Sorcerer Stabber Orphen Fan Fiction ❯ Burning ❯ Burning ( One-Shot )

:: Burning ::

Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Revenge

Disclaimer: I don't own SSOR or any of the characters involved. I don't own the song You Get to Burning, sung by Omi Minami (Majic's seiyuu; since there's no song for him, the next best thing is anything by his seiyuu, ne?).

Rating: PG

Pairing: Majic+Orphen

Warnings: very slight AU, mild shounen ai, SPOILERS, mild language

Spoilers: Episode 13 of the Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Revenge series

Notes: I got this idea at random the night I had just watched episode 13. I was in bed, thinking, and this idea just popped into my head. I think I might to a part 2 with Orphen's POV... Should I? *ponders*

Enduring my mortification like a stone tossed aside

If I bounce back I could become a diamond too

Dreams that you can get right away aren't dreams, you know

But I believe that I can grant them by all means

I won't be discouraged; I like you...

If there're times when I want to cry

I'm always always near you, and so...

"Would you believe me if I said, that was my motive?"

Hot and cold, hot and cold... I clutched at the rough bark of the tree behind my back, trying to steady myself as I threatened to lose my balance and fall. Even as I did this, a part of me wished I hadn't done that. Perhaps if I had made myself known, she would just leave... But, no, I was safer there. Safer...

This wasn't happening... This just couldn't be happening. But I couldn't make myself known; I had to be as quiet as possible. It wouldn't do to get caught. Not at all.

My foot slipped and I froze, breath catching in my throat as I quickly stopped myself. Tremors ran through my body, both of fear and pain as I held my foot completely still in mid-air. He didn't look my way. The breeze must have muffled my slip. A sigh of relief was building in my chest, constricting my lungs, but I didn't dare let it go until I was completely safe. Quietly and with painstaking slowness, I drew my foot back; bringing it to rest on the thick branch I had settled myself on.

I shouldn't have come. That was all I could think then. I should have stayed back at the hotel like an obedient child. He had told me specifically, "Don't follow me." And yet here I was, spying on him. I'm the worst apprentice to ever walk these lands.

It wasn't easy, following him out there. He's probably the most alert man I know. He may have already known that I was hiding, watching... But then why hadn't he scolded me instantly?

My fingertips were burning as I continued to brace myself against the bark. They would probably be skinned after this, but it was better than being hurt worse if he found me. My eyes clenched shut tightly, trying to force the image burned into my mind away... But it wouldn't leave me alone. It was graved into my memory and I knew it was something that was going to haunt me for a long time.

Only moments before he had confronted her, demanding to know her motives. Why was she following us? She had seemed nice when I had talked to her a few days before, but now I couldn't help but feel a surge of something white-hot when I thought of her. Maybe it was anger, maybe it was hurt; I don't know. It wasn't hate; I couldn't hate... Could I?

I had the sinking feeling the moment she had walked up to him, resting her head on his shoulder in an almost loving fashion. Then she had kissed him, full on the lips and without consent. He had clearly been shocked... Had he enjoyed it?

I looked down in time to see him wipe his mouth, uttering a heated negative in response to her question. I suppose I should have felt better, but I didn't. He hadn't pushed her away. He'd let her do what she wanted... Why hadn't he pushed her away? Why hadn't he foreseen her actions? Why had he let her kiss him? Why?

Silence fell heavy, making me realize that she had disappeared once again. She scared me, for it wasn't the first time she had vanished into seemingly thin air before. I could hear him cursing down below. Me, being the idiot I am, couldn't help but lean slightly to get a better look.

Even the slightest of movements could ruin everything, as I had come to realize so long ago. I was clumsy, horribly so, and yet I never seemed to learn to control my actions. Too late I realized that my balance had been lost. I toppled to the ground with a short yelp of pain as I hit the hard dirt.

He whirled to look at me, once again looking surprised. Had he really not known I was there?

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, mahogany eyes narrowing into cold slits. I was used to this look, and yet I couldn't help but flinch when I received it. He scared me... Oshou-sama really scared me.

I could only stammer as I sat up. Something had been pressed into my back when I hit the ground; an emerging tree root. It hurt, but it was nothing compared to when Oshou-sama hit me for being insolent.

"O... Oshou-sama," I finally managed to say. "I--"

He grabbed a fistful of my shirt, pulling me up to his level as that hard look continued to bore into my head. Sometimes I had the feeling he was reading my thoughts... Could he do that?

