Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The campfire crackled as Kaishan threw in another log; the flames flared briefly before settling down again. He stared into the dancing blaze as a flurry of thoughts ran through his head. Tomorrow they would reach the Azim Stepps—home. After years of being away, he would finally be home. He was excited to see it again—possibly even get to see his tribe, father, and friends if they were camped nearby. It was surreal to think about and put a slight smile on his face.

A gentle nudge to his arm jolted him out of his thoughts. He blinked and turned towards his fellow Scion with a look of bemusement.

“Sorry, Kai,” Lyse said sheepishly. “You seemed uh...I think distant would be the best word? I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“Aye, I’m alright, thank you for asking,” Kaishan chuckled and nudged Lyse playfully with his elbow. “I was thinking how nice it will be to be home again.”

The comment garnered him a confused look from the blonde before her eyes widened in realization.

“Oh, that’s right! You’re from the Azim Stepps! “How silly of me to forget,” Lyse exclaimed, looking up at him with the biggest grin. She pulled her legs to her chest. “How long has it been? I know you’ve been with us for a few years now.”

“Hmm, let me see,” he murmured.

Kaishan was fully aware both Yugiri and Gosetsu were listening in on their conversation but tried to seem unintrusive by keeping themselves busy. He didn’t mind; they were just as much his friends as Lyse was. He looked thoughtful, thinking back to the day he left his tribe, following what felt like a calling, guiding him where he was needed. Now Kaishan wondered if Hydelan was the source of that calling all those years ago. That journey took him some time, too, considering he had left—rich lavender eyes widened in shock.

“Oh Gods, ’tis been about eight years,” he said, rubbing the scales on his neck. “Have I truly been away that long? Hells .”

Lyse’s hand was on his arm, squeezing gently. She gave him a supportive smile. “I understand...going back to Ala Mhigo made me realize how long it has been for me. However, while it wasn’t the happiest of homecomings, it still felt good to be back.”

“Aye, I imagine I will feel the same once I step onto the Steppes again—hehe, step onto the Steppes,” Kaishan giggled at the unintentional joke he made, grinning wider when Lyse tittered as well. Papalymo would have rolled his eyes at them and probably mumbled some sort of loving insult about their intelligence. The somber thought tempered Kaishan’s laughter, though the bard smiled softly as he looked back at the fire. Before he could get too lost in his thoughts again, Lyse pulled him back with another question.

“Does your family still live there? Mayhaps we can visit them?” Lyse asked, earnest as ever.

“Aye, my father and my tribe. And mayhaps, if time permits,” Kaishan replied. 

“We will find the time to spare,” she said, determination flaring in her bright blue eyes, “Out of anyone I know, you more than deserve some time with family and friends.”

He gave her a fond look, pulled her into a side hug, and held her tight. 

“Thank you, Lyse.”

“Think naught of it, Kai,” Lyse said, returning the side hug with almost bruising force. “What is it like? The Steppes, I mean.”

Kaishan leaned back on his hands and looked up at the starry sky through the canopy of trees; a smile graced his lips as he recalled his home.

“’Tis beautiful and dangerous—emerald green plains stretching out for malms and malms, snow-capped mountains reaching towards the heavens, and plenty of beasts to fight. You’ll love it,” the bard said. He chuckled when he looked back at her, seeing the gleeful expression at the prospect of a challenge. Sometimes Kaishan wondered if she were part xaela, what with her love of a good fight. The thought had him chuckling softly before he continued to tell her of his home, “And that is only the parts we’re headed to. The Azim Stepps is much larger with the deserts to the southwest, the rolling hills to the east, and the sweeping forests...” 

He trailed off as a bittersweet memory filtered into his head.

Hazel green eyes, warm and happy, looked up at him with a loving smile. Soft lips brushed against his own in a tender kiss. A joyful laugh joined his in chorus.

“Kaishan?” Lyse prompted, nudging him again when he fell quiet.

Kaishan shook his head and gave her a tight smile as he tried to shake the old memory of lost love.

“Sorry,” he said softly before finishing, “And the sweeping forests to the south—there’s always been good hunting in those woods.”

Worry creased Lyse’s brow as she tilted her head. “Kai?”

“I am alright, Lyse. I…There are a lot of memories for me in that forest,” he explained with a somber look. However, another memory pushed its way forward, the memory of a pale-scaled au ra with a stern, grumpy face. Kaishan chuckled and looked back at his friend. “Including training with the grumpy raen shinobi who ran the hunting lodge there.”

“Master Renji?” Yugiri spoke up from across the campfire, sounding surprised and delighted.

“Aye,” Kaishan nodded with a wide grin.

The other au ra stared at him momentarily before a small smile crossed her face. “Ah, so ’twas he who taught you the shinobi arts ere Orboro started training you.”

“Aye, Master Renji was a great teacher. He helped me improve my archery and train me as a ninja,” he explained, eyes squinting in mirth, “I may not have told Orboro that little detail—he thinks my talent is natural and his tutelage.”

“He will learn naught from me,” Yugiri chuckled, “Although I am curious as to how you came under Master Renji’s tutelage, his lodge is quite the distance from the border.”

“Well...uh,” Kaishan’s snowy white cheeks turned a bright red in a blush. “I often explored as a boy—so much so that both my father and my tribe gave up trying to keep me from wandering off when they made camp, and I always returned no worse for wear, so they let me continue.”

“And you wandered to the lodge? That is a fair distance from the border,” Yugiri asked, surprised. “How old were you then?”

“I was twelve summers old and well...I did not wander all the way to the lodge. Where I first met him was a decent way into Doma, and I got close enough to stumble upon him training Shu...a young Doman lordling,” Kaishan replied, cheeks still warm. He hoped the others would not notice the pause or question him about the Doman.

He had no such luck. 

“Oh, a Doman lordling? Did you strike up a great rivalry with them?” Gosetsu asked, finally joining in on their conversation as he passed out cups of tea.

“Aye,” Kaishan replied, eyeing the old samurai wearily. “A rivalry...and a friendship.”

“Oh! Oh! Maybe Gosetsu or Yugiri know him!” Lyse said excitedly, tapping his shoulder with her hand. “What’s his name!?”

“Uh...,” Kaishan hesitated. He had hoped to avoid this, but with Lyse giving him those doe eyes of hers, he knew deflecting would only lead to further interrogation. “It’s Shun. Shun Rijin”

Repeating his name stirred up more images of laughter, joy, and a sweet, chaste kiss. His fingers tightened around his cup as his heart began to ache again. He wasn’t sure if he wanted them to know who Shun was—especially with knowing what happened in Doma. As much as Kaishan wanted to discover Shun’s fate with the rebellion, he feared the knowledge might bring his heart even more sorrow.

Gosetsu’s face gave nothing away as he slowly nodded and sipped his tea. “Hmm, yes, the name sounds familiar, although I can’t say if I’ve heard it recently.”

The xaela felt his stomach twist as his tail thumped the ground. When Gosetsu peered at him with those piercing auric eyes, Kaishan looked down into his tea, sipping it slowly. Silently he prayed to whatever Gods would listen that they dropped the subject.

Unfortunately for him, Lyse seemed fixated on the subject—he could see her scooting closer to him from his peripheral. It was his fault, really, for not talking more about his past with his friends, leaving it mostly a mystery to the other Scions—save for Thancred. He wasn’t averse to discussing it; no one had ever asked before then. He sighed into his cup as she looked ready to question him—he loved his friend to death, but he occasionally hated how she failed to pick up specific social cues. 

“You are of the Buduga tribe, correct?” 

Gods bless Yugiri.

“I heard of them when I was in search of Lord Hien,” she continued, shifting the gears of the conversation before the blonde could get started. The raen sent him a small knowing smile from across the fire, her eyes squinting ever so slightly. 

“Aye, that I am. And I will say this now—no, not all the rumors are true,” Kaishan laughed, hoping by leaving a little morsel, he could snatch Lyse’s attention away from Shun and his time training with Master Renji.

“Rumors?” the blonde asked, taking the bait out of curiosity and confusion. “And I thought Buduga was your surname.”

Kaishan made a mental note to send Yugiri some of those sweet rolls she favored so much from Limsa. 

“Most of those on the Steppes use their tribe name as their surname,” he explained, smiling at Lyse as he began to speak about his tribe. He told her about their customs, some of the rumors he referred to, and how they were an all-male tribe who grew their numbers through ‘kidnapping’ and battle.

“Wait...were you kidnapped?” she asked, sounding almost protective of him—which he always found charming.

“No, no. I was adopted by the Khan of Buduga when I was four,” Kaishan explained. He finished off the last of his tea. “He found me on the plains during a hunt.”

“You were left alone when you were four!?” the blond asked, surprised.

“It wasn’t by choice,” the bard assured her, “When my father found me, I was near my mother’s corpse—she died protecting me from a wild beastkin, at least that’s what my father could tell.”

Lyse looked at him in abject horror.

“Gods, Kai, I—I’m so sorry,” she said, looking devastated, “I should not have—”

“Lyse, ’tis alright. I promise,” he said, reaching out to squeeze her arm in reassurance, “There was no way you could have known ahead of time, and I have long since come to terms with her death. So do not worry, alright?”

“Alright,” Lyse said, nodding. She placed her hand on his, squeezing back.

Kaishan smiled at her before moving to stand. He stretched with a low groan, arms over his head, reaching for the branches. 

“I think I will turn in for the night,” he announced after he lowered his arms, “I will take the last watch and ensure there is food for breakfast.”

“Are you sure?” Lyse asked, still looking concerned. She sighed when he nodded but looked less stressed. “Alright, I’ll take the first watch then.”

Kaishan bid them good night as he picked up his bedroll from his pack. He idly listened to Lyse speak about her adventures in Gridania with Papalymo, smiling as she recounted a mishap with some gnats near the Sylph village. He remembered that incident well. That was the day he discovered that Papalymo had quite the dirty mouth on him—who knew the old scholar had those sorts of curses in his repertoire!

Rolling out the bedroll a few fulms away from the fire, Kaishan slipped into it and settled down. Lying on his back, he closed his eyes and began to calm his breathing, blocking out most of the noise around him.

Sleep started to claim him soon after, pulling him into the realm of dreams. The memories of the past flooded into them unburdened, try as he might to direct them elsewhere. Memories from when he was a boy, almost into his teenage years. Memories of the time spent in that Doman forest, the training endured and the friendship forged...and the love that grew from it. 

Shun.

The young man from his past had been his first for many things. His first friend outside of his tribe. His first crush. His first kiss. His first love. The first time he felt genuine regret and guilt over things he said.

Kaishan could remember their initial meeting like it was yesterday. 

He had wandered so far from camp that day, further than he had before. It was strange; every time he left camp to explore, Kaishan never worried about getting lost. He knew he could find his way home, regardless of where his feet took him. Something always tugged gently at his…well, it felt like it was tugging at his very soul. It was like an invisible hand guiding him along the way, showing him good hunting locations or water sources—things his tribe needed. Sometimes it showed him things just for him. A hidden cave filled to the brim with water crystals or a field of beautiful blue flowers—little things to bring a smile to his face.

That day had been like any other, with him following that tug at his soul. They had stopped somewhere new, and he was excited at what he would find in those woods.

When Kaishan heard the clang of metal against metal and the sounds of exertion from battle, he quickened his pace going towards the noise—curious and eager to see the cause. His father always told him he was too curious for his own good—something still valid if he were honest. Once he neared a clearing, he crouched and crept closer, sticking to the bushes by a large tree. He peered out, watching two figures cross blades. A raen about the same age as his father and a young hyur who looked no older than himself.

“You can do better than that, Shun,” the raen said. While the young man was panting, a sheen of sweat glistening across his brow, the older au ra was barely winded. When the hyur thrust forward, the raen stood there, calm and collected, before easily sidestepping the attack. With a quick flick of his wrist, he whacked the hyur’s back with the flat of his blade. “Focus, boy.”

“I am focused, Master Renji,” Shun said, breath heaving,

The raen snorted. “If you were focused, you would have landed a hit by now.”

“Mayhaps that speaks more to your teaching,” the hyur sassed.

Kaishan couldn’t stop the soft snicker from leaving his lips—he didn’t even know this hyur, but he liked him already. 

The sharp whistle in the air was the only indication he had before a small kunai landed in the tree trunk near his head. He jumped away from it, falling out of the bush and onto his rear, lavender eyes wide and heart in his throat as he stared at it. After a moment, he looked towards the clearing, and a pair of narrowed dark eyes glared at him. The hyur was staring as well, looking as surprised as Kaishan felt.

“You’re a xaela,” the older of the three observed.

“And you’re a raen,” Kaishan said, mouth automatically speaking before his brain could tell him not to. Even with only observing him briefly, Kaishan could tell this raen was deadly and could likely end his young life quickly if he so desired—and what did he go and do? Mouth off to him like a fool. Kaishan stood, dusting his pants off before gesturing towards the other young man—he already had one foot in his mouth, might as well try for two. “And he’s a hyur. So now we’ve established what everyone is....”

The hyur started to laugh but quickly stopped and stood straighter when the older man gave him a look. Crimson eyes wreathed in dark purple turned their gaze on Kaishan, studying him before landing on the bow and quiver on his back. They snapped down his own lilac-hued eyes and narrowed.

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” the raen demanded, folding his arms across his chest.

That look sent a chill down Kaishan’s spine—he had a gut feeling this au ra would not tolerate lying...or any more sass. “Kaishan. Kaishan of the Buduga,” he replied, standing with his back straight, “My tribe set up camp at the outskirts of the forest on the Steppes...I wandered off to explore.”

“Explore,” the older au ra repeated, looking more than a bit skeptical of the answer. A frown formed on the raen’s lips before he asked, “All this way into Doma?”

“Doma? I’m in Doma?” Kaishan replied, flabbergasted. Had he truly traveled so far away from camp? He looked up at the sky through the canopy and towards the sun, only to realize it was much lower than it should have been. 

Oh shite , his father was going to skin his scales.

The raen gave him an incredulous look before shaking his head and mumbling something about skill or dumb luck. The questions continued until it appeared Renji was satisfied Kaishan was indeed not a threat. His posture relaxed as he once again looked him over.

“How good are you with that bow?” he asked as his final question.

Kaishan blinked, not expecting the change to his archery skills. “I’m decent with it, but I’m no master.”

“Show me,” the white-haired au ra said.

“Uh, what?” Kaishan asked, confused. He saw the young hyur look up in interest from his peripheral, the young man resting under a tree during the interrogation.

“I want to see your skills with the bow,” Renji explained, pointing to a target a few yalms away. “Try to hit the center.”

Kaishan hesitated for a moment but eventually did as Renji told him. He unholstered his bow and notched it. Then, slowing his breathing, he aimed and fired off the arrow. It landed with a loud ‘THUNK’ on the far right side of the target. Kaishan frowned; he was usually better than that. Nerves mayhaps?

“Retake aim, but do not fire.”

As the raen moved behind him, Kaishan tensed, not liking the older man out of his field of view. Still, he did as he was told, notched his bow, and aimed. He nearly jumped out of his scales when hands were suddenly upon his arms, adjusting them and straightening his back after a foot widened his stance.

“Now breathe slower, relax, and focus,” Renji said, voice going gentle—sounding much like his father did when he taught Kaishan something new. “Take a moment, and look for where you want your arrow to go—now fire.”

Kaishan did, and his arrow landed with another loud ‘THUNK,’ but much closer to the center this time. Surprised, he blinked before a large, proud grin spread across his lips.

“Good,” The raen said, nodding. “You’re trainable and far more easily than the lump of a log over there.”

“Oi!” Shun shouted from his spot, sporting a pout.

“Uh, thank you?” Kaishan said, reholstering his bow. He was still unsure where the older au ra was going with all of this.

“I am Renji Shadewhisper, the huntmaster of a nearby lodge. I could use an apprentice to help around the place. I can pay you with training, lodging, and food,” the man offered, ignoring the hyur and focusing on Kaishan. “What do you say?”

“I…” Kaishan hesitated; the offer was tempting, especially after the slight improvement he had already gained. “I mean, I would love the chance to improve, to become stronger for myself and my tribe, but….”

“But?”

He sighed and looked towards the way he came. “My father—I would need his approval; he is the khan of my tribe. And I’m not sure he would; he’s never been one for outside help....”

“I see,” Renji said; he rubbed his scaled chin, pondering. Then, after a moment, he continued with confidence, “Well, it appears I will need to go and convince him then.”

“Uh, ok,” Kaishan said, sounding doubtful. He still had no idea why this evident master hunter would want to train him, some random Steppes-dweller who stumbled across his sparring session in the first place. 

He would eventually learn the reasons why years later. Renji had been impressed by Kaishan’s stealth, having managed to sneak up on him without the raen’s knowledge until he snickered at Shun’s sass. But the main reason was to put a spark back into Shun with his own training. The young doman lord had become discouraged to the point of giving up on trying. Kaishan could have been a Mol shaman, and Renji would have still offered to train him. 

“Stay here and allow me to change into clothing better suited for travel,” Renji said as he moved towards a well-worn path, pointing to Shun, “You, continue your practice.”

“Aye, Master Renji,” the young huyr sighed, giving him a halfhearted salute and standing with the help of his sword. Once the raen was gone, he looked Kaishan up and down, a frown forming on his lips. “So, I guess this will make you my rival.”

“Uh…” Kaishan shifted on his feet, tail twitching behind him. He also looked the other young man over; he was well-built, slim with lean muscle, and about the same height as Kaishan. He was a rather fetching young man, even with the frown. Kaishan found himself instantly attracted to the hyur, although he’d never admit it aloud. 

Taking in Shun’s handsome face, he noted a cross-shaped scar across the hyur’s upper right eye; it looked deep and old for someone so young. There was probably a story behind it, one Kaishan would love to hear one day. Whatever had caused it had intended to kill but obviously failed. Strands of long black hair framed his face while the rest were tied back at the base of his skull. His hazel-hued eyes shone brightly in the sun where the light caught flecks of gold in the mix of green and brown—

“Your eyes are beautiful,” Kaishan told him, his mouth again opening without his brain’s permission.

The other young man blinked rapidly, obviously taken off guard. “What?”

“Uh,” the young archer blushed in embarrassment, feeling his whole face warm, “I-I am sorry if I offended you. It’s just—well, your eyes… they’re gorgeous, and you are gorgeous—my mouth has no filter. Sorry.”

So much for not saying things aloud. Sigh.

Shun stared at him for a moment longer before he broke into a warm grin, chuckling softly, “Thank you. And there was no offense; I merely was not expecting it.”

Kaishan released a soft breath and beamed at the hyur, offering him his hand.

“I’m Kaishan.”

“Shun,” the young hyur said, a warm grin still on his lips as he took the offered hand. “I guess this will be a friendly rivalry.”

And it was. The two teens became fast friends soon after, and their ‘rivalry’ was less about being the better student and more about who could frustrate their teacher more. 

When the raen returned, Shun was in the middle of explaining his fighting style. Kaishan was beyond curious about the blade the hyur wielded—a katana he had learned. Renji was more than a little amused with them, especially when the raen had to loudly clear his throat to get their attention. Once he had it, he had Shun return to the lodge while Renji accompanied Kaishan to the Budugan camp.

From that night on, every spring and summer, he was an apprentice for the master shinobi—training in both archery and the shinobi arts.

For the longest time, Kaishan could never figure out how Master Renji convinced his father to let him train with him—his father, Udutai, had always been a stickler about outsiders and their help. It would be a handful of years before he learned the truth—and to this day, he really wished he was still clueless about it. 

Walking in on his father necking with his master was the last thing he wanted to see—even if it did explain everything. Renji was his father’s type to a T—or so he was told by the older Buduga later. He’d put good money on heavy flirting being involved in the ‘negotiations.’ Having Kaishan training there meant his father had a reason to see more of Renji. 

Ugh.

And Shun, the bastard, had laughed hysterically at him when he returned to their room in a daze and told him what he saw.

“They were what!?” Shun asked gleefully, laughing when the au ra pouted.

“It’s not funny!” Kaishan whined, burning his face in his hands.

“You’re right, it’s not,” Shun laughed, clutching his stomach, “It’s hilarious!”

Kaishan hit him with a pillow, causing the other to tip over onto his futon.

“Sorry, sorry,” the hyur tittered, sitting up and wiping his eyes. “Do you think they noticed you?”

“I don’t think so; too busy snogging,” Kaishan sighed, making a face. He pulled his legs to his chest and rested his chin on his knee. “Don’t understand how something like that could be so distracting.”

“I can,” Shun said, grinning and sitting cross-legged.

The au ra youth peered over at him. “You’ve kissed like that before?”

When the young hyur blushed, Kaishan couldn’t help but find it adorable. 

“I have,” Shun confirmed.

“Oh,” Kaishan murmured, feeling a pang of jealousy in his gut. He wasn’t jealous about being kissed; he was sure Daidukul would oblige him if asked. He was jealous of the person who took Shun’s first kiss. He’d known for a long time that he fancied the hyur...quite a lot, actually. So much so his tribemates teased him about his crush whenever he returned home for the fall and winter. “I have not.”

“Not interested?” Shun asked, peering over at him with curiosity.

“I am interested,” Kaishan said, now blushing himself. He fidgeted with his gloves as his eyes flickered to Shun’s lips. Unconsciously he licked his own as he looked out the window to where the moon was rising. He sighed. “I just... have not had the chance, and no one in my tribe I fancy enough to try with.”

“What about me?” the young doman inquired, sitting back on his hands.

“W-what!? What about you?” the xaela stuttered, blushing darker, looking back at his friend wide-eyed.

“What about kissing me? I know you fancy me,” the hyur said, warm hazel eyes never leaving lavender.

Kaishan didn’t think his face could get any redder—he looked away, embarrassed. 

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Shun sighed before a hand was on his arm, squeezing gently. He could feel the other’s eyes on him, studying. 

“I promise, there’s naught to be embarrassed about, Kaishan,” Shun said gently, “Because I fancy you as well.”

Kaishan felt his world stop for a moment before he looked back in shock. 

“Y-you do?” he asked, almost cautiously.

“Aye, I do,” Shun replied, cheeks rosy with a soft blush. He smiled sweetly at Kaishan, his thumb rubbing over the skin of his arm. “Do you want to kiss me, Kai?”

His snow-white cheeks went pink again as he looked away again.

“If you would like me to,” Kaishan deflected, fidgeting with his glove again.

“That’s not what I asked,” Shun countered with a sigh, shaking his head. He turned Kaishan’s face back towards him by hooking a finger around his pointed, scaled chin. “Do you want to kiss me ?”

Kaishan swallowed hard, his heartbeat thumping in his chest as he stared into those eyes he always had found so mesmerizing. Then, finally, he let out a soft breath and nodded, “Aye, I want to kiss you.”

Shun scooted closer, leaning in, but only halfway. “May I kiss you, Kaishan?”

“You may, Shun,” he murmured, meeting the Doman the rest of the way. 

They bumped noses, not hard, but it pulled a soft laugh from the both of them at their clumsiness. A slight head tilt remedied the issue, and their lips touched in a gentle chaste kiss. It was a short kiss, but when they pulled back, their cheeks were flushed a rosy red. They both smiled at each other—warm and timid. 

