Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/6582277.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Major_Character_Death, Underage
  Category:
      F/F, F/M, M/M
  Fandom:
      終わりのセラフ_|_Owari_no_Seraph_|_Seraph_of_the_End
  Relationship:
      Hiiragi_Shinya/Ichinose_Guren
  Character:
      Hiiragi_Shinya, Ichinose_Guren
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_Reincarnation, Alternate_Universe_-_Soulmates,
      spoilers_for_Guren's_novel, don't_let_the_character_death_tag_put_you
      off, it's_a_reincarnation_AU_after_all, Genderbending, Romance, Fluff,
      Angst, Angst_with_a_Happy_Ending, Anal_Sex, Scissoring, Doggy_Style
  Stats:
      Published: 2016-04-17 Completed: 2016-04-22 Chapters: 6/6 Words: 12926
****** A hundred lives and a hundred times I loved you ******
by Aki_no_hikari
Summary
     Their thoughts mirror each other as dozens of lives flash before
     their eyes, with different names and different backgrounds, even
     different sexes, but always the same eyes, always the same hair.
     Sometimes they never meet, sometimes they meet too late, and
     sometimes they lose each other too fast.
     But they are always beloved, always cherished. They always have
     hearts that beat as one.
Notes
     Many thanks to BlackDeva for beta reading this monster, without whom
     you would've gotten something a lot less coherent.
***** The Ichinose Heir and the Adopted Hiiragi (Part 1) *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Guren has learned all about the Mikado no Oni. He has studied hard and trained
even harder, honing his mind and body. He has spent hours gathering
intelligence from his subordinates and the libraries he has access to. He has
learnt all he could about the Hiiragi and the lower houses under their command.
Guren has prepared extensively for this day, for infiltrating deep into enemy
territory and learn their weaknesses from the inside.
But he does not expect to meet clear blue eyes and silky white hair.
“Oh” Guren pauses at the gate, ignoring Sayuri and Shigure who ask him what’s
wrong.
He should keep moving, he has to follow the plan and play his part. He can’t
let anyone suspect him, but…
Shinya has heard all about Guren from Mahiru. He has trained hard and kept his
mask as an obedient adopted son, he has earned his position among the elite
with sweat and blood. He has learnt all he could about Ichinose house and their
relationship with the Hiiragi and the lower houses.
He has prepared extensively for this day, for meeting the man who could either
be his strongest ally or his greatest enemy.
But he does not expect to meet wide purple eyes and messy black hair.
“Oh” he whispers, the spell he had been preparing fizzling to smoke in his
fist.
He should go ahead with the plan, he should test Guren’s strength, he should
keep his mask up, but…
It’s that person…
Their thoughts mirror each other as dozens of lives flash before their eyes,
with different names and different backgrounds, even different sexes, but
always the same eyes, always the same hair.
Sometimes they never meet, sometimes they meet too late, and sometimes they
lose each other too fast.
But they are always beloved, always cherished; they always have hearts that
beat as one.
In the end, rationality asserts itself; they cannot run towards each other and
just hold for dear life. They cannot. Too many eyes are watching them, and none
would take such a thing kindly.
Shinya swallows and turns on his heel, hurrying to make his stupid report to
Kureto so he can go to the class that he shares with Guren and get to know him
again. Just a little longer.
Guren sighs heavily as he sees the boy with white hair disappear into the
school building. He shakes his head as his aides ask what’s wrong. They have
met; it is only a matter of time before they do so again.
===============================================================================
It is a risky move to ask to be seated next to Guren, but there’s only so much
Shinya can hold himself back and he knows he can sell this particular move as
keeping watch on him.
Guren, Guren, Guren
So many years loathing that name, so many years obsessing over the person
carrying it. For so many years that name left only bitterness and anger in his
mouth.
“Ichinose Guren-kun right? Can I call you Guren?” that name is now soft as
velvet and sweet as honey in his mouth. Guren’s purple eyes stare at him with
longing for barely a second before his eyes flicker to the small ward that
Shinya put up, keeping their words away from prying ears. Shinya sees him relax
for a moment before he tenses up again.
“Are you really a Hiiragi?” Guren asks, because that would complicate their
lives unnecessarily. He sees Shinya’s brief grimace and somehow that familiar
gesture serves to relax him again.
“I’m adopted. They have… trained me up to their exact standards” Guren can only
imagine what those standards are “I hate them and want to destroy them. You are
the same, are you not?” his voice lowers to barely a whisper, even with the
barely noticeable ward, talk of treason is very dangerous for them.
Guren takes a deep breath, he has heard of something like this before. Of the
Hiiragi taking in exceptional children, training them and then adopting whoever
survived and making them marry into the family, to improve their bloodline.
Guren’s blood runs cold at the implication and he tightens his fists on his
lap. He has always hated the Hiiragi, for the shame they brought to his family,
for that little girl’s sad, lonely eyes, and now, for treating his beloved as
nothing but a priced stud.
“Yes I am.”
“Then let’s be friends” Guren feels his heart beat hard under those eager blue
eyes and his lips twitch. He relaxes his hands and nods.
“Let’s be friends… Shinya” at his words, Shinya’s pale cheeks flush with red
and his smile could’ve competed with the sun itself.
This is so risky, for both of them, but they yearn so much.
There’s so much they need to talk about still, of their lives as Hiiragi and
Ichinose, of their training and their plans. But here and now, they can only
look at each other, commit the new him to their memory.
But even looking is dangerous, Guren’s hands twitch with the need to reach for
him. He can see how Shinya himself tightens his fists to stop himself from
closing the gap between them.
Ah, I want to touch him…
He wants to reach over and feel his hand, will it be soft or rough? His fingers
are thin and long, and for a moment Guren wonders if they are longer than his. 
Suddenly Shinya’s eyes widen and he looks away.  Though his face remains
carefully clear of emotion, Guren can see how tension gathers in his frame.
“Mahiru” the name that comes out of Shinya’s mouth freezes Guren’s blood.
Mahiru…
Hiiragi Mahiru, the heiress of Hiiragi House, the little girl that Guren had
felt so sorry for all those years ago. Guren had thought her a good second
choice, should he not meet that person on time.
But there is no point for that anymore, not now that Shinya is with him. Still,
he wonders if that sweet, lonely child is still the same, or if she has been
corrupted to fit in with the bloody family she was unfortunate enough to be
born in.
“What about her?”
“She’s my fiancée”
Guren inhales sharply but quickly composes himself as Shinya looks at him from
the corner of his eyes.
“So? It is not the first time” and it isn’t. Guren or Shinya or both of them
have often been promised to another before they even got to meet each other.
They could handle it.
“Never with the Hiiragi” and that is the problem really, not the possible
marriage, but the fact that it is with the Hiiragi themselves.
“We will destroy them before it happens” the words escape Guren’s mouth before
he can stop himself.
Shinya turns to look at him, really look at him.
“She loves you” he says then and Guren blinks in surprise.
“She does? That was… a long time ago” Shinya wants to laugh, it is a long time
ago for them too, but that doesn’t stop them from wanting to hold each other
and never let go.
The teacher interrupts their talk by informing them that they must attend the
start of term speech. Shinya forces a smile he doesn’t feel.
“Mahiru is the first year representative. Shall we go and see what she has to
say?” Shinya’s hand twitches with the urge to hold Guren’s and Guren’s eyes go
to it, clearly debating if he should reach forward, but he shakes his head and
Shinya lets go of the breath he is holding.
Their eyes meet each other and something heavy hangs between them.
“Later” Guren mouths as he gets up and Shinya gives a sharp nod.
Later, now is not a good time.
===============================================================================
Shinya has no idea what possessed him to set up a meeting with Guren on the
very first day, other than the fact that it’s been too long and he has behaved
as expected of him for the entire day.
He cannot hold it anymore.
Ten minutes ago he texted Guren’s safe cell phone with the number of the room
he had procured for them. The door opens and Shinya’s instincts move his body
before he can think, he clutches a talisman in his hand, body tense as a coiled
spring and ready for anything.
But the one standing there is Guren and just like that his alertness vanishes
and his spell sputters out.
