Hey guys! Welcome to Red of Dawn!

This is a New Year's fic, and every day I will upload a chapter (it's a short story, so it will be less than ten chapters)!

I'd like to give a big thank you to SpaceArcherr, AKA my dear friend A, who helped me with this project's drawings - I made them and she digitalized them (and she did an absolutely amazing job at that, so thanks again, Archie)! Although, unfortunately for you guys you can't see it yet because the art is coming in the next few chapters!

I hope you guys enjoy and I wish you all a happy new year!

~'0'~

Humans are fickle creatures.

Kyousuke lets his lips curl in amusement at that thought, barely biting back a grin at the hint of apprehension, or perhaps awe, the two objects of his interest display at the sight of it. They don't outright fear him – there is no reason for them to, he is their protector and they know it, but they are wary.

He doesn't take it personally. It is a natural reaction when in the presence of a demigod, after all, and one he is more than used to.

Absentmindedly he finds the two humans have silenced, waiting for his judgement, and he lazily glances to the side. A sharp gaze catches his own and he can easily read the annoyance in it.

That causes him to grin for real this time, all sharp teeth and flashing eyes. His shieldbrother should know better by now.

Politics really isn't Kyousuke's thing. Give him a weapon and he'll destroy armies on his own. Put him on a throne and expect him to listen and advise people, both humans and demigods, and he would lose his mind to boredom. Their Clan knows this, and so do their allies, but that doesn't seem to bother them much.

Or perhaps it's because Shindou can be terrifying in his own right and if they have to choose between Kyousuke beating them half to death in a fight or finding themselves on impossible and horrible missions, well, it seems they'd rather choose the former.

Shindou deals with the humans easily enough and once they've left and he turns to Kyousuke, the younger demigod relaxes slightly. If his shieldbrother drops the indifferent mask he wears in front of everyone who isn't part of the Raimei Clan, it means they are finally done for today.

''You should pay more attention.''

There's disapproval in Shindou's voice, but no blame.

Kyousuke leans back on his throne and glances at the older demigod in disinterest. ''You are the one who put me on babysit duty. That's bound to go wrong and you know it.''

His companion sighs and rubs his forehead wearily. ''I am aware of that and you have my apologies, but we're short on hands. You know this.''

The younger demigod isn't impressed and arcs one, thin eyebrow. ''We have been 'short on hands' for two centuries. When will there be a solution?'' he drawls, resting his elbow on the golden armrest of his throne, supporting his chin with a pale hand. The columns of fire that provide most of the light in the hall flare with blood red flames for a few moments, casting wild shadows over the walls and floor. The pale deity waves a lazy hand and the fires shrink back. ''You said it yourself, Shindou. It has been two hundred years and I am starting to get really curious – what is taking so long?''

Brown eyes flare a bright lilac color, rippling through the room. ''Watch your tongue! You are not the only warrior here and you know it,'' he hisses, a raging storm echoing through his voice in barely held-back anger, and Shindou rises to his feet. ''I am doing everything I can, as you perfectly well know! Would it really hurt you so much to pull yourself out of your own misery and realize we're all suffering?''

Not even bothering to wait for an answer, the other demigod storms out of the room, the shadows moving out of his path like waves retreating from the seashore. The heavy double doors slam close once he passes them, the harsh bang it causes the only sound left in the empty room.

  ~'0'~  

He'd only been in the camp for a little while. A few days, perhaps a week, at most. Kyousuke wasn't completely sure.

It wasn't as bad as he feared. He'd rather not sleep in the same hall with every kid his age, but at least his bed was warm and soft and he wouldn't have to sleep in the cold rain anymore. He wouldn't have to search for his own food anymore, instead getting three full meals every day, and he absolutely loved the huge collection of weapons. Even if he was 'too young' to use them.

Whoever said that about a son of Sãberu, a son of the god of blades, was an idiot, but unfortunately no one would bother to listen to a five-year-old.

The other demigod children ranged from mere babes to young adults, sons and daughters from gods and goddesses, some powerful, some only local deities. Unfortunately Kyousuke had never been a social child and the demigods he may have tolerated – the older ones – either treated him like a kid or were too arrogant to acknowledge his existence, while the demigods his own age were all crybabies.

