[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand led Satoshi down to his basement study, where his alchemical workbench was set up. "I really am very pleased that you want to help." Sand lit the glowglobes with a wave, and Satoshi was struck by the absolute tidiness of the area, with the exception of Sand's desk. Like every other desk that Sand used, it was a disaster, a mountain of tomes and scrolls and jumbled notes, all in some sort of order that only Sand understood. Satoshi had begged Sand not to have a desk in their room, since the otherwise Zen simplicity would have been destroyed by the elf's sole foray into chaos.

Satoshi looked over at the tidy workbench, where an array of glass tubing and various flasks and beakers had already been set up. Sand lit a small brazier with a quick cantrip and opened the chest of prepared troll's blood, selecting one of the vials that Vale had marked as being from the young troll. The blackish blood had been reduced to a fine powder and Sand smiled in satisfaction.

"Satoshi, my heart, I am going to put you to work." Sand grabbed a few jars off of the neat shelves, and pulled out an alabaster bowl. He fetched a small silver scoop and a silver paddle. "These are all herbs that are beneficial in one way or another. At least two of them have been found to help reduce dependence on black lotus, which is quite similar to your opium."

Satoshi looked at Sand, his eyes widening. "Morphine, the painkiller that Yori takes, is derived from opium." Satoshi was thrilled that Sand was going to try and help with the withdrawal symptoms as well, and his face showed his happiness. "This is brilliant. Trying to quit morphine is incredibly hard, and some people have died from it."

Sand winced a little, his sympathy for Yori evident. "Then we will make sure that does not happen." Sand turned to the rest of the jars he had assembled. "Some of these are meant to restore vitamins and minerals that Yori has lost. He does not always eat properly, because the pain steals his appetite to a large degree, and the drugs steal what remains."

Satoshi nodded. "So what do I need to do?" He was encouraged by the care Sand was taking with this potion,and the way Sand seemed to think about all of Yori's needs, and his hopes soared a bit. "And how does this work?

"What you are going to do is to take a scoop of each of these and place them in the bowl. The scoop itself is alchemical silver, easily enchanted but also useful because it does not have any properties of its own until enchanted. That means it will not transfer anything to the herbs." Sand watched as Satoshi opened the first jar, and a clean herbal fragrance rose up.

"Then you will add two scoops of this liquid, and make a thick paste." Sand handed Satoshi a flask with a thick clear liquid that shimmered a little. "This is a healing base that will enhance the effect of the herbs."

"And what do we do with the paste?" Satoshi asked, increasingly curious. This was a kind of magic that seemed understandable, mixing herbs and ingredients so that they would enhance each other and be more effective.

Sand gestured at his array of glass piping and flasks and beakers. "I am going to start by reconstituting this prepared troll's blood. Vale and Yuji were lucky enough to slay a young troll. Their blood is much better for potions of this sort, since they regenerate even faster than adult trolls. Once I have turned this back into a liquid, I will heat it and distill it quickly to remove any remaining impurities. Then we will distill it again, running it through the paste you are making. The heat of the troll's blood solution will release the beneficial oils from the herbs."

Satoshi nodded. This was sounding like a cross between cooking and chemistry, and although Satoshi did not particularly like chemistry, he was willing to make an effort for Yori's sake, and Kenji's as well. "So we run the blood through the herbs. And then?"

"We do it again, a total of five times." Sand smiled at Satoshi's look of astonishment. "Alchemy is a process that requires patience, cormamin. No amount of magic can rush this process. What we are left with then is the essence of the potion."

"The essence?" Satoshi was engrossed by Sand's explanation so far. Most of the magic he had seen, including Sand's healing potions, seemed to be designed to do things in a hurry, but this was so different. This was painstaking and time-consuming.

"Yes," Sand replied, delighted by Satoshi's curiosity. Vale usually fled at the first sign of potion making, although Sand really could not blame Vale, after the vile things he had been asked to drink. "Normally, I would add the entire essence to a base and have the individual consume the entire thing. But, we do not want to tip our hand here, and so I will only add a portion of the essence to a base. The effects will be minimal, but the good thing is that I will add a small enhancement of my own before the potion is finished."

"What is that?" Satoshi asked. The potion already sounded too good to be true, as far as he was concerned.

Sand smiled, his face lighting up. "I intend to add a permanency spell to the potion. This way, each additional dose will build on the ones before it, and Yori will regrow both nerves and tissue slowly."

Satoshi's face lit up as well. "So it won't be this big overwhelming healing all at once. He'll have time to adjust between treatments, and get used to regaining any use of his arm."

"Exactly, cormamin. I was thinking about what you told me, about the healing my mother did for you, and how it has been so much to adjust to all at once." Sand leaned in and kissed Satoshi very tenderly. "I do not think we thought that through with you, and I am sorry. But we will do better with Yori."

"No, don't be sorry," Satoshi said, pulling Sand in for another kiss. "I have you to help me adjust, so it's not bad, really. But it would be harder for Yori, so this is good."

"I will need your help with what might be the hardest part of this for me," Sand said, cupping Satoshi's face sweetly.

Satoshi's eyes widened again. He looked so adorably startled that Sand could not help but nibble another kiss.

"How can I help if it's hard for you?" Satoshi asked, when Sand let him breathe again.

Sand actually blushed. "It is the base. Mine tend to taste, well, utterly dreadful, to be very honest."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale rose and fell on Yuji's cock almost languidly, the long muscles of his thighs working smoothly and his eyes hooded as Yuji's cock slid over his prostate. Yuji's thick cock filled him thoroughly each time he sank down, and Vale moaned with pleasure as he ground down, feeling Yuji's balls snug against his ass.

"You feel so good," Vale murmured. "I love this. I love you, I love being owned by you."

Vale leaned forward until his pierced nipples were rubbing against Yuji as he pushed back against Yuji's cock, his silky hair falling over his shoulders to tickle against Yuji's skin. Yuji's hands slid up along the sides of Vale's ribs, feeling the sleek muscle under the golden skin as he looked into Vale's eyes, seeing the joy and love in those sparkling depths. Yuji tangled his fingers into the wealth of emerald streaked hair, pulling Vale into a sweet and tender kiss, nibbling the elf's kiss-swollen lips as he let Vale love him. Yuji could feel himself growing closer to another orgasm, his balls tingling a bit and Vale moved a little faster as he sensed his husband's increasing urgency.

"My wanton, beautiful husband," Yuji murmured as he nibbled kisses along Vale's jaw and throat, licking the livid mark on Vale's pulse point. It never ceased to amaze Yuji how Vale loved to be marked so visibly, and flaunted the sign of Yuji's claim on him with such nonchalance. And now Vale was grinding his own hard cock between their flat bellies as he drove himself onto Yuji's cock with increasing fervor. Yuji moaned, devouring Vale's mouth in another heated kiss and Vale mewled into the kiss as his balls tightened, his cum spilling out onto Yuji's belly, his ass clamped around Yuji's cock. Yuji groaned, his own balls jumping, and he emptied another load of cum into Vale's tight ass, his arms wrapping around his elf as their lips met again.

Utterly spent and entirely blissful, Vale sank forward onto Yuji's chest, nuzzling Yuji as his breathing slowed. "I'm taking you hunting more often," Vale laughed, his joy washing over Yuji.

"You do this a lot, do you?" Yuji teased, stroking Vale's smooth back.

"Oh, yes," Vale said. "Trolls, orcs, bugbears, giant spiders. There's a lot to hunt if you know where to look."

Yuji helped Vale ease himself off Yuji's softening cock, and Vale mewled a little at the loss, making Yuji chuckle. "You're insatiable. You're worse than Willow."

"You're addicting," Vale countered, grinning. "I can't get enough of you as it is, and then you have to go and be all hot and sexy and kill a troll for me. What do you expect?" Vale rummaged among their discarded clothing, finding his belt pouch and pulling out the bag of holding with their meal from Beredir. "I'm starving."

Yuji just laughed, shaking his head as Vale unpacked a substantial meal. Beredir had provided perfectly grilled salmon, fresh bread, rice, fruit and both tea and wine, and Yuji's stomach growled at the sight of the food. Vale sprawled out on his stomach on the mossy ground, still naked, and ate heartily, washing down his meal with wine. Yuji pulled on his boxers, still a little hesitant about someone coming across them, and then he ate as well. They washed quickly in a small stream, and dressed, stealing kisses from each other the whole time, and Vale teleported them back to the Cloaktower.

Kersta was waiting in Vale's office with a chest containing the prepared troll's blood and a small cask. Vale's arm had been around Yuji for the teleportation, and he left it there as Kersta greeted them.

"Vale, Master Yuji, everything is ready as you requested. Nestus saw to the preparation himself, with Nathe's assistance." Kersta smiled, shy again now that they were back in the Cloaktower. "Nathe wanted to know if you wanted to portal from here."

Vale looked at Yuji with a grin. "I think we'll walk home and travel from there. I have to give Beredir back his basket, and we left our things at the house anyway. Tell Nathe I'll see him next tenday for paperwork."

Kersta smiled in response, ducking her head a little, and Vale and Yuji sauntered out, Vale's arm never leaving Yuji's waist.

The streets of Neverwinter were quiet as they made their way back to the house, and Vale sighed a little as they headed down to the basement armory to change.

"Do you miss Neverwinter?" Yuji asked, wondering what had made Vale sigh quite like that.

Vale looked a little surprised, and then began to laugh. "Oh, no, a'maelamin, it's not Neverwinter I miss. But I am going to miss the sight of you in mithral mail. Did I tell you that you're too fucking sexy in armor?"

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale moaned as Yuji breached him, pushing back against Yuji's cock, wanting to be filled and taken as hard as Yuji could take him. The punishing pace that Yuji set was perfect, and Vale screamed as Yuji slammed into his prostate, Vale's cock jumping a little.

"Own me," Vale managed to gasp, slamming back against Yuji's cock and howling. Vale writhed as Yuji continued to slam into his ass, feeling how close Yuji was through their wide open bond. Vale shoved back again, wanting to feel Yuji come, needing to feel that heat inside him.

Yuji could feel Vale's urgency, and the heat in his own belly was building. "Take me," Yuji groaned. "I can't hold on." Yuji felt his balls draw up, and Vale clenched his ass around Yuji's cock with a needy moan. That last bit of pressure finished Yuji, and his balls emptied almost painfully as he filled Vale's ass with his cum, one hand fisting in Vale's thick hair and tugging hard as Vale screamed in ecstasy, grinding his ass back into Yuji's groin.

Yuji yanked hard on Vale's hair, dragging the elf upright and latching on to one sensitive ear as Vale tightened his ass around Yuji's softening cock. Yuji reached under Vale's tunic, finding a nipple ring and tugging on it twisting it sharply, and Vale retaliated by tightening his ass again, feeling Yuji beginning to harden all over again.

"You are my little cockwhore," Yuji growled, and Vale moaned as he clenched around Yuji's cock again, grinding down at the same time. "You want more?"

"Yes," Vale managed. "You haven't quite owned me yet."

Yuji snarled as he ground back against his elf's ass. He found himself getting harder as Vale ground down, hot and eager, Vale's cock hard and aching. Yuji shoved Vale forward again, looking at that pert ass, one cheek slightly reddened still, and he wrapped his hands around Vale's slim hips.

"You want to be owned, do you?" Yuji rasped. He withdrew, amazed at how hard he was again, but Vale had that effect on him. Yuji could not get enough of Vale like this, fierce and powerful, and yet the sweetly submissive side of Vale was just as intoxicating.

Vale mewled, trying to buck back onto Yuji's cock, wanting to feel that hard length splitting him in two as Yuji took him. "Do it," Vale growled back, precum dripping from his aching cock.

Yuji slammed forward again, pounding Vale's prostate and making Vale scream once again, his back arching. Vale reared up, Yuji's arm wrapping around his waist, and the elf ground down hard, moaning and turning his head to demand a kiss as Yuji punished his ass all over again. Yuji's free hand dropped to Vale's cock, and he wrapped his long musician's fingers around it and stroked.

"Fuck, not fair," Vale gasped. "I'm so close."

Yuji chuckled darkly, his breath hot against Vale's ear. "You wanted to be owned."

Vale just groaned, his balls so hard and tight that they hurt, and he howled as he felt himself give way to his orgasm, his cum arching out in such strong spurts that they spattered against the trees in front of him. His ass clamped down on Yuji's cock like a vise, and Yuji howled as well, slamming into Vale's prostate as the elf writhed in his grip.

"Fuck!" Vale screamed, grinding down on Yuji's cock, all but snarling as he shivered through the last of his orgasm.

Yuji let Vale sink forward, shifting his grip to his elf's hips, slamming into that tight ass as Vale moaned in a delirium of pleasure. Yuji kept thrusting, surprised to feel the heat building in his own belly again, but the hunt had wound him to a fever pitch, and watching Vale channel raw magic like that made him half crazy with desire. Vale arched as Yuji pounded his prostate, his ass still clenching spasmodically, and Yuji groaned as he came a second time, his cum spilling into Vale's ass and all his muscles trembling.

Yuji shuddered and eased forward, pushing Vale down and collapsing on top of his elf, still buried balls deep in that sweet ass, the two of them gasping as their hearts pounded in perfect harmony.

[The Great Sue Hunt]

BW looked at Rae, smiling warmly at the younger woman. "You look perfect, and that top is gorgeous." BW ran a hand through her hair. "Now I need to get ready to have dinner with dear Bruce, and provide sufficient distraction to let you do what you need to do. You go find your friend, and leave Mr. Wayne in my capable hands."

