Disclaimer: I do not own Servamp or any of the characters

Mahiru clutched the present box against his chest as he ran. He was too afraid to look behind him but he knew the hounds were all but nipping at his heels. Their growls were dangerously close and Mahiru forced himself to run faster. His escape was made more difficult when the cursed trees reached out to grab him. He ducked beneath the branches but tripped over its roots.

The present box flew from his hands and Mahiru swore beneath his breath. He risked his life for it and he refused to lose it after coming so far. Mahiru scurried to his feet and raced to the box. He opened it and was glad that the fire inside hadn't faded. Once he confirmed that, he closed the box securely and stood. His heart dropped when he heard the hounds howl behind him and ran blindly.

Most would call him a fool for trying to steal fire. He was one of the minor gods and he hated how the Eight Olympians treated humans that only wanted their protection. The gods had a falling out and the humans had become a casualty in their fight. Winter had plagued mankind for decades now and Mahiru couldn't stand to see them suffer.

He decided to steal fire so they would have sunlight once again. Each Olympian had their own flame that they protected in their homes. Even though, Sleepy Ash was the God of the Dead and the most feared, Mahiru thought that he would be able to steal his fire. Entering the Forest of Ash was already a death wish but if the gods caught him stealing fire, they would do far worse than kill him.

Mahiru cursed when he reached a river. It was too wide to jump across and he couldn't risk swimming. The godly fire would survive in the water but Mahiru surely wouldn't. Souls caught in its current, no matter if it was human or god, were doomed never to escape. Peering into the water, he could see the souls desperately fighting the current and felt pity for them. The river was the passageway to the center of the forest and where they would be judged by Sleepy Ash.

He forced himself to focus on his mission and ran along the river's edge. Mahiru hoped that he would find the bridge he used to enter the forest. Earth was just beyond that bridge and that thought made Mahiru run faster. He was almost out of the forest and then he would be able to gift the humans with fire. He didn't know how the Olympians would punish him after that but he knew he would be able to go with the knowledge that he helped the humans. Unlike last time…

Mahiru shook the memory from his mind and forced himself to focus on escaping Ash's hounds. Still, the memories made him stagger long enough for one of them to catch his cape. He tried to pull it free of its grip but his godly strength paled to an Olympian's hound. His cape tore and Mahiru stumbled backwards. He couldn't catch anything to stop himself from falling into the river.

Immediately, he was dragged beneath the water by the souls. The dead must've sensed his lifeforce and desperately clawed at him. Mahiru tried to push them away but there was so many of them and he couldn't move very well. He swore when the present box was torn from his hands and the fire spilled out. Blindly, Mahiru reached out and grabbed the ball of fire.

He was relieved when he closed his hands around the fire. But that quickly turned to panic when the fire enveloped his fist and crawled up his arm. The fire surrounded his body but Mahiru was surprised that it didn't hurt or burn him. Instead, the soft warmth around him felt comforting and safe. It also made the lost souls shrink away from him.

Mahiru looked around him, confused for a moment. He looked up to the water's surface and swam back up. A hand broke through the water and grabbed his wrist but Mahiru didn't feel fright. It felt oddly familiar as it dragged him out of the water. He was pulled onto a riverboat and it took a moment for him to re-orientate himself. As he coughed painfully, a warm hand patted his back.

"Thank you," Mahiru whispered and turned to his saviour. He was wearing a dark cloak that covered most of his body so Mahiru assumed that he was the ferryman of Sleepy Ash who was tasked to deliver souls to the center of the forest. He was also infamous for shoving poor souls into the river for not paying him. Faced with someone like that, Mahiru didn't know what else to say. He would certainly push him back into the river if he knew that he stole fire from Sleepy Ash.

"What is a lowly god doing in my river?" He asked with a lazy drawl. He yawned and walked back to stern to steer the boat. Mahiru didn't know if he should be relieved or worried that the man didn't bother to question him more. The shadow of his hood hid his expression but Mahiru could see his piercing red eyes. "I'll take you back to shore but you better have a good explanation by then."

