Chapter Six

“Welcome back to the world of the living, Kurt. Did you miss it?” a familiar cocky-sounding voice asked.

Only when the pain of his transformation subsided was Kurt able to make out the tall figure standing in front of him. Kurt staggered to his feet and away from Hunter, who wasnt the person hed expected to see. Kurt looked around the room to get his bearings and quickly concluded that he was in one of the many empty guest rooms in the mansion. Just the sight of Hunter was enough to set Kurt off and he narrowed his eyes at him warily. The Kurt that Hunter knew was utterly alone in the world, so he was able to let his true feelings through – up to a certain point any way.

With a glare, Kurt put as much distance between them as he could before addressing him. “Whats going on, Hunter? Why have you brought me here?” Kurt demanded, fearing his answer already.

It appeared as if his refusal to play along came as no surprise to Hunter, and the young man dropped his charming act without any warning. The sinister grin on his face made Kurt shudder. He couldnt help it; Hunter could be downright terrifying at times and none more so than right now.

“Im giving you what you want, Kurt, as a reward for your good behaviour,” Hunter said nonchalantly.

Kurt didnt like the sound of this, whatever Hunters answer even meant. His posture stiffened and he crossed his arms over his chest protectively. There was nothing he could do to truly feel safe, but the one thing Kurt couldnt allow was for Hunter to lord over him. He fought through his fear and used his love for Blaine to bring his courage forth, allowing him to stand his ground rather than bolting from the room like he so wanted to do.

Hunter eyed Kurt for a moment and then snapped his fingers together. The door to the room opened and inside stepped Hunters handsome young footman, who was stark naked.

Kurt averted his eyes in embarrassment, when what he really wanted to do was comment that hed seen better. “I dont want that,” Kurt spat at Hunter.

“Are you sure now? I know how lonely you have been, Kurt, and Liam kindly offered to keep you company for the night,” Hunter said. “He is most eager to get to know you better, as you must plainly see on his attractive face. I might not fancy men, but even I can tell that he is everything one of your lot would want in a sexual partner,” Hunter began as Liam made his way over to the bed.

He had to hand it to Hunter, Liam was quite the temptation and Kurt had to stop and think if the version of himself he was pretending to be would be able to resist him. It didnt take long for Kurt to assure himself that, however lonely he might be, his personal values couldnt be changed so easily. No, it would take more than a pretty face, or an equally attractive body, to sway Kurt. He took a quick glance at Liam, noted his playful grin, and turned his attention back to the real perpetrator. “My answer is still no.”

Hunter sighed and looked over at Liam and said, “Sorry, Liam, I did try. Leave us.” As soon as they were alone again Hunter glided over to Kurt. The young man stepped backwards until he hit the wall and, with nowhere to go, but Hunter stopped a foot away from Kurt. “Then tell me, Kurt, what do you want?”

Justice against you, Kurt thought, but that would never do. “My freedom,” he said instead.

Hunter sighed, as if he was unamused by Kurts brutal honesty but his smile said otherwise. “You just had to ask for the impossible, didnt you? Unfortunately, Kurt, that is the one thing you cannot have, at least not yet. I still need you,” Hunter said. “and so does our young Blaine,” he added.

Kurt glared at him bitterly. “Why should either of you, or what you need, matter to me? You dont need me, Hunter; you think that you own me. I am nothing more than a tool for you to use. As for this Blaine you mentioned, why in the world would I begin to care about him? Ive never met him, I dont even know what he looks like! He doesnt even know I exist either! I am nothing more than a cello to him, a lifeless object! The both of you are nothing to me! Nothing!” he yelled.

While Kurts act was quite convincing, it still wasnt enough to get a real reaction from Hunter, who just grinned at Kurt and shook his head at him disappointedly. “It doesnt matter if you dont know him, Kurt. Blaine is innocent in this, so can you really care so little about him and his own dreams? It may surprise you to know that you two are very similar, with your passion towards music and your ironclad morals,” Hunter said.

Kurt made a sound of disgust. “And were both being exploited by you! And with Blaine, he has no idea who you really are... Lord Clarington. So am I really the one whose actions you should be frowning at?”

It was never wise for Kurt to let his snarky side out to try to tangle with Hunter, and the rebellious young man got a sudden wake up call when Hunter lunged at him. Kurt flinched back in alarm but it was no use, Hunter managed to grab onto his wrist and his grip was so tight there was no chance for him to break free.

“You dont want to provoke me, Kurt. If you think you hate me now then you dont what to see what Im like when I stop acting nice.”

The tone of Hunters voice was bone-chilling. Kurt knew how dangerous it was to defy Hunter like this, but he was so sick of being nothing more than a helpless victim. “Careful, or you might damage your precious cello and then where would you be this close to the concert?” Kurt said.

Anger flashed on Hunters face and he let go of his wrist without another comment. He backed away from Kurt only to prowl around him, like a hunter stalking his prey. “I was feeling guilty about leaving you as a cello for so long. I thought perhaps it was taking a toll on your spirit but I see that my concerns were unnecessary. Your soul is fully intact and as strong as ever. I dont know what has you acting so spry, but please keep it up.”

Kurt rolled his eyes. He forced his anger down a notch or two, since it was making him feel tired. “Instead of offering me a hot night of meaningless sex, why dont you tell me what you plan to do with me once the concert is over? I am virtually in the dark here. I dont know what my own fate is. What if this Blaine, who is your ingenious choice, ends up losing? What then? Will you cast us both aside? Tell me, Hunter, what is the point of holding on if my life is forfeit either way?” said Kurt with defiant eyes.

Apparently there was only so much Hunter could take and his limit had already been met, judging by how his usual mocking smile was back. Hunter laughed at his request and placed a hand on his shoulder but said nothing in reply.

Kurts entire body was struck with a blinding pain and he fell to the floor. The bastard! Hunter had started the transformation process! There was no way for Kurt to fight back and they both knew it.

“Learn from this, Kurt. Learn from your mistakes. So the next time you try to get the upper hand over me, youll know better. Your life is in my hands, Kurt, and whether you live or die is up to me. No one can save you. You are mine. Who would even care if I ended your pitiful life right now? Your dead parents? Your employer who saw you as nothing more than cheap labour? You said it yourself, Blaine thinks that youre just a hunk of wood and I think of you as just as a tool, yes? If youre not careful, youll lose far more than your pride, Kurt,” Hunter said, leaving Kurt to his excruciating transformation without a hint of guilt.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Seated in their lavish train car, Blaine glanced towards the door worriedly for what had to be the twelfth time in the past hour. His nervous behaviour did not evade Hunter's notice, who placed the book he had been trying to read aside.

“Something the matter, Blaine?” Hunter asked, though he hardly sounded concerned.

