You hide from the sunshine while I wander in the shade

Title: You hide from the sunshine while I wander in the shade
Rating: Teen
Series: Sex Pistols, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 
Pairings/Couples: Fujiwara Shirou, Alexios
Part of: Alt Universe: Odyssey
Beta: No Beta, all mistakes are my own
Summary: He shouldn’t have let his curiosity get the better of him.  He was only in Japan for business, after all.  Now he’s into something he should have stayed out of and it’ll change everything.
Notes: This is set before “To Blame It On A Bird”.  Spoilers for the end of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Fate of Atlantis.  Title from the song The Wolf by SIAMES.  Shirou is written as Shiro here as he doesn’t know his true name, though in the manga I believe it’s “Shiroh” but I still write it as Shirou.  I love me some angsty Shirou and Alexios gets into a mess he’ll regret.  I believe that since Alexios has been around for over 2400 years, his strength and his soul has changed.  He can do things other heavyweights can’t, as in what he does here.

He was foolish to give into such thoughts, knowing that deep down he was meddling into the lives of those who would bow and submit to the ancient of his soul.  Twisted and grown, aged in an unnatural way that begged to be released from the prison he had created for himself.  So long ago, before his promise and oath as the keeper, his soul and himself were normal.  More than a heavyweight by today’s standards, though back then no one was measured as such.  Missing such closeness he had with his lovers, the slide of skin against his, gasps and the bond they shared 

The finality of death, longing to see everyone he had to say goodbye to.  Missing those he loved as family and more.  Still, coming across the teen one day, invited by a business interested in selling the Ouzo his small farm created.  A soul frayed at the edges, covered and protected by a “magical spell” that the parents had most likely placed on the boy.

He couldn’t help the curiosity that ate at him, putting what he had come to do later, more interested in the fact someone was walking around in such a state.  Checking over his shoulder out of precaution, though the ones that had hunted him and his family down had been dead for so long, he was most likely forgotten to anyone but the heir of memories now.  He dabbled in some businesses, working from the shadows and now he had his one, knowing that anytime soon he would be recalled back to Thera.  Feeling the hum of the staff, transformed into something small he could carry, Alexios quietly followed behind the teen.

Between the movements of the city, strangers and citizens, he caught the hesitant looks sent his way.  Of course the fact that he’s a foreigner caught people’s attention, Alexios looked past the stares.  Flickers of souls as people responded to his presence.  Hiding his amusement, Alexios picked up his pace in the hopes of not losing track of the teen.  Warmth of the sun hit his face as he approached a street corner and stopped.

The one he had followed stared outward towards the other side of the street.  Following the line of sight, Alexios could only guess when he heard the hitch of the breath as the couple on the other side leaned in to kiss.  The body before him stiffened and the frayed edges of the teen’s soul constricted, twisting in pain.

He didn’t know what he was getting himself into, recalling the language he had learned and hoped he wasn’t too rusty in the way he spoke.  Stepping alongside the dark haired teen, Alexios was a little surprised to see that the teen wasn’t as short as he had previously guessed before taking the plunge and spoke.

“It’s sad, isn’t it?” He asked, keeping his gaze on the couple the teen had watched.

His words must have snapped the teen out of his personal bubble.  Color rising to cheeks before the teen even said anything, Alexios gave him a look.

“How could you tell?” The question asked, full of shame.

“How could I not?  Don’t worry, I do not think anyone else knows,” Alexios tried to reassure.  “I didn’t mean to offend or bother you, you just remind me of forbidden love.  But first,” he turned to face the male, hiding the fact that he was observing him.

“Are you hungry?  Or at least tell me the best place for food?  I don’t visit Japan very often so I don’t know where to fully go to eat.”

That wasn’t exactly a lie, he was hungry and he hoped that the teen didn’t pick up on the fact that he could speak Japanese with little problem.  When his stomach growled, he ignored the heat that rose up his cheeks as he nodded his head to the shops down the road.

The teen turned his gaze back down the street where the couple had continued down before a heavy sign and a forced smile before nodding.  The slight color to pale cheeks as he turned away, leading him in the opposite direction of the couple that had passed by.

“By the way,” the teen began, giving him a peek out of the corner of his eyes.  The color that had dusted pale cheeks darkened even further.  “What did you mean when you said forbidden love?”

Alexios hummed as the smell of food being cooked reached his senses.

“I could tell you out here, but I think it would be better… away from others’ hearing, don’t you think?”

A knowing smile as the teen fidget, biting his bottom lip.  Alexios couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment, though he caught the edges of the teen’s soul glow.  It was a wonder that others didn’t notice, especially the one of the teen’s affections.  Quietly sniffing the air, he couldn’t detect the scent the soul would give off nor could he guess what form the teen’s soul took.

“This is a good place,” the words spoken almost hesitantly had him eying the teenager, “well I think I should-“

“Come join me,” Alexios spoke as he placed a hand on the teen’s back as he released a little of his pheromones.  If his words couldn’t get the teen to go with him, his pheromones would.  Watching as eyes widened and cheeks flushed darker.  An almost whimper-like sound escaped, Alexios raised his eyebrows in surprise.  He would have thought that the teen wouldn’t be affected so much.   Even if he didn’t know, it was a bit of an ego boost to see the effect.

The welcome sounds of greetings, speaking for the both of them, Alexios guided the teen towards a back corner.  Taking the seat closest to the wall, waited as the male hesitated for a moment before taking the seat across from him.  Waves of nervousness rolled off the younger man, it was a little cute to watch.

“So what I meant earlier,” Alexios began, keeping his voice low enough so others wouldn’t hear but just loud enough for the person in front of him.  “Forbidden love, right?  It’s not hard to see how you feel about him,” it had been so long since he had talked about this, explaining  to a love-sick teenager who fell for him when such things were forbidden, hated even.  Punishable with death.  He hated that time period.

The crumble of the teen’s facade, lips bitten as shoulders hunched forward.

“Yeah,” the words just above a whisper, forcing him to lean on a little.  “He doesn’t know how I feel.”

“That’s rough.  You can’t tell him?”

Alexios wasn’t expecting the glare through glasses, tears that built up but refused to fall.  Folding his hands, he waited.  Silence between them stretched before a huff of resignation and the shake of a dark head.

“I’m lucky enough that he hasn’t hit me again,” the confession fell off the teen’s tongue with slight hesitation.  “He doesn’t know how I feel.  If I could be his friend, that would be enough, right?”

He stared, trying to comprehend the words.  That wasn’t what he was expecting in the slightest.  

“You shouldn’t even worry about being hit,” Alexios tried to explain, lowering his voice as a member of staff stopped by to explain to him, a little hesitant at the look of irritation on his face.  Taking a deep breath, calling himself down before apologizing.  Offering the teen to order first, waving away the protest that he didn’t have any money with the promise to pay for the food himself.  It was the least he could do after, dragging him because of curiosity that he just couldn’t let go.  Placing his order as well, Alexios waited until they were semi-alone once more before turning his attention to the teen.

Before he could address what had been spoken, the teen spoke up.  Voice a little more confident, no longer carrying the tremor in his words.

“It was only one time.  He-, well, he doesn’t like guys.  At all, he’s usually surrounded by girls.  And me?  I saw him for the first time at a swim-meet one day,” words tumbling out like they had been waiting forever to be spoken.  “And it was just love at first sight.  I fell in love with someone I had seen for the very first time.  It hurts,” a humorless laugh as eyes stared downward at the table.

