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Chapter 22: Kisses Burning Like Flames

“Fire Along the Sky Set the Darkness on Fire - Hail of Lava, Ashkenaz Oboth!”

The chamber was bathed in a bright, fiery glow. The light was intense, and yet there was this sense of security as well. It was also familiar. He had felt this warmth before, yet could not remember when. No, he hadn’t experience this time of warmth in life, but his dreams.

Lava.

It reminded him of the golden glow of liquid lava he had been seeing in his dreams for the last few night.

Out of the flames, a pair of eyes could be seen. They were fierce, piercing and intense. And yet they didn’t frighten Keahi. The heavy gaze felt familiar to him as well. They drew him in, touched his very soul.

The flames grew in intensity and they began to mould into a form, long and serpent like. Sharp claws, long talons slip from the flames and reach the floor in a heavy crushing sound. It’s body was gold and red, with a tinge of blue shimmering along it’s elongated body.

It was beautiful and mesmerising.

The dragon was regal, holding its head high above in the grand, high roofed chamber. Its claws where held in front, talons glinting in the fire’s light. It stood tall, on its hind legs, it’s long body curled several times around the chamber.

Flamenca’s Fire Beast was nowhere to be seen, the beast no match for the majestic dragon. But where had the dragon came from?

That voice…He heard a voice call upon the dragon’s form moments before it appeared. But…it couldn’t be…

Keahi had his arms around Bharath’s waist, the taller priest having his arms around his shoulders in a sense of protectiveness, and yet Bharath was staring up in complete awe.

“Master Keahi!” Elder Fudo managed to yell over the roar of the flames. “Did you just call upon a Fire Dragon?!”

“How is that possible?” Another Fire Elder asked, the fiery wind making it difficult to hear them over the noise. “Who called upon this Fire Beast?!”

Keahi couldn’t have called upon this dragon. He couldn’t have. But where did this majestic, and rare, Fire Beast come from?

“I...I don’t know,” Keahi muttered softly, his cheek pressed against Bharath’s chest, unable to take his gaze away from the Fire Dragon, of which seemed to be staring down at him. Staring only at him. “I don’t remember...saying anything. What...happened?”

Bharath must have heard him as his attention was turned to him. “Master?” he asked him.

Keahi was unable to respond, a feeling of fatigue washed over him. Staring into those wise eyes of the dragon, feeling secure, safe, Keahi felt his eyelids droop. The last thing he remembered in that slipt second before his grey out went black was Bharath’s calling his name out in alarm.

“Master Keahi!”

--------------------------

Keahi was at that place again. That place on the beach, watching as rivers of lava stream down the side of their volcano. Beautiful, bright and warm. And peaceful, oh-so peaceful. He liked it here, he had to admit. He felt safe and secure, and also wanted. He was welcomed here. He had no troubles, no cares. He could just watch as the lava, feel the warmth and just drift along.

He was dreaming again. He must have fallen asleep.

“…Keahi…”

His name. Someone was calling his name. It was soft, like the crackling of a light from a candle.

“…Keahi…”

Keahi felt airy, dreamy. He recognised the voice, but his mind wouldn’t pin point the name in his head.

“…It’s time to wake up now, Keahi…”

As much as he liked it here, he knew he couldn’t stay here. The voice that was calling him, talking to him, sounded as though there was something important for him, waiting for him. He had to go back.

He couldn’t remember if he had anything planned for the new day. In fact, he couldn’t remember much. He didn’t remember going to bed, or what he was doing before falling asleep.

Was it anything important?

Soon, the landscape began to shift, the bright lakes of lava fading into darkness and his vision went into pure darkness. His body suddenly felt heavy, his head throbbing, pulsating with a headache. And he also felt dizzy.

Squeezing his eyes shut before forcing them open, Keahi was blurry and a little lob-sided. But through that blurry vision he saw a gentle face, framed by black hair. “Thank the Fire God, you’re awake!”

