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The thing looming in front of Kazuya, covered in bristling black fur clumped up with mud and blood, was gigantic, terrifying, and most of all, extremely strong. Thankfully, Kazuya considered himself to be strong and terrifying when he wanted to be, except he wouldn’t call himself gigantic. He wasn’t that broad and tall, at least, not when compared to the beast snarling just a few feet away from him.
Kazuya would need a lot of courage to take the creature down once and for all. He was already out of breath, his grip on his sword slipping as his muscles ached from the strain of their fight. His entire body was sore from fighting for his life, and though he’d trained for years and became accustomed to the heavy pressure of the metal chainmail and armor on his body, it suddenly all felt like it was dragging him down to the earth. Each breath trembled, and he could barely see out of one eye thanks to the thick, hot blood dripping down over it from the gash on his forehead.
The creature in front of him hissed, baring its fangs and digging its claws in the dirt—at least, it was using what was left of them. Kazuya managed to break one of its limbs, which gave him a huge advantage in taking the mighty beast down. At the same time, he managed to push the beast into survival mode, meaning the hardest part of the fight was only beginning. Kazuya felt more blood collect in his mouth from whichever internal injury was causing him to bleed, and he turned to spit out a mouthful of the metallic, red liquid with a glare in the eye he kept open.
“You wanna keep going, huh?” Kazuya muttered lowly, voice ragged from exhaustion. Even though the evil being could not understand him, Kazuya spoke mostly to himself, if only to keep his sanity. This could very easily be a fight to the death, and Kazuya might die out here in the woods before he even got the chance to report his victory back to the king.
Well, this was the life he signed up for, wasn’t it? If he were to die young, he’d rather it be at the claws of an unstoppable monster instead of drinking one too many beers at the local inn.
No—he needed to stop thinking that way. This didn’t have to be his final stand. He would kill this thing, end its reign of terror, and bring back life and prosperity to the most precious forest of their kingdom. Kazuya would be able to bring its severed head back to town and revel in the glory that came with saving his people.
Kazuya wasn’t about to lay down and die, not yet. He had a lot more to accomplish before that day came. Now filled with the adrenaline of determination, Kazuya lifted his sword with enormous effort and charged at the injured beast with all the strength he had left in his body.
His vision was partially obscured thanks to how he kept one eye closed, but Kazuya had fought in worse condition before, in which both his eyes were stinging with blood. Besides, he’d dealt with bad vision all his life and he was used to fighting with impaired sight, which made him more attuned to the other senses. Most knights wouldn’t hear the subtle snap of a twig when the beast’s heavy hind leg repositioned itself, preparing to swing its claws with its uninjured front paw. Since Kazuya heard the tell-tale sound, he ducked just in time to avoid its blow and angled his sword towards the soft part of its underbelly.
Like this, Kazuya was certain to impale the beast right through its vital organs and end its miserable life. Kazuya had a wicked grin on his face as he had the pleasure of watching the blade plunge into its black, furry bosom. The screech that the beast made from the pain was deafening enough to make Kazuya’s ears ring, and when it wailed, Kazuya swore the earth trembled beneath his feet.
Despite the way the beast thrashed, Kazuya held his ground, and with a grunt he pushed forward, shoving the sword in as deep as it could go. Just in case that stab wasn’t deep enough, he twisted it with extreme effort, not only to ensure it did its job, but also to make it as painful as could be. He was bitter and enraged for how much damage this beast had done to their land, soiling crops that farmers spent months caring for and causing so many innocent children to starve. The least he could do was put an end to its vile life.
Because he was so focused on killing the hellish creature, Kazuya was unaware of the way its gigantic tail swung around in a massive arch behind him. Kazuya was right where the beast wanted him—he had no time to dodge out of the way as the beast’s tail, with deathly spikes on the end that were tipped with poison, came slamming into the nape of his neck.
“Argh—!” Kazuya could only choke out a cry as pain exploded from the point of impact. Heat seared through his flesh and Kazuya knew it was the poison in his system, burning a deadly path in his blood in order to bring him to his death. Kazuya had done his studying before embarking on this quest, and he knew that one strike from this beast’s tail was something that even the strongest man could not survive.
At least he was bringing the monster down to hell with him. Kazuya could only release a dark chuckle as he met the beast’s hateful gaze—he watched as it snarled at him one last time before its eyes rolled into the back of its head. It collapsed on its side, its suffocating weight bringing Kazuya and his sword crashing to the ground. Kazuya was already weakened from the fight, but the poison now coursing through his bloodstream stole away any last strength he had left in his body.
Kazuya used whatever energy he had to yank the sword back out of the animal’s chest, and he watched as its blood seeped out from the gash Kazuya left behind. He could only lay there, half underneath the beast’s dead limb, while he twitched and tried to gulp down his desperate last breaths.
He wondered what he would say to everyone he’d known in his life if he could speak to them one last time. Kazuya’s vision was blurrier than ever, and he could only think about the ones he loved in his final moments on earth. The smile of his best friend and fellow knight, Youichi, flashed in his mind—he hoped that Youichi would have a long, happy life from now on. Most of all, he hoped Youichi finally worked up the courage to court the omega he loved. He thought about his father and how proud he would be when he found out about what Kazuya had just accomplished. He remembered King Tesshin seated up on his throne, a man Kazuya had always admired and prayed that he served well during his time in the king’s service.
All Kazuya could hope for was that he did his duty, saved his people, and restored peace to the land. He let out a heavy breath and closed his eyes; suddenly, the sting of blood in his left eye wasn’t bothering him nearly as much anymore. When he saw the glow of light from behind his closed eyelids, he felt a surge of excitement in his heart. Was it Heaven? Had everything about God and the afterlife all been true this whole time? Was Kazuya deemed good enough to allow his soul salvation?
Kazuya blinked his eyes open again, dazed and wishing that he would see the heavens he’d always heard about. Standing over him was undoubtedly an angel, with his eyes glowing gold and shadowy figure awash in pale blue light. He couldn’t make out the details of the angel’s appearance, but knowing that an angel had appeared before him to accompany his soul to a better place was an honor that Kazuya almost didn’t know what to do with.
Thinly and weakly, Kazuya whispered out his last words to the beautiful angel that was there beside him. It was all he could say to express his gratitude before he was carried away into a peaceful, eternal sleep.
“Thank you…”
***
The forest had been plagued by a terrible disease, but not the typical kind that slowly ate away at everything within. Eijun had seen the spread of plague, the damages of drought, the devastation of a wildfire. He’d seen certain animals nearly hunted to extinction and others so overpopulated that they were out of control. He’d seen almost every disaster in the book, but a gigantic black-furred monster with a poisonous tail was not anything he’d ever heard of before.
At first, it had been so frustrating that Eijun could hardly stand his own powerlessness. How come none of his spellbooks had anything about this creature!? How come even Chris, the wisest mage that Eijun knew, had no cure to the poison this creature left behind? Was there no way to end its tyranny over all the woodland creatures? Eijun had traveled to the neighboring kingdom just to ask for advice from his mentor, but in the end, Eijun had to return back home on his own only with Chris’s luck in mind and a few charms and herbs in hand that may help to repel the poison.
Together with his fellow witches, Haruichi and Satoru, Eijun managed to finally create something that successfully ejected the beast’s poison from any living thing. Whether that was a plant that was on the brink of dying when the beast’s tail brushed up against its luscious leaves, or an animal that had been unfortunately scraped by the deadly spikes, Eijun’s potion and accompanying spell could restore them back to full health.
It was great that he knew how to repel the poison, and he was able to teach both Haruichi and Satoru the spell so that they could cure as many as possible, too. Still… none of them had a clue on how to take down the beast. Eijun was still prepared for anything, and that was when he stumbled across the sight of a brave knight, all on his own, slashing the beast to shreds with his mighty sword.
Eijun wanted to reach out and help the knight, but he didn’t dare interrupt the man’s careful precision. If the beast grew distracted and charged after Eijun, then the knight might have no chance of killing it in a desperate attempt to save Eijun’s life. Instead of risking it, Eijun stayed nearby, watching with a close eye as the knight single-handedly brought the beast to its demise.
The sight was entrancing. The man was powerful, courageous and determined—Eijun gazed at him, starstruck, lungs feeling tight with anxiety as he followed the movements of their fight. The knight had a brilliant gleam in his eyes that sparked a fire in Eijun’s heart, and he couldn’t help but to feel inspired by the man’s ferocity and relentless urge to fight to the death. He knew nothing about the man besides that he was directly appointed by King Tesshin himself, which Eijun could tell by the coat of arms on his tattered cape, but he was already in awe of the man’s strength and agility.
Eijun had been holding his breath when the knight went in for the kill, and he almost let out a cry of his own when the knight was struck by the beast’s poisonous tail during its last moments alive. Relief swept through his chest at the sight of that horrible thing dead at last, but he was quick to abandon his hiding spot in order to save the knight who had saved everyone’s lives in the kingdom. It was only the right thing to do, after all!
Eijun could tell the man was barely awake and hanging on to life, for when he opened his eyes and saw Eijun, all he did was thank him before knocking out cold. Eijun had activated his magic already, causing his eyes to glow and a special light to emit from his skin, and he summoned all the forces of nature to help him save the knight’s life.
