Fan Fiction ❯ Six Years ❯ Chapter 17

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Kana gazed at the position of the stars in the sky and sighed. The sun would be coming up soon and he knew that the longer he stayed away, the more vulnerable Ryo would be. He knew that Izo could do little to protect him and once the antidote was in his system, he would be able to do even less to protect the prince. He dismounted and changed forms. He needed his best eyesight to locate the ingredients in the dark.

Vengeance watched him walk away and Kana glanced back at him and smiled slightly. He had seen so many die and he felt remorse for each one of them but with Izo, his emotions were stronger. He had felt strongly about Celcian and Ura but Izo was different. He couldn't exactly explain it, he noted as he gazed at the underside of a leaf, but for some reason the major reminded him a little of...himself. Without the playful attitude of course. He pulled a plant from the ground and gazed at it. He then placed it into a small leather bag and walked slowly along searching for the remaining items.

He thought of the nights they had spent together and sighed. Why was it always Izo he preferred? Izo was loyal, rank conscious, and intelligent. He also had an attitude that Kana could never duplicate. Kana placed another them into his small bag and closed his eyes again. He knew Izo loved him although he had never said it. He didn't have to. It was in his actions and in the way he answered when Kana spoke. He was always respectful and he knew Kana's range of emotions extremely well both in and out of the bedroom. Kana shook his head as he tried to clear his thoughts. He was losing focus of what needed to be done. Izo wasn't dead, but he would most certainly be if Kana did not locate the remaining ingredients. He didn't want Izo to die. There was still so much he wanted to talk about with him.

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"He's late," Xylphara said and Lucifer crushed the glass he was holding. He licked the blood from his hand as he threw the glass shards onto the ground in front of him. Xylphara watched him for a moment then moved slightly away from him as Lucifer growled in anger.

"He's dead," Lucifer hissed as he drew his sword and swung it angrily.

"How do you know?"

"Ironclaw is never late. Something must have happened. I'm going after him."

"Well if you don't come back, I'm not going to worry over your loss. You've only been trying to kick me out of my position, haven't you?"

"If I thought you were a competent leader, I wouldn't stoop to such tactics to lower your rank. But if by chance you're still alive when I return, I will run my sword down the length of your cowardly back," Lucifer growled then dug his heels into his horse's side. The horse whinnied slightly then trotted off.

"I hope he dies out there," Xylphara muttered. "I'd be a lot better off without him."

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Ryo laid a hand on his short sword and listened to the night air. The sound of hoof-beats filled the air and Ryo sincerely hoped that it was Kana. Vengeance's nose poked through the brush and Ryo breathed a sigh of relief. He sheathed his sword and watched Kana dismount.

"Did you find everything?" he asked and Kana smiled slightly.

"I'm back, aren't I? Was he any trouble?" Kana asked as he walked over to where Izo sat with his eyes closed.

"He wouldn't stay still. You can make him better, can't you?"

"I'm going to try," Kana said as he pulled out his small bag. "Could you start a fire?"

"How big do you want it?" Ryo asked as he raised a hand.

"Just a small one. I'm going to have to heat this mixture up."

"Do you like the major?"

"If I didn't I wouldn't try to cure him," Kana said as he crushed the plants into a small glass.

"No, I mean do you...like the major?" Ryo asked as he watched Kana pour a brownish liquid into the mixture. Kana then covered the glass with wet leaves and placed it directly beside the fire. He then walked over to where Izo sat and gently shook him. Izo slowly opened his eyes and Kana smiled.

"Good. You're conscious. How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Tired, sir," Izo replied and Kana lifted an eyelid.

"How's your vision?"

"Blurred but I just opened my eyes."

"Are they badly blurred?"

"No. Just slightly. What's that smell?"

"I'm working on your cure," Kana said as he turned away from Izo. "What have you been telling him?"

"About what?"

"About your feelings."

"My feelings for what? What did you put in that stuff?"

"Your feelings about me. As for what I put in the stuff, you'd be better off not knowing."

"He asked and I told him it was possible but it was not a mutual emotion, sir," Izo replied and looked away. Kana pulled the glass away from the fire using his claws and he carefully brushed off the singed leaves. He took out a bottle of alcohol from his saddlebag and poured a little into the glass. He then used a stirring rod and mixed the ingredients together.

"I thought about you and how I would feel when I lose you. I feel remorse for every man I have lost..."

"Some more than others."

"Like Ura and Celcian, yes. But you...you're different."

"I know I look nothing like Ura and Celcian. I can't help being an individualist."

"Drink this. It should be cool enough for you," Kana said as he held out the glass.

"Finish what you were saying, sir. Then I'll decide whether or not this is an execution attempt," Izo said and Kana smiled slightly.

"I won't deny that I loved Celcian but you've always been close beside me. Yandel was never like that."

"Yandel was sex-crazed, sir."

"Yes, I know, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make."

"What are you trying to say, sir?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Why do you?" Kana asked and Izo looked at him.

"Why do I what?" he asked and Kana sighed.

"Why do you do the things you do?"

"Which things?"

"You know me so well. I sometimes think you know me better than I know myself."

Izo grinned then took a sip from the glass and coughed harshly for a few seconds.

"Are you sure you're not trying to kill me?" he asked.

"You have to drink all of it to be cured, major," Kana replied.

"Well I guess it's better than dying."

"I would hope it is."

"He's going to be okay now, right?" Ryo asked as he sat beside Kana.

"I was wondering what happened to you," Izo said as he reluctantly took another sip of the antidote.

"This is the first step to his recovery, Ryo," Kana said. "It's a good idea to memorize the list of known poisons and their cures. You never know when they'll come in handy."

"Couldn't you have put some alcohol into this stuff?" Izo asked as he took another sip.

"I did," Kana replied.

"Then how come I don't taste it?"

"I'm glad you made it back. He's in better spirits now," Ryo said.

"It's not like I was missing you or anything," Izo said as he handed the empty glass to Kana. "I hope I never have to drink that again."

"Get some sleep now," Kana said as he pulled Izo to his feet. "Real sleep. I don't want you sleeping like that. Lie down, major."

"If you're going to treat me like a child then tell me a story," Izo said and Kana stared at him.

"You can't be serious," he said and Izo grinned.

"I'm not."

"I want to hear a story about one of your battles, general," Ryo said as Izo removed his shirt and pulled down his pants.

"Are you feeling warm, major?" Kana inquired as he watched Izo place his clothing beside his bedroll.

"This is how I sleep, sir. You know that," Izo said as he pushed back his blanket. He stopped when he felt Kana's hands on his wings.

"Don't force yourself to get up for anything. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good."

He kissed Izo then drew away and turned his attention to Ryo.

"So you want a story."