Rae grinned and gathered what she needed while BW considered how to morph her clothing to allow for a sufficient amount of distraction while remaining elegant and polished. She decided to take a stroll through the hotel's shops to see what was being sold in this 'verse, and maybe get a few ideas. Then Rae laid a slim hand on BW's arm.

"Why don't you come with me? Bruce doesn't want me wandering around alone, and if you're with me, I'm not alone, am I?" Rae's eyes glinted with mischief.

BW grinned as she looked at her friend. "Oh, that sounds like a lot more fun than wandering around window shopping. Of course, if your friend is anywhere, he's wherever the dispersal unit is, probably within touching distance."

Rae looked at BW speculatively. "What makes you say that?"

"Because he's far too bright. Everyone will assume that he'll stay away, keep his distance and work out some unorthoox way to get to the unit." BW shrugged. "I favor the easiest approach. No one is looking at the people who are in the same room, because presumably they're all cleared and trusted. If I wanted to get close to something, that's the route I'd take."

Rae frowned. "That'll make it a little harder to get to him."

"Unless he knows you're coming, in which case he'll get to you." BW grinned. "Rae, we're Authors. Granted, we're not here to warp canon like a bunch of Sues but you'd think we could at least write ourselves a shortcut or two, rather like a programmer's back door."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale and Kersta let fly with simultaneous streams of fireballs, and Nestus conjured up a sword that swooped in to attack the troll from behind. The troll screamed and stood, rising to nearly nine feet in height, its small reddish eyes searching for its assailants. Yuji, his hands as steady as if he were in his own living room, fired a bolt that slammed into the troll's chest and burst into flames. Yuji immediately realized that the only thing that smelled worse than a troll was a burning troll, but he immediately reset the crossbow and loaded another bolt. Vale tossed a vitriolic sphere at the troll, the acid eating into the troll's rubbery skin, and Kersta loosed a powerful fireburst. Nestus growled something, and black tentacles rose out of the ground to grapple the troll, and Yuji sank his next bolt squarely between the troll's eyes.

'Perfect," Vale shouted and he darted forward as the troll slowly fell over. Vale whipped out his dagger and sliced into the troll's arm, catching the thick blackish blood in an empty flask. Vale was filling a second flask when they heard crashing from across the clearing, and Vale immediately darted back into the trees, capping the second flask as he ran, lithe and golden.

Yuji relaxed as Vale reached the cover of the forest, only seconds before another troll burst into the clearing. Yuji had reloaded, and he had a clear shot at the troll so he fired, the bolt lodging in the troll's throat. Kestra grinned and dropped an acid fog around the troll as Vale conjured a flight of flaming arrows that bit into the troll. Nestus summoned up more tentacles, and Yuji fired a second bolt, another clean head shot, and Vale whooped in excitement and flung his arms around Yuji.

"I'm bringing you on more hunts!" Vale laughed, and darted back out to collect more blood. He filled another two flasks, and was just straightening up to return to the trees when a small troll darted out into the clearing and flung itself at Vale. Kersta immediately enveloped Vale in a shimmering ball of protective energy, while Nestus ran out into the clearing, shouting loudly to draw the troll's attention.

Yuji felt his blood run cold as the troll ignored Nestus, aiming straight for Vale. Yuji lifted his crossbow, holding his breath as he took careful aim and fired off the bolt. Vale was swearing as he shot a stream of fire at the young troll, sure that he was in for a good bruising, when the bolt sank into the troll's eye, dropping it instantly. Vale proceeded to bleed the young troll immediately, collecting three flasks that he marked with a elven letter. This time he fell back fast, standing next to Yuji.

"There might be another," Vale murmured. "I've got more than enough blood, and we need to burn the bodies to ash. We'll give it a moment and see if any more emerge."

More than anything, Yuji wanted to drop the crossbow, crash his lips into Vale's and kiss him breathless in thanks for his not being hurt, and then shake him until his teeth chattered for scaring Yuji like that. Instead, Yuji nodded and reloaded the crossbow, his eyes focused on the clearing and his ears alert for any sound.

When no more trolls appeared, Vale whistled and nodded to the pair from the Cloaktower. Vale muttered and a flaming cloud enveloped the clearing, Kersta and Nestus casting the same spell as well. The heat from the fire was intense, and Yuji wondered why the trees did not also burst into flame until he realized that Vale and his fellow mages has been that precise in their casting. Yuji shook his head a little as the flames died out. Nestus stepped into the clearing, and turned back with a grin.

"All ash, Vale. We're done here." Nestus came over to Vale and held out a pouch, which Vale filled with the flasks of troll's blood.

"Get these back to the Tower and have them processed immediately," Vale said. "Yuji and I have a few other things to do before we go back. Oh, and did the cask come in from Evereska for me?"

"It did," Kersta confirmed.

"Good. Have that and this blood waiting when I get beck." Vale watched as the Cloaktower mages teleported away, before turning to Yuji, his green eyes nearly black with love and desire. "That troll would have been on me if not for that shot of yours. You saved me from a nasty mauling." Vale's fingers were already undoing his dagger belt, and he let it drop to the soft ground. "Fuck me, Yuji."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Vale looked at Yuji, just before they went into the Cloaktower. "You want to practice a few shots? We can stop at the training grounds first."

"I think that's a good idea, so I can get a feel for this crossbow," Yuji agreed. Vale led him into a spacious room with sand covered floors, containing practice dummies and archery butts. There were a few people in Cloaktower robes using the room, and several greeted Vale cheerfully.

Vale stopped to grab a dozen plain bolts from a table, and led Yuji to an archery butt. "You're going to want to keep back, and this is about a fair distance. Your actual target is going to be bigger than these, so if you can consistently hit this target, you'll have no trouble in the field."

"Let's see how I do," Yuji said and cocked the crossbow, taking a bolt from Vale. The cocking mechanism worked smoothly, and when Yuji had sighted, the crossbow fired with almost no kick, and he grinned fiercely as the bolt sank into one of the middle rings of the target.

"Nice," Vale said, his grin just as fierce. This side of Vale was one that Yuji saw only rarely, and it struck him that Vale was incredibly arousing when he was in hunter mode.

Yuji went through the dozen bolts, and by the last one he was consistently sinking the bolt almost dead center. He turned around to find a tall human watching him.

"Very nice," the human said. "I'm Nestus, one of Vale's Guard. I'll be joining you on the hunt, along with Kersta." He nodded his head at a slender woman who was talking earnestly to Vale.

"Yuji." The Japanese man stuck out a hand. "I'm Vale's husband."

Nestus's face broke out into a grin. "Congratulations, a little late. Vale's been much happier since you came into his life, and I for one appreciate it."

"You appreciate me not chewing your ass off for taking stupid risks three times a tenday," Vale said, but his voice held laughter as he turned to Yuji. "Nestus is a damned good wizard and fast with a blade. He and Kersta work together regularly. She's very good at pulling his ass out of the messes he gets into."

The slender woman smiled at Yuji shyly. "Pleased to meet you, Master Yuji."

"Shall we go hunting?" Vale said, and the sheer delight in his voice made Yuji's groin tighten once again as they headed upstairs to where the portal awaited.

The Neverwinter Wood was quiet when they emerged from the portal. Nestus lifted his head, alert, and then gestured toward the west. Vale sniffed and nodded, and Yuji sniffed as well, detecting a stench like rotting flesh. He looked at Vale and Vale leaned in to whisper, "That's the stink of our quarry."

Kersta murmured something softly, and then smiled at Yuji shyly. "Some protections for us all."

Vale led the way, moving with his usual elven grace and silence, his green eyes bright as he watched the wood. The stench grew stronger as they traveled, until they reached a small clearing. The carcass of a deer lay on the ground, and hunched over it was something that looked like a slick green boil. Filthy talons clawed into the carcass as the troll ripped off hunks of meat and shoved them into its fanged maw. Yuji looked at it, his eyes wide, as Vale gestured for them to fall back a bit.

"Spells from us and Yuji, you fire as fast as you can. Head shots are brilliant, but with those flaming bolts, any shot counts." Vale leaned in and kissed Yuji. "I promise. No dying, no getting hurt. We both go home in one piece."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand watched Kenji and Yori for a moment, seeing the boundless love between them, and he reached out for Satoshi's left hand, stroking the braided wedding ring gently. Sand knew, as surely as he had known he would be able to save Hawk, that he could help Yori, but this was harder. He could not do it all at once, and the slow pace was both frustrating and heartbreaking. Sand know, though, that Satoshi was right, and Yori needed the gradual pace to learn to live without the pain that had plagued him for so long, to learn how to live with two arms again, and at least it would be a joyful journey for both Yori and Kenji.

"This will work, Kenji-san. Please believe me. Yori will live painfree, and he will regain some use of his arm." Sand let his utter confidence show in his voice. "I would not offer false hope, and hurt you both more. I have come to consider you a friend as well as my sensei, and I have grown very fond of Yori. It is a privilege to be able to offer any help that I can."

"I would do anything to have him back, without the pain and the constant need for medication," Kenji admitted, still gently caressing his young lover.

"Then I will make all the arrangements, and I will let you know when the first treatment can take place." Sand looked at Satoshi with a gentle smile. "But now, I believe Satoshi and I have a date with a small dragon."

Satoshi laughed, his eyes bright. "A small dragon with a very big roar when we forget him."

Kenji laughed a little, the hope in his eyes making Sand yearn to begin working on the potion. "I've heard that roar, and I won't keep you. Will you forgive me if I don't get up?"

Satoshi stood and went over to Kenji to embrace his uncle carefully. "Take care of yourselves, and don't worry. We completely understand. Give Yori our love when he wakes."

Sand also gave Kenji a brief embrace, and he and Satoshi went back to their car. As they drove slowly through the gate of Kenji's estate, Satoshi sighed a little.

"What is it, cormamin?" Sand asked, instantly concerned.

"Can we really do this? Can we help Yori?" Satoshi flicked a quick glance at Sand. "I know the magic works, but we're not doing it the way you usually do. Are the little doses enough?"

Sand smiled a little. "You used to be so wary of my magic, a'mael. But yes, it will still work. I'm adjusting the potency of the potion to compensate for that, and the doses will work cumulatively. Each dose will relieve more pain, and regenerate the nerves and tissue a little more." Sand frowned slightly. "The tricky part, and the reason I want water from the Shining Springs, is that regrowing nerves is quite painful in and of itself. I do believe that applying pads soaking in the healing waters will alleviate that pain, since elves that have undergone regeneration in the Springs did not report pain like those who have used a potion based on troll's blood."

"This sounds like it'll work, poldoramin." Satoshi concentrated on the road for a moment, maneuvering deftly around a breakdown. "So now all we need is troll's blood."

Sand chuckled. "Vale and Yuji are taking care of that part. Vale has been restless, and needs to hunt." He shot Satoshi a quick glance. "You have hunted with Vale, and you know how he comes alive when he is freed from restraint."

Satoshi shivered a little but nodded. "Alright, so I'll stop worrying since you've got it under control. Now for the big question. What movie are we taking Ryuu to?"

Sand started to laugh, loving the bright humor in Satoshi's eyes as Satoshi flashed him a quick grin. Traffic eased a bit and Satoshi lit a cigarette, rolling the window down and humming a little as he drove along.

Sand flipped open his laptop and went through the movie listings online. "What about Rango? I think that will amuse him, and we can take him for dinner afterward at that little cafe he likes. We could even bring home ice creams for everyone and have dessert at home."

"Perfect!" Satoshi said, loving Sand even more for his devotion to Ryuu.

Ryuu was thrilled by the plans, and tugged his fathers to the car eagerly. When they had left, Yuji turned to Willow.

"I think Vale and I are going to grab dinner in Neverwinter tonight. Are you okay with the kids?" Yuji asked.

Willow waved at him abstractedly. "Erion and Kansas will give me a hand, and Hawk and Sora will be home. I'll order takeout for us." She frowned at her laptop and began to type, engrossed once again in her writing.

Yuji and Vale stepped through the portal, arriving in their Neverwinter home, and Vale made a beeline for the basement and Sand's armory, tugging Yuji with him. Vale's green eyes were bright with excitement, and Yuji shook his head with a chuckle.

"Right, troll hunting. There's a couple of things you need to know." Vale opened the door to the armory and lit the glowglobe with a wave. "Trolls are roughly nine feet tall, and the ones we're hunting, forest trolls, have green skin and grey-black hair, nasty fangs and talons that can shred ordinary armor." Vale pulled out a soft green leather tunic and a pair of reinforced leather breeches and tossed them to Yuji.

"Nine feet tall?" Yuji asked, looking at Vale wide-eyed.

"Oh, yes. Some are bigger, some are smaller, but that's a good average. They hunch over, so they don't look quite as tall, but don't let that fool you. They're a lot quicker than they look, too." Vale sounded almost gleeful as he pulled out a mithral chainmail tunic and tossed that to Yuji as well. Yuji was surprised at the lightness of the mail, but Vale looked pleased. He selected a belt, boots and thin leather gloves in green and added those to Yuji's pile.

"Nice. Big, ugly and fast," Yuji said, looking at the armor. "How hard are they to kill?"