That pleasant tingling sensation in Eijun’s chest proved that his spell had been successful, and the fact that the knight continued to breathe even while laying there unconscious was good enough for Eijun. He let out a sigh of relief, then stood over the man’s body, wondering what to do next. Of course, he couldn’t just leave him there, but the knight looked awfully heavy. The man was not only larger and taller in stature than Eijun, but he also wore a shitton of armor. Seriously, could he make this any more difficult for Eijun!?
Not to mention that Eijun first had to push the beast’s arm off the man in the first place. He groaned and scolded himself for not listening closer to Haruichi’s instructions about lifting heavy objects with his magic; he was only capable of moving light things like flower pots and utensils with his magic, which came in handy around the house, but it was a useless skill right now.
Well, this Sawamura Eijun isn’t one to give up so easily! Eijun decided with a few nods of his head. He saved this knight’s life in return for the way he saved everyone else’s—now the least Eijun could do was make him comfortable so he didn’t die of something stupid, like a wound infection or a cold from laying out in the woods all night long.
With great effort, Eijun heaved the man over his back, and it was a miracle that the knight even stayed there while he was nothing but dead weight. Eijun’s knees nearly buckled from the added pressure on his back, and each step was agonizing. He cursed that his cottage was as far away from this area as it was.
Eventually, Eijun gave up on carrying the knight in a chivalrous manner and ended up dragging him by his feet along the forest path. Various flowers and twigs got caught in the knight’s hair in the process, which made Eijun snicker a little at how funny he looked, but it was a lot easier than trying to carry the man on his back.
At last, Eijun made it to his cottage. He paused for a moment to catch his breath, leaving the man laying on the ground while he got the door open. He had so many books and items stacked up in his home that he worried about knocking stuff over when taking the knight inside, so he made quick work in organizing everything to make his task a little easier. He shoved potted plants and vials of potions aside, shook off a few of the birds that liked to spend time perched inside Eijun’s cottage, and shooed his fox familiar away, who was taking a nap on the bed.
“Sorry, Cap!” Eijun apologized to the fox, using the shorthand of the name 'Captain,' which he gave to his familiar ever since Cap was given to him by Chris back during his apprenticeship. “You can nap there later!”
The fox irritably lashed his tail from side to side, then clicked its tongue as it scurried elsewhere in the cottage. Eijun would give him some meat later to make up for disturbing his nap. For now, Eijun had to get the knight inside and start tending to his wounds.
A lot of swearing and banging into walls and objects of furniture later, Eijun was catching his breath at the side of the bed while the knight remained sleeping atop its comfortable surface. All the woodland creatures that spent time in Eijun’s cottage had scattered, likely frightened by what their witchy companion was up to. He had to take a minute to wipe his sweat and stop his vision from spinning before he assessed what to do with the knight first.
When Eijun calmed down and looked down at him, he felt his breath catch in his chest.
The knight was so incredibly handsome. Even when roughed up like this, with dried blood caked over one closed eye, Eijun found himself gazing at him with a fluttery feeling in his chest. He leaned a little closer, taking in all the details of his face. He had nice, full lips, a strong nose and jawline, and thick, angled brows that looked slightly furrowed, even in his sleep. Eijun noticed the bristly texture of his sideburns and the shape of his cheekbones, the sturdy thickness of his neck and the cut of his chin.
In order to catch the finer details of his face, Eijun ended up leaning closer to him. He saw the faint white line of a scar reaching through the end of the knight’s brow, and when he breathed in, he was able to detect the scent of an alpha underneath all the blood, sweat and metal on the man’s skin. Eijun wasn’t surprised to find out that he was an alpha after that incredible display of power back in the forest, but the realization still made his heart throb with instinctual interest.
Eijun hadn’t realized he was reaching out for him, but when his fingertips brushed along the handsome knight’s face, the knight made a low sound in his throat and moved his head slightly. The movement frightened Eijun, who drew his hand back as if he’d touched something hot, and blushed a bit as he got a hold of himself. What was he doing, fawning over this man who was likely injured in many places? He needed medical help before anything else!
… but in order to figure out what was wrong with him, Eijun would have to figure out how to remove the man’s armor, first. Eijun didn’t have the slightest idea of how that would be accomplished.
He released a heavy sigh. It seemed that it was going to be a long night for Eijun.
***
Kazuya was pretty sure that if he was actually dead, he wouldn’t feel like he’d just been trampled by a stampede of horses. He always had the assumption that once getting into heaven, any bodily pains would disappear and he’d be restored to the best, happiest, and strongest version of himself. He figured that was the case for everyone who died.
Instead of that, Kazuya awoke in an unfamiliar place, somewhere comfortable and quaint with plants hanging from the wooden beams of the ceiling. Kazuya stared dazedly at the curvy nature of the plant stems, the broad leaves lined along them, and the flowers that blossomed in between. He swore he watched a hummingbird approach one of the plants and take a drink, but he could have been hallucinating. He questioned himself more when the hummingbird flew closer to him and paused, its wings a blur as it tilted its head this way and that to examine Kazuya’s dazed expression.
After hovering by his face for a moment, the hummingbird zipped away and left from an open window. Kazuya blinked, wondering if he really just saw that, or if it was all some sort of dream.
Maybe this was heaven. Kazuya had never seen that tiny, fairy-like bird so closely before, and somehow its presence just made him feel content despite his physical pain. He started to shift in order to sit himself up, but a loud, jarring voice interrupted the serene atmosphere and caused Kazuya to freeze in place.
“Ahhhh! Do not move a single inch, you hear me, you—you knight man!? Stay!!”
What the hell was… Kazuya turned to look at the bedside, wondering who was with him, when his eyes landed on someone who he’d never met before.
The young man had a round face and flushed cheeks, bright, wide golden-brown eyes, and a pout on a pair of soft-looking lips that reminded Kazuya of flower petals. He carried a bowl of something steaming—soup, probably—and wore a white blouse that was tight around the waist and hips. He had a large, drooping bow tied around the collar of his shirt, and a strap around his thigh held tiny vials and pouches of herbs that attached to his outer leg. His appearance indicated he worked with magic and medicine of some sort, and he was someone who was…
… very, very cute.
Hung up on the wall behind the man was a black cape and a matching hat, one with a wide, round brim and a point in the center. On the tip of the point was a single jingle bell, and Kazuya noticed matching bells on the front part of the cape as well. Judging by those accessories, Kazuya figured out that this man must be a witch.
“Good, you listened!” The man huffed once Kazuya made no further move to get up. He took a few steps closer and sat down on a stool next to the bed. “I was going to be pretty mad if I had no choice but to throw this soup onto you, especially when I worked so hard to make it! The last thing I want to do is have to deal with blisters on top of everything else already wrong with you!”
“Thank you…” Kazuya managed to say as the witch stirred up the soup with a spoon, brows tensed with concentration. For some reason, the witch pouted a bit and glared pointedly at Kazuya.
“That’s exactly what you said before you passed out!” He snapped. “Can’t you say anything else? Like your name, to start with?”
What I said before I passed out? Kazuya’s memory was hazy, but he might have muttered out a few words right when he thought he was dying. Had this witch been the angel Kazuya thought he saw in his final moments? He felt a little embarrassed to know that now, but he was far too exhausted and sore to get all worked up about it.
“Miyuki Kazuya,” he answered, wincing at the pain in his head that came with thinking and speaking. “Knight commander of King Tesshin, tasked with killing the Black Beast of— fuck, ow…”
“Lay back a bit, won’t you?” The witch chided as he pushed Kazuya against the pillows behind him, as if he were some sick child incapable of doing anything alone. Kazuya sighed a bit, wondering why he was being fussed over to this extent, and he looked down at the spoonful of soup being thrust into his face. When Kazuya didn’t immediately move to eat it, the spoon was only pushed closer. “Eat up, Miyuki Kazuya! You need to heal, and I made this soup especially for you with all the herbs that could help your wounds heal faster!”
Well, it sure would be rude to push it away, even if he was a bit embarrassed to get spoon-fed. Kazuya looked over at the witch with a wry smile.
“Thank you…” Kazuya trailed off while looking at the witch, his tone indicating that he expected to find out his name.
“Sawamura Eijun, Witch of Seidou Woods, specializing in protection spells and animal magic but a learner of all types!” With that, Eijun pushed the spoon against Kazuya’s lips demandingly. “Now, open your mouth already! It’s not hot anymore!”
Kazuya did as he was told, keeping his eyes on Eijun even as he accepted the spoonful. Eijun was a less-than-elegant feeder, for he practically shoved the utensil deep into Kazuya’s mouth and made him choke, but he got the hang of it after two or three more spoonfuls. Still, Kazuya felt a little awkward; he was an adult and a knight at that. He should be capable of feeding himself a bowl of soup.
“I think I can do it mys—” Kazuya started to say as he lifted his arm, but when pain shot through his muscles, he laughed nervously and lowered his arm. “On second thought, this might be helpful for just a while longer.”
“That’s right, we don’t want you to push yourself yet!” Eijun insisted as he enthusiastically gathered up another spoonful of his soup. Kazuya was starving for anything at that moment, so he really wasn’t sure if the soup tasted this good because of his current state or because it really was made well, but he was grateful for it nonetheless. The savory warmth soothed his throat and chest, and he swore the medicinal herbs inside were doing their work already.
