by Megan Derr
"Arguing with you gives me a headache, and I just got rid of one," Taka replied, reaching up to gingerly touch the large sapphire settled right in the hollow of his throat. "I still maintain it's ridiculous to put me in jewels. What purpose does it serve?"
"It pleases me," Raiden said. "Jewels are meant to be worn."
"Wear them yourself."
Raiden chuckled softly behind him, reaching up to curl his fingers around Taka's neck lightly, stroking the soft skin, able to feel Taka's pulse beating rapidly just beneath the surface. "It is much greater a pleasure to drape you in them, my treasure. I told you, one day I will have you wearing nothing else."
"That sounds both absurd and vaguely obscene."
"Far more than vaguely, I should hope," Raiden murmured, and he felt Taka shiver.
Taka abruptly pulled away. "You are the most ridiculous man I ever met. Now that I have been suitably re-adorned, I am going to go see how Kyo is faring. Even across the sea …" he drifted off, shaking his head.
"Across the sea …?" Raiden prodded gently.
"He still seems so unhappy. I thought escaping his family would make him happy, but he only seems to be getting worse."
Raiden sighed softly, looking up at the ceiling, picturing the stars high above. "Family is a difficult thing to escape. A man without a family is a man truly alone, and even a miserable family can seem better than none at all. If he wants to be free of the family that weighs him down, he must first find one that will set him free. But only he can do that, Taka. He has you and seems to realize that. It is a step in the right direction."
Taka stared at him, looking as though he were going to ask or say something, but in the end only murmured, "Good night, Raiden."
"Good night, Taka. Dragons guard your rest."
Taka smiled fleetingly then walked off, more beautiful in Kyo's elegant robes than he would ever want to know.
Raiden sighed softly and went out to call for someone to clear the table. When a sailor came in, Raiden left him to it, returning to the desk to stow the jewels he'd left out. When they were locked up, he left the captains' quarters and climbed up to the poop deck to watch the stars.
Around him, the ship was far too quiet, those men who were left in no mood for revelry when so many of their friends had died. Raiden wondered if they would be given royal sailors to flesh out their crew, and made note to tell Kin to accept. It would divert suspicion to be cooperative, and sailors were always a font of useful gossip.
"What are you staring at so hard?" Kin asked in a grumpy voice.
"The stars," Raiden said.
Kin followed his gaze. "The dragon stars are bright tonight," he said, indicating the cluster of nine stars that seemed to have a blue-ish cast. "I will take that as a good omen."
Raiden swept his gaze over the sky, looking over all the stars in the sky, finally pointing to a pair of red-ish stars. "The fire stars are out—that's a bad sign."
"Bah. I am not a fire child to be troubled by the emergence of the fire stars. I am a child of the sea, as is every man aboard this ship. We survived this long, even if it required our prince turning into a dragon. I still can't believe he did that," Kin finished with a mutter.
"I think it more interesting that, when consumed by magic and capable of acting on instinct, his only thought was of protecting you," Raiden said, squeezing Kin's shoulder teasingly. "Best be careful another captain does not steal your dragon away, hmm?"
"Hold your breath," Kin snapped. "Go to bed already. I know you haven't slept since the rest of us collapsed like sailors after too much wine."
Raiden laughed. "I'll sleep eventually."
"I doubt it," Kin said, "but do as you want. Go back to star gazing; the night is good for it."
Smiling, Raiden said, "Goodnight, Kin. Dragons guard your rest." As Kin walked away, he returned to looking at the stars, wishing his thoughts were as distant.
Chapter Thirteen: Lessons
Taka refused to wear more of Kyo's clothing. He felt like an idiot, as if he was trying to be someone else, and he was not doing it. Anyway, how else was anyone going to be able to tell them apart? He had been called 'Kyo' thrice the previous night, and it was driving him mad.
He was somewhat mollified by the way the sailors smiled more easily at him, recognizing his clothes even if his face was no longer his. Taka continued on his way up to the captain's quarters where everyone else was assembling. He sat down next to Kyo, ignoring the eyes he could feel on him.