“Guren” he breathes out and Guren quickly locks the door behind him.
Shinya crosses the small bedroom in a couple strides and soon his hands are on
Guren’s face and his lips on his lips and their bodies are pressed so tightly
together it’s as if they are trying to fuse into one.
In a way they are, Shinya went to buy lube and condoms for a reason.
“ShinyaShinyaShinyaShinya” Guren can’t stop saying his name as his lips kiss
every inch of visible skin and his hands hold tightly onto Shinya’s body,
pressing them so close he can feel Shinya’s heartbeat against his chest.
“Guren… Guren bed” Shinya moans and Guren can feel the vibrations under his
lips. Bed yes, it is their first time together in this life, it has to be good.
It’s a little difficult to move when they can’t stop touching and kissing and
tugging at their clothes with eager but trembling hands.
Guren thinks he feels buttons popping off but he can’t tell if they are his or
Shinya’s and he can’t bring himself to care as he pants in Shinya’s mouth.
It takes them both by surprise as they reach the bed and fall onto it with loud
gasps.
Shinya grunts as Guren falls on top of him.
“You’re heavier than I remember” Shinya tells him as Guren props himself up on
his elbows.
Guren snickers before peppering his face with kisses.
“And you’re more beautiful than I remember” Guren tells him with a low voice
that makes Shinya’s cock twitch.
Guren’s own erection is pressing against his and Shinya moves his hips to grind
against it, making both of them shudder and moan softly.
“I want you so badly” Shinya’s voice sounds strained even to his own ears and
he moans as Guren starts to nibble and suck his neck. “Don’t mark me so high, I
don’t want to have to… haa… explain” he finishes with a whimper and Guren pulls
away to look at him with dark eyes.
“I love you” he says and Shinya feels his blood boil with those three words.
“I love you too” he answers before pulling him down for another searing kiss.
They only have a couple hours before they must return, but it’s enough, gods,
it’s enough. Shinya gasps and moans as Guren’s slick fingers start to stretch
him out, and when he’s finally inside, he almost cries in relief.
“Yes yes yes” he mumbles against Guren’s shoulder as he moves in and out.
“Shinya, Shinya you feel… so good” Guren’s words make him laugh a little and
tighten his grip on his back.
“Fuck me harder” he whispers as he nibbles Guren’s ear, knowing that that’s not
a good idea the first time, but not caring. He needs to feel Guren to his
bones.
“Yeah, yeah ok”
Guren angles himself and all Shinya can do is hold onto him and moan loudly as
spikes of pleasure overwhelm him with each of his thrusts. He’s hitting all the
right spots and it’s not long before Shinya sees white.
Guren follows almost immediately after. He pulls out and falls next to Shinya,
trying to catch back his breath.
Shinya curls up against him and Guren gathers him close. His eyes are falling
close with exhaustion and he has to pinch himself to remain awake. They only
have so long together, they can’t waste it with sleepiness.
Shinya’s warm breath ghosts over Guren’s chest and Guren focuses on the white
tresses filling his view.  He reaches up and runs his fingers through them,
Shinya sighs and nuzzles closer, his legs intertwining with Guren’s.
“Hey Guren”
“Hmm…”
“Remember when you were that milkmaid with the really big ouch! Ouch ouch OUCH!
STOP HITTING ME WITH THE PILLOW!”
Shinya huffs and tears the pillow out of Guren’s hands. He blinks down at his
lover and then snickers.
“You’re blushing!”
“I’m not!” Guren snaps as he blushes even harder.
“That’s so cute!”
“Shut up!”
“Aww Guren is embarrassed!”
“I’m leaving”
“Nonono, don’t leave! Guren! Cuddle with me!” Guren huffs in annoyance but lets
himself be dragged down once more and allows Shinya to curl up against him
again.
After a few seconds of silence, Shinya feels warm lips on his forehead and he
looks up, becoming lost on Guren’s intense eyes.
“I’m glad we found each other.”
Shinya feels a smile stretch over his lips, who cares about Hiiragi, Ichinose
and that stupid feud?
Right here, right now, he has Guren in his arms once more, and that’s all that
matters.
“Yeah, I’m glad we found each other too.”
Chapter End Notes
     The title is just a figure of speech, I'm NOT writing a hundred
     different lifetimes. Most of them are rather boring and redundant
     anyway. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. See you next one :)
***** The Milkmaid and the Noble's Son *****
Chapter Notes
     For simplicity’s sake, I will keep their names as Guren and Shinya,
     though in reality they have whatever names are appropriate for the
     time, place and social status they possess. That’s why they keep
     asking, it’s not because they don’t remember them. Also, chapters are
     not in chronological order.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Guren huffed and puffed as she carried the bucket full of milk up to the main
house. She was very lucky that when her parents passed away, her auntie who
worked at The Manor was able to find her a place where she could earn her keep
and remain respectable enough for a possible marriage in the future.
She was lucky, she understood that, but she still found it a hassle to wake up
so early every morning and work the day away, only pausing for food, and then a
quick wash before falling into bed absolutely exhausted.
If she was really, really lucky, she might make a senior servant like her well
enough to make her an inside servant.
…
Who was she kidding? She was the most surly, unsociable little brat, no one was
going to make her an inside servant!
As she was almost there, she paused in front of the kitchen door and took a
moment to recover her breath.
She did not expect it to suddenly swing open, hitting her bucket and making her
fall on her butt, the milk spilling all over her.
Guren gasped with pain and dread as she saw the milk slowly sinking into her
dress and the dirt around her. She was going to get so punished!
The little milkmaid looked up with angry tears in her eyes and found a pair of
surprised and very familiar bright blue eyes just beneath a mop of shiny white
hair.
Oh… that person …
“Good Lord I’m so so sorry!” he was a child about her age, but his clothes were
of high quality and Guren felt her heart fill with uncertainty “COOK! COOK!” he
yelled over his shoulder and then hurried to help Guren up.
He took her hands and held them tight as he pulled her up. Her hands were
smaller than his, but hard with callouses, unlike his own which were soft and
creamy white. He couldn’t help but gently rub his thumbs across her scarred
knuckles, wanting to hug her close so badly and knowing that was a bad idea.
She’s so pretty...
“Young master Shinya what is… Good Heavens!” the older woman gasped at the
sight of the muddy girl that her master was helping up.
“I’m so sorry Cook! I accidentally pushed her and now there’s no milk!”
Shinya’s eyes filled with tears, though they were fake and mostly for the sake
of making sure Cook didn’t get mad at his recently found beloved.
“Oh young master” the woman sighed and shook her head “This is why we are
always telling you to not run around. Come inside girl; let’s get you a warm
meal for your trouble.”
Shinya had definitely not expected to find his sweetheart falling into the mud
as he went out of the door. But he could not think himself as anything other
than lucky. He forgot all about going to see the horses as had been his
intention and sat down at the kitchen table to watch with a smile as the little
girl inhaled her food with no concern for those fastidious etiquette rules he
was being forced to learn.
“What is your name?” he asked as she paused to take a drink of water. Her eyes,
purple as his mother’s prettiest dress, stared at him for a long time. Shinya
could feel his cheeks warming up, but he didn’t stop looking back at her.
Finally, she seemed to realize what she was doing and blushed as well, quickly
looking down.
“I’m Guren, young master.”
“Guren! We should go out to play!” Guren flinched and turned away. She wanted
to glare at him, was he even hearing himself? Did he know what kind of idiotic
suggestion that was? Just by looking at her clothes he should’ve known that
they were of very different statuses.
“I don’t think so young master” Cook’s voice came over them and Guren gave a
sigh of relief, she didn’t want to be the one breaking the news to him “The
girl has work to do, and you must be going to your lessons.”
“But Cook…”
“No buts young master, run along now, I’m sure Governess is looking for you.”
Guren ventured a look in between her messy hair and saw his disappointed eyes
look in her direction.
“Yes Cook. Bye Guren, I will see you later.”
“Goodbye young master” truthfully, Guren did not expect to see him again in
this life, not up close as they were now.
“You too girl, go back and fetch another bucket of milk.”
“Yes ma’am” she jumped off the stool and ran back to the barns, pretending that
her eyes weren’t burning with tears.