It was a bit of an embarrassing exchange, but by the time the soup was gone, Eijun perked back up onto his feet and carried the bowl away while singing a tune under his breath. Kazuya watched him leave, eyes unashamedly trailing down to take in the sight of his bottom and plump thighs.
Pretty. Kazuya felt a twinge of interest, admiring the curvy shape of Eijun’s waist and hips. Lucky him to get doted on by such an eye-catching omega. Life could certainly be worse—hell, he would have been dead if it weren’t for Eijun swooping in and saving his life. Kazuya still didn’t know how to thank him for it, even though he’d said the words multiple times now. It didn’t feel like enough.
Kazuya ended up dozing off before Eijun returned, still so drained from the fight and his near-death experience. Now that his stomach was full and he was sheltered in a safe place, he was able to rest a little easier than before.
***
Besides getting up to relieve his bladder, Kazuya hadn’t moved an inch for about two days. He spent most of the time sleeping in between meals, and Eijun figured it was best that way, for the guy was literally within an inch of death, so he needed all the sleep he could get. As soon as he saw Kazuya sitting upright on his own, however, Eijun loomed in the doorway with his arms crossed and a bucket in his hand.
“You stink!!” Eijun shouted, making Kazuya wince from the volume of his voice. Eijun thrust out the bucket, which had a few soaps inside alongside towels for washing. “You’re getting a bath today whether you like it or not!”
“I’m guessing I won’t be bathing alone, either?” Kazuya asked with an awkward laugh, bringing color to Eijun’s face despite his best efforts not to be embarrassed. Kazuya was injured and incapable of bathing himself without hurting himself more, so Eijun couldn’t let his modesty overwhelm him now.
Still, the look in Kazuya’s eyes made his pulse quicken.
“Not unless you want to aggravate your wounds, you’re not!” Eijun decided. He marched over to Kazuya, willing to carry some of his weight once he was standing to take him into the bathing area. He still fidgeted and blushed a bit once he was standing in front of Kazuya. “I-I won’t… uhm, I won’t stare at you, if that’s what you’re wondering. I’m not rude!”
“It’s alright, the situation can’t be helped,” Kazuya amended, then slowly managed to stand on shaking legs. He swayed to the side almost immediately and Eijun was there in an instant, guiding Kazuya from the bedroom over to what might be his favorite area of his cottage. Kazuya hadn’t seen it yet and was using the stream right outside the house for his waste, which was what Eijun did as well just to keep this special place solely reserved for bathing.
As they made their way over, Eijun couldn’t help but to notice the strong potency of Kazuya’s natural scent. It was hard to notice underneath the bad odors, which were a mixture of natural grime, leftover ointments on his wounds, and the lingering scent of blood. Yet Eijun noticed it anyway and he had to keep himself in check, swallowing down the instinctive urge to scent the man and let the aroma wash through him.
When they arrived, Eijun pushed the sliding door aside with a little grin. “Tada~”
He felt smug when he saw Kazuya’s profile, the way his mouth parted with awe and eyes widened at the beautiful sight before him. Eijun actually built the cottage here on purpose, planning around this special natural spring in order to base his home on something so pretty and useful at the same time. The stream came in from outdoors, bringing sparkling water down over piles of smooth, gray rocks that lead into a pool at its base. Lush moss and flowerbeds lined the pool and stream, giving the space a pleasant fragrance.
Walls were built all around, but tiny doorways existed on the side to welcome the animals inside. Eijun knew them all well enough and they trusted him—he was never surprised to share bathtime with a squirrel or a family of ducks. In fact, he loved it when they came by and kept him company. Today, no animals were around likely because they were still unsure about Kazuya, but at the very least that gave Kazuya and Eijun some privacy.
“Wow,” Kazuya remarked after a moment, eyes trailing along the roots he spotted embedded in the grass. The roots lead up to the massive tree that was the stabilizing center of Eijun’s residence, which was yet another reason he picked this location for a home. “This is… surreal.”
“It’s my pride and joy!” Eijun boasted as he kneeled down, guiding Kazuya to sit on a boulder right beside the water. “The temperature of the water changes depending on the weather outside! I cast a spell on it before bathing which makes it hot or cold. Oh, and it’s always super purified! Since I know about all the local fish and frogs in the area, I’m able to keep them out during baths so they don’t swallow too much of the soap residue. The soap’s all made of natural materials, but it’s still not a good idea for them to eat it.”
“Right…” Kazuya trailed off, still clearly a bit dazed by the sparkling, warm atmosphere he found himself in. Eijun set down all the soaps along the side of the shallow area of the pool, deciding that it was likely best if Kazuya didn’t use the deeper portion just yet. He didn’t want to accidentally drown the guy, after all.
“Well, start undressing so I can get your clothes clean as well,” Eijun told him, purposefully keeping his back to Kazuya. “I’m sorry I don’t really have anything your size here, so we’re gonna have to keep the clothes you have as clean as possible! My friend Furuya is taller than both of us, and broader since he’s an alpha like you, so maybe I can ask him to lend some clothes while you’re here healing up…”
Eijun had been rambling as he prepared the bath, trying his best to distract himself from the fact that Kazuya was stripping down behind him, but he was starting to run out of things to say. He scattered some of the bath salts, activated the spell to warm the water, and made sure the towels were in a place that was easy for Kazuya to reach. He figured he gave Kazuya enough time to remove his clothes now, so he turned around and braced himself for whatever sight would greet him.
Really, the first thing Eijun should have noticed were the gashes made by the beast’s claws on his side, but of course, his omegan instinct was a little more powerful. Eijun couldn’t help but to tense up and flush red at the sight of Kazuya’s bare torso, just as muscular and sculpted as Eijun would expect from a man as powerful as Kazuya. He was in the middle of pushing his trousers down, and he wasn’t looking at Eijun while focusing on the task.
It was probably not very polite of Eijun to watch, but he told himself it was to make sure Kazuya didn’t lose his balance. He didn’t have to focus on the way his throat was dry or how he might have been holding his breath when he glanced down, catching sight of a trail of dark hairs from Kazuya’s navel to his groin. As soon as his trousers dropped, Eijun’s embarrassment got the best of him; he squeaked as he looked away abruptly, flustered by the way his heart pounded in his ears.
“I’m hardly in my best state right now, so there’s really nothing impressive to see here,” Kazuya assured him after a moment, though he definitely sounded somewhat amused by Eijun’s shy response. Eijun pointedly looked elsewhere as he came closer to Kazuya, keeping one hand on his broad back while Kazuya shakily stepped into the bath.
“Agree to disagree,” Eijun murmured to himself, but it was pretty clear Kazuya heard him by the way he smirked and gave Eijun a curious glance. Eijun refused to meet his gaze, and he didn’t even really look directly at Kazuya until he was submerged in the water. Everything below his chest was obscured by the ripples of the stream and the bubbles of the soap, but if Eijun looked down in that area for too long, he would surely see everything. The water was clean and crystal clear.
“Wow, this feels amazing,” Kazuya remarked as he relaxed in the water. Eijun busied himself by grabbing a bar of soap and finding a comfortable position up on the rocks behind Kazuya. “Even King Tesshin doesn’t have a bathing area quite like this. Don’t get me wrong, he’s the king so of course he has it made, but there’s something special about this place.”
“I always thought so, too,” Eijun agreed with a small smile, then dipped the bar of soap in the water to slicken it up. When Eijun started rubbing the bar on Kazuya’s shoulder, Kazuya hissed with pain and inched away, but Eijun only pressed the soap down harder and chided, “Stay still, you have to get clean.”
“I’m bruised, you know,” Kazuya complained. “You don’t have to press so—ow, shit —hard.”
“It’s been ages since you properly cleaned up and you’ll remain caked in dirt unless I do, so sit through it!” Eijun retorted. “For a knight commander or whatever you are, you’re pretty sensitive, Miyuki Kazuya.”
“Try dying and then get back to me on how you’d feel a few days later,” Kazuya mumbled.
“And if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be here to complain about how sore you are,” Eijun pointed out, which was enough to shut Kazuya up. When Kazuya huffed and didn’t answer, Eijun’s smile softened. He brought the bar of soap around Kazuya’s shoulders, silently admiring how broad and bulky they were. He wasn’t even flexing, yet Eijun could tell just how powerful his body was by his stature alone. “Then again, if it weren’t for you killing that thing, none of us would be here for much longer. Speaking of which, why were you the only one fighting it?”
“It was my decision,” Kazuya answered, turning his head to the side as the bar of soap glided along his nape. “The King wanted to send me with all of the best knights he had, but I was the only one reading about this beast, talking to those who had seen it and learning everything I could about it. I just knew that I had a better chance of taking it down if I went alone, and I didn’t want to endanger anyone else.” He paused as Eijun slipped the soap down his back, pushing his hand farther in the water to reach the dip in his spine before coming up again. “I also wanted to prove to the King why I was worthy of my title. I’ve only been the commander for a year.”
“Well, there’s probably a reason he made you the commander in the first place and not someone else,” Eijun said without thinking too deeply about it. Truth be told, he was distracted by Kazuya’s physique, now so visible since he wasn’t wearing any form-obscuring underclothes. Kazuya had such bulging biceps, and as Eijun lifted his arm to check on the scratches by his elbow, he saw the full extent of his bicep’s width. Eijun’s hand might have lingered a little longer than necessary, admiring his heavy, powerful arm before he continued to wash and talk. “I think whatever you did to earn that role was enough to impress him.”
