I've been waiting here my whole damn life

[wheet_whoo]

Fai knew, immediately, that things had gone wrong.

He wasn't with the others. In fact, he couldn't see anyone. Or much of anything. Snow whipped around, filling the air, restricting the wizards already limited vision. Although Fai was use to cold, he wasn't prepared for it right now. Luckily the last world's fashion had lent to layers, and a few heavy ones. He wasn't going to be comfortable, but he wouldn't be in danger, either.

Taking a few steps carefully forward, he squinted against the wind, trying to see. There was something just ahead, a shadow behind the snow, and if the snow just-

-he felt his heart drop. He knew that shape. He'd only truly seen it twice, once coming and once going.

Dropping to his knees, he wished the snow would pick back up, would take it away...but it didn't. It cleared suddenly, becoming that perfect small, crisp space only found in the snow, in the quiet after a storm.

And that was when he heard the crying.

"Fai..." Moving forward, he struggled against the snow, too many thoughts suddenly becoming a deafing din as he ran towards the tower. "FAI!"

Comments

[misfortunes_heir]

"And, if I let you take it away..." It was almost beyond comprehension, like the idea of taking his heart right from his chest, still-beating, without leaving him dead.

But still, with magic it was possible. Perhaps she did. Perhaps she had some real use for it. Did it matter? Did he care?

"If you take away th-the curse. Then you'll give me... the ability to stay together with Yuui?" He looked up at that, at the solemn, beautiful face of his twin-now-grown, "For as long as we want to be?"

He was still so strange, the echoes of familiar. As the influence of the Tower's muffling effects had fallen away, Fai's certainty that this was his twin had only grown. Yuui's magic was powerful, but no one else could have both power and the feel of his brother's aura. It was like a warm shaft of sunlight, like the hand that fit so perfectly in his own. It was safety and sanity, hope and home rolled into one sensation that curled around him as surely as the very physical arms around him. Yuui. He was so beautiful.

"Yes. Take it away. I accept."

[wheet_whoo]

"You'll be able to stay with him. When you're well, you'll travel with him and his friends."

For that, clearly, it must have some actual worth to her. That was far too much to give away (not just give away, taking away Fai's bad luck was also another reward) and Fai felt more comfortable with the transaction, at least on some level.

Still, he held his breath as the Witch did her magic. The sensation was strange, again, as the magic flowed over him, similar, but somehow deeply different.

[misfortunes_heir]

It was strange, like tugging currents of water, seeking and pulling. But something had been taken, and if it had taken their curse with it, then Fai couldn't find it in him to argue.

Truly, he couldn't find it in him to do much of anything beyond stammering out a shocked gratitude to the Space-Time Witch. Perhaps it was the Witch's spell, or perhaps the loss of their mutual misfortune had taken the last of his waning energy reserves with it, but the long-delayed exhaustion finally swept in. He felt heavy, heavier than anyone had a right to be, and between the soft fur bordering Yuui's cloak and the excitement of the Day, Fai could no more keep his head up than fly.

"I'm so tired, Yuui," Fai whispered. Once you closed your eyes, and given in to the weariness, it was so hard to justify opening them again, "Please. Don't disappear."

It would be, after all, just his luck to wake up, and find that this had all been a dream.

that was not the right journal.

[wheet_whoo]

As he felt the weight sagging against him, Fai shifted, moving to support the child. It was strange, he hadn't been around someone this small in so long, but it was his Fai, and everything came naturally. The way he shifted to fit against the older twins shoulder (and how much older now, how many year between them?) and Fai's lips curled up.

Yuuko moved silently to the door, knowing she was seeing a family moment where she didn't belong.

"Two doors down on the right will be your room. There should be clothes laid out, and the girls will bring some clothes later." And then she was gone.

It was strange to be left alone in a place like this, and Fai appreciated the trust, immensely. He would hardly trust himself this much.

Then again, he probably was over estimating the trust.

Shifting Fai against him, he pushed open the door (she had left it ajar) and moved to their room. It was open and airy, but simple compared to the rest of the shop he had seen. Laying Fai down, he let out a soft whistle to be sure his brother wouldn't be disturbed in a much earned sleep, and explored the room, before slipping out to find this world's Makona.

He should probably figure out what was going on with his companions.