Kaishan’s tail reached for Shun’s hand, braced against the floor; it hooked around his wrist and squeezed softly. Shun smiled wider and gently ran his fingers along the dark scales of his tail, pulling a soft purr from Kaishan. 

“That was nice,” Kaishan murmured.

“It was,” Shun agreed, reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind his horn. His hazel eyes searched lavender and asked. “Again?”

“Aye, again.”

They leaned in to kiss again when a cough at the sliding door behind them had them scramble apart, blushing wildly. Standing there was Master Renji, arms folded across his chest and looking more than a little amused.

“Well, well,” the raen chuckled, looking between them, “it appears I will need to enforce some new rules while the two of you are here.”

Kaishan’s dream of the past was cut short as he was stirred awake by gentle shaking at his shoulder. He jolted, eyes snapping open and hand automatically going for the dagger he always kept tucked away in his bedroll. He may favor a bard’s job as of late, but his training as a shinobi would never leave him. He released his hold when he saw Yugiri looking at him with a soft smile. Sitting up, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

“Is it my shift?” he asked quietly as he tried to stifle a yawn.

“‘Yes. ’Tis almost dawn,” she replied, sitting back in her crouched position. “Will you be hunting for breakfast?”

“That is the plan, as long as the rabbits cooperate,” Kaishan replied, grinning. 

Yugiri nodded as she stood. She moved over to her pack and started to rummage through it. 

“I will stay here and start preparations for them.”

“You don’t have to do that; I can handle the cooking,” he said as he pulled his hair back, detangling it from his lesser horns. “Get some more sleep.”

“’Tis alright; I have slept enough,” she said, looking up at him with a small smile, eyes squinting slightly. When she looked back down, she added, “I did want to apologize.”

“What for?” he asked, confused.

“For bringing up Master Renji,” she replied, standing with a tin of spices and vegetables they had gathered the previous day. “It seemed to bring you painful memories.”

Kaishan gave her an appreciative smile, shaking his head.

“No, not painful, just bittersweet,” he explained, “I met my first love at his lodge...and my first heartache.”

“The young Doman lord?” Yugiri inquired.

“Aye,” he replied, eyes closing as he thought about Shun, a small smile on his lips. “We were young, more than a bit foolish, and blind to what would separate us...or at least I was.”

The raen shinobi tilted her head. “And that was...”

“His duty and traditions,” Kaishan replied, looking towards the east as the sun lit the sky. “To his family, to Doma...I...I didn’t understand what it meant then. What it meant to him. The traditions he wanted to uphold in the face of the Garleans and their hold on his people. I didn’t understand how much it took a toll on him daily, even at the lodge. And in my callous ignorance, I had asked him to run away with me, to leave it all behind. To just be we me—bloody selfish fool that I was. He refused, of course, because he was a better man than I. Better than just running away.” 

Kaishan closed his eyes and sighed softly. 

“He had rejected running away—which I took as him rejecting me so he could be married off and continue his family’s line. That…that had cut me so deep, like a knife to the heart. I thought he had used me as a plaything or a whim…and I did not give him a chance to explain. I did not want to hear it. I was just so angry...and I said things, hurtful things. Gods, if I had only listened .” He blinked rapidly when he realized tears were forming. He cleared his throat and slung his bow over his back. “Sorry. That was...That probably doesn’t make me sound like much of the hero I’m supposed to be.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Yugiri said, her words making him look back at her, worried he had pushed her away. She touched his shoulder gently, “It makes you sound human like the rest of us.”

He closed his eyes and smiled, placing a hand over hers and squeezing. 

“Thank you, Yugiri.” 

“You are most welcome, my friend,” raen shinobi said, smiling. She stepped away to prepare for whatever Kaishan brought back.

Thankfully, his hunt lasted him only a short time. The Gods seemed to bless him with an easy bounty of hare, more than enough for the four of them. He brought them back and helped Yugiri prepare them, showing her the techniques Master Renji had taught him for skinning and gutting small game such as this.

Soon after breakfast, they broke camp and made for the Steppes. Upon reaching Reunion—and after Kaishan took a moment to drink in the sight of his home once more—they set to locate the wayward prince. 

Thankfully, after some back and forth with the other xaela at the post, Kaishan found a lead to this Lord Hien. Now that the hour had grown closer to meeting this man, he couldn’t help but wonder what he was like. Yugiri and Gosetsu’s talk about him had the Warrior of Light curious.

But first, he had to run yet another task as the most overqualified errand boy of Eorzea. 

Getting what was needed was easy enough, and the young Mol was extremely helpful. Her talk of the Naadam made him long to find his tribe and participate; he had only heard about it from his elders. All their tales of grand battles on the day made it sound like an exciting thing to experience. But alas, he’d have to see about participating another time.

When she told them where Lord Hien would most likely be, Kaishan looked up to the cliff overlooking the market to see a flash of yellow and a full head of long dark hair. 

He frowned. From there, the lord should have easily been able to see his retainers looking for him. So why did he not show himself to them upon arrival? Kaishan hoped there was a reason beyond laziness; otherwise, he would have words with this Prince of Doma. Yugiri and Gosetsu deserved more respect than that.

Their little group ascended the hill to the overlook. 

As they approached the man in yellow, Kaishan couldn’t help but feel if he recognized his back and that long stock of ebony hair. The feeling grew as the man spoke with his back still turned, voice a smooth timber to his horns. Eventually, the prince stood and turned to face them, his hazel eyes falling to his retainers. 

For the second time in his life, Kaishan’s whole world stopped. 

Oh, Gods , it couldn’t be—there was no way—how?! Sure, he knew Shun was a noble lord, but the bloody Prince of Doma?! There was no way! But those eyes. There was no mistaking those beautiful hazel eyes full of joy and mirth—just as he remembered them. And when they locked with lavender, it was all but confirmed as recognition and shock filled them.

“...Kaishan?” Hien asked, voice both hesitant and hopeful.

“Shun,” the xaela managed to vocalize after what felt like an eternity. The radiant smile that graced the hyur’s face nearly killed him—he did not deserve such a smile from him, not after how they parted.

“Oh kami, it is you!” Hien said excitedly, quickly pulling the xaela into a big hug. The hyur barely came to Kaishan’s shoulders now, but it didn’t stop him from squeezing the xaela tight and trying to lift the taller man off the ground. He damn well nearly succeeded too. “It has been far too long!”

“A-aye it has,” Kaishan stuttered, stumbling to keep them upright as his mind fumbled with what to say. His first instinct was to apologize outright, but he was keenly aware of three sets of eyes upon them. No. Not here. If he was going to apologize, he would do so privately, where Kaishan wouldn’t make a fool of himself. Well, he probably still would, but at least there would only be one witness to that foolishness. Tentatively, he hugged the other man back, patting his back awkwardly. He placed his chin on Shun’s, no, Hien’s head, and tried not to think how easily the man tucked into his embrace or how nice it felt to hold him again. 

When he was released from the hug, Hien still smiled up at him; Kaishan did his best to return it without looking as distressed as he felt. He could not tell if it was convincing as Yugiri pulled the prince’s attention back to the matter at hand. He had a sneaking suspicion he’ll owe his fellow shinobi a boat full of pastries by the end of this adventure. Gods, thrice bless her and her interventions.

Everything felt like a blur afterward, with Kaishan going through the motions—going from point A to point B, talking, fighting, repeating. When they headed towards the Mol’s encampment and met with their Khatan, he was brief but courteous with her. She welcomed him home, which he found strange, but politely accepted. 

The competition set by Shu- sigh - Hien was unsurprising; the samurai always did love them when they were younger—the most common being the first to get Renji to curse in a day. Somehow, even in his dazed state, Kaishan managed to keep from dying to the beastkin and win. 

During the dinner Cirina made for them from their spoils of the competition, Kaishan was quiet. He was very aware Lyse wanted to talk, but he politely shut down any attempts for her to do so. He knew it was rude, but the xaela honestly didn’t have the mental capacity to deal with her. When the blonde had fallen asleep by the fire, he excused himself for the evening, making to help his friend to bed.

“I have her, do not worry,” Cirian said, “Please, go find some rest and ease your mind for the trials ahead—they will be taxing.”

“Are you certain? I’m fine with—”

“Go sleep. I promise Lyse will be safely put to bed,” the other xaela promised him with a warm smile.

Kaishan nodded his thanks and headed for the yurt he was told was his. In the distance, he heard the clash of steel against steel but ignored it—he knew who it was and did not have the energy to be pulled into a sparring match. 

When he entered his yurt, he made for the mattress covered in furs laid out for him, only mildly aware of a second one nearby. 

He shed off his armor and clothing as he went until he was clad in only his trousers. Oh, how Kaishan missed his Budugan armor. However, having been in the colder climes of Eorzea, he had long since decided he could forgo showing off his physic for not freezing to death— he’d challenge any of his tribemates to not do the same in the middle of Coerthas.

With the last of his armor gone and his hair tie removed, he flopped onto the furs, face buried into the large pillow. He groaned at how exhausted he felt, muscles, bones, and mind all aching or tired. He breathed deeply and let it out slowly, listening to his heartbeat. His thoughts were spinning with the day’s events, and his gut twisted at the image of Shun -grrr- Hien’s wide, happy smile. 

Why was Hien so glad to see him? The samurai should be furious at him! Anything but happy! Yet Hien freely sent warm looks and happy smiles in Kaishan’s direction. 

His thoughts halted when he heard someone enter his yurt quietly—obviously trying not to be heard. He did not move as they approached him on soft feet; he kept his breath even like he was asleep. The moment he felt fingers brush against his back, he moved, grabbing their wrist and flipping them over onto theirs. In one smooth motion, he was astride their stomach; his dagger pressed to their throat.

“Apparently, someone did not forget their shinobi training,” chuckled a familiar tenor with a slight wheeze from having the air knocked out of their lungs.

Kaishan startled, staring down into amused hazel eyes.

“Shite, Shun,” he grimaced at the slip of name, “I mean, Hien ...what are you doing here?”

“Well, for one, this is the yurt I was assigned with you,” Hien explained, motioning over to the other set of sleeping furs, “Two, I wanted to make sure you were alright. Cirina mentioned you had headed to bed already.”

“Oh,” Kaishan said, staring at the furs.

“I take it you forgot the Khatan stating we were sharing?” the samurai asked, sounding more than a little amused.

Kaishan nodded slowly.

Hien patted his leg, drawing his attention back. The other man had a soft, almost sad expression on his face.

“Mind taking the blade from my throat and letting me up?” he asked gently.

“S-sorry,” Kaishan blushed crimson and scrambled off of him. He swallowed hard and resheathed his dagger. “Are you alright?”

“I am fine, Kaishan—only a bruised ego, nothing serious,” Hien said, chuckling as he stood up. The doman began to remove his own robes and armor, his back facing Kaishan as he placed it on the rack.

The xaela looked away as Hien revealed more of his sun-kissed skin. He winced when his eyes landed on his own armor, skewed haphazardly about the yurt, and berated himself for being so lazy.

There was a long pause before Hien spoke again. “If you can bear my presence for the evening, I will ask the Khatun to find me new sleeping arrangements.”

Kaishan blinked and looked back at the hyur, meeting his serious, somber gaze. 

“What? Why?”

“’Tis obvious my presence is upsetting you,” Hien replied, confirming to Kaishan that he could not hide his distress from the man.

It was a punch to his gut.

“I am not upset by you,” Kaishan said quickly, looking down and shifting on the floor. “I am upset with myself.”

“With yourself?” the hyur questioned, sounding confused. “Why?”

Still not looking at him, Kaishan sighed and moved to sit on his haunches. He bowed before Hien, forehead pressed into the cooled hardwood of the yurt’s floor—the way Renji and several others taught him over the years.

“Kai, what are you—”

“I am sorry, Lord Hien,” Kaishan said, interrupting the hyur. Despite the emotions whirling like a gale from Garuda in him, he tried to keep his voice even as he spoke, eyes squeezed shut. “I am sorry for what I said to you the last time we saw each other. It was stupid and foolish and the words of a selfish, selfish child who understood naught of your troubles. Nor did I try to understand when you wanted to explain. I apologize for hurting you and cutting you so deep with insensitive words and accusations. I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry. I—”

“Oh, Kaishan,” Hien’s voice was closer; he must have moved when the Buduga was busy groveling. Two strong, calloused hands were on his shoulders, squeezing gently and encouraging him to sit up. When he did, the prince met him with a warm smile and even warmer eyes. Hien cupped his face and kissed his forehead. “You needn’t apologize; I long since forgave you.”

“You what?” Kaishan choked out in disbelief; tears welled in his eyes as he trembled between Hien’s hands. “How? Why ?”

“Why not? You were young and upset, as was I. Are you still upset with me over what I said and did then?” Hien asked, brushing Kaishan’s hair out of his eyes and wiping his tears. “For I know I hurt you just as deeply, if not more.”

“No, I am not. I forgave you,” the Warrior of Light murmured, eyes closing shut as Hien traced over the scales on his face, “I realized just what your duty meant to you, what your home meant to you. I’ll admit it had hurt then, and I was so furious—but after thinking about it, I realized I was wrong and forgave you. I only did not have the heart to forgive myself.”

“Oh, my duskstar, you were not the only one who was wrong. Had I known your heart was burdened, I would have found a way to reach you,” the hyur said; his next kiss was placed lower on the scales across Kaishan’s nose. “I would have tried to put your heart at ease.”

Gods, he missed that nickname. Hien had given it to him soon after he and Kaishan started their young courtship all those years ago.

“My swallow,” Kaishan said, taking a shaky breath.

“May I kiss you, Kai?” Hien asked softly, resting his forehead against the xaela’s.

Kaishan glanced at the hyur’s lips, licking his own. He wanted to, so badly, but—

“That would not be fair to your wife, Shun,” he murmured.

“My—” Hien laughed and kissed the bridge of his nose again. “I never married, Kai.”

“You...what?” Kaishan asked, looking at the hyur in surprise and confusion, “But I thought...what about—”

Hien looked sheepish and gave him a lopsided grin. 

“I...pushed back against the arranged marriage, rejecting every match—and when we were planning our liberation, I convinced them having a wife would be an undue burden to both myself and whomever she was,” he paused and let out a lite laugh, “And besides, none would ever measure up to you.”

Kaishan stared—Hien never married, going against the tradition he held so dear. For him. He gave a shaky laugh and smiled. 

“Well, I am rather tall compared to hyuran women.”

“Smart arse,” Hien laughed, closing his eyes and rubbing his nose against Kaishan’s. “Oh, how I’ve missed you, my duskstar.”

“And I have missed you, my swallow,” the xaela murmured. Kaishan cupped Hien’s cheek, fingers running along his facial hair. It was new to him, and he loved its coarse, rough feel beneath his fingers. It was so similar to the scales auri men had but so different at the same time. “You may kiss me, Shun. Please kiss me . ”

Hien gave him a sweet smile, kissing his palm before leaning in. Heads tilted—having long since learned their lesson of bumping noses—and their lips met in a kiss reminiscent of the past. It was as chaste as their first, and they melted into it as they did then. Tentatively, they began to move their lips, each relearning the feeling of the other. 

Hien was the first to be bold, nibbling on Kaishan’s lower lip, causing a mewl to escape from the au ra’s throat. The noise pulled a soft growl from the prince and seemed to embolden him. Kaishan felt Hien press forward, deepening the kiss as the warm hands on his shoulder gently pushed him back. He went willingly, lying against the furs of his bed, letting Hien nestle between his thighs. 

Kaishan purred against his mouth, arms wrapping around his neck. His fingers went straight for the back of Hien’s head, tugging at the ribbon holding back his gorgeous hair. He fumbled with the knot, but soon a curtain of black, silky strands cascaded down around him, pooling next to his head and over his horns. His fingers found their way into it when it was free, combing through the soft strands. He marveled at how long it had gotten since they last saw each other.

“Your hair is longer,” he murmured.

“Aye,” Hien said, pushing himself up on his forearm. He gave Kaishan an amused look as he brushed his free hand through Kaishan’s own long, dark tresses fanned out on the furs. “As did yours.”

“True, but not as long as yours,” the bard responded, tugging on the strands wrapped around his fingers and eliciting a groan from the samurai. 

Hien leaned down for another kiss, this one more hungry and desperate, evoking a rumbling groan from the xaela. He felt Hien’s tongue trace his lips, and he opened up to him willingly. Kaishan shivered beneath him, moaning into the kiss as his hands roamed over each of the scars on the hyur’s back. He outlined them with delicate touches, making Hien tremble in delight. When Hien rolled his hips, rubbing his hardening need against Kaishan’s emerging one, he got another moan for his efforts—but then a memory wiggled into the xaela’s mind. One of the hot springs near the lodge and a baffled younger Hien—that young confused face alone was enough to send Kaishan into a mass of giggles.

The doman pushed himself up again, looking down at the giggling au ra with a raised eyebrow and smirk. 

“Do I even want to know?” he asked, amused.

“Yes,” Kaishan tittered, biting his lip as he grinned wide. “Do you remember when we went to the hot springs? ‘Twas the first time we saw each other fully naked. I just remember the confusion on your face when you saw me and thought— Hehehe .”

“Oi, you were not much better,” Hien laughed, leaning in and kissing his giggling lips. A calloused hand smoothed down the xaela’s shaking side, stopping at the top of his trousers and squeezing. “If you find that amusing, you should have seen the look on Master Renji’s face when I asked about auri anatomy afterward.”

Kaishan peeled into laughter, placing a hand over his mouth, his luminous eyes nearly in tears. “You did not!” he exclaimed.

“I did, and ’twas well worth the embarrassment I felt at the time,” Hien chuckled, leaning down to kiss along his jaw.

“Gods, I wish I could have seen his face,” the au ra laughed, tilting his head to give Hien better access to his neck. His laughter turned into a moan when the hyur started rolling his hips again, bringing delicious friction between them.

“Kami, I want you so badly,” Hien murmured against flesh and scales. He kissed his way down Kaishan’s chest, stopping over his heart. “For years, I have thought about what I would do if I got to see you again. The things I would say.”

“Shun,” Kaishan keened, squirming beneath him when a warm tongue started to swirl around one of his nipples before Hien gently suckled it. He covered his mouth to dull a loud moan that threatened to escape.

“I had everything planned out perfectly in my head,” the doman continued, looking up at his flushed face, licking his dry lips. “But having you here, willing and laughing that wonderful laugh of yours...I fear I have forgotten what my plan was.”

The xaela reached up and cupped Hien’s cheek, smiling when his palm was kissed. “I spent those years believing you hated me,” he murmured, “To find out you did not, to know you still care and want me...Gods, I do not care what you do; ’twill be perfect.”

Hien leaned in and kissed him again. When he pulled back, he hooked his fingers into Kaishan’s pants and slowly pulled them down. The xaela simpered when he felt the prince take care to ensure his tail was completely free of his trousers before removing them—something he had been so hasty to do when they were younger, resulting in a pulled tail and a yelping Kaishan. They were tossed aside, landing next to the rest of his armor. 

The samurai sat back on haunches, eyes dark with passion as they roamed over the xaela’s body—a blush bloomed across Kaishan’s cheeks at the intensity of his gaze. His toes curled in the furs as he worried his lower lip between his teeth; he knew he looked much different from the last time the hyur saw him like this. His naturally snow-white skin was warm in the lamplight, illuminating the scars from a life as a warrior where it was once smooth and unblemished.

“You are beautiful,” the prince declared, touching the xaela’s raised knees and rubbing slow circles into the skin. “What would you have of me, my duskstar?”

Kaishan felt his blush spread from his cheeks down his neck. He licked his lips and shifted on the furs, tail curling over his thigh. “I would have you take me if you would be so inclined to oblige.”

His words’ effect on Hien was apparent; hazel eyes filled to the brim with desire and hunger as he bit his lower lip. The fingers on Kaishan’s knees trembled and tightened.

“ Kami , yes,” he said, leaning over the Warrior of Light and kissing him again. “Wait here.”

“And here I was planning on a jaunt around the encampment in naught by my nameday attire,” Kaishan said cheekily. It got him a laugh and another kiss.

“That would be a sight to see,” Hien grinned before standing. He moved over to his robes and rummaged through them.

“Aye, it would,” Kaishan said, pushing himself up onto his elbows, watching the man search. Here he had been worried about his own scars when Hien was just as marred and beautiful. He couldn’t help but note so few of those scars were old; he shuddered to think how close to death his love had been before the Mol found him. How easily he could have lost him and had never known. That thought alone had him take in a shaky breath. When Hien looked over with concern, he shook his head. “’Tis naught. I am merely making myself worry for no reason.”

“Would you share those worries with me?” Hien asked as he pulled what he was looking for from some hidden pocket in his robes.

Lavender eyes followed the man back to his previous spot between his legs. Those eyes then fell to the scar on Hien’s right shoulder. 

“Your scars, the fresh ones,” Kaishan said quietly, “If the Mol hadn’t found you—”

“They did, and I am alive,” Hien interrupted, leaning in for a kiss.

“I know, I know,” the xaela sighed against his lips. He pulled back and smiled softly at the prince. “I will try not to worry myself silly over things I can not change.”

Hien nodded in satisfaction at Kaishan’s answer. The hyur sat back and began to open a small vial of oil, the item he apparently had pulled from his robes. Kaishan couldn’t help but smirk and raised a dark eyebrow when he saw what it was.

“Always prepared, I see,” Kaishan said, amusement clear in his voice.

“What?” the doman blinked in confusion. Then hazel eyes followed Kaishan’s gaze until they reached the vial. He blushed wildly upon figuring out what the xaela was talking about, his ear turning a lovely shade of red. “Oh, uh. Yes?”

“’Tis a good thing you are, or we’d have to wait,” Kaishan said, grinning as he laid back on the furs. His arms moved above his head and stretched, groaning softly as his muscles burned pleasantly with the action.

“Oh kami, preserve me,” he heard Hien all but whisper. Kaishan looked up and softly laughed as he saw the prince just stare at him, the vial forgotten altogether.

“See something you like?” Kaishan asked as he nudged Hien with his knee. “Are you going to stare at me all eve, or will you be using that oil to fuck me.”

“Shush you,” Hien said, cheeks a rosy red. He poured some of the vial’s contents onto his hand and spread it. “Or I will leave you like this. I have no qualms about revealing myself on my own.”

“That is not a deterrent,” Kaishan groaned, biting his lower lip. His hardened length twitched at the thought of the Prince of Doma laid out on his furs, hand between his legs as he brought himself to ecstasy. “I would watch you pleasure yourself with bated breath. Gods, I want to watch that.”

Hien’s blush did not die down; if anything, it spread further across his sun-kissed skin. He cleared his throat. 

“Mayhaps anon...if you’re good.”

“Aye, my Lord, I will be good,” the xaela promised, shifting his legs wider when Hien moved his slick fingers between them. He moaned softly as they pressed against his entrance, circling gently before one slowly pushed in. He bit his knuckle, trying to stay as quiet as possible—while the thick, heavy cloth walls of the yurt were great for keeping the cold out, they were poor at keeping louder sounds in. “Oh, Gods …Shun...”