It was a common thing among madararui blood, being able to find their one match.  The right partner with a single sniff, he had seen it with his sister a time or two, even if it never went anywhere it could have.

“It does,” Alexios agreed, the pain that he had always pushed back and away.  “It hurts and it’s a struggle to even move on.  But that is what you do, you continue on.”

“You-you sound like you’ve lost someone you loved,” a whisper, both in awe and in sympathy.  “I shouldn’t complain, I know-“

Alexios hushed the words as he reached out, lifting the teen’s chin with his fingertips.  Deftly plucking the teen’s glasses off his nose to set them aside, he fully reached over with his other hand to cup his fingers over the male’s temples.  Slipping easily into his mother tongue, ancient Greek spilling between them.  An order, from one to another.  His station and knowledge gave him a way over the majority of those of madararui blood.

[“Calm yourself.  You’re twisting yourself into further turmoil over this.  Let me see what was lain in your mind to protect you.“]

Briefly shooting a look over the teen’s shoulder, the majority of the staff and what customers avoided their area.  He watched as their food was delivered without a word.  A muttered word of thanks as he dropped his fingers away.  An intricate of symbols, many he recognized used throughout the centuries by clans favoring canines.

Especially those above middleweight, heavyweights and those lost to time.

He felt his soul stir, it wasn’t very often he met someone who was close to him on canine levels.

Eyes moving over the spell, impressed that the spell was woven tightly, wards of protection and did little to stop him from meddling.  For now there was nothing he could do, at least not here anyway.  Telling himself to settle down, placing his fingertips back along temples he quietly hid the spell with words only he knew.  Watching as eyes blinked, a curious expression crossed the teen’s face.

“That smell,” a deeper breath, nose twitching before eyebrows rose and dark eyes looked away in embarrassment.

“Hmmm, what smell?  The food?”

Grabbing the plate, thankfully still hot to the touch.  He could smell the spices and aroma of the dishes.

“No, th-” the swallow as cheeks colored, hands reaching for the glasses he had forgotten to place back on.  “The scent on your skin.  It’s faint, but the smell reminds me of something I tasted a long time ago.”

He waited for the teen to continue, parting the chopsticks.  He was halfway to taking a bite when the teen continued, over his embarrassment.

“Like American candy?  Black liquorice.  Anise, I think.”

“You- you can really smell that?” He asked, his words whispered as he pushed the plate away and leaned in on his elbows.  “That’s amazing since it’s been a while since I’ve been back home.” More interested than before, he bit down on the corner of his lip as he pulled himself back under control.

“Yeah, it’s faint, but it’s there.  Almost masking a scent that reminds me of far off lands,” a hum that would have resembled a rumble if he had been in his true form.  “Though, why did you touch me?”

Damn, he had thought by trying to see the spell the teen wouldn’t have noticed his touch.

“There’s a lot that you need to know, but first, my name is Alexios and you, my friend, seem to have a lot hidden without even knowing.”

The teen perked up at his name, not a normal reaction to a stranger, especially one that nearly manhandled him.  The teen leaned on his own elbows, creating their own bubble.

“Alexios?  Not a name I would normally hear around here, let alone Japan.” 

The change of confidence startled him, wondering if the teen’s soul was providing the boost.  “My name is Fujiwara Shiro and you’re here to meet my parents.  And I believe you can answer some questions for me.”

A quirk of an eyebrow before Alexios nodded.

“I can do that and you can satisfy my curiosity.  And maybe get some experience that you can use when you get older.”

To Blame It On A Bird Pt 3

Title: To blame it on a bird pt 3
Rating: Teen
Series: Sex Pistols, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 
Pairings/Couples: Fujiwara Shirou, Madarame Yonekuni, Yonekuni/Shirou, Alexios/Past lovers, one sided innocent crush
Part of: Alt Universe: Odyssey Pt 1 2
Beta: No Beta, all mistakes are my own
Summary: Sometimes having your fortune read to you isn’t the end of the world.  At least that is what Yonekuni thought.  Thrown from the comfort of what was supposed to be his summer break, will he get over his frustrations and see that everything that could be?  Or will he let that damn bird be his downfall? And what is with that relationship between the two?
Notes: Spoilers for the end of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey/Fate of Atlantis.  Ratings are going to change.  I’m working really slow, still working on the rough draft for pt 4.  I have a side story done, how Alexios stumbled upon Shirou.  

Alexios slowly stepped closer, trying to get everything he had created under control.  He should have admitted that this was something he had created.  Should admit that he was eager to be this excited, that this was something that could easily kill the loneliness that he had been suffering from.  Something, anything to help – deal with this until it was time to pass the oath on.

Through the glow of Shiro’s soul, not quite ready to be awakened, he cursed not only his curiosity but giving into that one urge.

Speaking softly, the first language he had ever learned to speak, never forgetting the comfort the language brought him.  Having let curiosity get the better of him, pulling at the string at a soul that wasn’t ready.

Souls normally returned to the womb of the earth, being reincarnated later on.  Memories that would naturally be forgotten as they swim through the river of Lethe, forgetting their past life to be reborn anew.  Guided by those without forms to their new lives.

Alexios could see it, faintly, as the young teen struggled to understand.  Confusion etched across Shiro’s face, his soul struggling with which form to take, remembering what the teen could not.  Remembering what should have been forgotten so very long ago.

[“You woke too early,”] he tried, approaching closer.  A sniff of the air, pheromones from both teens.  A lick at his upper lip to taste the air and swallowed back a shudder at the potency, one who had control and the other, body unable to control the release of pheromones.

[“I was confused and woke you too early.  I shouldn’t have been the one to wake your soul up, it should have been him.”]

Tilting his head in the direction of the blond, Alexios kept his attention to the one in front of him 

[“He doesn’t know, does he?  Of how much you love him?  The pain that hits every time.  And it hurts so much,”]

Resisting the urge to lower his eyes and hide the pain he had forced himself to “forget”, baring himself as proof he was being as sincere as he could.

[“I know that pain all too well.  I’ve had to say goodbye to those I have loved, to the ones that I have never forgotten after so long.  Some that I never got the chance to tell them my feelings.”]

He watched as the teen digested what he had spoken, baring his soul in a way that he had done only a few times.  The times he would be with Brasidas, confiding in the man and the nonjudgmental way the older man would help.  Lingering touches, a bump of a shoulder and the fact that his biggest regret was the fact he never told the spartan how much he felt.  He told himself he had gotten over that regret, finding others that shared their beds and their hearts.  Just… nothing in the way that made his heart race.

The tilt of a head from Shiro, mouth open as he struggled to form words.  Confused and unsure if the teen could actually understand the ancient Greek he had been speaking.  Though deep down he knew that while the teen himself couldn’t understand, his soul could understand what he had been saying.  

Releasing more of his pheromones in the attempts to keep the teen from fleeing, he caught the brief shaking of a head. Out of the corner of his eye he caught the mixture of emotions on the blond’s face.  Intrigue and disgust, confusion mixed in with curiosity, he could only wonder why the blond refused to admit what was there.

