What was it that brought them together, to be united in this perfect love?

It must have been fate in mortal form that brought them together. He knew from the moment he laid eyes on him that they were meant to be. From then on, he cared about him with every fibre of his being, but Lord Kazuhiko switched from warmth to coldness in a flash, struggling with his inner anguish. But he loved him no matter how many times he pushed him away. That was how it was to this very day.

Yes. He often reflected upon that day with fondness. It was a day that had changed his life, after all.

Akio, young boy with flaming red hair, stood alone on the beach, gazing over the ocean-coloured water with his innocent ocean-coloured spheres. His rubicund hair rustled lightly in the ocean breeze. He smiled to himself with anticipation, resting his cheek against one hand as he traced a finger along his silver necklace. He wore a russet shirt with sleeves that ran down to his wrists and charcoal shorts that looked comfortable and easy to wear. His ruby hair was trimmed short around his head, complementing his unblemished platinum, tinted with tawny, visage. For a moment, he absorbed herself in these thoughts, of him, and Lord Kazuhiko.

Hearing the footsteps behind him, he turned around to see the figure that he had been waiting for.

"Akio," Lord Kazuhiko said simply with no trace of emotion. His crimson pools complimented his obsidian locks, brushing against his ears, belying his aching heart. He was dressed in his own unique fashion, a style unlike that of anyone else Akio knew. He was bubble-gum-flushed pearly and sturdily built. An elaborate tattoo snaked its way around his visible skin. As he drew nearer to the boy, he caught a note of Akio's familiar scent, a mixture of earthiness and sourness that was uniquely his. He smiled to himself. It always reminded him of the time they shared.

"Oh, Kazuhiko -sama! You came!" Akio said breathlessly, reaching out to take him into an embrace. Lord Kazuhiko took a half-step back, enough to remind him that he still preferred some distance. Akio humoured him and dropped his arms without comment, still smiling. With that, they began to walk along the beach.

"Lord Kazuhiko," Akio intoned, "the sea is beautiful, isn't it? It's so azure and glittering." He glanced toward Lord Kazuhiko, who was unresponsive. "U-um... I'm really glad we can spend time together today. It's so lovely and warm."

"I don't care about the weather," Lord Kazuhiko snapped.

Akio jumped a bit and then fell silent, barely whispering, and "Sorry."

Almost instantly, guilt flashed across Lord Kazuhiko's face, but just as quickly his cold facade returned to hide it. He looked at him, the loveliness of his russet mane, and the hint of sadness in his caring depths, and his beauty pierced Lord Kazuhiko's heart with indignity. Who was he, after all, to hurt such a creature? Lord Kazuhiko was to him as a devil to an angel. He summoned the strength to confess, "No." Akio looked up at him with surprise. "Don't be... never mind." I should be the one who's sorry, Lord Kazuhiko thought to himself, but he couldn't work up the courage to say it.

Gently, Akio brought his hand toward his, whispering, "It's okay. Don't... don't worry for me." For a few moments they passed through another chilly silence. "Akio," Lord Kazuhiko murmured at last. "I like these moments we spend together."

"Do you really?" Akio piped hopefully.

He was burdened by the unexplainable. And yet still Akio looked at him with such adoration. Lord Kazuhiko was undeserving. "Yes," he muttered. "I like spending time with you." Akio beamed such a happy smile at him that he couldn't help but look away. "I admit it, all right? ... I just hate it when you're sad."

Akio slipped his fingers into Lord Kazuhiko's curled hand and whispered, "I'm not so sad. I wish I could make you less sad. You're really hurting inside, I can feel it."

Lord Kazuhiko accepted his touch and held his hand in his, saying nothing.

After a few moments, they found themselves walking down the beach again. It seemed to Akio that something had been bothering Lord Kazuhiko for the last few hours -- or maybe longer than that. Lord Kazuhiko' baleful hardened scarlet orbs were cast down and away, focused upon nothing in particular.

Akio really didn't want him to be troubled. He felt his pain as if it were his own. Tilting his head, he murmured, "Lord Kazuhiko... what's wrong?"

"Akio... it's, just..."

Akio slipped both of his hands into his, gazing into Lord Kazuhiko's agonized crystals. "Lord Kazuhiko... I'll listen."

Lord Kazuhiko took a deep breath and gazed back into Akio's teal globes with a look full of sorrowful sadness, whispering, "I don't know if I can put it into words. I... lately... it might not even be just lately.... It's nothing. It's nothing! Akio... it burns... the feeling, there's nothing that helps. Except that... sometimes, I feel a bit better when you're by my side...."

Akio listened quietly, pain flashing across his features as Lord Kazuhiko recounted his sorrows. At last, he finished, and a moment of silence passed between them.