“I guess you’re right,” Kazuya amended, like he hadn’t thought of that before going on a life-threatening quest to single-handedly take down the kingdom’s most dangerous threat in months.
They fell into a comfortable silence while Eijun washed his hair, surprisingly gentle despite his loud-mouth personality. Eijun might be rambunctious and energetic, but he knew when to be careful since he was so attuned to helping delicate creatures like animals and plants.
Being a witch meant that he often had to brew potions and medicines with exact measurements—using too much of a specific ingredient could change the potion’s entire intended purpose. Eijun learned that the hard way when training under Chris and he gave a sick frog a pair of wings instead of curing his illness. He tended to rush into things and not use a critical eye when it was necessary, but after growing from his experiences, he knew better now than to fling his special herbs around carelessly.
Each time after rinsing the soap out of Kazuya’s hair, Eijun ran his fingers through the soft brown locks a little self-indulgently. Kazuya was handsome in any state really, but his hair had mostly been matted or greasy due to what he’d been through. Now, Eijun saw its true color, the shine of thick, chestnut brown. He was relieved to see that the cut in Kazuya’s scalp was practically healed already, and he made sure any remaining dried blood was scrubbed out.
Only after Eijun tried to shift away did he realize that Kazuya had drifted to sleep, likely so comfortable by Eijun’s massaging motions that he passed right out. Eijun grinned a bit, thinking the scenario was kinda cute…
… until he glanced down over Kazuya’s shoulder and saw what the man was packing, clear as day, beneath the surface of the water.
He knew it was bad to stare, but Eijun’s heart was racing in seconds at the sight of Kazuya’s manhood. He’d never seen an alpha’s cock, never knew exactly how it looked or how it differed from his own. In comparison, Eijun was much smaller and slimmer, looking like a flower with a pretty stem more than anything else. Kazuya’s cock was thick and long, even when soft, and the knot at his base was partially obscured by dark pubic hair.
Eijun fidgeted, feeling his face heat considerably. His balls were so large as well, making the omega inside of Eijun purr with excitement. It implied that Kazuya was fertile, that he was likely to impregnate Eijun, fill him up all the way, and keep his load rooted deep inside of EIjun so that he was sure to get knocked up and—
“Nh, did I fall asleep?”
As soon as Eijun heard Kazuya’s gruff voice, Eijun flew back, putting as much distance between them as he could. The abrupt movement caused Kazuya to twist around and stare at him with a dumbfounded expression, clearly wondering what caused Eijun to suddenly scurry away like that.
“... are you alright?” Kazuya asked after a pause, looking at Eijun’s bright red face with a brow raised confusedly.
No, I was just staring at your dick like it was a five-course meal, nothing to worry about, Eijun thought as he stewed in his own embarrassment. In the heat of the moment, he could only think of a flimsy excuse to explain his sudden reaction.
“U-Uh… I saw a bug,” Eijun managed with a strained voice. It was either a really bad excuse to choose or the perfect one to change the subject, for Kazuya flinched and started looking around frantically, his complexion paling.
“W-What kind of bug?” Kazuya nervously asked. Eijun’s shame over staring at Kazuya so blatantly began to ebb away upon seeing the tough, muscular knight grow so timid over something like a bug. Eijun grinned instead, head tilting to the side, for he was amused to find out something new about the man: he was afraid of bugs.
“A big, scary one with huge pinchers and lots of crawly legs,” Eijun said in a spooky voice, and he had to suppress a laugh as Kazuya began fidgeting, then reached for his towel.
“I think I’m done bathing now,” Kazuya tried to say with as much composure as he could manage, which wasn’t much, seeing how his hand trembled when he grabbed his towel. “T-Thanks for washing my hair.”
“Don’t worry!” Eijun said, taking pity on how much he had freaked Kazuya out over a blatant lie. “I saw the bug leave! And there were no bugs in your hair, either.”
Kazuya visibly relaxed with a sigh, and when he stood up, Eijun averted his eyes. Kazuya placed the towel around his hips, but only after he was covered up properly did Eijun decide to return to his side and help him out of the pool. He took Eijun’s hand with another sigh, looking genuinely relieved as he stepped out of the water.
“Thank god for that.”
***
Kazuya was still weak—much weaker than he’d like to be—but by the end of the first week staying at Eijun’s cottage, he was able to walk on his own without Eijun supporting his weight. He had to go pretty slow at first, and he felt like he’d aged thirty years from how sore his whole body felt when he tried to go faster, but he knew he was on the road to recovery. Whatever medicine Eijun was crafting for him was doing wonders to his body.
“I’m not great at healing humans, but sometimes my remedies can work!” Eijun had said with a big, broad smile on his face. “This Sawamura Eijun is capable of more than you thought! Wahaha!”
Thanks to Kazuya’s ability to walk, he was curious about the part of the woods they were in. He never went this far into them unless he had to, and wherever Eijun’s cottage was located wasn’t anywhere near the main road Kazuya and the King’s knights used to travel through it. He told Eijun he was going to go on a walk, but at the sound of that, Eijun stopped what he was doing and insisted on coming with.
“I actually need some herbs for your medicine,” Eijun told him as he grabbed his hat, then swung the cloak over his shoulders to secure it properly. “I was just checking my stock and I’m almost out. I can show you where I collect the herbs, if you like!”
“Sure,” Kazuya agreed, not really minding where they went and for what purpose. He felt funny admitting it, but as long as he got to spend time with Eijun, he’d be happy going anywhere.
It hadn’t taken very long for Kazuya to start taking a fancy to Eijun. Sure, he’d only been there a week, but he’d spent practically every moment of the day with Eijun or watching him as he went about doing chores in the house. There was plenty of time for Kazuya to grow affectionate towards the omega, not only because he saved his life and was nursing him back to health, but simply because he was such a bubbly person as well.
“It’s just down through that trail over there, on the left!” Eijun said as they emerged from the cottage’s front door, made of wood and with a little crescent moon carved near the top in place of a window. Kazuya looked down at his feet as he walked, which was how he noticed the winding path of smooth stepping stones that lead from the door and down through the garden in front of the cottage. Eijun gestured to the colorful flowers on either side of the path, which were currently occupied by honeybees and butterflies, with a bright smile. “A lot of my herbs grow right here, but some I can only find out in the wild.”
Eijun’s familiar, a red fox by the name of Cap, trotted after them with his bushy tail bouncing behind him. Kazuya had gotten used to the fox’s presence after the first few days; he’d only ever seen foxes from a distance. Their pelts were a luxury item at the market, but a living one wasn’t usually this close to Kazuya. Cap seemed to be judging Kazuya all the time, and for some reason, Kazuya felt like they had a lot in common. He always had the same expression that Kazuya had—a sly smirk, like he was always plotting something in the back of his mind.
With each step, the bells on Eijun’s outfit chimed softly. He seemed to bounce as he trotted along, occasionally checking the leather bag that crossed over his shoulder and the vials on his belt to make sure he had ample space for whatever he needed to collect. Every so often, Eijun had to slow down his pace and allow Kazuya to catch up, for Kazuya was still too out of shape to walk quickly. He felt embarrassed, appearing so weak in front of such a gorgeous omega—all Kazuya wanted to do was show off his strength and prove to him he was a capable mate.
“I promise I’m not this slow normally,” Kazuya said, letting his current insecurity slip out.
“Not to worry, Miyuki Kazuya!” Eijun assured him. “I saw the way you fought the forest beast! I don’t think you’re weak at all!”
“You saw?” Kazuya repeated, perking up slightly at the sound of that. He hadn’t realized Eijun was watching him during his fight. However, pointing that out seemed to embarrass Eijun, for he suddenly reddened and turned his face away.
“O-Only for a bit,” Eijun admitted. While turned away like this, Kazuya could see how the tips of Eijun’s ears were red, and Kazuya’s heart thumped with affection. So cute. “I was tracking the beast for days and curing anything or anyone it hurt with my spell and potions. I finally found the cure to its poison, but I don’t know how to fight, especially not something like that, so I had no chance to take it down. That’s why when I saw you, I was so relieved! I made sure to stand by so I could heal you once the fight was over!”
“And what if I lost?” Kazuya asked, just curious to see what Eijun would have done in that unfortunate situation. Cap the fox took a seat on the path next to them, glancing between the pair with curious amber eyes.
“I’d try to save your life,” Eijun answered without hesitation, looking directly at Kazuya to show his serious expression. “I’m not sure if I’d be able to, but I’d try. I didn’t think you’d lose, though. You were so powerful, I felt like you were invincible…” Eijun glanced aside, eyes glimmering like he was remembering the moment. “I’ve never seen someone fight like you.”
Kazuya paused in his tracks, feeling unnaturally hot in the face. Here he’d been, worrying over appearing too weak in front of a potential mate, and yet this whole time, Eijun had been admiring him quietly. He really should have noticed. He felt proud now that his power had been recognized, and he didn’t know what to do with his emotions as he stood there, blushing and gazing at Eijun with silent gratitude.
“W-What?” Eijun asked after the pause, looking even more flustered than Kazuya now that he was being stared at so intensely. Kazuya blinked, not really knowing what to say, but he thought of the first excuse that came to mind.
“I have bad eyesight,” Kazuya blurted out. “You’re far away from me right now and I can’t see you very clearly. Your features are a blur from this distance. Is there anything you can do about that with your magic?”