===============================================================================
“Shinya! Ah! Shinya!” she moaned as Shinya took her against a wall, her legs
were wrapped around his waist and he pounded into her with abandon, his mouth
sucking on one of her heavy breasts.
“Guren! Guren, I love you. I love you” he kept repeating against her warm skin
and she groaned as he touched her in all the right ways.
“Outside…” she gasped, “Don’t come inside me- ah! I will kill you!” her nails
dug on his back and he had to pull away, spilling his load on the barn’s floor.
He carefully let her stand on her feet and they took a moment to kiss tenderly
and run their fingers through each other’s hair.
“Run away with me, Guren” he asked, again, as they touched foreheads together
and she rolled her eyes even as her heart lurched in her chest.
“No, stop being an idiot. You will marry a good lady from a rich family and
have a bunch of kids with her to continue being rich and respectable,” she told
him, again, as she pushed him away to get around to the business of fixing her
clothes.
Even though he knew she was right, he was always hurt by her rejection. He bit
his lip and started to fix his clothes as well, trying to ignore the pain in
his chest. “I always thought of you as a good and respectable lady,” he mumbled
to himself, but Guren heard him and her self-deprecating laugh made him flinch.
“You’re fucking me against a barn wall, do you really think that makes me good
or respectable or a lady?” Her voice sounded tired and he felt so guilty.
He shouldn’t have done this to her, it was not their place in this life to seek
this love. But his heart beat for her, how could anyone expect him not to yearn
for her? Not to cherish her? Not to pleasure her until his name was the only
thing on her lips?
Ever since he had met her again, almost ten years ago, it had been a torture to
have her so close and so far from him.
“Guren?”
“Hmm?”
“What are you going to do? In the future I mean” Guren paused with her back to
him and for a second Shinya thought he had crossed a line he shouldn’t have.
“Find some idiot that won’t mind me for a wife, give him a couple brats, live
my life, die and hope that next time it’s kinder for us.” Shinya grimaced and
looked at the dusty floor.
“I’m sorry.”
Guren sighed and turned to look at him, her eyes were always breathtaking,
especially as she looked at him with a world of meaning in them. She came
closer and cupped his cheeks, leaving a chaste kiss on his lips.
“It’s not your fault, you did not ask to be born a noble, and I did not ask to
be born a servant. It’s just the way it is. Now, if you excuse me, I will go to
work.”
“Take care my beloved.”
===============================================================================
“He is a good man Shinya. Hardworking and respectable, he needs a mother for
his children and I need a father for the babe in my womb. That’s the only thing
I can aspire to.”
Shinya was on his knees in front of her, too ashamed by his own lack of
restrain, by his cowardice. What use was it to be a lord if he had to let
another man raise his child, Guren’s child.
He hated himself so much.
“You cannot visit me anymore” she said and Shinya nodded, he had brought shame
upon her, of course he could not visit her anymore “Shinya... Shinya look at
me.”
He swallowed and looked up, he made a small noise as he saw that her eyes were
as filled with tears as his own and he did not stop her as she knelt on the
floor and kissed him fervently.
“This is the last time Shinya. Until we are born again” her voice was heavy
with meaning and Shinya hurried to take off his clothes and hers. He would love
her one last time and set her free until the fates are kinder and they are born
anew.
===============================================================================
She died at age 30, birthing for the fourth time. Shinya attended the funeral
as he did with everyone who worked under him.
In the front row, the blacksmith cried quiet tears and his children cried loud
tears next to him, a babe squirmed in his large arms. Six children in total,
two by his first wife, three by Guren and one blue eyed, dark haired boy that
he claimed as his own but wasn’t.
Shinya outlived his beloved, he outlived his wife and half of the children she
bore him. He outlived Guren’s husband and half of his children. Every year that
passed and he wasn’t allowed to be born again and meet Guren filled him with
bitterness.
How much longer must he wait?
One day, when he was 90 years old, he did not have to wait anymore.
Chapter End Notes
     Next chapter is less painful, I promise
***** The Emperor's Concubines *****
 
Shinya had been brought over when she was 13, already too beautiful for her
years, to please the emperor in any way he wanted. Thankfully, he had waited
until she was a little older to require her services beyond just looking.
But it was still a boring life, being locked away in the palace with only
servants and other concubines for company most of the time, court could only be
attended while under heavy guard, and one was limited to speaking only to their
family members.
The servants were bound to obey and most of the other concubines disliked her
for her beauty and wit, which made her one of the emperor’s favorites. Only the
fact that at age 20 she had yet to bear him a child had kept her from taking a
spot as THE favorite.
Still, this life wasn’t so bad, she did not go through hunger and had a warm
bed to sleep in.
Her family even enjoyed a higher status thanks to the emperor’s favor.
She had heard rumours that a new girl was being brought in, around 15 and
beautiful as the moonlit night. Shinya had smiled as her rivals looked at her
at the news, they were seeking for a chip in her armor but they would find
none.
So what if the child was beautiful? So what if she took her place as a
favorite? As long as she wasn’t kicked out, she did not care.
She did not care, until her eyes landed on the girl as she was presented at
court.
Hair as dark as midnight, eyes as purple as jewels.
Shinya took a sharp inhale.
That person …
Shinya’s heart and soul sang for having found her precious person once again.
She wanted to cry and sing and laugh, but she could do none of it. She sighed
and smiled softly. It was fine, they had time and she could wait a little
longer.
===============================================================================
The servants scurried about, putting Guren’s things in place as Guren wringed
her hands together, biting her lips with nervousness.
For the family, for the family, for the family…
She tried to take courage in those words, but they were empty. She had
volunteered herself as she saw how low her family’s fortunes were falling, her
father had been against it, but her mother had called her a dutiful, kind
daughter and that had been it.
And now here she was, in the palace, having just been introduced to the emperor
and welcomed into his household, now all she had to do was wait for him to call
her to his side.
She flinched as there was a knock on the door. Then she took a deep breath and
nodded for a servant to go see who it was.
Her throat dried out as a vision of silk and jewels appeared in her room.
Eyes as blue as the sky itself, hair as white as virgin snow.
That person …
“Leave us” not only was she astoundingly beautiful, but her voice was warm and
soft and Guren almost wanted to cry at her sheer perfection.
The servants all bowed and hurried away, leaving them alone.
She opened her arms and Guren launched herself at her, she was older and a bit
taller, so it was easy to sink into her arms and forget the world for a little.
“Hello again, dearest” she whispered against her ear and Guren turned to seek
her lips. It had been too long, too long since the last time.
“My dear, my love” Guren mumbled against her soft lips and she smiled against
Guren’s mouth.
Their kiss lasted forever and barely a second, and when Guren finally dared to
pull back, her heart was racing in her chest and her lips tingled with long
forgotten pleasure.
Shinya’s hand reached for her sweetheart’s hair and brushed the soft tresses
aside.
“Oh my heart, I am so glad we are together once more.” Then she kissed her
forehead “So glad, we have been lucky.”
“Have we? Even with the Emperor?” Guren asked as she hugged her waist and
leaned her head on her shoulder.
“Hmm. The emperor is easy to please if you know what he likes, I will show you.
But in here, we can be the dearest of friends , and no one will stop us.” She
hugged Guren and rubbed her back softly “I heard your presentation at court.
The name Guren suits your lovely self.”
Guren blushed and bumped her nose against her neck.
“Be quiet you, and what are you called this time?”
“I’m Shinya” Guren sighed happily and nuzzled her neck.
“Shinya is a beautiful name” Shinya blushed and pressed her closer.
Ah, my wonderful, dearest Guren, how have I missed you…
“Thank you Guren. Will you eat with me? There is much we must talk about.”
===============================================================================
Guren groaned and pressed her lips against Shinya’s thigh. She moved her hips
and was rewarded by a soft whimper from the beauty beneath her.
She kept her slow grind as she nibbled her beloved’s soft skin. Their clits
rubbed against each other and sent jolts of pleasure up her spine.
“Guren, Guren please…” Shinya’s breathless and ineffective begging reached her
ears and she couldn’t help but laugh a little.