The sound of the eagle above pulled him from his thoughts, he turned his attention back to the one before him.  Dismissing thoughts of the blond, Alexios stepped closer to Shiro.  Reaching out to brush his fingertips against the teen’s skin, moving to cradle the sides of Shiro’s head.  Catching the intake of breath that resembled a hiss from the other, he took in the soul that struggled and failed to appear.  Discouragement graced the edges, pushing against itself.

[“It’s time to rest,”], Alexios whispered, lifting the heavyweight’s chin.  For the briefest moment he was reminded of Phoibe.  Taking a deep breath, memories that he had pushed down for years rose up.  Blinking his eyes, willing away the tears he knew were building, he continued on.

[“Tomorrow we’ll work on figuring this out.  For now.”]

Sliding two fingers up, pressing against each temple, he whispered words that his Mater has taught him.  He could picture her behind his eyes, remembering her voice.  He could never forget her.  Pale eyes blinked, he rested his forehead against Shiro’s.

[“Sleep.”]

He caught the limp teen before he fully crumbled to the ground.  Withdrawing his soul with a sigh of relief.  It had been so long since he was able to fully speak his first language.  The crushing weight of everything he had lost hit him.  Feeling the pulse of energy from where he kept the staff, Alexios gathered himself and pushed down his emotions.  It wouldn’t do him any good to lose control over his emotions, not when the staff would take any opportunity to change everything about him.  He could just imagine the frown Aletheia would wear if she were to see him right at this moment.

Taking another deep breath followed by several more he got himself under control.  Tossing a look at the one who held Shiro’s interest, Alexios rolled his eyes.  He had forgotten how childish teenagers could be.

“What the hell is going on?” The teen had finally found his voice.  Blue eyes wide, panic fully tracing his words instead of just his actions.  Posture stiffening under his gaze.

Sighing under his breath and mentally kicking himself, he shifted the teen in his arms.

“I meddled with his soul and awoken him before he was ready-” Alexios paused, giving the blond a look, color hadn’t returned to the teen’s face.  “You’re not going to get sick again are you?”  He asked, released when the teen shook his head.  

“What is he?” The blond- Madarame?  Asked.

“First, pick up my jacket.  Second, it’s fully up to him to tell you about his soul.  This is all my fault,” Alexios confessed as he shifted to carry the teen over his shoulder in a hopefully less embarrassing way.

“What do you mean “Your fault”?” The question shot at him, irritation and confusion in Madarame’s tone.  Alexios took a moment, breathing deeply and tried to calm himself.  It would do him little good to get caught up in the emotions that were rolling off the heavyweight blond.

“Do you think being here is a coincidence?  This one,” a head tilt to the one he was carrying.  “Yes.  This was arranged by his parents.  They wanted to be the ones to distribute the alcohol my farm makes.  To be the only ones who have the sole right to sell in Japan.  You on the other hand weren’t even known to me until I met Shiro-kun and put the clues together.  I woke his soul before it was ready.”

Alexios sighed, turning away and started to move.  “Can we go now?  I’m sure he’s going to be confused and upset with me spilling his secret.”

Not waiting for a response, he carried the teen back the way they had come.  Back to the car he had abandoned in the haste to keep the boy from accidently running off the cliff.  Glancing up at the sky he gave a sharp whistle, the sharp cry above told him what he needed to know.  He couldn’t help the pang of pain at missing the animals that had passed two thousand years ago.  Both Ikaros and Phobos, the companionship that the eagle gave him.  Shaking his head, the past few years he kept on finding himself getting lost in the memories that he had convinced himself that he had forgotten.

The sound of footsteps following, frustration rolling off the blind

“Can you stop being so goddamned impatient?  You’re not giving me a chance to respond,” the stiff words the blond uttered, he could feel the look being shot towards him.  “This doesn’t mean you can freely touch him you know,” the words tossed out, laced with jealousy and possessiveness surprised him.

“I thought you didn’t care about guys, hated even,” Alexios mused, keeping his tone casual, seeing the way broad shoulders stiffened before hunching forward.  “Are you surprised I know?  That’s one of the things Shiro-kun told me.”

“He doesn’t know the whole story,” a mumbled reply, the dark look the heavyweight shot him.  “I wouldn’t have thought him of madararui blood.  Especially like this,” the confession.  “I didn’t know his feelings.  I just thought he was some damn monkey.  His family is anyway,” the kick of rocks, the looks and glares the blond was sending him

“Do you always talk so rudely?” Alexios snorted, seeing the car he left still in the same spot he left it.  Reaching for the door handle, he shifted the unconscious teen, laying him along the back seat.  The opening of the other door surprised him, the blond taking a seat and reaching for the male.

Watching the flicker of emotions that crossed the blond’s face.  A stab of envy in his chest, pain at recalling the memories of last lovers, his favorites that he had lost and longed to see.

The one he wanted to see, the one he never got to tell him of the feelings that he held.

Tearing his attention away from the two, Alexios climbed into the driver’s seat.  Avoiding the rearview mirror, he drove up the dirt road to the house that overlooked the Laconia  Gulf.  Fields that bumped against rocky outcrops, waves of wheat that moved as the breeze picked up.  It wasn’t hard to imagine the ruins that had dotted the hills, forts falling into disrepair as time passed.  Citizens that rallied together in the celebrations before slowly realizing that Sparta was falling apart from within.

Licking at his bottom lip, pheromones thickening the air faster.  Chancing a look into the mirror, seeing the concentration on Madarame’s face as he stared down at the teen.  He should have just left everything along, never should have pulled in the string that started this whole mess.  Should have just ignored the whole thing and let the two teens figure out the whole mess themselves.

Putting the car in park, heaving a sigh and opening the door.  Footsteps quick, reaching for the passenger door, he opened it up to see the teen still focused on the other.

“C’mon, since you don’t want me to carry him, you have the great pleasure of carrying him up to his room,” jerking his thumb in the direction of the large villa.

“Lock up the car when you’re done.  I don’t want to come down later to find it stolen,” Alexios shook his head and gave Madarame a side-eyed look.

“Did you fuck him?”

The question came out of nowhere, the glare sent him conveyed more than one meaning.  A hint of the reptilian soul that had him whistling, impressed by the presence that the blond was showing off.

“Are you asking me if I slept with him, right?” A nod towards the sleeping teen, he kept his posture relaxed and gave off a nonchalant attitude.  “And if I did?  What would that matter to you?”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Alexios rocked back on his heels, eyeing the way the blond twitched at his words.  Waves of possessiveness rolling off the younger male.  From his spot he caught the slight elongation of teeth.  He wondered if the blond knew how attached he quickly was becoming.

“Does it even really matter?  Life’s too short to worry about that.  You two aren’t together, so you have no reason to be jealous.  Just-” Alexios huffed before dropping the slight attempt to provoke the heavyweight.

“Take some solace that love can be found, even with all the flaws you have.”

Turning slowly on his heel, Alexios tossed parting words over his shoulder.

“To answer your question, no.  I didn’t “fuck him”.  I like my partner to have more muscles than Shiro-kun.  Someone that can keep up with me, both in battle and in bed.”

His tone mournful as he pictured his ideal love.  Echoes of what he could remember of that voice.  Continuing on his way, not sticking around to find out how the blond would react to what he said.  His stride purposefully, making his way through long hallways that slowly became dark enough that he could hide in the shadows.  Darkness fully enveloping him once he reached his room.  A quick turn of the lock, pressing his back against the wood.

