Ronin Warriors Fan Fiction ❯ The Kaf ❯ Part One ( Chapter 1 )

The Kaf - Part One
By Djinn Hashiba-Maxwell

Please read the notes, or this will make little to no sense.

*~*~*

Seiji stumbled along the endless plays of sand, his robes torn and hanging off him. The desert winds had long since destroyed his caravan, sending the others to their doom, though he could not say he was upset by the turn of events. He was, after all, a slave, and the only thing that awaited him should the caravan had reached it's destination...

...he shuddered to think.

But as much as his freedom meant to him, it would do nothing for him if he did not survive long enough to enjoy it. And he did not know from where he had come, nor in which direction the caravan had been traveling. For all he knew he could've been wandering in circles for years.

Finally the exhaustion and dehydration got the best of him and, defeated, he collapsed in the sand.

*~*~*

"Hey!"

He blinked up into too-bright light and swatted at the light touch over his forehead and the bridge of his nose. "Let me die in peace." He grumbled.

"Are you going to? Die, I mean." A voice asked curiously, and he blinked again, trying to focus on the form bending over him.

Even when it was in focus, he still didn't believe what he saw.

Bending over him was a boy his age or older, deep blue eyes set in a face with alabaster skin. His face was narrow with delicate cheekbones. His features were aquiline and smooth as marble. Blue hair hung in his eyes, ruffled and windblown, and the expression he wore was innocent, curious and questioning.

He was the epitome of beauty.

"Are you Jibril? Am I in heaven?" He whispered.

Suddenly the perfect features became marred with a scowl as he straitened, his shadow falling in the blonde's eyes. "Do I LOOK like one of the mala'ika to you?" he demanded angrily. Seiji bit back an affirmative, since it was obviously not the answer he was looking for.

"Well then..." He started, confused. Someone like that would not simply stumble upon him in the middle of the desert.

"Are you a mortal?" The other boy asked, crouching at his side. "I have never met a mortal before."

Seiji blinked. ::Never met...?:: "...Then what are you?" he whispered.

A smile that was just a bit mad. "A djinnee. What else?" He said. "Mortals don't just wander the deserts. So what are you doing here?" He tilted his head, mildly fascinated by this new discovery. Mala'ika, djinn, fravashis, drujs, even korybantes he was familiar with, but a mortal? That was something new.

"I got lost." Seiji whispered, pressing the back of a hand to his forehead as he rose to a sitting position in the sand. "A sandstorm blew up and my caravan..." The young djinnee snickered. "What?"

"You think it was really just a sandstorm? The djinn were playing with you." He replied.

"As you are doing?" Seiji asked with a frown.

The other boy frowned back. "I've never met a mortal. You don't look that different from the mala'ika." He leaned closer, and touched Seiji's hair with the tips of his finger. "Your hair is the color of the sand..."

Seiji jumped back in surprise at the contact, and his sudden movement made the other boy jump as well, blue eyes going wide. For a moment they just stared at each other, and then the young djinnee rose and turned, as if to walk away. "W-wait!" Seiji called.

The azure-haired boy paused and turned over his shoulder.

"You can't leave me here! I'll die!"

He tilted his head as if this had not occurred to him. "Will you? I have been told that mortals are notoriously fragile. What would you suggest I do with you then?" Seiji paused at that. He had not thought beyond his own immediate survival. He nearly jumped a foot when the djinnee was crouched at his side in a flash, his face barely an inch from his. "The djinn drive people mad, surely you realize that." The blue-haired spirit hissed with a smile.

Seiji paled.

"But you would a nice pet. Perhaps I will take you with me." An arm around Seiji's waist lifted him to his feet whether he wished to stand or not, holding the blonde's back against the other's chest. "What is your name?"

"S-Seiji." He stuttered.

"Seijin?" the djinnee repeated, adding an 'n' to make it a word rather than a name. "Are you a Saint? You are certainly still a child." (Note - 'Seijin' can mean either 'Saint' or 'adult')

"Seiji. Not Seijin." The blonde whispered. The boy chuckled against his ear, ruffling the blonde hair.