"Tough as shit," Vale said happily. "They regenerate, which means they're constantly healing. If you cut off an arm, they can actually start growing one back in the middle of battle." Yuji paled slightly, but Vale continued in the same cheerful tone. "Even better, there's always a chance that the severed arm will regenerate into a new troll as well."

"So how the fuck do we kill them?" Yuji asked.

Vale pulled out a set of robes, examining them with a look of satisfaction. "Two things keep them from regenerating. Fire and acid. How good is your aim?"

Slightly startled, Yuji responded without thinking. "Damned good."

Vale had turned his attention to the weapons racks in the armory, and he pulled out a beautifully crafted crossbow. "This should do nicely." Vale grabbed several bundles of bolts, a belt quiver and a long dagger with curious runnels down the blade. "Fuck, where did he put my daggers? Oh! Got them!" Vale unhooked a belt with two sheathed daggers.

Yuji watched as Vale peeled off his t-shirt and kicked off his boots. Vale's jeans and boxers were next, and Yuji raised an eyebrow. Vale shrugged as he pulled on his light wool breeches, lacing them deftly. "These fit better without the boxers." Vale's cheeks were faintly pink as he pulled on his tunic and then added the short battle robe that fell to mid thigh. Tall doeskin boots were next, and Vale buckled on his daggers.

In the meantime, Yuji had stripped as well, leaving his tight boxers on before pulling on the leather breeches. Vale reached over and laced them for Yuji with a grin, stealing a fast kiss.

"Where's your armor?" Yuji asked as he pulled on the green leather tunic. Vale helped him settle the mithral mail over his head, and used the belt to tighten it properly.

"My robes are heavily enchanted," Vale explained. "Any kind of armor interferes with my spellcasting, but Sand is extremely good at adding enchantments to robes as well as to armor and weapons. These robes are nearly as much protection as your mail."

Yuji pulled on his boots, relieved to hear that Vale was protected. The thin leather gloves felt like butter against his skin, smooth and silky. "So, how do we do this?"

Vale handed Yuji the crossbow. "This is fairly simple to use. You set it with this lever, lay a bolt here, aim and fire. It takes a moment to reset it for each bolt, but this one operates smoothly. I've picked bolts that are enchanted to burst into flame when they hit a target, which is what we want to deal with these trolls. If for any reason one gets close, which shouldn't happen, this dagger has a stone in the grip that you can press to release acid along the runnels."

Vale hooked the quiver on Yuji's belt and watched as Yuji sheathed the dagger. He leaned in for one hungry kiss and then pulled away with a grin. "I was thinking we should grab a picnic basket form Beredir. After we've killed a couple of trolls and gotten Sand's blood, we could have a bite to eat." Vale's cheeks were definitely pink as he looked at Yuji, his green eyes dark with desire.

[BronxWench's Review Replies]

Prompt: Frittle "Interlude"

From Squishy:

That last line made me snortgiggle very loudly XD;; I loved this little fic.

Thank you! It's tricky sometimes to write humor, but if I made you snortgiggle, then I'm happy!

From JayDee:

"shellfish, dipped in batter and fried in oil" I wants me one of those fritters. Normally I only see various fruit or occasionally corned beef fritters. Give the assassin his perceptive due - I could your Wraith and Alistair using food in such a manner. Heh.

A fine prompt in the ancient tradition of protest by art I think. I may be mistaken or simply reading too much into it...

Well, if Wraith and Alistair hadn't thought about using food like that, they are now...

And yes! This was most assuredly protest by art!

From bloodravyn:

lol

I have nothing to do with it. I'm merely the author, and my characters hijacked me!

[BronxWench's Review Replies]

Prompt: Embrocation "Drakes and Discoveries"

From bloodravyn:

lol, sexy!

Thank you!

From JayDee:

Heh, thanks to not having played the first of the many definitions for "drakes" to come to mind was a male duck. I had this mental image from the title and the end of the first paragraph of Alistair being savaged by ducks having led to the slumping. Then I mentally applied dragon/drake connection and probably had a more sensible image of dragon involvement. Thought I'd share that...

They're pretty lucky actually, re-using Morrigan's mix in that manner - A lot of the real world liniment/sports equivilents would add a somewhat unpleasant sensation to the genitals based on some "sex gone wrong" threads I've read. Good thing she didn't design it specially in case they mis-used it

Joking aside, it really feels like their relationship has an even newer intensity now, with wonderful lines like "but one look in Alistair's green-gold eyes had Wraith forgetting the burn altogether as he rose and fell," and the very end. Every time you write these two coupling you have a new little angle, or detail, or emotional resonance... it's great stuff!

Somehow, I can see Alistair being savaged by ducks...

And yes, had Morrigan thought they would reuse her mix as a lube, she would definitely have made sure they lived to regret it! I do have a few male friends who have had run-ins of the dreadful kind with unpleasant substances, and for a brief few moments actually hoped not to live to tell about it...

And as always, thank you!

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand offered Kenji his arm again as they walked into the room, and he helped Kenji to sit, mindful of his ribs as well as his shoulder. Yori caught Satoshi's arm at the doorway.

"Satoshi-san, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Yori said, his voice soft, and Satoshi reached out and hugged Yori.

"It's already forgiven," Satoshi replied, and the two young men hugged again, their smiles beautiful.

Yori turned to Sand, the beautiful smile still on his lips. "Thank you." The look in his eyes spoke volumes, and Sand nodded with a sweet smile of his own.

They sat down to the meal Ota touji had prepared, the food delicious and perfectly presented. Yori tried to eat, but it was obvious to Sand that the pain was bad enough to make the young man nauseated. Kenji ate enough for two, however, having been unable to stomach the hospital food. There was still a sense of things healing, however, and a tranquility to the meal that made them all feel at ease.

After lunch, when they were sipping tea and nibbling on some fruit and chocolates, Sand pulled out his laptop with a slightly apologetic look. "Kenji-san, if I can be impolite enough to use this now, I had promised Yori-san I would give him some information." Sand flipped open the laptop and powered it up when Kenji nodded. "You know that Yuji's cancer was cured thanks to an experimental treatment. The researchers who developed that treatment have another that might help Yori-san."

Sand slid the laptop over to Yori, who looked at the first page outlining what the treatment was designed to do. His beautiful eyes widened as he read, and his lip trembled slightly as he slid the laptop to Kenji.

"The researchers are friends of a friend, and they would be willing to offer this treatment to Yori-san as part of their study. A nurse will be provided to administer the treatment, and they will also supply certain vitamin supplements to enhance the treatment. If Yori-san agrees to allow his treatment to become part of the study, there is no cost to him for participating, and he will only be identified by a number in the study."

Kenji looked up at Sand. "Are you sure about this?"

Sand nodded. "I am sure that this group has the best chance of helping Yori-san. Their treatments are on the very edge of what is possible, but they did cure Yuji entirely." Sand looked at Yori. "They do not promise a full cure, Yori-san, but if the pain can be eased and some function restored, that would be a victory, yes?"

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand moaned and moved far faster that Satoshi would have believed possible in the confines of the front seat of the car. Sand's agile tongue wrapped around the head of Satoshi's cock, his tongue stud teasing the slit before sliding around the entire head. Sand swiped his tongue stud over the sensitive little cleft underneath the head, and at the same time, he cupped Satoshi's sac gently in one hand. Sand let his mouth slide down Satoshi's cock, his tongue pressing firmly along the underside of the shaft, and one long finger slipped behind Satoshi's balls to massage the tender bit of flesh in front of Satoshi's tight little pucker, pressing against the prostate firmly from outside.

Satoshi's little moan as Sand played with his balls got much louder as Satoshi's cock hit the back of Sand's throat. The elf just relaxed his throat muscles and took Satoshi to the root, burying his nose in the soft curls of Satoshi's groin with a purr that went straight to Satoshi's belly. Sand pulled back up, dragging that wicked tongue stud along Satoshi's cock, and then dove right back down and swallowing Satoshi down. Satoshi's eyes fluttered closed and his hands fisted in Sand's thick raven hair as Sand pulled back up, sucking so hard that his cheeks were hollowed. The elf barely paused before his head went back down, the wicked finger still teasing behind Satoshi's balls as they jumped a little in the palm of Sand's hand.

It only took another couple of head bobs before Satoshi's balls were tight and heavy, and his belly felt like it was full of magma. This time when Sand slid his lips all the way down Satoshi's cock, he swallowed hard several times in quick succession, humming a little. Between the vibration and the rhythmic contractions of Sand's throat muscles, Satoshi could feel his balls tightening painfully. Sand pressed down even more firmly on Satoshi's prostate, and Satoshi gasped and stifled a scream as white light exploded behind his eyes and his balls emptied convulsively. Sand kept swallowing as Satoshi's cum poured down his throat, the continuing swallowing milking every last drop from Satoshi. Sand drew back slowly, letting the last few spurts coat his tongue, and he savored the taste of Satoshi with a purr of delight. He released Satoshi's softening cock, lapping at it a few times to make sure he had captured every last drop of cum before he sat up, his blue eyes sparkling as he deftly tucked Satoshi's cock back into his boxers and closed his cargoes.

Sand pulled Satoshi into a kiss, letting Satoshi taste himself on Sand's tongue. They broke quickly, and Sand reached out to tug a few locks of Satoshi's hair back into place.

"You look delicious," Sand purred, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Have I told you how much I love it when you're wicked and daring?"

"Not since our motorcycle ride," Satoshi retorted, but despite his pink cheeks, a sweet smile played across his lips, and his eyes were as bright as Sand's eyes. "We'd better get to the hospital, before Kenji's released without us, and we find him sitting on the curb."

Sand grinned and tucked his own cock away, zipped his jeans and stole one more kiss. "I believe we are ready," he said, chuckling as Satoshi lit a cigarette before pulling out to park properly in the hospital's parking lot.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand opened his bond all the way, and let his bottomless love for Satoshi pour out as he pulled Satoshi into his arms. Sand rarely wept, but he had tears streaming down his face as he held Satoshi, and his voice shook when he spoke.

"In all the long years of my life, I have never known anyone quite like you, cormamin. In one simple stroke, you have done something I did not believe possible." Sand pulled back a little, looking into Satoshi's eyes. "I feared the taint of Luskan. I feared that the darkness of that place had infected my soul, but I know now that it has not. I could never hurt you, or Ryuu, or any of our family because I am so in love with you that there is no room left for the darkness. You are a bright light that bathes every corner of my soul, and banishes the shadows."

Sand leaned in and kissed Satoshi with infinite tenderness. He nibbled softly on the heavily pierced lower lip, coaxing Satoshi's sweet mouth open, and delving into it in a languid and loving kiss that offered everything that Sand was. Satoshi froze for a moment and then began to return the kiss, until he was delving into Sand equally. Satoshi could feel Sand's soul twining with his as they kissed, and he tasted the salt of Sand's tears on his husband's lips. Sand did not care if they were seen, knowing only that he needed this closeness, needed to hold his husband and kiss him.

The kiss grew more heated, and Sand's hands slid into Satoshi's hair as he deepened the kiss, moaning a little. Sand's hands drifted lower, his slim fingers tracing over Satoshi's pierced nipples through his shirt, and it was Satoshi's turn to moan into the kiss. They finally needed to break for air, and Satoshi looked into Sand's blue eyes, seeing love and desire and heat mixed.

"Satoshi, saiai, a'mael," Sand breathed, his cock uncomfortably hard in his tight jeans. "I promise you this. I will spend every day loving you, and making love to you, and arguing with you, and being an idiot and driving you insane, and I promise that every day loving you will be the first thought I have. This is sadly not the time or place, or I would begin this very moment." Sand took Satoshi's hand and laid it on his groin, letting Satoshi feel the thick hard cock beneath the denim. "The things you do to me, mela en' coiamin, love of my life." Sand chuckled a little breathlessly. "Never stop, alright?"

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

After he had eaten, Sand went in search of Vale, finding him as Vale came down the stairs with Hikaru in his arms, both of them with slightly damp hair from their shower.

"Good morning, anoramin," Sand said, leaning in to kiss Vale sweetly as Hikaru reached for a handful of Sand's hair. "Do you have a moment?"

"Just let me get my savage here a teething rusk, and I'm good," Vale replied. He deftly freed Sand's hair and handed Hikaru a rusk, earning a happy shriek. "What's on your mind, ithilamin?"

"Yori," Sand replied. "He lives in constant pain from his injury, and the doctors have done nothing but make it worse. I have an idea, but I will need your help."

"Of course," Vale replied, his green eyes wide. "Anything I can do."

"I will require some fresh troll's blood." Sand looked at Vale with a small smile. "I will also need a small barrel of water from the Shining Spring in Evereska."

Vale chuckled, amused. "That's what I love about you, ithilamin. You always ask for the most interesting things. What are we doing with the potion when it's done? You know how everyone frowns on our free and easy use of magic." Hikaru looked up from his rusk, his green eyes so much like Vale's and cooed.

"I had contemplated a small variation on our cover story for Yuji's treatment. Do you think we can arrange to have some research on speculative and highly unorthodox stem cell treatments being used to regenerate damaged nerves and tissue?" Sand arched a brow as Vale's eyes lit up.

"Easiest thing in the world," Vale replied, delighted at the chance to indulge in a little subterfuge. "We can even see if Hideko will play with us. She's a nurse, after all, and we can have her inject Yori with saline and some vitamins, and then ask him to drink a special supplement to build him up a bit. The potion can be added to the supplement so that we don't get a dramatic and instantaneous cure that will earn us a good dose of finger wagging and scowls. The spring water... hmmm... we can call that a proprietary cleaning solution, and have Hideko bathe the arm with it, maybe even leave it on cotton toweling to soak a bit."