Regret still clung to him, still chasing him as he chased others that reminded him of his fallen Spartan.  Over twenty-four hundred years and he still missed Brasidas.  Missed Phoibe, his Mater, Kassandra, Nikaos and fuck, he even missed Stentor.

“Keeper, you’re getting too involved,” the echo of Aletheia’s voice in his ears, gently chastising him.

“I know, Aletheia.  I haven’t forgotten my oath,” he sighed, sinking down to the floor.  “I got myself in this mess,” a shuddering breath, clenching his eyes against the floor of memories.

From behind the locked door he let his true soul flare.  Let go and give into the silent howl for the pack he lost so fucking long ago.  Those that passed by the room fled in fear, in apprehension that they couldn’t name as their souls trembled to get away.

To blame it on a bird pt 2

Title: To blame it on a bird pt 2
Rating: Teen (Rating will change)
Series: Sex Pistols, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 
Pairings/Couples: Fujiwara Shirou, Madarame Yonekuni, Yonekuni/Shirou, Alexios/Past lovers, one sided innocent crush
Part of: Alt Universe: Odyssey pt 1
Beta: No Beta, all mistakes are my own
Summary: Sometimes having your fortune read to you isn’t the end of the world.  At least that is what Yonekuni thought.  Thrown from the comfort of what was supposed to be his summer break, will he get over his frustrations and see that everything that could be?  Or will he let that damn bird be his downfall? And what is with that relationship between the two?
Notes: Ratings are going to change, especially when I picture Yonekuni peeking in on Shirou while Shirou himself is having sessions with Alexios or at least what I picture in my head.  And the stuff in my head could be kinda scary.  I imagine Alexios suffering, missing everything and everyone he ever loved.  There’s hints of Alexios/Shirou, but never will be because I picture Alexios still misses Brasidas, which HE SHOULD have been romancible. Though that doesn’t mean that Alexios hasn’t been with anyone else.

Any and all speaking text that is between [“Speaking”] is Ancient Greek. I am not even going to attempt to type Ancient Greek in fear of butchering the text and completely messing everything up. It’ll always be in italics.

—

“This is your fault, you know,” Yonekuni muttered as he shot a look at Fujiwara.  “I’m being dragged halfway across the globe for whatever the hell-“

Yonekuni wasn’t expecting the way dark eyes narrowed and blazed with frustration.  He could catch the hint of anger in the hiss of breath between clenched teeth.  

“It’s been over a week, Madarame, I already told you I have nothing to do with this.”

The thud of a heavy burlap hitting the ground and the dust that billowed into the breeze.  For the first time this week the teen was standing up to him, a mixture of both frustration and an emotion that he couldn’t admit to himself.  Hands that pushed away dark hair wiped away sweat that had dotted skin that was slowly starting to tan with all the work outside.

“For someone who has such a distaste for me you sure love to blame me for something I didn’t even know about.  You know, I always thought you were different from others.  You’ve been harping on about this before we even left Japan.  Sometimes I wonder why I fell-“

A huff of a breath, words spoken in a language he didn’t understand as Fujiwara dropped his gaze before bending down to pick up the bag he had dropped in anger.  The weight seemed like nothing to the teen as it was easily placed on a shoulder without a care.  The sound of voices approaching had the teen giving him a look he couldn’t decipher before the teen returned to the work of hauling the burlap bag to the warehouse.

It took him a moment to get his mind out of the stupor, shaking his head as he felt his cheeks flush.  For the first time someone that wasn’t his family stood up to him.  He has always thought Fujiwara was a pushover.  Someone that wouldn’t get mad or show any emotions close to anger.  Ignoring the way his heart started to speed up, Yonekuni picked up the sack full of ingredients.

Wrinkling his nose at the scent, he huffed and followed the path the teen had taken.  He hadn’t expected to be in Greece of all places.  Feeling out of place with everyone speaking a language he didn’t know a single word.  He was a little lucky in the way Fujiwara was in the same boat as him, not knowing the language either.  Kicking at the small rocks on the dirt, he paused at the sound of birds being startled, taking off from their perch on the roof of the warehouse. Looking up to see wide wings soaring in the sky, a cry that he could only guess that belonged to some sort of bird of prey, Yonekuni froze.

For the briefest moment he felt the overwhelming aura of another, one that, if he were honest, caused his stomach to roll in nausea.  Mouth suddenly dry and body trying to resist the tremors that crept up his spine, Yonekuni took the chance to glance over his shoulder.  He caught a glance at a figure kneeling on an overhanging edge of an ancient temple.  Turning his head away to shield his eyes from the sun and looking back to where the figure had been only to find nothing.  Not a hint of what he had felt earlier.

He couldn’t have imagined what he had felt, nothing he had ever encountered had caused him to feel that way.  Not even his mom nor grandfather caused such a reaction in him.

“Everything okay over there, Yonekuni-kun?”

The sound of Fujiwara’s mother took his attention away from the aura he felt and gave himself a mental scolding before clearing his throat as the older woman approached.  

“Yeah, I could have sworn I saw someone,” it felt nice to talk to someone else other than the teen.  Shaking his head at the look of confusion on the older woman’s face as she looked around and saw no one save for a few people off in the distance.

“It doesn’t matter, can I ask you something?”

A small smile graced the older woman’s face as she nodded, motioning him to continue with the work as well as ask.

“Was this Fujiwara’s-  your  son’s idea?” He asked, unable to get the idea out of his head.  He wasn’t completely oblivious, nor was he an idiot.  He caught the looks the teen tried to cover, after the disaster with the first guy being his friend, he needed at least one “guy” friend.  He hadn’t bothered trying to ask the dark haired teen, not with this whole thing being dumped in his lap.

“Hmmm?  What do you mean?”  Even though she still carried the friendly tone in her voice, Yonekuni caught the stiffening of the woman’s back.

“This whole arrangement.  I mean, I barely know Fujiwara and suddenly I’m told to go with you guys.”

Yonekuni wasn’t expecting the laughter, an almost girlish giggle as they reached the warehouse.  Shifting the burlap bag to his other shoulder, Yonekuni gave Fujiwara’s mother a look.

“Karen-san told me to expect something like this.  But no, my son had no idea that you would be joining us.  He knew we were going to Greece, he just didn’t know you would be joining us.  Which is strange,” the woman trailed off as though she was a little confused as well.  The shake of her head and opening the door for him, Yonekuni gave up looking for an answer from her.  Giving her a murmured “thank you”, he slipped inside and followed the footpath to the storage room.

“Don’t take it too hard, Yonekuni-kun.  Shiro-chan is frustrated as well.  He’s usually doing this by himself.  This is the first time he’s had someone else joining.  Finish up what you’re doing and I’ll see you later tonight.  You’ll be able to meet our host for this stay, I’m sure you’ll find him just as interesting as Shiro-chan has.”

Yonekuni didn’t put much thought into her words, just giving her a nod as he walked through the lit hallway to the door marked in Greek lettering.  He couldn’t read it, but after several trips into the storage room during the week he had been there, he could only guess it was labeled as “Storage”.

Taking a deep breath and silently calling himself foolish, Yonekuni opened the door.  The overwhelming scent of anise hit his senses, every single time he entered the room.  Holding his breath, Yonekuni moved a few steps further into the room.  Dropping the burlap bag he had been carrying with the one Fujiwara had been carrying as well, he quickly made his way out of the room.