"I was going for a swim?" Mahiru had to wince at his own lie. He was a famously poor liar. From the corner of his eyes, he watched the man's reaction. Surprisingly, he chuckled a little. He didn't expect it to sound so charming, considering his dark appearance.

"Try again. Stealing one of the Olympian's fire is a serious offense so think of a better excuse." Mahiru was shocked that he mentioned the fire. He assumed he lost it in the river because it wasn't in his hands anymore. Did the man see him stealing it? If he did, why hadn't he taken him to Sleepy Ash for punishment? The man must've noticed the confusion on his face because he explained.

"I saw a bright light in the river and knew that it was fire. You're lucky I saw it and pulled you out." He said and Mahiru nodded. He was still a little confused by the situation because he should've been trapped in the river. Mahiru looked up when he went on. "Unluckily for you, the fire chose you as its host. It's inside you now. Once the gods see you, they'll know and execute you to take it back."

"What do you mean?" The man gestured to Mahiru's now glowing cape. He was shocked to see that its black colour had turned to amber.

"You absorbed the fire into your body when you touched it underwater. I don't know how or why Ash's fire chose you but there's nothing we could do about it now." As he guided the boat through the river, he watched Mahiru carefully. Not many people dared to enter the Forest of Ash. "So, what are you going to do? Fight? Run away?"

Mahiru closed his eyes against the words and his hands tightened into fists. The last time he did either, he lived to regret it. He lowered his heads and thought over his options. "I'll face them and plead my case. There's really nothing else I can do. I really made a mess of things and all I wanted to do was help. Is there a way to retrieve the fire from within me?"

"One that doesn't require destroying your body? Not that I know of." He saw the fear passing through his brown eyes and said in a much softer voice. "Why did you steal it? The fire will give you power but is that really worth angering the Eight Olympians?"

"I didn't want power. The winter is worsening everyday and the humans would perish if someone doesn't help them. I thought giving them fire would give them a way to survive independently of the gods. It's clear that the Eight doesn't care for them." Mahiru's hands tightened into fists. "They started a petty fight with each other and don't even care about the others affected. Someone had to stand up for the weak."

"So, you decided that was you. But why steal from Sleepy Ash and not one of the other Olympians? He's the most powerful and the God of the Dead. Haven't you heard the stories of his cruelty? He traps souls in this forest and give unreasonable punishments to sinners." He pointed out and was shocked when Mahiru shook his head.

"Thinking simply, he's the most docile. I've heard the stories and I understand that there is some truth in them but I doubt he's that cruel. He has the most power but he hasn't involved himself in the fight between the Olympians and he keeps to himself here. It's his duty to contain the soul of the dead here and punish them so I can't condemn him for doing his job."

"You're an odd one… I don't know your name."

"It's Mahiru." He smiled. At first, he was a little cautious of the ferryman but his quiet presence slowly calmed Mahiru. He knew that he should be afraid that he was taking him to the Olympians but he wasn't. He entered the forest knowing very well that he could die. "May I ask for yours?"

"… I forgot my name long ago." He said in a low voice and Mahiru could hear the sadness in it.

"How about I give you a nickname then? It'll be easier to talk to each other. Let's see…" Mahiru stood and walked towards him. He looked over him carefully, trying to think of a name that would suit him. He didn't realize how close he was standing or that the man had a blush hidden by his black hood. "What about Kuro? It's simple and short so we can remember it easily."

"Kuro? Like the colour black? You're not the creative type, are you?" Kuro chuckled when Mahiru pouted at him. "I guess it's better than nothing so you can call me whatever you want. You should sit down before you make this boat flip. We're going to arrive at Sleepy Ash's home soon so you might want to enjoy the scene while you can. I know it's not much."

"For the forest of the undead, it's actually beautiful." Mahiru sat down and scanned the riverbank. The moonlight and the river's glow gave the forest a mysterious blue tint. He didn't notice when he was fleeing but the forest was almost tranquil. He looked into the river and was confused that the souls were gone. Mahiru turned back to Kuro and he wanted to ask him about Sleepy Ash.

