Hallow Home for Orphans – part one.
Warnings: AU!, angst, fluff, romance, mystery, violence (later on in the story)
Summary: At the age of thirteen Kurogane's life changed when his parents died. Without anyone to take care of him there was no choice but to send him to an orphanage, Hallow Home for Orphans, there he met a seemingly anti-social roommate and two weird blonde boys. However that was the least of his problems, in the orphanage something strange was going on and, like it or not, Kurogane got himself pulled right into the centre of it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Tsubasa or any of the characters involved, they belong to the masterful CLAMP. They also own other characters that are seen and mentioned in the course of this fanfic.
A/N: Please note the fact that this is AU, it is not set in our world so the way the orphanage works it not representative of any country that may exist in ours, just wanted to get that out of the way before people tell me how wrong it is, most of it is purposefully changed. This is my first chaptered AU TRC fanfic and I am very proud of how it is going so far. It has taken me a week to get this far in it and it is more like how I actually write my novels than fanfics, more time and effort has been put into this but it is very fun to write.
This has been published on LJ KuroxFai community under the name Lillybe_Shadow.
I would very much like you to read and comment, please enjoy.
At the age of thirteen Suwa Kurogane was wrenched away from his parents by a burglary gone awry. They returned home early one day to find three thugs ransacking the house, his father quickly shoved him and his mother into a coat closet then approached the thieves to stop them, which is where things went wrong. In their shock he managed to take out two of them however the third threw a knife at him and it hit. Kurogane will always remember how he stared through the crack in the door watching in horror as his father's body tumbled to the ground, a knife sticking out of his chest. Next to him his mother had broken out into sobs, her body shaking uncontrollably.
The remaining thief ran out of the building, leaving his companions behind.
Kurogane crawled out of the closet towards his father's body. There was blood everywhere, at least that is what it seemed like. He remembered laying himself across his father trying to hear for a heartbeat or breathing. There wasn't one. Then it went blurry, people screaming, talking in hushed voices, offering fake words of comfort. Eventually he was pulled off his father.
In what seemed like no time at all he was sat next to his mother who was unconscious in a hospital bed. The doctors said she was dying from a broken heart but was holding on for him. Every time she opened her eyes she looked to be in such pain that it made Kurogane's body heat up in fury. Eventually she caught some kind of virus from her body's low immune system and past away in the night, holding tightly onto his hand.
At this point Kurogane screamed out in grief, tears of anger and sadness running down his face. Nurses came running to him, wielding needles which pierced into his flesh sending him to sleep.
There was no one to take him in. It would be three years until he could live by himself and without any relatives there was no other choice but to be sent to an orphanage.
That was how he came to stand in front of an old building, looking very much like a castle with grey stones and what could only be described as turrets, sticking out of the roof in a way which suggested they were just tacked on as an afterthought. The gates around the perimeter were a dirty silver and rusty in some places but were topped with sharp points.
Kurogane looked at the grim place he was to now live in with disgust, everything about it from the missing tiles on the roof to the dismal garden, with its brown grass and dead trees echoed his thoughts.
His life was over.
It was not enough that his parents were dead but on top of that he head stay in this dire place until he turned sixteen.
The social worker next to him took his hand, like he was a child, and practically dragged him up the broken cobble path. Outside the building was a wonky sign that said 'Hallow Home for Orphans', in a dirty yellow. The social worker pressed a doorbell then rapped on the wooden door which caused flakes of yellow paint to fall off and flutter to the floor.
After a minute or two the door was opened by a harassed looking woman with grey hair tied up in a style not too dissimilar to a birds nest. She was tall and gaunt, looking half-starved with her clothes hanging limply off her body.
"Oh hello," she said her voice sounding weary, "yes we were expecting you. Well, come in, come in." She took a step back then looked down at Kurogane and gave a small smile, probably in the hopes to make him feel secure or something similar.
They stepped into a large entrance hall with a staircase to one side of it leading to a landing with a banister around the edge of it; it looked like there was a long narrow dark corridor behind it.
The harassed looking woman turned around to see what he was staring at, a look of fear taking over her face when she saw nothing behind them she sighed and smiled at him again, a little weaker this time.
"Up there are the bedrooms," she explained, "on the left are the girl's room and boys on the right, two to a room." Kurogane nodded in acknowledgement when she paused and looked at him expectantly. "I will show you to the room you will sleep in later but first let's get you all signed it."