Releasing the breath he had been holding, he couldn’t help the feeling of disgust.  Just the scent of anise was enough to chase him away and out, back under the summer sun.  This wasn’t what he was expecting at all, he just wanted to be home with a girl that would fawn over him and treat him as though he was the only one important to her.  Still, the “promise” of finding love on this trip when the only woman nearby was as or even older than his mother.

Shuddering at the thought, he fished out his phone and checked the time.  It was too late to call Kunimasa, he wished he had someone to talk to about this whole mess.  He hesitated on contacting one of his girlfriends, knowing that it would be hard to get off the phone and they wouldn’t be fully invested on helping him.

Curious as to why he hadn’t seen any girls his age, Yonekuni eyed the beach with interest as he climbed the path towards the house they had been staying at.  He had brought his swim trunks in the hopes he would be able to get some sun and enjoy whatever warmth he would encounter.  Maybe he’d get lucky enough that he wouldn’t have to work the next day.  The chattering of voices and the screech of a bird had him turning his attention forward and saw Fujiwara with his head tilted to the side, reaching out to a bird perched on a limb just out of reach 

“That’s a very stupid idea,” Yonekuni called out in both amusement and worry.  Did this kid have no self preservation?  Clucking his tongue, Yonekuni shot the bird- he paused as the size of the bird surprised him.  “That’s no small bird,” he commented at the look of disbelief Fujiwara shot him.  “That looks like some sort of hawk or-“

“He’s a golden eagle,” Fujiwara corrected, giving him a look he couldn’t decipher.

“What, are you an expert on birds?” He snorted, a little jealous that the teen seemed to be more comfortable around here than he was.

“No, not really,” Fujiwara admitted softly as he turned his attention back to the bird.  “He’s been hanging around here since before we got here.  And I got to meet him after we got here.”

“Why didn’t I know?” Yonekuni asked, unable to stop the feeling of being left out once more.

“Right after we got here, you snapped at me and just dragged your stuff to your room.  You stayed in there for the rest of the evening and night,” Fujiwara gave him a half shrug.  Giving the eagle one last look, Fujiwara turned away and continued towards the house.

He couldn’t help the pang of pain and confusion running through him.  Why did it feel as though the teen was dismissing him?  Not even trying to figure out why such feelings were bothering him, Yonekuni hurried after Fujiwara, almost desperate to stop him.  The rapid rise of panic filled him, the cry of the eagle that Fujiwara had been admiring.  Struggling to swallow down the urge to throw up, Yonekuni tried to push away the unwarranted panic that had started to rise.

There was no reason for such panic.  No reason to feel his soul stirring with unease.

A whistle-like sound as the tree he stood under rustled, the eagle launching itself into the air with the beating of powerful wings.  The faint rumbling of an engine and rocks being driven over.  Yonekuni stepped to the side as a deep maroon colored car drove slowly past.  Unable to see through the darkly tinted windows, he knew he was being watched.  Could feel the stare and hear the hum of muted music as the car slowed to a stop beside Fujiwara.  A dark window rolled down, he watched the two.  Panic that had raced through him failed to slow, feeling the aura and power that emanated from the car.

Faintly catching the scent from the car, trying to shake himself, to force himself to ignore the taste of vomit in the back of his throat. Nausea rising up as he watched Fujiwara lean towards the car, hands resting on the door.  The look of irritation that the teen had worn faded away, the smile that graced his face, lifting up flushed cheeks.

Stomach clenching, aching and rolling, he turned away to throw-up.  Spitting away what was left in his mouth, he felt tears trickle down his cheeks as his stomach continued to twist and knot up.  It was the same feeling from before, stronger and why was it only him being affected by this?

Using his arm to wipe away at his lips, Yonekuni hoped his body wouldn’t betray him further as he forced his legs to move.  Slow at first, he approached the car, heart hammering as he fought back the urge to submit to the power.  Which was completely ridiculous.  There was no need to submit, not someone with his station.  Heavyweights of his caliber should not have to submit.  The top of the top shouldn’t demean themselves like those below them.

Still, he hadn’t heard or felt such an aura and power that neither his mother nor his grandfather held.  Especially when he was the only one who seemed to be affected-

No, that wasn’t right.  He watched as a hand reached out, tanned with long fingers that touched and tipped Fujiwara’s chin, tilted the dark haired male’s head to the left.

“Hey!”

He shouted, pushing down the rolling fear, nausea, Yonekuni couldn’t say why he felt so uneasy.  He couldn’t say why he felt the reason, the urge to get between Fujiwara and the stranger in the car.  Just couldn’t deny the urgent need to separate the two.  His voice carried, words breaking whatever spell that was coming over Fujiwara.  He hadn’t seen the teen smile like that before.  Body moving, he reached out to separate the two.

The sight of cheeks flushed, fingers that had gripped the edge of the car door slacking and dropping.  Eyes that widened behind glasses, he could swear he heard Fujiwara say his name.  Briefest of moments as lips formed “Yonekuni”.

Heat rushing to his face, he stepped between Fujiwara and the car.  Time slowed as he stared down into the open window and at the stranger who was throwing his whole world off its axis.  Keeping himself between the two, Yonekuni clenched his teeth and stiffened his shoulders as dark sunglasses lifted from the stranger’s face.  The smirk that grew, words spoken in a language he didn’t know, didn’t have a chance of ever knowing.

[“This is going to be interesting”]

The quick change from the language that he couldn’t understand to Japanese surprised him.

“You must be Shiro-kun’s friend,” the deep voice nearly purred.

The same power, barely visible and he couldn’t see the man’s soul. Nothing was visible to say what he was other than terrifying.  Swallowing thickly, he forced himself to keep from reacting to the pheromones that the man was giving off.

“He’s a strong one, I can see why you like him, Shiro-kun,”

The chuckle as what was said hit him, shock hitting him as he looked over his shoulder to see Fujiwara- Shiro’s flushed darker.  Surprise and shame crossing the teen’s face, emotions crossing and walls crumbling, he didn’t catch what Shirou uttered as lips moved before the teen ran off and away from the dirt road into the thicket of trees.

A string of curses leaving the stranger’s tongue, the glare leveled at him before he registered what the man had said to him.

“Are you not going to follow him?”

The “tch” sound, a look of disappointment and before he could answer him the car door was opened with such force that he barely had time to jump back to avoid being knocked over.  The speed that the man had taken off startled him, Yonekuni followed.  Running as fast as he could, seeing the back of a suit jacket flying at the incredible speed the man was moving.

The high pitched cry from above, the eagle from before followed them from the skies.  Shadows grew as the trees thickened, blocking out more of the sunlight.  Trying not to be envious of the way the stranger easily dodged the trees, leaping over large boulders and landing with no problem.

Words exploded in the silence, skidding to a stop at the sight of two souls flaring in response to each other.  One from the stranger who held such power that more than urged him to submit, power he didn’t know a single person could have and the other.  The other he didn’t have a single clue as to why.

“Fujiwara!” He hollered out, ignoring the furious look the stranger sent him.  He couldn’t help the feeling of betrayal hitting him.  “You lied to me!  I didn’t know you had madararui blood,” there was a small spark in his chest.  A mixture of hope, disgust and the distant promise.

“Now is not the time for that,” the snap of words, scent of iron rising as the breeze picked up.  Blood in the air, steps taken carefully as arms were open to show no weapons nor any ill will.