Blaine, having no idea he was even doing anything to catch Hunters attention, blinked in surprise. He blushed. He really needed to be more careful. “What? Oh, no! Theres nothing wrong. Not really anyway...” he muttered awkwardly. The answer hardly appeared to satisfy Hunters curiosity, judging by his charming little grin. “Truth be told, Im just a little worried about my cello. I hope its safe in the baggage area,” he said, figuring being concerned for his beloved instrument wasnt anything strange – not for a musician of his calibre anyway.

Since Blaines concern was genuine, Hunter had no reason to find him suspicious, thankfully. Hunters charming Im-about-to-coax-the-truth-out-of-you face changed to a less manipulative youre-amusing-me-with-your-clever-words expression, which caused Blaine to give a mental sigh of relief. For once, he was happy to hear Hunters usual laughter with just the hint of mock.

“I find your concern endearing, Blaine, but you needn't worry so much. Rest assured that your cello is safely stowed away and is being treated like the treasure it is. I even took the extra precaution of having it be in its own separate room for our journey,” Hunter said.

Blaine smiled shyly at Hunter. “I should have never doubted you.”

“No, Blaine, you shouldnt have.”

If Blaine could use banter to keep Hunter unaware that he knew just how valuable the cello in question was to them both, then hed flirt the entire trip if needed. So far the start of the long twenty-seven hour trek to where the competition was being held was going as well as Blaine could hope. Hunter was acting like his typical self: cynical, abrasive and yet so utterly charming that any infraction was quickly forgiven. Blaine, in turn, was trying very hard to act in character, or rather, pretend to be the Blaine that Hunter thought he was – excited and utterly clueless as to what was really going on.

“I am surprised, though,” Hunter said.

“About what?” Blaine asked, like he knew Hunter would want him to.

“That youre not more nervous about the concert.”

“Oh, believe me, I am beyond nervous, Hunter. I just hide it very well. Ive never been good with expressing my emotions with words; Im better at singing them. Im just bottling everything up for now so I can use all of it when Im up on stage. There is nothing better than letting every issue, both the good and the bad, fuel your performance. Even when my own life has been rather dull, what I have stored up should still prove to be valuable on the day of the concert. Just you wait and see,” Blaine said.

Hunter laughed, “I can hardly wait.”
______________________________________________________________________________

After a long day of travelling, Blaine was very grateful to finally get to rest in his hotel room alone. Hed had more than enough of Hunter and his smugness to last a lifetime, so that was another reason to call it an early night. Fortunately for him, Hunter had managed to get Blaine his own private room, though he assumed that was more for Hunters benefit than his own.

Blaine stumbled tiredly over to his bed, flopping onto it face first. He lay there for a moment as he thought about the pressure upon him. The competition was tomorrow and there was nothing more Blaine could do to prepare himself. Kurt was still off somewhere in the building, stored away and cut off from him. But despite their distance, Blaine could still feel Kurts presence. It was faint, but still felt. That had never happened to him before, at least, not back at the mansion. It was comforting but also frustrating because Kurt was so close and yet so far.

“Were nearly there, Kurt,” Blaine whispered.

It took him a while but Blaine eventually made himself get up long enough to change out of his clothes and crawl into bed. His body's need for rest won over his stubborn mind four hours later when Blaine fell into a deep sleep.

“Blaine,” a soft voice called out.

Blaines sleepy mind awoke to the sensation of him being gently shaken and his eyes snapped open in surprise. He clumsily reached for the lamp switch but the added light didnt help to identity the intruder. Before Blaine could shout in alarm, the figure threw back their hood to reveal a face that Blaine knew very well. “Kurt?” he gasped in shock.

Kurt nodded, though he didnt come any closer to Blaine, which wasnt like him at all. “Yes, Blaine, its me,” he said.

“I cant believe youre here!” Blaine happily exclaimed, but his joy was short lived. “Wait, how are you here even? Does Hunter know about us?”

Kurt shook his head. “No, Hunter is still in his hotel room, though Im not sure if hes alone or not. As for if he knows about us, well, hes not here is he? So I think that means were still safe.”

Blaine narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side in puzzlement. “I still dont understand why he would change you back into a human now?”

For some unknown reason, not only was Kurt keeping his distance from Blaine, he was also averting his gaze. Blaine realized he was acting very much like when they had first met when Kurt had so many hidden secrets. Kurt was trying to make his hesitance less obvious, but he wasnt doing a very good job. Kurt ran his finger along the post of the bed; his postured was stiff, rigid even. What was going on with him?

“Kurt?”

Kurt glanced up to look at Blaine, but his pleading expression must have been too much for him to take for long and his eyes darted back to stare at the floor. “Hunter didnt do this to me, Blaine...” he said, hesitating. “I think... We did...”

“What do you mean?” Blaine said, urging Kurt to continue.

“Somethings happening to me, Blaine, and it all started when you touched me that first time when I was a cello. Since then Ive slowly grown more self-aware, but not only that... As our connection grew, the changes became more noticeable. All but one,” Kurt started to explain as he untied the fastener holding together the dark brown cloak that was wrapped around his body. “I didnt notice there were also physical changes happening to me...”

Blaine watched as Kurt paused yet again before he threw off his cloak and let it tumble to the floor.

“...Before it was too late,” Kurt said finally.

At first Blaine could hardly register what he saw before him; somehow Kurt was both cello and human fused together in one single body. Kurts head was unaffected by the transformation, but under his chin was where all of that changed; dark strings were imbedded into Kurts neck and ran all the way down the front of his body, he was naked from the waist up, and then starting at his hips and below Kurt was covered with reddish brown... Skin? Blaine wasnt really sure what it was but it still looked like skin to him, only it was the wrong hue – it was more like the colour of wooden finish he realized. Then, if that weren't enough, along the meeting area of those two shades of skin, were two F holes on either side of the strings, shaped exactly like those found on a cello. They didnt look anything like open wounds and, to Blaines relief, there was no blood either.

During Blaines bewildered study of his new form, Kurt kept himself silent and his body still. When Blaine finally noticed this, his heart began to ache, he looked so terrified of rejection. Blaine smiled at Kurt lovingly and his heart eyes were no different than the many times hed gazed at his lover before.

“Look at me, Blaine. Im--”

“Youre still you, Kurt, regardless of how you may look on the outside,” Blaine said, cutting Kurt off. “There is nothing, nothing and no one that could make me turn away from you. I love every part of you and that includes your cello form.”

With a smile, Blaine held his hand out to Kurt, who took it and they stood there together for a moment. Again, there was too much at stake for the boys to forget all of their troubles and just enjoy each others company. “When you said that we did this to you somehow, did you mean with magic?” he said, to start the conversation again.