Well... almost all of them, Kyousuke decided, as he stared at the two playing children. The camp caretakers had taken the younger kids outside to play in the forest and those particular two were being avoided by everyone else.

They didn't seem to mind, in fact, they seemed to enjoy themselves perfectly well on their own. Something about them caught Kyousuke's attention – he wasn't sure what, but it made him give them a closer look.

One of them was a girl, four or five, with short dark blue hair that fell messily around her head, dressed in an old, dirty dress. There were a few scrapes on her legs and arms, streaks of dirt covering her pale skin, but she didn't seem to mind. Her sky blue eyes sparkled cheerfully as she ran after her friend.

The boy was small for his age, probably about five years as well. His blond hair was streaked with dirt and like the girl, his clothes weren't the best state and he was covered in dirt. He was barefoot and Kyousuke wondered about that for a few moments before he noticed a pair of slippers standing off to the side.

And then the boy turned and Kyousuke managed to catch a glimpse of his face.

Large eyes, like molten gold, seemed to almost glow in the sunlight, the color shimmering and rippling in different shades.

A small gasp broke free from Kyousuke's lips.

He'd seen a lot of weird things – courtesy of being surrounded by half-gods all the time – but this was the first time he saw such a strange eye color on someone, and something made it stand out even more.

Maybe it was the undercurrent of raw, sharp power that seemed so out of place on the young boy.

From that day on, Kyousuke couldn't help but be drawn the blond. Something about the smaller boy caught his attention every single time and the more time passed, the more the son of Sãberu started to notice about him.

The blond was weird in every sense of the word. He ran around barefoot more often than not, and even though his only friend seemed to be the blue-haired girl, he smiled and laughed like the sun itself. He was always moving, climbing in trees and onto walls, balancing on branches that shouldn't be able to hold his weight, and even when he was forced to stay on the ground by their caretakers, the blond was always jumping around, almost as if his feet couldn't touch the ground for too long.

At first it was annoying, but the longer Kyousuke watched, the more he started to appreciate it. The blond boy wasn't just hyperactive, it was almost as if he needed to be in the air, close to the sky. When he walked, he didn't just stay moving all the time, it was almost as if he was dancing, a turn here, a small leap there.

And underneath it all was elegance, a gracefulness that was awkward on his small body and made him stumble more often than not.

But if he managed to grow into it, it would be terrifying.

All thoughts of the blond boy had left his mind, however, as he stared at the three older kids – ten, eleven, he guessed – standing over him with malicious grins on their faces.

The 'leader' was holding the dagger Kyousuke had managed to materialize, having stolen it when the younger boy was pushed down. ''So ya thinks that, cause yer the son of some big god, yer betta than us? But that ain't right!''

Kyousuke just glared at them, but that only seemed to anger them even more. ''Whas with that look, huh? Huh?'' the leader snarled and then grinned. ''Get 'im, boys!''

Kyousuke braced himself for the beating that was sure to come, until-

''Leave him alone!''

The four boys all looked to the source of the shout and Kyousuke scoffed at the sight of the blond boy – he couldn't be older than five, no match for the bullies. Said bullies seemed to share his contempt as they laughed loudly. The blond boy didn't seem intimidated in the slightest and Kyousuke wasn't sure if he was brave or just stupid. Probably the latter.

''What'ya gonna do, brat?'' taunted the leader, grinning in amusement. ''Cry for ye mommy?''

The blond boy... smiled.

''No,'' said the blond, tilting his head slightly. ''I'm not going to do anything if you leave him alone,'' he added, nodding towards Kyousuke. The three bullies grinned, clearly thinking the blond boy was just bluffing, already starting to taunt him.

And so they missed the small, confident smile that looked very out of place on such a young child's face.

Kyousuke didn't and he could barely hold back his yelp of shock when the boy's eyes sparked with energy, shining an unearthly gold that was so much brighter than the usual shade.

The bullies didn't, however, miss the sudden darkening of the sky, or the howling of the wind as it picked up out of nowhere. ''Wha- whas happening?!'' the leader shouted, looking around in panic, catching sight of the blond boy's glowing eyes. ''Ya- what are ya doin'?!''