Keahi creased his brow in confusion. “Bharath?” Why was he so concerned?

“How are you feeling?” Bharath asked him as his vision slowly began to clear. “Are you in any pain?”

“No, I’m fine,” Keahi replied, his brow creasing slightly, still unsure as to why he seemed to be so worried for him. It wasn’t anything unusual for Bharath to fuss over him, but he seemed…more so right now. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?” Bharaht asked, his head tilting slightly to the side. “A Fire Dragon appeared when Princess Flamenca tried to attack us.”

In that instant, Keahi remembered everything. Flamenca trying to control her people’s gifts to their Fire God, his battle to oppose her, him winning against her, Flamenca going insane, Adar Askook heading towards Bharath who was trying to protect him…and the Fire Dragon.

“Ah, that’s right!” Keahi sprung up into a sitting position, noting for the first time that he was lying on a cot in the medical ward off the Fire Temple. Someone must have carried him in here. He didn’t think of that for very long as all as he reached out with an arm and grabbed Bharath’s by his upper arm, looking for any injuries. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine, Master Keahi,” Bharath said as he placed his hand on top of Keahi’s, giving him a reassuring pat and a small smile. “The Fire Dragon protected us.”

Keahi nodded his head slowly as he replayed the events over in his head. “The Fire Dragon…How?”

Bharath was silent to begin with, seeming unable to answer his question. “You didn’t call upon him?”

“No, I didn’t,” Keahi replied and shook his head resolutely. He had only just made contact with his own Fire Beast, Nootau Chatan, so there was no way he could summon a Fire Dragon. “I couldn’t have.”

But if he didn’t and Bharath didn’t, and Flamenca most certainly didn’t, then who did?

Wait, that voice…it couldn’t be him, right?

“So how did he…?”

“I’m afraid I have no idea,” Bharath replied as he folded his hands on his lap, a mixture of confusion and intrigue. “The Holy Fire Dragon just appeared. He protected us from Princess Flamenca’s attack, dispelling her Fire Beast so easily.”

Adar Askook didn’t stand a chance against a Fire Dragon.

“What happened to Flamenca?” Keahi asked. He remembered seeing her lying face down on the chamber floor, her Spell Binding Circle vanished completely.

“Still unconscious as far as I know,” Bharath said as he indicated toward the window that had the Fire Palace in view with a wave of his hand. “The Elders are concerned that she may have eternal damage as the Fire Dragon didn’t look pleased.”

Keahi felt a bit of pity for his cousin, but the way she had been acting as of late, she needed to be reminded that she was not the only resident within this island.

Bharath then turned back to him and looked relieved. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“I’m glad you’re alright,” Keahi immediately responded, moving his hand to grip on Bharath’s arm once again, looking him straight in the eyes. “You could have been killed trying to protect me. You can’t do that.”

Bharath looked momentarily stunned, even a little bit confused. “Ah, I’m sorry. I acted on impulse.”

“Don’t do anything like that again, ok?” It wasn’t exactly an order, but a plea. “The Fire Kingdom can’t afford to lose someone like you. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Master Keahi?” The look of surprise that Bharath was sporting before quickly vanished, replaced with a warm look, almost as if he was honoured that Keahi said those things, thought such things. Now that Keahi thought about it, he never really said such things before. He had always admired and cared for Bharath, as well as Brendis, but never had the courage to say such things out loud.

His new found courage was indeed surprising.

Soon, a small smile presented itself upon Bharath’s lips and he gave Keahi’s hand another reassuring pat. “If it’s any consolation, Brendis gave me quite a talking to.”

Keahi felt a smile touch his own lips and he nodded. “Hm, good.”

------

It most certainly had been an eventful day, and Keahi was starting to feel the effects. Still, he didn’t feel like sleeping just yet.

He was glad to be back in his room, though. Bharath escorted him there after the healers ensured that he was not injured, yet they’re not sure why he fainted. It was a little bit embarrassing, if Keahi was to be honest. He really didn’t like to be fussed over.