Kurt nodded. “Its a surprise to me too but I cant think of any other legitimate reason why. I always miss you when Im a cello and tonight that longing to be with you, right before the concert, was as its strongest. I kept wishing that I would change back and then, to my amazement, I actually did. At first I was shocked but delighted, until I looked down to see the state my body was in... And I just broke down crying.”

Blaine sighed, “And I slept through the whole thing.”

“You were exhausted, Blaine, and considering whats weighing down on you, its not surprising,” Kurt argued, putting a stop to Blaines pity party.

“Youre right. I shouldnt be getting upset at myself; whats done is done and the same can be said for whats happened to you, Kurt. Whatever the reason why, or even how, it has happened and now there is nothing for us to do but try to figure it out together,” Blaine said.

“I couldnt have said it better, Blaine.”

Blaine was happy they could smile even in such a possibly dire situation, where there might be no solution in the end. He allowed himself to give Kurt a quick peck on his lips and then his eyes unintentionally fell to look at his neck.

Kurt, who could tell what Blaine was looking at, smiled at him shyly. “It doesnt hurt or anything, it actually feels very natural.”

“It is wondrous, though I am a little scared to touch you.”

Fortunately for Blaine, Kurt seemed to know that Blaines fear to touch him came from not wanting to cause him any pain. He brought Blaines hand to press against his chest to give him his consent to explore the differences himself. Blaine gulped; so far Kurts skin didnt feel any different but then he the spot he was touching was an unaffected area. Blaine chose to leave Kurts strings alone for the moment because he was still hesitant to touch those and guided his hand downwards. To his surprise, the brown area felt more like the smooth finish of wood than skin, just not so stiff. “Thats amazing,” Blaine muttered in awe.

“Crazy is what it is, Blaine, and yet I can move my legs as freely as usual,” Kurt said.

Blaine moved a little closer to Kurt so his hands could go around his lovers side and come to touch his behind. To his relief his shapely buttocks was still there and even more round and deliciously smooth than usual. Kurt let out a sensual moan and Blaine dropped his hands in embarrassment. “Sorry! I dont know what came over me!”

“You dont need to apologize, Blaine. If anything Im relieved that my body is still as sensitive as usual,” Kurt said playfully.

Blaines good mood changed the instant his hands came to the L holes and confirmed that they were actual holes in Kurts skin. “How can these not be hurting you, Kurt?”

Kurt shrugged. “Dont ask me, but look for yourself, theres no blood right? They arent wounds of any type, theyre just... There...”

“... Like they would be on a normal cello,” Blaine said, finishing Kurts sentence.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

The woeful tone of Kurts voice made Blaines heart ache again. Why was it that such an amazing boy had to go through so much hardship? He knew it was hardly the time or place, but Blaine needed to remind Kurt that, no matter what he went through, he was not alone. Blaine cupped the side of Kurts face and leaned in to kiss him. Kurt welcomed the kiss and pressed his body close to Blaines as he opened Blaines mouth with his own. In the heat of the moment, Blaine forgot all about everything so he could focus his attention on Kurt. Beautiful and compassionate Kurt. Kurt draped his arms over Blaines waist and, all was going well, until Blaine felt something hard poke him in the thigh. That wouldnt have been so surprising to him, if it werent for the fact that from his observations of Kurts body earlier, it couldnt be Kurts erection.

Confused, Kurt asked, “Whats wrong?”

Blaine brought his hand to touch the unknown object and he held up Kurts hand to see it was a bow, no, his bow actually, as in the same one that Blaine usually used to play Kurt when he was a cello. “Why do you have that?”

“Oh, sorry, I forgot I was holding it,” Kurt said.

“No harm done. Luckily.”

Kurt giggled in response, when suddenly his entire body shuddered and convulsed. Blaine jumped back to give his lover enough room, because hed seen this before. “Are you changing back?”

Kurt shook his head. “No. This is different. Blaine... I cant take it...”

“Take what?”

“Blaine, I need you to play me! Right now!” Kurt shouted desperately.

Blaine eyes went right to Kurts groin or the lack there of and he couldnt help but blush bright red. “Um, how exactly would I--”

“No, not that, Blaine!”

When Blaine still didnt understand what he meant, Kurt shoved the bow into his lovers hands. “I dont need you to play with me, I need you to play me.”

Blaines eyes widened when the realization finally hit him. “Ooh!” he said at last. “Wait? You mean play you like when youre a cello?”

Kurt nodded. “Yes exactly. I cant explain it but there is a yearning building in my body and its different from my usual sexual urges. I need to be played, Blaine, please, its becoming unbearable!” he shouted.

“But what if I hurt you?”

“You wont! Trust me, Blaine, oh god please, do it now!”

There was no way Blaine could ignore such a desperate plea, so he threw his doubt aside and sat down on the bed.

“Come here, love,” he urged as he ushered Kurt to come sit in between his legs with his free hand.

Kurt was on him in a minute and Blaine could hear his raspy breaths, see the sweat beading down his forehead, and the display was so very sensual in nature that it was hard for Blaines libido not to react. Luckily, he was no stranger to repressing sexual desire so he reigned his urges back in to see to Kurts needs. Still, the idea of bringing the bow to Kurts waist and accidentally slicing open his belly terrified him.

“Its all right, Blaine. You wont cut me,” Kurt said.

Before hed try his luck with the bow, Blaine brushed the fingertips of his left hand against the strings on Kurts neck. The noise Kurt made in response sure sounded like relief rather than pain, so that made him a bit more confident. He moved his fingers to be in the proper position as he simultaneously brought the bow to Kurts midsection. With one forward slide, bow met string and Blaine could tell the contact wasnt hurting Kurt – so far.

“Thats it, Blaine! Dont stop!”

Kurt needn't have bothered, because Blaine couldnt stop himself even if he tried to. The second the first note struck, the young cellist was put under some sort of trance. He closed his eyes and continued to play Felix Mendelssohns Violin Sonata in F minor, Op. 4 with so much precision and emotion, it overtook them both. Kurts mouth moved to the music but the sound coming from him was that of a cello and not his normal singing voice -- though he could just make out the faint sounds of it underneath that music. The song wasnt very intense or fast paced and yet, as Blaine continued to play his heart out, the emotions going through him, all of which related to Kurt and his love for the young man, were powerful indeed. Ten minutes into the number something brought Blaines awareness back to the front of his mind – something concerning. Kurts neck was hot to the touch and that heat was rising dangerously fast – yet there was no pain.

The anguish on Kurts face and in his body posture was too vivid for Blaine to ignore any longer. Kurt was in pain, real physical pain, and Blaine was the cause of it. Unable to submit the love of his life to any more torture, Blaine dropped the bow in his hand. “Im sorry!” he said. “I couldnt continue!”