Lord Kazuhiko seemed so wretched and unsure. Akio brought his head against his chest in reassurance, murmuring, "Lord Kazuhiko... I... I don't know what it's like, to carry your excruciating past and your family mistakes for eternity because after all you're a demon, but... I'm sorry, Lord Kazuhiko. I wish... I wish I could help you." Looking up, Akio smiled sadly. "You know...people weren't very... fond of me back in the village. I just didn't belong there. I was a mere child. I didn't have a choice. I had to live with their scorn. That hurts, Lord Kazuhiko... did they ever know that? That it hurts...."

Lord Kazuhiko's eyes began to redden, and he abruptly pulled Akio into a fierce embrace. Akio's crystals widened at first, but then he too felt overwhelmed by emotion and succumbed to the warmth of Lord Kazuhiko's touch.

"You," Lord Kazuhiko whispered his breath hot on Akio's ear. "As long as we're both here, together, we can make it." They held each other as tears trickled down their cheeks and dripped onto the shifting sands to be carried away into the sea. With time and soothing embraces, their pain dissipated into a mist swept out by the ocean breeze and into the setting sun.

Akio slipped his firm hand into his. With a little smile, he stated softly, "You're so good to me, Lord Kazuhiko. I can never tell you enough how much you mean to me." Lord Kazuhiko held his hand and thought to himself that that was enough -- that if he meant something good to this one person, nothing the rest of the world said mattered.

As they walked, they came across a part of the sea that looked darker than the rest.

"What's that?" Akio asked.

"The locals say the lair of a sea monster lies in that ravine," Kazuhiko said. Just as he finished talking, a roar pierced the air. "Watch out!"

The sapphire waves swelled and surged, and Kazuhiko ran up the sea shore with Akio's hand in his. From the frothing light-coloured foam emerged the head of a sea dragon, which let out a screech that rent the sky. It bared its glinting sharp canines at them.

"Do you think it wants to... eat... us?" Akio whispered.

"It's not going to eat us!" Kazuhiko said firmly. Ever prepared, he whipped out his claws. "Go! I'll protect you no matter what happens. I'll make sure of it!" The dragon lunged for him, and he jumped away, the dragon's razor teeth burying itself in the sand. Then he launched a counter-strike: first a blow along the beast's back, and then a second, sharper one along the Dragon's exposed underside. The monster roared in outrage before slipping back into the sea.

Panting for breath, Kazuhiko asked, "Are you hurt?"

Akio shook his head. "I'm fine."

"That was more trouble than I bargained for." Kazuhiko offered Akio his hand. "Stick tight to me. You never know what else might spring out of the sea."

Akio held tightly on Kazuhiko's arm as the radiant fiery sunset began to fill the sky.

The pair finally spotted a natural alcove.

"Oh! Is that..." Akio began.

Kazuhiko pressed a finger to Akio's lips and said, "Yeah. Shh. Come on."

The natural alcove was covered in creeping vines with leaves and tiny flowers. The sound of the ocean echoed all around them, and tiny crabs burrowed into the sand at their approach.

"It's beautiful, Kazuhiko -sama."

"I know," Kazuhiko murmured as Kazuhiko closed the distance between them. "So are you."

Kazuhiko's lips were firm against his, and so too were his hands. Akio was arrested by the sensation of smells coming from Kazuhiko.

When Akio surfaced for air, he whispered, "Oh, Kazuhiko -sama..."
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"Look... it's the sunset."

Akio lifted his head at Lord Kazuhiko words to behold the dying sun's salmon radiance. "How beautiful."

After a moment of silence, Lord Kazuhiko said quietly and seriously, "its destiny isn't it. Us, together."

"I think so" Akio whispered.

After another moment of silence, Kazuhiko took Akio's hands in his and said quietly and seriously "Akio, I need to say something. Without you, I would be the sea without the moon -- the moon without the sun -- a fishing rod without a hook. Heh, you're adorable when you smile, you that right? But... you're special to me. I'm serious."

"Kazuhiko," he breathed in response, blushing furiously. "You are special to me too. You are my moon and stars."

Lord Kazuhiko brought their clasped hands to his lips. "As long as the world goes on, as long as time flows... we will always be together."

Akio sighed with serenity as Lord Kazuhiko brought him closer. He gazed at the beautiful honey-coloured rays of the falling sun, thinking about everything that had transpired on this day and all that would pass between them.

"You'll hurt your eyes doing that," Lord Kazuhiko added, amusement could be heard in his voice.

Akio looked at him instead. "I love you, Lord Kazuhiko."

"I love you more, Akio."

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"Come on Kazuhiko -sama!" Akio yelled to the demon who was struggling with the bags. "Instead of yelling at me, you can maybe help me, you're supposed to be my butler" Kazuhiko growled. The boy only giggled before running ahead towards the ship. Kazuhiko sighed in defeat. Akio was too cute when he laughed.