Sand looked at Vale in admiration as he worked out a very plausible scheme in mere moments. Vale caught Sand's look and burst out laughing, which made Hikaru laugh as well.

"Don't look so astonished, ithilamin. It's what the Cloaktower's paid me to do all these years," Vale laughed.

Sand kissed Vale again. "You have an enchantingly devious mind, anoramin. You could give lessons to pit fiends."

"Where do you think I learned it?" Vale grinned. Hikaru reached out and tugged sharply on Vale's hair until Vale nuzzled him. "Take your laptop with you. I'll have the reports to you by the time you get to Kenji's house. The hard part is going to be convincing Yuji to let me run off and hunt trolls. I could bring him along, though, set him up with a crossbow loaded with bolts of fire and wrap him in some protections." Vale laughed. "We can call it a date."

Sand chuckled, imagining Yuji's reaction to that. "I do appreciate the help, anoramin."

Vale waved him off, still grinning. "Go take care of Kenji and Yori. I'll have you some troll's blood before you know it. Just try not to kill the poor boy with the taste."

Sand went back to Satoshi, finishing in the kitchen with Ryuu as they tidied up from their breakfast.

"I am sorry I missed cleaning up," Sand said, his love for his husband and their son welling up. "I needed to speak to Vale for a moment. Are we ready to go to the hospital?"

Satoshi gave Ryuu a last hug and kiss. "Don't be too hard on Hawk. He can't help being a silly elf."

Ryuu giggled. "I'll try not to laugh at him too much, chichi." He held his arms out for a hug and a kiss from Sand as well. "You'll make it alright, tousan."

Satoshi started the car while Sand got in, his laptop in his hand. Satoshi looked at it curiously, and Sand smiled as Satoshi drove slowly to the gate.

"Vale is going to send me some research reports, about how stem cell treatments are being used to repair damaged nerves and tissue. That will be our story, while we slip Yori small doses of a potion that I will make. The potion will hopefully regenerate nerves and tissues in Yori's arm, but not all at once as it would do if he drank the potion down all at once." Sand watched Satoshi's face as he thought about what Sand was saying.

"This will make his arm whole again?" Satoshi asked, wonder in his voice.

Sand sighed a little. "It has been so long since the injury, but I am very hopeful that some function will be recovered, and that the pain of the damaged nerves will ease. I am also going to add something that will relieve the addiction to the pain relievers that Yori takes constantly. I have also asked Vale to get water from the healing springs back home. Elves have regenerated lost limbs while soaking in the springs."

Satoshi lit a cigarette, rolling down the window a bit. Traffic was brisk but moving well, and he kept his eyes on the road as he spoke. "This could be overwhelming for Yori. You get used to having the pain, after a while. I've had it in my heart for so long, and now I'm not sure how to be half the time with it gone."

"I understand what you are saying, cormamin. That is why I think we need to administer the potion in small doses. Vale said to call it a vitamin supplement. The water from the healing springs will be a special cleaning solution." Sand looked at Satoshi as he drove. "It will give Yori and Kenji a chance to love each other without all the hurt and bitterness between them. Vale thinks we should ask Hideko to put on her nurse's uniform and give Yori injections of plain saline and vitamins, and saying those are the treatment."

Satoshi nodded, but he looked hopeful, and Sand was relieved, until he realized he would now have to keep his other promise and explain his reactions the day before to Satoshi. Difficult as it was for Sand to talk about his time in Luskan, it was more important to both keep his word to Satoshi, and to be completely open with Satoshi, even if it meant detailing his own past stupidity and arrogance.

"I told you last night that I would explain what I meant when I said that I hurt myself." Sand looked out the windshield of the car, but he was not really seeing the scenery. "I told you about Luskan, and how my greed for arcane lore led me to serve the Hosttower there. I also told you how I was compelled to use magic to force prisoners to speak, or more often to make prisoners say what Luskan wanted them to say. At first it was the most horrifying thing imaginable, a completely hideous use of magic. After I was punished for refusing to question some poor hapless bastard, after I realized that I could not endure much more punishment like that, it was easier to just do as I was told. Too much easier, in fact, and I found myself falling deeper and deeper into the pit. I was becoming Luskan, or so I believed."

Sand sat quietly for a moment before resuming. "On the vacation, K and I took you hard. You have reassured me that we did not hurt you, and I will believe you. But part of me enjoyed how hard we took you. Part of me enjoys when I take you hard, even now, and I fear that part of me. I fear sliding into Luskan ways, and I fear what I could do to you in that state."

[Week 30: 5/1/11]

Pen Name: BronxWench

Story link: Interlude

Review Replies: Second Quarter 2011

Type of fic: FlashFic

Rating: Adult

Fandom: Games>Dragon Age: Origins

Warnings: AFFO, ChallengeFic, M/M, NoSex

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand smiled and undressed quickly, slipping onto the futon and under the covers, sitting beside Satoshi. "I thought it best that I see if Yori had returned." Sand wrapped his arms around Satoshi. "I hoped to be back before you woke, cormamin, but I am glad, in a way, that you know that I have returned. I will always return."

Satoshi fell into the embrace, his arms tight around Sand, his soft sobs already ceasing. "I could feel you. I could feel your love." He tucked his head into Sand's shoulder, where Sand's neck met his shoulder, and Sand could feel Satoshi relaxing.

"How do you feel, saiai?" Sand pressed a very soft kiss to Satoshi's amethyst hair. "Are you thirsty?"

"A little," Satoshi admitted, and Sand reached for a bottle of water, offering it to Satoshi. Satoshi took it and drank, the cool water feeling wonderful on his suddenly parched throat. He finished half the bottle, leaning into Sand's embrace, still amazed by the unconditional love that Sand offered. "Is Yuji still pissed?"

Sand kissed Satoshi's head again. "No, he is not, my heart. I will let him tell you himself tomorrow, but I believe he regrets his temper earlier." Sand could feel that the effects of the pot had largely worn off, and Satoshi was tentative and unsure. Sand opened his bond and let a wave of love wash out over Satoshi. "We will go to the hospital in the morning, and see how Kenji is feeling. I am hopeful that he will be released tomorrow, and we can bring him home."

Satoshi sighed a little. "Will Yori be there?"

"Yes, he will, and I need to talk to Vale tomorrow. I think we may be able to help Yori." Sand took the water bottle and put it aside and laid back on the pillows, holding his arms open for Satoshi to join him. "The damage is extensive, and the surgeries have made it worse. The medications have become necessary in far too many ways, but I think there might be a way to help him."

"Really?" Satoshi curled up in Sand's arms, snuggling close and letting the warmth of Sand's skin soothe him. "How?"

"Fake injections and a rather rare and particular potion, with a few modifications of my own." Sand chuckled a little. "I will explain on the way to the hospital, but the story concocted for Yuji's father gave me an idea. There are potions that can regenerate lost limbs, and heal dire wounds. It may not be too late to repair Yori's arm, or at least give him back some function and ease the constant pain."

"You can do that?" Satoshi murmured, his eyes starting to close.

"I can try, saiai." Sand listened as Satoshi's breathing evened out, and he cradled his husband close and let himself drift into reverie, pondering an additional treatment that could possibly enhance the potion's effects. He would ask his mother...

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand reached out and eased the kimono back up over Yori's shoulder. "I do not know if Satoshi ever mentioned to you about Yuji's cancer. Yuji's husband Vale and I have a friend, who knows someone doing some very sophisticated research using stem cells. This person developed a treatment that completely cured Yuji's cancer. I can ask if there might be something in development that would help you." Sand shrugged lightly. "It is very cutting edge research, just barely on the right side of being legal, but the research reports I have seen are extraordinary."

Yori looked at Sand, not even his tears capable of rendering him anything other than beautiful. There was the tiniest flicker of hope in his dark eyes. "How did the treatment cure Yuji's cancer? There's no cure that I've ever heard of."

"I am no doctor, Yori-san. All I know is that Yuji was dying and now he is completely free of all signs of cancer. He has not been this healthy in years." Sand brushed some of the tears from Yori's face with a square of soft white linen that he plucked from a pocket of his robe. "If nothing else, if it can relieve some of the pain, it is worth the try."

Yori gave a derisive snort. "Masato-san, i have tried every possible remedy out there, including many that were outright fucking illegal. If this friend can arrange something, I can come up with the money somehow. I don't want to leave Kenji, but I can't do this anymore. At some point, the hatred is going to become what's real, not the love, and I'd rather die than have that happen."

Sand nodded. "I would not worry about money. Yuji's treatment was part of a research study, and there was no charge. If you are accepted as a candidate for the treatment, it will most likely be without cost to you."

"Do it, Masato-san. I'll try anything, I mean it." Yori looked at Sand with such anguish. "I can't bear it any longer."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

"Satoshi?" Sand dropped to his knees beside his husband, pulling Satoshi into his arms. "Oh, cormamin. I am so sorry I left you alone. Can you forgive me?"

Satoshi just buried his face in Sand's shoulder, shaking as he sobbed. "Is Kenji dead?"

"Kenji is on his way to the hospital, quite alive." Sand pressed a kiss to Satoshi's temple, stroking his hair gently. "He dislocated a shoulder, broke a couple of ribs and has a most impressive knot on his head, but he is alive, and alert, and asked me to tell you not to worry about him. We can visit him tomorrow if that pleases you."

"Maybe," Satoshi mumbled, pressing his face closer into Sand's shoulder. Sand continued to stroke Satoshi's hair and back for a few more minutes as Satoshi's sobs slowed down gradually. Finally, Satoshi sniffled and murmured, "I'm sorry. I disappointed you. I always fuck up. I ruin everything."

Sand listened to the litany, the same things Satoshi had been saying when Sand returned. "Satoshi, saiai, you have not disappointed me, and you have not ruined everything. And if anyone has fucked up, it would be me."

Satoshi got very still when he heard Sand call him beloved, the word falling so easily from Sand's lips and Satoshi dared to open up the barest fraction, enough to feel Sand, and the love that Sand offered. He pulled his head out of Sand's shoulder, but still refused to meet his husband's eyes. "You didn't fuck up, you never do."

"But I did," Sand replied. "I should not have left you to go and train. I should have stayed with you. You were hurt and angry and upset, and I went off to train instead of being there to listen. I am a poor husband sometimes, saiai."

Satoshi lifted his head all the way, looking at Sand, looking into the elf's blue eyes and seeing only love. "Why did you call me that?"

Sand reached out and touched Satoshi's cheek. "The word is beautiful in your language, as beautiful as it is in mine. A'mael, saiai. Both beautiful, but neither as beautiful as you. You are my beloved, now and until time itself ends."

Fresh tears rolled down Satoshi's cheeks, but these tears were softer. "How can you do that? How can you still love me no matter how I fuck up?"

"Did we not promise to fail each other spectacularly?" Sand smiled, his eyes warm and tender. "We never asked each other to be perfect. All we asked was that we love each other, always, and so I always love you." Sand took Satoshi's hand and stroked the rose gold braided ring on Satoshi's left ring finger, identical to the one on Sand's left ring finger. "Each day, I love you more."

"I hurt you," Satoshi said, but he still did not look away.

Sand drew in a breath and let it out slowly. "It would be more accurate to say that I hurt myself. I am often stubborn, and I cannot quite believe that I do not hurt you when we love so fiercely. I do take what I want, when I want it, and I do take you hard, and part of me fears that I am sliding into my own past, when I was a thrall of the Hosttower in Luskan." Sand held up a slim hand when Satoshi looked puzzled. "I promise you that I will explain, but not tonight, cormamin. Too much already weighs on both our hearts. I am going to call Yuji, and ask him to come for us."

Satoshi shivered a little, knowing that Yuji would be furious, but he nodded and leaned back into Sand, exhausted and trembling. Sand cradled Satoshi close as he took out his cell phone and dialed Yuji. Sand quickly explained that he needed Yuji to drive out to Kenji's house and collect them, and when Yuji asked if he should bring someone to drive Satoshi's car back, Sand agreed that it would be wise. Sand ended the call, and looked at Satoshi, his eyes still showing the effects of the potent pot. Sand turned his head toward the door and spoke softly. "Ota Jun?"

The door slid open and the young servant entered, bowing deeply. "Mori-sama, how may I assist?"

"Hayashi-sama is coming to pick us up, and he will have someone to take Mori-sama's car as well. Please see that they can enter the estate, and if you could, we could use some cool water." Sand bowed a little as Ota Jun bowed again and hurried off to comply. The young servant returned minutes later with bottles of cold water and a pot of tea, leaving the tray with another deep bow and leaving to meet the car.

"Drink, my heart." Sand opened a bottle of water and handed it to Satoshi, and watched until Satoshi had managed to drink half of it. He poured himself some tea and sipped it, holding Satoshi close until Ota Jun slid the door open to tell Sand that the car had arrived.

Ota Jun carried the bags for Sand as Sand helped Satoshi to stand and kept an arm wrapped tightly around Satoshi's waist. Yuji had brought Tsutomo with him to drive Satoshi's car home, and Tsutomo embraced Satoshi and Sand with his usual wide smile as he helped Satoshi into the back seat. Sand made sure Satoshi had his water, and then tossed the bags in the boot before getting in next to Yuji, who had a face like a thundercloud.