“You’re so impatient my love” but still, Guren’s hips increased their pace and
soon both of them were becoming incoherent, moaning and groaning as pleasure
overwhelmed their senses.
Guren reached down and squeezed one of Shinya’s breasts, making her arch her
back with a long moan, which was replaced with a whimper as Guren rubbed her
thumb over the nipple.
“Guren!” Shinya’s body shuddered and then went limp under her.
Guren wasn’t long behind. Her body curling on itself as her hands dug onto
Shinya’s soft flesh, leaving marks that would bruise soon enough.
She panted heavily as she disentangled herself and fell down next to Shinya.
Shinya laughed breathlessly and reached for her hand, intertwining their
fingers together and waiting until their hearts slowed down to a gentle rhythm.
“Shinya…”
“Yes?”
“We will be together no matter what, right?” Shinya smiled and turned to gather
the younger woman in her arms.
“No matter what, I promise” she said, pressing a kiss on her forehead.
===============================================================================
Shinya pressed her ear against Guren’s swollen belly, suddenly she received a
kick against the cheek and smiled widely.
“Our child is very lively” she said as she pulled back, her eyes twinkling with
happiness.
“Don’t let the others hear you say that” answered Guren even as her face
softened with the love she felt for her. Shinya gently rubbed her stomach in a
soothing motion.
“What does it matter if the child calls both of us mother?”
“If the babe is a boy, they will say you are trying to usurp power through him”
“I would never!” Shinya answered with an offended expression “I love the child
as if it were my own. They are yours and that is enough for me to love them.”
Her face softened and she leaned down to kiss the top of Guren’s belly and then
moved to kiss Guren’s lips. “If it is a boy, the emperor will be pleased, your
rank will rise accordingly too.”
Guren frowned and bumped their noses together.
“The Empress won’t like it though.”
Shinya hummed and nuzzled Guren’s cheek.
“She won’t. Neither will the mothers of the younger princes. A boy and the fact
that the emperor likes you so will put you above most of them.” She paused and
thought more about it
“Currently you’re the tenth consort. Above you there are those whose families
are higher ranked or bore children. Should you bear a little prince, it will
put you above any of them who have only given birth to princesses.”
“So I will become the fifth” Guren finished for her and then reached for
Shinya’s long hair, running her fingers through it “You will remain where you
are however.”
“I am barren after all, there is only so much I can rise with my family’s
status and the emperor’s favor.”
===============================================================================
Guren was happy for her son. She really was. But she also worried a lot.
Emperor.
It was a dangerous position and Yuuichirou was so kind. She feared his kindness
would leave him at the mercy of the court.
A warm hand curled around her arm and she turned slightly to see Shinya stand
beside her.
“It was either become Emperor or die in the power struggle.” Shinya reminded
her and she pressed her lips together before turning back to her son’s shining
visage.
“I know”
“He will be fine. He has us to guide him for as long as he needs it.”
“He’s stubborn.”
“Like his father.”
“If only he had inherited a little of his father’s harshness. I wouldn’t have
to worry so much.”
“He wouldn’t be our little Yuu, if he was as stern as him.”
Guren sighed and nodded. It was true, Yuu’s kindness was as much of a strength
as it was a weakness. All she had to do was support him until her dying breath.
===============================================================================
Guren and Shinya had raised Yuu together, as such, they enjoyed a lot of
freedom and political power at his court. They convinced Yuu to choose a woman
with a good head on her shoulders as empress, and as long as he provided them
with many grandchildren, they were happy to ignore how close he was with one of
his guards.
It wasn’t like they had any room to talk after all.
Slowly, over the years, they grew wrinkled and grey and moved to a smaller
palace to live the rest of their lives entertaining guests and cuddling
together.
“I hope we find each other soon, the next time” Shinya whispered softly.
“And I hope we can be happy and together again” Guren answered with a yawn.
They fell asleep holding hands as had been their habit for many years.
And they were born anew.
***** The Hunter and the Baker *****
Guren thanked the butcher and made sure to store the coins safely away from
pickpockets. It wouldn’t do to have his week long effort disappear in the hands
of a clever street rat.
Three pheasants, four rabbits and one boar had netted him some nice profit that
would last him for a while. But first things first, a warm meal, a bed and
gossip were waiting for him at the local inn.
Guren groaned in pleasure as he took his first bite of bread, sighing as the
soft texture almost melted in his mouth. After months of dry bread, this was
almost paradise.
“Good, ain’t it?” the barkeeper asked as he finished serving Guren’s meal.
Guren could only nod eagerly, his mouth stuffed full with the heavenly flavor.
“Old Nana’s bakery was taken over by her granddaughter. Beautiful and kind,
came from the city to help her granny.”
Guren made a noise of interest as he shoved stew down his throat. He was
starving, but spending most of his time in the mountains and lacking human
company tended to make him feel lonely and wanting to listen to another
person’s voice, even if it was just to share gossip he didn’t care about.
“Yeah, with those blue eyes and that white hair, she could have married some
minor lord or some… Whoa! Guren slow down man!” the barkeeper patted Guren’s
back as he coughed and gasped desperately for air.
“So… sorry” Guren gasped out as his lungs burned with the soup that went the
wrong way.
“That’s ‘cause you eat too fast my friend, slow down, no one is taking it from
you.”
“Right, yeah, sorry. You were saying about the baker?”
“The baker right! So she came from the city in…” Guren let his voice wash over
him as his brain thought hard and fast.
Could it be that person?
Guren finished his meal and paid the barkeeper a little extra for that hint
that might take him to the person dearest to his heart. Though he didn’t tell
him that, only told him that the food was especially good today.
He went to the room he was staying at and asked for warm water to quickly wash
himself as well as he could. If it really was that person, it would not be good
to go to her looking and smelling like he just spent months in the mountains.
Even though he just did that.
He even went through the bother of shaving and trimming his hair.
“The things I do for you my love.”
Once he was as ready as he could be, he made his way through town, waving at
his acquaintances but not stopping to chat. Not even with the girls that batted
their eyelashes at him.
He had no time for them anymore.
A small bell tinkled as he opened the door and the heavenly smells of warm
bread and sweet pastries filled his nose.
“Coming!” a sweet, feminine voice came from the open door at the back of the
room and Guren could feel his heart hammering in his chest with excitement.
She came through the door and Guren’s breath was taken away. Her hair was tied
with a bright blue kerchief, but white wisps escaped from it to frame her
delicate face and bright blue eyes.
Her cheeks were flushed red and her skin glistened with sweat from her hard
work. She had flour stains here and there and her smile could’ve shamed the sun
itself.
“It’s you” she whispered, her wide eyes staring into his with so much love
Guren could only swallow and nod.
“Hello again, my name is Guren” he said, feet rooted on his spot, he was eager
to take her in his arms and at the same time too nervous to move.
“I’m Shinya” she answered with a soft smile, everything about her was so
beautiful Guren didn’t feel deserving of even standing in the same room with
her.
Shinya looked at him, so tall and strong and handsome and she so wanted to run
into his arms and never let go. She didn’t know how long they stared at each
other with darkened eyes and parted lips, wanting so badly…
“SHINYA, WHO’S IT?” her grandmother’s voice cut through the small shop like a
cannon shot and both of them jumped in surprise.
“A customer, Granny!” she called over her shoulder before quickly gathering
some bread into a basket and shoving it in Guren’s arms.
“Come tonight at the back of the shop. She sleeps early.” She whispered just
for the two of them. Her heart hammered in her chest as she took an impulsive
decision and went on her tiptoes to kiss the corner of his mouth. “I will wait
for you.”
She did not wait for him to leave, turning around with her skirt snapping at
her heels and marching to the back with a flushed face and a frantic heart.
Only a little longer.
That night, Shinya bid her grandmother goodnight and changed her work clothes
for a light nightdress. She brushed her long hair until it shined and put a
shawl over her shoulders, then, she went back downstairs and waited.
It wasn’t long before a knock came from the back door and she hurried to open
it. She did not even give him time to speak as she dragged him inside and
closed the door before whirling on him and planting her lips on his.
It had been so long since the last.