"WOW! Kazuhiko-sama! Look how big the ocean is! It's a much more clearer view than from the beach" Akio remarked like a child who had just seen the biggest teddy bear at toy store, looking at the cerulean ocean in bewilderment. Wrapping his arms around Akio's torso, Kazuhiko rested his chin on the boy's shoulder. "Yeah, it's wonderful" Kazuhiko replied bluntly. "Kazuhiko-sama you don't sound very enthusiastic about this trip" Akio replied, the wind moderately swept through the bay. The boy squealed when he felt something sharp nip his neck. "Don't talk back to your Master, Akio-chan" Kazuhiko growled, authority could be heard in his voice, causing Akio to succumb to the demon's dominance.

"Can all the passengers please take shelter below, a storm is approaching" a voice announced on the speaker.

The couple glanced up to see the obscure clouds looming up ahead.

"Let's go Akio" the demon whispered, leading the boy away from the front of ship.

They were unprepared for how swift, how brutal the coming storm was. The rain poured in torrent. Winds whipped about, thunder crackled in the air. The ship was been tossed about like a toy. The waves splashing on to the ship's deck. The Captain struggling for control.

Suddenly, a wave came colliding down onto deck, catching Akio like a fish. Kazuhiko's eyes widened with horror, grasping Akio's hand.

"Kazuhiko!" Akio screamed against the wind. "Please, don't let go!"

"I won't!" Kazuhiko shouted back, his hand clasping his firmly as Kazuhiko struggled to bring the boy back onto the ship.

"Kazuhiko --!!"

His scream was lost in the crash of waves against his body, the roar and power of the sea raised to steal him from his lover.

He struggled against the water, but it was too much. The violence of the storm-swept waves forced him under without contest.

The waves had beaten the air out of his lungs. Desperately, he willed himself not to suck in the icy water around  him. Will I die this way? He wondered. Will I die... like this...?

A strong hand seized his and Akio felt himself being pulled up, up and up until the cold wind hit him face again. He coughed, sucking in the air greedily. His arms had tightened themselves around Kazuhiko's neck without permission, and Kazuhiko was shouting, "Hold on, Akio . Hold on!" They were both in the water now.

"Kazuhiko," he murmured. "You shouldn't have. We can't make it out here. This way, you'll die, too...."

"Don't talk like that, Akio," he commanded harshly. "We'll make it through."

"Kazuhiko..."

Lighting crashed in the distance, and the waves pitched and brought a mouthful of salty water against their faces. He coughed and held on to Kazuhiko, thinking, no, this isn't how it should end, this isn't how Kazuhiko should die...

Something bumped against Akio's leg. A shark? Fear coursed through his body. But before he could react, another wave pushed them under. Kazuhiko slumped against him, momentarily knocked senseless. With burning eyes, Akio saw a large silhouette with a slender body and a bottle-like nose.

A dolphin, he thought in disbelief. God clearly must be on their side.

Summoning forth all his remaining strength left, Akio put Kazuhiko on the dolphin's back before his vison went back.

A few weeks later.....

Kazuhiko sat on a chair by the coffin, his hands around his knees, and his windows to his soul dry, his soul too numbed to grieve. The funeral attendees nodded to him as they passed. He nodded stiffly back. His friend, Tsukino walked up to him. "That was a nice speech you did" the silver haired demon commented. Kazuhiko only glared at the man, clearly wanting to be alone in his thoughts. Looking down at the paper in his hand, he stared  at the words at the very end:
'He was always so sweet, so gentle. I don't think I've met anyone else so kind'. That was the complete truth about his beloved lover. Akio would always give money to the poor children that they would see every time they went into town. Akio was like a beautiful, innocent angel that had fallen out of heaven, only to plunge into the hands of him, the demon from hell.

The reception lasted hours, but it seemed to Kazuhiko that it was only moments before the crowd disappeared. He picked himself off the chair and turned to look into the coffin for the first time since the funeral started.

Eyes closed and still, Akio laid inside in a fine sable suit, his hands clasped over his chest. He could have been in a very deep sleep. Kazuhiko fought the urge to reach out and nudge him awake. Akio was gone. Gone because of him. Because he loved him. Casting a long look at his beautiful visage, Kazuhiko leaned in and laid a single kiss on Akio's lips.

Just as he was about to leave the building. Kazuhiko felt something warm on his shoulder, turning around he saw a flash of red before it was gone.

"You deserve happiness Kazuhiko" a deep, mysterious voice echoed thorough out the room. Kazuhiko's eyes narrowed. He knew that voice. He hasn't heard for a long time since.....the war. The voice of his older brother, Felion.

Suddenly for some unknown reason, he had the urge to run back to coffin where Akio laid. But when he spun around, the sight before him brought tears to his eyes.

"Akio-chan..." Kazuhiko gasped softly.

The boy titled his head and smiled. The beautiful smile that Kazuhiko thought he would never see again.

The two ran into each other arms, afraid that they would lose one another once more.

THE END