“Kaishan,” Hien said, voice reverent.

Kaishan shivered at the sound of his name like a prayer from his lover’s lips. He moaned more into his fist as Hien moved that lone finger, working him open slowly with care. Lavender eyes fell shut as he took in the sensation, hips rocking back onto Hien’s hand with each push.

“ Kami , you are beautiful,” he heard the samurai say above him as he added a second finger, scissoring them and creating a delicious stretch within him. “I never told you this before, but I thought you were a kami when I first laid eyes upon you...the way the sun illuminated your skin like the first snow in winter. And your eyes , I had never seen a color so breathtaking.”

Hien’s words had him moaning as his finger had him writhe against the furs. “ Shun. ”

“And then you called my eyes gorgeous,” he heard Hien laugh softly, “I had not expected it. The way you blushed and fumbled with your words after, that was when I started to fall for you…my beautiful snow kami.”

“ Gods ,” Kaishan panted, back arching when Hien added a third finger. His eyes snapped open as he felt a warm breath against his need, quickly sitting up on his elbows in shock. “Shun...what—” 

Dark, grinning hazel eyes demanded his gaze as Hien licked a long hot line up his hard length. 

“ Fuck!”

“We will get there,” Hien murmured before taking the piked tip of his cock into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it before slowly taking in more.

Kaishan fell back against the furs, one hand in Hien’s hair, gripping it tightly as his other covered his mouth to catch the obscene things from it. But, Gods, he could feel that smug grin on Hien’s lips as the man took more of him in, tongue caressing every ridge along his length on the way down. 

His hips were encouraged to move, to plunge into that wet velvet heat of Hien’s mouth—which he did, more than willingly. It was intoxicating, the feeling of the man around him, in him. His hips ground against those fingers before thrusting into the hyur’s willing mouth.

“Shun, Gods, so good,” Kaishan soughed, sitting up again to watch. He growled softly at the sight of the prince’s lips around his hard length, stretched and swollen as his head bobbed with each thrust. Hungry hazel eyes watched him in return, face flushed and slack. Gods, it was quite the view to behold—he could only imagine what he must look like to Hien. Hells, what they both must look like if someone were watching.

“Can you just imagine if someone were to walk in right now,” the xaela panted, eyes fluttering as Hien groaned around him, causing lighting to shoot through his veins. His tail curled around Hien’s forearm as he continued, “the sight of the Prince of Doma between the Warrior or Lights legs, sucking him off like some common whore.”

Hien pulled off of him, cheeks flushed darker and panting hard. “ Fuck . That was...so...Kami, that was...”

Kaishan grinned, all teeth. “My mouth has even less of a filter than it used to.”

“Obviously,” Hien said, giving a breathy laugh. Then, he returned his mouth to what it was doing—slowly driving the xaela insane with pleasure. This was especially true when his fingers found the cluster of nerves that made Kaishan’s vision go white from rapture.

Kaishan barely had any time to cover his mouth as he moaned Hien’s name to the yurt’s ceiling—well, it was safe to say the whole encampment knew what they were doing. He whimpered as Hien’s fingers continued their assault on his sanity, his own fingers in Hien’s hair encouraging him. Gods, he wasn’t going to last much longer at this rate, and with Hien practically swallowing him whole. Kaishan tugged on Hien’s locks in a warning. “Shun... Hien …w-wait— Oh Gods! “

Kaishan’s back arched off the furs, and he let out a feral growl as he came, his knot swelling in the prince’s mouth—and fuck, Hien didn’t even seem to bat an eyelash as he took it all. The xaela moaned into his hand—what little good that did them now—and trembled beneath Hien as he carefully swallowed his release. 

“Oh Gods,” the xaela whimpered, biting his fist as his hips twitched once he was spent. Hien removed his mouth with a smug hum and a pop of his lips, gently pulling his fingers free from him. Kaishan looked at the hyur, dazed, still reeling from his climax. 

“Fuck,” he panted. “You just... fuck. “

Hien started to kiss his way up Kaishan’s torso and chest, the kisses light and soft, his lips lingering only once he reached the scales on his neck. 

“If you recall, I am well aware auri men have knots,” he murmured, “but thank you for the warning nonetheless. Now let me go get some water to—”

He didn’t get to finish his statement as the xaela hauled him up the rest of the way, kissing him so he could taste himself on the prince’s lips. Kaishan growled and rolled them, pinning Hien down by his shoulders, eyes alight with a burning desire. He could already feel the stir in his loins again, the benefit of being auri—practically non-existent refractory period.

“Where is the oil?” he all but demanded, licking his lips. A primal hunger rose in him, the need to make this man his. To mark him. Knot him. To ultimately claim every ilm of Hien. He must have said that much aloud because the prince whimpered beneath him, hands on his hips digging into his scales.

“Fuck yes, please ,” Hien moaned and trembled between his thighs. “To your left.”

Kaishan glanced over and spotted the bottle—good, it was still within reach. He moved one hand behind him and deftly undid the ties to Hien’s pants while he traced the hard lines of the samurai’s body with his other. He pulled Hien’s hardened length from its confines and caressed it gently, causing the man to gasp, hips bucking into the touch. Plucking up the vial of oil, Kaishan poured some onto his palm before reaching back again and stroking the hyur to coat his need. 

“May I ride you into these furs?” Kaishan asked, voice heavy with lust. Lavender-hued eyes locked with hazel ones, dark with desire.

“Yes, please , my duskstar, my kami,” Hien keened, his hands firmly kneading the skin and scales of his hips, “ Ride me. “

Kaishan growled—a deep animalistic sound, feral and possessive. He leaned down and captured Hien’s lips, kissing him deeply, his tongue stroking against the Hien’s. His mouth devoured the moan the prince let slip as he gave his lover one more firm stroke before sitting up.

“Shun... Hien , ready?” Kaishan murmured the question, stroking his bearded jaw. Only when Hien nodded did he position the tip of his lover’s hard length against his entrance; slowly, he sank down upon it. The burn he felt as the head pushed past his loosened muscles was familiar, on the edge of pleasure and pain—a feeling that made him moan to the ceiling once more. His tail wrapped around Hien’s raised leg as he steadied himself on the man’s abs.

“ Kami ,” Hien groaned, his head tossed back. His fingers were so tight on Kaishan’s hips; the xaela was sure he would have bruises in the morning. Not that he’d care; he’d wear those marks proudly—besides, they were already going to get looks.

A soft moan escaped Kaishan’s lips as he finally bottomed out. He reached out and stroked Hien’s jaw again, running his thumb over swollen lips. Slowly, he started to move his hips, undulating in small circles.

“Kaishan,” Hien gasped, looking up at him from under dark lashes, face warm with a flush and the glow of the lamps. 

Kaishan’s breath caught as his lover shifted and rolled his hips up. Gods, he was gorgeous, and he couldn’t help but stare at the sight of the prince beneath him. Hazel-colored eyes flecked with gold met with lavender once more, squinting in amusement. 

“Are you going to stare at me all eve, or are you going to fuck me?” the prince asked, calling back to Kaishan’s earlier words.

Kaishan laughed, breathy and light. He nodded and started to move his hips faster, lifting himself with his thigh muscles and thrusting back down hard. Both men moaned as the bard set a fast pace, breathing harder as they lost themselves in the motion and feeling of their union.

Hien murmured his name like a mantra, nails digging into the flesh of his hips.

“If we had the time…” Kaishan murmured, reaching down to retrace Hien’s chest, “I would explore and relearn every ilm of your being. Find all the spots that make you sing until the sun graces its light over the Stepps once more.”

The prince groaned and pulled Kaishan down for a kiss, which was eagerly returned.

The xaela gasped in surprise when Hien flipped them, now on his back with strong hands encouraging him to wrap his legs around the hyur’s waist.

“After the Nadaam, when we have time, I will let you,” Hien promised, lovingly kissing along the xaela’s scales. Kaishan mewled when he started to thrust, building up a solid and steady pace, hips angled just right to hit the bundle of nerves that made him see stars. The samurai grunted against his shoulder, planting a lite kiss. “I fear I will not last much longer...it has—it has been a while.”

“There is no...shame in that. I see it as a compliment,” Kaishan said, voice hitching with an arduous thrust from the lord. He held Hien close, one hand in his hair as the other reached for the hyur’s, twining their fingers together.

The prince pressed his forehead against Kaishan’s shoulder, shuddering with each thrust as the pace became increasingly irregular. Kaishan could feel him tremble as he grew closer to the needed release his body sought. The xaela whispered sweet nothings in his ear as his fingers combed through the soft, silky black strands.

“That’s it,” he whispered, whimpering every time Hien hit that sweet spot, “let me have the pleasure of watching you come completely undone, my swallow.”

“Kaishan,” groaned Hien. He came soon after biting into the au ra’s shoulder with enough force that the xaela knew there would be a mark.

Kaishan let loose a feral growl at the bite—a deep rumble from his chest that shook his whole being. It was enough to push him over the edge for the second time this evening, spilling his seed over both their chests. “Gods... Shun! “

The hyur keened when he dug his fingernails into Hien’s hair and pulled. His hips stuttered until they stopped, finally spent. Kaishan softly moaned when Hien pulled out of him and collapsed against his chest, groaning. He smiled into Hien’s hair, rubbing his back and holding him close. They lay there in comfortable silence, regaining their breath and soaking in the afterglow.

Hien eventually pushed himself up, looking down at the au ra with such a soft and loving look that it took Kaishan’s breath away.

“Are you alright?” he asked, reaching out to trace the bite mark he had left.

Kaishan smiled and chuckled, grabbing his hand to place a kiss on his calloused palm. “Aye, I’m alright. My father always said we xaela are made for two things—fighting and fucking.”

The doman lord laughed and leaned in for a kiss. “I would say fighting and loving, but I’m a bit biased.”

“Loving,” Kaishan whispered, cheeks flushed. “Aye, I like the sound of that.”

Hien kissed the horn closest to him before settling back down against him. “Mmm, we should get cleaned up, but my body feels like jelly. Plus, you are too comfy and warm.”

“Usually, I’m the one seeking out warmth,” Kaishan chuckled, kissing Hien’s forehead. “But, we can stay like this for a while, my swallow; I don’t mind.”

The prince smiled at him before sliding off his chest to nestle into his side. He sighed in contentment.

“Full glad am I to have you back in my life,” Hien softly said, tracing the xaela’s scales. 

“So am I...even if I was an utter mess from the moment you had turned around on that cliff,” Kaishan chuckled low in his throat as he combed his fingers through Hien’s hair. “We will need to talk more when we have time...so much has happened.”

“Aye, so much has,” Hien agreed, kissing Kaishan’s neck lightly. “But I do not believe ’twill change my feelings towards you... ’tis the kami’s will, I think.”

Kaishan nodded, closing his eyes. He did not know why, but he knew Hien was right. He always wondered if those gentle tugs at his soul were there for a reason. They constantly seemed to pull him down the right path at the right time—like he was meant to go where they led. Just like they did the day he first met Hien—in fact, that feeling had been more prominent than it had ever been before on that day.

Was he brought together with Hien for a reason? Were they truly destined to be?

Yes, came the soft whisper.

“What?” Kaishan asked, opening his eyes to look down at Hien.

“Hmm?” Hien looked up at him, blinking slowly—he looked about ready to fall asleep.

“I thought I heard you say something,” the bard explained.

The hyur shook his head. “No, I said naught.”

“Oh...I must be hearing things,” Kaishan murmured. He kissed the slight frown on Hien’s lips. “Sorry, rest; I will clean us up.”

He carefully stood from the furs, kissing Hien again as he protested softly. Kaishan smiled down at him.

“I will return swiftly,” he promised before moving over to the small water-filled basin. He tested it and wrinkled his nose—it was freezing. “Or as swiftly as it takes me to heat this water.”

A deep chuckle came from the hyur, followed by the shift of covers. Kaishan glanced over at him once he had poured the water in a small pot over the fire pit to heat. Hien had pulled the covers up and was hugging the pillow, watching him with a curious expression.

“What?” Kaishan asked with laughter, “What’s with that look?”

“You said before, too,” Hien said, looking him over as if he were trying to figure something out.

“Said what?”

“After our first time together, you asked me if I said something,” the prince replied. “When I told you I had not, you said you must be hearing things.”

Kaishan stared at him a moment before looking back at the fire. He sighed softly, shoulders slouching. 

“Aye...I did do that. I...I hear...voices...every once and a while,” he admitted quietly, staring into the water, “Do you remember how I told you I would wander from camp as a boy whenever my tribe found a spot to stop and make camp?”

“Aye,” Hien said, sitting up. “You’d always find a way out regardless of what your tribe did to stop you.”

Kaishan nodded. 

“I never mentioned that I found my way out by being guided out by...something. I don’t know what exactly. Most of the time, ’tis not words but nudges… ’tis… ’tis like someone takes my hand and gently leads me. Not once has it frightened me; I somehow know I can trust it...something in here trusted it,” he touched his chest gently, closing his eyes, “I never got lost in all the time I wandered away. I always knew I would find my way back without incident.”

The xaela carefully pulled the pot from the stove once the water started to steam and transferred it back into the basin. Kaishan then moved it over to the furs with a washcloth.

“On occasion, I will hear words, but it’s rare and only a word or two at a time,” Kaishan continued, dipping the washcloth and wringing it out. “The voice feels familiar but not at the same time. I don’t always recognize it...Gods, this just makes me sound insane.”

“Nay, it does not,” Hien told him, reaching out and pulling Kaishan into a kiss before rubbing his nose against his horns, “I’ve heard similar things from seers and shamans—those who speak with the kami.”

Once again, Kaishan stared at him, but his face broke into a soft smile this time. “How do you always seem to know the right thing to say?”

“Ha, if I always knew the right thing to say, I would have used that power as a boy to obtain all the sweets,” Hien said with a huff of laughter. “Then I’d be as round as a dango by now.”

“You’d have worn the look well,” The xaela smiled, eyes crinkling with the action. Kaishan laughed and leaned in for a kiss when Hien puffed his cheeks. “[Adorable].”

“You’ve called me that before; I still do not know what it means,” the prince chuckled.

“’Tis the xaela tongue for adorable,” Kaishan informed him, grinning when a flush graced Hien’s cheeks. He turned back to the basin and dipped the washcloth into it. Once he wrung off excess water, he moved to wipe down his lover. “Now, allow me to get us cleaned up.”

“I can clean myself,” Hien said in a mild protest but made no move to stop him.

“I know, but pray allow me this, my swallow,” Kaishan chuckled.

“Oh, very well,” Hien sighed dramatically but smiled. 

“Many thanks, my lord,” the xaela cheekily said, mocking a bow that got him a punch to the shoulder. Kaishan laughed and began to clean them both up quickly, noting with some amusement that Hien was particularly ticklish—he filed that information away for a later date. Once finished, he set aside the basin and washcloth and slid under the covers with Hien. Then, pulling the hyur into his side, he placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Now, let us both sleep...we will need it for tomorrow.”

“Ayeee,” Hien yawed as he spoke, already looking ready to greet the realm of dreams. “Sleep well, my duskstar.”

“And you, my swallow,” Kaishan murmured, closing his own tired eyes. 

Sleep soon found them both as they held each other in their arms.

Chapter Text

Hien awoke to the feeling of a warm body pressed against his and a strong arm wrapped about his naked torso. Hazel-hued eyes cracked open to see snow-white skin and obsidian-shaded scales pressed beneath his cheek. A smile broke out across the hyur’s face at the sight, and he curled further against the body, holding it tight. 

Kaishan. Thank the kami, yesterday had been real. 

He turned his gaze upward to see the au ra sleeping peacefully—face relaxed, mouth slightly ajar as he snored softly. Kaishan looked so much younger than he was in the grip of sleep and bereft of the kohl and eyeshadow he’d worn the day previous. His fingers slid across the xaela’s chest before he reached up to trace fingers along the scales of his jaw. He marveled at how they felt beneath his fingertips—not to mention the fact he had the chance to touch them again.

Kaishan was back. 

The man he fell so deeply in love with years ago was back in his life, and Hein wasn’t sure what he had done to get so lucky. When he first saw Kaishan standing on the overlook with him, Hien doubted his own eyes—surely he was back at Mol Iloh on his deathbed, hallucinating the whole thing from his injuries. But no. The moment when he heard his boyhood name slip from those lips, he knew. He knew his friend, his first love, was there, and it was real. Hien had been so beside himself that he forgot decorum and rushed the man to hug him. 

And that was when he knew something was off. 

Kaishan had seemed...hesitant, almost reluctant to hug back—as if it were painful for him to do so. It had stabbed Hein in the heart because, of course, the xaela was still hurting from what had happened. Not that Hein blamed him, far from it. Just because he had found peace with the words they had exchanged in the heat of the moment didn’t mean he expected his friend to do the same. And so he had resigned himself to being an inconvenience to the xaela and even offered to find a new sleeping arrangement for them if it would make things easier for him. 

However, he had apparently misinterpreted Kaishan’s reluctance. 

His heart twisted again when he watched his friend beg him for forgiveness. If only he had known the burden of guilt Kaishan had felt after all this time...he would have traveled the world over to see it righted much sooner than it was.

A large hand wrapped around his, halting its tracing and bringing him out of his musings. A deep rumble shook beneath his cheek as Hien looked up to find a lavender-hued eye cracked open, peering down at him in amusement. 

“That tickles,” Kaishan rumbled.

“Sorry,” he chuckled softly.

Lips caressed his calloused palm in a kiss before it was released. 

“’Tis alright.”

Hien smiled and kissed Kai’s chin before he pushed himself to sit up—intending to get ready for the day. He stretched, arms going high over his head, and yawned, groaning when he felt a pop in his back. Fingers brushed against his lower spine as they glided through his hair, the strands slipping through them easily. The prince looked back and smiled sweetly down at his lover. 

“Good morning, Kaishan,” he said.

“Good morning, Shun,” Kaishan responded, sitting up and kissing Hien. “’Tis an amazing morning.”

“Aye, that it is,” Hien agreed. He moaned when Kaishan’s teeth nibbled gently on his lower lip before pulling it with them. “We should...we should get ready.”

“Mmhmm, we should,” the xaela murmured, moving his lips from Hien’s to trail a path to his ear. 

The prince gasped and tilted his head when Kaishan started to nip his earlobe. Those teeth were closely followed by the warm lapse of a tongue and lips pulling the lobe between them. Despite their years apart, it seemed his lover remembered the spots that would make Hien putty in his hands. He recalled Kaishan finding that particular location rather quickly when they first explored each other all those years ago—which made sense, considering Kaishan had always been fascinated with his ears.

Hien had to bite back a moan as the bard sucked gently on his flesh, bow-calloused fingers exploring his bare chest. His face flushed red as desire pooled low in his gut, stirring his arousal to wake. 

“Kai,” Hien moaned, “ Kami , you will be my death...”

“Helluva way to go,” Kai responded, releasing his hold on the hyur’s ear so he could guide him to straddle his hips—which Hien did willingly.

“Worth it,” the prince murmured. Reaching up, Hien smoothed back Kaishan’s hair, fingers rubbing the lesser horns on his head. The action pulled a deep rumbling purr from the au ra, bringing a soft smile to Hien’s lips. “I see you still like having these horns pet.”

“Always,” the xaela said, “Especially if it is you doing so.”

“Flatterer,” Hien chuckled, tilting the other’s head back so he could kiss him. “We probably do not have much time ere we make for Bardam’s Mettel….”

“Then we should make this count,” Kaishan replied, rolling his hips up. “I would have you in ecstasy one more time ere our duty has our full attention.”

“Please,” Hien groaned, hips moving to meet Kaishan’s. He reached between them, fingers running across scars and smooth skin until they came upon the xaela’s slit. Gently, he started to coax out Kaishan’s arousal by running his calloused fingers along the opening, pulling a deep moan from the man. “If I recall, you mentioned something about knotting me last night.”

“ Fuck ,” the Scion growled, luminous lavender eyes growing dark with need. His dark purple tongue darted out to wet lips before he continued to speak. “I did...if you are willing. You do understand doing so will tie us together...if you try to pull away—”

“I understand, and I am more than willing,” Hien said with a wide grin.

Kaishan smiled and kissed him again, his hands moving to rid Hien of the pants and small clothes that had never left his body the night prior. Hien shifted so the garments could be removed with ease and tossed aside. Once gone, he returned his fingers to Kaishan’s need, running them along the length before dipping one inside the slit to tease with soft touches.

He was rewarded with a loud gasp, and Kaishan pulled him in closer to bury his face against the samurai’s neck to muffle his moans.

“ Gods ... where did you learn to do that?” the xaela moaned, his fingers digging into Hien’s skin. “Fuck.”

“I fear I have not lacked in bedmates since we parted,” Hien confessed, “Pray forgive me?”

“No forgiveness needed; I have not lacked in the same, nor would I hold you to not find comfort and relief in others,” Kaishan said breathlessly, moaning and shivering beneath the touch of Hien’s clever fingers. The prince could feel just how much Kaishan enjoyed what he was doing, the hard length resting against his palm twitching with each stroke of his fingers. “So good, Shun... Gods , that feels so good.”

Hien watched as the xaela’s face went slack with pleasure, looking at him with dark half-lidded eyes. He wondered how long it would take to push Kaishan over the edge with his fingers alone. If they had the time, he would find out. But alas, they did not. 

“If only,” he sighed softly before kissing the bridge of Kaishan’s nose, “Where’s the oil?”

Kaishan slowly blinked and looked around. “Where indeed. Mmm, it should be nearby.”

“Ah, there it is,” Hien said, spying the vial to the side of the mattress. He reached over and picked it up, holding it out to Kaishan. “Would you do the honors?”

“I would be more than honored, my swallow,” Kaishan said, taking the vial and kissing Hien’s neck. 

The pop of the cork was the only indication that Kaishan had opened the vial before the prince felt slick fingers at his entrance, circling slowly and pulling a low groan from him.

“Kai, please— ” he was cut off with a gasp when he felt a finger push in, “ Fuck .”

Hien bit his lip and moaned, hips rolling back in encouragement. He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Kaishan’s shoulders, resting his weight there as the xaela slowly worked him open.

“Let me know,” Kai said, kissing up Hien’s neck to his ear, “Let me know if aught is amiss. I do not want to hurt you.”

“Aye, I will,” Hien promised through a breathy gasp. Kaishan’s fingers were diligent in what they were doing, loosening him with scary ease. He whimpered when a second was added, scissoring gently to stretch him further. By the third, he was a mewling mess; it felt so good he was afraid he would not last. “Kai, please ...I will not break.”

He felt Kaishan’s sigh against his sweat-damped skin, sending a slight shiver down his spine.

“I suppose you won’t, but—”

Hien interrupted him by tilting his head towards him. 

“I will not break,” he repeated, giving the man a cheeky grin. “I just might not sit comfortably for a while.”

Kaishan snorted a laugh and gave Hien a rueful grin.