Short sparks and flashes of white danced around the boy's fingers and it took Kyousuke a moment to realize it was lightning.

The three bullies started backing away, terror in their gazes. The lightning spread to the boy's arms, dancing through the highly charged air, casting his face in an ethereal glow, and there was a strange roar in his voice.

''Run.''

They didn't need to be told twice, turning tail and fleeing away from the scene. The blond watched them go and once it was clear they were gone, the lighting sparked out, the glow of his eyes fading away until it was barely noticeable.

Kyousuke shivered, even as the sky lightened again, and he knew he should be terrified, but the only thing he could feel was the strange pull that always seemed to extent from the blond. But this time, it was stronger than ever before.

Those golden eyes settled on him and the blond smiled, but this time it was kind and gentle. ''Are you okay?'' he asked, his voice no longer silently roaring but instead worried.

He held out a hand and Kyousuke, almost as if in a trance, reached out to take it, allowing the boy to help him to his feet even as he nodded slowly.

''That's a relief!'' the young blond beamed. ''I'm Tenma, son of Arashi! Nice to meet you!''

Arashi, the storm god. That explained so much.

Kyousuke hesitantly returned Tenma's smile.

''I'm- I'm the son of Sãberu,'' he said slowly. ''Tsurugi Kyousuke. Thanks- thanks for helping me.''

In that moment he realized Tenma felt the pull too, his golden eyes glinting knowingly, a world of promise in them. ''I couldn't let them hurt you!'' he chirped and Kyousuke's blood roared in response, fire crackling underneath his skin as the world clicked into place.

And he knew, without a doubt, that his fate would forever be bound to this small boy. They may have both been children, nothing compared to their older half-brothers and sisters, but the silent storm in the blond's golden eyes was enough for something to spark.

It sparked the start of a legend.

  ~'0'~  

''I heard you had another fight with Shindou.''

Kyousuke opens a single eye to give the new arrival a deadpan look and then closes it again. It doesn't bother his shieldsister – it hasn't bothered anyone in their Clan for centuries – and he doesn't have enough energy to chase her away.

''He tries his best,'' she says softly. ''You know that.''

Sãberu's son hums and, seeing as he won't be left alone anymore, pushes himself into a sitting position. ''What about it?'' he asks, keeping his gaze on the sky. Dark clouds are gathering in the distance.

A storm is coming. It's a fierce one this time, and everyone knows it – it's been a long time since there was a storm this bad. The humans have prepared for it and will be huddled close together in their houses when it hits, fear ruling their actions.

But to the Raimei Clan, it holds a whole different meaning.

Kyousuke tears his eyes away from the sky, ignoring the pang of pain and longing he has gotten so used to, and instead looks at his companion. The girl herself is staring at the sky as well, but when she notices him looking, she turns her focus to him.

Aoi tilts her head, gazing at him with weary eyes. He is reminded of the first time he met her, many eons before, a young child with short, tangled locks and sparkling eyes that reflected the sky, dressed in a dirty dress and with the most beautiful smile. The image lasts for barely a second and then he's seeing her again she really is, long hair held together in a low ponytail, a sleeveless pink tunic with golden decorations, bracelets, a teardrop necklace. Her blue eyes, marked with golden ink in flowery spirals, darkened like an evening sky.

From a poor child with all the freedom in the world, to a legendary healer covered in riches with a gaze so empty not even the stars could light it again.

''You have been at each other's throats so often I wonder if you still hold any love for each other,'' she says finally, her voice cutting like the blades Kyousuke is known for. ''You are tearing yourselves, and us, apart.''

The other demigod narrows his eyes dangerously.

Aoi scowls, her hands – child hands brown with dirt and small scrapes of catching herself when she fell again, or those of a teenager hardened by hours of training with bow and arrows and covered in blood from the wounds of the soldiers she just healed, or maybe covered in black gloves and trembling uncontrollably as sobs wrack her frame – clenching the fabric of her tunic tightly. There is a shadow of her former fire and for a second Kyousuke can almost imagine her eyes glowing fiercely as she aims an arrow, but that was centuries before and she has long ago lost that quiet resolve that made her aim to be the best and more.