She started walking towards the hallway that leads off from the entrance hall. The social worker tugged on his hand to get him to follow.
Kurogane glanced up at the landing once more to find two blonde boys there looking down at him, they must have only been a few years younger than himself with giant blue eyes that watched him closely. One of them was knelt on the floor, pushed up to the banister one hand gripping the wood tightly and the other holding the second boys hand, who stood close to him. The boy against the banister waved at Kurogane before being pulled back harshly by the one whose hand he held. Eyes bore into his, glaring at him in hatred.
Great, Kurogane thought, I just came here and I'm already hated. It was just his luck.
With a last look at the boys, to see them whispering to each other he allowed the social worker to pull him along.
For what seemed like hours Kurogane sat in an uncomfortable chair listening to the two women chatter non-stop to each other every now and then writing on an indefinable piece of paper. He heard the words "education" and "from another town" which was no doubt about him having to switch schools. He had to start his whole life over again it seemed, there hadn't been a closer orphanage so he was taken away from anything familiar to come here.
Finally the harassed woman stood up, went around her desk to crouch in front of her seat. She told him her name, which is promptly ignored, then offered him her condolences, the same old rubbish that everyone had been spouting since his father got murdered. He was lead out of the room, the two women in front of him this time, leaving him to trail behind.
They stopped at the door where the social worker turned, gave him a hug and a 'good luck' before passing a bag of his things to the harassed woman. She left with a ringing 'bang'.
"Well then," the woman said, "let's get you settled Youou."
"It's Kurogane," he said glumly.
"Excuse me?" she asked kindly.
"My name is Kurogane not Youou."
The woman paused, looking at him dubiously for a few seconds. "Of course, dear," she said eventually in an extremely patronising voice.
She led him up the flight of stairs, which were more than slightly steep. "The older children are placed closest to the stairs so when they come in from their later curfew they won't disturb the younger ones." They walked a small way into the corridor that could be seen from below, it was hard to see how far back it went the lighting was so poor. "Each room has an en-suite bathroom which the occupants share, you're in three."
They stopped in front of a wooden door with the painted number '3' on it in bright yellow, on the right hand side. "Your roommate is in the same year as you, he is only a month older than you, I've already asked him to show you around so there is no need to be nervous." She opened the door which swung inward with a creak.
Inside the room was a tad brighter, there was at least a small window with the curtains drawn back, unfortunately that meant that the horrid yellow colour the walls were painted could be seen. Kurogane guessed that it was supposed to make the place seem warm and welcoming however it just made him want punch the wall in annoyance, which was actually a good idea for later. There were two wooden beds with cream bedspreads, two desks, wardrobes and side tables.
At one of the desks sat a tall boy with short black hair who had turned with a disinterested look on his face towards them, dark eyes boring into them. He was clad in what looked like a school uniform, in black trousers and blazer with a white shirt.
"Kurogane this is Himura Rikuo he will be your roommate," the woman said, "and this is Suwa Kurogane, I hope that you two will get along." She smiled at them, still looking a bit harassed. "Now," her voice turned strict as she looked at Kurogane, "there are a few rules to follow. First, you can bring friends here however you are not have any kinds of 'intimate' relations. All meals are served in the dining hall downstairs, lasting for an hour and a half each; Rikuo will show you the way. You are expected to go to school. There is to be no bullying of any sort, similarly violence will not be tolerated. Curfew is at ten o'clock for the older students." A small beeping emanated from her watch, she looked down at it with a frown. "If you have any questions then ask Rikuo or a member of the staff. I have to leave now." With that she placed his bag on the floor and left in a hurry, the door squeaking after her.
The boy, Himura, pointed towards the bed closest to the window. "That one's yours," he said, then turned away from Kurogane and continued looking at whatever it was on his desk.
Sighing Kurogane picked up his bag and trudged over to the bed. He threw it onto the floor then sat down on the side of the bed facing the window. It was a bleak, grey day; the sky looking like it was about to rain at any second, it was weird how the weather could emulate his mood.
What must have been half an hour later the other boy stood up and headed to the door.
"It will be dinner in a soon, I'll show you to the dining hall."
Reluctantly he stood up and followed Himura out of the room.