“Well, at least I’m not in the throes of the Kiss,” he said, giving Hien a soft kiss, “‘twould be a bit more difficult on you if I were.”

“The what?” Hien asked, raising an ebon eyebrow. This was something Hien had not heard before. The Kiss?

“ That is something we will need to talk about anon,” Kaishan told him. “Not now. Now I would have you writhing in my lap as you fully sheath me within you.”

“ Kami, ” Hien groaned at his words and shivered when Kai’s fingers were gently removed. Then battle-worn hands lifted him slightly before bringing him back down until he felt the piked tip of the xaela’s hard length against his entrance. Those hands released him and moved behind the other man as he leaned back, watching him with dark lavender eyes—waiting. Hien let out a soft huff of laughter. “Making me do all the work I see.”

“Pray forgive me for wanting to watch as you fall apart upon me,” was Kaishan’s reply.

A tremble ran through Hien at that simple statement and his lover’s intense, hungry gaze. Slowly he started to lower himself upon Kaishan’s need, thighs burning with the effort to not just thrust down hard upon him. No, he wanted to savor this moment as much as Kaishan, feel every ridge and bump and twitch of the xaela’s desire that passed into him.

“ Kami , you feel good,” Hien gasped, head falling back when his rear was finally flush against Kaishan’s lap. He moaned when he heard Kai’s soft growl of approval. The Lord of Doma never thought that something like growling would turn him on so much. But every time Kaishan did, heavy and feral and possessive, it shot bolts of levin straight to his core, stirring his arousal anew. He whimpered as he started to move his hips. “So good...kami, I’m so glad...so glad I saved this for you.”

“Saved this for me?” Kaishan asked, stroking Hien’s jaw and tracing his thumb over his soft lips. “What do you mean?”

“You are the first to take me,” Hien replied, lightly nipping at Kai’s thumb. He watched as lavender-hued eyes widened in concern even as they grew darker with desire. A deep rumbling growl emanated from Kaishan that Hien felt through their connection.

“ Fuck ...you haven’t —” Kaishan cut himself off and sat up, pulling a gasp from the prince at the sudden shift. Arms wrapped around Hien’s lower back, halting his movements as Kaishan buried his face into his neck. “Shun...Hien, why did you not say something? I could hurt you...I—”

“I know what my body can handle, Kai,” Hien chuckled and stroked Kaishan’s hair, coaxing him to look up. “While I have not had another touch me so intimately, I have not been a saint either...I almost feel sorry for whoever they had to search my rooms—there is no way that box was overlooked.”

Kaishan barked out a laugh, face again pressed against Hien’s neck. 

“You are horrible and wonderful.”

“I know,” Hien said, more than a little smug. He kissed Kaishan’s temple before lifting his head to give him a proper kiss, hungry and passionate. Slowly, he moved his hips again, swallowing the moan the xaela let out. Hien pulled back far enough to whisper, “Now, if you kindly claim me before the day is out….”

There was a deep, feral growl from the xaela, followed by teeth biting into his shoulder, lightly marking the skin there. Hien had to cover his mouth to smother his moan, trembling in Kaishan’s arms.

“If I were to truly claim you,” Kaishan said, voice dangerously low and husky, so unlike his usual airy, musical tenor. “You would not be able to walk, let alone participate in the Bardam’s Mettel. So allow me to knot you now and claim you anon.”

“ Kami ...I am going to hold you to that,” Hien said, breathless, as Kaishan started to roll his hips up in earnest.

“You better,” Kaishan growled, nipping beneath Hien’s ear. “Touch yourself. Make yourself cum… ’twill be easier for me to knot you with you fully relaxed.”

“Fuck,” Hien gasped. He kept one hand in the xaela’s dark tresses as he slipped the other between them to wrap it around his own arousal, stroking the hard length in time with their hips. “Kaishan...kami, please ….”

“Just like that,” the bard praised, kissing Hien’s jaw. He continued to speak in a tongue Hien didn’t understand but found thoroughly intoxicating to hear nonetheless. "[ Gods , you are so beautiful...so devastatingly beautiful...breathtaking. I do not know what I did to deserve you.].”

“Kai, my duskstar,” Hien moaned against the xaela’s horn, “my heart .”

“My soul,” Kaishan murmured in return, lips pressing against his ear in a soft kiss.

Hien groaned as he continued to ride Kaishan’s cock, back arching as he stroked his own at a hurried pace. Muscles tightened and quivered as he grew closer to that edge of sweet release. All Hien needed was a little push to fall into pure bliss. He wasn’t sure if he had said something aloud or if Kaishan sensed it, but the bard soon bit Hien’s shoulder again, hard enough that it would surely leave a mark. It was the perfect catalyst to send Hien reeling over the edge of climax and into the sweet embrace of release.

“ Kami, ” Hien gasped before biting his lip to stifle any further noise. His vision went white, and his fingers tightened in Kaishan’s hair as he came, feeling the warm splash of his seed over his hand and abs. Shivers ran through him as Hien came down from that blissful release, barely coherent when the samurai heard and felt Kaishan growl like a beast of the Stepps against his shoulder before his hips were brought down on the xaela’s hard . The action pulled a soft whimper from the overstimulated hyur before he keened as Kaishan’s knot swelled within him. Stretching him further as his lover came, filling him, tying them together in an intimate union. “ Kai! ”

“Shun…” Kaishan panted after releasing Hien’s shoulder. His hands were still firmly on Hien’s hips, gently preventing him from pulling away and risking injury—not that Hien would at that moment, his limbs feeling too much like putty to do so. “Are you alright?”

“Aye,” the prince replied, breathless; he rested his forehead against Kaishan’s. “ Kami ...that was….”

“Was?” Kai prompted, nudging Hien with his nose, worry evident in his lilac-hued eyes.

“Amazing. Better than I could have imagined.” Hien smiled at him sweetly, kissing him softly.

“Good, I am glad,” Kaishan murmured against his lips. “I would hate your first experience to be bad.”

“As experiences go,” Hien said, cupping Kaishan’s cheek, “This one was beyond perfect.”

His words seemed to lift a weight off Kaishan’s shoulders as he relaxed against Hien and nuzzled into his neck. The hands on his hips snaked around him and held him close, rubbing slow circles into his lower back. The xaela rumbled softly, almost purring against Hien’s neck, which had the prince smiling against his hair. They sat like that, resting against each other until Kaishan could pull out of Hien.

Hien groaned softly and winced when he did, causing a worried look to cross Kaishan’s features again. The prince chuckled and stood, albeit on slightly wobbly legs. 

“I am fine, I promise.”

“Alright, alright,” Kaishan laughed softly, standing as well to help steady him, “I’ll try to stop worrying.”

“Good,” Hien chuckled before moving over to the water basin. He paused when he saw what looked like fresh water and a folded-up washcloth. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you did not change out the water or washcloth after I fell asleep, correct?”

He heard Kaishan come up behind him and look over his head. “No, I pretty much fell asleep as soon as you did…and I know I left the washcloth hanging to dry after I used it….”

“‘Twould seem someone was aware we would require fresh bathing supplies this morning….” Hien sighed.

“Well, we weren’t exactly quiet with what we did last night, try as we might,” Kaishan pointed out.

“You mean you weren’t exactly quiet,” the prince sassed, grinning up at the xaela.

“Aye, and whose fault was it that I wasn’t,” Kaishan returned with just as much sass, pinching Hien’s side lightly.

The prince’s grin was borderline shite eatting. 

“Guilty.”

“You’re impossible,” Kaishan laughed, splashing some cold water from the basin at the samurai—who did not screech when it hit him. Not at all.

Hien was about to playfully retaliate when a loud bang at the door made them both jump out of their skin.

“Young Master, Master Kaishan,” came Gosetsu’s booming voice through the wooden door. “A hearty breakfast awaits you if you both are ready to face the day.”

Hien cleared his throat before raising his voice loud enough for the old samurai to hear. “Aye, a hearty breakfast sounds wonderful, my friend. We will be out soon as soon as we are able.”

“Good, good, I will let Ms. Cirina know to expect you both,” Gosetsu replied, sounding far too cheerful than he should have been. “Do try to not get distracted by each other again.”

Hien looked at the bard wide-eyed as he heard the older samurai walk away; Kaishan’s face was flushed red in embarrassment, much like his own felt.

“Did he just?” Kaishan asked.

“He did, and I have a feeling he will not let us live it down...” Hien replied, covering his eyes with a hand. He sighed and peeked over at the xaela with a sheepish wiry grin on his lips, “he knew about you...from before. I’d go back after each summer and tell him more and more about you. He supported me completely, especially when I refused matches.”

Kaishan stared at him for a long moment before sighing loudly.

“That conniving old wolf…” the xaela growled towards the door.

“Pardon?” Hien asked, raising a brow.

“Before we reached the Steppes, I had talked about the lodge and meeting a doman lordling….” Kaishan sighed again, picking up the washcloth and dipping it into the water. “And the name Shun Rijin was mentioned, to which he said, ‘Hmm, yes, the name sounds familiar.’”

Hien laughed at Kaishan’s impression of the old samurai.

“Name sounds familiar, my scaly arse,” Kaishan snorted.

“Funny, your arse didn’t seem scaly to me,” the hyur commented, which earned him a growl and a whack of a wet washcloth across his rear. He laughed and snatched it from the xaela so he could wash up.

Once they were both cleaned and had changed into their armor, Kaishan gestured to Hien’s loose hair.

“Would you like me to help tie up your hair?” he asked.

“Aye, I would like that,” Hien replied, smiling and holding out the ties.

Kaishan took them and sat, patting the floor in front of him. “Here, sit, ’twill be easier to do.”

Hien did as asked, sitting with his back to the xaela. As Kaishan brushed it, he closed his eyes and hummed happily—one of his favorite things was having someone else play or work with his hair. He almost fell backward, leaning into Kaishan’s touch.

“I’m fairly certain we were told not to get distracted by each other,” Kaishan laughed as he finished, ensuring nothing was tangled.

“Mm, true, we were,” Hien chuckled. As they stood, he quickly palmed out something from another hidden pocket in his haori. He held it out to Kaishan, fist closed around the object. “Would you mind putting this on me?”

Kaishan gave him a bemused look, tilting his head in question, but still, he held out his hand. 

“Of course I—”

Hien bit his lip as Kaishan stared at the necklace and the ornament tied to it—the red and black tip of a xaela horn. Kaishan’s horn, to be exact. The one he had meticulously chipped off and presented to Hien as a means to court him, at least by his tribe’s traditions. It had long since regrown on the xaela, but Hien could still see the faint line from where it was chipped on his horn.

“You...you kept this,” the Warrior of Light said in awe, looking up at Hien with an expression of pure elation that had the samurai’s heart swell at the sight.

“Aye, I did… ’tis important to me,” the prince explained, stepping forward and presenting his neck for Kaishan. The xaela met him halfway and placed the necklace around his neck. Hien breathed in deeply and sighed in contentment when he felt the slight pull of its weight once more. He grabbed Kaishan’s hands before the other could step away and kissed each palm. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you,” Kaishan told him, leaning in for a kiss. When they parted, he smirked. “Now, let us go out there and face all the looks we are bound to get. I’m starving.”

Hien laughed in delight. “Aye, same. I have a feeling we are in for a long day.”

Chapter Text

Kaishan hated waiting. 

Since he was a boy, he was never one to sit still or be patient. This was especially true when he knew people he cared for were in harm’s way, and all he could do was wait.

Of course, that was precisely what he had to do for Hien and Gosetsu as they finished their venture into Bardam’s Mettel. 

Unable to sit still, he worried a smooth rock between his fingers as he paced; being unable to do anything to help them was excruciating. A long sigh escaped his lips as he skipped the stone across the grassy field, fed up with fidgeting with it. He moved over and leaned against the nearby boulders, folding his arms. Kaishan had half a mind to march on in there again and—

“I’m sure they’re alright,” Lyse piped up as she sat beside him on the boulder. She nudged his shoulder with hers and gave him an encouraging smile, “They’re both more than capable—well, I mean, I know Gosetsu is. I haven’t seen Hien fight before, but I’m sure he’s perfectly fine…although he did have that limp this morning—”

“ Lyse ,” Kaishan said sharply, cutting her off. He sighed when she winced.

“Sorry, I know you’re worried about him,” she said, fidgeting with her necklace, “He’s… he’s the boy from the hunting lodge, isn’t he? Your first love? Your Shun?”

He stared at her wide-eyed, a bright blush coloring his cheeks—he was pretty sure it matched the hue of his eyepaint. 

“How do you even—?”

“I was awake when you told Yugiri,” Lyse answered, looking just a bit sheepish.

“Oh,” Kaishan said, looking out at the field of grass and stone before them. Biting his lip, he glanced at her and found warm, understanding eyes. He cleared his throat and nodded.

“Aye. He’s... my Shun,” he replied, blushing brighter, “Although, I should call him Hien…Shun was his boyhood name, apparently.”

“So before you saw him, you didn’t know Hien was Shun?” Lyse asked, pulling her knees to her chest.

“I did not. I was shocked to see him there, to say the least,” Kaishan explained, then winced when he remembered how rude he was to his friend when she tried to speak with him the previous night. “Sorry...for pushing you away during dinner...that was unbecoming of me.” He relaxed when he heard her chuckle and nudge him again with her shoulder.

“It’s alright, Kai. I can only imagine what must have been going through your head when he turned around,” Lyse said, smiling.

“Chaos,” he provided, earning him a good laugh from the blonde. “We had parted on rocky terms, as you heard.”

“Even if I didn’t, I could tell, what with the way you were going through the motions in a daze,” she giggled, “But I take it things were smoothed out between you two? You both seemed to be getting on just fine this morning.”

Kaishan’s face felt on fire with the blush he was sporting. 

“Aye, we…smoothed things out.”

“Good,” Lyse chirped, happy as a clam.

Several more minutes passed before they heard soft footsteps approach from the gate.

“I hope we did not keep you waiting over long.”

Kaishan nearly jumped up from his spot when he heard that beautiful tenor, wanting nothing more than to run over to the two samurai to check the younger of them over. Oh, did he want to. Badly . But Kaishan knew the prince would not appreciate the fussing—at least, not in front of others. 

Lyse jumped off the rock beside him as he straightened up.

“Mission accomplished!” she cheered, “Everything still in one piece?”

“More or less, aye. That mountainous monstrosity came as quite a surprise,” Hien replied, grinning like a fool, obviously more than pleased with the challenge, “Who knew the Steppes held such secrets!”

“Me. I did,” Kaishan raised his hand and pointed to himself.

“And you kept that to yourself?” Lyse asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course, where would the fun be if I ruined the surprise early,” Kaishan replied cheekily.

The group laughed, and Lyse lightly punched him in the shoulder. 

However, the jovial mood did not last long as quick footsteps on the grass approached them. Kaishan narrowed his eyes as yellow, and green-clad Xaela approached. Oronir and—he blinked in surprise when he recognized the ones in green. 

Buduga.

“You! Yea, you who have walked Bardam’s Mettle. Newborn warriors of the Steppe,” spoke an impetuous Oronir warrior, “Our khan demands—”

“Baidar!?” Kaishan interrupted the Oronir—who glared at him fiercely—addressing a tall, dark-blue-skinned Buduga with purple hair.

Said Buduga blinked at him, tilting his head and looking Kaishan over curiously—as did several other Buduga there. It only took a moment for recognition to melt his features into a wide grin.

“Good Gods ! Kaishan!? Is that really you, brother?” the one called Baidar asked excitedly, stance relaxing. He approached him with a wide grin and even wider arms.

“Aye, it is,” Kaishan replied, practically beaming like the sun and laughing as he was pulled into a bruising hug. He rubbed his horns against the other’s curved ones in greeting, more than happy to see his friend again. The other Buduga approached, just as delighted as Baidar, reaching out to touch Kaishan or join in the hugging. The bard laughed as he was nearly toppled over from the affection of his tribemates.

Through the laughs and happy chatter, he could hear Lyse giggle and Hien addressing the annoyed Oronir, telling him they were more than glad to accept their khan’s generous invitation—especially given this joyous reunion. Kaishan’s attention was soon pulled away from the interaction as Baidar started leading him along with their ‘escorts.’

“[You have to tell us where you’ve been,]” the taller xaela said, speaking in their native tongue. The taller xaela smiled as he poked Kaishan in his side. “[’Tis been years since you’ve been gone. We’ve all missed you terribly, your father most of all].”

“[Aye, I will,]” Kaishan promised, batting at the finger, “[How fares my father anyways?]”

“[Grumpy,]” Baidar replied. 

“[So still the same then,]” the Warrior of Light commented, earning him a laugh from his friend and a few of the other Budugan warriors in hearing range. 

“[Aye, plus increasing boredom,]” Baidar added on, [“Especially since he stepped down as khan a few years back].”

That grabbed Kaishan’s full attention and caused him to nearly trip over his own feet. 

“[Wait, what !?]”

“[You heard me,]” his friend replied, his grin shite-eating. “[Daidukul is the khan of the Buduga now.]”

The Warrior of Light stared at his friend for a long moment before trying to walk off in a different direction. “Nope. No. No, thank you, I’m good. I’ll see you all anon.”

Baidar laughed and pulled him back by his tail, to which Kaishan pouted and whined.

“Get back here!” Baidar said, pulling Kaishan into a half hug, “You know your father would kill us if we let you go without at least saying hello to him. Not to mention what the khagan would do if we did not bring you to him.”

Kaishan was about to comment when he heard a deep chuckle behind them. Shite, he forgot about Hien and the others. Blushing, he looked back at them with a sheepish expression. All three of which held some sort of amusement in their eyes.

“Uh…”

“I take it some things have changed since you left?” Hien asked with mirth.

“Aye, ‘twould seem my father has stepped down as khan of my tribe,” Kaishan explained, “A bit of a shock, to say the least. A good friend of mine has taken his place. Daidukul.”

“Good friend, he calls him,” Baidar snickered before outright laughing when Kaishan elbowed him. “A good friend indeed!”

“Oh? A good friend, you say?” Hien asked, sounding far more intrigued than Kaishan liked, especially with his mischievous grin.

The bard made a strangled noise.

The taller of the xaela slowly looked the prince up and down, obviously liking what he saw—much to Kaishan’s annoyance—and gave Hien a wide grin. He nudged the smaller xaela.

“Are you going to introduce me to your friends, Kaishan, or will I just need to make up names for them?” Baidar asked, amusement ringing in his tone.

“Introductions would be helpful,” Hien added, “Even if I am curious about what your friend here would think up.”

Kaishan sighed and gestured toward the indigo-haired xaela. “This is Baidar, a tribe mate of mine, friend, and, apparently, still a thorn in my side.”

That got him a few choice words in the xaela tongue and a punch to his shoulder. Kaishan rolled his eyes and ignored him, gesturing towards Lyse. 

“Baidar. This is Lyse, one of my friends from Eorzea,” Kaishan introduced, “she’s a damn good brawler...I am still not convinced she’s not a xaela in disguise.”

“And I keep telling you that xaela aren’t the only ones who love a good fight!” Lyse laughed before waving at Baidar with a large happy smile. “Hello! It’s so nice to meet one of Kai’s friends from home.”

“Likewise,” Baidar chuckled and waved back. “We’ll have to exchange stories about Kaishan when we get the chance.”

“Oh, definitely,” the blonde grinned.

“Wonderful,” Kaishan said deadpan before motioning toward the older samurai. “This tall fellow is Gosetsu, samurai and retainer of Doma.”

“A pleasure, sir,” Baidar said, giving Gosetsu a slight bow of his head. “You look like you have plenty of battle stories to share.”

“Aye, and many more besides,” Gosetsu laughed heartily, which had the purple-haired xaela grinning. He patted Hien on the shoulder. “And more than a few about the Young Master here too.”

“Gosetsu,” Hien said, shaking his head as he blushed softly.

Baidar laughed and then nudged Kaishan with his elbow. 

“I love how you leave the handsome one for last,” Baidar said, his copper eyes falling to Hien once more, looking him up and down as he bit his lip.

Said hyur simply smirked at the compliment while Kaishan growled softly, his tail whipping back and forth in irritation as he cleared his throat.

“This is Hien, a samurai as well and heir to Doma’s throne,” Kaishan said, waiting for a beat before adding, “But I’ve spoken of him before... He’s Shun.”

It was Baidar’s turn to trip over his own feet. He stared at Kaishan wide-eyed before looking at Hien and then back again. “[ What ? Shun!? The boy from when you trained with that raen?]”

“[Yes,]” Kaishan replied.

“[The one who broke—?]”

“[Yes,]” the Warrior of Light interrupted, “[And we have reconciled in regards to our argument, so do not even think to bring it up or retaliating—I mean it.]”

Baidar looked back at Hien again, glancing toward the necklace before returning to Kaishan. “Well, now that explains a few things. And apparently, you were, in fact, not exaggerating when you spoke of him.”

“He talked about me?” Hien asked, sounding beyond amused.

Kaishan blushed all the way down to his shoulder.

“Oh, Gods, yes, constantly . More than enough that we were all well aware of his crush on you,” Baidar chuckled, ignoring how mortified Kaishan looked. “You should have seen him when he returned after your first kis— smfphm !”

“Thank you, Dar, that is quite enough,” Kaishan practically hissed, bright red as he clamped a hand over Baidar’s mouth. “[Say anything more, and I. Will. End. You .]”

The purple-haired xaela held up his hands, eyes squinting with a grin Kaishan could feel under his fingers. The bastard. Why was he excited about returning home again?

“Gods, I have never seen you so flustered before, Kai,” Lyse said. She laughed harder at the pout Kaishan shot her. “The others will never believe me when I tell them.”

“ Lyse ,” he whined.

“’Tis quite the look on him, indeed,” Hien chuckled.

“ Shun! ”

“Aye, that it is,” Gosetsu agreed, laughing heartily.

“Even you, Gosetsu? Why am I the one being picked on here?” Kaishan sighed, pouting as Baidar pulled him into a side hug. He could feel the slide of his friend’s horns against his head as he kissed his temple.

“’Tis a sign we care,” Baidar chuckled, “Besides, I know you can give back as good as you get...unless your time away has dulled that wit of yours.”

Kaishan huffed and elbowed his friend again, but a small smile formed on his lips.

“Arseholes, the lot of you,” he said without any malice, which earned him another laugh and a kiss to his temple.

The rest of the trip was filled with pleasant conversation about the Buduga’s alliance with the Oronir and what few stories Kaishan could share before they reached the Dawn Throne—his time as a bard helped immensely with the quick storytelling. Lyse also helped him occasionally, commenting on her perspective of events. During some of her commentary, Kaishan noticed one Buduga pugilist detach from the group and disappear from sight. He found that a curious thing but shrugged it off. The xaela looked relatively young and new to the Buduga, so Kaishan wouldn’t be surprised if he had a task to complete for a mentor.

They soon reached the Dawn Throne. Kaishan had seen it many times before, but he always felt a sense of wonder when he gazed upon the structure of his ancestors. Once inside, they stood before the Oronir’s khan, the khagan of the Steppes….and sitting there was the last person he expected to see.

