Title: Pieces of Heaven - Just In Dreams
Author: Shadow Arashi
Fandom: Tsubasa Chronicle
Pairing: KuroganexFay
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1408
Summary: Kurogane sees something that brings unwanted memories and old fears back to the surface.
Warnings: Just some hinted at off-screen sexing between our favorite couple, very mild angst and fluff. This takes place shortly after the manga and assumes Fay is staying with Kurogane in Nihon. First part of the Pieces of Heaven series which centers on their life after the manga.
Disclaimer: You really think I would be writing fanfics if I own TRC, Kurogane or Fay?

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Kurogane let his voice trail off as he finished his report, bowed and left Tomoyo-hime with Soma, eager to go back to the sanctuary of his room and rest after his long day patrolling the borders.

He ran a hand through his hair as he walked through the corridors of the castle, drinking in the familiar views he hadn't seen in so long, relieved and satisfied with the feeling of having accomplished his duty.

Still he could hardly believe their days of travel were over. He was finally back home. It was almost too good to be true.

No more running through worlds, no more wild chases, the assassin of his parents was no more of this world -and hopefully the bastard was dead or harmless in other worlds as well- and all the members of their little group were finally able to get their wishes.

Things had gone back to their original situation, everything coming full circle. With one exception.

Red eyes softened slightly at the thought of the person waiting for him, his pace becoming instinctively just a bit more hurried.

The dark haired ninja pushed the wooden door open and stepped inside his room, taking off his sword and resting it against the wall. He was about to call out for his wizard -he couldn't help the pride rising in his chest at that accomplishment, that he could call him his freely now- when he heard a coughing sound.

Kurogane froze.

The coughing sounded pretty harsh, as if the person was having trouble breathing.

An image of his mother's face as she coughed, sick from using her powers, flashed before his eyes and before he knew what he was doing Kurogane was running across the room and throwing open the communication door.

Fay was kneeling on the ground before a pile of clothes, coughing into his hand, eye screwed shut and long blond locks shadowing parts of his face.

For an instant the blond hair seemed to turn to raven, the clothes seemed the ones of a miko and then a white coat and Fay was coughing blood in that icy palace as his world died around him and-

A golden eye blinked at him in puzzlement.

Kurogane snapped back to himself, suddenly aware that he was kneeling next to the blonde, his hands clutching the smaller man's shoulders so tightly it must have hurt him even with his vampire strength.

The mage was alright, startled but fine and not a single drop of blood stained his white clothes, yet-

"You... "

"Kuro-sama?"

"What the hell was that?!"

Fay tilted his head to the side, looking genuinely confused.

"What are you talking about?"

"You were coughing."

"Yes, is that why you are making such a scary face? Kuro-sama worries too much!"

"As if! What's wrong with you?!"

"Kuro-sama…"

"Don't you dare-"

Kurogane was cut short when the back of a pale hand brushed against his cheek in a delicate caress. It was soft, caring and loving, a comforting gesture because it was given freely and with no reserve or second thoughts. Not since the events in Celes.

The panic -when did he lose control of his emotion?- that had threatened to overwhelm him faded away into nothing at the contact, his breathing slowing down as elegant fingers traced invisible patterns against his jaw soothingly.

"I'm fine, I promise."

Fay said gently, eye soft and that precious, small, real smile on his lips. He was not hiding, not looking away, he was not tensed either and Kurogane believed him.

"Then what-"

"Why are you so worried? It's just a coughing fit. I won't die from something like that."

He couldn't suppress the snort that escaped him then and pulled the blond into a sudden hug, making him fall nose first into his chest and pulling a surprised exclamation that sounded suspiciously like a mewl from the vampire at the sudden movement.

"Just… answer me…"

He could feel Fay's chest rising and falling slowly against his torso and his soft breath against his neck, lulling him slowly into a calm, tranquil state of mind.

The vampire stayed silent for a while, then sighed and twisted a bit into the embrace until he was given enough space to lay down and rested his head on the ninja's lap, boneless as a relaxed cat.

"It's really nothing to worry about Kuro-sama. It's just that now that I have lost what was left of my magic, the vampire blood in my body has to work more to keep me alive. I only found out after I made the deal. It's funny in a way, I never realized how much my magic was part of me until I gave it all up." the strong hands tighten their hold on him and Fay smiled reassuringly at the ninja "But I'm fine really, just… sometimes if I'm tired or too hungry the vampire blood will have a harder time keeping me healthy, so I get sick. It's not that bad though, and it never last. It's not life threatening which is why I didn't tell you right away. I thought you would make a big deal out of it and at the time we couldn't afford it."

"You…"

The word was uttered so lowly, barely a whisper, that Fay nearly didn't hear him.

His smile faded at the pain underlying that single word, making the proud man before him sound like a wounded animal. He pushed himself up with a sorrowful eye, hating the fact that he was once again bringing pain to the one he cared for the most.

"Kuro-sama… why are you reacting so strongly? I swore I would never give up my life ever again, don't you…. Don't you trust me?"

The vampire had to look away then, unable to face that possibility and started crawling off the ninja's lap, almost giving in into the instinct to run again but those hands -those strong, warm hands which had always held onto him- kept him firmly in place.

"It's- it's not like that. I trust you, don't ever doubt it. But-" he took a deep breath, looking down at his lap "my mother… she was a miko- a priestess. She had powers, like you. It made her sick. She was coughing often. She died partly because it exhausted her body and in Celes you-"

His words dissolved into nothing when a finger -was it trembling?- rested lightly against his lips, stopping him as surely as cold steel against his throat would have. He didn't- couldn't think and then his eyes were meeting molten, burning gold.

He wouldn't have been able to describe the expression Fay had on his face at that moment except that it was sorrow, pain, warmth, caring, compassion and love and regrets and so many others things all rolled into one.

Kurogane let his magician pull him into a hug and both men stayed wrapped in each others' arms in silence, neither of them wanting to break the small bubble they were living in.

Then Fay reluctantly, slowly pulled away -his hands never let go of Kurogane's sleeves- and smiled at the warrior.

"I won't die, Kuro-sama. Not as long as you are here."

It was enough.

They understood each others and Kurogane just nodded sharply in answer, not trusting himself to speak yet and buried his head in his lover's neck.

A tanned hand busied itself in the shining strands of gold hair while he listened to the comforting sound of the blonde's heartbeat.

And when that same tanned hand slipped away to tug at his blue obi Fay just closed his eye and kissed the darker man lightly, crawling onto his lap and opened his arms to him, offering the comfort of his body and heart, the reassurance that he was here and alive and his while clothes fell around them, forgotten and unnecessary.

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Hours later Kurogane glanced at the sleeping body beside him, letting his fingers toy absently with the strands of blond silk spread on their pillow.

He wrapped one lock around his finger, raised it to his mouth slowly before brushing his lips against that spun gold in a silent promise, a vow that this pale figure on his futon would never, ever share the fate of his parents.

Then, reassured and at peace Kurogane lay down and followed the blond into sleep, one metal arm laying above them in a protective embrace.