Kurt slumped his back against Blaines front and it was clear he was unable to hide the pain he had been going through. He touched the spot of his neck that Blaines hand had been a moment ago, as if to assure himself that the strings were still in tact. “No, that was a very good call,” he breathed.

“What in the world happened?”

“I dont know! It was like my strings were starting to burn me... From the inside out. It felt good but, at the same time, so horribly hot and painful... But I couldnt do anything to stop it,” Kurt admitted.

“Thank goodness I managed to, then, before something horrible happened!” Blaine sighed with relief.

They took a much needed moment to collected themselves and Kurt sat down beside Blaine, who was lying face up on the bed. Even if he had all the time in the world, Blaine wasnt sure it would be enough for him to process what had just taken place. There were even more concerning things to worry about, as well.

“I hate to say it, but what if you dont turn into a cello come sunrise, Kurt? What then?” Blaine said.

“I know, and the same thought crossed my mind, too. It might be a dead end but I do have a possible idea.”

Blaine sat up on the bed and smiled at Kurt. “I say we give it a try. I mean, what have we got to lose?”

“Only each other, but I wont let that happen,” Kurt said with chilling determination in his voice.

Blaine didnt bother to apologize for his bad choice of words and followed Kurt towards the door. Kurt explained during their walk back to his holding area that they needed to use their newfound magical abilities to their own advantage. Blaine wanted to be hopeful, it was just hard to believe they could manage it. Things were going in their favour so far, at least, when they managed not to alert anyone to their presence. Blaine closed the door to the storage area behind him. It was too dark to make out Kurt and yet he knew exactly where his lover was and confirmed it by touching his arm.

“We need to reverse our usual yearning to be together, Blaine, because I need to be a cello for tomorrows performance. If we have any hope of freeing ourselves from Hunter, then winning it is in our best interest. Keeping Hunter happy and thinking that everything is going to plan will also give us time to fight against him. I have been thinking long and hard about finding a way that we can stop him, and the best one I can think of is that we need to expose his magical abilities,” Kurt explained.

Blaine nodded; this all sounded very sensible to him, if a little idealistic. “The rules hes broken from transforming you against your will must be severe indeed.”

“No doubt they are, but before we can do anything along those lines, we need to turn me into a cello again.”

“I am not enjoying the irony in this,” Blaine said. “But I will try none the less.”

Kurt kissed Blaine on the lips and cooed, “Of course you will, and so will I.”

No matter how willing he was, Blaine still wasnt sure how to go about using magical abilities he didnt even know he had to begin with. It dawned on him that focusing on the how of it wasnt the way to go; he needed to reach deep inside himself and let his love for Kurt fuel him. Blaine pressed their foreheads together and closed his eyes. Kurts presence was so strong in his mind that he could feel more than see him. “Kurt, you need to change back. I need you there up with me on the stage, still my partner in all things, music included. I cannot do this without you, you are my muse, Kurt, my inspiration... My reason for living.”

“You are so much more than that, Blaine, and while I know youre life cannot be entirely mine to have, I am just so grateful to share a part of it,” Kurt said.

I need to change.

Blaine realized that he heard Kurt think and not speak those words and they were simply so clear it was hard to tell the difference at first. Change back, Kurt, become my instrument again, Blaine urged with his own mental voice.

Energy pulsed within Blaine and shot through his arm that was still touching Kurt, causing him to fall to his knees. On instinct, Blaine lunged to hold onto his shoulders in support, but any sense of concern was forgotten when he saw the bright smile on Kurts face.

“Im okay, Blaine. It doesnt hurt this time. I can tell Im shifting back but theres no pain,” Kurt said.

Blaine was tearing up but he didnt care; he was too overjoyed to hide it from Kurt. “Im so glad.”

Kurt lay down on his back and didnt ask Blaine to leave or to even look away, instead he continued to smile reassuringly. The transformation started to reshape his form, engulfing him in a light so blinding that Blaine had to look away in the end. When his vision finally returned, where Kurt once was, a cello was now there, but not just any cello, whether wooden or flesh, Blaine would know that spirit anywhere. He knelt down to stroke the side of it lovingly. “We did it, Kurt,” he wept.

There was no time to lose, so Blaine pulled himself together and removed any evidence of what had happened that night. He looked to where Kurts cloak had been on the floor and saw that it had changed into Kurts cello case. Blaine carefully lifted the cello that was his beloved and placed it inside and closed it shut. Once it was back in its rightful spot, Blaine crept towards the door and poked his head out to make sure the coast was clear. On tiptoe, Blaine silently headed back towards his hotel room and slipped inside unnoticed, or so he hoped anyway.

He wasnt really sure how much time had passed since Kurts unexpected arrival, though judging by his tired state, there was probably only a few hours before sunrise. Blaine used his last ounce of strength to fall onto the bed and he fell asleep the minute his head hit the pillow.
____________________________________________________________________________

Concerts and competitions were nothing new to Blaine, who was quite the seasoned pro at both from his years as a musician. The difference was that Blaine had never before had something so special riding on the outcome of the performance. He was standing at the back of the stage on the right side of the curtain, hidden from the large crowd. The young woman currently up on stage was playing an impressive piece on the piano and Blaine, by all appearances, seemed to be watching her intently. Really what he was doing was pretending to observe so that he could give himself some peace of mind, if it was at all possible by this point.

“Ready for this, Blaine?” Hunter called out to him.

As much as Blaine wanted to ignore Hunters jarring presence, doing such a thing would be extremely foolish. “Why dont you tell me, Hunter. Am I ready?” he countered playfully.

Hunter smirked at Blaine, a tell tale sign that he was enjoying himself. “You have spent the last year practising and perfecting your ability, during which I have watched you go above and beyond any of my initial expectations, and the music you have managed to create is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard,” Hunter said.

Blaine knew now that Hunters compliments were only said to create the illusion that he thought so highly of him. He was sure that, in reality, Hunter thought that he was due all of the credit.

“It sounds like Im more than ready, then.”

“It would appear so.”

Blaine took a step closer to Hunter and placed a hand on his shoulder lightly. “I want to thank you for giving me such an amazing opportunity, Hunter. The faith you have in me... Is very heartening,” he began. Blaine knew he wasnt making much sense, but it was very hard to sound sincere around Hunter anymore. The lies he had once given because they kept Kurt safe were now almost choking him. “I will never forget all that you have done for me, not for the rest of my life.”

Blaines attempts to salvage his touching little speech seemed to have worked when Hunter grinned at him and patted his shoulder.

“The pleasure was all mine,” Hunter said. He stopped to look out at the stage to see that the womans turn was over, then he smiled. “Youre up next, Blaine. Make me proud.”