In the hallway Kurogane came face to face with the two blonde boys he had seen before. They were walking down the corridor but stopped when they heard the door open. Now two sets of magnificent blue eyes were staring at him intently. They were not wearing a uniform like Himura, instead in blue trousers and white tops, looking identical. Nearly. One of the boys was scowling and the other was wearing a stupid fake smile, idiot anyone with eyes could tell that he didn't mean it. The scowling one tugged on what must have been his brother's hand, trying to get them moving, the boy wouldn't move.
"Hello," he said instead, "what's your name?"
"Kurogane," he answered automatically, surprised at himself usually he didn't like introductions, "who the hell are you?"
"Motosuwa Fai," the scowling one said motioning to himself and then his twin, "and Yuui."
The one indicated as Yuui nodded and beamed up at Kurogane. "It's not too bad here Kuro-pu."
"It's Kurogane."
Suddenly Yuui was violently tugged by Fai and, stumbling, was pulled down the corridor effectively ending the brief, not-quite conversation. When they reached the landing Kurogane saw them stop then huddle close together talking, it looked like a very heated argument from where he was standing. In the end it seemed to end with a violent hand gesture and Fai dragging the other down the stairs.
"You shouldn't get involved with them," Himura said, catching Kurogane off guard.
Kurogane looked over at the boy who was facing forward looking at where the twins had previously been. There was a part of him which wanted to ask why the boy said that however most of him didn't care about strange blonde boys, rationalising that there was no point in knowing as he didn't intend go near them anyway.
With that thought Kurogane grunted at the boy who turned his head to look at him then shrugged and walked forward, leading him towards the dining hall.
Hallow Home for Orphans was akin to a large maze, from the outside one would never guess at how expansive it was inside, doors and corridors all merged into one, the front part of the building was all offices and what looked like disused classrooms. It was not clear what most of the doors lead to though, as only some had windows in them. Near what must be the back of the building were two large ornate doors, the sound of chattering could be heard, this must have been the dining room.
Himura pushed open one door and walked through, holding it open for Kurogane to enter as well. Inside there were a dozen plastic folding tables with chairs set around them. Children from the ages of six until fifteen sat around tables talking. Kurogane guessed that there must have been about twenty people in the room, there was an excess of tables so he assumed some of the children weren't present. Along one side of the room was a buffet set up, he could smell some truly vile odours coming from that direction.
Unfortunately he was led towards it; he picked up a tray and took the safest route, a bowl full of red soup from the buffet and a glass which he filled with water.
Himura walked over to one of the tables where a few others boys were sat, not having any other choice Kurogane went with him.
At the table sat a strange dark haired boy who seemed to be annoying a black haired boy with glasses; however he was not speaking very much so Kurogane wasn't entirely sure about why the boy was getting so irate. Even from a distance they were able to be heard as the bespectacled one was yelling loudly, something about wanting the other to leave.
Himura sat down opposite them, nodding to the quieter one then without saying a word just ate his food. They must have been at most ten years old, which made it very odd that Himura would sit with them, looking around there were children closer to their own age sitting on various tables. Kurogane joined them making sure to keep a distance from the three other boys and started to eat his food, with great distaste.
The loud boy with glasses looked at him in question, which Kurogane made sure to ignore. "Ummm..." the boy said.
Himura looked at him and sighed in annoyance. "This is my new roommate, Suwa Kurogane."
"Oh," the glasses boy said, his eyes turning sad as he gazed upon Kurogane. "Hello, it's nice to meet you, I'm Watanuki Kimihiro, and I live here too." He nudged the boy besides him who completely ignored the action, shooting a glare at the boy he scowled in annoyance. "This is Doumeki Shizuka; he just follows me here so he can get free food!"
Kurogane nodded to them and looked back down at his food. After a few awkward minutes of silence the glasses boy, Watanuki, began yelling again.
It wasn't enough that his parents died and he had to be put in an orphanage, no, he also had to put up with this too. Yelling and chattering during meals. Just great.
Suddenly the noise level died down. Looking up Kurogane saw the two blondes he had seen come down earlier enter the dining hall. What had they been doing? They had gone down the stairs before him; he had assumed that they were headed to the dining hall so where had they really gone to? Not that he cared what they did.
All eyes seemed to be focused on the twins as they moved across the hall, gathered their food and sat on a table furthest away from anyone else. This was apparently a sign for people to regain some of their volume, as they went back to conversing amongst themselves.