Yuji waited until they had pulled out of the gates of Kenji's estate before he growled, "I can't believe you did this, Satoshi. What the fuck were you thinking?"

Satoshi shrank down in the seat, his eyes welling and Sand leveled a sharp look at Yuji. "Whatever my husband has done is between him and me. This is not your concern." Sand's voice was level and stern, and Satoshi looked at Sand, wide-eyed.

"Not my concern?" Yuji began, and then he flicked a quick glance at Sand, and subsided. "Fine. He's your husband. You deal with it. It doesn't mean I'm not fucking disappointed in him."

"Your disappointment is duly noted," Sand said dryly, and then turned to talk to Satoshi. "We will go and see Kenji in the morning, cormamin. Perhaps we will even be able to bring him home."

Yuji flashed another glance at Sand. "What happened?"

"We can talk at home." Sand's voice was still firm, and Yuji nodded, lighting a cigarette and concentrating on driving.

When they arrived home, Sand gave Tsutomo another hug, thanking him for coming out to help with Satoshi's car, and sending his love home to Hideko, Tomio and Sora. Sand helped Satoshi out of the car, Satoshi still wobbly, and he took Satoshi straight up to their room, ignoring Vale's wide-eyed look from the couch.

"Come, saiai, let us get you into bed. What you need is to rest." Sand helped Satoshi to undress and get into pajama bottoms and a comfortably worn t-shirt.

"What you said to Yuji," Satoshi began, his voice trembling a little. "That it's between you and me. I thought he'd explode, but he didn't."

Sand offered Satoshi some more water, and watched as Satoshi drank it gratefully. "I wear your ring on my left hand. You are my first, and I am yours. I do not question that Vale is his first, and I expect him to do the same." Sand helped Satoshi under the covers, and then stripped down to sleep pants and slid in beside Satoshi, holding him close and kissing him tenderly. "You and Ryuu are my life, and I will spend the rest of my life protecting you both, as I know you will do for Ryuu and for me. I love my other spouses and all of our children fiercely, but you are my heart, my saiai."

For the first time since Kenji had exploded, Satoshi smiled. It was a very tremulous smile, and small, but it lifted Sand's heart and he cradled his husband to his chest.

"I'm tired, poldoramin. I'm so tired," Satoshi whispered.

"Then rest here in my arms," Sand murmured. "I have you, and I will never let you go."

Satoshi smiled again, and let his beautiful eyes slowly close as he gave in to sleep. Sand held Satoshi until he was deeply asleep, and then he pressed a last kiss on Satoshi's head and carefully slid out of bed, dressing quickly in elven clothing and padding downstairs to find Yuji.

Yuji was in the garden smoking, and Sand sat beside him, pulling on his soft doeskin boots.

"Going somewhere?" Yuji asked.

"I need to find Yori," Sand replied. "Kenji told Satoshi that his mother is gravely ill. She is dying, actually, and asked Kenji to approach Satoshi. She is looking for forgiveness." Sand's flat tone made it quite clear how little he thought of that notion. "Satoshi was quite upset, and Kenji refused to let him train. I was foolish enough to train, however, and while I was with Kenji, Satoshi went to drown his anger with Yori."

"And they smoked pot." Yuji shook his head. "Stupid."

"But understandable," Sand replied. "I should have stayed with him. I should have taken him home right away, but I did not, and part of any blame should rest with me. Satoshi needed me, and I was not there."

Yuji looked at Sand. "Don't take it all on yourself. Satoshi does this sometimes. He fucks up royally, and I think it's to see if we'll still love him. He keeps waiting for us to stop one day." Yuji rubbed a hand across his eyes tiredly. "And I scream at him, and he falls apart, and we put him back together the best we can until the next time."

Sand pulled Yuji close, looking into his perfect eyes. "You have always been there for him. Now it is my turn." Sand kissed Yuji softly. "I will never willingly hurt him."

Yuji reached up and stroked Sand's cheek and smiled a little. "I know that. It's habit, I guess, to think I need to be the one." He sighed and sat back, lighting another cigarette. "So what happened with Kenji?"

Sand sighed. "Kenji was furious with Yori, and they fought. Not just words, blows were exchanged. Yori poured out his heart, angry, bitter words, and he walked out. Kenji followed him, there was a scream, and when we got outside, Kenji was at the bottom of the hill, and Yori walked away." Sand's eyes reflected the pain of the memory. "An ambulance was sent for, and I waited with Kenji until it came. His injuries are painful, but they will heal quickly. It is Yori who concerns me now. Such pain in him as well."

"What can you do?" Yuji asked. "It's between them."

"I do not know," Sand admitted. "I simply know that I cannot sit here without acting."

"Do you want a ride?" Yuji asked.

Sand shook his head, smiling a little. "I think I can manage. I know the training ground well enough to travel there in my own fashion. I will be back as soon as I can."

Sand murmured his spell and teleported himself to the training grounds on Kenji's estate. The house was dark except for a light burning in the main room, and Sand hurried up to the walkway, sliding the door open.

Yori was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room on a thick white pad, candles lighting the room gently. The young man was wearing his long white kimono, and a pair of black silk pants, and in front of him was a small table with a tantō resting on it, a strip of pure white cotton cloth wrapped around the blade below the hilt. A beautifully made katana rested by Yori's side, and he was smoking a cigarette, his left arm on his lap. The young man looked up at Sand, his eyes unreadable.

"Masato-san." Yori bowed without standing, and Sand returned the bow without thinking, his eyes wide as he looked at the tantō. "I'm glad you came, actually. I can apologize for my behavior earlier."

"Yori-san." Sand marveled at Yori's composure. "I am glad to find you here. Kenji is in the hospital. His injuries are painful but not life-threatening, and I do not believe he will be there for long."

Yori nodded slowly. "I'm glad to hear that." Something flickered in those beautiful eyes. "I said things earlier, things I shouldn't have said. One thing was true, though. I wish I had died." He gestured at the tantō in front of him, the katana beside him. "I was hoping to fix that, but, as you can see, I can't even do this right anymore."

Sand's eyes widened a little as he realized what Yori meant. Yori had been contemplating seppuku, ritual suicide, and without thinking, Sand crossed to Yori's side and knelt beside the younger man.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to be my second?" Yori asked, and the grief in his voice undid Sand. "You can strike as soon as I pick up the tantō. You don't have to wait for me to make the cut."

Sand looked at the pale and beautiful face of the young man. "Yori-san, please do not do this. It will kill him to lose you."

A single tear traced its way down Yori's cheek. "It's killing him to watch me like this, and I love him too much to keep doing this to him. Help me end it."

Sand shook his head, his own eyes darkening with sorrow, and he reached out to pull Yori close, cradling Yori the way Hawk had cradled Sand when he was an elfling. "Talk to me, Yori-san. I will listen."

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand was frozen, utterly shocked by what had just played out in front of his eyes, while Satoshi looked down at Kenji in horror, howling. Satoshi's frantic screams had summoned Kenji's housekeeper, and Sand snapped out of his momentary shock as the housekeeper looked him in alarm. He handed her his cell phone.

"Please, will you have someone take Mori-sama someplace quiet, and then summon the proper authorities? We will require an ambulance, I believe." Sand reached out to touch Satoshi's shoulder, and Satoshi flinched away as he pressed himself against the wall of the house, his fingers in his mouth. Sand felt a wave of grief wash over him, but he needed to see to Kenji before he could take care of Satoshi.

Another servant materialized, and Sand turned to Satoshi, speaking gently but firmly, his hands at his sides. "Satoshi? Look at me please." Satoshi made a small noise, his fingers darting up to touch his hair before fluttering back to his mouth, but he looked up at Sand, the agony in his eyes unbearable to the elf. "Please follow this person into the house. It will be quiet and safe there, cormamin, and I will return to you as soon as I can. I will take care of Kenji, I promise."

Satoshi did not answer, but he followed the servant away meekly enough, his eyes back on the ground and his fingers playing around his piercings.

Sand looked over at the housekeeper, her face still a mask of worry. "The ambulance is coming?"

"Yes, Mori-sama," the housekeeper replied, returning Sand's cell phone.

"Very good. I am going to get a blanket and then go to Ishikawa-sama." Sand hurried into Yori's room, snatched up the bag of pot and the ashtray full of finished ends, and shoved them into a towel which he stuck in the dresser after rendering it invisible. He looked around and found some incense, and lit a stick to mask any residual odor from the pot, although with both room doors having been left open in the turmoil, the room had cleared out considerably. Nothing else seemed overly worrisome, and Sand grabbed a quilt from the bed and hurried back outside.

Just past Yori's room, there were steps leading to ground level, and a path with stairs that led to the school grounds. Sand ran halfway down the path, flying down the steps with heedless grace, and then abandoned the path in favor of tearing down a gentle slope to where Kenji lay.

"Kenji-san?" Sand dropped to one knee, his eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed Kenji's condition. Kenji's left shoulder was visibly dislocated, and he had an impressive welt on his head, along with numerous cuts and bruises. Sand's slim fingers flew delicately across Kenji's ribcage, and Sand could feel a couple of ribs that were definitely broken, although Sand did not think they had punctured a lung. "Don't move yet, Kenji-san."

Kenji looked up at Sand, his face pale, and he managed a small nod. "My shoulder..."

Sand finished checking Kenji for any other broken bones. "Is dislocated, at the very least. Can you move your legs?"

Kenji flexed one leg, and then the other.

"Very good," Sand said, his voice calm and crisp. "An ambulance is on the way. Given the welt on your head, I would think you will need observation overnight to make sure you do not have more than a mild concussion. You most assuredly have a couple of broken ribs that will need binding, and there is your shoulder, of course. Do I have your permission to remove your shirt?"

Kenji looked at Sand for a long moment. "Is everything...?" He waved at Sand to do what he needed, and Sand peeled off his jacket, rolling it before he eased Kenji onto his back with the jacket beneath his head.

"I tidied up," Sand said simply, and unbuttoned Kenji's shirt enough to look at his shoulder. There was considerable bruising already, and Sand pulled the shirt back over Kenji's shoulder. "I cannot tell how much damage there is to the muscle or tendons, and I think it better if we wait for the ambulance attendants to see to that shoulder. I could attempt to reseat it, but I might do more damage than good." Sand draped the blanket over Kenji, his blue eyes dark with concern as he settled in to await the ambulance.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand took in the sight of his beautiful husband, flat on the tatami mat floor of Yori's room, both young men utterly stoned out of their minds on what smelled like very good pot. More than very good, Sand decided. It was abysmal timing, given Satoshi's emotional state, and Sand wondered if he would be able to render Satoshi presentable before the morning. Certainly, driving home was out of the question, and given the laws in Japan governing illegal drugs, laws he had researched, Sand did not think the train was a particularly good idea either. A small part of Sand was actually pissed at Satoshi, for the risk to Kenji should anyone find out. An even smaller part of Sand was a little hurt and stung by Satoshi's words, although the rational part of Sand's mind reminded him that it was the pot talking.

"A warrior, am I?" Sand chuckled a little. "You did not stay long enough then, to see Kenji trounce me thoroughly."

Satoshi began to giggle again. "So, I don't get ravished in celebration?" He writhed again, a little more golden skin being revealed, and Yori giggled with him.

Sand held out his hand to Satoshi, pretending to consider Satoshi's words. "We could perhaps arrange for ravishment later."

Satoshi reached up his hand, but turned his head to look at Yori, giggling so hard he could barely talk. "Oh, I'm sure he's willing. Sand loves to fuck. And he takes what he wants, when he wants it. Hard."

"So smoke a little with us, Masato-san. This shit can make even an elf see purple monkeys." Yori began to giggle again. "Or is it Sand-san?" That sent Satoshi into fits of giggles all over again.

Sand sucked in a quick breath, his stomach clenching almost painfully as he heard Satoshi's words. For a moment, he could hear the roar of the crowds at Carnivale in Luskan, cheering as some hapless prisoner was slowly torn asunder, some prisoner that he might have been forced to question, or risk a beating that would take more than a tenday to recover from, one that might have left him with shattered bones or, worse, shattered hands. Sand had to forcibly remind himself that Satoshi did not know what he was saying, and could not, in this state, have realized how it would hurt Sand. And then the vacation flashed past Sand's inner eye, and a night in the hot tub when he and K had taken Satoshi until he had lost consciousness. Once again, Sand wondered if he was indeed that tainted by Luskan.

Sand managed a smile, hoping that Satoshi would not notice that it did not touch his eyes. "Very amusing, the pair of you silly young things. Come, my heart. Give me your hand."

Sand managed to get Satoshi to his feet, and almost immediately wondered why. Satoshi pressed himself against Sand, his hands busily tugging Sand's shirt and trying to pull it out of the waistband of his jeans until Sand's shirt buttons distracted Satoshi. Yori was watching Sand with an intent and predatory gaze, the tip of his pink tongue peeking out to swipe his lips.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Satoshi looked at Sand as Kenji walked away. Sand looked Satoshi in the eyes, his own blue eyes showing only love and concern.

"He is right, cormamin. You are in no fit state to train, not with Ishikawa-sensei, and not with me. I will not chance it, not when you are this upset." Sand made a small helpless gesture. "I am not upset with you, Satoshi. You know this is true. And I will not question your decision regarding your mother. In fact, I will support you however you choose. But for today, my heart, it is best if you do not go near a weapon."