Blaine watched Hunter walk away. He was tempted to let Hunter have the last word, but he couldnt stop himself from shouting out. “I will!”

A single chair was placed on the stage and the cello case came next. Everything was set and all that remained was for Blaine to make his entrance. He took a deep breath and thought, I can do this. Not only that, but Blaine also believed in himself and in his connection with Kurt. There was nothing left for him to do but take his cello, his soulmate, and play his heart out to a room full of strangers who would never be able to grasp the enormity of what was happening.

Blaine nodded his head to address the crowd as his name was called out by the announcer, and then he flashed Hunter a wink from his spot behind the stage. Blaine reached for his cello, immediately felt Kurts warmth presence, and got into the correct position. The same tactics he used for every performance still applied in this instance: ignore the crowd, focus on the music, and everything else would fall into place.

“Here goes,” Blaine whispered under his breath. “Its just another today, just another performance.”

The time to coach himself was over; there was nothing left for Blaine but to play. Like he had so many times before, he bravely started the first piece: Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor. The second bow touched string, Kurts warm presence washed over him, filling him with so much love and support, more than ever before. Such a powerful surge of emotion didnt knock Blaine off guard, though; it simply joined with his own well of power. His fingers darted along the strings, each note more perfect than the last, and all of them building as the music picked up. Up and up Blaine climbed, until he was at the peak of the piece; there was no stopping him now.

The heat that always built whenever he played was there, as was Kurt presence, and both these facts helped Blaine keep at it. Around the twelve minute mark, Blaine felt a little winded but he was in full performer mode at this point. Playing not one but two twenty-minute pieces, one right after the other, was no easy feat to begin with, let alone in a worldwide competition. The thing that set Blaine apart from his fellow competitors was that he was playing to win for Kurt – and the chance to win his freedom somehow. Blaines arm movements picked up towards the climax of the number and whirled back in forth like they were disconnected from his body.

When the first song ended, the room erupted in loud applause, but the audience hadnt seen anything yet. Blaine didnt register the acclaim at first, too busy trying to catch his breath.

They love you, Blaine, said Kurt, whose soft voice trickled through his mind.

Not as much as you do, Blaine responded before turning his attention back to the task at hand.

Saint-Sa�ns Cello concerto No.1 in A minor really gave Blaine the chance to show off his talents, as it was a very difficult piece to play. Right from the start, the powerful resonance in the sound Blaine produced from his cello was spellbinding. Here was a true demonstration of Blaine's ability to throw himself into a number and play in such a trance that the outside world became cut off from him. It was his ability to separate himself that put him above the rest and, armed with a magically transformed cello, the combination was a formidable rival for anyone.

So lost in the music was Blaine that his senses didnt register the growing heat in the strings of the cello, or the power building around him. He didnt shout out in shocked surprise like many of the people in the room when that power erupted into a dazzling display of light. The thing that finally snapped him halfway out of his trance was Kurts voice shouting in his mind -- no, he was screaming.

BLAINE! Dont stop! Keep going!

Blaine somehow knew on an instinctive level that he had to finish or all would be lost. By this point, the music had slowed down and yet nothing that was taking place on stage was without excitement. Every eye was fixated on Blaine as the cello in his arms began to shift and reshape into something unbelievable. Tears fell from Blaines eyes and yet he still didnt react to the magic happening around him. The fact that Kurt was now in a form halfway between human and cello didnt faze him; he just kept going through the motions. Kurt, in turn, did nothing to make Blaine stop, as if he too needed to see the song to its end.

Just when the experience couldnt be any more shocking, the burning hot strings down Kurts body melted away and morphed back into normal human skin. Down at Kurts waist, the brown hue of his lower body faded away to match the pale alabaster of his chest. Next to disappear were his two L holes and, by the climax of the song, Blaine was no longer playing an instrument but holding a man, who was singing his heart out.

At the fall of the final note, Kurt, who had to be utterly exhausted, collapsed to the ground, and Blaine rushed to catch him, completely forgetting where they were and the thousands of people watching them, all of them shocked into silence.

“Kurt! Oh, my god! Please tell me youre all right?” Blaine asked, alarmed.

Kurt tried to do just that only to choke on his words and fall into a strong coughing fit. Blaine patted his lovers back to help him get through it while he crouched down on the floor, hovering protectively over him.

“Im more than all right! Im human, Blaine! Human!” Kurt nearly wept with joy. “And Im not naked either!” He laughed as he gestured to the linen shirt and trousers he was wearing.

Blaine beamed at Kurt, so overjoyed he could barely stand it. “Youre human, Kurt!” he said as he gathered Kurt into his arms. He rocked them gently back in forth as they both cried together.

“What have you done?”

The sinister-sounding voice brought Kurt and Blaine out of their own little world and reminded them that they were far from alone – or safe. They looked up to see Hunter storming towards them, and the expression on his face had to be the definition of terror.

“Youve ruined everything!” Hunter shouted.

Blaine wanted to flee, but he knew there was nowhere they could go. Even if they managed to outrun him, Hunter would never give up until he found them. So he stood his ground, putting himself in front of Kurt as if that could offer him some sort of added protection.

Kurts shaky hands grabbed onto Blaines for support. “Blaine...”

“I know,” Blaine said.

There was no need for Kurt to voice his concerns; Blaine already knew to be careful. Hunter had always been a loose cannon, and there was no telling how he would retaliate. Yet the fact that Hunters temper hadnt snapped yet was the most frightening thing. Despite all that he had just lost – thanks to them – Hunter was still in charge of his emotions.

“After all I have given you both, this is what you do to repay me?” Hunter said as he took another step. “You threw away everything we were working towards in an instance, and for what? To spite me? Because you two are the victims in this? You think Im the monster, and yet I was the one who brought you two together!”

Blaine frowned at Hunter. What did he mean by that? Kurts grip on his hands tightened as they both waited for him to explain.

Hunter just smirked at the boys' obvious confusion. “You must think me a complete fool, boys. I knew this whole time about your secret rendezvous, and the only reason they happened at all were because I allowed them to! I knew that if you two remained apart youd never reach the place I needed you to go,” he explained.

While Hunters speech was impressive, it did nothing to stop the security guards hurrying toward the stage.

“Dont come any closer! These boys are dangerous! There is no telling what they could do to to anyone in the building!” Hunter warned.

“Hes lying! Hes the one who's dangerous!” Blaine said before he could stop himself. He stood up to stare at Hunter, and pointed his hand towards him to emphasize the anger he felt building up in him. “Hunter Clarington is an unregistered mage! He used forbidden spells to change this man beside me into a cello!” The horrified gasps of the crowd echoed around them in the theatre.