It was interesting to watch as the twins sat very close together, one of them focused on their food but glancing up every now and then to swipe his eyes over the hall whilst the others was constantly watching the people eating. At one point Kurogane's eyes met the latter boys, the blonde smiled over at him, a strange light entering his eyes. After no more than two seconds of eye contact the other twin looked up, scowling at Kurogane then barked something out which made the other blonde blush and turn to stare at him food.
Throughout the rest of the meal Kurogane could feel a burning gaze on him, though he did his best to ignore it.
After Himura finished his food he stood up, put his tray on a trolley by the doors (which Kurogane had previously not noted was there) and walked out of the hall. Again, at a loss of what else to do Kurogane followed suit.
They walked down the corridor which they came down before, it was awkward and dark. It was just like how he had felt for the last few days.
Later that night Kurogane was unable to sleep. Since dinner all he did was sit on the bed, ending up looking out of the window which showed a large back garden cast in grey shadows, he noticed a swing set and a climbing frame but it was not very interesting. Then Himura said he was going to bed and turned off the lights, leaving Kurogane no choice but to either sit in darkness or sleep. Both resulted in nothing but annoyance.
Lying in a strange new bed after his world had been spinning crazily for the last few weeks was not pleasant. When he was at home his father would smile at him, give him a hug and say goodnight then his mother would follow him upstairs and tuck him into bed, telling that she loved him.
Eyes burning slightly Kurogane sat up, rubbing his hand over his eyes. Giving into sadness would not do. He was not going to think about it. He was stronger than that.
Staying in the dark room was not an option. He pulled himself out of the bed and walked out into the corridor. It was just as bleak as it had been during the daytime, however he could see that the entry hall had a light on, as it illuminated the landing.
There sat on the landing with his back against the railings, legs pulled up to his chest with his head resting on his knees was a blonde boy. Kurogane stepped towards him subconsciously; the floorboards creaked under his step. The blonde head shot up, bright blue eyes pierced through the gloomy light.
It was one of the twins.
From the way that the fake smile lit up the pale face Kurogane guessed it was the one that didn't seem to hate him.
Strangely he felt an urge to join the boy. Maybe it was that he didn't want to be alone on his first night here. Or just that he was tired of the loneliness that was surrounding him all the time, not just right now. Either way he ended up stepping onto the landing, he made sure he was quite a way from the blonde before sitting down resting his back against the wall, facing the railing.
"Do you remember me?" the boy said.
Kurogane grunted, basically ignoring the boy. Just because he may or may not have been lonely did mean he wanted to talk. He closed his eyes, wanting calmness he couldn't seem to get from the dark bedroom.
The sound of fabric rustling drew Kurogane's attention back to the blonde. Opening his eyes, Kurogane saw that the boy had shuffled down the railing so he was sitting opposite Kurogane now.
"I'm Yuui," the boy grinned at him, "remember that okay Kuro-pi?"
Grunting again Kurogane shifted so he was further away from the boy once more. However after only one second Yuui moved so he was facing in again.
"Where's the other one?" Kurogane asked, hoping that the other blonde would turn up, glare at him and drag its brother away.
"Brother is sleeping," Yuui leaned forward, purposefully getting into Kurogane's personal space.
"Then go sleep as well," Kurogane said, not liking how close the boy was.
Yuui giggled and pulled away slightly. "Then who would keep you company, Kuro-san?"
Kurogane turned his head away from the blonde, staring at the window high above the door, on the same level as the landing. It was round and dirty, obviously never cleaned as it was too high up to reach.
"It's okay to be lonely," the voice was small; glancing over at the boy he saw that the smile was gone. Blue eyes focused on the floor in front of him, pale arms pulling knees up to his chest. "Everyone gets lonely sometimes. Even in a crowded room, one can be very much alone. No one understands, too involved with their own lives and problems to take so much as take one second to look your way, to talk to you. Being with people just causes more loneliness."
All Kurogane could do was stare at the younger boy. He had to have been ten or eleven but he already seemed to understand the world beyond his years. There was something in his hollow tiny voice which wrenched at Kurogane's heart.
"Doesn't your brother keep you company?"
A small sad grimace flashed across the blondes face, blue eyes turning dull. "I keep him company, not the other way around." Arms tightened on the knees.
Not knowing what else to do, Kurogane reached out a hand and pressed it against a small pale one. Face heating up he quickly pulled it away. He wasn't used to comforting people, especially ones he just met.