“Bad eyesight?” Eijun started to grin. “Is that why you’re always squinting at stuff in my cottage? I thought it was ‘cause of the blood irritating your eye the first few days! Why didn’t you say so?” He came closer to Kazuya, emerging into clarity like he had been swimming underwater. Kazuya was a little taken aback to see Eijun standing so close again, close enough for Kazuya to pick out the pretty details of his eyelashes and the faint freckles on his bottom lip. “I’ll put something together for you!”
“Thanks,” Kazuya said with sincerity, but he couldn’t resist the urge to rile Eijun up now that things had been calm for too long. His smile turned conniving as he leaned in a little closer, pressing his finger underneath Eijun’s chin to tilt it up as he spoke. “Now I’ll be able to see everything much clearer when you change clothes in front of me~”
“Y-You weren’t asleep!?” Eijun snapped, his eyes widening as his skin flushed red. He immediately smacked Kazuya’s hand away and whirled around, his cape swirling behind him. Cap let out a shriek that sounded suspiciously like a laugh and scampered after Eijun. “Pervert!!”
“Hehe, I’ll never say no to a free show,” Kazuya teased, following along behind Eijun at his own pace.
***
“Pardon the intrusion!”
“Harucchi, you don’t have to be so polite anymore!” Eijun insisted as he stepped aside, allowing his closest friends to enter his cottage. Satoru followed behind and once they were both in, Eijun shut the door and led them to the dining table. “This is your home, too!”
Eijun’s friends were visiting on Eijun’s request. He sent a messenger pigeon to them, requesting their help and some materials without explanation as to why. He knew his friends would show up along with whatever items Eijun needed no matter the reason, for Eijun would do the same for them in a heartbeat.
“Thank you, Eijun-kun,” Haruichi said, still as modest as ever. He offered a basket of fruits, seeds and spices that Haruichi grew in his immaculate garden. His magic specialty was in plants and he knew even more than what Eijun knew. He had a better grasp on some of the rarest types of flowers and the fruits they bore. “Take this, please!”
“Ohhh, there’s those sweet berries in here! Perfect!” Eijun grinned as he turned to call out into the cottage. “Cap!”
In a heartbeat, Eijun’s fox familiar came bounding out of hiding, eyes alight with anticipation. These were some of his favorite treats and he knew what it meant when Haruichi came over and Eijun called his name. Eijun plucked a berry from the basket and tossed it towards the fox, who stood up on his hind legs to catch it mid-air with a snap of his jaws. He let out a happy yip, causing Haruichi to laugh and Satoru’s eyes to soften. Satoru always liked Eijun’s familiar more than Eijun himself.
“Sawamura, where’s the—”
Eijun turned around, pausing with a jolt in his heart as Kazuya emerged from the kitchen with a bowl. Of course, of all times he was walking around shirtless, it had to be now. Kazuya froze at the sight of their guests and cut himself off, clearly startled by the sight of them. The suggestiveness of the situation couldn’t be ignored, and Haruichi blushed red at the sight of Kazuya and the implication of his presence.
“O-Oh, I’m terribly sorry we interrupted your time with your new mate, Eijun-kun!” Haruichi flustered and bowed his head. “We won’t stay long!”
“We’re not—” Eijun choked out, flushing red as well as he glanced between Kazuya and Haruichi. He gave Kazuya a look, wondering why he wouldn’t also clear up the misunderstanding, but he followed his line of sight and realized that Kazuya was looking suspiciously at Satoru. Kazuya was stiff and apprehensive at the sight of the other alpha, and Eijun had to suppress a groan of exasperation. “Miyuki Kazuya, have some manners! This is the friend of mine that I told you about before, Furuya Satoru!”
“Just a friend?” Kazuya clarified, putting a little too much emphasis on that part of the sentence. Eijun’s skin prickled with heat and he glared more intensely at Kazuya.
“Yes, he’s Harucchi’s mate, now will you put on a shirt?” Eijun grumbled. “You’re embarrassing!!”
“The shirt’s still drying,” Kazuya reminded him. Before Eijun could try and think of something else, Satoru extended a bundle of clothing with a bow of his head.
“We received the messenger pigeon,” Satoru said. “Eijun said that he needed clothes my size to wear, but now it makes sense why he needed my size in particular. Use them as long as you need.”
“Thank you!” Eijun barked out, practically yanking the clothes out of Satoru’s grasp to shove them at Kazuya. “Now go put something on!”
“I was going to ask for a spoon first,” Kazuya complained, still holding a bowl of porridge. He reluctantly turned around, muttering something under his breath about going to find it himself, and Eijun was just relieved that his suffocating alpha pheromones weren’t in his direct presence anymore. When he turned back to face Haruichi and Satoru, he flinched at the devilish smile on Haruichi’s face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eijun whispered, though it wasn’t very quiet considering his panic.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Haruichi dismissed with a giggle. “Just wondering how long it will take for you two to figure it out.”
“It’s not like that!” Eijun protested, but to no avail. He could see the knowing gleam of Haruichi’s rose-gold irises between his soft fringe. Even Satoru had rosy cheeks and a relaxed expression, like he was content to be in the presence of newlyweds. Eijun was embarrassed by their assumptions, but he couldn’t deny he liked the thought of actually being mates with Kazuya. Besides, what was the deal with Kazuya asking for clarification about Eijun’s relationship to Satoru, another alpha?
“Not yet,” Haruichi corrected, and though Eijun tried to look irritated by his prediction, he ended up smiling to himself instead.
Deep down, he sure hoped Haruichi’s hunch was correct.
***
Kazuya grunted as he swung his sword again, feeling a rush of victory as the blade sliced through the air at a deadly speed. One of his borrowed shirts clung to his sweat-soaked skin, outlining the contours of his body and showing off the bulging muscles of his torso. He was more out of breath than usual, chest heaving as he took a momentary break, but at least he felt his strength returning to him.
Every day, Kazuya tried to do more exercise, and every day he was able to accomplish something new. Now, he was finally able to swing his sword around and practice his moves. Kazuya had little stamina compared to his usual self, but he knew that it would take time to build up his strength again. He already made some incredible progress in just two weeks, and it was becoming clear to Kazuya that he was almost well enough to leave.
When Kazuya turned around towards the cottage, he pulled the hem of his shirt up to dab the cloth on his forehead, exposing his flexing abs and bulging chest for a brief moment. Only after he finished mopping the sweat from his face did he see Eijun standing by the back door of the cottage with a watering can, eyes as round as saucers as he stared at Kazuya. When their eyes met, Eijun flinched and turned red in an instant, no doubt embarrassed to be caught staring.
“T-That form of yours is looking good, Miyuki Kazuya!” Eijun called out to try and save himself from that embarrassing moment. “You’re looking like a true knight again!”
“This is far from my best,” Kazuya reminded him, a bit of an arrogant grin spreading on his lips. He couldn’t help it—he really wanted to flaunt his achievements to Eijun and really show him just how good of a mate he could be. This was nothing compared to his prime state of being, but he should still accept Eijun’s compliments; it wasn’t every day that the bratty little omega told him something honest like that. “But thank you. Looks like I’ll be on my way soon and out of your hair.”
It was meant to be a joke, but the mood was dampened in seconds. Eijun couldn’t hide the flicker of sadness across his face, even as he forced himself to smile and looked down at the flowers he was meant to be watering. Kazuya suddenly felt guilty for joking about that and he frowned, watching as Eijun sprinkled the petals with droplets of water.
“That’s right, you’re almost well enough to travel again!” Eijun added on, his voice a little too loud to be natural, as if he were trying to cover up his true tone. “This Sawamura Eijun has nursed you back to health, and now you can go back to the city and do your knightly duties. Everyone probably thinks you’re dead, after all, so you’ll need to get back and put everyone’s minds at ease. The King needs his commander!”
Bitterness welled up in Kazuya’s heart. He didn’t know what to do—he felt so torn. He loved this little house in the woods and he would never dare tell Eijun to abandon it to come live with him in the city. Kazuya’s residence was much nicer than what most people had to settle with, but he knew it wouldn’t make Eijun happy. Animals didn’t come and go through Kazuya’s place as they pleased unless they were unwelcome pests, like sewer rats.
At the same time, Kazuya probably couldn’t stay here forever, either. He was proud of his job and his duties. He was fiercely loyal to King Tesshin, he was the leader of the knights, and his heart ached at the thought of leaving his friends like Youichi and Kenta behind. They depended on his leadership and guidance, his effective decision making and his genius strategies whenever they had to battle the neighboring kingdoms to keep their city safe.
Kazuya couldn’t retire to a cottage in the woods; besides, what would he even do? He didn’t know magic and he wasn’t a witch like Eijun. He might be more of a burden for Eijun than a help.
Kazuya had to do some thinking about what he would do. Thankfully, the forest wasn’t that far from the city. Maybe Kazuya could actually manage to live here and just commute into town whenever the King needed him most.
But did Eijun even want Kazuya there?
Troubled, Kazuya brought his eyes up from the ground. “Sawamura, do you want me to leave?”
Even though he asked the question, when he looked up, Eijun was nowhere to be seen. He had gone inside while Kazuya was lost in his thoughts.
With a heavy sigh, Kazuya turned around and lifted his sword again. Practicing had always helped him get his mind off of things, but he wasn’t convinced that any amount of sword-practice would help him sort out the emotions clouding his heart.