Guren made a small noise before his strong hands pressed the small of her back
to gather her close to his chest.
“Oh Guren, Guren!” she whispered fervently in between kissing everywhere their
lips could reach.
“I have missed you so.”
“Me too my love.”
“Marry me” he meant it with all his being but he did not expect the laugh that
escaped her.
“What? Not even a courtship first? Absolutely not!”
“But Shinya…”
“No buts Guren, how will it look if we rush to marriage after barely having
met? I do not want everyone to think I open my legs for any handsome man that
crosses my way.”
“I would kill them” Guren growled under his breath and she laughed softly,
cupping his face with her hands.
“I know dearest. But if you want to marry me then I expect you to do your
best.”
Guren sighed and kissed her cheek.
“The things I do for you my love.”
===============================================================================
He courted her as she wanted. For several months, he would bring her flowers
and small gifts he bought from the local merchants and he saved the tenderest
meats for her and her grandmother. He even courted her grandmother a little,
flattering her cooking and how youthful she looked.
It was the talk of the town, to see the surly hunter that barely spoke open up
and shine while in the presence of his beloved.
He had rivals too, hopeful young men who were attracted to Shinya’s beauty and
kindness. If he was at the bakery when one of them came in, he would glare
until they ended up shaking in their feet and stuttering before running away.
The tall, broad-shouldered hunter cut a very imposing figure in his leathers
and fur. Shinya would laugh at him at those times, but at night she would take
him to her room and assure him, in between soft sighs and quiet moans, that she
belonged to him and only to him.
===============================================================================
A particularly insistent suitor had come today to the bakery, though he had
turned tail and ran when he saw that Guren was there.
That night Guren came to the back door, and as soon as Shinya opened it, he
took her face with both hands and kissed her deeply until she was breathless.
They stumbled into her bedroom a bit too loudly and stopped, waiting with
baited breath for any signal that her grandmother had woken up. There was
silence and they sighed in relief. It would not be good if Shinya’s grandmother
realized she had a night visitor frequently tumbling into bed with her.
They kissed again, tongues and lips desperately searching for more. Guren
tugged her nightdress upwards and soon she was naked, and his mouth was
everywhere.
Shinya sighed and bit down her lip to stop herself from making too much noise.
“Turn around.”
“What?” Shinya was a bit distracted with the tingle of pleasure running through
her body.
“Turn around, on all fours” Guren repeated against the skin of her neck and she
blinked, confused for a second, before she realized what he was asking.
“Oh” she blushed but obediently turned around and settled on all fours.
Normally he wanted to see her face as they loved each other, so this request
was new and enticing.
Guren took a moment to take off the rest of his clothes before climbing after
her. His large hands massaged her thighs and ass before they settled on her
hips, changing her angle a little bit.
“Guren what…” without warning, he slid into her with a sharp snap of his hips
and she gasped, quickly burying her face to cover the loud moan that followed
as Guren hard cock slammed into her over and over.
Shinya bit down her pillow as her entire body shivered with pleasure, Guren was
pushing into all the right places and she could barely think straight. She kept
her moans as quiet as possible against the pillow, but there was no mistaking
the wet slap of their flesh or Guren’s heavy pants as anything but what they
were.
Then he leaned over her, using a hand to prop himself up and the other wandered
until he squeezed her breast, hard.
“You feel so good ” he muttered against her ear and she whimpered softly as the
change of angle did some amazing things to her insides. “So nice and tight
around my cock.” He continued and her blush extended to her ears and neck.
Guren didn’t usually talk like that to her, but when he did, it never failed to
make her hot and wet.
“Guren… ah… harder” she was barely able to put her words together and she
cursed under her breath as he obeyed. Slamming into her so fast and hard that
her bed was creaking alarmingly, not that she cared at that particularly
moment.
Guren groaned and bit down on her shoulder, making her eyes widen as pain-
pleasure filled her body.
“My Shinya, only mine” he growled against her skin, keeping his punishing pace
and stretching her in the most amazing ways.
“Yes! Yesyesyes yours, only yours…. there, there !” she choked out as her body
tensed up, pleasure filling her everywhere and her mind going blank with
feeling.
“Marry me” he asked her again, as they cuddled after that rather intense
session. Shinya smiled and nuzzled his cheek.
“Yes, I will marry you.”
===============================================================================
“Delivery for Lady Shinya” Guren said as he carried a couple sacks of flour
over his shoulders.
Shinya giggled and pointed to a corner before returning to her baking. He set
them down before coming back for his reward.
“Thank you my handsome knight. Whatever shall I do without you?” she asked over
her shoulder as she batted her eyelashes coyly.
Guren grinned and hugged her waist, leaning his chin on her shoulder.
“Oh I don’t know. I suppose you would go and find a rugged hunter to help out
instead.” His cheeky answer made her laugh again and he took advantage of the
moment to kiss her neck, her jaw and finally her lips.
“Ewww! Mom and Dad are kissing!” Yuuichirou’s voice cut through their moment
and Guren growled under his breath, while Shinya laughed again.
“Brat! Have you finished your work?”
Yuu gasped in surprise and then disappeared from the bakery.
“That little…” Guren hissed under his breath, but was interrupted by Shinya
kissing his cheek.
“Let him be, he’s been very helpful today, taking care of his little siblings.”
“He better be… speaking of, I’ll go and see if they’re behaving.”
“Please do, and then come help me with the kneading.”
“Yes, yes” one last kiss to her cheek and he went upstairs to see what kind of
mess their children had done know.
===============================================================================
Five children, twenty grandchildren and ten great grandchildren later, Shinya
went ahead of him to her next life. Guren followed a couple of years later,
after meeting their eleventh great-grandchild, a girl named after her.
***** The Ichinose Heir and the Adopted Hiiragi (Part 2) *****
Chapter Notes
     This one is angsty, the Violence warning was because of this chapter
     in particular. You've been warned. Also, spoilers for Guren's novel,
     which is a warning by itself considering how depressing the entire
     thing actually is.
Shinya schools his face into complete deference towards Seishirou and
indifference towards Guren.
“I admit that his sense of humour amuses me. But when it comes to power… he is
weak Seishirou-sama, a weakling that cannot even protect his retainers.”
It seems that those were the correct words to say, as Seishirou quickly loses
his interest and leaves, taking most of the crowd with him. The rest of it
disperses as the spectacle is over, with the disappointed Goshi and angry Mito
following them as well.
The only ones left are Shinya, Guren and Guren’s retainers.
Guren feels something angry and dark coil inside him as he sees Sayuri and
Shingure’s frightened faces, and bitterness at his own weakness settles in his
mouth as his eyes land on Shinya’s bruised face and mild expression.
“That was close, Guren. Try not to get caught again.”
Guren grits his teeth and looks at his feet.
“I won’t… thank you” Shinya doesn’t say anything, only turns on his heel and
leaves.
Guren hates his weak self that cannot protect his subordinates or the person
dearest to his heart.
===============================================================================
“Goshi’s control of magic is quite smooth” Guren whispers under his breath and
Shinya hums softly in response. It doesn’t look like anyone is paying undue
attention to them, but they still have to be careful. They sit at enough of a
distance that no one would think they are together, but close enough they can
hear each other.
“If you think that’s smooth, should I show you something better?” he asks with
a mischievous lilt in his voice. Guren dares to throw a look in his direction
and sees that Shinya has a small smile on his lips, not the one he normally
wears around school, but something truly eager and joyful.
Guren lifts his hand, ostensibly to rub his nose, though he’s doing it to hide
his mouth.
“If it amazes me enough, I will let you do what you want with me.” He can feel
Shinya straighten with interest and when his name is called for his match, his
steps are a bit too quick to pass as casual.
Guren crosses his arms and watches while feigning disinterest. Shinya throws a
quick look in his direction and he raises an eyebrow in challenge.
What he sees is, indeed, rather impressive.
As Shinya speaks, his voice carries magical power that slowly seeps into his
opponent’s web at fixed points to disrupts the delicate balance of magic
necessary for the spell.
“Vanish” Shinya’s voice is clear over the noise of the flames and the sudden
whoosh of displaced air as they vanish completely as if they had never been
there.
