There weren't many of us living in the estate. Mostly it was my uncle and his son, and me, and the servants. My uncle had more servants than family by that time. We had a few relatives that lived elsewhere, like Silverymoon or Suldanessellar, and we saw then for high festivals and things like that. That's when the house was lively."

"And your parents were older when they had you?" Yuji pressed.

Vale chuckled again. "You know, I'm going to get a swelled head from all this attention. Really, it's not all that interesting. My House isn't noble, and we can't trace our bloodlines back to any of the Seldarine. We're just average elves, nothing exciting. Now me, I'd love to know more about Santhiel's family. Even we elves know little about our star elf cousins. They hid themselves away long before the rest of us decided to retreat to Evermeet."

"Retreat?" Yuji asked, puzzled.

Vale smiled. "Yes, retreat. It was mostly my people, the sun elves. They thought humans were getting too pushy, too aggressive and settling in elven lands. But, since there were a great many more humans than elves, a war seemed unwise, and instead, Evermeet was created. You can only get there by elf ship, and the island is warded by its High Mages. Only ships that are known can pass. Even elf gates and portals won't work to get you to Evermeet."

Vale watched Yuji as he chattered on about Evermeet, something stirring in the back of his mind. Vale had thought to answer Yuji, but the questions about his parents had left Vale at a loss. He only had the vaguest of recollection of his parents, and in fact very little before he was thirty-nine was all that clear. He remembered his sister clearly, and her son, and he recalled her late husband well enough to remember that he did not like him. Aside from that, Vale did not care to dig into those memories. His uncle's house had not been a happy one, and he had left without looking back. Vale shivered mentally, and turned his thoughts back to his aimless chatter about elven history, both guilty and pleased to see Yuji's eyes glazing over a bit.

"I'm sorry, a'maelamin. I didn't mean to give you a history lesson." Vale wriggled up and kissed Yuji sweetly. "Forgive me for being a bore?" His slim fingers traced the shell of Yuji's ear.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

"Oh, saiai, this is just magnificent," Sand said, his eyes brimming and his heart overflowing. "And Kohaku, too. I do not know whether to hug him or throttle him." Sand laughed, such a merry laugh that Ryuu flung himself on both his fathers with a shriek of joy.

Sand then turned his attention to Satoshi's right arm, examining the new tattoo through the film with a look of utter amazement and delight. It was the outline of a koi, extending from Satoshi's elbow and swimming up his arm.

"This is beautiful, my heart. Is this the same artist that has done Erion's work?" Sand asked.

"Yes," Satoshi said, pleased. "When it heals, I'm having the color done. Amethyst and blue, I think."

Sand smiled. "When you return for the color, I think I will go with you. I have an idea or two myself."

Satoshi looked at Sand for a moment, and then broke out into a radiant smile. "Really?"

"I have made a few very rough sketches," Sand admitted. "I will show you later, but right now, I believe I have a bedtime story to attend to."

Ryuu giggled. "And I have to draw my tattoo, for when I am growed up."

Kansas grinned from where he was laying on the floor with his head on Erion's belly. "I can do the drawings for you if you want, Sand."

"That would be perfect," Sand said, delighted. "You are exceptionally talented, my love, and it would make them even more special to me."

Hawk put his hand in his pocket, feeling the delicate mithral ring for what had to be the thousandth time. He sat, and then jumped up again, crossing the sitting room to open a window, only to find that it was already open. Sora watched him, slightly bemused, not bothering to hide her smile.

"What is wrong with you tonight, faralin?" Sora asked. "You've been jumpy all day."

"Have I?" Hawk asked. "I hadn't noticed."

"Of course you wouldn't notice, my beloved idiot," Sora laughed. "Come sit down and tell me what's on your mind."

Hawk walked over to Sora, but he did not sit. Instead, he ran a hand through his silky black hair, looked completely nervous.

"I think we need to go back to Evereska," Hawk began, and then faltered. He took a deep breath. "Sora, arwenamin, you are the love of my life. I've told you that. Did I tell you that?" He looked briefly panicked.

"Hawk, you're making me nervous now," Sora said, the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried to look serious. It was difficult, because Hawk looked particularly endearing as he fidgeted, one hand shoved deep in his pocket.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Hawk said. "I want to take reverie every night with you next to me, and I want you face to be the first thing I see when I rise."