***
Eijun knew, from the moment he started feeling something special for Kazuya, that this day would come. He had his eyes lowered to the ground as he held onto the hilt of Kazuya’s sword, trying his damndest to hold his tears back while Kazuya put on his armor. Kazuya finished securing his vambraces, tugging at the strings until they were tight enough, and shifted his uneasy gaze towards Eijun.
“Well, I think that’s everything,” Kazuya said, the first words spoken in quite a while, and they didn’t do anything to ease the murky atmosphere between them. He looked so damn handsome in his armor, the metal gleaming under the sunlight, the bulky metal and leather plates exaggerating Kazuya’s powerful stature. Eijun was so hopelessly attracted to him, but his heart sank low in his gut with the understanding that such a perfect man would never be his to claim.
Kazuya took his sword from Eijun’s grasp and slipped it into its sheath, which was attached to his back by an over-the-shoulder strap. With that, he had all of his belongings, and he turned to face Eijun forlornly. They were not alone, either—Eijun had sent a messenger pigeon to the King on behalf of Kazuya, and standing a short distance away now were a few of the knights that the King sent to retrieve Kazuya and escort him back.
Judging by their expressions and appearance, Eijun already recognized Kuramochi Youichi and Okumura Koushuu. Kazuya had told him about those two a lot during his stay here. They were on horseback, and a third horse for Kazuya was there, waiting for him and all saddled up. Neither of them were rushing him though; Koushuu looked a little irritated, but Youichi had an unreadable emotion on his face as he watched Kazuya interact with Eijun.
“It’s not everything,” Eijun corrected after a moment, then reached down to his belt to untie a satin, drawstring pouch from one of the loops there. Kazuya’s brows furrowed as he took the pouch from Eijun, then opened it quietly. Eijun admittedly felt his heart fluttering as Kazuya removed the gift from the pouch. Eijun had worked really hard on them and he hoped he crafted a pair of glasses that Kazuya would like.
“You remembered,” Kazuya remarked softly, pulling the glasses out fully to examine them. He looked at the frames and toyed with them for a moment before sliding them on, then blinked as his eyes adjusted to the change. Eijun looked at him curiously, wishing that they’d work, and his heart leapt when Kazuya looked at him with a smile. “I can’t believe it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this clearly in my life.”
“Really?” Eijun perked up, momentarily forgetting about their sad situation and how they were parting ways. He simply followed his heart and jumped forward, throwing his arms around Kazuya’s shoulders to hug him tightly. “I’m so happy! I had to get help from Furuya since I don’t know much about spells that enhance vision, but he helped me learn how to charm the glasses so that they’ll work for years!”
Eijun hadn’t really realized he threw himself at Kazuya for a hug until he was doing it, and now feeling embarrassed, he started to lean back onto his heels. Before he could back away entirely, Kazuya’s arms lifted and returned his embrace, causing Eijun’s breath to catch in his throat. He went still, cheeks warming at the feeling of being held by Kazuya, even when the bulky armor was between them. Kazuya’s breath was warm on his ear when he spoke.
“I’ll come back,” Kazuya promised him, words he hadn’t said at all since the topic of leaving came up. He made it seem like he was going forever, but finally for the first time, Kazuya was giving him a hint that he wanted to return. Eijun couldn’t suppress the joy that bubbled up in his chest because of Kazuya’s decision. Kazuya squeezed him tighter and leaned in to rub his temple against Eijun’s, leaving a trace of his scent behind. “Don’t forget about me, Eijun.”
“I’m not that stupid,” Eijun protested softly. As if he could forget about the knight who stole his heart and saved their kingdom. He didn’t want to let go, but when he was reminded of their audience of other men and their horses, Eijun blushed and allowed Kazuya to back away. Though he was elated at the news that Kazuya would return, the pining returned at full-force almost instantly. He really didn’t want to see the alpha leave his side.
“I just need some time to sort things out,” Kazuya told him, lifting one hand to cup the side of Eijun’s face. The leather material of his gloves had Eijun shivering slightly, and he wished he felt Kazuya’s bare touch instead. He leaned into his palm regardless, peering up at Kazuya with pleading, round eyes. “I promise you that I will be back when you need me most.”
Eijun didn’t quite get the purpose of his cryptic message, especially when Eijun felt like he needed Kazuya all the time, but he couldn’t think of anything more to say. As Kazuya reluctantly pulled away, Eijun stood in place, forcing himself not to start running after them like a desperate housewife seeing her husband off to war. Cap came to sit by his feet, as if comforting him, and together, they watched the unfamiliar knights reunite with Kazuya and help him up onto his horse.
Finally, the moment came. Kazuya tapped his ankles against his horse’s flanks, tugged on the reins, and steered his horse towards the direction that Youichi and Koushuu came from. As they trotted off, Kazuya looked over his shoulder one last time, his eyes gleaming with the same yearning Eijun felt in his heart from behind the lenses of his new glasses.
In no time, Eijun was alone again, just like he’d always been. As the tears rolled down his cheeks in hot, thick streams, a few rabbits crowded by his feet to offer their support, looking up at him with lowered ears and a sense of understanding.
You said you’d come back when I need you most, Eijun thought with an aching heart and a wet sniffle, but what if I feel like I really need you right now?
***
Kazuya returned to the heart of their kingdom with the highest degree of pomp and circumstance. People were lined up on the streets, cheering and throwing flower petals at Kazuya as he passed through the gates with Youichi and Koushuu right behind him. Kazuya allowed the pride of what he’d down swell through him and he gave everyone a broad smile, triumphantly marching down the main road to the sound of his people calling his name. Musicians played upbeat music and children scampered around; Kazuya smelled freshly-baked bread and other delicious goods to be enjoyed during the celebration.
It had been true that everyone feared Kazuya’s death while he was away. Youichi had nearly punched him in the arm hard enough to shove him off his horse once they were out of sight from Eijun’s cottage, telling him that he’d nearly gone through the second stage of grief already for him. Youichi then did a pretty piss-poor job at hiding his tears of joy and relief, but he fought against Kazuya’s teasing like a furious cat while he wiped at the wetness on his cheeks.
Getting a hug from his father felt special as well—Toku didn’t show his affection like that very often, making those moments something that Kazuya would cherish.
It was a relief to get back home and return to the King to report his success. He had a portion of the beast’s furry black pelt and a spike from its tail as proof of the kill, things that Eijun had gone out to retrieve while Kazuya was knocked out from the fight. Kazuya made sure to bring those tokens to the King and offer them to him so that he may keep them and recall the way their kingdom had triumphed over another enemy.
After a grand feast filled with food, drinking and dancing, things seemed to settle back to normal. Kazuya hadn’t been gone very long, only a few weeks, but it was true that the King had already begun negotiating about appointing the next commander in Kazuya’s absence. Apparently, Kenta had been in charge while Kazuya was missing and had been doing a good job in spite of the grief and fear everyone felt for Kazuya’s life. Now that Kazuya was back, he had returned to his commander role and carried on for the following month.
Except, it really wasn’t that simple.
“Miyuki.” The King’s firm voice called out to Kazuya when he finished assigning the new squires to their chores that afternoon. Kazuya turned around, immediately bowing his head with respect as Tesshin approached him. The King paused, his heavy fur cape making his shoulders appear even broader, and gazed at Kazuya with an unreadable gaze. “A word?”
Kazuya wondered what they had to talk about that warranted privacy, but he agreed and followed Tesshin without question. As they walked through the loggia around the courtyard, the arcade of columns cast long shadows across the stone floor beneath their feet. Kazuya felt a little nervous, but he trusted Tesshin and could tell he was not in any sort of trouble. Kazuya knew that Tesshin had a very different attitude when he was angry.
“You’re not happy here, are you?” Tesshin asked after a lengthy pause and a slow, deep breath. The suddenness of the question naturally made Kazuya reel back in shock—he almost stopped walking, but in the end, he contained his emotional reaction to his heart.
“What made you think that?” Kazuya asked rather than answering the question, brows tensed as he looked down at his feet. His chest felt tight—he was shocked to be called out so suddenly, but at the same time, he wasn’t disagreeing with Tesshin’s assumption. Did that mean he was right? Was Kazuya not happy back at home? A breeze rustled his hair as it drifted through the gaps between the columns, carrying the crisp scent of autumn with it.
“I’ve been king for many years and I’ve seen all sorts of young men and women like yourself grow into their own shoes,” Tesshin explained, eyes raised to some point in the distance while he reflected on a nostalgic memory. “Sometimes they find their purpose here and they’re happy. They do their job, they find a mate, they have a family.”
Mate. Kazuya’s heart clenched at the sound of the word and a flash of gold passed by his memory. Of course he hadn’t forgotten about Eijun, but he got so settled back into his old routine that he hadn’t figured out a solution for the two of them yet, and now a whole month had gone by since he left Eijun behind. He tried not to think about how badly he missed Eijun too often, for the longing made Kazuya feel as if he were being crushed by tons of rocks.
“Others think they’re happy here,” Tesshin continued, shifting his gaze back over to Kazuya, “but the truth is that once they get a taste of the world, they have an itch to keep on exploring. They have people, places and things they love at home, sure, we all do. But that pull to the unknown is just too strong for wanderers like you.” Tesshin’s lips curved up into a smile. “You have that faraway look in your eyes, Miyuki. It’s always been there, but now it’s clearer than ever to me that you don’t really want to stay here.”