The flux of emotions that rolled through the clearing to the edge of the drop off, no wonder the stranger had taken off.  Heart in his throat,  Yonekuni watched as the stranger pulled off his suit jacket, tossing the clothing to the side to roll up sleeves.  Words spoken towards Fujiwara, spoken in privacy that he couldn’t make out.  The slow approach, each step calculated as the stranger’s soul calmed and quickly retracted, leaving behind large ears among  dark hair.  Pheromones enticing, familiar in a way that deep down was a recall of nature and the wilds.

[“Shhhh, there’s no need to run.  Everything is okay,”]

To blame it on a bird

Title: To blame it on a bird
Rating: Teen, rating will change
Series: Sex Pistols, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey 
Pairings/Couples: Fujiwara Shirou, Madarame Yonekuni, Yonekuni/Shirou, Alexios/Past lovers, One-sided crush (innocent)
Part of: Alt Universe: Odyssey
Beta: No Beta, all mistakes are my own
Summary: Sometimes having your fortune read to you isn’t the end of the world.  At least that is what Yonekuni thought.  Thrown from the comfort of what was supposed to be his summer break, will he get over his frustrations and see that everything that could be?  Or will he let that damn bird be his downfall? And what is with that relationship between the two?
Notes: I am so sorry for disappearing.  From January 17th to May 27th, me and the family had been busy with moving.  My dad lost his job on the 17th of January.  From there, we had to get the house ready for sale and moving out of state.  To say real life got in the way is an understatement.  Not only that, when volume 11 of the manga was released, I was extremely disappointed and heartbroken.  Yonekuni is barely in the volume and Shirou is shown in one spot, even though the volume seemed to be focusing on Kunimasa/Norio. Which is why I changed Shirou’s attitude a little.  I want him to have a backbone instead of letting Yonekuni and others walk all over him.

I want this series to actually take Yonekuni and Shirou to Ancient Greece.  Even though they wouldn’t be able to experience it the way Alexios had, this is fan fiction.  So maybe there is a chance, maybe to give them a chance to experience past lives? Maybe, I hope.

—

It was tradition, not just in their family, but in others in their small country.  To visit the renowned and eerily accurate fortune teller.  The influential families that would try to outdo each other in the hopes of getting a step-up against others in their futures.  It didn’t stop those who wondered about “true love”, though more were in the hopes of finding someone rich and powerful.  One would scoff if what was told wasn’t so accurate, or point fingers and proclaim witchcraft.  Still, people with money would make such appointments for themselves, their family and their business.

Yonekuni, at the age of seven, found himself with some of his family at said fortune teller.  Kunimasa, Karen and Manami sat near him, nearly silent if not for the chattering of Karen to both Manami and her phone.  Normally his mother would have joined them, especially when it came to finding out about the connections she could make and the money that she would give anything to slide her fingers through.  Karen though had found out about her ideas and had banned her, sending her out on a “wild goose chase”.  He hadn’t asked why, only hearing Karen admit to her sister before they left.

Yonekuni pressed his hands down on the chair he occupied, struggling not to kick his feet in both nervousness and boredom.  Glancing out of the corner of his eye to Kunimasa, his brother didn’t seem to be bothered by any of this.  He knew, though, that Kunimasa was worried just like him.  He caught the way Kunimasa stared down, the frown that the jaguar wore.  He didn’t look away when Kunimasa looked up, making a promise to himself.  Kunimasa protected him, always seeming to be keeping an eye on him.  

He had heard rumors that those who went first would have the unluckiest of futures read to them.   That bad luck would follow, nipping at their heels until they couldn’t take it.  At the time, of course, he didn’t put much stock into what was being said.  He had learned long ago that adults lie through their teeth just for the fun of it.  But now, as he sat in a chair with the lights on low above, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.  Heart beating heavily in his chest, he made his decision.

This time, he would protect Kunimasa.

Small fingers gripping the cushion he sat on, he forced himself to stop any movement when he heard muffled voices at the other end of the dim waiting room.  Looking up as the door opened with a soft click, he kept his gaze on the figure that stepped through the doorway.  The strange scent that wafts through the room, invading his senses, reminding him of times that had long since passed.

Nearly silent footsteps, more sound of fabric rustling than of the figure moving before stopping in front of him before kneeling down.  Keeping still as eyes watched him, even if he couldn’t see the figure’s face.  He felt as though such eyes were staring into his face, past him and into his very being.

“Hmmm,” a medium hum of a voice as the hood the figure wore was lifted, allowing him to fully see what the older person looked like.

“I wasn’t sure,” the woman murmured to herself, dark eyes watching him before she turned to his brother.  “There’s always a small chance that I could be wrong.  But I know, oh yes,” a happy whisper more to herself than to him and Kunimasa.  He wanted to ask what she was talking about when long fingers touched the center of his forehead and he tried not to shiver at the coolness of her touch.

“It’s you.  You’re first before your brother,” the soft smile as the woman stood up.  “I have a feeling that this won’t be too long.  We’ll be back, Tokashiki-san.”

The woman looked down at him with a small smile, reminding him of a parrot he had seen on tv.

“Come with me, young man and let’s learn what the future holds for you.”

He didn’t want to admit he was scared.  Swallowing down his nerves, he followed the woman into the darkened room that was lit by the multitude of candles that covered the shelving and surfaces of the room.  He took a seat at the table, across the woman, watching as she settled in her seat.  The scent that had teased him earlier seemed to thicken and he finally understood, everything seemed to clear up.  Opening his mouth to ask, the woman was quicker to speak as though he could read his mind.

“You know the rumors,” the melody-like voice, different from the way she had spoken earlier.  “There’s truth to those rumors, you know.  You can call me Tori-san, young Madarame-kun.”

The smile she gave, something he shouldn’t have been able to see in the dark.

“If you have any questions, this is the best time to ask, before we get started.  Once we start, there won’t be much time to ask.” The woman, Tori, explained as she gently folded her hands together.  He could faintly see though he couldn’t fully comprehend what he was seeing, such sights were nothing but myths that others told themselves.

“Can you really predict someone’s future?” Yonekuni asked, really wanting to know.

“Hmm,” a tilt of a head before the slight nod.  “It’s always up to the person.  I merely give someone or family an insight of what could happen.  There’s always the small chance that the path a person walks splits.  This, my dear, is just a guide.  It’s up to you if you want to believe.”

Almost like magic, the candles that almost illuminated Tori’s head dimmed further, shrouding them in further darkness and he knew that the time for questions was over.  

“Place your hands palms up, Madarame-kun,” the request that he followed, compelled to follow whatever she said.  He felt the smoothness of her skin as she picked his hands in hers, long fingers curling around his in almost motherly way.  He startled at what felt like electricity running from Tori’s fingertip and into his palms.  Instincts wanted him to pull away and he would have pulled away if not for long fingers holding tight.  Looking up to try and just see anything that would give him some sort of hint of what was happening. 

For the briefest moment he thought he saw what could be called her true soul.  Wings, long and feathers that drooped with heavy plumage in colors that he couldn’t describe if he were to try.  A sound that rang down to his soul and he found his soul responding, though more like a juvenile crocodile squeak.  Heat rushing to his cheeks, he forgot his embarrassment as the woman spoke, above a whisper and only for him.