"Will you train?" Satoshi looked at Sand, radiating anger and distress. Sand knew it was not truly directed at him, and he had no intention of taking offense. Instead, he reached out to touch Satoshi's arm.

"I will train, today, yes, with Ishikawa-sensei. And then, my heart, we will go home and I will listen. I am your husband, Satoshi, and I will stand by you. Do not doubt that."

Satoshi nodded, his lips clamped together as if to bite back any words that might escape, and Sand sighed as he headed into the dressing room to prepare. He changed quickly, donning his hakama and kimono, tying his belt perfectly and tying his sandals with care. He braided his hair quickly into a single thick braid and hurried down to the training ground, where he bowed deeply to Kenji. Satoshi was sitting on the bench in the little garden, waiting to watch Sand and Kenji train, and smoking a cigarette. He had clamped down on his bond, only the faintest of connections remaining open, which was a sure indication to Sand that Satoshi was nowhere near calming down. Sand gave a mental sigh as he held his bow for the correct amount of time, clearing his mind and preparing to focus on the training session alone.

Kenji returned Sand's bow and handed Sand his practice katana, asking him to assume one of the simpler beginning stances. Sand bowed his head and complied, nodding when Kenji corrected his grip. Kenji demonstrated each movement, and Sand copied each movement, with Kenji correcting him and making him repeat each movement until it was flawless. Only then was Sand allowed to execute them in sequence, and he endured another round of corrections, thanking Kenji for his attention to Sand's mistakes.

After several repetitions, Sand was allowed to practice the exercise against Kenji. Kenji did not relent in his demand for perfection from Sand, and Sand was forced to work hard to avoid getting smacked with Kenji's practice katana. The exercise did prove valuable, and Sand was able to use some of the movements to parry Kenji's relentless attack, but Kenji got through enough to make Sand narrow his eyes and focus even harder, watching Kenji to see if he could spot any slight movements that would give away Kenji's next attack..

Sand's braid was damp with sweat by the time Kenji called for a halt, and Sand bowed deeply, regulating his breathing the way he had been taught as an elfling.

"Masato-san, you are showing progress. You still think of your weapon as what you are used to, however. A katana is not a two-edged weapon, nor is the blade straight. If you use it the way you use your song sword, you will never attain proficiency. You must unlearn what you have learned." Kenji's voice was stern but not unkind, the voice of a master instructing a student, and Sand bowed again in acknowledgment.

"Yes, Ishikawa-sensei. I thank you for illuminating my errors, and I will strive to correct myself." Sand straightened, and only then did Kenji relax a little and smile.

"You're doing very well, Masato-san. I meant what I said about what your mistakes, though. But your prior training isn't entirely a bad thing." Kenji took Sand's practice katana. "You understand defense and attack, and the difference between them, and you watch your opponent closely. Those are excellent skills, and I have no doubt that you'll make progress quickly."

"Thank you, Kenji-san. In truth, I find this style of sword to be both challenging and intriguing. I know I am making errors in my approach, but I am beginning to see why what you show me works so well. That is half the struggle, yes?" Sand smiled, looking at the man he was pleased to think of as a friend.

Sand looked up at the garden, but Satoshi was gone, and he frowned slightly. Kenji caught Sand's frown, and patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it, Masato-san. Go and shower, and dress. Satoshi is probably with Yori, in his room, most likely listening to music." Kenji smiled. "When you;re ready, I'll show you where Yori's room is."

"Thank you, Kenji-san." Sand hurried to the dressing room, removing his hakama and kimono and folding them precisely, placing them in his bag along with his sandals. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his hips before heading to the shower, loosening his braid as he went, the thick ropes of scar tissue on his back bunching as he moved. Sand showered thoroughly, scrubbing the sweat from his body and then he dried off and returned to the dressing room. Once dressed, he went back out to the walkway to meet Kenji.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sora moaned as she felt that delicious heat building again, Hawk's thick cock filling her as perfectly as it had the last time they had made love. He knew exactly how to move, how to push her over the edge and hold her there until she was a quivering ball of sensation. She could feel the first tremors rippling through her, her already tight walls gripping Hawk's cock hard enough to make him groan, and then she remembered Hawk's favorite trick, how he could hold off his own orgasm until he had reduced her to a quivering wreck. Sora bent her head and caught the tip of Hawk's ear between her teeth, nipping lightly and then suckling the delicate point. Hawk groaned, his hips bucking involuntarily, and Sora screamed as that last thrust, combined with Hawk's hot mouth on her nipple, tumbled her over the edge as his cock slid across her clit in just the right way.

Hawk never had a chance as Sora ground down on his cock at the same time as she nipped his ear. While he had intended to try and hold back his own release, the incredible sensation of Sora's pussy contracting rhythmically around his cock coupled with the ear nip undid him completely, and Hawk howled as his balls tightened, and he came harder than he remembered ever coming before. Sora's back arched at the same time, and Hawk clung tightly to her as she fisted her hands in his hair, writhing on his cock as his cum filled her with liquid heat. Hawk sobbed her name as he clung to her, feeling her shiver through the last of her own orgasm, and he buried his face between her pert breasts as he shuddered.

They clung to each other for a few minutes, their breathing still ragged, and Sora giggled a little as Hawk nuzzled her breasts. "That was a lot more... loud than I remember."

Hawk started to laugh. "That was even better than I remembered, and I remembered how no one ever came close to making me feel the way you did."

"I'll take that as a compliment, faralin," Sora teased, and leaned in for a kiss, her fingers still tangled in his silky hair.

"Vanimaer," Hawk breathed, and kissed her gladly, losing himself in the taste of her lips. He eased her off his softening cock, and they sank down to the futon, curling up in each others' arms, Sora nestling in close to his chest and falling asleep as Hawk watched, feeling utterly content for the first time since Lord Sathoness had approached him, over sixty years ago.

Hawk came out of reverie at dawn, and his heart soared anew as he looked at Sora, still curled up in his embrace, her face blissful in sleep. He feathered a kiss on her brow, watching her smile in her sleep, and he smiled with her, loving her more than he had ever believed possible. Something glinted on the nightstand in the first rays of sunlight, and Hawk reached out and picked it up, puzzled for a moment, and then his face grew radiant as he recognized the slender mithral band with the moonstone set in a gentle curve of lotus. It was the ring an Iradil traditionally gave to a betrothed, and he made a note to thank Sand later. In the meantime, Hawk contented himself with watching Sora sleep.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Sand flew out the door, Satoshi on his heels, and they tore around the walkway in the direction of Ryuu's wails. Sand had pulled on sleep pants, and Satoshi had managed a t-shirt in addition to his pajama pants, but the two men had not bothered with anything else in their haste to get to their son. As they got closer to the hydrangea bush, Sand could see the tricycle, and he vaulted over the railing of the walkway without pausing. Satoshi followed with equally reckless haste as Sand pulled the tricycle out of the bush to reveal a howling Ryuu, his face streaked with tears and blood.

"Ryuu!" Sand dropped the tricycle and bent into the bush, gathering Ryuu up in his arms carefully and lifting him out of the hydrangea. He turned and handed Ryuu to Satoshi, and Satoshi used his t-shirt to wipe away some of the blood and tears from Ryuu's face.

"Where does it hurt, watashi no ryu?" Satoshi asked, pressing a kiss to Ryuu's head. "Tell chichi where it hurts, my dragon."

Ryuu buried his face in Satoshi's t-shirt, smearing it further, and his voice was muffled by his father's chest. "My nose, and my chin, and my knees and then the tricycle felled on me and that hurts in my back and my legs," he sobbed, his small hands fisted in Satoshi's t-shirt.

Sand felt his heart rate start to calm down and approach something normal as he watched Ryuu moving, realizing that nothing was broken. The little boy would have some scratches and scrapes, and an impressive set of bruises, but it was no worse that that, and Sand caught Satoshi's eye and sent love and reassurance through their bond.

"Well, I think we will need to find mama's first aid kit and pick out some bandaids," Sand said, his voice full of love for his husband and his son. "Let us go inside."

Sand took the tricycle and Satoshi carried Ryuu, whose sobs were fast dying down to mere sniffles as he burrowed into his chichi and was thoroughly cuddled.

Hawk had paused when Sand and Satoshi flew past like madmen, but Vale waved him on, Hikaru in his arms. "The bloodcurdling screams have died down, and I'm sure everything's fine because I can feel Sand calming already. Go upstairs, before some other catastrophe happens and wakes Sora before you can."

Hawk grinned, and hurried upstairs with his laden tray, not needed further encouragement. Vale turned back to the table and picked through the mail after handing Hikaru a teething rusk to gnaw. He pulled out two letters and sat down, taking a sip of his tea before opening the first letter and reading it with a growing smile. Willow was already in the kitchen digging out her first aid kit, with Aika hovering anxiously, ready to take care of her onii-san. Erion was rereading his letter, pointing out bits to Kansas with shining eyes, and Kansas nuzzled Erion's ear happily. Vale read the second letter, and then handed both to Yuji.

"That's our third scholarship, and an offer to apply for an endowment to buy sound equipment for our recording studio," Vale said happily. Yuji took the letters and read them, his grin as wide as Vale's grin.

Sand and Satoshi came in with their injured dragon, and Sand hurried to get warm wet cloths to clean off the worst of the mess. In deference to Willow and Satoshi, he did not offer to get a healing potion, contenting himself with cleaning up the mess from Ryuu's nosebleed, and dabbing very gently at the assorted scratches and scrapes Ryuu had amassed. Aika kissed some of the smaller scrapes tenderly, and earned a wobbly smile from Ryuu.

"Onii-san flyed?" Aika asked, her eyes wide.

Ryuu's eyes widened as he thought about that, and he launched into an enthusiastic description of his latest attempt at air travel, barely noticing the ointment and bandaids Willow was applying to the bigger scrapes. Yuji chuckled at all the right places, and even Satoshi and Sand were grinning by the end of Ryuu's tale, while Aika stared at him almost in awe. Hikaru let out a happy yelp and went back to molesting his teething rusk on Vale's lap, and the morning got back underway, with Satoshi realizing he needed to shower and get ready for work.

Hawk slid the bedroom door closed quietly, and retrieved the laden tray from the floor. He set it on the nightstand and perched on the edge of the bed, watching Sora sleeping, her beautiful dark brown eyes closed and a small smile playing on her lips. Sora had retained the human habit of sleep, and Hawk loved to watch her when she was like this, her face unguarded and young and possibly the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Finally, he leaned over and kissed her lips tenderly, watching as her eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning, faralin," Sora murmured, her smile growing as one slim hand slid into Hawk's raven hair.

"Good morning, arwenamin, and happy birthday," Hawk replied, nibbling another soft kiss.

Sora looked at the nightstand, and giggled a little, the slightly goofy giggle that ran straight to Hawk's heart. "What's all this?"

"Breakfast in bed for my lady, of course." Hawk waited until Sora sat up, her hair loose and glossy as it fell around her shoulders, and then he handed her a cup of tea.

Sora took the tea, still giggling a little. "Oh, I see. It's spoil the old lady day, is it?"

"You're younger than a spring breeze, and you deserve to be spoiled," Hawk replied, arranging the various plates and bowls of a traditional Japanese breakfast on a bed tray which he set carefully over her lap. He left his dishes on the larger tray, and poured a cup of tea for himself.

Sora sipped her tea, watching Hawk as he fussed, loving the graceful efficiency of his movements, and the bright gleam of his blue-grey eyes. "Well, this is a very nice way to be spoiled."

"Oh, it's only the beginning, arwenamin," Hawk informed her, his own face wreathed in a smile. "I was out walking with Vale and the children the other day, getting my exercise, and we came across the most gorgeous park. It occurs to me that it'd be the perfect place for a picnic lunch and some cloudgazing."

"Cloudgazing?" Sora laughed. "I haven't done that in so long. But there's a while before lunch."

"Mm, there is," Hawk agreed, offering Sora a bite of perfectly prepared salmon. "After we eat our breakfast, I propose to help wash your back and then we can take a long and lazy soak in a nice hot bath. After that, I'm fairly sure the children want to snuggle with their sobo a little before I steal you away."

Sora picked up a bite of the sweet breakfast omelette and offered it to Hawk. "That sounds lovely as well. So, a hot bath, and cuddles from my little ones, and cloudgazing with my faralin. Very nice."

"I was also hoping to spirit you away for dinner tonight. I made arrangements for us to dine at the Calenlasse in Neverwinter." Hawk watched as Sora's eyes lit up. The Green Leaf was a new and very elegant elven inn that had opened recently in Neverwinter, and had one of the best wine cellars in the city along with an absolute genius of a chef. The rumor was that his dishes were so beautifully presented that several elves had almost wept to eat them and disturb the exquisite arrangements, but the perfectly cooked food had to be savored to be believed.

"Oh, Hawk, really?" Sora leaned in and kissed him happily. "The Green Leaf? You really are trying to spoil me."

"Trying?" Hawk laughed. "Hopefully I'll succeed, at least a little." He looked at Sora with love shining in her eyes. "Hopefully, it's the first day of a lifetime of spoiling you, vanimaeramin, my beautiful one."

Sora's only answer to that was to kiss Hawk again, a lingering kiss that offered a great deal more than mere hope.

The bath had been wonderfully lazy and luxurious, and Sora had curled up in Hawk's arms as they kissed tenderly. Cuddling with the children had been equally perfect, and Sora rejoiced in the joy her beloved magomusuko had found in their unique and loving family. Ryuu regaled Sora with the tale of his morning flying lesson, and Aika proudly pointed out the bandaid she had put on her onii-san's abused knee. Hikaru had reached out to Sora with a happy coo when Vale brought him over, and that was one of her favorite gifts of the day as the small half-elf nuzzled her.