The blue eyes closed slightly and a weird tender sparkle entered them, a real smile echoing the sentiment also appeared. "Have you ever wanted someone to take you away from everything?"
Kurogane shot up, not expecting that. "Father always said never to wait for people to do something for you, always try to get what you want yourself, it will be better that way. If you want to then just go."
A bitter smile replaced the once soft one. "If only it were that simple."
"Then make it simple." Yuui looked at him, eyes going wide from shock. Kurogane held the blue gaze firmly, not letting it waver for even a second.
With a small sigh Yuui stood up, he leaned over Kurogane the fake smile returning. "Kuro-rin is very smart and very kind." He stood up straight, looking it the direction of the dark corridor, eyes wavering for a few seconds. "I should go in case brother wakes up; it wouldn't do for him to be lonely." A few steps, a pause. "It would probably be best for Kurogane to leave whilst he can."
In a blur of blonde hair and white fabric Yuui was gone.
The talk with the strange boy only left Kurogane feeling slightly confused. However the sadness from before was gone now, only thoughts of the weird boy remained.
Perhaps Himura was right; you shouldn't get involved with them.
Not that he was going to. Ever.
What felt like hours later Kurogane went back into the bedroom; he fell asleep easier than expected to. Thankfully only darkness waited for him in his dreams.
The next morning he was woken by his roommate moving around, changing clothes and such. Just before the sound of the door closing he heard, "breakfast is already going on, should be another half hour before it's finished."
Breathing out harshly Kurogane got up from the bed, he quickly took out clothes from the suitcase he had brought with him and changed.
He went down the same route he had taken the day before, making his way towards the dining hall as best he could. The fact that his roommate left him alone when it hadn't even been twenty-four hours since he arrived was not what he would call helpful. Not that he needed any help.
It seemed that the landing was not going to be a very helpful thing either. There stood one blonde boy, who must be glued to damn thing, leaning against the railing this time. The pale face lit up with a bright fake smile when he caught sight of Kurogane.
Practically bouncing with energy the boy came over to him. "Thank you for keeping me company last night, Kuro-san," he said happily.
Kurogane grunted and tried to go downstairs, but was stopped by the boy who moved in front of him.
"I really do appreciate it," this was said somewhat more sincerely.
He looked down at the blonde boy who just looked up at him smiling; sighing in annoyance Kurogane decided he might as well say something.
"It's Yuui right?"
The bright blue eyes darkened and the smile disappeared. "No," he said; hurt lacing the voice, "I'm Fai."
This confused him.
He was certain that both times he met the over exuberant boy he was introduced to him as Yuui. It couldn't be that he was in fact the other twin, that one had a completely different feel to his presence.
It could just be that he was faking and switched names with his brother.
No, it couldn't be. The expression on the boys face truly looked like he was in pain because Kurogane got his name wrong. It was genuine.
Then why was it the wrong name?
"Of course," Kurogane said, still not overly sure what was going on.
Fai leaned up, looking into Kurogane's face intently. "Don't forget it next time!"
Before Kurogane could say what he wanted, it would have been a really good cutting remark; a different yet similar voice interrupted them.
"Fai!" Turning, the second blonde boy stood not too far from them.
Immediately Fai stepped away from Kurogane and moved over to his twin, as soon as he was within reached the other took Fai's hand, pulling him the rest of the way.
There was that evil glare again. It was practically poisonous.
It was weird, the day before it was not Fai himself that introduced them, but this other boy. He was now absolutely sure that the names had been switched. He doubted the boy he talked to last night was able to look so malevolently at another person, no matter how good at acting like his brother he could be. Those strange eyes which shone with sadness couldn't ever look be like the ones glare at him. Though why he was so sure Kurogane didn't know.
The twins left, Fai being pulled reluctantly behind his twin. He cast a sad glance over his shoulder towards Kurogane as they descended the stairs.
As Kurogane watched them he could only think one thing, liars.
A/N: Please comment, I really want to know what people think! Quite nervous about it as it's the first chaptered one I have done.
Yes there is a reason for everything mentioned. Yup even that tiny detail that makes no sense. That too.
First time writing Doumeki, Watanuki and Rikuo (don't worry the latter comes into his own in the next chapter, you know who is going to turn up ;) ) Sorry if any seem really OOC, remember their ages are much younger so they have yet to develop... is that a good excuse?
Anyway, please comment!