"That's very sweet," Sora said, losing her battle not to grin impishly at Hawk.

Hawk pulled his hand out of his pocket and knelt in front of Sora. He held a delicate mithral ring between his thumb and forefinger, intricate vines surrounding a single perfect moonstone. "This ring has been handed down in my family for generations. Most recently, my grandmother gave this ring to my father, to put on my mother's hand when he asked her to marry him. Now it's my turn, and I would be honored beyond all belief if you would wear this ring as a token of our betrothal, my beloved Sora."

Hawk's cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were dark with love, and his fingers trembled as he lifted Sora's hand, pressing a kiss on her fingers. Sora's other hand flew to stroke his cheek as she looked at her Graycloak, her fierce elven warrior that she had loved for so long, and she leaned forward to kiss him tenderly.

"Yes, my Hawk, I will wear your ring and become your wife," Sora said, looking into those blue-grey eyes and seeing them light up with joy.

Hawk slid the ring onto the first finger of Sora's right hand, still trembling a little as he looked up at her. "I'll make you happy, Sora, I swear it. And if you're willing, and the Seldarine bless us with them, I'll love and cherish our children."

"I hope you want a lot of children," Sora replied, her eyes bright. "I'd like a house full of children myself."

"Then we'll go home to Evereska, and we'll tell atara, and we'll start planning our wedding. I want you to have the most gorgeous gown, and we need to have all the family here attend, and –" Hawk fell silent as Sora kissed him again, and this time, he took the hint and forgot about talking.

Vale jumped terribly when the door to Yuji's office was pulled open so hard that Yuji nearly knocked himself on his ass, and then came storming through Vale's office, ripping open the door to the hallway. Yuji leaned against the doorjamb, the lines of his face smoothing as all stress and worry melted out of him, a small dreamy smile tugging on his lips.

Vale sat behind his desk for a few moments, a little surprised, then he rose to his feet and joined Yuji in the doorway.

"What is it, a'maelamin?" Vale asked as he found the hallway utterly empty in front of their offices, and Yuji pressed his forefinger to his lips in a sign of silence.

"Listen," he whispered and Vale leaned a little forwards, cocking his head a tiny bit.

And then he heard it. The sound that was making his beautiful husband look so relaxed and gorgeous, his soul flying away on a dream.

"Those are the third level violin kids, with Kiku. And underneath that you can hear little Yamaguchi-san on the piano with Noboru-san. I love it when they play duet on the piano. Noboru-san is so good with the little kids. This is exactly why I always wanted to open this school. I just love the sounds of music filling the whole school, the laughter of the kids that aren't in classes. It just gives me so much joy." Yuji's eyes shone with such happiness that Vale had to smile back at him.

They listened in silence for a few more moments, Vale's expression nearly as dreamy as Yuji's smile. When Vale finally spoke, his voice was hushed and reverent.

"It reminds me of Evermeet. There's music everywhere there, and it all seems to blend together into a perfect whole, just like this." Vale looked slightly wistful. "I promised to take Satoshi there, and you would love it as well, for the music alone."

Yuji looked at his elf curiously, and he suddenly realized that he knew very little about Vale's past before Neverwinter.

"You never talk about Evermeet, love, or what your life was like there," Yuji said, leaning a little against Vale.

Vale looked briefly startled. "There isn't a lot to say. It's very different from Evereska. It's an island, first of all, and much larger than you'd think. There are several cities, but the biggest is the capital city, Leuthilspar. That's where the Moonstone Palace is, the home of Queen Amlaruil, who rules Evermeet along with her Council of Matrons, her personal advisors. The streets of Leuthilspar are paved with crystals and gems, and the main road looks like it's made of diamonds."

"Is that where you lived?" Yuji asked.

Vale smiled a little. "I come from a city called Drelagara, a small city not too far in from the coast. All the buildings in Drelagara are made of white marble, and it's small but very beautiful. It sits in the center of an enormous meadow, nearly sixty miles across. The best thing, though, everywhere, is the music. We have small parks, not as lush as Evereska, but every park has musicians." Vale peeked at his watch. "Is that the time? You've got a private lesson in five minutes, a'maelamin."

