Pairing:KuroFai

Warnings: Cussing, shonen-ai, violence, and other random crap

Important Note!: This story takes place in the universe Holly Black created for her books Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside. Now, you don't need to read these books to understand this story, as it is not a 'real' crossover. Though, I do recommend reading the series, because they are well written and Holly Black supplies and modern, gritty background to our general perception of fairies.

Author's Note: I thought I was going to complete this story before I posted any of it, but I decided to go ahead and just start posting. This story will be updated on Mondays. Sorry that this chapter is so short, but hey, it's the prologue.

Special thanks to YukiKyoTohru for beta-reading this chapter.


Prologue

In these dark waters

Drawn up from

My frozen well...

Glittering of spring

-Ringai


The smell of pollution filled his nostrils, poisoning the air around him. His chest tightened, and Fai feared he would have another asthma attack. He took in a big gulp of air and leaned against the side of a building.

He was sweating, despite the fact that it was winter and it was below freezing temperature. It was so hard to breathe sometimes in the large city of Tokyo, but Fai didn't have the heart to ask his father to move. His father loved the city. Fai, on the other hand, craved the quietness of the country side, and dreamed of moving there once he was old enough too.

'Which will be soon',Fai thought, somewhat solemnly. He was nearing his last year in high school and the thought of facing an uncertain future frightened him.

Fai sighed, then broke out into a coughing fit.

'Stupid…asthma…'

Clutching his chest, Fai bent over, the coughing fit overtaking him. His blonde hair flopped in his face, tickling his nose. After it was over, he still couldn't breathe. Fai slid off his backpack and rummaged around for his emergency inhaler.

"Damn it, where is it?" Fai wheezed. He was feeling light headed. He couldn't breathe and the world around him was turning murky, his vision blurring into darkness. Was this what death felt like? If this was death, Fai would welcome it with open arms.

He slid down the wall and before his head hit the ground, Fai fell onto something soft. He wondered briefly if it was the Grim Reaper who had caught him.

And then something was pressing on his lips, invading his mouth. This caused Fai to regain full conscious. When his eyesight cleared, Fai saw that someone was holding him. The person had apparently found his inhaler.

Blinking, Fai gazed into scarlet eyes.

'That's…not normal…'

"Are you okay?" a gruff voice asked. Fai nodded weakly and slid out of his rescuer's arms. Propping himself up against the wall, Fai finally got a good look at the person.

It was boy, or perhaps a man. Tall, muscular, and tan-skinned, the boy didn't look like someone who would bother with helping someone like Fai. Nonetheless, Fai was thankful, offering the other boy a smile.

"Thank you, I would've…been in trouble if you hadn't helped me," Fai said. The boy grunted and looked away.

"Well, I wasn't just going to leave you there to die," he said.

"You would be surprised by how many people would leave one to die."

The boy snorted and shook his head in agreement.

"I guess you're lucky that I was the one to find you, then," he said.

Fai nodded and smiled.

"I suppose I am." Fai stuck out his hand.

"I'm Fai Fluorite," he introduced. The other boy smirked and shook his hand.

"Suwa Kurogane," he said. He then stood up, pulling Fai with him. The blonde stumbled for a moment before regaining his composure. He then smiled at Kurogane, who in return studied him suspiciously. Fai's face heated under the intense stare.

"Is something the matter, Kuro-san?" Fai asked. Kurogane narrowed his eyes at Fai before shrugging.

"I was just… admiring your glamour," Kurogane answered, leaning in closer to Fai. "Though, you still don't look human…"

Fai's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't understand what you mean."

Kurogane gave him a weird look before his face dawned in realization.

"Ah. You must be a changeling then. Or perhaps you were abandoned at birth and adopted by a human family?" Kurogane sighed and patted Fai on the shoulder.

"Whatever the situation is, good luck. You'll be needing it, kid."

Kurogane turned and walked off, leaving Fai completely confused.

Changeling? Glamour? What the hell was he talking about?

Fai's head was starting to throb, so he shrugged off the strange encounter. He needed to get home, anyway. It was getting dark out, and there was no need to worry his parents.


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