Kurt stared up in Blaine in shock. “Blaine, what are you doing?”

“What I should have done a long time ago,” Blaine answered. “Its time you were stopped, Hunter. This has gone on long enough.”

Hunter laughed at him mockingly. “Oh? And who is going to stop me, then? You, Blaine?”

“Us, actually,” Kurt said.

Just when Hunter looked like he was going to make a witty comeback, without warning he raised his hand and unleashed a ball of power at them instead. With no time to react, Blaine pushed Kurt to the floor, narrowly missing the blow. When the magic hit the back of the theatre and exploded, utter chaos broke out: people screamed in terror as they all tried to flee the building at once.

Back on stage, there was no time for Blaine and Kurt to recover from their near hit, not when Hunter unleashed even more power to strike at them again. Blaine braced himself as best he could, shutting his eyes so he didnt see Kurt rush out in front of him until it was too late. “Kurt, no!”

However, Kurt did not end up selflessly sacrificing himself by taking the attack head on, instead he threw his hands up and, to Blaines amazement, called forth enough of his own power to fight back. Blaine stumbled to stand so he could help Kurt keep the shield hed created from crumbling under Hunters aggressive attacks.

“How are we doing this?” Blaine shouted.

“I have no idea, but dont stop!”

“Oh, so are you the all-powerful mages now? Is that it? I think not, and its about time you learned how inferior you both are!” Hunter said.

It was no use; they were going to lose, Blaine thought desperately. Then Hunter surprised them both by putting even more energy into his continuing attacks. There was only a second to act and Blaine had no idea what to do, and no one else was rising to save them either. What good was it to have magical abilities if he had no idea how to control them? Luckily for him, Blaine had help; Kurt shoved the bow into Blaines hand and clamped his own over top of it.

“Go with me on this, Blaine. Connect with me, be my instrument,” Kurt said.

The physical contact awakened something in Blaine that had remained dormant until this moment and he suddenly knew what to do. As Hunter charged towards them, Blaine took all of his sense of preservation and directed it towards his hand clutching the bow. When the ball of energy should have hit the pair, sending them flying to their deaths, it ended up bouncing back towards Hunter, who had left himself totally open.

Hunter cried out and hit the ground hard with a loud thud. The energy around Blaine and Kurt dissipated as quickly as it had started and left them feeling utterly drained. Blaines legs buckled underneath him and he tumbled to the floor, taking Kurt along with him. They managed not to completely fall over, clinging to one another for support. Blaine forced himself to move and brought his hand up to touch the side of Kurts face.

“Stay with me, Kurt,” Blaine breathed.

Kurt right eye pried open, but he looked very weak. “Still here, love,” he said quietly.

Blaine looked over at Hunters fallen figure. So far he wasnt moving. “Is it done? Is he dead?” he asked.

“One can only hope,” Kurt said, though he didnt sound very convinced.

With Hunter possibly defeated, the concert hall's security finally decided to do their job and approach the fallen mage. Blaine and Kurt held their breaths as they watched for signs of life, clinging together for support. If he was dead, then would they be held responsible for his death, Blaine thought apprehensively.

Suddenly Hunters eyes snapped open and his body jerked up and away from the security guards reach. He stumbled back and narrowly missed falling again. “Thought you had me there, boys? Well youre about to learn it takes more than the two of you to defeat me!” Hunter yelled, throwing his hand towards them.

This time there was no energy left in the couple to fight back, and Kurt threw himself over Blaine to shield him in a moment's desperation. But the dramatic move, although touching, wasnt even needed, because nothing ended up happening. Apparently there was no magic left in Hunter either, and not a single wave of power rushed toward them. When Hunter saw that Blaine and Kurt were unharmed, he staggered back in shock.

“No!” Hunter cried out as he tried again with no success.

Incoherent with disbelief, Hunter brought his shaky hands up and ran them through his hair. His expression was hysteric, complete with awkward laughter, and Hunter had never looked so dire. It was as if the young lord's world was collapsing underneath him and, by Blaines observation, that was exactly what was going on.

“Its gone...” Hunter wept as he pulled himself into a tight ball. “All of it, all of my power, gone...”

“What does he mean?” Kurt asked in confusion.

““I think… I think maybe he tried to take away our magic with his own. But, I think the spell rebounded. His powers are gone,” Blaine suggested, he had no proof to be sure that they wouldnt return, he just knew it to be so somehow.

“Then there is justice in this world after all,” Kurt said coldly.

At the sound of Kurts voice, Hunter turned to glare at him. Here was a side to the man that Blaine had never seen before. His charming act was gone; there wasnt a hint of charisma left in him. Suddenly Hunter didnt look so dashingly handsome anymore, and what was left in its wake was anything but alluring. Terror struck Blaines heart when Hunter took a step towards Kurt, except his lover showed no signs of fear.

“Youre happy, arent you? You think youve finally won and gotten your revenge on me,” Hunter accused.

Kurt shook his head and said, “I didnt do this to you, and neither did Blaine. Youre the one who's to blame for your fate, Hunter. You were the one to go against the laws of nature to obtain your goals, and you were the one who betrayed two young men who trusted you and it was all for your own personal gain.”

Blaine was happy to let Kurt take control of the situation since he seemed to be handling himself more than well.

“I personally think that this is the perfect sort of punishment for what you did, Hunter, and if you were to stop and think about it, you should be grateful. You were starting down a very dark path, one that you wouldnt so easily be able to come back from. If Blaine had won the competition like you wanted, then you would have become unstoppable. There would be no telling what horrors you would have been able to do. But thanks to Blaine and I, even if neither of us planned for it to happen, you were stopped before you committed murder. I am so grateful for that – and for the lives we might have saved,” Kurt said.

Hunter grinned maliciously at Kurt, who didnt bat an eye at the attempt to intimidate him. Blaine was in awe of Kurts strength and strove to rise to it himself. He walked over to stand beside Kurt and looked Hunter right in the eye.

“You can blame us all you want, Hunter, but you were the one to attack us. All we did was defend ourselves,” Blaine pointed out.

“Nicely said, Blaine, and with that, Ive said all I want to say to you, Hunter. So if you guards want to take him away, then by all means, go right ahead,” Kurt said, finally addressing the security guards who still hadnt advanced on Hunter.

Kurt comment seemed to snap them into action and they grabbed onto Hunter, who did nothing to fight them off. He appeared to have given into his fate, or now that he had been robbed of his magical powers, maybe he no longer had the will to live. Whatever the reason, Hunter was clamped in iron and carted away like the criminal he was.
____________________________________________________________________________

For the first time in three years, Kurt was finally free of Hunter and he hardly knew what to do with himself. Then he noticed two men approaching him and the way that Blaine tensed at the sight of them. He fought the urge to run, because they were both innocent and fleeing the scene would only be their undoing. At least the men werent charging at them with weapons drawn, so Kurt tried his best to remain positive – as well as stationary.