"You may address me as Toumawashi-sama." He said. "And you, Seiji, are in my desert. That makes you my property, ne?"

Seiji swallowed, the bulge of his Adam's apple moving up and down nervously. From one life of slavery into another far more sinister? He did not know what to think as Touma called the sands to sweep around them, sending them on a djinnee wind towards the djinn lands. At some point, maybe from fear or maybe from mere weariness, he blacked out.

*~*~*

"I hear you're picking up strays, Touma-chan." The young violet-haired girl commented, lurking in the door with a seductive smile on her face. "What do I need to do to get adopted?"

Touma looked up dispassionately at the enthusiastic korybante. "I have no interest in f*cking about with the followers of Cybelle." He muttered. "You are wasting your time, Kayura."

"And least come and dance with us." She whispered, her voice heavy and laden with lecherous promises. "You'll bring a mortal into your home, but I am not good enough? Now come Toumawashi, a djinnee should feel honored to be noticed by a korybante."

"I wouldn't interest you if I was not half fravashi." Touma replied. Then he smirked. "Naaza, Rajura and Anubisu will dance with you, invite them."

"Nonsense." Kayura sauntered closer, leaning over him so that she was all but sitting in his lap. "They do not have what you have." She whispered huskily.

"Which is what?" He asked, grabbing her groping hands at the wrist and holding them off of him. But that did not stop her lips from exploring the pale skin of his neck.

"Why, this alluring form, of course." She whispered. "The other djinn are the dirt beneath our feet but you... you shine. You are a star. The amesa spentas would slay their god for just a portion of your beauty." Her eyes smoldered into his. "Beauty is power, Touma-chan. That is one thing we korybantes know very well."

She leaned forward to taste his lips, but as easily as if she were not there he slipped away from her. "Beautiful? Indeed you are." Touma said to her. "But I want none of you, and you know it."

This time her eyes smoldered with a different kind of heat. "You spit upon an offer that Iblis would kill for! Do you prefer ghouls?" (Note - female djinn are called ghouls)

He fixed her with a powerful glare. "I prefer... solitude." He replied evenly. "Now I must ask you to leave, Kayura."

She stepped back. "Gods forbid I anger the legendary son of Ameretat!" she hissed. "I was wrong - you too are naught but the dirt I crush beneath my heel." And she turned on her heel and stalked out the door.

With a sigh, he turned to the curtain behind which lay the mortal she spoke of. It was perplexing to have a mortal in the Kaf, but when he had seen the blonde boy with the pale violet eyes he had been fascinated despite himself. He had seen every possible layer of beauty in his seventeen years of age, but there was something so singular about the one called Seiji that he could not allow him to crawl off and die, as he would've down with any other creature he had encountered in such a state. He wanted to protect the poor, fragile mortal creature. He wanted to keep him for himself, though what he intended to do with him he hadn't a clue.

He pushed back the curtain, revealing the pale boy lying on the soft palette upon which Touma himself normally rested. His blonde hair was in disarray; furrowing his brow in uncertainty Touma ran his fingers through Seiji's hair, trying to smooth it. It a sleeping state the boy purred contentedly and twisted his face into the touch as Touma traced his hand down the side of his face. The furrow between Touma's eyebrows deepened at this reaction - djinn did not sleep and so he was as perplexed by this event as he was by everything else about the boy.

And so Touma took a step back and knelt softly beside the boy, watching him sleep with young and curious eyes.

*~*~*

Seiji rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, feeling the warmth of a blanket over him and the softness of a pillow beneath his head. What a peculiar dream he'd had - a supernaturally beautiful spirit had claimed him and decided to bring him to his home...

He blinked up at the ceiling. No wait... it had not been a dream. He groaned softly. It was real.

"You're awake." A voice said from his side, and he turned his head to see those same deep blue eyes that had awoken him in the desert. Here in his own ground Touma looked less innocent, more dangerous, but even more beautiful. Unconsciously Seiji found himself blushing as he met those deep turquoise eyes. It was downright unnerving how he could be so frightening and so exotically appealing at the same time.

"What do you want with me?" Seiji asked uncertainly, sitting up and pushing the blankets off of him.