She is speaking, he realizes distantly, hearing her voice and words even though they don't sink in. It's as if he's watching her from underwater, the sound distant.

''What is your point?'' he interrupts her, and it would've been rude if the exhaustion he feels wasn't so obvious in his voice.

Aoi halts, her anger dying down immediately and leaving her with the same look Kyousuke is sure he himself is wearing.

''Shindou and I are at odds,'' he says simply. ''We have been at odds for over a century and a half. I don't see how anything short of a miracle could solve it.''

A miracle.

A long, blond ponytail whipping around in the wind, a smile and a distant laugh.

He shakes that image away, ignoring the familiar, old hurt that comes with it, and instead focuses on his companion again. She's chewing on her lower lip, uncertainty tainting her every move and he hates it, hates to see her like this and remember her as she used to be-

Armor stained red from the countless injured she already healed, her trusted bow slung over her shoulder and a quiver with arrows hanging from the belt at her waist, her hair matted with mud and blood, fire dancing in her blue gaze as she sank to her knees, her hands already glowing with healing mana-

-and he shakes his memories away.

Talking with Aoi always has this effect on him. Not that it is surprising, considering it started as the three of them, the ones who've known each other the longest, always sticking together through the countless centuries.

His shieldsister's expression falls and she sighs, drawing her knees closer to herself and wrapping her arms around her legs. ''I- I know,'' she says, softly, and Kyousuke instantly grimaces with guilt. ''I just... why doesn't it work anymore? Why don't we work anymore?''

Her voice is trembling just the slightest bit and the other demigod doesn't hesitate to scoot closer to her and wrap a loose arm around her shoulders. The girl rests her head on his shoulder, staring up at the sky.

A storm is brewing on the horizon.

''I miss him,'' she whispers.

Kyousuke leans his chin on her hair, nodding mutely, and for once the silent communication is enough.

I miss him too.

  ~'0'~  

''Tenma.''

The severity of his tone was impossible to miss. The blond lifted his head from his arms, golden eyes sparked with curiosity. ''What is it?''

Kyousuke stared at him in silence and Tenma, in response, straightened, his long locks cascading over his shoulders. For a few moments, Sãberu's son was reminded of the small boy he met all those years ago, with too big eyes like molten gold, messy hair that always fell into his face and a smile like the sun, and then the image faded away.

His lips curled upwards slightly. Even after almost fifty years, Tenma hadn't changed – he'd grown, yes, and his hair now fell to his shoulders – he was growing it out, apparently – and his face may be that of a ten-year-old human, but his eyes were still too big and his smile too bright for the world they lived in.

But he didn't comment on any of that.

Instead he hid his smile and tilted his head, hiding his face in shadows. ''Are you sure this will work?''

The blond furrowed his brow, his eyes trailing down to the camp map spread out on the small table in front of him, the details for their escape plan from the meeting a while ago still in place. ''It will,'' he said, quiet but with no hesitance. ''But- but if you don't believe it, I understand,'' he added, and he seemed to shrink in on himself, his silent confidence leaving him. ''I mean, it's risky, and if it does fail, you'd never be able to search for your brother-''

But it wasn't about that, was it? It may have been at the start, but Kyousuke knew, from the moment he looked into Tenma's eyes that everything that chained him to his humanity had changed.

His brother was still the most important person to him, the one that kept him from losing his mind to his godly powers, but Yuuichi wasn't longer the only one.

And so the young demigod smiled, cutting off his friend's rambling by holding up a hand. Tenma fell silence, hesitating, and Kyousuke finally lifted his head so the blond could see his soft expression. ''Baka,'' he said quietly and the other demigod huffed, even though he was undeniably smiling. ''Of course I'm coming with you.''

But Tenma was still hesitating. ''Are you sure?'' he asked, quiet, vulnerable, and half of Kyousuke – the half of him that was all god, the half that had claimed the blond as his screamed out in protest, furious at whatever made that what was his so uncertain – cried out, but he pushed it away with practiced ease.

''I am,'' he said, soft but with complete surety. ''I am yours, like Aoi is yours and you are hers. I will find my brother, one day, but until then, I'll be by your side.''