“Show off,” Guren mutters under his breath and Shinya snorts as he takes his
place nearby.
“But it was cool wasn’t it?” Shinya comments softly as Guren gets up to go to
his match “Don’t call attention to yourself.”
“I won’t.”
Guren’s match is nothing out of the ordinary, and it ends to his favor, though
it took him a lot of effort to keep his true strength hidden.
It is what happens after that almost discovers their ruse.
Shinya only hesitates for a second.
Guren is gathering magical energy with the clear intent of killing Seishirou,
and the idiot is not even realizing it. Shinya has to intervene, but if he gets
between them again, things could get ugly.
Mahiru intervening takes him by surprise, and he gives a quiet sigh of relief
as it stops Guren from going on a rampage, keeping their alliance hidden for
another day.
===============================================================================
Shinya bites his lip as he finishes sneaking into Guren’s room. For once, he
does not have to evade his subordinates’ senses and he worries about what that
means.
The lights are all out, but Guren is seating on the bed, head bowed and leaning
tiredly on his knees.
He looks… defeated…
Shinya sighs and walks quietly to the bed, sitting down next to him and
carefully gathering him in his arms and hugging him close.
Guren breaks down and Shinya holds him tightly as he sobs against his chest.
“I hate it, I hate it, I hate it,” Guren keeps repeating in between hiccups and
tears.
“Oh Guren.”
“Why am I so weak?” Shinya presses a soft kiss to his hair and closes his eyes
to try and stop his own tears from falling.
Guren’s fingers dig into Shinya’s back as his frame is shaken by great sobs.
Finally he seems to run out of angry tears but he remains where he is,
breathing heavily and hiding his face on Shinya’s chest.
“I will kill him.”
Shinya tenses up.
“You can’t.”
“I can and I will.”
“No, Guren… Guren listen to me,” Shinya asks as he tugs his face up.
Guren is an ugly crier, his eyes are swollen and his nose is red and stuffy.
Shinya still thinks he’s perfect the way he is. But he worries.
“Guren, you cannot kill Seishirou. If you do, the Hiiragi will fall onto your
house and destroy it.” he shakes him a little as he sees that he still has fire
in his eyes “Listen to me , is the satisfaction you will get from killing him
more important than remaining under the Hiiragi’s radar and gathering the
strength to destroy all of them? Is your pride more important than the lives of
your entire house?”
Guren closes his eyes and sighs, his anger settling down and his body slumping
with exhaustion.
“I will fight him.” Guren’s eyes snap open and Shinya smiles softly. “It is
fine. I might be adopted, but there are things expected of me, and Seishirou is
the weakest of the Hiiragi children, when I win, it will take no one by
surprise.”
Shinya can see Guren’s throat working and tears start to pool in his eyes
again.
“I’m sorry. It is because you’re stuck with my weak self that you have to
expose yourself like this.” Shinya reaches up and gently swipes Guren’s tears
away.
“Hey none of that now. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself” he says
before kissing his forehead “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Shinya stays for a couple more hours, cuddling Guren and whispering tender
words until he falls asleep.
===============================================================================
“Hey Guren, look at the moon, isn’t it beautiful tonight?” Guren wants to
curse, or even better, push that smiling, annoying face into the water and keep
it there.
Does he even know the meaning of discretion?
“How would I know?” he snaps, feeling his cheeks warm up considerably.
He thanks all the gods that Goshi takes that moment to throw himself into the
pool and distracts him from his embarrassment.
===============================================================================
Guren yawns as he rubs his eyes and looks around himself.
Sayuri and Shigure are nowhere to be found, most likely they have returned to
their bedrooms.
Goshi is sprawled over one of the couches, mouth open and snoring at his
heart’s content.
Mito is tightly curled in another couch, somehow, she’s found a blanket to
cover herself with.
Shinya is sitting on the floor, half lying on the coffee table and lazily
pressing the buttons of his controller. His eyes keep closing and snapping open
a moment later.
There are cans of coke, empty packets of chips, popcorn and sweets, dirty
glasses and cups everywhere Guren can see.
He sighs and gets up from the couch, Shinya’s eyes snap open and look intently
at him.
Guren ignores him, stretching with a moan until his back pops a couple of
times.
“Do you want anything from the kitchen?” he asks and shrugs as Shinya shakes
his head.
“Suit yourself.”
He picks up some of the glasses and cups and takes them to the kitchen to wash
them. He’s sleepy, but he doesn’t want to leave this mess for Sayuri and
Shigure to find.
He almost jumps out of his skin as a pair of warm arms circle his waist and a
bony chin presses against his shoulder.
“I thought you didn’t want anything,”he hisses under his breath, feeling heat
rise up his neck.
Shinya’s breath is warm against his ear as he starts nibbling Guren’s earlobe.
Guren’s knees feel weak.
“Stop that. Do you want them to find us?”
“They won’t. They are sleeping.”
“What if they wake up?”
“They won’t” Shinya repeats, and his conviction is so firm that Guren sighs and
tilts his head to give Shinya more space.
“You’re tense.” Shinya comments as he slowly trails kisses down his neck.
“We are running out of time.” There’s no point in denying Shinya’s extremely
accurate observation.
“We will kill her before the deadline.” Guren wants to believe him. But it’s
hard, and the perspective of losing his family is…
Shinya’s arms tighten and Guren leans back, letting him carry his weight.
“I promise,” Shinya whispers against his ear and Guren closes his eyes. He does
not say it out loud, but it gnaws on his mind.
Don’t promise things you don’t know you’ll be able to fulfill
===============================================================================
A soft voice hums a familiar song, Guren opens his eyes and finds Shinya
sitting on a meadow.
He blinks and a little girl with white hair and blue eyes replaces him. A
second after she’s replaced by a knight with blood stains in his white hair and
face, and sad blue eyes. After him, a young noble with long hair tied in a low
ponytail. After him, a woman dressed in flowing silks.
After her, a chubby woman with flour stains in her dress.
Shinya returns, still sitting in the meadow, but his eyes are empty and his
body is covered in wounds that do not stop bleeding.
Guren closes his eyes.
“Stop it, demon.” Shinya’s voice laughs at him.
“Whatever are you talking about, Guren? I’m a dead man walking and there’s
nothing you can do to stop it”
“Shut up! These images serve you of nothing. Even if Shinya were to die, we
will simply see each other again after I have followed him.”
Suddenly, a cold air ghosts over his ear and he tenses.
“Ahaha, do you really think you will see him again? He is cursed with the power
of a demon and so are you. Ugly humans like you, who sacrifice their souls for
power, have no business achieving happiness in another life” Noya’s voice
grates on his nerves and for the first time in many, many lives, Guren doubts.
===============================================================================
They leave their sleeping companions behind and Shinya follows Guren’s quiet
steps through the even quieter house. He refrains from talking until they reach
what can only be Guren’s childhood bedroom.
The futon is already set up for sleeping.
Guren takes a deep breath and Shinya comes closer, wanting to touch but not
knowing if his touch will be welcomed.
“Shinya…” his voice is so soft it breaks Shinya’s heart to hear it
“Yeah?” he asks as he takes Guren’s trembling hands on his own, holding tight,
lending him what strength he possesses.
“Do you love me?” Guren asks with something like need in his eyes and then
Shinya understands.
“I do.”
“Then, could you… could we…” Guren shivers and Shinya comes even closer,
bringing Guren’s hands to his chest.
“Yeah, I will,” he cups his cheek and kisses him softly.
Guren looks so small and fragile under him as Shinya carefully undoes his
kimono. He kisses the newly uncovered skin with all the love and devotion he
has and feels Guren’s grip tighten on his hair and back.
His own black suit is soon disposed off and they lie together on the futon,
touching softly and muttering nothing but sweet, loving words. Shinya intends
to love him for as long as Guren needs him to forget the things he wants to
forget.
They have no condoms or lube and Shinya does his best to be as gentle as he
can, he kisses Guren’s cheeks and forehead and the tears pooling in the corner
of his eyes as he very carefully enters him. He massages his tense thighs and
murmurs soothing nonsense in his ear and when Guren nods, he starts to glide,
slowly, in and out of him.