"I asked what the hell you were doing here," he said. "Did I not tell you to stay at the hotel? Didn't I?" he demanded in a louder tone when I didn't respond.

"H... Hai, Oshou-sama," I said weakly. Part of me was expecting him to punch my head in for disobeying, but an even stronger part was curious. "Oshou-sama, who was that woman?"

He scowled, releasing me at last. I stumbled back, clutching my throat as air was suddenly returned to my body. I hadn't realized he'd been holding me so tightly. "How the hell should I know?" Ouch. His voice was tighter than his fists.

"Well, you kissed her."

Oops, I shouldn't have said that. I was once again pinned with a furious stare, making me realize that, as usual, I was getting the blunt end of Oshou-sama's anger.

"I didn't kiss her," he snapped. "She kissed me." He said it with such conviction I knew it was true (though how could I not believe my master?) but I tended to act before I thought. Thus came the next stupid words from my mouth.

"You let her."

I recognized the tautening of his muscles, something he usually only did before he attacked. I flinched and raised my arms to protect myself, surprised when moments passed and there was no pain. Risking a glance up, I saw him looking away from me, his eyes hidden in shadow.

"Why are you here?" He was avoiding he subject. He did that often, actually. Whenever he didn't feel like discussing something, he'd go out of his way to ignore it.

I shrugged, the only answer I was willing to give. I had reasons, curiosity being the main one. Oshou-sama was always disappearing places; I wanted to know where he went.

Clearly, my answer didn't satisfy him. He delivered a strong punch to my head, making me yelp beneath the pain. He always did this! Why did I want to be like him? Why would I want to be so cold and abusive?

I don't. I just want to be as strong as him, as brave, as good with magic... I want to be just like Oshou-sama in that respect.

"Damnit, Majic, don't toy with me!" It was obvious his patience was wearing thin, and just as obvious that that woman's kiss had affected him greatly... Though not in a positive way, I realized. He was absolutely furious about it. I think it's because Oshou-sama isn't the kind of man you just walk up to and kiss. Despite how he acts, he prefers consent from both sides... At least, that's what I believed. And I'm pretty sure I was right. After all, I've known Oshou-sama much, much longer than that woman.

"I'm sorry, Oshou-sama," I said meekly. And I was sorry; the apology was genuine. I didn't lie if I could help it, and I could help it so long as I was not backed into a corner.

He was glaring at me expectantly, so I knew I had to give a verbal answer. Well, sometimes the truth was better than a lie. Besides, I don't lie very well at all. In fact, I'm horrible at it. "I just wondered where you were going off to," I explained, rubbing the back of my head. It still hurt; Oshou-sama's knuckles are sharp. "You always just run off. I... Was just curious," I finished lamely, expecting another reprimand. To my surprise, his expression softened slightly, though he looked away to try to hide it.

"Well, I guess that can't be helped," he muttered, lips tugging into what looked like a smirk. Did he find this amusing? "But don't do it again," he warned, strict and firm all over again. "If I tell you to stay somewhere, you'd better damn well stay next time, understand?"

I don't know what urged me to say what I did next, but it fell from my mouth before I could realize what I was doing. "Only as long as you tell me where you're going, Oshou-sama." The firmness of my voice startled me and I immediately chastised, taking a step back in case he tried to punch me for being a brat again.

He stared at me, expression unreadable, before he simply shrugged and turned. "Fine," was all he said before he began to walk back to the hotel. He paused, shot a smirk over his shoulder and said, "I'm going back. Come on, Majic."

I must have looked like quite an idiot, standing there with my mouth open in sheer disbelief. He hadn't taken offense? He'd agreed? Was Oshou-sama ill?

"Majic," he repeated dangerously. "Come on." Nodding, unable to say anything, I fell into step beside him. I glanced at his profile, unable to keep from smiling.

Oshou-sama isn't that bad a person at all. He's pretty harsh, distant, and seemingly uncaring, but just when you think he's one of the meanest people you'll ever meet he'll surprise you by being nice and considerate, even for just a split second. And... He's attractive. I try not to blush as I think this, telling myself firmly that Oshou-sama needs his space for now. Besides, I don't think he likes boys... Especially not ones six years his junior and especially not his own apprentice.

I felt my fingers burning again as the sting made itself known again. The white-hot anger has faded and I only feel contentment, a feeling I know will wane once morning comes and Oshou-sama is his normal loud self.

This time, I don't think I'll mind nearly as much.