Yuji chuckled a little as Vale hurried back to his desk. It was not until he was halfway to his private classroom that he realized that Vale had managed to avoid saying anything about himself.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand touched Satoshi's cheek tenderly. "Of course I will go with you. Tell me how I should dress for such a ceremony, and what I must do."

Satoshi nodded somberly. "Wear that black suit that you bought, the one that doesn't have any shine to it, and a black tie with no pattern or colors in it. And you need a white shirt."

"Give me just a few moments, saiai." Sand stroked Satoshi's cheek softly and hurried to his closet. He knew exactly the suit that Satoshi was talking about. He had purchased it after Kenji mentioned that Satoshi's mother was ill. Sand had let everyone think he had just liked the fabric, but Vale had looked at Sand a little oddly. Sand had not worn such a stark thing since he had fallen in love with his genasi. He would have preferred the kimono and hakama, but he was not family.

Sand brushed his teeth and changed quickly, his Egyptian cotton shirt blindingly white, and his suit and tie a flat unrelieved black. Sand carried plain leather dress boots to put on downstairs, and his hair was pulled back into a tight neat ponytail that covered most of his ears and was cinched with a plain black elastic. He presented himself to Satoshi, who nodded and touched Sand's cheek in silent thanks.

Satoshi drove in silence, not even smoking, and Sand contented himself with merely opening his own bond and letting his love for Satoshi show. He could feel Satoshi's pain and hurt, but there was nothing to say that would help, and Sand did not want to say the wrong thing and distress his beloved husband further. They paused at a traffic light, and Satoshi took a quick glance over at Sand, elegant and slim, his sculpted cheekbones and delicately tilted eyes making him look almost Japanese, if his eyes had not been that radiant shade of blue.

Satoshi parked at the cemetery, turning off the ignition and lighting a cigarette. Satoshi's hand trembled slightly, but his voice was level when he spoke.

"You don't really have to do anything. I'm not going to speak to anyone. I just want to see the urn put in the grave." Satoshi looked over at Sand. "Just be there next to me."

"Always, saiai." Sand took Satoshi's free hand and held it for a moment out of sight while Satoshi finished his cigarette.

When Satoshi was done, he nodded, and he and Sand got out of the car. Satoshi walked over to the edge of the gathering, staying far back enough to avoid having to speak to anyone. His formal black kimono and hakama and haori marked Satoshi as family, but no one approached him, respecting the boundary he left between himself and the mourners. Sand stood at his side, close enough for Satoshi to feel the heat of Sand's body.

The grave was a simple stone grave, with a carved marker bearing the kanji for the Mori family name. Faded wooden planks marked with the names of those buried within the grave stood behind the stone. The newest one bore the name of Satoshi's mother, but there were also newer ones with the names of his siblings, three barely faded planks. Near the grave, Sand could see an older man dressed in formal mourning clothing, with an astonishing resemblance to Satoshi, and Sand realized that this had to be Satoshi's father. Not far from him was Kenji, also in traditional clothing, and Yori stood beside him in a black suit and tie, and a white shirt as pristine as Sand's shirt. Kenji saw them, and bowed very sllightly in greeting, and Satoshi returned the gesture while Sand nodded slightly in acknowledgment. To Sand's utter delight, Yori waved very discreetly, with his left hand, and his eyes were clear and bright.

The Buddhist monk officiating chanted for a few minutes longer, and then the urn was placed into the grave and the stone cover slab closed over it. As the urn was lowered, the older man looked up and saw Satoshi, his eyes widening. Satoshi trembled beside Sand, who pitched his voice to reach only Satoshi as he murmured, "I am here, saiai. My love and my strength are yours."

A tear shivered on the tips of Satoshi's lashes as his father saw him, and Satoshi bowed quickly and straightened almost immediately. Satoshi's father bowed back, but Satoshi was already turning away to leave, and Sand watched as the older man broke down in tears, Kenji moving to support him. Then Sand turned and walked beside Satoshi, glancing sideways at his husband.

Satoshi sighed heavily, and then he seemed to straighten and stand a little taller, as if some terrible weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Satoshi took a deep breath, and when they got to the car, he unlocked it and looked over the roof of the car at Sand.

"It's over," Satoshi said quietly, but he looked better than he had in days. "The bitch is in the ground, and it's over."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

"Oh, saiai, I will never be anywhere else other than by your side." Sand looked into Satoshi's sweet, sad eyes seeing the faint glimmer of hope there. "Let me love you, cormamin, as sweetly and as tenderly as you should be loved. Do you know how much I love you, with your great heart that cannot help but love others?"