"We're here." Kuro said and jumped onto the dock to tie the boat securely. Mahiru stood but his footing wasn't as steady as he tried to climb out because he wasn't used to riding boats. When he saw that, Kuro held out a hand to help him. His body suddenly felt lighter and he floated out of the boat. Once Kuro let go of his hand, his body slowly lowered onto the dock and Mahiru had to wonder about him. A mere ferryman shouldn't have any powers.

"Are you coming or not?" Mahiru realized that he had walked off without him and he rushed to catch up to him. Kuro slowed his pace so Mahiru could walk beside him. Looking down at him, he had to admire how calm he was, considering his situation. "Hey, aren't you afraid?"

"I'm scared beyond belief." He took out his hands from his pockets so he could see them shaking. Kuro took his hand in his and tenderly rubbed his thumb over his palm to stop them from shaking. He saw Mahiru's confused expression and quickly let go of his hand. Mahiru looked so sad that he tried to comfort him without thinking.

"I'm sorry…" Kuro couldn't think of anything else to say and turned away from him.

"It's okay. I knew this plan was going to kill me. I just wish that I could've given fire to the humans." Mahiru continued walking down the path lit by fireflies. "Kuro, are you close with Sleepy Ash? Do you think you can convince him to help the humans after I'm gone? He kept to himself all these years but this shouldn't be too much trouble for him."

Kuro didn't answer but Mahiru could understand why he was so silent. It was a lot to ask someone he barely knew but he saw a kindness in Kuro. He did save him from drowning when he could've been dragged down as well. Mahiru followed him until they stopped in front of a large cave that was Sleepy Ash's home. He gulped a little as he looked into the dark entrance and down the stairs.

"It's okay. Just watch your step on these stairs." Kuro said when he saw him hesitate. Lanterns came to life when they walked into the cave and they descended the stairs together.

He heard a dog howl and Mahiru flinched a little, thinking that they would attack him again. Instinctively, he moved closer to Kuro and grabbed his cloak. Mahiru saw them bounding up the stairs and tried to pull Kuro away from them. The hounds were after him so there was no reason for him to be hurt. Kuro didn't move and held out his hand to the hound instead.

"Are you crazy, Kuro?" He moved around him in the small staircase and stood in front of Kuro. Mahiru intended to protect him but the hounds turned to smoke before they even reached him. He was confused and watched the smoke reform into a small cat on top of Kuro's shoulder.

"I told you, it's okay." Kuro moved the cat from his shoulder and cradled it into his arms. He continued walking down the stairs, still unfazed.

"… Kuro, who exactly are you? Are you really the ferryman?" Mahiru asked hesitantly. He turned to face him and pulled off his hood. From his light blue hair, Mahiru knew who he was instantly. Sleepy Ash, God of the Dead. Kuro saw the terror in his eyes and expected him to run back up the stairs. Instead, he walked down the three steps between them. "… You're Sleepy Ash."

"Haven't heard someone call me that in ages." Kuro didn't bother to tell him the names others called him.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Mahiru demanded but Kuro's expression didn't change.

"I didn't intend to lie to you from the beginning. But after I pulled you out of that river, I wanted to know what kind of person stole my fire. I wasn't expecting you to be so interesting. I didn't think a lowly god would risk his life to save simple humans."

"I didn't want anymore regret in my life. If I just sit by and watched them die, I could never live with that guilt. Have you ever looked back and wonder how different your life would be if you did something different? I know how terrible that feels. I never want something to make me think that again." Mahiru explained vaguely.

"If that's true, I have a way that could save your life and help the humans. But I'm certain that you won't like it." Kuro spoke slowly, debating if he should even tell Mahiru his idea.

"You will help the humans?" Mahiru asked, hopefully. It still baffled Kuro that he was so fixated on helping people he didn't even know. "If there's a way, I'll do anything to help you! Thank you for doing this for them. What's your plan?"