Magnai the Older.

They had never met in person—Magnai had no idea who Kaishan was, but the bard knew of the man. He had seen him in a vision the Echo gave him when meeting a friend for the first time. Tseun. A fellow adventurer, Steppes-dweller, and one of Kaishan’s closest friends.

Tseun had been adopted into the Oronir when he was younger, leaving his birth tribe of the Dhoro. Magnai had been his friend’s first love, his Sun, as Tseun called him. But something had happened during their first Nadaam where he was blamed for their loss and exiled from the Oronir. The khagan did not follow him, instead parting with angry, foolish words.

And then the man before him started to speak… 

Kaishan had always heard that the Oronir were arrogant, especially from what Tseun told him...but this. When his words started, the arrogance flowed like water from a large-mouthed jar. Magnai did not have any points in Kaishan’s book to begin with; this did not gain him any at all. How in the Seven Hells did Tseun fall for such an arrogant prick? It was enough to make Kaishan go cross-eyed.

As the khagan continued to speak about tributes and the Sun’s favor and basking in his radiance—blah, blah, blah—Kaishan slowly began to look over at the familiar xaela to his right. He raised a brow in question as he glanced between the Buduga’s khan and the Oronir’s. 

Daidukul just smirked at him and shrugged before turning towards Magnai.

“The Buduga would also have a measure of their worth,” the white-haired xaela said.

“‘Twould seem you are wanted by our brothers of the Buduga—the men only,” Magnai said, crossing his arms as he leaned back on his throne, leering down at them. “Like the Borlaaq and women—though you know them not either, I am sure.”

“Because obviously, I am just a raen with obsidian horns and scales,” Kaishan sassed, looking less than impressed with the khagan.

Magnai, on the other hand, looked furious at the interruption while Daidukul burst into laughter.

“I see that your snark has not left you, brother,” the one-eyed xaela said as he chortled. He turned to Magnai and gestured to Kaishan. “He’s one of ours, Budugan through and through, returned home to us from traveling abroad. Pray forgive the sass, O’ Radiant One; I believe your comment that he might not know his own tribe may have touched a nerve.”

“I see,” Magnai said flatly, staring Kaishan down with his amber gaze. To which Kaishan stared back, hips canted and arms crossed. He was more than pleased to see the khagan’s eye twitch. “No matter. All you need know is that you will serve, one way or another.”

“That much does indeed seem plain,” Hien spoke, the corner of his mouth moving upwards. His following words only seemed to irritate the Oronir’s khan further. Kaishan had to bite back a snicker as Magnai snapped—it was a surprise they weren’t already slaughtered for their insolence thus far.

“Tomorrow, you will perform a task each as tribute. You will only be told what that task is once you have agreed to it,” Magnai said, glaring at the four of them, and it seemed to lessen when they nodded in agreement. He turned to their Oronir escort from earlier, “Baatu, find sleeping arrangements for them.”

“They can stay in the Buduga’s encampment,” Daidukul spoke again, looking at Magnai, “Udutai will be eager to see his son again.”

Magnai seemed surprised by that and looked back at Kaishan with renewed interest. 

“Is that so...very well.”

Daidukul bowed before motioning for the group to follow him. Once they had cleared the doors to the courtyard, the khan of the Buduga turned back with a smirk.

“You couldn’t keep it to yourself, could you?” he snickered.

“The man has eyes; he could plainly see I am xaela. ’Tis his own fault for assuming I know not of the Steppes,” Kaishan snorted, mumbling about arrogant arseholes. He sighed and shook his head before looking his friend over. “You seem to be faring well...Khan of the Buduga.”

“I fought tooth and claw for that title when your father stepped down,” Daidukul said, grinning with his teeth and a deadly glint in his eye. “Some said I was unfit for it due to losing my eye, and I proved them wrong.”

“Good, they’re idiots for thinking otherwise,” Kaishan huffed.

“Aye, that they are,” Daidukul said. He looked over the group, pale eye resting on each of his companions before returning to Kaishan. “You look to be doing well for yourself too. And keeping good company.”

“Aye, that I am. Allow me to introduce—”

“No need. I know who they are,” Daidukul interrupted, a smug smirk crossing his features. He bowed before them. “I am Daidukul; ’tis a pleasure to meet friends of Kaishan’s.”

“We are honored to make your acquaintance as well,” Hien said, bowing politely in return. “And we thank you for your hospitality.”

While Hien and the others spoke with Daidukul, Kaishan tried to figure out how the khan already knew about—ah. “So that is where the fledgling went off to—I had wondered at the time...”

“Aye,” the khan said, tail flicking back and forth in satisfaction, “You know I’ve always liked being informed of all the goings-on in our corner of the Steppes...helps with planning.”

“And finding potential ‘recruits,’” Kaishan added, shaking his head. “You have known of my return since I stepped foot in Reunion, haven’t you?”

“I have,” Daidukul confirmed, grinning wide. “Now come, your father is eager to see you.”

Kaishan sighed before nodding. As they followed the khan, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous about seeing his father again. It had been so many years since he last saw him, and his father had not been terribly thrilled with him leaving at the time, even if he allowed it. What was he going to think when he saw him? Heard all that he had done. Would he be proud? Disappointed? Regret letting Kai—When a hand wrapped around his own, the bard nearly jolted out of his scales. Kaishan looked down at the prince and the warm, supportive smile he offered.

“‘Twill be alright,” Hien told him softly, squeezing his hand.

Kaishan smiled back and brought up Hien’s hand to his lips, and kissed the back of it in thanks. It got him a lovely flush across the prince’s cheeks. That flush soon reflected on his own when a familiar voice cleared its throat and spoke. 

“I see you are doing quite well, my wayward son.”

Kaishan straightened up, his heart pounding as he turned to face the speaker. 

Udutai, his father, stood but a few fulms from them, dark red skin glowing in the light of the bonfires, golden eyes alight with mirth, crow’s feet creasing at the corners of them. His hair was still as long as Kaishan remembered, but the dark strands were now streaked with gray. He looked...older, which made sense, of course, but somehow seeing him as such put into perspective just how long Kaishan had been away from his family.

“Father,” Kaishan responded, voice wavering. “I uh…yes?”

His father shook his head, looking more than amused.

“Seven years, and that’s the first thing you say to me?” the former khan laughed.

“Uh.”

“Get over here and give me a hug, will you?” Udutai said as he held open his arms.

Kaishan did not need to be asked twice. He practically bolted into his arms, not caring how it made him look. He held the man tight, face buried against the furs of his collar. Gods, he promised himself he wouldn’t cry, but Kaishan never realized how much he missed his father until then. And to have him here, tucking him under his chin like he did when Kaishan was a child...well, it was hard to not hold back the soft sob. He felt his father kiss the top of his hair, holding him just as close.

“Gods, I’ve missed you, my boy,” Udutai murmured softly against his hair.

“I missed you too, father,” Kaishan said shakily. 

Behind him, he could hear Daidukul offer his companions a warm fire and a hot meal, mentioning that Kaishan and Udutai would join them shortly. Gods bless him; Kaishan didn’t know if he could face the happy looks he was sure his friends were giving him without making himself look even more like a fool.

Udutai pulled back after a few minutes and held Kaishan’s face between his hands.

“Look how you’ve grown,” he murmured, “I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Father,” Kaishan said, huffing a small laugh, “I have not changed that much.”

“Mayhaps not physically—you still have that baby fat of yours,” his father teased, smiling softly when Kaishan pouted. He let his hands drop and continued, “But you certainly grew in strength and as a person. It makes me proud to know you’ve become a fine warrior and man.”

The Warrior of Light flushed in embarrassment, turning his head away.

“It means a lot to hear you say so,” Kaishan said softly as he rubbed the scales at the back of his neck.

Udutai smiled wider and started ushering Kaishan to the yurt Daidukul had guided his friends towards.

“Come, I want to hear what you’ve been doing since you left,” Udutai said.

“I don’t even know where to start,” Kaishan laughed, “I’ve had quite the journey so far.”

“The beginning is usually a good place,” said an all too familiar voice from the shadows.

Kaishan’s back went rigid; he whirled around to face the source of the voice. He heard his father chuckle beside him as a pale-scaled figure stepped out from the dark. His lavender eyes widened in surprise upon seeing the familiar figure.

“M-master Renji!?” Kaishan exclaimed. “What are you doing here?

“Good to see you too, Kaishan,” the raen teased, grinning wide as he crossed his arms and shifted his weight to one foot, “And I live here.”

“You what ?” Kaishan asked, more than perplexed—until everything clicked, and he rapidly looked between his father and his former master. “Oh, Gods…”

“That he does,” Udutai said, sounding more than blissful as he looked at Renji. “He’s one of the only reasons I have not gone completely insane from boredom.”

“Mmmhmm,” Renji hummed happily, tail lazily flicking back and forth.

“Nope, no, not going to stand here while you two eye fuck each other,” Kaishan said, walking away from the two au ra, who chuckled in his wake. 

He practically slammed open the door to the yurt with a shove. Everyone looked up at him, a range of confusion across their faces. 

“I need a drink; please tell me there’s ale or mead about.”

“Is aught amiss?” Hien asked as he sipped from his own drink.

“Oh, everything is dandy,” Kaishan said, sitting beside him. He thanked Baidar, who passed him a drink. “I just ran into someone I wasn’t expecting to see here.”

He glared over at Daidukul, slowly sipping his ale.

“You could have warned me.”

The white-haired xaela just smirked.

“Well, this is a surprise. I did not expect to see little Shun or Gosetsu here.” 

Kaishan downed his drink as Hien choked on his, coughing to clear his airway. The older samurai laughed in joy and slapped his knee.

“By all the kami, Renji! ’Tis good to see you, old friend!” 

“Aye, and you, my friend,” Renji chuckled, sitting near Kaishan.

Udutai followed suit, sitting between them. Kaishan pointedly ignored how Udutai and Renji’s tails wrapped around each other; instead, he rubbed Hien’s back as the man coughed. The young samurai momentarily stared at his old mentor before leaning into the bard. 

“Master Renji is here?” he whispered.

“Aye,” the xaela sighed, glaring into his drink as his father chuckled, “He lives here now...with my father.”

“W-what!?”

“Something the matter, little Shun?” Renji asked, grinning around his cup. He knew exactly what they were discussing; Kaishan knew better than to think otherwise.

The bard had to bite his cheek as Hien grumbled about no longer being a child.

The remainder of the evening was mainly Kaishan—with Lyse’s always helpful commentary—recounting his adventures in Eorzea. Part of him felt self-conscious about retelling his fights with the Primals and the Ascian, Lahabrea, and becoming known as the Warrior of Light. He knew they were impressive feats and nothing to sneeze at, but he couldn’t help but think people blew them out of proportion. 

While he was proud of his achievements, he didn’t like to brag about them—especially with all the attention they garnered him—both good and ill. After the Bloody Banquet, he had come to loathe the renown the title of Warrior of Light gave him. The losses from that event still hit him hard. 

He glossed over his time in Ishgard, the wounds still too fresh for him to go into detail. No one seemed to notice, and Lyse only had second-hand knowledge of the events, so she didn’t have much to add.

His father grew quiet when he started talking about what they were doing there.

“So you will fight for the Mol in the Nadaam,” Udutai said, slowly sipping his drink.

Kaishan fidgeted, feeling like a boy about to be scolded. “Uh...yes, sir.”

He tilted his head when his father chuckled and set his drink down.

“So you are back where you started,” Udutai mused.

“Pardon?” Kaishan asked, more than a little confused by his father’s words.

Udutai looked at him for a long moment before sighing.

“I suppose you do not remember, considering how young you were and the trauma you went through,” the crimson-skinned xaela explained; he held Kaishan’s eye as he continued, “Your birth tribe is the Mol.”

Chapter Text

When Hien found Kaishan, the moon was high in the sky. 

He found him perched on the ledge of the Dawn Throne, staring out at the grasslands below. Hien spied a kiseru pipe nestled between the bard’s snow-white lips, smoke releasing from his nostrils like a dragon his kind was so often mistaken for. As the prince approached his lover, he realized the Warrior of Light was looking out towards Mol Iloh—as small as the encampment was, one could still see the firelight from up here. 

“Your birth tribe is the Mol.”  

Udutai’s words from earlier rang through his head, and his steps faltered. 

Would Kaishan want to talk? 

The bard had grown quiet since his father told him about his birth tribe. Worryingly so. 

Hien remembered Lyse broke the tension in the yurt by commenting on the delicious food. This, in turn, prompted Baidar to tell about the time Kaishan tried to cook a meal for his father—and failed miserably, according to him. The xaela in question just smiled pleasantly and added light commentary to what should have been an embarrassing story—the opposite of what he did on their way to the Dawn Throne with a similar story. 

It was a well-placed mask he had worn. One Hien was intimately familiar with using himself. Especially when he had to entertain Garlean dignitaries and other nobles, where the samurai had to be friendly and let them paw over him as if he were a pet. The memory alone made Hien’s nose scrunch in disgust.

When Kaishan had excused himself for the evening, Udutai followed—obviously more than worried about his son. When the older xaela returned several minutes later—looking tired and downhearted—he said little beyond that Kaishan was alright but needed a moment to think...alone. His words seemed to soothe most in the yurt, but a shared glance with Daidukul told Hien he was not the only one worried about the bard. There was little he could do save waiting for an opportunity to leave.

A loud sigh from Kaishan brought Hien out of his thoughts. His lover looked at him, lavender eyes squinting in amusement as he grinned.

“If you continue to stare at me like that, I’m going to start thinking you like something you see,” Kaishan teased, patting the spot next to him. “Come, sit with me, my swallow. Keep me company.”

Hien’s ears grew warm with a blush as he closed the distance between them and sat down.

“You know I like what I see,” Hien said with a smile, reaching out for Kaishan’s free hand; he lifted it to his lips and kissed it. “Are you alright?”

“Aye, I’m alright,” the xaela said, squeezing the prince’s hand. He looked back out towards Mol Iloh and sighed. “...I guess I’m still trying to take in what my father told me.”

Hien nodded and also looked out towards the small encampment. They fell into a comfortable silence as he ideally ran his thumb over the top of Kaishan’s hand, tracing the scales there.

“I’m not mad at him,” Kaishan said after a moment, drawing Hien’s attention back, “My father, I mean. I know he never purposefully kept it from me, and I never bothered to ask...Truthfully, I never cared that much about it. Sure, I wondered who my birth family was, but I always saw the man who raised me as my father and my tribe as my family, blood be damned.”

The Warrior of Light took a long drag from his pipe before letting it out slowly.

“And now that you know?” Hien prompted.

“It doesn’t change my view of them; they’re still my family, as frustrating as they can be,” Kaishan said with a wide grin. He looked at the stars, watching them twinkle in the sky. “But now that I know, it explains so much about me.”

“Oh?” the hyur asked, curious what he meant.

“My previous memories are hazy, at best,” the xaela stated, closing his eyes. “Most of what I remember is of my mother, and even then, ’tis of the day she died. And that has faded a bit after so many years.” 

Hien sat quietly as he took in that information and mulled it over.

“My father did tell me about the day he found me when I had asked,” Kaishan continued, “‘Twas during a hunt, where a storm was looming in the distance, chasing them as they chased their prey. On that day he found a scared little boy covered in filth and blood, wearing white robes...” he trailed off and looked at Hien, waiting for...something.

Hien’s brow furrowed, and his eyes searched Kaishan’s lavender ones. He did not fully understand the significance…until he recalled Cirnia explaining the customs of the Mol tribe, including her grandmother’s role in it. His eyes widened when he made the connection. 

“Mol shaman—”

“—wear white,” Kaishan finished, a small smile on his lips as he took another drag of his pipe. “They must be able to tell at a young age who can hear the words of the Gods; ’tis the only explanation I have...and it just...feels right.”

“I told you it did not sound insane,” Hien said, grinning and nudging Kaishan with his shoulder.

Kaishan smiled and laughed softly, kissing Hien’s temple. 

“Aye, that you did.”

They sat there, leaning against each other in comfortable silence, staring out at the green fields below before a sigh from the xaela drew Hien’s attention back. His friend and lover’s gaze was fixed upon the Mol’s encampment with an unreadable expression.

“Kai?” he said softly, nudging his lover again.

“’Tis naught...I am merely overthinking...again,” Kaishan said, shaking his head and laughing softly.

“A Gil for your thoughts?”

“I…nay, ’tis silly,” Kaishan murmured, looking away.

“Kai,” Hien repeated, turning Kaishan’s face toward him

The Warrior of Light sighed again, glancing back at the small encampment.

“I just...I cannot help but wonder if anyone looked for me,” he said softly, “I must have had blood relatives still with the Mol—a sire, possibly siblings—why did no one look for me? I know my father sent hunters to follow the trail back to the Mol encampment my mother and I came from, but there was naught there save traces of a former camp. They had packed up and...moved on...”

Hien frowned as Kaishan took a shaky breath. He reached up and ran his fingers along the scales of Kaishan’s jaw before turning his face back towards his own.

“Oh, Kai,” he murmured when he saw dewy lavender eyes.

“I don’t know why it bothers me so,” Kaishan murmured, reaching up to wipe away the unshed tears. “I have no idea what happened then; for all I know, they tried to find me every day for years but couldn’t.” The xaela sighed, leaning against him and pressing his forehead to Hien’s. The hand holding his pipe resting on his knee. “Again, overthinking—I think...I think I need to focus my mind on something else for a while.”

“I could help you with that,” the prince offered, rubbing his nose against Kaishan’s.

“Oh? And what did you have in mind?” Kaishan asked softly.

“Well, first off, moving away from here,” Hien said, leaning in for a gentle kiss, “Hard to take your mind off of something when it’s within viewing distance.”

“Fair,” Kaishan chuckled as he moved to stand, “Where to?”

Hien mused over that question as he took the hand Kaishan offered.

“Well, we could always retire for the evening, relax and talk,” the prince replied, “I’ve been meaning to ask more about your time in Eorzea.”

“That sounds wonderful to me,” the xaela replied, smiling—Hien was pleased to see the heavyweight on Kaishan’s shoulders lifted. “Allow me to finish this pipe first? We could walk around the fortress while I do.”

“That is fine with me,” Hien said, allowing Kaishan to guide him to a well-worn path that circled the fortress’s outer walls. They fell into a peaceful silence as they walked, Kaishan puffing away at his pipe. 

Hien watched for a moment before breaking the silence. “How long have you smoked?” he asked out of curiosity. “I don’t recall you doing so before.”

“Aye, I started right before our last summer at the lodge. Master Renji hated it, so I did not while I was there,” Kaishan explained, chuckling softly, “Which I find hilarious now since I picked it up from my father and the rest of my tribe. Now Renji is surrounded by it.”

“Oh? Then all Buduga smoke?”

“Most, but not all, no,” the xaela replied, motioning to a yurt near the back of the Budugan encampment they were approaching. Hien could see smoke steadily rising from the top and a soft glow of a large fire from the door cracks. “’Tis a leisurely and social pastime for many of the adults.” 

“I assume they mainly smoke the Steppe’s variety of weed?” Hien asked.

“Aye, unless a trader comes by with something from afar. Most blends we smoke are of Budugan make, of which there are quite a few,” Kaishan explained, with a soft chuckle, “there are blends to relax with, blends for flavor, and some blends for...other things too.”

Hien looked up at him with a raised brow.

The bard snickered. “Let us just say that a few weeds enhance...hmmm, more vigorous activities.” 

Both of Hien’s eyebrows rose high on his brow as he eyed the pipe Kaishan was holding—to which he received a punch to the shoulder.

“That is not what I am smoking now!” Kaishan laughed, offering his pipe to Hien. “I promise you, you would be the first to know if I was.”

“What is this then?” The prince asked as he took it and sniffed. The smoke’s aroma was warm and herbal with a hint of spice—it smelled good.

“A variety of fogweed,” the xaela replied, watching him with interest, “I picked it up during my time in Ishgard. Although I prefer the weeds from Kugane if I’m honest.”

“That is some expensive taste; Kugane weed is not cheap,” the samurai commented before taking a drag from the pipe—the flavor was as good as the smell, rich and spiced. As he blew out the smoke, he examined Kaishan’s pipe. “I am surprised you use a kiseru pipe in favor of the bone and ivory ones I’ve spied your tribe mates using.”

To his surprise, Kaishan looked away and began to fidget with his glove—an old nervous habit of the xaela’s. 

“‘Twas a gift from a patron,” the bard replied so softly that Hien barely heard him say it.

“Patron?” the samurai asked as he tilted his head.

“Aye...I uh...I worked in Kugane for roughly two years after I left the Steppes...the Ruby Tithe wiped my coffers clean,” Kaishan explained, still not looking at Hien.

“That is understandable; I’ve heard the tithe can be costly to some,” Hien said, stopping the xaela by his elbow, “but pray tell me what makes you so nervous, my duskstar?” 

Kaishan sighed and looked at him, a soft blush on his snowy white cheeks.

“I suppose now is as good a time as any; ’twas bound to be brought up eventually…” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I...I worked as a courtesan during that time to make gil.”

Hien blinked blankly as all his higher brain functions slid to a halt, his imagination bombarding him with images of Kaishan in various beautiful courtesan kimonos.

“Hien?” Kaishan asked cautiously, biting his lower lip, “Are you...I understand if you are upset.”

“Not upset,” Hien managed to say quickly, shaking his head. His face went crimson when Kaishan raised an eyebrow at his reaction. Clearing his throat, he continued, “Far from upset.”

He felt his face heat up more as lavender eyes regarded him with curiosity, searching the prince’s face for an answer. 

“If you’re not upset, then….” 

Hien knew the moment the xaela put two and two together when a devilish grin spread across those supple pale lips. 

“Oh.”

“I...um,” he cleared his throat, having difficulty finding the words to respond—which was amusing, considering he was usually fairly good with his words. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who thought so as he watched lavender eyes crinkle in laughter.

“Cat got your tongue, my swallow?” Kaishan teased.

The sass was automatic. 

“More like a lizard.”

“Smart arse,” Kaishan laughed and pulled him into a kiss, cupping his face. When he pulled back, he gave Hien a brilliant smile. “But truly, you are not upset?”

“Truly,” Hien said, cheeks still warm beneath his lover’s hands. “The first thing that came to my mind was you in one of those kimonos….”

Kaishan laughed, delighted by the honesty.

“First my Budugan armor when we were teens, now kimonos,” he teased, kissing Hien again.

“I can not help that I find you gorgeous in everything you wear,” Hien murmured against his lips. He got the satisfaction of seeing Kaishan blush this time. “And ‘armor’ is being generous for what your tribe wears to fight in.”

The xaela opened his mouth to say something to that when his brow furrowed as his lips turned downwards into a frown. Before Hien could question the sudden shift in mood, the man turned and flung a hidden blade toward the shadows of a nearby yurt. The kunai sunk into the wood with a loud ‘THUNK.’ 

“I swear if my father sent you to spy…” the xaela growled.

“He did not,” said a familiar voice, cutting Kaishan off. There was a low chuckle as Renji stepped out of the shadows, tossing the kunai up and down in his hand. “Although I am gladdened to see you have not abandoned all your shinobi training.”