Sand feathered a tender kiss on Satoshi's mouth, his strong arms supporting his slender husband easily, Satoshi's muscular legs wrapped around Sand's hips. Sand rocked his hips, shallow thrusts at first to make sure that Satoshi was ready for him, and then deep, languid thrusts, infinitely tender, Sand nibbling soft kisses that were returned with shy sweetness. Sand had his bond open wide, asking nothing of Satoshi while letting his vast love for Satoshi wash over his gentle husband.

"Do not ever be sorry for loving, saiai, even for loving those who were too foolish to return your love," Sand whispered, his own eyes bright with unshed tears. "You love so well, and ask so little for yourself. Will you take my love, and my strength? It is yours, until time itself ends, my sweet Satoshi."

Sand could feel the telltale trembling in Satoshi's thighs that signaled that Satoshi was close, and Sand deepened his thrusts, his cock gliding over Satoshi's prostate each time Sand buried himself fully in Satoshi's ass. Satoshi's cock was pressed between them, each of Sand's thrusts creating delicious friction, and Satoshi mewled softly as the heat in his belly built.

"Come for me, saiai," Sand urged. "Let go, and I will catch you."

Satoshi met Sand's eyes again, briefly, but the hope seemed a little stronger in their depths, and Satoshi howled softly as his balls drew up, his cum painting Sand's chest and belly as he sobbed his release. Sand groaned as Satoshi's ass clamped down on his cock like a vise, and his own balls emptied as he filled Satoshi's sweet ass with what felt like a never-ending stream of cum. Sand held Satoshi tightly as Satoshi shivered through the last of his orgasm, a small sob escaping him as Sand angled in to kiss him tenderly.

"I will never let you fall, saiai," Sand promised. "I love you, more with each day, and I will stand by you always as your husband and your lover and your friend."

Sand eased Satoshi off his softening cock, and helped Satoshi to stand, his strong arms supporting Satoshi until his legs had stopped trembling. Sand helped Satoshi finish washing off, and dried him tenderly, toweling his hair lovingly and supporting Satoshi as he brushed his teeth.

Sand led Satoshi into the bedroom, and began to rummage for something warm and comfortable for Satoshi to wear. Satoshi only had cotton pajamas clean, and Sand reached into his own dresser to fish out a pair of flannel pajama pants, soft and warm. Sand found a comfortably worn long sleeved t-shirt, and thick socks, and he helped Satoshi to dress, pleased that Satoshi only needed a small amount of help this time. Sand added a warm hoodie to Satoshi's outfit, still worried that the rain and chill of the night before might have settled in Satoshi's lungs.

"Let us go and see what Ryuu has planned for lunch for us," Sand said with a gentle smile. "I have no doubt that he has cajoled Sora into making her soba for you."

Sand put his arm around Satoshi as they went downstairs, and Sand could smell Sora's delicious soba as they approached the kitchen. Ryuu heard them and popped his head out of the kitchen with a bright smile, hurrying over to hug Satoshi and press a kiss to his cheek. The gate bell rang, and Sand looked over as Willow answered it, Hikaru nestled in her arms. When her face lit up, Sand released the breath he had not even realized he was holding.

Willow came over, kissing Satoshi with great love. "It's Matsu and Kohaku, and Matsu said they have a small surprise."

Sora came out of the kitchen. "We have plenty of food, and they're just in time for lunch." She turned her head to call, "Hawk? Please don't turn on the rice cooker yet. I want to make a little more."

Sand looked at Satoshi, his blue eyes filled with tender love. "Do you feel up to seeing them, saiai? Even for a little while?"

Satoshi nodded, his voice very soft. "Yes, I want to see them. They know about my family."

Sand heard the car pull up outside, and surprisingly, there was a sweet child's voice that carried in to them.

"Chichi, your friend really lives here? This is perfect! Look at all the places to explore!" the sweet little voice exclaimed, followed by Kohaku's laugh.

Willow opened the door, and Matsu bowed and came in, followed by Kohaku and two young girls. "Matsu-san, I'm so glad you came, and Kohaku-san, who are these gorgeous girls?" Willow said with a beautiful smile.