The picnic lunch and cloudgazing had been marvelous, and Hawk had made Sora laugh with some of his fanciful descriptions of the puffy clouds that had drifted past in the clear blue sky. The late February day was almost springlike, the sun warm as they nibbled on lunch, spread out on a soft blanket. Sora wrangled a confession from Hawk that he had gotten Vale to play chef for him, and Sora giggled happily. Vale was frequently recruited to help Sora when she cooked, and the sun elf showed a remarkable enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn.

Hawk and Sora wandered back home in the late afternoon, and Sora cried with happiness when Yuji and the rest of the family had given her a tour of the redesign of the bedrooms she and Hawk had been using. While the bathroom was not completely private, there was now a lovely sitting area and the bedroom had been expanded, with a large tatami bed and beautiful traditional furnishings in both rooms. It was the perfect present from the family, and Sora hugged them all and thanked them for making a home for her in their home. Yuji and Satoshi had both been damp-eyed as well, and Willow hugged Sora tightly with a radiant smile. Vale and Sand got their share of hugs as well, and Kansas and Erion outright bawled with joy at Sora's happiness.

Hawk had showered and dressed in fine dress slacks and a crisp cotton shirt, one of the ones Sora had picked out for him, she was pleased to note. Sora chased him downstairs, insisting on a woman's prerogative to primp in peace, and once she was safely alone, she rummaged in her dresser, finding the lacy garter belt she had bought so many years before to please Yuichi. In her shopping trips with Willow, Sora had found a shop that had old-fashioned silk stockings, delicate and identical to the ones she had managed to find during the war so many years ago. Sora laid those out as well, along with a lacy bra and panty set and one of her new dresses that flattered her tiny waist and brought out the creaminess of her skin with its springlike blue and white pattern. She chose a simple navy pump to go with the dress, and she brushed her hair until it shone, deciding to leave it loose over her shoulders tonight. She added a single strand of pearls that Yuichi had given her, and touched her lips very lightly with a pale pink lipstick, and then went downstairs to meet Hawk, a light wool shawl over her arm.

Hawk gasped a little when Sora came into the living room, and she found herself blushing a little, like a young girl about to go on her first date. She gave herself a mental shake, amused by her own reactions. She had already lived a full human lifetime, and here she was, as nervous as if she'd never been kissed. Still it was very flattering to see Hawk's eyes light up when she walked in, and she had to admit that she was hoping what she wore underneath her dress would make those eyes darken with desire.

"Hello, faralinamin," Sora said, her beautiful dark brown eyes bright. "I'm ready at last."

Hawk offered his arm with a small bow. "Then shall we go, vanimaeramin?"

Hawk led Sora through the portal, and their joy in each other made Yuji and Satoshi each wipe away a happy tear.

The dinner was lovely, the dishes as beautifully presented and as delicious as rumor promised, and neither Sora nor Hawk could have told anyone what they had eaten. Hawk's eyes never left Sora, and his smile was radiant throughout the meal. Sora for her part was enchanted by Hawk's sweet attentiveness, and she basked in the love that shone in his eyes. Her slender work-worn hand was firmly clasped in Hawk's sword callused hand, and the conversation was on inconsequential things, small remembrances of their shared past in Evereska. As lovely as the Green Leaf was, they both only had eyes for each other, and the waiters that attended them smiled to see the obvious love between them.

When Hawk and Sora finally left the inn, Selûne and her Tears were bright in the night sky. They walked back toward the house, Hawk's arm around Sora as he admired they way she was even more beautiful in moonlight. He paused when they reached the house, tilting Sora's chin up so he could kiss her in the moonlight.

"What shall we do now, arwenamin?" Hawk asked, his voice a little husky.

"Take me home, faralinamin. Take me home to Tokyo, and our room there," Sora said, and watched as Hawk's eyes sparkled with joy and desire. They stepped through the portal, and slipped quietly up the stairs to their newly redecorated room, and slid the door closed behind them.

Hawk gathered Sora into his arms, his lips seeking hers, and he kissed her with all the pent up passion of the years they had spent apart, close to a century's worth of love that had no expression until now. Sora's hands tangled in the black silk of Hawk's hair, and her fingers sought and found the almost forgotten but still familiar sweep of his ears, and Hawk moaned as she stroked the tips. His tongue gently parted her plump lips, and he explored her small mouth with growing passion, remembering how they had kissed every time, from the first time until now, and his heart soared with joy.

"Sora," Hawk whispered when they finally broke apart to breathe.

Sora smiled at him, her face radiant. "Yes, my Hawk, yes."

Sora's fingers worked the buttons of Hawk's shirt, and she pressed soft kisses as she revealed his smooth skin, the scars of his wounds still pink against the pale skin. Hawk moaned again, his hands caressing her back through the fabric of her dress, feeling the heat of her against him. Sora slid the shirt from his shoulders, and stepped back to lift her own dress away, feeling that peculiar shyness again as she stood before him in her delicate lace bra and panties, her silk hose gleaming in the soft light against the lace of her garters. Hawk reached out to touch her cheek, his hand trembling just a little, and then he simply scooped her up and carried her to their new bed, which had been thoughtfully prepared for them, the futon unrolled, the pillows plumped and arranged, and the covers turned back.

Hawk laid Sora on the bed, quickly stripping off his pants and socks before easing himself down alongside her. He kissed her sweet lips again, and then trailed kisses down the pale column of her throat and along the tops of her breasts above the lacy bra, his thumbs stroking her nipples through the soft fabric. Sora moaned, her back arching as she pressed into his touch, her entire body tingling in anticipation as Hawk slid the satin straps from her shoulders, his fingers no longer trembling as she welcomed his explorations.

Hawk's deft fingers slid behind Sora to unfasten her bra, and his mouth sank eagerly over one pert nipple as the lacy cups were pulled away from her breasts. He gently stroked and tweaked the other nipple as he suckled, his tongue working until he had coaxed her nipple into a tight nub. He treated the other nipple to the same devout attention, Sora's sweet moans musical as she writhed a little under his caresses.

Hawk trailed kisses down her flat belly and onto the silk covered mound of her pussy, his breath hot through the skimpy fabric. He needed to taste her, remembering how sweetly she had cried out when he used his tongue to bring her to orgasm, and his fingers eased away the lace trimmed panties deflt as Sora lifted her hips to let him draw them down and off. Hawk slid one finger between the damp folds of her lips, finding her clit and stroking it, and watching as Sora's face grew rosy, the flush spreading down to cover the creamy swell of her breasts. Her silk swathed thighs parted eagerly, and Hawk shifted to crouch between her legs, his tongue replacing his finger as he laved her clit. Sora's small hands fisted in his hair as her hips rose almost involuntarily to meet his tongue, her moans rising in crescendo as Hawk lapped at her clit. He slid one long finger into the wet heat of her pussy, thrusting it gently in and out as he sucked at the hooded nub at the very top of her clit, teasing away the hood with the tip of his tongue.

Sora cried out as Hawk's tongue stroked the bundle of nerves at the very tip of her clit, and she cried out again as a second finger slipped into her pussy, sliding across the tight little ridges deep within her and making her writhe in pleasure. She could feel the sweet heat building in her belly, begging for release, and she bucked her hips to drive her self down further on Hawk's strong fingers. Hawk moaned at the tightness of her pussy, feeling the muscles ripple along his fingers as he continued to thrust, his mouth hot around her swollen clit as he sucked and licked. His cock was achingly hard, and he could feel the precum weeping already, but Hawk wanted to make Sora scream in ecstasy, wanted to see her beautiful face when she was lost in surrender to the intensity of her orgasm. Waves of pleasure were already causing her tight pussy to clamp around his fingers, and Hawk moaned into her soft curls as he thrust against the tight heat, his tongue busy on her clit. Sora felt the pressure building, and then Hawk thrust one more time, and his tongue lapped firmly, and she screamed as her back arched and her whole body was engulfed by pure electric bliss. Hawk never paused, pushing her into wave after wave of pleasure, feeling her tremble beneath him as she gasped and screamed again, her muscles finally relaxing. Sora fell back against the futon, trembling, and Hawk moved up to cradle her in his arms, kissing her with fierce passion as tears of joy leaked from the corners of her eyes.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Ryuu was feeling slightly better when he woke from his nap, but his tummy was still not quite right, and he whimpered until Sand hurried in to wipe his forehead with a cool cloth and offer him small sips of cool tea that was only lightly sweetened. Sand then curled up in their reading chair with Ryuu in his lap, and he read to Ryuu for an hour while the little boy took tiny sips of tea and then dared to nibble a few bites of plain rice, which seemed to settle his stomach even more. Willow came in a one point, smiling at the picture the two of them made, and she checked Ryuu's temperature, and opined that it was probably a stomach virus rather than too much ice cream. Sand looked briefly alarmed until Willow reassured him that this was quite normal, and that Ryuu seemed to be past the worst of it already. Tea and plain rice was fine for now, and maybe soup later, and plenty of snuggling with tousan would have Ryuu fully recovered by morning, according to Willow, and both Sand and Ryuu immediately relaxed. Eryn sobo had sent several fine books of elven children's stories, and Ryuu was enjoying them immensely, although the espruar was a mystery to him. The illustrations more than made up for the lack of recognizable words.

Kansas and Erion seemed to have a slightly worse case of the stomach virus, but Sora watched over them, wiping sweaty foreheads and making sure they drank some tea and water to stay hydrated. Hawk joined Sora, and stayed with her through most of the night, the two of them curled up together as they watched Kansas and Erion drop into a fitful sleep. Just before dawn, Hawk persuaded Sora to take some reverie, since both youngsters were sleeping peacefully at last and looking much better, and he walked her to her room, kissing her tenderly as they lay down together to rest for a bit.

The next day was busy. Both Sand and Vale had received their waivers for the five-year residency requirement, and had been informed that they were both approved for naturalization as Japanese citizens. While the process normally took about a year, Sand and Vale had offered to pay any fees necessary to expedite matters, and their applications were given priority as a result when they both agreed to pay the income taxes for the full five-year period of the residency requirement. They had still been interviewed, their neighbors were interviewed, and their home was inspected, and they were even given a simple written test that had Sand arching an eyebrow. Both had demonstrated sufficient independent means and Vale's position at the Hayashi Academy of Music was an added bonus, showing his ties to the community. Vale was presented as Willow's relative and Sand was Vale's relation by marriage, and both declared that their profound respect for the Japanese culture was their motivation for becoming citizens. Both declared that they were renting rooms from Yuji to explain their presence in the house. Sand made no secret of the fact that he and Satoshi shared their room, but the interviewer did not pry further into their exact relationship and Sand wisely remained silent.

Aika and Ryuu had impressed the interviewer as well with their perfect manners and behavior, and their obvious affection for their otooji-san. Satoshi had told the children that this was a sort of game, and they had to pretend that Sand and Vale were just uncles. To minimize the confusion, however, Erion and Sora and Hawk had discreetly made themselves scarce, along with Hikaru. Somehow, they feared a blond baby was just more than the interviewer could overlook, or that they could explain away glibly.

They were scheduled to pick up their newly minted citizenship papers from their interviewer at the Ministry of Justice office, and Willow, Yuji and Satoshi were waiting for the elves to finish dressing and join them downstairs. Kansas and Erion were awake, but still feeling slightly ill, and they decided to stay home with Sora and Ryuu and watch the little ones. Vale had been slightly disappointed by not taking the children, but Willow had pointed out that they could take advantage of the chance to shop for Aika's birthday, which wa coming up fast, as well as pick up something for Sora, whose birthday was right after Aika's birthday. When Yuji added that a nice lunch in a restaurant also sounded appropriate, Vale had admitted that he would enjoy that.

Yuji had to laugh as they heard the elves descending the stairs, Vale's voice raised in mild complaint.

"Really, ithilamin, does it have to be that tight?" Vale protested. His slim fingers darted to the knot of his dark jade tie, as if to loosen it, and Sand frowned and tugged his hand away.

"Leave it be, anoramin," Sand replied. "It is not tight at all, and you look quite handsome."

Vale made a small noise. "I feel like I can't breathe right." He smoothed his pale jade shirt nervously, his slightly deconstructed black suit fitting perfectly on his slim frame and his black dress boots polished and gleaming. Vale had brushed his glossy hair back into a neat ponytail, held with a plain black band.

"You will need to dress like this when you are at the music academy, you know." Sand was wearing an elegant charcoal grey suit with a crisp white shirt, and his silk tie was sapphire blue. His Gucci loafers had only a simple gold stirrup buckle over the black silk grosgrain ribbon. He had swept his hair into a ponytail as well, his high cheekbones and slightly tilted eyes giving him a slightly Japanese look.

Vale sighed a little, surrendering to Sand's tweaks as the moon elf adjusted Vale's lapels and smoothed them. "I feel like a child's dress-up toy."

"You look gorgeous," Yuji said, pulling Vale into a kiss. Vale returned the kiss with sweet fervor, and then his fingers strayed to his tie again.

"Is it too tight?" Vale gave Yuji an adorably pleading look, and Yuji loosened the tie fractionally, earning a radiant smile from his elf.