He walked out onto his balcony, folding his arms upon the sandstone guard and leaned against it, staring out at the twilight sky. He wondered what tomorrow could bring. Would the Fire Council truly decline Flamenca’s proposal? What would she do in order to get revenge on him?

Most importantly, where did the Fire Dragon come from?

Well, one thing was certain for Keahi tomorrow; he was going to spend a couple of hours researching the Fire Dragon. He had never heard of a Fire Beast being summoned without a summoner present. And Fire Dragon was a creature of legend, so ordinary man or woman could not summon such a powerful being.

Keahi shook his head as if to clear his head. One step at a time. He proved to Flamenca that he wasn’t going to sit idly by as she ruined Fire Island with her petty and selfish greed. Things will only get more difficult and tense between them now, but it had to be done. If Keahi couldn’t stand up to the Fire Princess, who could?

A soft rustling noise pulled Keahi out of his thoughts and when he opened his eyes, he found himself face to face with a very familiar blue-haired man, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Hey there.”

“Masou?” Keahi blinked at the sudden closeness and soon a smile appeared on his lips as he stayed where he was, Masou hanging onto the balcony railing in front of him, perched precariously above the ground. Usually, he would have reeled back from the closeness, but he felt comfortable with Masou. And he could say he was used to Masou getting within his personal space.

“I heard what happened from Bharath,” Masou said as he slipped around the railing to hoist himself up, vaulting effortlessly onto the balcony right next to Keahi. They were close, but not touching. Still, Keahi could feel his aura next to his. “Are you alright?”

Keahi pushed himself away from the railing, a light blush on his cheeks, wondering just how much Bharath had told Masou about what happened. There was obvious concern in his voice. “Oh yes, I’m fine now.”

“That’s good,” Masou said as he leaned his back against the railing, folding his arms over his chest. Then, a playful grin appeared on his lips. “I told you you would kick her ass.”

Keahi felt his blush darken and he coughed to hide his embarrassment. “Yeah, well…”

“Don’t be so modest,” Masou suddenly ordered as he unfolded his arms so he could poke Keahi on the cheek with his finger. “Say it with me; I kicked her ass. Go on.”

Keahi laughed softly and looked away to the side. “I kicked her ass.”

And when he snuck a peek at Masou through his bangs, he immediately saw that he was smiling widely, and dare he say, proudly?

“Felt good, didn’t it?”

Again, Keahi had to laugh lightly. “Truthfully? Yes, it did.”

“There’s my feisty little spitfire.”

There was so much fondness in his voice that it made Keahi turn to face him suddenly, and he was surprised to realise that Masou’s face was mere inches away from his. And yet, he didn’t move, didn’t shy away. He found himself looking into Masou’s deep blue eyes before his gaze averted to his lips. All conscious thought left him when Keahi hesitantly lifted his hand, his fingers wanting to touch Masou in some way.

And Masou did nothing to stop him. In fact, he seemed to move closer, giving Keahi the courage to raise his hand. But, instead of touching the smooth skin of his cheek, his wrapped his fingers around the back of Masou’s neck. Slowly, he pulled him toward him, his eyes slipping close on their own accord as he placed his lips on Masou’s.

Masou’s lips where warm, intoxicatingly so. But…

Keahi quickly realised what he was doing and tried to hastily pull away from Masou. “I shouldn’t...I’m sorry.”

He couldn’t. He was supposed to die. He couldn’t do this…

“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Masou said as he gently took Keahi’s wrist in his hand, drawing him near him again. “You’re not going to die any time soon.”

“Masou...” Keahi whispered before he found himself leaning forward once again, his hand gently touching the sides of Masou’s face as they kissed.

Masou’s hands slipped from Keahi’s sides, to the small of his back to hold him closer, tighter against him. He then tilted his head ever so slightly, his tongue teasing the corners of his mouth before slipping inside, searching and tasting with a boldness that left Keahi’s heart pounding.