“Oh yes, you desire to protect your brother, just as much as he has you.  Everything that will happen is going to lead to the event that will change your life forever,” fingers tightened a little more on his and the sudden rush of heat that radiated off of Tori that could only be described as a fire that didn’t burn.  Didn’t hurt in the way he would have thought it would.  Instead, a comforting sensation that compelled him to close his eyes in the hopes he could picture what Tori was speaking about.

“You’ll be working hard, hmmm,” a hum of approval as fingers twitched and relaxed.

Yonekuni wanted to ask, wanted to know how and what he could do to help Kunimasa as Kunimasa has helped and protected him.  Licking at his bottom lip in nervousness, he didn’t dare ask as the scent that had teased earlier thickened.  A breath in gave a hint of rain that would never fall again on a land that was desperate for it.  Clenching his teeth, he tried to keep himself still as his heartbeat picked up and started to pound, racing and leaving him to struggle to hear what was being spoken.  He could feel the squeezing of his hands, electricity racing across his skin from where Tori held his hands.

“Love, a rare chance indeed-”

Love?

“But to find it young enough, it’s up to you to reach out and grasp it.  Hold onto it.”

As the older woman spoke, Yonekuni found himself lost in what she was telling him.  A lot he knew he wouldn’t remember, the more important information he would struggle to remember.  He could only really focus on what she said, to be able to find love.

“Ohhhh, this is a bit strange, isn’t it?  Hmmm,” the vibrations of the humming made their way towards him.  The heat of their hands together was being to become uncomfortable and deep down he wanted to pull his hands away.

“Working hard on a farm, what a surprise,” the sound of happiness was easily evident in Tori’s voice.  “This is where you’ll find your happiness.”

—

Yonekuni kept his head down as he thought of what the fortune teller told him.  Kunimasa had been taken to the same room that he had been in as he returned to his seat.  The curious look that Karen gave him, as though the older woman wanted to ask what was told to him.  He had asked before if Karen had gone when she was younger.  The nekomata shook her head and answered.

“No, I couldn’t afford it back then. And now, I only do it to insure my children’s future.  I rather not know, that makes life more interesting.”

“Does that mean life is going to be boring?”  He asked, curious to know.

“No, Yonekuni.  Because as time passes on, we tend to forget.  What is being spoken here will be nothing but a whisper in the back of your mind when you get older,” Karen tried to explain quietly.  “Setting aside that just blatantly telling you what is going to happen, people have free will.  Some follow in the sense of duty to what they believe.  Some don’t want to believe that their future is set in stone.” 

For a brief moment Yonekuni could have sworn he had seen Karen’s soul.

“Did mom follow what she was told?” He asked, seeing her body relax at his question.  The smile that crossed her lips didn’t seem to be for him.

“That is something you need to ask her yourself, Yonekuni.  What is told here is only for you to tell.  I nor your Mom are privy to what is spoken to you-“

Karen paused as Manami shifted in Karen’s hold, meowing with curiosity as a white paw reached out.

Yonekuni knew, knew that no one would know what was told to him unless he decided to share such knowledge.

“Don’t let your mom try to convince you to tell her what was told to you,” Karen warned, giving him a look.

He nodded, swallowing at the look of seriousness on Karen’s face.  His mother was prized in her ability to manipulate people to get what she wanted.  Glancing at the clock, Yonekuni lost himself in his thoughts as he waited for Kunimasa to finish.

—

In time he had almost forgotten what he had been told so long ago.  Brief whispers that would remind him, even if he couldn’t fully remember.  The odd friendships that he would try to forge, falling apart when his disgust became too much.  Now, the only friends he had that mattered were the girls that wanted him, wanted more and more.

Now, here he was, back home with his family and the news that brought back the rush of memories of being seven years old.  The scent of incense that had clouded his mind.  The love he would find.

“You’ll be working this summer with one of our vendors, Yonekuni,” Karen looked over to Inukai and nodded to the man.  An incline of a head, the door opening to bring in an older woman and a teen, gesturing to the table that he sat at.

Quickly eying the teen, dark hair parted and glasses that hid eyes, Yonekuni gave a huff of disappointment at the sight of the male before a spark of recognition hit him, even if he didn’t fully know the teen.

“Fujiwara?” 

A quiet whisper, not paying attention to the look of irritation that Karen had shot him.  He caught the tensing of shoulders from the teen, before the nod, not putting much thought into the lack of response.  He didn’t catch the look Fujiwara sent him, turning his thoughts inward to the feeling of disappointment.

Easily remembering the near promise of love, wondering how and when.  With who and if it was the type of love that people would gladly kill for.  Disappointed in the fact that the person who had joined wasn’t some girl that he could chat up and have fun with while searching for that one person.

Huffing out a sound that resembled a groan, swallowing back the rest at the glare the older woman shot him.  Despite the overwhelming smell of monkeys, the woman who sat beside Fujiwara held herself with the elegance that Karen had.  Turning out the conversation that the two women held, Yonekuni glanced out of the corner of his eye, catching the look that Fujiwara sent him.  A brief look he couldn’t decipher, feeling his stomach twist in a way he had only felt once.

Are you okay?  What’re you doing out here?  You’re so cold-

Shame filled him as the heat rose on his cheeks, the private memory that was the closest thing he could link to love.  The only time he felt anything close to what was promised to him.

Looking up to see the two older women converse, the tension drained from the room before he fully tuned into the conversation.

“So, did you have anything new that the restaurant would be easy to sell?” Karen asked, leaning forward on her elbows with a smile, looking like a cat with the canary.

The woman who sat across from Karen gave a fond smile before pulling out keys from her purse.  “I thought you would ask, Karen-san.  Shiro-chan, please be a dear and grab the cases I left in the car.  They’re in the trunk,” she handed the keys to her son.

Dark eyebrows shot up and if Karen wasn’t so composed and regal, Yonekuni knew she would have whistled at the mention of cases.

“Yonekuni, go with him and help carry those cases,” the calm order that held veiled words of not to argue.

“Yes, yes,” Yonekuni answered, pushing himself up and out of his chair.  He caught the way the dark haired teen hesitated.  It should have been obvious that Fujiwara wouldn’t know his way around.  Shooting a look at Fujiwara, he motioned the teen to follow.

“Ahh, yes” formal words in an unsure voice, completely different from how the two older women talked.  Hearing footsteps behind him, he led Fujiwara through the nearlike maze of halls and towards the guest entrance.  Taking a peak over his shoulder, he caught stiffening shoulders and the deep breath that Fujiwara took.  If he were to lean in he could have heard the little pep talk the teen gave himself 

“So,” he started as he held open the door so Fujiwara could get through before kicking the door stand underneath to secure it from closing on them.  

“How do you know about this place?” Yonekuni asked, nodding towards the restaurant that they had just exited.

A faint intake of breath, he gave Fujiwara a look before hearing the beeping of the vehicle. 

“My parents have been working with your family for several years,” Fujiwara explained, opening up the trunk to an expensive looking car.  Faint clinking of glass, four cases of thick bottles with labels written in languages he couldn’t read.  It wasn’t hard to guess.

“Your family sells alcohol?”

As soon as the question left his lips, he cursed himself for the stupid question.  He had been expecting a laugh at his expense, when silence was his answer Yonekuni looked up.  A gentle expression on Fujiwara’s face and the hint of a smile had the teen turning his gaze away in embarrassment.