“I haven’t abandoned it, period,” Kaishan said, crossing his arms. “If you’re not spying for my father, what are you doing?”

“I, too, am curious about that,” Hien added, more than a little irked and embarrassed at the intrusion—just how much did the older au ra overhear?

The old shinobi sighed and shook his head as he tossed the kunai back to Kaishan. 

“Believe it or not, I wanted to check in on both of you without prying eyes.”

Hien shared a glance with the xaela beside him, who looked just as confused as he felt.

“Pardon?” Kaishan asked when he looked back.

“Really?” Renji crossed his arms and looked between them, amused. “Did you both forget whose hunting lodge you had your big fight at?”

“Oh,” Hien said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh...we thank you for your concern, but ’tis really unnecessary.”

“Is that so?” the old shinobi asked.

“Aye, ‘twould seem we both grew while we were apart,” Kaishan said, glancing at Hien with a soft smile before looking back at Renji. “We still obviously have things we need to discuss and work out, but in regards to our argument, we’ve put it in the past, forgiven, and moved on.”

Hien returned his smile and reached for his hand, slightly squeezing it once his fingers were around Kaishan’s.

Renji looked between them again, reading them like he always did when they were younger. After a moment, he sighed, a soft smile on his lips. “I see. Good. I don’t know how you two managed to do it, but I am not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.”

“No, no, you are not,” Kaishan snorted softly. “You’re one to take every possible advantage of it.”

Hien snickered behind a fist.

Renji sighed in exasperation; obviously used to the sass from them both, he waved them off. “Go on then, get behind closed doors before you continue carrying on with your actions and spare the rest of us.”

“Oh, you mean like you spared me all those times when my father visited you at the lodge,” Kaishan shot back, although his cheeks were soft pink.

Renji just stared at him, looking both horrified and confused. 

“What?”

Hien’s eyebrows shot up as he glanced at Kaishan in surprise. The xaela blinked briefly before a downright gleeful expression crossed his face.

“Are you saying you never once noticed how I managed to stumble upon you two every time you decided to snog in the woods, or at the springs, or hells in the damn halls of the lodge?” Kaishan asked, amusement clear in his tone.

The older au ra sputtered, cheeks going red. Never had Hein seen the old shinobi so thrown before. It was hilarious, to say the least—he had to bite his lip to keep from laughing outright. Kaishan, on the other hand, seemed to have no qualms about doing so.

“Oh Gods, that’s just—hehe,” the xaela held his sides. “The fact you were so bloody distracted…especially after you lectured me about being distracted by Shun back then.”

“Yes, well…” Renji bristled, arms crossing as he looked away from them, clearly more than a little embarrassed.

“’Tis hilarious,” Kaishan said, smiling, “and heartwarming.”

“Heartwarming?” the raen repeated skeptically.

“Aye. If you truly did not care for my father, I doubt you would have been as distracted as you were,” Kaishan reasoned, practically beaming at the older man.

A bright blush graced Renji’s cheeks and made him look incredibly young.

“I...suppose that is true,” the raen said, voice quiet as he averted his eyes, shifting on his feet. He waved them away again. “Go on then. Talk things over, but make sure you get some rest for tomorrow. The yurt should be ready for you by now.”

“Thank you,” Kaishan said, his tone appreciative.

Hien made a noise of agreement. He bowed to his former master and said, “Have a good evening, Master Renji.”

“And you as well, little Shun,” the raen said.

Hien made a face at his boyhood name as the master shinobi walked away, practically melding into the shadows. He glanced over at Kaishan when he chuckled.

“I am glad my father has found someone who cares for him so,” Kaishan said quietly, face going soft as he watched the shadows where Renji walked off to. “Part of me had always worried he was just with him so he could train me.”

“Understandable,” Hien responded as he handed back the xaela his pipe, “Did you still want to walk around the fortress, or should we retire to our yurt?”

Kaishan paused momentarily, thinking it over as he looked at his now extinguished pipe. “I think going to the yurt would do us good. Especially since we do not know what the Oronir’s khan has in store for us tomorrow.”

“Fair,” Hien said, taking Kaishan’s hand and gently guiding him off the path. “The yurt is this way.”

“I take it someone showed you before you found me?” Kaishan asked.

“Aye, Daidukul did. Along with issuing me a threat,” the samurai said, chuckling as he recalled the moment. How the Budugan khan was so matter-of-fact in his threat tickled Hien fiercely.

“I’m sorry, he what ?” the xaela asked in alarm.

“The khan informed me—in no uncertain terms—that he would rip out my heart if I were to break yours again,” Hien replied with a soft laugh as Kaishan’s eyes widened in horror. 

“He didn’t!” Kaishan said, aghast.

“Oh, he very much did,” the hyur responded, still snickering.

“That arsehole,” Kaishan muttered, cursing under his breath before giving Hien an apologetic look. “I am sorry for the threat; you don’t deserve—.”

Hien held up his hand to cut him off, shaking his head. 

“Do not apologize; I more than deserved it.”

The xaela looked ready to protest when Hien pressed a finger against his lips.

“Enough,” he said firmly, leaning up to replace his finger with his lips. “He has a right to be concerned, especially since I did break your heart once.”

He felt Kaishan sigh against his lips.

“No more than I broke yours...and I forgave you,” Kaishan murmured, “if I had only pulled my head out of my arse long enough to listen...”

“We were both idiots then,” Hien said, then laughed when Kaishan raised an eyebrow. “Alright, we’re still idiots, but we’re older, a tiny bit wiser, and less stubborn...ish.”

The smile that graced Kaishan’s lips was soft and sweet, making Hien’s heart flutter. A large hand wrapped around his own and brought it to those lips for a light kiss to his palm. The prince was ready to lean in for another kiss when a calloused finger pressed against his lips.

“As much as I would love to stand here and continue, we are going to attract attention if we do so,” Kaishan chuckled, glancing about before grinning at the hyur. “We best take this to our yurt for the evening, as Renji suggested.”

“Good idea, this way,” Hien said with a grin equal to the xaela’s.

When they approached the door to their yurt, he pushed it open and let Kaishan through first before following suit. Once inside and the door closed behind them, Hien was pulled back into a hug, Kaishan’s chin resting on his head as his arms wrapped around Hien’s chest. The prince closed his eyes with a soft smile and leaned back against him, reaching up to cover a hand over a pale forearm.

“’Tis been a long day,” he murmured.

“Mmmhmm,” Kaishan hummed in agreement. He nuzzled Hien’s hair before waddling them over to the bed set up for them, pulling a laugh from Hien at the ridiculousness of the action. The xaela did not stop moving them until they were beside a large bed covered in furs, soft fabrics, and pillows.

“I am surprised there’s a bed...as far as I’m aware, the Mol have none save for the fur mattresses,” Hien said as he sat on the edge. He grinned as he gave it an experimental bounce.

“‘Twas the same when I was with my tribe last. Easier to travel without them,” the xaela explained as he removed parts of his armor. “I think it may be because they’ve been on the Dawn Throne for so long; they have not needed to worry about moving around.”

“Makes sense,” the prince said, flopping back with a soft groan. “It feels like forever since I’ve laid on something so soft.” 

He smiled when he heard Kaishan’s chuckle, followed by the clanking of jewelry being removed.

“Enjoy it while it lasts, for I fear we will not get to for a while afterward,” Kaishan said, voice growing louder as he moved closer.

“Mmm, true,” Hien said before he was startled by hands unstrapping his left kyahan. Sitting up on his elbows, he saw Kaishan knelt before him, pulling away the armor piece. He laughed softly and said, “I can get changed on my own, you know.” 

“I’m aware,” the xaela grinned, “Allow me this?”

“Oh, very well,” Hien sighed dramatically before matching Kaishan’s grin with his own. “But I get to ask you questions as you do.”

“Deal,” Kaishan agreed, working on his other kyahan.

“First question, do you happen to have any of those kimonos you wore?”

That got a laugh from Kaishan, who was obviously delighted by the question.

“Alas, no,” he lamented, “As much as I wanted to, they belonged to Madam Ayame, and I wasn’t about to stay there longer to work off the cost of one.”

Hien sighed, slightly disappointed, but he couldn’t blame him.

“Alright, fair,” he chuckled, sitting up fully when Kaishan started on his obi. “How do you like Eorzea? Has your experience been good thus far?”

He felt Kaishan’s fingers pause as lavender eyes gave him a curious look.

“Aye, ’tis been good, by no means perfect, but good,” the bard replied, pulling the obi away and setting it on the small pile he started. “Eorzea has become a second home to me, even with all the ups and downs I’ve had there. And the Scions, they’re… they’re like another family.”

Hien nodded, understanding what the xaela meant—the Steppes was becoming something similar for him.

“Is there anyone you’ve grown close with?” Hien asked, chuckling when Kaishan looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. “I promise I am not trying to be the jealous lover. I truly am curious to know if you’ve found close friends.”

“Aye, there’s a few I’ve grown close to,” Kaishan replied, helping Hien out of his yellow robes and folding them neatly. “There’s Thancred, a fellow Scion and rogue—of all the Scions, he’s one of the ones I get along with the most. And then there’s Tseun, a former Steppes-dweller like myself. He’s a helluva friend and someone I often call on when I need help with missions. Actually, I called on him before we left to find you; he should be there by the time we get back.”

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Hien said with a grin.

Kaishan returned it with one of his own as he started on Hien’s chest armor.

“You’ll have to return to Eorzea once you are finished here,” he said. It wasn’t a question, just a fact he knew to be true. He closed his eyes and sighed softly as Kaishan’s hands froze on a knot.

“Hien, I—”

The prince smiled and opened his eyes, looking down at his lover with a soft expression. He reached out and cupped Kaishan’s face, kissing his forehead.

“Do not fret; I already knew you would have to,” he murmured, running his thumbs over the scales decorating the xaela’s cheekbones. “You are someone important to them. A hero, a savior, the Warrior of Light. A beacon of hope.”

Red-painted eyelids hid lavender eyes as Kaishan closed them, turning his face away from the prince. He took Hien’s hands and pulled them away, thumbs running over the samurai’s wrists. Hien had to admit he was a little surprised by his reaction.

“Kai?” he asked softly, gently pulling a hand free to turn the xaela’s face back towards him. “What is the matter?”

The xaela looked back up at him, sorrow singing in the depths of purple that made Hien’s heart clench.

“There are times I wish I was not all those things,” the bard admitted softly. “It feels…It feels like that title has brought naught but pain to me and those I care about.”

“Oh, my duskstar,” Hien murmured, brushing his hair gently. He beckoned the xaela to stand and guided him to the head of the bed. “Come, sit with me. Let me give you my ear, tell me what you are willing to divulge. Perhaps talking about it could give you some peace or, at least, take some of the weight off.”

“I don’t…,” Kaishan started, hesitating as he looked into Hien’s eyes. There was a conflict in those lavender orbs before resolve took over. “Actually, that sounds like a wonderful idea.”

Hien gave him a soft look as the bard sat down and scooted until his back was pressed against the headboard. Reaching up to finish what Kaishan had started, Hien removed his chest armor and set it to the side. He watched the xaela for a moment; Kaishan’s tail lazily flicked back and forth on the bed as if unable to stay still. When Kaishan looked up at him expectantly, Hien moved to sit next to him, nestled into his side. His head rested on Kaishan’s shoulder, and he took one of his hands. An arm wrapped around his torso and pulled him in even closer.

“I truly do not know where I should start,” the xaela admitted, fingers tracing delicate patterns into Hien’s side. “You’ve heard much of what happened in Eorzea already.”

“I don’t mind hearing your story again,” Hien said, tilting his head and kissing his jaw. “Start where you think is best.”

Kaishan nodded.

The prince listened quietly as the bard recounted the trials he had been through. The deaths of so many comrades in the Scions at the hands of Gauis van Belsar’s henchmen. The possession of his friend Thancred by the Ascian Lahabrea—he could hear in Kaishan’s voice how much he cared for the rogue and how much it hurt him that he missed the change in his friend. The briefest pang of jealousy settled in Hien’s gut, but he stamped it down. Kaishan did not mention whether the two had been together; even if they had, Hien was okay with it. Kaishan wasn’t his to own, and he knew the xaela’s views regarding sex and love were far more fluid than the more traditional outlook in Doma.

Besides, Hien had mentioned he had not been lonely these past eight years either. He was in no position to judge.

When the xaela started talking about the betrayal of the Crystal Braves, Hien could tell it cut Kaishan deep. The way his voice tightened, the clenching of his jaw when he paused at the more difficult parts to talk about. Hien’s hold on his lover tightened as the man spoke of being framed for the Sultana’s ‘death.’ That hold did not relent as Kaishan explained how the Scions escaped and how one by one they were all separated until he was alone. 

Kami, what Hells did the bard have to walk through after everything Kaishan and the Scions had done for Eorzea. Hien was gladdened to hear few, if any, of the Warrior of Light’s close allies believed the claims of the Syndicate accuser.

Hien smiled a little when he heard that two of Kaishan’s companions were there with him as he sought refuge in the frozen lands of Ishgard—the young scholar and the Scion’s secretary. At least he hadn’t been entirely alone. And the Fortemp Knight, Haurchefaunt, sounded charming and just as mischievous as the two of them. He knew he liked the man immediately upon hearing he lent his shoulder for Kaishan to cry on.

“He sounds like a good friend,” Hien commented, although he instantly regretted it with Kaishan’s following words.

“Aye, he was,” the bard said softly.

The hyur froze. Was? Had he heard wrong? Kami, please tell him he heard wrong. But he knew he hadn’t when he pulled back and looked up at Kaishan’s face. The grief was plain to see.

“Oh kami, Kaishan, I’m...I—”

“It’s alright,” the xaela said, voice thick. Reaching out to brush back Hien’s hair and cup his cheek, giving him a sad, sweet smile, “You didn’t know.”

“Still,” Hien murmured, nuzzling into that warm hand, “What happened? If you want to talk about it, that is.”

Kaishan took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“I mention the Archbishop of Ishgard...we knew he was working with the Acians and actively keeping the truth of the Dragonsong war a secret from the people of Ishgard. Ser Aymeric went to confront him—hoping by being his bastard son, he would have an advantage. It did not work, and we had to mount a rescue to save him,” Kaishan explained, “I led the frontal assault into the Vault with a few fellow adventurers while the others snuck in to get Aymeric.”

The bard paused and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. After a moment, he continued.

“It all culminated at the top where the Archbishop attempted to escape by airship. Haurchefaunt and I rushed the vessel. In my haste, I overlooked the leader of the Heaven’s Ward taking aim at me with a spear of aether.” Kaishan closed his eyes, jaw clenching and unclenching. “But Haurchefant noticed. He blocked the spear with his shield...but it could not hold against the attack and...and ....”

Tears fell down the Warrior of Light’s cheeks even as he covered his eyes with his hand.

“Kai. Come here, my duskstar,” Hien said gently, sitting up fully and coaxing the au ra to do the same. He pulled Kaishan into his arms and just held him, running a hand over his back in a soothing motion as the bard cried into his shoulder.

“It still hurts,” Kaishan managed to say after a while.

Hien could feel the other man’s hold tighten, which he returned as he kissed Kaishan’s temple.

“I cared about him so much; he was a true friend. A bastion in the darkness,” the xaela continued. He let out a soft, pain-filled laugh. “Even to the bitter end…he told me, ‘ A smile better suits a hero.’”

Hien felt the other chuckle against his shoulder.

“I’ll admit, that did not surprise me,” Kaishan said, pulling back and giving Hien a slight smile, “It was very much a Haurchefant thing to say.”

Hien smiled back at him as he reached up and gently wiped away his tears.

“Thank you,” the xaela said, catching that hand and kissing the palm slowly.

“Think naught of it,” the prince said, “I just hope I helped alleviate some of your pain.”

“You did,” Kaishan said, kissing his knuckles.

“Good,” Hien said, fingers brushing Kaishan’s scales, “Kami, I can not even begin to imagine going through something like that and coming out sane...nor have I the strength for...” He paused when the xaela gave him an amused look. “What?”

“Hien...you more than have the strength,” he chuckled, “Most of your life, you’ve been through one hell or another...especially recently.”

The prince opened his mouth to protest, then stopped. He looked down towards the sheets beneath them and sighed, shoulders slumping.

“You are right….”

There was a brief silence before Kaishan lifted his head by his chin, causing him to look up into those beautiful eyes that reminded him of the sky at dusk.

“You lent me your shoulder and strength,” the xaela said, smiling sweetly at him, “You should know; you’re more than welcome to use mine, my swallow.”

Hien felt his heart flutter in his chest again. Kami, he loved this man. He smiled back and wrapped a hand around Kaishan’s wrist, thumb rubbing just under his palm.

“I know,” he replied, breathing deeply before letting it out slowly. “I fear that we...that I made a mistake with the uprising...so many suffered for it. So many lost their lives.”

An arm snaked around him and pulled him in until he sat sideways on Kaishan’s lap, tucked under his scaled chin. He tensed momentarily before relaxing against him, soaking in the warmth and compassion as he pressed his cheek against soft skin and smooth scales. He was quiet for a long moment before speaking again. 

“I watched my father get struck down,” he said quietly. He felt Kaishan’s hold tighten on him. “He was considered the best swordsman in all of Doma and Zenos just...he swatted him down like a fly. Kami damn him.”

The xaela placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head.

“I am so sorry,” he murmured, “Is there aught I can do?”

Hien looked up and smiled at him. “You’re doing it right now.”

Kaishan returned the smile and pressed a kiss to his forehead. The prince sighed in contentment and settled back into his embrace. Reaching up, he ran a hand over the patch of scales over the center of Kaishan’s collarbone.

“I should get you a necklace,” Hien said after a moment.

“Oh?”

“Aye, something to match the one you gave me,” he said softly, fingers still brushing over that spot. “Although I fear that with my lack of horns, I will not be able to give you something similar.”

“If it’s from you, it’ll be the exact same,” Kaishan said, taking that hand and kissing the fingers.

“Noted,” Hien chuckled.

They stayed like that for a while longer before sleep started to find Hien, his eyes drooping as he began to nod off against Kaishan’s chest. He distantly heard the xaela yawn before he felt him move them both beneath the covers, still holding Hien close. They drifted off to sleep like that, wrapped up in each other’s arms, awaiting the next day.

Chapter Text

Kaishan sighed, leaning back against the elevator wall while it descended to the base of the Dawn Throne. They were finally free to return to Mol Iloh and prepare for the Naadam. By the Sun’s will, of course.

The bard rolled his eyes just at the thought of it.

He swore the khagan was being petty for all the sass Kaishan gave the man; there always seemed to be just one more thing to ‘Pay tribute to the Sun’ for. Between that and trying to combat his tribe collectively flirting with Hien nonstop—he swore the samurai was enjoying it a bit too much—Kaishan was exhausted.

Although of the two, he could truthfully stand the flirting.

Magnai, on the other hand, was insufferable. For the life of him, Kaishan could not figure out how in the Seven Hells Tseun put up with the marauder back then…granted, the man could have changed in that time, but still. And the insufferable statement went for most of the Oronir and their preening. He swore he could not stand any of them—except for the cook. The cook was a good egg. Kaishan liked him. 

The elevator doors opened, letting the small group out of the ancient structure.

“Let’s not do that again, yeah?” Lyse said as she stretched, hands reaching up above her head. She grunted softly as something in her back seemed to pop with her stretch.

“No arguments from me,” Kaishan agreed as they crossed the stone walkway. “I can only deal with arrogant arseholes for so long.”

“Magnai was not so bad,” Hien laughed, falling in step with him. 

Kaishan made a face at the comment but said nothing further. His dislike of the Oronir’s Khan went beyond just him being arrogant, but that was not his story to share. There was no need to open that can of worms when he didn’t have to. 

“But perhaps I’ve just dealt with worse over the years,” the prince continued.

“That is very true,” Gosetsu chuckled, following behind them. “Between Doma’s nobles and the Garleans, ’tis little wonder you handle yourself so well, my lord.”

Kaishan grinned, all teeth.

“Not to mention, you dealt with me for years. Think of all that practice,” the Warrior of Light sassed, laughing when Hien swatted his stomach.

“Smart arse, you are nowhere near that level,” Hien said, laughing with him.

The conversation remained jovial as they slowly walked across the plains toward Mol Iloh.

The Mol. Kaishan’s birth tribe.

Butterflies started growing in his stomach as a million questions ran through his head. Each one made him antsier than the last. Was his birth family there? Had he already run into them? Has anyone there recognized him? He didn’t remember anyone acting strange around him—besides the knowing glances after that first night and the following morning with Hien. Perhaps he should say something to the khatun when they speak with her?

He was so distracted by his thoughts he practically jumped out of his scales when Hien wrapped his hand around his own.

“‘Twill be alright, Kaishan,” Hien said in gentle encouragement, thumb rubbing over the back of his hand.

Kaishan gave his lover a grateful smile.

“I know,” he replied, leaning in to kiss Hien’s forehead, “Thank you.”

The sound of Lyse’s giggles had them both flushing crimson.

“Lyse,” Kaishan whined, trying not to pout in her direction.

“Sorry,” she said, despite not looking sorry at all, “I can’t help it; you two are simply too cute together!”

He gave her that one with a slight shake of his head. He also thought they were rather cute together.

Lyse said nothing further, but her bright blue eyes held a knowing twinkle in them that had Kaishan mentally sighing. He was thankful the other Scions weren’t there at the moment. If they were, he’d never hear the end of the teasing, especially from Thancred. He was safe from that here, but after they returned…Lyse, for as much as he adored her like a sister, was a gossip. It would only be a matter of time before the others learned from the blonde. Then the floodgates would open, and he’d have to deal with knowing looks and smug grins.

Especially from Thancred.

Of all the Scions, the rogue was the only one who knew the most of Kaishan’s past and vice versa. The two of them had grown close after the events in the Praetorium, finding comfort in each other—both emotionally and physically. He’d have to discuss that with Hien at some point, although he had a feeling the other man figured that much out from their talk a few nights prior. Still, he’d rather Hien hear it from his lips than elsewhere.

The rest of their trek back was thankfully uneventful. They reached Mol Iloh by mid-afternoon. The encampment was buzzing with life as most of the tribe made last-minute preparations for the Naadam. 

Cirina greeted their party with a big smile and cups of hot tea. Hien relayed what had happened after Bardam’s Mettle and their dealings with the Oronir. The young Mol listened, nodding as she took in the information. However, she started to side-eye Kaishan with quick glances during the conversation.

Kaishan raised an eyebrow when he noticed, tilting his head to one side.

“Everything alright?” Hien asked, seemingly having noticed her distraction as well.

“Aye, my apologies,” the young Mol said with a small smile. “I’m afraid ’twill be a short while before you can speak with my grandmother; she is currently in the middle of a ritual and can not be disturbed.”

“’Tis alright; we could all use a short rest,” Hien said before looking at the others, “Let us meet up here anon?”

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you all then,” Lyse replied, giving a small wave before heading toward one of the campfires.