Touma grinned dangerously. "What would you like me to answer to that?" he asked. "I just brought you here as a curiosity. If you like, I can return you to where I found you."

Seiji's eyes widened and he shook his head sharply, not certain if it was a valid threat but not wanting to risk it just the same. "No. But..."

"Well then." Touma cut him off. "In that case, get up. I have some clothes for you, as yours are..." Touma trailed off, looking him over from neck to ankles. There was little left of the olive robe Seiji had been wearing and he shook his head, smiling to himself. "Here."

The garment he handed to Seiji was black silk and scant - sleeveless and cutting short about mid-thigh, but Touma next handed him a pair of khaki-colored drawstring pants. Touma himself wore a below-the-knee robe made of satin, a shade of blue darker than his hair and lighter than his eyes. Laurel leaves and Arabic letters were embroidered around the hems of the long, wide sleeves.

"Put it on." Touma commanded, turning from the room. "And then come out. I have things to do today."

Seiji hurriedly did as he was bidden, stripping off his ripped and torn kimono in favor of the garment he had just been given. Unlike the warm, scratchy wool he had worn before, the silk was light and cool against his skin, and the cotton trousers were not so heavy as to be uncomfortable.

He stepped into the front room where Touma waited. The djinnee had pulled on a thin pair of moccasins and he blinked at Seiji, racking his blue eyes over his body. Seiji felt a bit like he were simply a fascinating specimen and his cheeks went pink with indignation. "Do I meet with your approval?" He asked harshly.

Touma blinked and then scowled. "You will NOT address me in that fashion." He said. He leaned forward and caught Seiji's face, holding the lavender eyes even with his own as he leaned close, his breath hot on Seiji's cheek. "I was only thinking that you looked nice."

Seiji shivered.

Touma released him suddenly and Seiji couldn't help but feel a little disappointed - the cerulean eyes betrayed the djinnee's true nature. They were not harsh or cruel; they were gentle and innocent and promised kindness.

And it just seemed that every time he saw 'Toumawashi-sama' he seemed more beautiful... but he quickly shook such a thought away. He was just his master, like every other master he'd had, and the only reason he had saved his life was because he wanted to own him.

"You had your freedom, and all it offered you was death." Touma said. When Seiji's eyes widened in surprise, he smirked. "I was raised by the Hearer of Prayers. And I just discovered that she was right - humans are disgustingly easy to read." He explained. "Besides... how did you THINK the djinn drove men insane?"

Seiji swallowed nervously as he recalled the legends he had been told. "It is said that the true form of a djinnee is so hideous that it will drive a man to madness."

Touma laughed. "Want to see my true form?" He leaned closer. "Boo."

"But..." Seiji began.

"Mortals only think they know the djinn." He replied. "Now come. I have someone to see." And he pushed aside the curtain that separated the house from the harsh glare of the dry, beating Kaf sunlight. With the slightest movement of his head, he gestured for Seiji to follow.

Seiji obeyed.

He had to squint his eyes against the bright sunlight, and looking up he saw the light of two separate suns. He rubbed his knuckles against his eyes, thinking he must be dreaming, but when he opened his eyes again, both were still in the sky.

"Don't be so surprised." Touma said. "You're in the Kaf now."

As Touma spoke a winged shadow darted across the larger star, swooping towards them in increasingly smaller circles, until it's form became visible. It was a boy, perhaps a few inches shorter than Touma. He wore a sleeveless gray tunic with deerskin tied around his forearms by twisting strings. From his back sprouted a delicate pair of feathered wings, their span easily twice the boy's height.

They were as dark as his black hair.

"Tou-chan!" the figure called as he landed on the ground in front of them. Touma paused and cocked his head, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh." He said. "Hello Ryo." Non-committal and completely flippant. The winged boy frowned.

"Don't you think I deserve a little more enthusiasm than that?" Ryo commented, mock offended.

"What, do you want me to run into your arms?" Touma quipped, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I certainly wouldn't complain." Ryo shrugged, taking a step closer. Touma let out a bark of laughter.

"No, I bet you wouldn't." he replied. He gestured behind him. "Meet Seiji."