He pushed himself away from the wall, out of the shadows and into the light, and in a fluid motion he kneeled in front of the blond demigod. ''You are mine and I will follow you until the end of the earth,'' he swore, his blood roaring as something clicked into place and he knew, knew like the sky was blue and the grass was green, that this was right, ''and my blade and shield are yours to command, forever.''

Power swirled around him, a sign of the severity of his oath. He could feel it, settling in his being, the threads that made him who he was rearranging themselves.

And underneath it all, the blinding, all-consuming loyalty.

''I would die for you,'' he continued, almost at the end now. ''Because you are mine, in every sense of the word. You are my humanity.''

He looked up, meeting Tenma's wide eyes, and he knew his friend understood.

For a demigod had two halves, two parts constantly at odds with each other. Their godhood and their humanity. The first one was both their strength and their chaos, the part that led many full-blooded gods to their doom. It was dangerous.

The second one was their emotions and their sense of right and wrong. It was frail, like humans were, but it was also their only shield against themselves – and to keep it in place, they needed something or someone to be more important than themselves.

Yuuichi had been Kyousuke's for the longest time, and he still was.

But Tenma was too.

The blond demigod stared at him, stunned, for a few seconds longer and then he dropped to his knees and before Kyousuke could react, arms were wrapping around him tightly. The smaller demigod clung to him tightly and Sãberu's son could feel tears staining his tunic, but he didn't care. Instead he embraced his friend in return, silent.

No words needed to be said between them, or at least, that's what Kyousuke thought. Tenma clearly disagreed with him, for the blond pulled away from the hug and when their gazes locked, the other demigod couldn't look away.

His face might've been wet with tears, his golden eyes overflowing with emotions, but the undercurrent of power that made them glow was impossible to miss.

''You are mine,'' whispered Tenma fiercely, a quiet roar in his voice. ''Now and forever more and anyone who attempts to harm you will rue the day I come for them.''

It was no shout, nothing impressive, nothing worth noticing. But the sheer possessiveness was enough to take Kyousuke's breath away and the look in Tenma's gaze was reminiscent of a storm.

They may have been nothing to everyone else, young, unknown demigods – but Kyousuke knew, without a doubt, that the world would learn of their names.

They would learn of the son of Arashi, who would shape the world with his own hands, take the stars right out of the sky and rewrite his own destiny.

And Kyousuke would be there with him every step of the way.

  ~'0'~  

Kyousuke finds Shindou in the library. The older demigod is sitting on the sill of one of the large windows, a book opened on his lap. He doesn't even bother to pretend to be reading it, instead staring out into the dark evening.

Raindrops splash against the glass, creating a symphony of sounds, and every once in a while the greyness will be broken by a flash of lightning, giving everything a bright glow for a few seconds. The storm has finally hit them.

Sãberu's son quietly makes his way over to his shieldbrother and sits down at the other end of the windowsill, Shindou's eyes following him silently. The usual brown is filled with lilac flecks, as usual when it rains – courtesy of being the demigod son of the rain goddess.

They both sit in silence for a long while, the only sound coming from the melody the raindrops are creating. It's chilly, the air so charged from the storm it's almost palpable, but neither of them bother to warm themselves. They have lived through wars and dynasties, a mere chill won't harm them.

Lightning flashes, the light casting both of their faces in an unearthly glow for a few seconds and coating the floor in cold white.

''...I'm sorry.''

Shindou doesn't move when Kyousuke's voice breaks the silence, the only sign he has heard the other being the quick glance he shoots him before his gaze turns back to the window.

Sãberu's son gives a quiet sigh, leaning his head against the glass. Shindou is being stubborn, although he probably should've been expecting that.

''I... was out of line. I know you have a hard time coping- we all do, and I was being unreasonable.'' That's the best the other is going to get from him. Kyousuke never was good with apologies, not even to his own brother.

Fortunately for him, the rain demigod knows as much.

''I know,'' says Shindou quietly, not looking away from the window. ''You have the social skills of a caterpillar.'' His lips twitch up slightly and Kyousuke counts that as a victory, even if he himself is bristling in faked offense. ''I suppose I should've expected it.''