“I believe I will meditate in the meanwhile,” Gosetsu said, bowing to them all before leaving toward the camp’s outskirts.

“And I must go back to my chores,” Cirina said, bowing as well, “Please, let me know if there’s anything either of you need.” After giving Kaishan one more look, she left, leaving the lovers alone—or as alone as they could be in a lively encampment. 

After a moment of silence, Hien spoke up.

“Was it just me, or did you notice how Cirina looked at you?” the prince asked, tilting his head to look up at Kaishan. There was no jealousy in his tone, just confusion.

“Aye,” Kaishan replied, scratching his chin, “I couldn’t quite place the look either.”

“Not just her, ‘twould seem,” Hien murmured as he glanced about the camp.

Kaishan did the same and found many Mol glancing in his direction, whispering to each other. A few were openly staring. He frowned; while he could speculate what the looks were about, he could not figure out why it was all of a sudden. None of them did this before he left for Bardam’s Mettel. 

Worry started to bubble up in his gut. However, it did not get to settle there as a tiny blur of black, red, and purple barreled into his legs and wrapped around them.

“Grandpa!” exclaimed an excited little voice.

Hien thankfully caught him before he tumbled over from the force. Kaishan stared at him wide-eyed before looking down at the purple-haired child who clung to his legs.

“Um,” he said, clearing his throat, “Are you lost, little one?”

 Two big and bright golden eyes looked up at him. The young girl’s face furrowed in confusion.

“You’re not my Grandpa,” she observed. However, despite this, she did not let go. “But you look just like him! But a LOT younger and prettier!”

Even as he felt his heart in his throat, Kaishan could not help but find amusement in the young girl’s declaration.

“Oki! Let that poor man go,” said a male’s voice a few fulms away. 

A dark-haired, beige-skinned xaela approached them, dressed in the same garb as the young girl—black robes with bright red trim. The two were not of the Mol; their clothing and accents were dead giveaways of that. Plus, the type of silver jewelry adorning the man’s curved horns was not something xaela of the Steppes usually wore. It reminded Kaishan of the jewelry he saw imported from Dalmasca and Radz-at-han during his time in Kugane.  

The man’s warm golden eyes were glued to the young girl, a deep frown on his features. “Your mother and I taught you better than that.”

“I thought he was Grandpa! He looks just like him! See!” she exclaimed, pointing up at Kaishan.

The man glanced up before doing a double take, eyes widening in surprise.

“Oh Nhaama…” he whispered, stepping forward, “Kaishan?”

Kaishan’s brow furrowed as he tried to place this man from somewhere, but for the life of him, he could not. He would have taken a step back as the other xaela slowly advanced, but with the young girl still wrapped around him like a vine, he was prevented from doing so.

“...yes,” he said cautiously, “May I ask whom you may be?”

The other xaela looked crestfallen at the question, pausing in his advance before stepping back.

“Ah, yes, of course, my apologies. My name is Shiramun,” the man said, bowing slightly, “of the Kha tribe.”

The name rang in Kaishan’s head with distant familiarity—like he knew the name but could not place from where. The jewelry made more sense now. The Kha was the only tribe Kaishan knew who adopted outside traditions as their own.

“And I’m Oki, his daughter,” the little girl said excitedly, grinning as she held up a hand with her fingers spread. “I’m five winters old!”

Her smile was infectious. Kaishan couldn’t help but smile back at her.

“Is that so?” he asked kindly, “That’s a lot of winters. You’re quite the young lady, aren’t you?”

“I am! Even Daddy says so!” she said proudly, finally letting go of his legs so she could put her hand on her hips and stand tall. “Isn’t that right, Daddy?”

“Do young ladies run willy-nilly into other people’s legs?” Shiramun asked, crossing his arms and giving his daughter a look.

Oki’s shoulders rose as she looked at the ground, kicking her foot in the dirt.

“No, sir,” she replied with a pout.

“Exactly,” Shiramun said before kneeling down in front of her. He straightened her robes and tugged gently on one purple braid, “And what do we say to those we run into?”

The young girl turned toward Kaishan and looked up.

“I’m sorry for running into you, mister,” she said, pouting slightly. “I really did think you were my Grandpa.”

“’Tis alright, no harm done,” he said, smiling at her again.

She beamed up at him before looking back at her father.

“Good girl,” Shiramun said with a soft smile. He gave her nose a boop. “Now run back to the yurt and see if you can help with dinner, alright?”

“Yes sir,” Oki said before running off, waving back at them as she disappeared around some boxes.

Shiramun stood and glanced at Kaishan. He opened his mouth several times before worrying his lower lip between his teeth, clearly trying to pick the right words he wanted to say.

“I fear I do not know how to be tactful with this, so I will just ask,” he said after a moment. “Were you…were you lost as a child?”

Kaishan could feel his heart thudding louder in his chest with the question—he knew where this was leading, but damn him if he wasn’t terrified of it. He practically jumped out of his scales when there was a soft touch at his back. Hien—Gods, he had forgotten the man was standing beside him. There was a small, supportive smile on the prince’s lips, and it gave Kaishan the courage he needed.

“Yes, I was,” Kaishan replied, looking back at the other man.

Shiramun closed his eyes, and his chest rose and fell with a deep, slow breath.

“Were you four at the time?”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember who your birth tribe was?”

“Remember? No, I have no memories from before being found,” Kaishan explained. He fidgeted with his glove when a slight frown formed on Shiramun’s face. “But…I was told that my birth tribe was the Mol.”

The other xaela let out a shaky breath.

“My little brother went missing when he was four….” Shiramun started, swallowing hard, “His name was Kaishan, and he was the spitting image of our father when he was younger—or so I’ve been told….”

“But you’re of the Kha,” Kaishan pointed out, “Did you marry into them?”

“No, mother was originally from the Kha and married into the Mol,” Shiramun explained, “As a part of a marriage exchange.”

“Marriage exchange?” Hien spoke up in confusion.

“’Tis a form of an arranged marriage between two tribes, where one or more people will marry into the other tribe,” Kaishan answered, “It ensures the blood of both tribes’ does not grow stagnant. It is more common practice for the smaller tribes who are not as fighting and expansion focused like some of the larger tribes are.”

“Ah, I see. My thanks,” the prince said, then turned to Shiramun, “I apologize for interrupting.”

“’Tis no trouble,” Shiramun said, giving him a small smile before looking back to Kaishan and continuing where he had left off. “After my little brother went missing with our aunt, our mother grew distraught from grief…the khatun suggested we stay with the Kha so Mother could be with her birth family for additional support. We did this and stayed for good after arrangements were made and ....”

Kaishan barely heard the rest; his heartbeat hammered through his horns, drowning out whatever the other man said. Despite Shiramun not giving voice to it, it was apparent that Kaishan was the little brother he had lost. That both terrified and excited him. He was excited because of the chance to meet his birth family and to know who they were. But he was terrified because they would all be strangers to him—they would know more about him than he would them. All he could remember was his mother…Wait.

“Hold a moment…did you say aunt?” Kaishan interrupted as his brow furrowed.

“Pardon?” Shiramun asked, perplexed.

“You said your aunt went missing with your little brother?” Kaishan elaborated. That couldn’t be right; the woman with him had to be his mother…

“Yes, Cota. She was Father’s little sister,” the other xaela replied, looking even more confused.

Kaishan turned to the side and bit the tip of his thumbnail. Was she his aunt this whole time? He always thought…

A gentle hand was on his back, rubbing it in a soothing circle.

“Kai,” Hien said softly in concern.

“Did I say something amiss?” Shiramun asked in a worried tone. “I’m sorry if—”

“No,” Kaishan interrupted again, shaking his head, “I…I just…I always thought…I thought the woman who died protecting me from the beastkin was my mother.” He glanced over at Shiramun when he saw him startle from the corner of his eye. 

“Oh…I…” Shiramun started before trailing off, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. 

“Cota would be honored that you thought so,” said a soft female voice a few fulms behind them. “That I know for certain.”

“Mother…” Shiramun gasped softly.

Kaishan froze as a sliver of fear ran through him—which felt ridiculous. He had faced down Primals and Ascians for Azim’s sake; meeting his birth family should not be difficult. And yet, here he was, faltering all the same. Hien’s hand on his back gave him the strength to turn around and face the woman. 

A slim, middle-aged auri woman stood a few fulms away from them, hands folded in front of her as she smiled at him. Her curved horns were also decorated in jewelry similar to her son’s. While Shiramun clearly took after his mother with his complexion and horns, Kaishan had her eyes—they were the same dusky lavender as his own. But despite that…he didn’t recognize her. The guilt over that fact slammed into him like a bull’s charge.

“Hello, Kaishan,” she said pleasantly.

“Oh, uh…Hello, um…” He faltered, uncertain what to call her.

“Maral,” she provided. There was a smile still on her face, but he could see a sadness creep into her eyes. 

Kaishan looked away as his tail curled behind him. He knew he should call her mother, but it felt so foreign to him. He could not bring himself to do so. For the last twenty-one years, he had thought her dead. To find out that she was alive and the woman he thought was his mother was his aunt…Kaishan wasn’t sure how to feel.

When two smaller hands took one of his own between them, Kaishan jumped and looked back wide-eyed. Maral smiled up at him again, squeezing his hand gently.

“Do not worry,” she said lovingly as she reached up and patted his cheek—which, oddly enough, seemed to put him at ease. “I understand.”

Kaishan took a deep breath and let it out slowly before giving her a small smile.

“Thank you,” he said after returning the squeeze. “I truly am at a loss of what to do or say. I never considered what it would be like to meet my birth family.”

Maral squeezed his hand again.

“Just think of it as a new adventure,” she said, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. When she realized they were watering, she seemed frazzled. Turning her head away as she dabbed at them lightly. “Oh, look at me, getting all emotional.”

“I would think it’d be understandable, all things considered,” Kaishan said, chuckling softly. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “Here.”

“Thank you,” she said while using the kerchief. “You grew into such a sweet young man, didn’t you?”

Kaishan blushed at the compliment and ducked his head. He whacked Hien with his tail when he heard the samurai chuckle, and Hien just smiled at him, eyes crinkling as he did so.

“I very much agree with her on that,” the prince said, reaching out and gently touching Kaishan’s arm. A sword-calloused thumb ran over his exposed skin in a loving little rub, bringing a smile to Kaishan’s lip.

Maral giggled softly, which did not help Kaishan with his blush. She turned toward Hien and gave him a traditional eastern bow.

“Forgive me for ignoring you, young man,” she apologized.

“Worry not; there were more important things that had your attention,” he said, returning the bow. “’Tis nice to meet you and your eldest. My name is Hien Rijin.”

Shiramun and Maral both looked at him in shock.

“As in Lord Hien of Doma?” Shiramun asked in awe. 

“Aye, you have the right of it,” the samurai chuckled.

“So it’s true that the Mol took you in for a time? I’ll admit, part of me wondered if they were mistaken when they told us….” Shiramun murmured as he stared at Hien for a long moment. He turned to Kaishan with an impressed look on his face. “You’re traveling in the company of Doma’s Heir?”

Kaishan cleared his throat as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“That is a long story.”

“Well, I, for one, would love to hear it,” Maral chirped, clapping her hands together. “Perhaps you can join us for dinner and share the tale?”

Kaishan shifted from foot to foot as he fidgeted with his glove. Gods, he hadn’t felt this shy since he was a small boy; it was a strange feeling, to say the least.

“Pray, do not feel obligated,” she said, her voice turning motherly, “Oh, and of course, the invitation is extended to Lord Hien as well.”

Kaishan looked at her for a long moment before glancing over at Hien, raising a brow.

“I am fine with it, as long as you are,” Hien replied with a small smile.

Once again, that smile gave Kaishan courage. Returning it with one of his own, he looked back at his…mother—it was so strange to even think that.

“We accept your invitation, thank you,” he replied with a bow.

“Wonderful!” Maral said, looking overjoyed with the reply. “I will have to let Khal know we have guests! Our dear Kaishan and his husband. Oh, I’m so excited!”

The auri woman rushed away, leaving Kaishan standing there—bright red and sputtering.

“But…we…we aren’t…” he tried to get the words out, but Maral was already out of sight.

Shiramun laughed softly and patted Kaishan’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I can assure you, Mother knows you two aren’t married…yet,” the older xaela explained with a wide grin and a twinkle of mischief in his eye, “She did the same thing to my wife and me well before we even considered marriage.”

“I see,” Kaishan said, sighing. “This is a mother thing, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” both Hien and Shiramun replied in unison, sharing the same grin.

A soft laugh left Kaishan’s lips, and he shook his head. “I suppose that I will need to get used to this.”

When the hand on his shoulder tightened slightly, he turned. Shiramun looked over the moon at what he said, sending a wave of joy through Kaishan.

“I know you don’t remember us,” Shiramun said, “And that’s ok…Just know we are happy to have you back after so long.”

Kaishan smiled and nodded, reaching to pat the other man’s hand.

“I need to get back to help, and I’m sure you have your own preparations for tomorrow,” the older xaela said, stepping back. Shiramun pointed to the north of the encampment. “Our yurt is just beyond that last one; you won’t be able to miss it. Dinner should be ready before dusk.”

“Alright,” Kaishan said, “We will see you then.”

They said farewell, and soon Hien and Kaishan were alone again.

Kaishan took a few deep breaths, feeling jittery after the unexpected encounter.

“Are you alright?” Hien asked, his hand on the bard’s back like a steadying anchor.

“Aye,” Kaishan replied quietly, “Just…overwhelmed, I guess. I knew there was a chance we could run into them…just not as soon as it happened. Or who I would meet.”

Hien nodded. “Would you like to return to our yurt and rest?” he asked.

Kaishan thought about it a moment before shaking his head. “No, but I would like to sit down.”

“Alright,” the prince replied, leading Kaishan to some boxes and positioning him where he was out of view to most of the camp. Once seated, the samurai took both of his hands and squeezed. 

Kaishan smiled and squeezed Hien’s hands in return before closing his eyes. He took a deep, calming breath. “It never occurred to me that the woman with me that day could be someone other than my mother,” Kaishan said softly. “I…I still don’t know how I feel about it.”

“From what you told me, you looked like her,” Hien reminded him, “And since she was your aunt, that makes sense. You had no way of knowing otherwise.”

The bard looked away and frowned. “Because I can not remember—”

“Kai, that is not your fault,” Hien interrupted, gently turning the xaela’s face back and cupping his cheek. “You can not blame yourself for something out of your control.”

“I know, I know,” Kaishan sighed, leaning forward to press his head against Hien’s shoulder. “I just…I feel awful that I cannot. They looked so sad when I did not recognize them.”

“Perhaps, but they also seemed happy to see you, regardless,” the samurai pointed out, resting his head against Kaishan’s. Hien gently stroked his hair and kissed his temple. “I mean, Maral went right into the motherly teasing.”

Kaishan let out a breathy laugh against Hien’s shoulder. “True,” he conceded. He took a moment to balance his mind before he let out a soft sigh. “I am sorry.”

“About what?” Hien asked in confusion.

“The teasing…”

“You mean from Maral? When she suggested I was your husband?” the prince queried.

“Aye.”

“Is that such a horrible thing?” Hien teased, though Kaishan missed the playful tone. The bard’s head snapped up instantly. 

“What?! No! No, that’s not what I…I didn’t mean for it to sound like it was a bad thing,” Kaishan replied adamantly, shaking his head. He only paused when he noticed Hien’s shoulders shake and his eyes squint in laughter. He pouted. “Shun.”

“Sorry,” Hien laughed lightly, pulling Kaishan in to kiss his forehead. “You don’t have to apologize; I thought it was sweet…even if I blushed like a tomato when she said it.”

Kaishan sighed and nodded. He took Hien’s hands and traced circles into his palms.

“...I guess I was worried it would upset you,” he murmured, “’Tis been less than a week since we started to court each other again. This relationship is still so new…and yet, somehow, it feels like only yesterday when we had that fight…a fight that started because of the subject of marriage. I…I don’t want an argument like that to happen again.”

“It won’t, not like that, at least. We know better now,” Hien promised. He brought Kaishan’s hands to his lips and kissed his knuckles. “And if we do argue, we will talk it through.”

Kaishan smiled and nodded. “Of course, you’re right.”

“But of course,” the prince said with an overexaggerated, pompous flair—the same thing Hien did when they were younger, and he was told he was right.

“Smart arse,” Kaishan laughed, pulling him into a light kiss. When they parted, he gave Hien a soft, loving look. “I’ll admit, I would not be opposed to calling you husband one day.”

“Same,” Hien said with an adorable, goofy little grin on his lips. He pressed their foreheads together and sighed happily.

“Hien, there you are—oh!” Cirna stopped as she rounded the boxes and spotted them, looking flustered. “Oh, I am so sorry; I didn’t mean to interrupt!”

“Cirna, it’s alright,” Hien chuckled, pulling away from Kaishan to address the young Mol before she could flee. He gave the bard’s hands one more squeeze before letting go. “I take it the Khatun is ready for us?”

“Yes, she is,” Cirna said, “I’ve already gathered up Lyse and Gosetsu; they’re both waiting for you.”

“Excellent, you have my thanks,” the prince said. He looked to Kaishan and asked, “Shall we?”

Kaishan nodded and stood from his seat, dusting his pants off. 

“Lead on.”

They followed Cirna until they joined Lyse and Gosetsu before Khatun Temulun. Hien relayed their dealings with Oronir and what they learned to the khatun. She appeared to carefully listen to the prince, nodding every once and a while.

As Kaishan stood there, several questions ran through his head. Did she know who he was when he first arrived? If she did, her welcoming him home made more sense—he had found it odd when he was unaware that the Mol was his birth tribe but didn’t question it. However, if she did know who he was, why did she not say anything? He would have thought that was something important to bring up. Perhaps she had not been entirely sure? Or maybe she thought he would not believe her—

“Kai?”

Kaishan jolted when Hien touched his arm. The samurai looked concerned as he blinked down at him.

“Sorry,” Kaishan said with a small smile, “I must have zoned out. What was the question?”

“No question, we were finished filling the khatun in. You didn’t move when we made to leave,” Hien explained, concern growing in his hazel eyes.

Kaishan grimaced. “I’m sorry, I—”

“Have questions for me,” Temulun provided, giving the bard a kind smile when he looked at her in wide-eyed surprise.

“I…yes, actually,” he responded. He worried his lower lip between his teeth before asking, “You knew who I was when I first arrived, didn’t you?”

“I did,” she replied, folding her hands in her lap. “The Gods spoke of your return.”

A frown crossed over Kaishan’s lips as he looked to the ground. That answer only led to more questions for him. Surely, if the Gods knew of his return, they would have known he was with the Buduga after he went missing…

“Did the Gods know where I was this whole time? Did you?” Kaishan asked.

“I did not,” Temulun replied, shaking her head, “If the Gods did, they did not tell me or any of our other shamans, for that matter.”

Kaishan pressed a knuckle to his lips, brow furrowing.

“Was there an attempt to find me, then?” he asked after a moment.

“Aye, we sent out hunters to look for you. They found tracks, but those stopped at the river,” Temulun explained.

“Hmm, my father told me something similar,” Kaishan mused, “The trackers he sent to find my birth tribe always said it felt like they were two steps behind. When they did find something, ’twas usually an abandoned campsite.”

“Interesting…I wonder,” The khatun looked thoughtful.

“Wonder what?” Kaishan prompted when she didn’t elaborate.

“’Tis said the Gods will protect and guide those who have a great destiny ahead of them,” Temulun replied, “You have done a great many things for this Star and a great many more yet to come. ’Tis possible that they led you to the Buduga for that purpose.”

Kaishan’s jaw clenched and unclenched. Something did not sit right with him about that, which unnerved him. What great destiny did he have? Why him? He had already been through so much at that point… 

He was about to ask another question when an all too familiar warmth enveloped him in an embrace. Kaishan almost gasped aloud at how sudden it was. He hadn’t felt this in years. The feeling was not physical; it was like someone hugging his soul. It was warm and comforting, putting him at ease with the sincerity it exuded, just like the ones he received as a child when he was sad or scared.

Be not afraid…Your path is yours…Joy awaits…Friends alongside…Love blooming.

The words were so soft, but he heard them. 

“So you can still hear them,” Temulun murmured thoughtfully.

Kaishan did not realize he had closed his eyes until she spoke. He opened them and blinked a few times as the embrace left him. Temulun was studying him, chin resting on her fist. He glanced towards Lyse and Gosetsu and shifted on his feet, fidgeting with his glove. Only Hien and a few others knew about the voices.

“Just faintly,” he admitted quietly. “And not very often. I mostly get gentle…hmm, tugs, I guess?”

“Like someone is guiding you by the hand?” Temulun offered.

Kaishan nodded.

“You had only just started your training as a shaman when you went missing, so ’tis not surprising you can only feel their guidance more often than you can hear it,” the khatun chuckled softly. She studied him briefly before asking, “You know we could not train you further, correct?”

“Aye, I know enough about Mol customs to understand why,” Kaishan replied. “’Tis because I have taken a life, correct?”

“That is correct,” the khatun said with a nod. “I am sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” he said with a small smile, “As I said, I understand why.”

“I am glad you do,” Temulun responded with a slight bow. “Did you have any other questions before your dinner with Maral?”

“Uh.” Kaishan raised a brow and looked at Hien, who simply shrugged and shook his head.

“I said naught,” the hyur responded.

“Did the Gods mention this too?” Kaishan asked in jest…mostly.

Temulun chuckled. “No, the arrival of Khal and Maral has sparked great interest in you…many overheard your dinner plans for tonight….”

“And the whole tribe are a bunch of gossips… aren’t they?” Kaishan asked, placing a hand over his eyes. 

“Very much so,” Temulun laughed, “Cirna especially.”

“Grandmother!” the young Mol in question exclaimed, aghast.

Kaishan sighed in exasperation before a deep chuckle escaped his lips. He removed his hand, grinning in amusement. “I suppose ’tis too much to ask to escape tribal gossip…especially when it’s something as interesting as this.”

“That sounds like an evening at the Rising Stone,” Lyse quipped.

“Just about,” Kaishan snickered. Once the laughter died down, he bowed to the khatun. “Thank you for your answers, Khatun Temulun.”

“‘Twas my pleasure. And once again, welcome back,” Temulun said, bowing. “All of you have a pleasant evening.”

The rest of the party bid her a good evening before they left. Once outside, Kaishan was unsurprised that Lyse immediately started with her questions.

“You met your birth family?!” she asked excitedly, practically bouncing in place.

Kaishan sighed softly but gave her a fond smile. “Aye, I did…or at least some of them, anyroad,” he replied.

“Oh, I’m so happy for you,” she said, giving him a bone-crushing hug, “Who did you meet?”

“I met Shiramun, my…my older brother, and his young daughter, Oki,” Kaishan answered with a soft laugh—he was pretty sure he felt his joints cracking with her hug. “And Maral, my…um, my mother.”

Both Lyse and Gosetsu looked at him in shock.

“Your mother survived?” the old samurai asked.