"I'll tell my siblings that I gave you the fire as a wedding gift." He couldn't have shocked Mahiru more. For a moment, he thought that he didn't hear him correctly. Kuro took his right hand and lowered himself onto one knee. "Marry me, Mahiru."

Licht stood in front of the golden gates of Olympus and looked through the bars to the paradise beyond. He never thought that he would ever go to one of the Eight for help but here he was. He had a great disdain for the gods for denying him a place among them. His mother was a human and his father gave up his godhood for her but they always told him that he was something far more powerful than a god. He was an angel.

Reminding himself of that, Licht placed his hand on the gates. It opened before he could even push them and he found himself staring up at smiling red eyes. Licht scowled because it was the last person that he wanted to see. He was also the person that he needed help from.

"Lichtan, you're here!" Hyde was surprised to see Licht at his doorstep but he couldn't be more excited. He hid his emotions behind a smug smile and leaned against the gate. "So, what made you finally answer my dinner invitation? Did you realize you love me and came running back to me?"

"Imagining a world where we're in a relationship of any kind makes me want to puke, Shit Rat. I wished I left you dying in that snow storm." Licht brushed him off briskly. He pushed past him and walked through the gate so they could speak in private. When Licht saved Hyde, he thought that he was a mere human and treated his wounds the following week. But, in reality, he was one of the Eight Olympians.

"So, why are you here?" Hyde could see how conflicted he was. He was a prideful and stubborn man so he hated to ask for other's help, especially Hyde's. Concerned, Hyde gently touched his arm. "What is it, Angel-chan?"

"If I could ask anyone else for help, I would." Licht took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Hyde. "Mahiru, my friend, went to the Forest of Ash to steal fire. Now, your brother is forcing him to marry him as punishment! He says that it's consensual but there's no way he would marry an Olympian. He's being forced to marry him! We need to find him and save him before they make their vows."

"So, Sleepy Ash got married? Never thought he would be the first one to tie the knot. I've never heard of a god named Mahiru before so he must be one of the lesser ones. Well, good luck with that Lichtan." Hyde shrugged and then threw aside the letter. He brushed off the issue so easily that it angered Licht. He grabbed his tunic and shook him.

"Think of someone else for once! Mahiru's my best friend and he's trapped in Hell, married to some cruel god. Is there even a sliver of humanity in you that's moved to help him?" Licht pleaded with him and bit his lip when Hyde was silent. Roughly, he pushed him away. "Forget it, I'll save him myself. I don't even know what I was thinking when I came here to ask you for help."

"Why did you?" Hyde had to ask.

"… I don't know where the Forest of Ash is. I can look for it on my own but I might find him too late. You know where Sleepy Ash is and you can guide me there." Licht explained and lowered his head. Those seven days he thought he was a human replayed itself in his mind but now he knew that it was all an act. The god enjoyed playing with human and lesser gods alike. Thinking that, Licht turned to leave.

Hyde looked down at the letter again and then to Licht's back. Before he could leave, he ran forward and grabbed the door. "Wait, Lichtan. Are you sure you want to go alone? You're going to get yourself killed. Even if you find the forest, you can't bring your friend back after he ate its fruit."

"I still need to try. He's my friend." Licht said simply. Hyde recognized the determination in his eyes from the time he dragged him out of the blizzard. It seemed impossible but Licht saved both of them that night. If anyone could face an Olympian and win, it was a delusional angel.

"You've convinced me." Hyde grinned when he saw the surprise on Licht's face. "I'll take you to Sleepy Ash. I have unfinished business with him, anyways. I'll get my revenge against him and your friend will be free of him."

Kuro found Mahiru in the underground garden. He was sitting on a bench and petting the black cat on his lap. Mahiru's eyes looked unfocused and he hadn't notice him approach yet. He didn't draw attention to himself because he wanted to think of what to say to him. When he proposed to him, he honestly didn't think that Mahiru would accept.