"Good morning, Taka," Kyo greeted, looking at him in amusement.
Taka kicked his ankle. "Good morning, Kyo."
Kyo just smirked at the kick and turned back to their assembled guests: Captain Midori and a half dozen other royal sailors, mostly officers to judge by their uniforms. Seated on Kyo's other side was Prince Culebra, dressed in a set of Kyo's black robes with a white and red sash. He was beautiful, but Taka could see that he made the royal sailors nervous. Beside Culebra was Krasny, imperious in his own salvaged clothes. His brilliant hair was a shock of warmth against his otherwise cool demeanor.
Nearby, Raiden stood in the threatened robe of indigo paisley with accents of dark blue the same shade as his hair. Beside him, Kyo was dressed in pale blue and green. His first mate stood beside him, broken arm still done up in a sling.
When the room was as settled as it was going to get, Kyo set aside the cup of tea he had been drinking and said, "Captain, we appreciate the assistance you are lending us. Prince Culebra and Lord Krasny have agreed it would be best to have you escort them to Pozhar and will ensure that you are well-compensated for your time."
"It is my honor and pleasure to serve however I may best," Midori replied, sweeping an elegant bow.
"We also thank you for agreeing to take our injured," Kyo continued, "and for leaving your own men in their place. You have already received compensation for the supplies you are surrendering to us, but I have drafted a letter to my father so he knows that you have gone well above and beyond your obligations to duty."
Midori bowed again. "You humble me, highness."
Taka doubted Midori had room to feel humility amidst all the jealousy and resentment. He drank his own tea while all the arrangements were fine-tuned and officially completed, more than a little annoyed that Captain Midori had brought his own secretary to handle all the paperwork.
What was Taka supposed to do if not be a secretary?
He sipped more of his tea, wishing he were alone. The crawling sensation along his skin was getting stronger with every hour, his head throbbing with an ache he could not seem to banish. He could dull it if he took enough headache tonic, but he loathed relying too heavily on medicine. The headache had appeared when everything had gone wrong with the battle against the mermaids—when Kyo had turned into a dragon. It had persisted ever since, and Taka did not know how to be rid of it.
Fighting an urge to rub at his temples, he rejoined the conversation in time to bid Captain Midori and the others farewell. He watched as Samé departed with Midori after reluctantly bidding Kin farewell. It would be strange not to have Samé on the ship; the royal sailor replacing him would not be as comfortable with Kin or as prepared for mermaids.
But that was not his problem to work out. Taka slipped away while the group dispersed, wanting to find somewhere quiet again so he could suffer his headache and his doubts in relative privacy. He could not do so, however, until they finally departed, and so he stood on deck with everyone else while they prepared for departure.
He watched in silence as they sailed away leaving the royal navy behind—most of it, anyway. When they were finally far enough away that he felt comfortable returning to his cabin, Taka turned and almost ran into Raiden. His nerves burst into awareness, leaving him unsettled in a way he despised. He had not felt unsettled around Raiden until recently, and it annoyed him that something had clearly changed between them. It annoyed him more he was not exactly certain about what had changed.
All he knew was that he did
not entirely hate Raiden anymore, and that was infuriating because he still had every reason—
Except he didn't. Raiden had made him feel better when no one else had. Taka still did not really feel like himself, not when his skin was different, when his hair was ocean blue instead of deep green—when he was royalty instead of secretary. But he felt like himself when Raiden looked at him because Raiden was the only one who did not look at him differently. Even Kyo expected him to take up the role of prince that was his due.
Raiden … Raiden still looked at him as if he wanted to lock Taka in a jewel case and keep the rest of the world away. Taka had found that irritating before. He no longer knew what to make of it.
"You look troubled," Raiden said and reached up to lightly run his fingers along Taka's forehead.
Taka frowned. "How did you know?"
"You looked pained. I assume the magic is troubling you?"
"What?" Taka stared at him blankly. "The magic?"
Raiden chuckled softly. "I think you and Kyo have been so distracted, you have both forgotten that, free of the spell that hid your identity, you are able to access the dragon magic."