“My Lord, that’s not—” Kazuya started to protest, alarmed by the accusation that he would rather not serve his King, but Tesshin shook his head with a soft laugh that indicated he was not upset.
“You’ve fallen in love, and that omega of yours isn’t here with you,” Tesshin went on, hitting the nail right on the head, and Kazuya flushed because of the accuracy of his statement. Kazuya cleared his throat awkwardly and glanced aside, but there was no use in lying or trying to deny it, so he kept quiet while Tesshin mused out loud. “Since you didn’t return with this omega by your side, I’m assuming it means they can’t leave wherever they are now.”
“... that’s right,” Kazuya admitted reluctantly, only because he was miserable to be facing the truth of the situation. “His home is too special to him. I can’t take it away from him, he belongs there, and I… I belong here.”
“You don’t sound so sure of that,” Tesshin pointed out. He stopped walking, and so Kazuya also paused, looking at him with a regretful frown. All his life, he felt like this city was his home, where he was born and where he would die. Now that he’d left the walls, conquered a dangerous enemy and fell in love, he realized that staying at home wasn’t actually what he wanted to do anymore.
That realization didn’t hit him until after he’d returned and the rush of seeing everyone again had faded. Kazuya did love his occupation, his friends, his family, his King—but he loved the thought of wandering freely and being with Eijun even more than that. He just didn’t know how to face the truth until now, when Tesshin practically forced him to take a look at himself and decide what was next.
“I don’t want to leave your service,” Kazuya said, beginning with something he was certain of. “I don’t want to say goodbye to this town forever. It’s still my home, and I want to come back. I’m proud to be your knight. I don’t want to let any of that go.”
“What if I told you that you could still do all of that while not remaining here, free to come and go as you please?” Tesshin said, meeting Kazuya’s determined gaze just in time to see his eyes widen with shock and confusion. His head spun for a moment.
“I-I’m afraid I don’t follow,” Kazuya murmured. It sounded too good to be true, and Tesshin had a gleam in his eyes that indicated he wasn’t just toying with Kazuya’s feelings (not that he usually would, but Kazuya was slightly on edge).
“Knight Errant Miyuki Kazuya,” Tesshin said after taking a deep breath. “How does that title sound?” He folded his arms behind his back in a casual stance, allowing the words to sink in for Kazuya to understand. “You’d always be welcomed back and I’d be honored to work with you again, but you wouldn’t be bound to me, either. You could wander as much as you like, complete whichever quests suit your fancy, and go spend time with your omega whenever you pleased.”
Knight errant. Kazuya hadn’t even considered that as an option—the ability to maintain his noble title while being free of obligation to any one monarch. He could travel wherever he wanted and Eijun could come with him if he felt up for it. The solution sounded almost too good to be true, and he wasn’t sure what to do with the information that he could become an errant instead of continuing to be the commander.
“The Full Moon is in one week,” Tesshin said once Kazuya didn’t respond, seeming to change the subject, though Kazuya caught on to his implication quickly. “You’ll want to get to that omega you’re interested in to help him—and yourself, too. By the time you return to the castle, you might have a better idea of what you want to do next.”
Kazuya was overwhelmed with gratitude, so much so that he didn’t know what to say. All he could do was nod quickly, thank Tesshin in a rush, and turn around to immediately begin making preparations to return to Eijun’s cottage.
I’m coming back to you, my omega.
***
For some reason, Eijun had been holding out, and now it was too late to go back on his decision. He looked at the unused potions he brewed and that were now going to waste. They were remedies to help dull the effects of his heat, things he took every Full Moon to try and avoid the suffering, but this time, Eijun just… avoided them.
You idiot, Eijun scolded himself as he looked at the useless potions, then collapsed back onto a chair by the dining room table with a shaky breath. His symptoms were beginning and only now was he starting to regret his optimistic attitude from before.
“I promise you that I will be back when you need me most.”
As Kazuya’s words echoed in his mind, Eijun had to suppress a whimper. He hung his head from disappointment, for the night was almost upon them and his alpha wasn’t by his side like he said he would. What bullshit.
Eijun guessed that Kazuya technically wasn’t his alpha. There’d been tension between them, but they never talked about becoming mates and Kazuya never even kissed him. Eijun had been foolish to anticipate that he’d have a mate this time, and that he wouldn’t need to take his usual remedies to keep the effects of his heat at bay. He knew from being forgetful in the past that forgetting to take them in time meant that his heat couldn’t be stopped, so now that Eijun’s skin felt feverish and his knees were weak, he understood that there was no going back.
He insisted he wasn’t stupid before, but now he was starting to doubt his judgement. It was just his luck that he’d fall for an alpha far out of his league, one who would not choose him over the life he knew. Eijun didn’t expect Kazuya to throw away his whole career and social circle to be with him, but as the days went by and Kazuya still didn’t show up, Eijun was losing hope that Kazuya was even thinking about him. He wouldn’t blame Kazuya if he got home and was greeted by a whole whore-house of eager omegas, wanting to be mounted by the brave knight who had saved them all.
A bitter feeling rose up in Eijun’s chest, something like jealousy, and he curled his arms around his waist. He felt sick to his stomach as his body prepared for something that wasn’t even going to happen. The way his body prepared for an alpha would all be for nothing, and when Eijun didn’t get the bliss of becoming one with his alpha, his body would punish him with even more physical and emotional pain. Great, just fucking great.
Not knowing what else to do with himself, Eijun dragged his feet over to his bed and fell onto it with a groan. He buried his face in the pillows, hoping he still smelled Kazuya’s scent lingering on the sheets, but it had been weeks since he last detected a trace of it. Disappointment and longing clenched on Eijun’s heart, and he tried his best to hold back his tears when only the cool night air brushed along his back and not the hand of the alpha he yearned for.
As Eijun’s internal body temperature rose, he started to squirm around restlessly. His windows were open to allow the cool night air inside, but there wasn’t much else he could do to fight the fire inside him. His cock started to stir, twitching with the beginnings of arousal, and slick began to form and stick between his cheeks. Eijun found it more difficult to breathe, and as his clothes started to feel uncomfortable against his skin, he got to work on removing them.
Even struggling out of his clothes was exhausting, and Eijun paused once he flung his pants off, leaving him only in underwear. He was winded from that task alone and Eijun let out a frustrated whimper, knowing that if his alpha was there, he would be helping Eijun to undress. Tears welled up in his eyes and he squeezed them shut, curling his arms around his pillow while he tried not to cry too much.
He wanted his alpha so badly that he was even starting to hallucinate his scent. Eijun took in a deep breath, not sure if he was delighted to recall Kazuya’s earthy, spicy scent with such vivid clarity, or if he was upset that his imagination was so close to imitating the real thing. Eijun closed his eyes, losing himself in a fantasy where Kazuya was actually there with him, allowing his scent to surround him. He could even feel Kazuya’s hand brushing along his sweaty forehead, pushing his bangs aside, and kissing the skin there like he was something so precious. The first thing he would say when returning to Eijun’s side would be something like…
“I’m sorry I made you wait so long.” Eijun hummed—that was fine, he supposed. He was just glad that Kazuya’s voice sounded so real in his mind. “I promised I’d be back, and I wish it could have been sooner… but now I see that I came back just in time.”
“Stupid Miyuki Kazuya…” Eijun muttered, pouting at the imaginary Kazuya by his bedside. “Waiting ‘til the last minute to come and save me…”
“At least I’m here, right?” Kazuya responded, a clever smirk pulling on his lips. Eijun gazed at him, hot and delirious, and realized a little too slowly that his eyes were actually open.
Kazuya wasn’t a figment of his imagination—he was actually in Eijun’s room.
“M-Miyuki Kazuya!?” With a jolt of shock, Eijun shot upright, embarrassedly pulling the blanket up with him to try and cover his half-naked body. He felt hot in the face for a whole new reason, trying to process the shock of having Kazuya right there with him. “What are you—since when did you—”
“The door was unlocked, as if you were expecting someone,” Kazuya pointed out with a far too smug expression. He had already removed his outer layers, Eijun realized, and he must not have bothered to travel in a suit of armor to avoid the hassle of taking it off.
Now, Kazuya was kneeling beside Eijun’s bed, gazing at him with so much yearning that Eijun almost let out a needy whimper. He could smell it as well—Kazuya’s rut-scent. Kazuya’s jaw was clenched tight and it was clear by his dilated pupils that he wanted to pounce on Eijun, but like the knight he was, he was keeping himself under control to let Eijun process his presence.
“You took so long,” Eijun muttered, a little frustrated that Kazuya left him on his own for so many nights. He frowned even as his heartbeat quickened and he inched closer to the edge of the bed. “Take responsibility and make up for it already.”
“That’s all I’ve wanted to do since the moment you saved my life,” Kazuya confessed, raising his hand to cup the side of Eijun’s neck. His palm pressed against the spot where a mark would go, and the feeling of his calloused palm right there had Eijun shivering needily—he swayed closer, drawn in by Kazuya’s alluring scent and warmth. Kazuya was leaning in as well, clearly unable to wait much longer. “I’ve wanted nothing more than to make you my omega.”