"I didn't think such a beautiful garden could grow without sunlight." Mahiru spoke and looked over his shoulder to him. He patted the seat next to him and Kuro hesitantly sat next to him. There was a small distance between them but neither of them were brave enough to move closer to the other.

"The gems emit a light similar to sunlight." Kuro gestured to the blue gems above them. "Of course, they don't have the warmth sunlight does but you're free to go above ground whenever you want. If you do, take Black Cat with you. He'll protect you from the rogue souls that might attack you. He can't follow you past the bridge though. Whatever you do beyond that is up to you."

"I'm not planning to run away." Mahiru could hear the thoughts underlying his words. He hadn't eaten the fruit of the forest yet so he could leave any time he wanted. "Did you send my letters to my friends and family yet? I don't want them to worry about me."

"They got it, don't worry. I don't think they'll be very happy about it though. You're marrying the most feared god in Olympia." Kuro awkwardly pulled his hood over his face. "Even if you tell them that it's to save your life, imprisonment in this forest isn't much better than death. People can visit but they're too afraid so it ends up being just you and your thoughts."

Mahiru knew that he was talking about his own experiences and he could hear the loneliness in his words. He reached over and touched his hand. "But I won't be down here alone. There's you and Black Cat here. The stories called you cruel but I haven't seen any proof of that yet. You spared my life and gave me a way to help humans. This turned out much better than I thought it would."

Kuro's proposal was that they lie to the world that they fell in love at first sight and he gave Mahiru the power of fire as a wedding gift. The marriage would be in name only and Mahiru had his own room. But he would have to stay underground while Kuro taught him how to control the fire within him. Once he fully mastered his powers, he was free to go to Earth to help the humans. As long as he didn't eat the fruit, he could leave the forest so Kuro would bring him food from the outside world.

"You're being ripped out of your world and trapped here. If you want anything, just ask me and I'll get it for you." He offered and his kindness made Mahiru smile. Kuro never told him the reason he proposed to him but Mahiru trusted him.

He asked for the last thing Kuro expected. "Do you think we can get to know each other better? I know this marriage is fake but I want us to be friends at least. I'm going to living with you, after all. Also, I want you to tell me if you need anything. I can cook and clean well."

"I've been fine on my own for centuries now so you don't need to do anything." Kuro stood up to change the subject. "It's getting late so I'll show you to your room. We don't get sunlight down here but you can tell the passage of times with the gems. They'll change colours as time passes."

"They're beautiful. I didn't know that these things existed in the Forest of Ash." Mahiru stood and walked next to Kuro. He led him to a large house, carved into of the cave wall. Kuro held open the heavy, stone door for Mahiru. It was a small gesture but it contrasted the stories he heard about Kuro.

As they walked down the hall, Kuro pointed out several rooms so he would know his way around the house. Mahiru scanned the hall and was surprised that it was rather sparse. Kuro lived alone so he didn't need much for himself. They reached the end of the hall and he opened the door for him again. "This is your room. I know it's not much."

"It's fine." Mahiru walked inside and sat on the bed. It was surprisingly comfortable and he ran his hand over the soft blankets. "Thank you, Kuro."

"This room is the furthest from the entrance so you'll be safe in here in case anyone attacks. People will want your power and they might try to take you. I'll protect you if that ever happens. My room's next to yours so I won't be far if you need something. I think that's all." Kuro turned away from him and started to leave the room.

"Kuro, you forgot something." He turned back, thinking that Mahiru had another question. He gave him a warm smile and said, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Mahiru." Kuro said awkwardly. Mahiru repeated the words much more confidently and it made his heart feel strange. He closed the door between them but he paused for a second. It was a common phase that people say to each other but the warmth in it moved something in Kuro.

This was originally supposed to be just be an AU for KuroMahi week with the Hades and Persephone myth but I ended up having so much fun with the concept that it's now a multichapter fanfic XD

The cover is by Damu (damucochan) on tumblr. Go and follow her work because she's really talented and sweet.