Blaine watched the pair apprehensively as well, though he seemed to have the same idea as Kurt so he didnt look too panicked.

“Are you two unharmed?” the man on the right asked.

Kurt shook his head. “Were okay. Just tired.”

When the man on the left turned his attention to Kurt, Blaine stepped in front of his lover protectively. “I certainly hope youre not about to arrest us for using magic back there, because I think its clear to everyone in the room that we had no choice! We didnt even do it on purpose, either. It just happened, and I am glad it did or else we would probably be dead now,” Blaine said.

“It is as you said. What you both did was clearly an act of defence. So no, we will not be arresting you, but we will need you to be cooperative,” said the first man, who was clearly a police officer of some sort.

“There is a lot of missing information in this case,” the other man said.

All of this sounded very reasonable to Kurt and he nodded in agreement. “Well cooperate, of course. Just try to remember what weve just been through.”

“Kurt has been Hunters prisoner for over three years, and hes gone through enough struggles already,” Blaine told the two men.

The pair were taken to the healer's office in the concert hall and, once their tired bodies were treated and their state of health deemed stable, the questioning portion of their night began. Both Blaine and Kurt answered every question honestly, though they both discreetly avoided any mention of the nature of their relationship. Whatever their interrogators might have thought, the atmosphere after the job didnt feel the least bit awkward. The pair were separated next for additional questioning and Kurt was up first, and it was hard for him to leave Blaine.

While being apart from Blaine was agonizing, Kurt managed to endure the wait and give sufficient information to be released without issue. A short while later, he stepped out of the office at the police station they had been taken to and let out a heavy sigh. All it took was for Kurt to see the young man anxiously awaiting his return for his exhaustion to fade away. No one was in the immediate hallway, so Kurt hugged Blaine tightly, happy to be reunited again.

“Kurt! Finally! Did everything work out okay? They werent too overbearing with their questions or anything?” Blaine said.

Kurt smiled. He wanted to kiss him so badly, but such acts of affection would have to wait until they were safely alone. “They were very polite, Blaine. I think hearing how I nearly died before you and I met really put my situation into perspective.”

“I am sure they will be equally civil with me, as well. Did they tell you anything about what happens next for us? Like if we are free to go?” Blaine asked.

“Hunters trial will be held in a week, so theyve asked me to stick around until then. I told them I would be a key witness, but only if they didnt push me too hard. They will probably request the same thing from you. They even offered to put us up at a nice hotel until the trial, and I went ahead and accepted the offer. Honestly, even if they monitor us a bit, having some time to let everything sink in will do us both some good.”

“Youll get no argument from me there, Kurt.”

“Well have to be careful when were out in the open, so we dont give away the nature of our relationship, Blaine, as much as it pains me to admit.”

“I know. Just as long as I get to be with you when were alone, Ill be content. For now, anyway,” Blaine said with a grin.

Kurt laughed, “Im sure one of us can manage to sneak into the other's room at night, since were no strangers to that.”

“Do you think Hunter will want to seek revenge on us? Are we really free of him?” said Blaine, his eyes full of worry.

Kurt took a moment to think about it before he gave Blaine an answer, because, in all honesty, there was no way to really know for sure. The Hunter that Kurt knew hardly seemed like someone who would give up so easily. What if he did manage to get back at them? Could they ever let their guard down with such a dangerous possibility looming over them? Curse him! This was how Hunter could still win over them even when he was stuck behind bars - - No. Kurt wouldnt let himself live like that anymore, and neither could he let Blaine.

“I am done with Hunter, Blaine. We will never be free of him if we dont begin to let go. Im not saying we shouldnt be careful, but we cannot waste our lives waiting for him to retaliate,” Kurt finally said.

Blaine beamed at him and dared to give him a quick peck on the lips, but before he could dare to be a little bolder, they both heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Kurt didnt push himself away from Blaine, because that would have drawn unwanted attention to themselves.

“Mr. Anderson, were ready for you now,” the approaching officer said.

Blaine nodded and he gave Kurt one last lingering glance before he followed the man down the hall. Kurt hated to be separated from him once again, but they couldnt spend every moment of every day together. The wait for Blaine to return was still hard for him to bear and, the moment Blaine returned, Kurt bolted straight for him. Kurt skidded to a stop and barely managed not to fall over when he noticed that Blaine wasnt alone; the police officer from earlier was with him. Alas, their heartfelt reunion would have to wait until they got back to the hotel, then.

“I want to thank you both for your cooperation. Im sorry we had to keep you for so long after what youve been through, but vital information was needed to confirm your innocence. You should both know that, as we speak, my officers are heading to Lord Claringtons mansion to conduct a full investigation. With the help of our mage partners, any protection spells Hunter placed should be taken care of,” the officer told the pair.

“We understand and, while that is great news, I for one am really tired,” Blaine admitted.

“So am I, honestly,” Kurt said.

The healer they had seen had explained to them how the use of magic had drained their bodies to the brink of exhaustion. The only reason they werent lying comatose in some bed was because he had renewed their depleted energy with magic so they could go in for questioning – though their well being was the first concern, of course.

After Kurt and Blaine were told by the officers that they would keep in touch, the tired pair were taken to their hotel by carriage and escorted to each of their rooms. To Kurts delight, their rooms were connected by a door, no doubt to comfort them since everyone else around them were complete strangers. As soon as possible, Kurt opened the door and stepped inside to find Blaine waiting for him on the bed.

“I hate to say it, but Im too tired to do anything but sleep tonight, Blaine,” Kurt said disappointedly.

Blaine appeared just as worn out as Kurt and yet he still had enough energy to eye him playfully in that way that Kurt loved. He flopped down on the bed and crawled up to rest his head on a pillow as he watched as Blaine squirmed down to lay beside him. There they were, lying side by side, basking in their love and how the world they knew had drastically changed.

They dressed in their given night attire and slipped under the covers together. Blaine shuffled his body so he could spoon Kurt from behind. Once they were settled, Kurt let out a happy little sigh. He was so ready to go to sleep.

“Goodnight, Blaine,” Kurt murmured sleepily.

Blaine kissed the back of his neck; his breath felt warm on Kurts skin “Goodnight, Kurt.”
_____________________________________________________________________________

“Kurt. Kurt, you need to wake up, love,” a gentle voice chimed in his ear.

However pleasant sounding Blaines voice normally was, Kurt was too groggy and sleepy to enjoy it and he growled back in protest at being woken. “Piss off,” he muttered before he started to drift back to sleep.