Taka froze then called himself every manner of fool. Raiden was right: he had been distracted. He was surprised Kyo had been that distracted, though. Kyo took magic very seriously. Surely it would have occurred to him that Taka could use magic now? "I—I have no idea how to use magic," he said, and he realize just how dangerous that ignorance could be. "I should probably go speak with Kyo. Excuse me."
Sweeping him a playful half-bow and a smile that looked something entirely too close to fond for Taka's comfort, Raiden stepped aside so Taka could pass. Returning to the Captain's quarters, he knocked on the door and opened it—and stopped short when he saw Kyo pinned against the edge of the table by Kin, whose hands were also wrapped around Kyo's wrists.
Kyo's cheeks were also flushed, something Taka could not remember ever seeing. He also knew the look of someone who had been thoroughly kissed. "My apologies," he managed and turned to go, but he'd barely moved when Kin stumbled back with a pained grunt.
"We'll continue this discussion later, highness," Kin said.
"No, we will not," Kyo retorted.
Kin stalked off, brushing past Taka without so much as looking at him. As the door closed behind them, Taka said, "Does this mean I don't have to draft annulment papers?"
"Hold your breath," Kyo said sourly, sitting down and scowling at his teacup. "What did you need, Taka?"
Crossing the room to sit beside him, Taka tamped down on his curiosity where Kin was concerned and said, "Raiden mentioned that my headaches may be because of the dragon magic I can now apparently access."
Kyo shook his head. "No, the headaches are probably because I am trying to keep the magic away from you. I did not realize it was causing you pain; I will see what I can do to alleviate it."
"Why are you keeping the magic away?"
"I knew you would want no part of it. You've been upset enough—and understandably. As upset as you are … as distracted as I am … it is not the best time to teach you magic."
Taka stared at him, pensive and concerned. "Distracted by what? This mysterious task your father has set you? This duty you shared with Krasny, but not me? Or Captain Kindan? Or the fact you turned into a storming dragon? Or perhaps the royal navy? Or is it one of the other dozens of matters that you keep to yourself and will not share with anyone—not even me, and you said I was your only friend!"
He stood up, too angry to hold still, and pace around the cabin, longing for something—or someone—to hit. He would feel a long way toward better if he could knock some sense into Kyo. He reached the desk and whipped around—and promptly crashed into Kyo. He immediately snapped his arms out to catch Kyo, but only jarred them painfully instead when Kyo tried to do the same. Jerking back only caused him to trip himself up, and Taka swore loudly and colorfully when they wound up on the floor. "Storms drown this entire sea-mad ship," he said, letting out an irritated huff.
Kyo grunted in agreement and slowly untangled his robes, standing up and pulling Taka with him. "If you cannot control your temper, Taka, you cannot use magic. I turned into a dragon because I let the magic consume me. I remember nothing because I literally stopped being myself and became a being of magic and instinct. That is why magic is so strictly guarded throughout the world."
"But isn't it easier when more than one person is accessing it?" Taka countered. "Beyond ensuring heirs, that is why the royal families are encouraged to have many children. With two of us, the burden of the Eye would ease for you, and perhaps next time your captain is attacked you will not succumb."
"He is not my captain," Kyo said irritably, but Taka noticed the flush of shell-pink to his cheeks. He gawked, unable to believe what he was seeing.
Kyo returned to the table, and Taka called after him, "You're moonstruck!"
"I do not know what you are going on about," Kyo said and picked up his teacup.
Taka burst out laughing and only laughed harder when Kyo glared at him. "Here you have been harassing me about Raiden, and the entire time the notoriously cold Prince Nankyokukai has been moonstruck by the Captain." He smirked. "I guess he's rather a suitable husband for you, after all."
"He is not my husband," Kyo snapped, slamming down the teacup he had just picked up and casting Taka his coldest glare. "I do not care what your storming paperwork says—" he broke off and turned his scowl to the teacup. "I am not moonstruck."
Biting back the urge to ask if Kyo was fooling himself because he certainly was not fooling anyone else, Taka rejoined him at the table. "Teach me magic, Kyo. I admit I do not like the idea of having it, but as I am no longer allowed to play secretary I must have something to do, and I miss helping you."