All of Keahi’s thoughts and cares disappeared in that instant. All that mattered was that Masou was kissing him and only the pleasure of his caress made him tremble. He was mildly aware when his arms moved to wrap around Masou’s neck, and Masou’s arms slipping around him, completely enveloping him in his warmth.

Slowly, they drew back simultaneously, Keahi’s eyes fluttering open as they locked onto Masou’s.

Keahi then realised that…nothing happened. He had just gave into his selfish desires and kissed another and the volcano did not retaliate in anyway. The ground neither rumbled or shook. Did it mean that his Fire God approved of this? Or…?

“Hey you! Yeah, you up there! What are you doing?!”

A new and unfamiliar voice cut through the night air like a knife, causing Keahi to literally spring away from Masou, the other man seemingly equally surprised and dazed.

“Hmm?” Masou appeared to be slightly annoyed as he gazed over the balcony railing. “Oh it’s a Fire Guard.”

“What’s going on here?” Another voice, but this one very familiar.

Daring to glance over the side, Keahi noted that there was approximately three Fire Guards that he wasn’t too familiar with, with Brendis approaching them with a commanding stride. Bharath was only a few feet behind Brendis, no doubt the yelling had disturbed them as well.

“There appears to be a stranger climbing into Master Keahi’s room,” one of the guards explained.

“A stranger?” Brendis muttered, immediate concern and defensiveness taking hold. He snapped his attention upwards, his eyes widening significantly, before he eye twitched. Keahi felt himself blush again and nervously glanced at Masou. Masou, on the other hand, waved cheerfully at Brendis, not even remotely unnerved.

“Hey!” Brendis yelled out in annoyance more than anger. “Dammit, idiot! What are you doing?!”

Masou perched himself on the railing, against grinning smugly like a cat. “Oh, I’m just hanging around!”

The Fire Guards that were around Brendis looked stunned, baffled and confused. “Sir?”

Brendis pressed his palm to his forehead before raking it over his face in an exasperated manner. He finally turned to the guards, his eyes still twitching ever so slightly. “I’ll take care of this,” he said. “Go on, shoo.”

The Fire Guards looked uneasy, but saluted nonetheless. “Ah, yes sir!” they said before quickly marching away.

Masou watched them leave for a moment before turning back to Keahi, who had backed away from the balcony in embarrassment. Keahi must have looked as nervously and shy as he felt for Masou smiled gently at him. He slowly lifted his hand and gently caressed Keahi’s cheek in a loving way. “I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?”

Keahi felt himself lean into his palm, some of his nerves disappearing, though the butterfly sensation in his stomach remained. “Yeah...”

“Goodnight.”

“...Night.”

Although reluctantly, Masou pulled his hand away before abruptly turning and vaulting over the balcony, landing in a crouched position on the ground below. He straightened himself, placing his hands on his hips as he smiled mischievously at Brendis.

Brendis gave him a dirty look. “This is not keeping a low profile, you idiot.”

Masou suddenly pulled down the lower lid of his eye and poked his tongue out at Brendis. “You’re no fun, old man.”

“Old man?!” This time Brendis seethed and immediately gave chase when Masou turned on his heel and ran, laughing all the way. “Get back here!”

Bharath, who had remained silent through the whole thing, watched them leave before tilting his head back, looking up at Keahi’s balcony. “Master Keahi?” he said, looking mildly surprised by what happened. Then, slowly, a smile appeared on his lips. “I am terribly sorry for disturbing you.”

Having watched Masou until he was out of sight, Keahi turned to gaze down at Bharath, mildly aware that he must have a rather dreamy look on his face. Not that he cared who saw at this moment. The way his heart was fluttering made him feel rather…giddy.

“Hmm, it’s alright,” Keahi said as he smiled down at Bharath. “Goodnight, Bharath.”

“Goodnight, Master Keahi.”

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