“No, well, yes.  But not in the way you’re thinking,” Fujiwara explained, almost hesitantly as he reached down to grab one case to hand to him.  Yonekuni knew that the cases wouldn’t be light, with the amount of bottles each case carried.  What he wasn’t expecting was the fact that the teen had little trouble lifting the first case, not to mention the second one.  Shifting his stance enough, Yonekuni took several steps back to give Fujiwara enough room to gather the last two cases.

With practice grace, the teen closed and locked the car.

“So, are you gonna explain?”  Yonekuni asked with a hint of impatience in his voice, leading them back inside.  

A look of embarrassment crossed Fujiwara’s face, cheeks flushed with color that almost reached ears.  Dark eyes glanced at him then away.  He didn’t get the feeling that the teen was shy, from the few interactions that he had with him in school.  A voice in the back of his mind nagged at him, telling him that this conversation and demeanor was completely out of the norm for him.  If he remembered correctly, his first action against Fujiwara was punching him in the face, breaking the teen’s glasses.  He couldn’t blame the male for being hesitant with him.

When silence was his answer, he held back the sigh and quietly led them through the restaurant and towards the office that Karen was in.  The quiet chatter between the two women quieted down as he and Fujiwara stepped inside, setting the cases of alcohol on the floor.  Instead of taking a seat where they were previously seated, Yonekuni stood and waited for Karen to dismiss him.  He wanted to get back to his phone and push away any thoughts of his pathetic attempt at conversation.

“You weren’t kidding, I’m impressed,” Karen leaned forward to eye the cases he and Fujiwara were holding.  “So is it true, Shiro-kun?”

At the mention of his name, the dark haired teen looked up.  Yonekuni watched as Karen shared a look with the other woman, as though they knew a secret they were dying to share.  He caught the briefest look that the teen gave him, as though Fujiwara was just as confused as he was.  Catching the mouthing of silent words Fujiwara’s mother was giving the teen, the quick flooding of more blood to flushed cheeks.  Yonekuni could almost hear the sigh that escaped Fujiwara’s lips.  The slight tremble of lips and the deep breath

The clearing of a throat and the nodding of a head.

“Yes, I can usually detect the faintest of scent-“. The dark haired boy began before being interrupted.

“Don’t be so modest, Shiroo-chan.  He was able to find some wild truffles when we were out visiting France just the previous year,” the praise had coloring flooding cheeks already heated up.

Yonekuni didn’t have a clue as to what “wild truffles” were, nor did he fully want to know.  What he wanted to know, really wanted to know is why Karen was so friendly with someone from a monkey like family.  And why was she so insistent on him working over his summer break?

“That’s impressive,” the faint praise that laced the words that the nekomata spoke.  Yonekuni snorted, knowing that Karen was willing to twist her words to get what she wanted.

Ignoring the look that the older woman shot him, Yonekuni pushed himself away from the wall with “this is bullshit” mumbled under his breath.

“If you don’t need me anymore,” he tossed over his shoulder as he headed towards the door.  He heard Karen apologized to her guests before the shout of his name stopped him in his tracks.

“You’re being awfully rude.  Seeing as I don’t need you here right now you can go.  But you better damn well be prepared to leave,” the almost hiss of words and for a moment he could see the flickering of Karen’s soul.  Ears that laid back in disappointment as dark eyes narrowed at him.

“Pack what you need as well as your id and your passport.  You’re not going to slack off this summer break.” Unspoken warnings, the silent threat of not fucking things up for everyone.

Great.  Another reminder that screwing up is what everyone seems to expect of him.

Swallowing around the lump growing in his throat, Yonekuni nodded without saying a word and closed the door quietly behind him.  It was bad enough when his mom got onto his case about screwing up.  When Karen got onto his case about just stabbed the pain in deeper.  A quick glance up and down the halls showed empty, allowing him to sneak to his room without interruptions.

Setting his jaw at the sight of his open suitcase on the bed and the sight of Kunimasa sitting on a chair by his desk.

“She didn’t waste any time,” Yonekuni huffed in frustration as he grabbed the suitcase and tossed it to the floor.  Ignoring the surprised sound Kunimasa gave, Yonekuni dropped onto the bed, turning over so his back was to his brother.

He felt the bed dip as the jaguar sat behind him, reminding him of how much support that Kunimasa always gave him.

“You know that’s not what she meant, right?” Kunimasa offered, leaning back against him a lite

“What?  Do you know something I don’t?” Yonekuni snarked back, curling in on himself to protect his heart from the unknown.

“You remember, don’t you?”

He twitched, curling tighter before huffing a sound of frustration.

“Of course I do!  Fighting with mom about setting up potential engagements, I know at some point what I was told would come true.  And now?” Yonekuni trailed off, wondering if he could actually admit what he was feeling.  They never really hid how they felt, even if he and Kunimasa hid how they felt from their mom and Karen.

“I’m fucking scared, ya’ know?  I want love, isn’t that what a lot of people want?  But now, being told I’m working on a farm, just like how Tori-san said,” he whispered as he gave a look over his shoulder to see the jaguar tense at the name.

“You never did speak of what she told you,” Yonekuni whispered, turning over to face Kunimasa.  He had thought he was protecting his brother by going first but it made no difference.  Seeing his brother being affected by what the fortune teller-

“She told me that I’ll find that one person I would kill for and that they’re a returner to ancestry.  And she didn’t say when it would happen.  Not one fucking clue as to when.”

Yonekuni watched as Kunimasa dropped his head in his hands as the heavyweight heaved a heavy sigh of frustration.

“And not to trust anything mom says,” Kunimasa admitted, giving him a look.

“Shit,” Yonekuni gave a low whistle as he sat up to bump his shoulder against Kunimasa.

“And you’ve never said anything about yours either,” Kunimasa pointed out.

“Yeah.  This whole thing with Karen, Tori-san said I would find love working on a farm,” Yonekuni tsked with disgust.  Even if he had to work with Fujiwara’s family, a damned monkey family.

“I heard something different,” Kunimasa offered as he pushed himself off the bed to reach for the thrown suitcase.

At his look of confusion, the nekomata continued, pulling Yonekuni to his feet as he explained.

“That it’s a place that doesn’t have farm animals, only focusing on alcohol brewing and bottling,” a shrug before Kunimasa gave him a pat on his shoulder.  “Look at it this way, you’re a lot closer to this than I am,” a nod that he didn’t understand.  “I’m sure of it, a lot closer.  Enjoy the trip and maybe you’ll get to learn and experience things that you’ve never thought you would be able to.”

He caught the look that Kunimasa gave him, as though his brother knew something he didn’t.  Shaking his head, Yonekuni knew not to try to get more information from Kunimasa.  His brother was just as stubborn as he was, knowing the nekomata would only give him information when he was ready.

“Could you at least tell me where this place is?” Yonekuni asked, hoping for at least a clue.  By the way Kunimasa’s eyebrows raised and the shake of a head, Yonekuni cursed under his breath knowing he wouldn’t get any sort of hint from his brother.  Turning his back, he started packing and guessing what he needed.

When the door closed with a quiet click, Yonekuni checked to make sure he was alone before dropping to his knees.  Reaching under his bed for the box he had shoved under earlier. Thumbing the small combination lock, he opened it and pulled out the notes he had written down so long ago.  Everything that he could remember before the session ended with the fortune teller.  Licking his dry lips, he read over everything, memorizing.

Taking a deep breath, he folded the notes and slipped them into his suitcase.