"Ah, Willow-chan, these are the reasons I have to slave my life away in the studio, making album after album," Kohaku giggled. The taller of the two girls tried to look exasperated, but wound up giggling as well, her laugh an exact replica of Kohaku's laugh. "This is Fuji-chan, who will tell you that she's seven, but don't believe her. She's really twenty-seven, by the way she bosses me around. And this is our princess, Kaede-chan, who is three."

"Three and a half, chichi," Fuji corrected, her eyes sparkling. "I am very pleased to meet you, Willow-sama." Fuji bowed and tugged her little sister into a bow as well.

Sand and Satoshi came over, and Matsu embraced Satoshi quickly. Kohaku's embrace was a little longer, and his eyes shone with sympathetic tears.

"Satoshi-san, we were so sorry to hear the news," Matsu said gently. "I know you didn't speak, but it's still bound to be difficult." He turned to Sand and bowed, as Sand returned the bow with a gentle smile. "Masato-san, I wish this was a more pleasant occasion."

Ryuu was watching Fuji with unabashed awe. Fuji was dressed in blue jeans that already had a tiny smudge at one knee, and her t-shirt and hoodie looked comfortable and relaxed. She had a baseball cap on, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Kaede, by comparison, was wearing a dress and dainty shoes, her hair framing her face in a glossy black curtain, and she stayed close to Kohaku, shy and quiet.

Kohaku looked at Ryuu, and offered him a bow, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "You must be Ryuu-san. I've seen a lot of pictures of you. My favorite is the one of you playing baseball at school."

Ryuu bowed back with a little giggle. "Hello, Kohaku-sama," he said politely. "Yes, I play for my school's team."

Fuji lit up when she heard that. "What position do you play? I'm in the outfield."

Ryuu's eyes widened a little. "You play baseball?" Sand was quite sure he heard admiration in Ryuu's voice. "I'm a pitcher."

"Ryuu has a very good arm," Sand said with pride. He would never admit that baseball utterly befuddled him, at least not in his son's hearing. "Perhaps after lunch you can throw the ball a bit together. In the meantime, sochi-chan, would you like to show Fuji the garden by the house while we finish getting lunch ready?"

"Yes, tousan," Ryuu agreed happily.

Fuji turned to look at Kohaku pleadingly.

"Go on, but don't wander too far away. Otherwise, I'll have to eat all your lunch myself." Kohaku smiled as Ryuu led Fuji out into the garden, the two of them already engrossed in a conversation about baseball.

Satoshi was talking with Matsu, their voices low, but Sand could sense that the conversation was easing Satoshi's mind a bit.

"I don't want you to even think about coming in until after the funeral," Matsu said, looking at Satoshi with great friendship and concern.

"I'm not going to the funeral," Satoshi replied. "I spent enough time going to her, just to get pushed away. Besides, we need to work on the album. The label is in a hurry for us to finish."

"Satoshi-san, trust me, the label will wait." Kohaku looked at Satoshi with a wicked glint in his eyes. "They know I'll only work with you, and I told them I won't work with you when you're not at your best. If they want their album, they need to wait until I say we're ready."

Sand could feel Satoshi's relief and gratitude, and his own smile grew. Satoshi never seemed to understand that people loved him well enough to do such things for him, but so many people did love his sweet husband that much, and Sand understood it thoroughly. For his part, although he was very quiet, Satoshi seemed calmer and a bit stronger for the company.

Sora called them in to lunch then, and Sand called Ryuu and Fuji back in. Kohaku exclaimed over Hikaru, and held the little half-elf while Willow prepared his lunch, and he then amused Hikaru thoroughly while he was eating. Satoshi even smiled a bit, the phone staying blessedly quiet.

Willow excused herself for a short time, taking Hikaru in his stroller down to pick up Aika and when she returned, Aika looked at Kaede with interest. Kaede seemed equally intrigued with Aika's school uniform, although Willow swept Aika upstairs to change. When Aika came down in one of her pretty little dresses, Kaede broke into a dimpled smile.

"I see we're graced with the presence of more royalty," Kohaku teased.

Sand chuckled. "Aika is most assuredly our princess, and we all seem to be her loyal subjects."

Aika giggled a little, and held out her hand to Kaede. "Do you want to see my dollhouse?"