Kyo sighed softly, for a moment looking so weary that Taka swore he could feel it himself. He hesitated, then gave in to an urge he had always fought in the past to slide an arm around Kyo's waist and tug him close in a loose embrace, resting his head on Kyo's shoulder. "Kyo, let me help. Doesn't the saying go 'it took three dragons to build Kundou, not one'?"
"Three dragons to build Kundou. One man to kill them all and steal their power," Kyo said bitterly.
Taka froze at the words, shocked by them. "What in the storms' names do you mean kill them and steal their power? That is not—"
Kyo abruptly stood up, nearly knocking Taka over in his haste. "Nothing," he said. "If you really want to learn magic, then come along. It is best to do it in the open so you can see the effects of it." He did not wait for a reply, but simply left, not quite slamming the door behind him.
What had Kyo meant by such a—a blasphemous statement? The dragons gave their power to King Taiseiyou I before choosing to vanish forever. No mortal could kill a god. What was Kyo talking about? Why would he say something so absurd? Scowling, Taka stood to follow him outside.
After a moment, he saw Kyo standing on the port side, staring out at the sea. Joining him, Taka demanded, "What did you mean by that—about someone killing—"
"Nothing," Kyo said. "Forget I said it."
"No!" Taka snarled. "You would not say something that mad unless you believed it to be true, Kyo! I am tired of you being so elusive and secretive. Whatever it is you are not telling me, it is breaking you. Tell me!"
Kyo stared at him, and Taka recoiled in surprise when Kyo's eyes shifted to dragon form—then cried out in pain when something seemed to snap in his mind and forced him to his knees. Cradling his temples, he drew a ragged breath and tried to look up and glare, but his hair flying about his face ruined the effect. "Must you be a spine fish about this?"
The wind kicked up again, then abruptly calmed as Kyo knelt in front of him. "Soak your head," he said. "Can you feel it, Taka? That wind was mostly you until I calmed it. Close your eyes and feel it, Taka."
"Soak your head," Taka snapped, but obeyed because he did feel it—mostly as a heavy queasiness in the bottom of his stomach and an ache througho
ut his body that was like his headache on a much grander scale. "I think you were right: I don't like this. How long will it take to become accustomed?"
He startled when Kyo's hands cupped his face and slid up so that his thumbs pressed against his temples, hands curving around his head. "In your defense, Taka, you are being hit with very nearly the full brunt of the Eye of the Storm. When I was first introduced, it was already spread amongst my family and several relatives. That you haven't passed out is remarkable and speaks well of you. Stop thinking of how ill you want to be and instead think of something that makes you happy, something that calms you."
Taka didn't know what that was. Paperwork was calming in its monotony, but thinking of it then just reminded him he was no longer a secretary and did anything but calm him. Thinking of his mother just made him sad. When was the last time he had felt calm about anything?
No, he couldn't think of anything that calmed him. But happy—that brought to mind Raiden, which surprised and dismayed him. Unfortunately, it was true. The last time he'd been happy, for just a moment, was the other night when he had spoken with Raiden. The way Raiden had been adamant that Taka was still Taka, the way Raiden had made him laugh when Taka had been certain nothing could. The way he looked like he wanted to throw Taka down on the nearest surface and fuck him until he passed out. That soft brush of lips as Raiden had put the new necklace on him.
He hated to admit it, but Raiden was luring him in.
"That's better," Kyo murmured, breaking into his thoughts. "Hold that thought." His hands slid away from Taka's head, and he took Taka's hands, holding them firmly. "Whatever we do next, hold on to that thought. It's called a 'port thought' because it is where you always return when the magic carries you away."
Taka had the sudden urge, a burning need, to know Kyo's port thought. He bit the question back, however, knowing Kyo wouldn't tell him. "Now, still holding on to your port thought, think of the wind, Taka. Feel it like a good wine rushing through you."
To his surprise, doing so was remarkably easy. Taka made a soft, startled noise and jerked when he could, indeed, feel the wind. His eyes opened, and he stared at Kyo. "This is what you feel all the time?"