The younger demigod sobers a little at that, the tension flooding from his form. He's aware of his shieldbrother watching him, but Kyousuke is too exhausted to care much.

''...I spoke with Aoi.''

Shindou grimaces. ''How did it go?''

''As well as you can expect,'' mutters the warrior quietly, running a hand through his hair. ''It could've gone worse, she was very... melancholy. I suspect the storm has something to do with that.''

His shieldbrother tenses slightly at that, just as another flash of lightning cleaves the sky in two. Kyousuke i watches him carefully, part of him already preparing to withstand the other's fury. It doesn't come.

Instead Shindou gives a soft sigh, relaxing, and finally his brown gaze finds Kyousuke's. There's a weariness in his eyes that the warrior deity knows all too well, coupled by a soft sadness that could only have been caused by the storm outside, and for the first time in what must be decades, neither demigod seems to have any defense, no harsh words or sharp glares.

Just a quiet vulnerability that makes it seem all the more raw.

''What are we going to do?'' asks Kyousuke quietly, because his shieldbrother has always been the brains behind the Raimei Clan, has always been the one who knows what to do when they're fighting against impossible odds.

But there's no knowing light in the brown gaze, no satisfied smirk as another plan blossoms into succession. Instead the sadness that seems to linger behind his mask only increases, a hint of old, pure devastation that has cut its way through all of them, rooted deep into place even on the brightest of days.

And Shindou smiles, small and fragile and empty and Kyousuke hates it.

''I don't know,'' he says, softly, staring at the cursed storm outside, the storm that is causing all of their old wounds to start bleeding again, ''I... I really don't know.''

Kyousuke's fingers itch to call forth a blade, a deadly sword or a tiny, poisoning dagger, it doesn't matter. Anything to protect those that are his.

But he can't protect them. Not from this.

After all, he couldn't protect the thing most important to them, to their Clan. He couldn't protect their heart.

  ~'0'~  

''NO!''

He could barely hear Yuuichi call his name, but he certainly felt the arms gently wrapping around his waist to support him as he stumbled forward.

Someone was screaming. Maybe it was him, he didn't know.

He was fighting against the arms holding him, weak and pathetic and almost completely ineffective, and part of him, numb and distant, told him to stop because it was useless, it wouldn't change anything, but-

But that part was being torn apart more and more by the second, ice coursing through his veins and freezing him. He wasn't aware he stopped his weak struggling until his legs gave out underneath him and he fell to the cold harsh ground, Yuuichi sinking with him.

''Kyousuke...'' the whisper barely managed to get through the haze of his mind, but when it did, he shakily turned to his older brother. Yuuichi's dirt-marred face swam into view, two clear tracks running down his cheeks, and only now did the younger demigod notice the trembling hands carefully weaved around him.

And suddenly he couldn't take it anymore.

He sagged against his brother's chest and Yuuichi immediately embraced him tightly, slowly rocking back and forth, whispering reassurances to him.

But it didn't matter, because Kyousuke knew, more than anything, that they were only lies. It wouldn't be alright, he knew it would never be, felt it resonating within his bones.

And for the first time in four hundred years, he cried.

  ~'0'~  

It's a cold, late night, but down below the city is still bright with lights. It's not surprising – the capital never sleeps, after all – but the silence high on the cliff is a nice change of pace. Far in the distance, clouds are brewing, flashing with light almost constantly. Even from so far away the thunder is ear-shattering loud.

A figure is sitting at the edge of the cliff, feet dangling over the edge. If the child, no older than five, falls, it will be a few hundred meters before he reaches the ground. No way to survive such a drop.

But the young boy doesn't seem worried as he stares out at the storm, humming a soft, old song underneath his breath. A soft breeze picks up, ruffling his brown locks, and he winds his fingers through it.

He pauses in his humming, a silent smile touching at his lips. ''Maybe I should grow it out again?'' he whispers to himself, and then laughs softly, the sound lost in the wind.

Grey eyes glow golden in the dark night and in the distance, the storm roars in response.

  ~'0'~  

To be continued...

  ~'0'~  

Thanks for reading! I hope you guys enjoyed it and, as I said in the author's note at the start, more will be coming soon. Tomorrow, in fact XD

Bye bye~!

Yara & Archerr