Satoshi blushed as Sand tilted his chin up slightly in order to kiss him, nibbling gently on the heavily pierced lower lip. "Do I look presentable enough to become Mori Masato officially?"

Oh, yes," Satoshi said, his eyes filled with love. "Do you have your signature stamp?"

Sand patted his pocket. "Signature stamp, paperwork, everything we require." He looked at Satoshi, who had also put on a suit for the occasion. "You look gorgeous, cormamin."

"So let's go get this done," Vale said, taking a deep breath.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Hawk looked at Kansas, immediately concerned by the younger man's nervous pulse in his throat and the tremble in his hands. "Kansas, what are you seeing?" Hawk asked, keeping his voice gentle.

Sand walked over, having heard what Kansas said and thinking to tease Hawk, who would one day in the future be Lord Iradil. He stopped short when he saw the expression on Hawk's face, and he spun around to look at Kansas. "Kansas? Melamin?" Sand moved closer to his youngest husband.

Kansas looked at Sand and Hawk, flustered, his cheeks slightly pink. "I'm sorry. I saw... well, I saw our father. Your father. Lord Iradil."

Hawk looked at Sand, who just nodded. "It is alright, Kansas. Take your time."

Kansas took a deep breath. "See, usually I can tell right away if I'm seeing a ghost, at least here, on Earth. Most of them look like people, but sort of see-through, transparent. Well, except for the dark ones. Those are the monsters."

Sand reached out and took one of Kansas's hands, stroking it a little as Erion came up and wrapped himself around Kansas.

"It's okay, 'lokiamin. We're here." Erion nuzzled Kansas's hair softly.

"It's just that Lord Iradil always looks more... here. I can't see through him like I can the regular ghosts. He looks real, and I always get a little surprised, and want to bow to him." Kansas still looked a little flustered.

"You saw atarrim?" Erion asked, awed. "I never met him, but atara has a portrait of him tucked away. Next time we're in Evereska, I'll ask her to get it out."

Hawk just looked confused. "Why would you see atar here?" Hawk did not seem to doubt Kansas at all, which helped Kansas relax a bit.

"He's just checking up on you, keeping an eye on how you're doing," Kansas said. "I think he likes to see how you've turned out." Kansas turned to Sand. "I think he really wishes he had gotten to know you. You look so much like him." Kansas blushed as he said that, but Hawk laughed.

"You do, toror'ai. You look very much like him." Hawk threw an arm around Sand's shoulder and hugged his brother with affection.

"I do wish I could see him," Sand said, rather wistfully. "I was perhaps Hikaru's age when he died. I do not remember him at all."

Kansas looked at Sand. "We could try it, if you want," Kansas said, almost shyly. "I think we can do it if we try. If we open our bond to each other, and you join with me, then I can try to open my gift, and maybe you will be able to see him."

"Only if you feel up to it, melamin. We are all a little the worse for wear after last night," Sand said, stroking Kansas's cheek.

"Oh, I feel up to it," Kansas said. "I just need you to promise me that you'll be very focused. You have to ignore the whispers and the darkness that will try and distract you. Think only about your father."

Sand nodded and opened his bond to Kansas, feeling his youngest husband open up as well and delighting in the contact. Sand could feel Kansas's strength, and how much it had grown recently, and his blue eyes widened slightly. Sand let himself fall into Kansas's mind, waiting patiently without pushing to see anything yet, knowing that Kansas would let him know. Sand could sense when Kansas started raising shields, closing his bonds to everyone else except Sand, and Erion gave Sand a reassuring smile as he let go and backed away to keep from distracting Kansas.

Kansas took a deep breath and cleared his mind of all distractions, pushing back the whispers and shadows. Sand waited as Kansas opened his gift, like a rare and gorgeous bloom opening up, unfolding layer by layer, and when he felt the gentle tug from Kansas, Sand focused all his considerable will on seeing what Kansas saw.

It took a moment, but slowly and surely a figure emerged, astonishingly solid as Kansas had said, and Sand felt his breath hitch as he gazed into his father's eyes for the first time, blue eyes so like his own, with the same gentle tilt and thick fringe of black lashes.

"Atar?" Sand's voice was soft, and he could feel himself trembling a little.

"Sand, utinuamin," Lord Anessath Iradil replied, and he smiled, a radiant smile that bathed Sand in love, and Sand knew he wore an identical smile. "I am always with you, my son, and ever proud. You have grown into a fine man, and you have found an extraordinary family. Tell Hawk to love his Sora faithfully, as he has done all along, and it will be well, for she is his heart, as your Satoshi is yours."

Sand let his soul-self reach out a hand and he felt his father's touch, dry and strong, a warrior's grasp. "Will you watch over us, atar?"

"Always, utinuamin, until we meet in Arvandor." Anessath stroked Sand's cheek with deep love and affection. "I had not planned on leaving so soon, but my Eryn has done well on her own. Always so strong, my lady wife, and wiser than I ever was. But we must not stress your husband. His gift has given us this chance to meet, but I would not abuse this kindness. Be well, my beloved son, and we will meet again."

Sand pulled back, and Kansas let his gift close, Erion swooping in to cradle his beloved and share what strength he could with Kansas. Sand stood there, his cheeks wet and his face lit with a beautiful smile, and he cupped Kansas's face between slim hands and kissed him deeply.

"Thank you, melamin," Sand murmured. "I have finally met my father." His voice was filled with love and wonder, and Kansas pulled Sand close and held him, glad to have shared his gift in such a positive way.

[Sandcastles and Fireworks]

Erion felt Kansas slide out of bed, and he followed automatically, bumping into Kansas abruptly when Kansas paused in front of the window, flinging it open to wait for the first rays of dawn to lift above the horizon. Erion rubbed his nose and then wrapped his arms around Kansas as Kansas lifted his arms and greeted the day, the first rays of sunlight molten on his pale skin. Erion whispered his own prayers almost inaudibly, his hand straying down to wrap around Kansas's cock as he felt the now familiar tingle beginning on his own skin. The bond between them was so absolute that Erion could feel Kansas gaining strength as the light grew stronger, and he stroked Kansas lightly, adding his own strength to Kansas as he did every morning. When Kansas finished his prayers, he closed the window again and drew the blinds tight before groaning a little and heading back for the bed. Erion followed Kansas back to bed, curling up beside him and pressing his ass against Kansas's groin hopefully, but Kansas just mumbled something unintelligible and fell back asleep. Erion gave a mental shrug and slipped back into reverie as he tugged the covers over them both.

Erion was roused from reverie by fingers playing over his very sensitive nipples, and he wriggled back against Kansas, grinding his tanned ass against Kansas's thick cock. The young elf mewled happily as Kansas pushed back, his cock sliding between the cheeks of Erion's ass to bump against his pucker, and Erion's mewl went up a notch as he felt Kansas's cock sink in. Erion shifted his leg to give Kansas better access, his own cock stiffening almost immediately as Kansas pushed fully into Erion's tight ass. Erion reached back to grip Kansas around the waist, giving himself leverage to grind down on his lover's impressive length. Kansas growled in Erion's ear, nipping at the tip and making Erion howl as he continued to thrust into Erion's ass almost lazily, one hand finding the elf's cock and stroking in time with his thrusts.

Erion gave himself over to the languid plundering, writhing back against Kansas as Kansas's cock slid across his prostate and sent sparks exploding behind his eyes. The bond between them was wide open, and Erion howled softly as he felt Kansas's cock being enveloped in the tight heat of his own ass, knowing that Kansas too felt Erion's pleasure at being filled completely. The feedback hastened Erion's release, his balls already tight, and he spilled over Kansas's hand and onto the bed, his ass painfully tight around Kansas's cock, and the imp howled as he stiffened, filling Erion's ass with a surprisingly generous amount of cum.

They cuddled for a few minutes, enjoying the dregs of their orgasms, and then Kansas gave Erion's pert ass a slap. "Let's go, isilmeamin. We need to shower and pack up and get downstairs."

They showered quickly but thoroughly, and Kansas packed while Erion straightened out the bed and made sure he collected all the trash. Back in their usual clothing, the two youngsters looked nothing like they had the night before, and Erion checked a sigh as he and Kansas made sure to put their rings back in the customary order before they hurried downstairs. Kansas checked out and they wandered down the street to the cafe Satoshi had named, finding Yori and Kenji already at a table and sipping tea. Sand and Satoshi hurried in several minutes later, Satoshi's face slightly pink as he eased himself into a seat. Erion could not hold back a snicker, although if he was being totally honest, his own ass was a littler tender, and when Kansas snickered as well, Satoshi frowned at the youngsters.

They ordered breakfast, Kenji and Sand having only miso soup and rice, while Kansas, Satoshi and Yori ordered the full traditional breakfast. Erion thought for a moment, and then decided to forgo the full English breakfast in favor of the traditional breakfast as well when Kansas looked slightly green at the prospect of having to smell the sausages. When Kansas asked for a large carafe of orange juice, Erion looked up and asked for the same.

Breakfast arrived quickly, and Kansas immediately poured a large glass of orange juice and drank it down, looking slightly better as the juice went down. Erion sipped his and decided it was nice, and then dove into his food like the youngster he was, Kansas eating as well. Satoshi had seated himself next to Yori, but unlike previous times, Yori just opened each bowl himself and put the lids aside before picking up his chopsticks.

Kenji watched as Yori poked at each dish with his chopsticks, his beautiful face set in a frown. "You need to eat," Kenji reminded his lover softly.

"Did they get a new cook here? The fish seems greasy," Yori complained, poking at his salmon. "It's cold, too. Is yours cold, Satoshi-san?"

Satoshi looked a little surprised. "Mine is fine, Yori-san."

Yori managed a bite of the omelette, and his frown deepened. "Definitely a new cook, and not a good one. The omelette tastes all wrong. It's too sweet."

Erion had already wolfed down his omelette and looked at Kansas, a little puzzled. Kansas just shrugged slightly and poured himself more orange juice.

"And look at this rice. It's mushy! It's a disgrace." Yori poked at his rice, disconsolate.

"Shall I ask the waiter to take it back?" Kenji asked gently.

Yori waved him off with a sigh. "No, it's alright." He looked at Satoshi, Kansas and Erion, who did not seem displeased with their meals. "Maybe it's just me today, Kenji." He gave Kenji a look from under his long lashes, and Kenji pushed his rice bowl toward Yori.

"Try some of my rice," Kenji urged his lover, and Yori ate a few bites, Kenji got Yori to eat about half of his miso soup as well, while Kenji picked at Yori's breakfast.

Sand said nothing, but he watched Yori and found his heart sinking a little. Yori's discomfort was obvious from the way he moved, and the pain that seemed to always hover in the depths of his beautiful eyes was worse than usual. Kenji too seemed subdued and saddened, and Sand ran through the list of books that he had brought with him to Tokyo. He was fairly sure that he had not brought the books he wanted to consult, and he decided to make a list of books for Vale to bring back the next time he went to the Cloaktower.

They finished eating, Yori having managed another bite or two of rice before he gave up the pretense of eating altogether. Satoshi looked at everyone before turning to Kansas.

"I really can't take all of us in the car, so what I'd like to do is to drive Kenji and Yori home, and then I can come back and pick you and Erion up," Satoshi said.

Kansas had finished the last of his orange juice, and Erion refilled Kansas's glass from his carafe. Kansas flashed Erion a grin, the orange juice having done wonders for the dregs of his hangover. He looked at Satoshi and grinned again. "Don't worry about it, Satoshi. I was thinking that Erion and I could take the train over to the university, and I could show Erion where he'll be starting in a few weeks. We can stroll around the campus, give him a feel for the place, and then we'll take the train home."

"Oh, yes!" Erion agreed eagerly. "We talked about that the other day, and this is the perfect opportunity."

Satoshi smiled, relieved that he wouldn't have to make the drive back into the heart of the city to collect the youngsters. He did not mind the driving so much, but his ass ached, and he was looking forward to getting home and taking a healing potion and maybe a nap, if Ryuu let him. "Give me your bags, then. I'll throw them in the car with mine," Satoshi offered, and Kansas handed over the bag cheerfully.

"Do you need money for the fares?" Sand asked. The youngsters had offered to buy drinks last night, and Kansas had insisted on paying for his own room. Sand was not sure how much cash they had left, or if Kansas had even brought his bank card with him. Sand reached into his jacket and retrieved his billfold, pulling out some cash and handing it to Kansas. "Just take this, in case. I will feel better knowing you have it."

Kansas wrinkled his nose a little, but took the cash. "I'll give it back to you later." He stood and Erion stood with him. "Kenji-san, Yori-san, it was good to see you." He bowed politely.

"Yes, I'm glad we had this chance to see each other, and I hope we can do it again." Erion bowed as well, his smile sweet, and then he and Kansas left to find the train to the university.

Satoshi stood as well. "Should we go?" he asked.

Sand watched Kenji as Yori stood, his face tightening slightly and his nostrils pinched with pain. Sand saw the answering grief in Kenji's eyes, and something else, and he looked away, almost embarrassed to have had such an intimate glimpse of Kenji's inner turmoil. He shifted his attention to Satoshi, and noticed that his husband's right hand twitched, as though he wanted to rub his own left shoulder and was forcibly restraining himself. Sand managed not to let the sharp wave of sorrow that washed through him seep out through his bond. Kenji was fast becoming a good friend, and Sand had never been very good at seeing friends suffer. But Yori seemed to be making an effort not to argue, and Sand held his tongue, unwilling to disturb the fragile peace.