“Then do it,” Eijun whispered. That was all Kazuya needed to hear to surge forward, connecting their lips in a long-awaited, passionate kiss fueled by the hormones of Kazuya’s rut and Eijun’s heat. Eijun practically buckled under the emotional weight of that moment, a sweet whimper escaping his throat as his heart swelled with bliss. Finally, his alpha was making a move, and Eijun knew he’d waited long enough for it. They both had.
The feeling of Kazuya’s mouth on his own felt more thrilling than any magic spell Eijun could conjure up. He felt like sparks were fizzing through his body, making him shiver and kiss Kazuya as hungrily as he could manage. Kazuya overpowered him easily, a low growl rumbling from the man as he pushed his tongue into Eijun’s mouth and scraped his lips with the sharp tips of his alpha canine fangs. The sensation was thrilling, promising so much more, and Eijun was beyond willing to experience what Kazuya’s hungry kiss was suggesting.
When Kazuya pushed Eijun onto his back, Eijun relaxed and allowed him to take control, a rush of satisfaction running through his veins. Their kiss broke messily, and with a shuddering gasp, Eijun threaded his fingers through Kazuya’s hair, pulling his head down so that he would clearly hear Eijun’s passionate plea.
“Claim me, alpha.”
***
Kazuya felt like a fool for mulling over his thoughts for as long as he did. Rather, he felt stupid for avoiding them, pretending like everything was alright and that things would just sort of eventually fall into place on their own. Now that he had his omega beneath him, squirming and flushed while Kazuya touched him all over, he wondered what made him wait so long in the first place.
“Nnh —why’re you teasing so much?” Eijun begged, shaking hands clenched in the sheets beside him while Kazuya pulled his fingers out of Eijun’s entrance again. He was entranced with the way Eijun’s slick coated Kazuya’s fingers, how every time he removed the digits from Eijun’s hole, they were soaked with the sweet-smelling translucent fluid that still remained attached to Eijun’s body by a single, thin thread. Then, wanting to feel Eijun’s pleasant heat again, Kazuya would push his fingers back in and rub that spot that made Eijun keen.
“You’re just so—” Kazuya curled his fingers again, a grin pulling on his lips as Eijun’s hips bucked and he whined needily, “—gorgeous. I can’t help it, Eijun, I’ve never seen anything like you…”
“Well if I’m so gorgeous, then why don’t you give me what I’ve been begging for since you got here!?” Eijun snapped, desperate for his alpha’s knot and truly at his limit of patience. It was pretty cute, Kazuya had to admit, to see Eijun so red and teary-eyed while he demanded Kazuya to mate him properly already. He had a little too much fun making Eijun wait, but he was eager to get on with it as well. His own cock throbbed heavily again, reminding him of his own rut and how badly he wanted to be buried inside Eijun’s tight heat.
“Fine, I guess I can go a bit faster, if you insist,” Kazuya answered matter-of-fact, and Eijun’s eyes widened, as if he couldn’t believe that had worked. His lips parted with a quiet gasp as Kazuya removed his fingers from his ass, which had already been dilated on its own, but with Kazuya’s toying, he was even more stretched out than before. Yet again, Eijun was looking down at Kazuya’s erection with that hungry gaze, making it clear just how impressed he was by Kazuya’s size.
Well, that sure did wonders for Kazuya’s ego. He gave Eijun a proud smile, causing Eijun to realize how obvious he was being with his admiration for how well-endowed Kazuya was. Eijun blushed and pretended to not be interested anymore, turning his face away pointedly while Kazuya laughed and pushed Eijun’s legs further apart.
“No need to be shy,” Kazuya told him as he rocked his hips forward, grinding the head of his thick, leaking cock along Eijun’s slick-soaked crack.
“I’m not being shy, you’re just grinning way too much,” Eijun muttered, but Kazuya only let out a cheeky laugh in response, not willing to hide his joy in the slightest. Eijun looked even more flustered and irritated at the sound of that, not that his expression would remain like that much longer; Kazuya pushed forward, sliding inside Eijun with almost no resistance, and Eijun’s face was quickly overcome with the relief and pleasure of having his alpha inside of him for the first time.
“That’s right, omega, relax for me,” Kazuya spoke soothingly, one hand sliding down to cup Eijun’s twitching cock in his hand. He stroked Eijun as he pushed himself inside, encouraging his arousal while Kazuya pushed forward. He knew it would be heavenly to have his cock surrounded by Eijun’s slick, warm body, but fuck, he really didn’t think it would be this good. Suddenly all the times that Kazuya had fantasized about it were pathetic compared to the real experience.
“O-Oh —I-I’m…” Eijun stammered, trembling hands twisting in the sheets before he let go and latched onto Kazuya instead. Kazuya let out a pleasant hiss at the feeling of Eijun’s nails digging into his skin, grabbing onto his shoulders for stability while Kazuya started to move. If he had more patience, maybe he would have waited longer for Eijun to adjust, but his instincts were starting to overwhelm his reasoning. All he wanted was to fuck his omega, fill him up and claim what was his.
“That’s right, Eijun, fuck, you’re perfect,” Kazuya growled, leaning down over Eijun’s body to whisper husky praises into his ear. The shift in position pushed Eijun back further, but he bent to Kazuya’s will, showcasing his breathtaking flexibility in all its glory. Kazuya nipped and kissed along the underside of Eijun’s jaw, inching closer to his neck while his hips began moving at a faster, rougher pace.
Eijun was quick to adapt. No sounds of pain came from his quivering lips—instead, he latched onto Kazuya and rocked up into Kazuya’s body to try and meet his thrusts halfway. His skin was scorching hot to the touch and slick gushed out around Kazuya’s shaft, reducing the friction between them into a smooth glide. Kazuya never felt anything quite like it and excitement pulsed through him, urging him to start fucking Eijun with all the animalistic fervor he had pent up for weeks now.
“A-Alpha, ah—hah, nh, there, there, right there, k-knot me, please…!” Eijun babbled out, hips canting up as he craned his head to the side. He exposed the smooth, gorgeous skin of his neck, bare and unclaimed by any other alpha. Eijun’s chest rose and fell with rapid breaths, muddling Kazuya’s mind with even more lust, and his hands roamed up to rub and pluck at his nipples without a second thought. Kazuya pushed Eijun down onto the bed, using the weight and bulk of his muscle to make Eijun truly feel like he was being ravaged by an alpha strong enough to keep him captive.
Just as Kazuya bent down and sunk his sharp teeth into the flesh of Eijun’s neck, he pushed his cock all the way inside and came with a burst of pleasure in his core. Kazuya groaned, tasting the virgin-sweetness of Eijun’s blood on his tongue, and as cum gushed from his cock, the knot at the base began to swell with the intention of keeping Eijun nice and full.
Kazuya’s teeth parted from the fresh mark on his neck, and his tongue glided over the throbbing skin in order to lick up any lingering blood coming from the wound. In between lapping at his skin, Kazuya spoke lowly, praising his perfect omega as he rode out the waves of his orgasm.
“Such a good boy, letting me breed you full, letting me claim and make you mine,” Kazuya purred, his hand sliding down Eijun’s chest and soft stomach to stroke where his seed was settling inside his lover’s body. He ended up smearing his fingers through Eijun’s release, which was splattered all over his abdomen. Kazuya realized that when he marked Eijun, his omega must have orgasmed at the same time. Eijun was panting and trembling by that point, eyes glassy as he attempted to catch his breath from the force of his climax. Kazuya couldn’t remember a time when he looked more gorgeous than that.
Kazuya took his chin in hand and tilted Eijun’s face towards him. Once their lips were aligned, he gave Eijun a deep, languid kiss, one that communicated just how much Kazuya treasured the mate he’d fallen so deeply for.
Even after they came down from the mind-numbing high of release, Kazuya remained knotted to Eijun, and so he decided to tell Eijun what he realized about himself during his time away. As Kazuya spoke, he gently carded his fingers through Eijun’s hair, stroking and petting his pretty omega. Kazuya felt so incredibly relieved that he made the decision to come back and claim his mate.
“A knight errant…” Eijun echoed once Kazuya took a break from his explanation, a smile curving on his lips. “So, where’s our first quest taking us?”
At the sound of that, Kazuya’s eyes widened. Eijun couldn’t be serious, could he? Kazuya almost didn’t know what to say, but Eijun’s grin was achingly genuine. His enchanting eyes gleamed golden in the moonlight shining through the windows beside them.
“You’re serious?” Kazuya asked anyway, breath lodged in his throat. “You want to come with me?”
“Under one condition!” Eijun said, pressing his extended index finger against Kazuya’s parted lips. “I get to choose where we go sometimes as well, to learn new magic and meet with sorcerers, both old friends and new ones. This won’t be all about you and your manly-alpha urge to fight, you know. This will be a team effort, and we’ll return to home base—here—at least once a season for a well-needed break!”
Honestly, it sounded like heaven to Kazuya. He almost couldn’t believe his luck, to have found someone so perfect, someone who matched with Kazuya in every way. On top of that, he was someone who wanted to adapt to Kazuya’s wandering lifestyle and have new experiences of his own. Like Eijun said, their journeys would be about both of them, together.
“Twice a season,” Kazuya suggested instead, “depending on where we go.”
Eijun leaned up to peck his lips against Kazuya’s. His smile was contagious, which was something Kazuya realized when his cheeks began to ache from the feeling. Here, with Eijun, he was home—but Kazuya knew that no matter where they went together, they’d always find home within each other.
“Deal!”