“Uh…yes and no? Apparently, the woman with me that day was not my mother,” Kaishan explained, laughing softly as his friends looked floored. “I know; I was surprised to learn this as well. She was my aunt, my birth father’s youngest sister…which would explain the family resemblance.”

“Oh wow,” Lyse said with a look of concern as she stepped back. “How are you handling it?”

“I am doing alright, although part of me is still trying to wrap my head around it,” he admitted, “They seem nice so far. They’re certainly eager to hear more about where I’ve been and who I’ve become. I will meet my birth father and Shiramun’s wife at dinner.”

“That’s wonderful! I’m so thrilled for you, Kai,” she said again, giving him another big hug. “I hope dinner goes well.”

“I hope so, too,” Kaishan said, hugging her back.

Gosetsu smiled and patted him on the back before turning to Hien.

“You are joining him, I take it?” he asked.

“Aye,” Hien confirmed. “Maral extended the invitation to me as well.”

“Very good,” the old samurai said. He gave Hien a fatherly look. “I expect you to be on your best behavior for them, Shun.”

Kaishan couldn’t tell if Hien was pouting because of the name or what Gosetsu said. Either way, he couldn’t help but giggle at it—which earned him a whack to the stomach.

“Shush, you,” the prince said, still pouting.

“And the same goes for you, young man,” Gosetsu laughed.

“I’m always on my best behavior,” Kaishan said with a wide grin, tail lazily flicking back and forth, “But aye, I promise I will be.”

“Good,” the old man said, patting them both on the shoulder.

Hien sighed and shook his head before looking at Kaishan. “We should probably use what time we have to wash up, at the very least.”

“Aye, we should,” he agreed.

“That sounds like our queue to part ways for the evening,” Lyse chuckled. “Both of you have a good dinner and make sure to rest for tomorrow. Big day and all.”

“We will,” Kaishan promised, “Both of you do the same.”

“Don’t worry, we will!” the blonde said with a wide grin. Lyse bid them good night and walked off towards a group of Mol sparring.

“Have a pleasant evening, my Lord, Kaishan,” Gosetsu said, bowing to them before he left to speak with an elderly Mol stringing hunting bows.

Kaishan took Hien’s hand and guided him back to their shared yurt. Upon entering, they were greeted with the warmth of a freshly lit fire and a fresh basin of water to wash up with. Quickly they washed the filth of travel off and freshened up best they could before dinner.

“Ready?” Hien asked as he adjusted his robes.

“As ready as I can be,” Kaishan replied after he took a deep breath.

The prince gave him a sweet smile and reached up to cup the back of Kaishan’s neck, pulling him into a soft kiss.

“‘Twill be alright,” he said against his lips.

“I know,” Kaishan said softly, “Still nervous, though.”

“That’s understandable,” Hien responded, kissing him again before pulling away, “I’ll be right beside you.”

“And that gives me courage,” the bard said with a smile before moving towards the door.

They made the short trek toward the direction Shiramun had indicated earlier; he was correct when he said they could not miss it. It was the only yurt that wasn’t of the traditional xaela style, appearing more Doman than that of the Steppes.

Kaishan walked up to the door and hesitated momentarily as he raised his hand to knock.

“Kai?” Hien said softly, beside him in an instant.

“I’m alright,” Kaishan promised with a wiry smile. He took one deep breath before knocking on the door.

“THEY’RE HERE!” squealed Oki’s voice through the door; the patterning of her little feet on the floor could be heard as she ran across the yurt. The door flew open with such force that Kaishan took a step back. The young girl stood there with a big bright smile before she threw herself at him, latching on in a hug. “Uncle Kaishan!”

Gods damn him, if that didn’t just melt his heart and put a grin on his lips—and from the sound of Hien’s chuckle, he wasn’t the only one.

“Oki! What did I just tell you?” Shiramun chided as he approached, shaking his head. He gave Kaishan an apologetic look. “I am sorry about that. I tried to explain to her what the situation was…but the minute she heard you were my lost brother…well….” He motioned to his daughter wrapped around Kaishan’s leg.

“It’s alright, I don’t mind,” Kaishan said, giving the older xaela a lopsided grin. He looked down and gently patted the young girl’s head. “If you want to have dinner with me, I’ll need my legs back.”

She giggled and let him go before grabbing his hand. 

“This way!” she said excitedly, pulling him inside, “You need to meet Grandpa and Mother!”

Kaishan chuckled as he allowed her to drag him along. He stepped past the doors and smiled in Maral’s direction, who returned it.

“Khal,” the older woman called out, turning towards the back of the yurt, “They’re here…if you weren’t already aware.”

“I heard,” said a man’s voice with a deep, rumbling chuckle. It came from behind a wooden folding screen—also of doman make—separating what Kaishan assumed was the sleeping area from the rest of the yurt. When the speaker stepped out from behind it, Kaishan froze dead in his tracks, causing Oki to lose her grip on his hand and Hien to bump into his back.

“Kaishan?” Hien asked before stepping around him. Kaishan knew the minute the prince saw what he saw, his surprised gasp was more than audible. “Oh, wow…I think I now understand the tribe’s sudden interest in you.”

Maral giggled behind her first, giving Kaishan a sweet smile. “Many always said you looked just like Khal did when he was little, which obviously stayed the same as you grew older.”

Kaishan nodded dumbly at her words, still staring at the man before him. It was as if he were looking in a mirror and seeing his future self. Kaishan was the spitting image of Khal—he had the same horns, complexion, and facial structure of the older man. The only difference was their eyes. Khal’s were a warm golden amber—which Shiramun seemed to inherit—while Kaishan’s were a cool lavender.

“See!” Oki exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and down before him. “I told you you looked just like Grandpa! Just younger! And prettier! And shorter!”

Maral almost doubled over in laughter as Khal tried to look put upon by the comment but failed miserably as a fond grin spread across his face. Kaishan was torn between laughing, pouting, or punching Hien in the shoulder for giggling—of course, she had to point out his lack of height…by au ra standards, anyways.

“Oki!” Shiramun chided again.

“What? It’s the truth!” the young girl pouted, seemingly seeing nothing wrong with what she said.

“’Tis alright, Shira, there’s no harm done,” Khal said with a soft chuckle, hand raised to placate his son. He knelt down and patted Oki’s head with a gentle smile. Standing, he turned to Kaishan with that same soft smile. “Hello, Kaishan. I am glad you decided to join us tonight…it is good to see you again.”

“Oh, um, thank you for inviting us,” Kaishan said, clearing his throat as he bowed, “I truly appreciate the chance to meet you all.” Hien had a hand on his back again, which he was grateful for—especially when sorrow entered Khal’s eyes. That was never going to get easy to see. He knew it was not his fault that he could not remember them, but it didn’t make him feel any less guilty. Maybe one day, he would be able to remember them.

“You need to meet my mother too!” Oki said excitedly, tugging on Kaishan’s sleeve as she pointed towards the only other unknown occupant—a slender, lavender-haired xaela woman.

“This is Doyi, my wife,” Shiramun introduced her, smiling down at Doyi like she was the moon itself. 

“’Tis nice to finally meet you,” the young woman said, bowing.

“’Tis nice to meet you as well,” Kaishan replied, returning the bow. Once he straightened, he turned towards Hien and gave him a similar smile—although, Kaishan supposed he saw Hien more like the sun than the moon. “Allow me to introduce my…my partner, Hien Rijin.”

“Thank you for extending the invitation to include me,” Hien said as he bowed, a wide grin spread across his lips. “’Tis nice to meet you all.”

Maral gave them a brilliant smile. “You are quite welcome! Pray, have a seat, both of you,” she said, ushering them further into the yurt and towards the fire pit, where a spread of food was already set out. The last thing that needed to be placed was the roast slowly cooking over the fire. “‘Twill just be a few more minutes until the roast is done.”

“You can sit by me,” Oki said excitedly, pulling on Kaishan’s hand to sit with her.

Kaishan chuckled and allowed himself to be led by the young girl, sitting down where she indicated. She sat beside him on his left while Hien sat to his right. His tail reached out for the prince and pressed against the side of Hien’s leg. Kaishan grinned when sword-calloused fingers brushed gently against it.

“Daddy said you are an adventurer; is that true!?” Oki asked the minute he settled into his seat.

“It is,” Kaishan replied with a lopsided grin.

Her eyes lit up at that as she practically bounced in her own seat and grabbed his sleeve. “What adventures have you been on? What places have you seen? Have you been to the Ruby Sea!?”

“Oki,” Shiramun sighed, shaking his head, “One question at a time, and let your Grandparents ask some of their own first…they have not seen him in many years.”

Oki pouted but did as she was asked, letting go of Kaishan and settling down in her seat.

Kaishan leaned over to her, using his hand to hide his mouth like he was telling her a secret. “I have been to the Ruby Sea. And I can share some of my adventures with you later, but you must be on your best behavior.” As he said this, he winked over at Shiramun.

The young girl squealed and nodded, looking over at her grandmother expectantly.

“I will be sure to ask him about his adventures too, sweetheart,” Maral chuckled, sipping her drink. She gave Kaishan a thoughtful look before speaking again. “I have so many questions…but I think I first want to know about your childhood. I know you are of the Buduga tribe currently, but were you taken in by another tribe when you were little?”

“No, the Buduga raised me,” Kaishan replied with a soft chuckle. “Udutai, the khan at the time, found me by my…um, by Cota’s body during a hunt. An unexpected surprise for them, to be sure. He took me back to his tribe as the rest of the hunters gave Cota her rights and buried her.”

Khal looked over from the fire pit as he platted the roast. “Was her grave marked? Do you know the location of it?” he asked as he set down the plate at the center of their meal, “I would very much like to visit it.”

“It was, and I do. I would make sure to visit her each time we passed close to the site,” Kaishan replied, closing his eyes to calculate how far away the gravesite was from where they were. “Hmm, I do not know if I will have the time to show you this visit…but I could see if my fath—erm, I mean, I could see if Udutai could show you.”

“Kaishan,” Khal chuckled, his eyes holding a fond, understanding look, “Udutai is the one who raised you, correct?”

“...aye, he is,” the bard said, shifting in his spot.

“Would you say he loves you as a son and has cared for you as such?”

“Aye, I would,” Kaishan replied, nodding.

“Then, pray, call him your father,” Khal said, giving Kaishan a soft smile, “I would not dream of trying to take that away from you or him. I only hope that one day I will get the chance to share that honor.”

“The same for myself,” Maral agreed, speaking up and grabbing Kaishan’s attention as Khal started to portion out the roast, “I know when you first went missing, I prayed for your safe return…after years passed, I prayed that you found a family who loved and cared for you as much as we did—even if that meant we may not see you again.”

Kaishan ducked his head and grinned. “I was found by such a family,” he said, looking back up and meeting their eyes. “My father and my tribe raised me well...I was the youngest there then, and I had no one my age to play with for the longest time. However, they made sure I had a full childhood, was happy, and was welcomed into the tribe after they spent two years looking for my birth tribe with no luck.”

“They did not take you in right away?” Maral asked, seemingly surprised by that revelation, “I would have thought….”

“That the Buduga would jump at the chance to bring another to their tribe?” Kaishan finished, eyes crinkling with a slight smirk. He chuckled softly at the guilty look both of his birth parents gave him. “Don’t worry, that’s how we portray ourselves to the rest of the Steppes—’tis intentional. Truthfully, we refuse to take in those truly unwilling to join. For us, consent is the most important thing. If the person is unwilling, we will reach out to their tribe and secure an exchange of some kind—usually supplies or another male willing to join.”

“I can confirm that,” Shiramun added. “That’s what happened to me.”

The confession got him several surprised stares, except for Doyi, who nodded in additional confirmation.

“You were ‘kidnapped’?” Kaishan asked, flummoxed, “When? And by whom?”

“And why are we just hearing about this?” his mother asked sternly, frowning as she shared a glance with her husband.

“Well…” Shiramun started, giving her a sheepish look. “We were asked not to talk about it after I was released….”

“That is something we usually ask,” Kaishan corroborated.

Maral huffed and shook her head. “Fine, fine…go on then, answer your brother.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Shiramun said, looking very much like a child who’d been scolded. He turned to Doyi and continued, “This happened about…nine years ago?”

“Just about, aye,” Doyi said with a thoughtful look, “‘Twas before we were engaged. And the who was a charming man by the name of Daidukul—”

Kaishan choked on his drink and started to cough. After a moment, Hien gently rubbed and thumped his back—even as he snickered softly at the floundering xaela, the traitor.

“I take it you know him?” Doyi giggled.

“Aye, I know him,” Kaishan finally managed to say, “He’s been one of my closest friends since he joined the Buduga…You said nine years ago?” he asked, pressing his fist to his lips as he tried to remember, “It must have been when I was away training with Master Renji for the summer…and now that I think about it, when I returned that year Dai made mention of a handsome one slipping away.”

Doyi giggled again as Shiramun turned a vibrant red.

“You are correct; this happened during the summer,” Doyi confirmed, patting her husband’s leg as he sighed, “And Daidukul was quite vocal in his interest in Shira…I have to say, he has excellent taste and is quite delightful with his flirting. I don’t think I’ve seen Shira turn quite the shades of red before as he did with Daidukul.”

“Doyi!” Shiramun all but whined, still blushing wildly.

“I have to agree,” Hien spoke up, the slight smirk on his lips screaming trouble, “Khan Daidukul is rather delightful with his flirting.”

Kaishan made a soft, strangled noise before a sigh escaped his pouting lips. “Him and over half my tribe…Grrrr.”

That pulled a soft laugh from the prince, who took his free hand and kissed it. The gesture had Kaishan smiling softly before the soft giggles from the others in the yurt caused him to blush crimson.

“Well, this leads perfectly to my next question,” Maral said, looking between them knowingly, “How did you both meet and end up here?”

Kaishan shared a look with Hien, who smiled at him and nodded.

“Well, we first met when we were twelve. It had just turned to spring when my tribe stopped near the forest’s edge to the south, and I wandered off into that forest to explore and ended up entering Doma….” The bard recounted how he and Hien met. First, we became friends and rivals before that friendship blossomed into something more in the following years. He mentioned presenting Hien with a piece of his horn as a gift to court him.

“Oh, how romantic. I remember my grandparents speaking of similar courtship gifts when they were younger,” Doyi commented with a soft sigh, hand resting against her cheek. She looked at the necklace around Hien’s neck, “Is that the same one around your neck now?”

“Aye, it is,” Hien replied, grinning as he touched the necklace.

“I thought it was romantic as well when one of the older couples in my tribe mentioned it to me….” Kaishan sighed, shaking his head, “I didn’t realize it wasn’t as commonplace anymore nor how meaningful it was…until I returned home with a chipped horn and my father saw…I was certain he would implode when he realized I chipped my own horn on purpose and why.”

“Is he against your courtship?” Khal asked in concern.

“No, he’s always been supportive, if weary. I think ’twas concern for the most part, especially since I was so young then and didn’t fully understand its meaning,” Kaishan explained. “He did not want me to rush into a courtship where I could break my heart…He sat me down and gave me advice—none of which I listened to because I thought I knew better back then.”

“My mother and Master Renji had similar advice for me, plus much more…I did not listen to them either,” Hien added with a soft chuckle as he caught Kaishan’s eye, “I can not help but wonder if we had listened, would things have ended differently….”

“I’ve thought the same, but we learned from our mistakes and our time apart. We can only grow together from that wisdom,” Kaishan said, taking Hien’s hand and kissing his knuckles. “Plus, a close friend once said that if you dwell on the ‘what if,’ it will just drive you mad from wondering.”

“Sound wisdom,” Khal said with a soft smile as he looked between them. “From what you said, I take it you two went your separate ways for a time?”

Kaishan winced and glanced at his lover.

“We did,” Hien chuckled, patting Kaishan’s leg. “An argument saw us split when we were young and stubborn. I was the cause of it—do not fight me on this, Kai, you know I was,” he said as he placed a finger to Kaishan’s lips, who was more than ready to argue against that fact.

“I’m no less guilty for perpetuating it by not listening….” Kaishan countered, pouting. After a moment, he relented with a sigh. “I know you are technically right…just…just do not take this blame alone.”

The samurai gave him a fond smile and nodded.

“Regardless of who started the fight, ‘twould seem you both have worked things out in the end,” Maral chuckled, an understanding smile spreading across her lips.

“Aye, we have,” Kaishan confirmed, taking Hien’s hand and lacing their fingers together. He smiled at the prince, running his thumb over Hien’s. “Our reforged courtship is still very new…and I’m sure our bond will be tested again, but I have faith we will see it through together.”

He almost leaned in for a kiss when Oki’s squeal of delight had him jump in his seat.

“Wait! I have two new Uncles!?” she asked excitedly, tugging lightly on Kaishan’s sleeve. “No one said I have two new Uncles! Can I call him Uncle Hien? Oh! I know I could call him Jiji! That’s what Minato calls his uncles, and they’re from Doma!”

“Oki,” Shiramun shook his head. “They are not married, so Lord Hien would not be an Uncle.”

“So? They’re like Uncle Aoi and Aunt Chabi, right? And I call Uncle Aoi uncle,” Oki argued, giving her father a mighty pout.

Doyi laughed into her fist as Shiramun sighed, looking rather done.

“Fine, but you have to ask Lord Hien if ’tis alright for you to call him that, like you did with Aoi,” he said after a moment.

The instant the words were out of his mouth Oki had turned towards Hien with a set of puppy dog eyes that could melt even the most frigid of hearts. Kaishan was utterly proud.

“Oh, she is a hundred percent related to you,” Hien laughed as he nudged Kaishan with his elbow. He smiled down at the young girl. “You may call me what you’d like, Oki.”

“Thank you, Jiji!” Oki chirped happily as Shiramun sighed again. After a moment, he shook his head and smiled fondly at his daughter’s excitement.

They continued happily chatting as they finished the rest of their meal. Once finished, they moved to the small lounging area in the yurt. Oki stayed glued to Kaishan’s side, hanging onto his every word as he recalled some of his adventures in Eorzea. He also answered more questions about his childhood and his training with Master Renji—something that delighted his niece immensely. 

“I want to be a ninja!” she declared.

“I thought you had your heart set on being a dancer like your Aunt Chabi?” Doyi asked her with a soft giggle. “She was going to start training you soon.”

“I can be both!”

“True, and learning the art of dancing would be beneficial,” Kaishan informed them, “I was already trained in archery and had experience using stealth for hunting when I started….” He trailed off and bit his lips when Shiramun gave him a look that screamed, ‘Please stop encouraging her.’ 

His older brother sighed after a moment, shaking his head with a crooked grin. “You’re not even back a day and already are causing trouble...Why am I not surprised?”

Kaishan tried his best not to laugh, but his shoulders started to shake as he failed to do so. “Sorry?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Not sorry,” Kaishan snickered. “I take it I was a bit of a troublemaker toddler?”

“No, I would not say a troublemaker,” Maral spoke up, sipping her tea as she smiled at them, “Although you did have us worried more than once. You would crawl off without anyone realizing it…or figuring out how you did it. And it always was to seemingly random places.”

“Oh?” That news piqued his interest.

“Aye,” Khal replied, a soft smile on his lips as he looked thoughtful, “The moment you learned how to crawl, you were off with a purpose. I swear you gave your mother more gray hairs with each disappearance.” The older xaela was smacked by his wife for the last comment, which had him chuckling more.

“But I came back no worse for wear, right?” Kaishan probed.

“Aye,” his birth father responded. “And you usually found something someone had lost, or some sort of trinket left behind by another tribe. After the fifth disappearance, the Khatun realized you were gifted with hearing the Gods. Once you were old enough, you started your shaman training with the others.”

“Well, the wandering off never changed,” the bard said with a soft chuckle. “My tribe never could keep me at our campsite the moment we settled in. After a while, they stopped trying, especially since I always returned with some resource that would benefit the tribe.” He smiled as he recalled his father’s reactions whenever he wandered back to camp with something…or someone. “I never knew why I could hear those soft voices or feel those gentle tugs…that is until I learned my birth tribe was the Mol. Everything made more sense after that….”

He was about to say more when he felt Oki slump against him, fast asleep.

“Oh dear, it looks like someone needs to head to bed,” Doyi chuckled, standing to gather her daughter.

“Well, it was an exciting day for her,” Shiramun said, standing as well.

“We should probably head out for bed ourselves,” Hien said, looking up at Kaishan. “Get some rest for the Nadaam.”

“Aye,” the bard replied with a sigh. He looked back at his birth family with a soft smile. “Thank you again for dinner and for allowing me to get to know you better.”

“No, thank you for the chance to speak with you,” Maral said, standing with them. “I am beyond happy to learn you’ve had a wonderful life. ’Tis more than a mother could hope for her children.”

Kaishan grinned and ducked his head.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” she exclaimed, moving excitedly over to a little chest off to the side and opening it. “I always kept this close…I suppose out of hope for your return one day. This belonged to you; he seldom left your side except when I had to mend him.”

From the confines of the chest, Maral pulled out something small, dark, and wooly. While she grasped it close to her chest, it was difficult to tell what it was exactly. She smiled down at the object before presenting it to him. Kaishan stared at it…he recognized it. 

There, in her hands, sat a small stuffed toy. A black wooly lamb with a curly nose and small button-like eyes. 

“He was your favorite toy,” Maral explained, “You called him—”

“Mun-Mun,” Kaishan finished as he stared at the plushie. He swallowed hard when the others in the yurt looked at him in surprise. “I called him Mun-Mun.”

“You…remember him?” Shiramun asked with awe and hope in his words.

Kaishan nodded and carefully took the little animal from Maral’s hand. Bringing the little lamb close to his chest, he closed his eyes. He could recall holding Mun-Mun close to him when he was scared—usually during stormy nights—pressing his face into his wool. Running his fingers over the fleece, he let out a stuttered breath. Soft and curly, just as he remembered it. It was strange; he could recall the feeling of an old toy but not much else. Kaishan’s eyes started to water as several emotions flooded in all at once—joy, frustration, guilt. 

He could remember a damn toy, but not…but not… 

“I’m sorry…” he said quietly, voice hiccuping. Quickly, he wiped at his tears. “I…I don’t know why…I just…I can’t…I—”

“Shhhh,” Maral said softly, gently patting his cheek. She smiled up at him before hugging him close. “’Tis alright, my little star.”

Kaishan let out a soft sob at the endearment, holding her tight. Little star. It was so familiar to him, but like Shiramun’s name, he could not place where he recalled it from. After holding onto her for what seemed like an eternity, Kaishan stepped back, wiping his eyes carefully.

“Thank you,” he said softly. He let out a small laugh and wiped his tears again. “Now look who’s the one getting emotional.” 

Maral smiled up at him and hugged him again, squishing him as hard as she could. He chuckled at that and hugged her back just as tight. When Khal and Shiramun soon joined them, he was startled but soon relaxed against them. His head rested against Khal’s shoulder. It was odd. He only met them today, but he felt as safe and loved with them as he did with his father and tribe.

As they continued to hug him, Kaishan silently prayed to the Gods that one day, he would reclaim more of his lost memories. If not for him, then for the birth family that clearly still loved him.