Guren is holding onto him with all his strength and Shinya knows he will bruise
but does not particularly care at that moment.
He hears Guren start to cry in earnest and he pauses for a second to brush his
hair out of his face and press their foreheads together.
“I love you,” he tells him, again and again, for as long as Guren needs to hear
it.
===============================================================================
It is a scene from his worst nightmares. The blood won’t stop coming out and
Shinya’s eyes are quickly glassing over.
“Nonono NO! SHINYA! SHINYA! Byakkomaru why aren’t you healing him!” Guren’s
voice cracks as his hands try in vain to stop the blood spilling from the torn
apart throat.
Guren had been confident, and Mahiru’s cursed weapon had very nearly taken his
head. His face and eye are burning with the curse of the weapon, but he does
not notice it. His attention is on Shinya, who pushed him out of the way of
Mahiru’s weapon. Shinya, whose throat was torn apart by Mahiru’s vicious claws.
“Oh, didn’t you know? If you do not give in to your demon’s desires, they can
only heal wounds that aren’t immediately fatal.” Mahiru’s voice carries over
the battlefield as if she were right next to him.
Guren looks at her, feeling bile rise up his throat as she licks her blood
covered fingers.
“His own strength was his undoing. From the very beginning, his excellence
spelled his doom.” Mahiru continues with a wicked smile on her face.
“He’s gone now Guren, and you will never see him again, cursed as you both are.
But if you set me free, I will get revenge in your name.” Noya’s voice is soft,
so soft and tempting.
Guren sees red.
===============================================================================
Shinya’s death changes Guren. He forgets what it means to smile, and his
nightmares are infested by Mahiru’s wicked laugh and Shinya’s dying moments.
The end of the world comes and goes, but for Guren, the world ended when Shinya
died and this time, there is no rebirth waiting for them, as Mahiru-no-yo sees
fit to remind him every night.
Only the burning need to keep everyone safe, to stop his precious people from
coming to harm under the vampire’s claws, the claws that tore Shinya from his
side, to keep as many people away from the demon curse that will destroy their
souls to no gain, only that need stops him from taking his own life in despair.
Guren is cursed already, there’s nothing he will stop at now. Nothing that
could make his situation worse.
===============================================================================
The first adult Yuu meets after he escapes Sanguinem looks imposing.
The man is tall, wearing a dark uniform and clutching a sheathed Japanese sword
in his hand.
His lone purple eye stares down at Yuu as if he could see right down to his
soul. The other eye is covered with a black eyepatch and a scar peaks just from
under it. Shaggy black hair frames his face and his lips are set tight in a
grim line. The man is human, and so are the serious female soldiers behind him.
“I am Colonel Ichinose Guren of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army. If you allow
me to use you, I will give you the power to kill the vampires that murdered
your family” he extends his hand and Yuu does not hesitate to take it.
===============================================================================
“I’m sorry, Guren” Yuu’s eyes fill with tears as his sword stabs through
Guren’s heart.
Guren’s face morphs from the angry sneer to a soft smile, his eye turning back
to a soft purple. The eye Yuu remembers had always looked almost like a
father’s should look but so very sad. Guren’s hand slowly reaches up and
cradles his cheek and Yuu feels like he’s dying himself.
“Activate… the curse,” Guren whispers, blood seeping out of his mouth. Yuu sobs
but nods and Guren smiles.
It is the first smile Yuu has ever seen in his face.
“Thank you,” he says as Yuu activates the curse. He can feel it burn, erode
away at him.
His eyes fill with tears; Shinya is gone, forever beyond his reach, but at
least…
At least I won’t hurt them anymore.
***** A World Long Gone and The Beginning Of Another *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
-1000 years after the First Trumpet was blown-
Shinya tightens his goggles a bit more and checks his hood and scarf before
easily climbing through the overgrown ruins of the long abandoned city. This
particular one had been long been thought of as empty by other scavengers. But
Shinya is still finding lost treasures that can be exchanged for all manner of
commodities. He doesn’t know how, other than a vague feeling that he has seen a
similar place long ago.
Now Shinya scrounges up anything that can be used or bartered in order to keep
on surviving in this harsh world. The sword at his hip is heavy with spells,
though it is a cheap hunk of metal so it doesn’t take well to them, not to the
ones his mother taught him, and even less to the ones he came up with on his
own, spells he always thinks feel right.
The sword most likely will need to be replaced in a couple of months.
He hums a little to himself as he picks up a piece of hard transparent material
he can use to fix up the hole in his shelter. That is a good find. He walks
back to add it to his cart and takes a moment to pat his small horse’s flank.
It neighs and shakes its head before returning to grazing on the hard grass
that grows over what once upon a time had been asphalt.
Then the horse lifts its head, ears moving to a noise Shinya cannot perceive.
He frowns and loosens the seals on his sword. If it is a Horseman, he can
handle it with his current strength, if it’s more than one… he will have to
hide and wait until they pass.
For a brief moment he imagines himself not with a sword but with some kind of
rifle and he quickly shakes his head. Rifles are expensive, and he has no idea
how to even shoot one. Sometimes his brain has the weirdest ideas.
He remains in high alert until he can hear the sound as well, far away in the
distance. It is the sheer cries of Horsemen, but also the sounds of battle
spells. He’s beginning to see clouds of dust and smoke and flashes of lighting.
He grimaces and gives his horse and cart a look.
“Damn it, whydo I feel like I would be disappointing someone if I don’t go?” he
sighs and unlatches his horse so it can run if needed. He often has those
feelings, that if he does or doesn’t do something, a mysterious someone would
be proud or disappointed or angry with him.
And no matter what some of the merchants at the City of Tents say, it is not
one of their weird gods or spirits.
He hurries through the ruins, and the battle itself appears to be moving
towards him.
It is Horsemen, three of them to be exact, and a lone male figure battling them
and, surprisingly, holding his own.
“Ah, fuck” Shinya curses under his breath and quickly chants a spell,
sacrificing one of his precious talismans to blow one of the Horseman’s head
up.
The man turns to him in surprise, but Shinya cannot see their face as it is
covered with a bright purple headscarf. Shinya wants to whistle, purple is
expensive, and then he wonders what is someone who can afford purple doing in a
place like this.
“Hey, need a hand?” he asks cheerfully and launches himself to the horseman
without waiting for an answer.
Shinya has never fought a horseman with another person. He has always done it
alone and yet…
It’s like his body is moving on his own, around and with this other person.
They do not cross each other’s spells or swords, their bodies complement each
other’s battle styles as if they had been fighting together for decades.
Shinya’s heart is beating hard in his chest, his breath is coming out ragged
and he feels overheated under the sun. He’s fighting for his life together with
a complete stranger…
…and he hasn’t had this much fun in years.
He whoops with joy as the jumps onto a horseman’s back and finishes it up as
the other man launches a spell at its face to distract it.
The man laughs as well, easily avoiding a giant claw and cleanly cutting off
the arm of the beast.
Once all the horsemen are dead and the dust settles, Shinya snaps his tongue at
his overheated sword and sheathes it without comment.
I’m going to have to change it sooner than expected.
He tugs his hoodie and scarf away from his face and pulls his goggles down to
his neck. He fans himself with his hand and blows a deep breath.
“Well, that was a workout... Hey, are you ok?” he turns to his companion.
The man is pulling off the heavily embroidered headscarf and uncovering a mane
of messy black hair and when he turns, purple eyes stare at Shinya from a
handsome, golden-tanned face.
The world stops.
===============================================================================
Guren makes his way through the ruins as carefully as he can. Part of his clan
will be making their annual trip to the City of Tents, and he volunteered to
scout a safe way. Normally they would avoid ruins such as this one, as there
were too many places where Horsemen could hide, but they had been delayed by a
landslide they had to surround. So now they are in a hurry to reach the City of
Tents before the high-trade season is over.
Which, unfortunately, means cutting through one of the cursed cities.
Guren keeps a hand on his sword as he makes his way through.
It is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that his father had gifted to him when
he came of age. The steel is of good quality and it holds tightly to the spells
chanted and carved into it. Spells to increase its durability, to lighten its
weight, to keep it sharp, protective spells for its wielder and destructive
spells to increase its damage potential.