Ryo turned slightly to cast an appraising sapphire gaze at Seiji. "Cute. Not as cute as you, naturally, but still. What is he..." Ryo looked him over, "...korybante?"

"No." Touma answered with a sly smile. "Mortal."

Ryo blinked, and then smirked. "Me, replaced by a mortal?" Ryo placed a hand over his heart, feigning great shock. "Tou-chan, I'm hurt."

"Spare me the melodrama." Touma rolled his eyes and moved as if to walk by. Ryo caught him by the wrist.

"You know... I can make you touch the sky." He whispered, raising a suggestive eyebrow.

Touma glanced surreptitiously at the cloudless sky and then back to the black-haired boy. "I'm a wind spirit - I can do that myself." (AN - the djinn were nature spirits, forgot to mention that...)

Ryo's slender hand crept up the wide sleeve of Touma's robe. "Don't tease."

Touma grinned. "Why? I thought you liked it."

"Hmm... under the right circumstances..." he leaned in to brush his lips over the djinnee's but that was all the contact Touma allowed, quickly shying away.

"You're as bad as Kayura."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Seiji stood aside a pace, watching the exchange curiously. The one called Ryo had wings like the mala'ika, but the mala'ika had white wings, while this boy's were soot black. Seiji pondered this inconsistency for a moment.

"He's fallen." Touma informed the blonde, shocking him once again by knowing his train of thought. "Aren't you, Ryo-chan? A fallen angel."

Ryo grinned. "'Fallen' makes it sound like an accident. I came here completely by choice." He turned his eyes to the blue-haired boy. "Like you, ne Tou-chan?"

Touma smiled and shook his head, but didn't reply.

"So I assume from your earlier comment about Kayura that you won't be joining the korybantes this evening?"

"I'd rather screw a druj." Ryo snorted at that. "I'm in a hurry, Ryo-chan. You know Ibilis doesn't take kindly to being kept waiting."

"Want a lift?" The dark angel spread his wings to their full span.

Touma snorted. "No thanks, I'll walk." And he brushed by him again, this time not being stopped. Uncertainly, Seiji followed him.

"Is that all the good-bye I get?" Ryo wanted to know.

Touma paused and half-turned, cocking his head thoughtfully. "I'll walk now leave me the hell alone?" He offered.

Ryo winked and took to the air. "So I'll see you tonight?"

"Don't wait up." Touma laughed, and with a few flaps of his wings Ryo was out of sight. Touma shook his head, then turned and continued walking. "Come on, Seiji." He said, and Seiji, long ago taught not to disobey, followed.

*~*~*

"I... I... HATE HIM!!" She cried.

Kayura tilted her head as she regarded the other woman. Her companions long, strait red hair was twisted up to the back of her neck, her skirt a rainbow of colors and her skin-tight bodice cut short far above her navel. A traditional gold stud glinted cheerfully in her nose and silver earrings adorned her ears. Her blue lace veil had been thrown into the sand nearby.

"Why?" Kayura asked.

The woman stomped around in a circle for a second before answering. "Because he's so self-absorbed, conceited... just because he's the renowned 'son of Ameretat' - that horny f*ck who couldn't keep his dick out of a fravashi - he thinks that he's better than us!"

Kayura smiled slightly. "Is that why? Or is it because he f*cks around with Ryo?"

The redhead turned bright pink and then suddenly glared. "Why should I give a damn what Ryo does?"

"Because you're a korybante." Kayura replied. "Because you want him the same way I want Toumawashi." She licked her lips, like a cat going after it's supper. "Am I right?"

She let out a heavy sigh and sunk to the ground. "Why does that mala'ika have to be so damn sexy?"

"You want him." Kayura mocked. "So take him."

"Take him? He doesn't want me." She replied.

Kayura stood and walked over to her side, crouching down in the sand so that they were eye level. "No one ever said that we couldn't MAKE them want us. All we have to do is get them apart. And then I can have my fun with Touma..." he eyes glinted dangerously, "...and you can do as you please with that mala'ika."

The redhead leaned closer. "Keep talking."

Kayura smiled. "So, Nasutei, does this mean you are... interested?"

*~*~*

Jibril - the Arabic name for the angel Gabriel