“But Kurt, its morning!” Blaine said.

Kurts eyes snapped open. Morning. Blaine said it was morning. He jolted awake, sitting up on the bed to see the dappled sunlight coming in through the opened windows. Tears spilled over his pale cheeks and his lip quivered under the strain of trying to hold himself together. “Its morning,” he sobbed.

Blaine smiled at Kurt and he was soon crying as well, but they were happy tears. Kurt laughed awkwardly; he had never been so happy before in his entire life. Blaine joined him in his laughter and they celebrated with a tender kiss until curiosity got the better of Kurt and he stood up from the bed to take a look outside. It was still early in the morning and the sun was still low in the sky. Kurt took it all in, savouring everything. It didnt matter that he had seen daylight just a few months ago; now that he had Blaine at his side, he could truly appreciate the beauty. “Its morning,” he repeated softly.

“Our first morning, Kurt,” Blaine said.

The future for them was still unknown, and there would be many trials to come their way, he was sure, but no matter what happened, nothing could tear them apart.

“The first of many,” Kurt said as he leaned towards Blaine and kissed him.
_________________________________________________________________

Whether Lord Clarington was in his lavish mansion or in a much less fancy-looking prison cell, Hunter still managed to pull off an air of superiority. Too bad the person he was coming to meet wasnt so easily swayed. The second the man in question came into Hunters view, his expression was anything but impressed; it was stoic.

Hunter still smiled at him charmingly despite the less than warm reception his visitor was giving him. “Why, Kurt, fancy seeing you here. You are the last person I would expect to come visiting me and, whats even more surprising is that Blaine would agree to let you come here.”

Kurts jaw tightened ever so slightly at hearing Hunters dry comment. He had half a mind to make a snarky comment in return, but that wouldnt do him any good – despite how low Hunter had fallen. Hunter was no longer dressed in the finest suits but in a drab and faded pair of blue prison coveralls. The near-shabby state of him, complete with stubble and tussled hair, frustratingly worked for him, if it werent for the almost dead look in his eyes.

“Its true. You are the last person Id ever want to visit, Hunter, and Blaine did voice his concerns about me coming here,” Kurt said to confirm Hunters claims.

Hunter leaned forward on the table to place his chin in his hands, ignoring the prison guard who was seated in the corner of the room. “Why did you come here then? Are you here to gloat?”

Kurt ignored the taunt and chose to get right to the point. The sooner he could get this over and done with, the sooner he could leave and meet up with Blaine. “Why, Hunter? Why did you do it? Why bother to give me anything now? I keep racking my brain for possible reasons why you would do something so generous. Especially when I am one of, if not the main catalyst that led to your incarceration and life sentence.”

Stalling was second nature to Hunter and yet he only spent a few moments studying Kurt, whos stern expression never wavered. Hunter sighed. It seemed that losing his magic had caused his usual spark to dampen. “You want to know my motives for giving you so much of my fortune?” Hunter asked.

Kurt nodded; hiding his surprise at the fact that Hunter wasn't dragging things along.

“I would think my reasons were quite easy to deduce, Kurt. Maybe I wanted to better my ruined reputation, or perhaps I did it to make you think that you were wrong about me, to make you realize that I am not the villain you so easily pegged me for, and take my money, go build a life for yourself, and always feel indebted to me,” Hunter said.

For the first time since Hunters true intentions were revealed to him, Kurt believed what he was saying was the actual truth. That didnt mean he agreed with the claims, or had any intention of accepting them. “That sounds like something you would do,” Kurt said.

Hunter laughed, “I know you took the money, Kurt,”

“Not all of it.”

“Do you think that matters? Does it make you feel any less inferior to me or something?”

Kurt leaned forward in his chair, to make it quite clear that Hunter didnt intimidate him anymore. “I dont feel anything towards you, Hunter. I dont hate you, but dont expect me to feel grateful either. I came here today to ask you why you did it and, now that I have my answer, I shall take my leave,” he said as he stood up.

“Thats it, then? This is where it all ends?” Hunter said.

Kurt turned on his heel to look right into Hunters lifeless eyes. “The only thing that ends here and now, Hunter, is our association with one another. This is where Ill close the page on my past and start a new chapter, one that no longer includes you,” he said coldly.

“How poetic,” Hunter remarked with a taunting grin.

Kurt rolled his eyes at Hunter, then he nodded toward the guard, who headed toward the door and Kurt followed him. “Goodbye, Hunter,” he said in closing, before stepping out of the cell and the life he had once known.

Blaine was waiting right where Kurt had left him and, as soon as he caught sight of him, he hurried over to Kurt. Kurt smiled at him, though he was careful not to appear to be too overjoyed since he and Blaine had become so well known to the town (all thanks to Hunters trial). As much as they hated to admit it, they would have to hide their relationship from the outside world most of the time. So Kurt merely kept close to Blaine as they signed out and walked side by side out of the building.

“How did it go?” Blaine asked softly.

“Better than I thought it would. I got my answer,” Kurt said.

Although his response was vague, Blaine didnt press him to go into more detail, probably because he knew Kurt was waiting until they were alone to fill him in. The sun was shining bright and Kurt squinted as he tried to see through the blinding light. He hoped it wouldnt be long before he finally adjusted to the change in his environment.

“Are we all ready to go?” Kurt asked Blaine absentmindedly as they walked through the crowds.

Blaine ignored the whispered chatter as people recognized them as they went and nodded in confirmation. “Yes, I sent the letter to my family this morning, so there is nothing left for us to do,” he said.

As much as Kurt wanted to head off, he couldnt help but feel guilty. “Are you sure you dont want to go see them?”

Blaine frowned at Kurt. “Kurt, we have been over this a hundred times. I am a different man since the last time they saw me. So its better if I tell them in writing what has changed and that I am not coming home. It is up to them if they can accept the person I really am, the man who loves you, or if theyd rather pretend I am lost for good. Whatever their decision is, I have no regrets, Kurt, so you need to let the issue go.”

“All right then,” Kurt said lovingly.

They soon arrived at the train station, where their luggage awaited them. Packed and ready to go, Kurt stared out at the platform. There was nothing left to do but to take that final step onto the train. Blaine made the first move, until he noticed that his lover wasnt at his side. Blaine turned to look at him, and Kurt smiled back at him sheepishly.

“Its silly... All Ive wanted was to make my dreams a reality and now that I finally can... Im afraid to,” Kurt admitted.

Blaine smiled at him. “Its not silly, Kurt.” he said, strolling over to Kurt to gently nudge him with his shoulder. “Come on, lets go find ourselves.”

With unsure footsteps, Kurt walked onto the train with Blaine in tow, ready to start a new chapter of his life – one that he and Blaine would discover together.