Spells from his father and the elders of his clan, and spells he crafted into
it himself. Spells that feel right in a way that the clans’ spells do not.
His instincts scream.
He jumps away just in time to avoid a large claw falling where he had just been
standing. He curses under his breath and unsheathes his sword in a seamless
movement, avoiding another hit and cutting a large chunk off the Horseman.
He swears a blue streak as three more arrive, following the screech of pain
that came from the first one.
He hurls a spell at one and avoids a set of jaws, keeping his sword between his
body and the monsters’ sharp teeth.
He tries to run away, four against one is too much, even for the greatest
warrior of the Ichinose clan. Their big, hulking forms are surprisingly fast
and he cannot shake them off. He turns on his heel and launches himself at one
with a war cry. His sword moving in graceful arcs, with no movement wasted as
he cuts through cursed flesh and bone.
One down, three to go.
He jumps in surprise as one of the beasts is hit by a loud explosion and turns
to see a stranger in old and well-worn beige and grey clothes wave at him.
“Hey, need a hand?” the stranger’s voice seems to awaken some strange
protective instinct inside him that makes him almost cry out as he launches
himself to the Horseman.
Guren is used to fight with his clansmen, he knows their styles and his own
intimately and they form formidable teams that can defend their caravans and
temporary settlements with ease.
But the ease with which he and this stranger fight with each other is something
that he’s experiencing for the first time. Their spells don’t cross paths,
their sword strikes are efficient and their fighting styles complement each
other.
It’s like Guren’s body is moving on its own, instinctively shielding the
stranger’s back and receiving equal support from him. It thrums with energy,
his heart beating madly in his chest and sweating and panting under the
unforgiving sun. He fights for his life with someone he doesn’t know.
A whoop of joy comes from the other man and something like nostalgia stirs
inside Guren’s chest. He launches a spell to the Horseman’s head and can’t help
it, he laughs.
He has never felt as alive as he feels at this moment.
He avoids a claw with more instinct than thought and chops it off cleanly,
continuing his deathly dance.
Eventually, the Horsemen are dead and the dust settles. Guren breathes heavily
as he comes down from the fighting high. He sheathes his sword and tugs his
headscarf down, feeling overheated.
“Well, that was a workout... Hey, are you ok?” his companion’s voice snaps him
out of his thoughts and he turns.
The stranger has also taken off his head and face coverings. His bright white
hair reflects sunlight as his blue, so blue, eyes stare at Guren from a
beautiful, creamy-white face.
The world stops.
===============================================================================
They don’t know for how long they stare at each other, they don’t know when
they start crying, they don’t even know who moves first.
All they know is that their arms are heavy and warm and real around each other,
and their lips are desperate and demanding and there is a thing inside them
that was broken and now is whole again.
It feels like home.
“It’s you, it’s you, it’s you,” Guren can’t stop mumbling incoherently as he
touches his face, his neck, his shoulders, as he kisses everywhere he can
reach, as he looks deep into those eyes that are so dear to him, and he doesn’t
understand how but he knows this person. He knows him and he loves him so
fiercely it feels like he’s going to burst in fire.
Shinya can only kiss back, as he holds onto him as if he were to disappear at
any moment. He touches hair that feels so familiar, he kisses lips that make
him ache with relief, he looks into eyes that he has seen sometime, somewhere
before. He doesn’t even know why, but he loves him with all he has. It feels
like his entire life has led to this moment
“Don’t leave me,” Shinya asks, begs.
“Never,” Guren answers and they kiss again.
It’s like the entire world has put itself to rights.
The colors are brighter, the sun warmer and the shadows cooler. Their lips
tingle with pleasure-pain as they keep demanding more. Their hands can’t stop
roaming.
“Marry me,” Guren says as he pulls back for air.
Shinya doesn’t even stop to think.
“Yes.”
===============================================================================
Once night falls, they set camp high atop a hill, and under the stars they lie
with each other.
Guren sighs against his neck and pulls back to stare. He’s so beautiful, Guren
can’t stop looking at him. His hair reflects the moonlight like a halo and his
eyes have stolen the twinkle of the stars above.
He reaches up and gently brushes his soft hair away from his face.
“Who are you? Why do I feel like I’ve known you since forever?” The man blinks
and then chuckles, reaching for Guren’s hand and holding it softly against his
cheek.
“My name is Shinya, and I would ask the same of you, handsome stranger.”
“Ah, I am called Guren” He does not think it twice before leaning down and
kissing him again.
Their lips mold against each other as if they had done it a thousand times
before. Their hands wander over warm skin that they almost seem to remember and
their bodies fit together in a way that is achingly familiar.
Shinya gasps as Guren enters him, inch by delicious inch. He holds onto Guren’s
broad back, presses his lips on his salty skin and it’s like he has found the
thing he has been missing all this time.
Guren moans as Shinya’s walls tighten around him, soft and warm. He runs his
fingers through Shinya’s hair, breathes in his musky scent and it’s like he has
found the place where he belongs.
===============================================================================
When Guren was a child, his clan would travel many miles to find a place to
settle for a while. They were a long, colorful snake of wagons and horses
moving slowly but unstoppable. Whenever they found such place, his eyes would
search for the tallest place nearby; a hill, a half broken-ruin, a tree,
anything would do. Once found, Guren would climb as high as he could go, his
eyes locked in the sky above, so blue, so blue. He reached upwards with his
little hands and wished, yearned, longed to reach the sky, to hold it to his
chest and never let go.
He spent his youth looking up, but now he is looking down, and he finds the sky
in Shinya’s eyes, and he holds the sky to his chest and intents to never let
go.
===============================================================================
When Shinya was a child, he lived in the messy labyrinth called the City of
Tents, a gathering of merchants and wandering tribes that came to barter and
trade and then left to their next destination. Whenever a new merchant arrived,
Shinya would search for them and hide in the treetops to observe them, his eyes
locking on bright purple gemstones, violet cloth, lavender flowers. His little
hands itched to come closer, to touch them, just once. He wished, yearned,
longed for a single touch, to bring that purple close to him and never let go
of it.
He spent his youth looking down, but now he is looking up, and he finds the
purple in Guren’s eyes, and he reaches for it with his own hands and intends to
never let go.
===============================================================================
“Will your clan approve?” Shinya asks quietly as they cuddle, spent and
satiated.
Guren stops kissing Shinya’s fingertips and hums in thought.
“They will be wary at first. But they trust my judgment, and they are open-
hearted. They will come to love you as if you had been born among us.”
“Hmm.”
“What about your family?”
“There’s no one left.”
“Ah.”
Silence stretches as they keep touching each other softly; reminding themselves
that this amazing person that seems to be almost a dream is really there with
them.
===============================================================================
Shinya stares at himself in an old mirror. He had never given much thought to
decorating himself, then again, he had never been able to afford such luxuries.
But for some reason, the weight of the jewels is comfortable and hauntingly
familiar, and the glittering man reflected in the mirror’s surface feels like
him.
Guren is not one for wearing jewelry, but he had noticed how Shinya’s eyes
trailed over the tents of jewel traders and before he knew it, he was being
showered with them.
“You look beautiful,” Guren’s voice is rough with sleep and Shinya turns to
look at his husband with a smile.
“You always say that, my love,” Shinya replies as he leaves the mirror to climb
back into bed.
“Because it’s true… You were born to be adorned, beloved.”
Shinya huffs in amusement even as his cheeks warm up. He slides beneath the
covers and hums happily as he sinks into Guren’s embrace.
“Guren.”
“Hmm?”
“Will you promise me something?”
“Anything.”
“Promise that you will never leave me.”
“Never, not even in a thousand years,” something aches within Shinya at his
words, but he ignores it in favor of gently kissing his chin.
“I promise you the same. I will never leave you alone.” Guren smiles and
presses their lips in a tender kiss.
 
 
And the cycle starts anew…
Chapter End Notes
     A happy ending :) just as I promised.
     Thank you very much for reading, kudo-ing, commenting, bookmarking,
     etc. etc.
     I hope you enjoyed yourselves.
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