CHAPTER 1

"Promise me something, Teito."

"Anything."

"Live, Teito. Live, for me. For you."

"I promise."

Teito gasped and jerked awake. He groaned and rubbed his eyes. He hadn't dreamt of that night in weeks. He pressed the palms of his hand to his eyes and held back the tears. Mikage. I miss you. Because of that stupid promise, Teito forced himself to live. He lived on the streets, homeless. Stealing from people, from markets, from shops. Luckily he hasn't been caught. Not yet. Teito groaned again and sat up, rubbing his aching, empty belly. He glanced around the dark room. It had chipped walls, collapsed sections of the ceiling, and rotten floorboards. Graffiti covered every conceivable part of the walls, even the bricked up window. Gross. He found an abandoned building the day before, expecting it to be full of druggies or gang members. Luckily, there were only a few other homeless people who were passed out or drunk. They didn't even notice Teito come in. He found an empty room that smelled like shit and curled into a corner, a knife in his hand.

Teito stood and stretched, popping his back. He quietly walked out of the room, looking for any danger in the shadows. He heard snoring, grumbling, and other questionable sounds from some of the rooms. He cautiously picked his way around trash that littered the hallway until he reached the door. He stepped over an unconscious person who reeked of alcohol, wrinkling his nose and slowly pushing the door open. The rusted hinges screeched through the silence making Teito cringe. He darted through the opening and ran down the alley out into the sunlight. Glancing behind him he made sure no one was following. Not that anyone would. No one is near conscious enough to. With a sigh he meandered down the sidewalk, joining the throng of early morning people. As always, Teito was aware of his surroundings. Ever since he escaped from the manor and from Ayanami, he had to make sure not to get captured again. He gritted his teeth just thinking of that man. No, that monster. Teito stuffed his hands in his holey jeans and ducked his head to cover the string of swear words and the rush of anger that came anytime he thought of him. Ayanami was the head of the FBI and had eyes everywhere; physical eyes and electronic. After Teito escaped, the FBI were charged in finding him and bringing him back to that place. If not for Teito's promise to Mikage he would have given up and died long ago. But no, he had to live. Right on cue his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten in the past forty some odd hours.

Teito sighed and ran his fingers through his greasy hair, pondering on where to go. He couldn't go to the North district, that's where he went last and he was nervous going back because he was almost caught that time. Someone noticed him snatching a box of granola bars in a gas station and called him on it. The owner was furious, grabbing a broom and charging him. Teito tried to run for it but received a hard blow to the ribs, his back, and his head. He barely managed to get out of the gas station and somehow dropped the box in the process.

Teito glanced up, squinting in the sun, and decided to go more towards the West district. He didn't even know what town or city he was in. Every week or so he would hitch hike, walk, or jump on a bus to a different place. He was worried that if he stayed too long the constant surveillance everywhere would pick him up and he would be found. Lost in his thoughts, Teito almost tripped when his stomach cramped suddenly. When the pain dissipated he finally registered the absolutely amazing smell coming from a bakery across the street. Teito stared longingly at it, clutching his stomach and his mouth watering. It was a small, cozy looking shop with large glass windows and a flashing Welcome sign. The Taste of Heaven Bakery seemed to glow. Teito couldn't help himself. He wandered across the street and through the door. The place was packed with customers and it was busy. Teito smiled, slow and cunning. It's risky, but promising. Now, if only there was anything within reach he could snatch it and get away without anyone noticing. There was a petit girl at the cash register taking orders and a large burly man taking things in an out of a large oven in the back. Teito noticed the looks some people were giving him; disgust, pity, worry. He looked down at himself: he was wearing a sweater that had so many holes, it was practically useless and the color so faded and dirty you couldn't tell what it used to be. His jeans were ripped, torn, and covered in mud. His shoes were in no better condition. His clothes hung loosely off his thin frame. All in all, he looked homeless. And he was. He needed to grab something, and fast. He weaved his way forward, using his small and once muscular body to get close to the front. Lucky for him there were pastries on display and within easy reach. Knowing he was running out of time and without thinking, he reached for the thing closest to him, a large bun of some sort that smelled like cinnamon. He grabbed it and tried to get out. Unfortunately a few people noticed and grabbed him.

"Hey! You got a thief here!" Teito froze in the strangers grasp. Great. Just yell it to the whole store. Fear coiled in his stomach and he began thrashing, kicking, and biting, clutching the bun close to his body. The stranger yelped and let go. That was all he needed. Teito pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, hearing shouts behind him.

"Someone grab him!"

"Stop him!"

"Ugh, what an animal!"

Dodging and kicking more arms and legs he made it through and out the door. He glanced behind him and gulped nervously. The burly man who was in the back was charging out of the door with an enraged look on his face. Their eyes met and the burly man actually growled and started towards him with a murderous look in his eyes. Teito took off running as fast as he possibly could. He dreaded to think what would happen if this man caught him and he had no doubt that he wouldn't make it out alive, or at least beaten to within an inch of his life.

The man was yelling angrily behind him but Teito didn't look back again, he kept running down the street, dodging around people. He took the first alleyway he found. He could barely hear the thunderous footsteps behind him over his racing heart and jagged breath. Teito turned right and left and right and left until he got lost in the back alleys. He couldn't hear the footsteps anymore but was too scared to look behind him. He made another turn and froze in his tracks, his heart sputtering to a stop. A dead end. He whirled around and blew out a breath to see he was alone. He was about to go back out when he heard cursing and swearing around the corner. The man would find him any minute now and he was trapped. Teito turned around again and frantically scanned the dead end with desperate eyes. There were torn and crushed boxes, a trash can, a dumpster, and…. Above the dumpster was a fire escape. Teito's breath hitched as he saw his only way out. He stuffed the bun in his mouth, nearly drooling around it, and scrambled on top of the dumpster. He jumped for the edge of the ladder and missed, his feet clanging on the lid of the dumpster. Shitshitshitshit he jumped again and successfully grabbed it, hauling himself up, nearly ripping the muscles in his arms. He heard someone getting closer and shot up the ladder so fast he nearly slipped. He stepped onto the fire escape and ran up the stairs to the roof, pushing himself up and over, collapsing on the floor of the roof. He took the bun out of his mouth and heaved a sigh of relief. He waited in trepidation for the noise of running and swearing to fade. After a while his stomach growled and cramped, reminding him again of how hungry he was. Teito sat up, clutching his prize in his hands. Then he smiled, a real smile and took a big bite into the bun. He nearly moaned at the heavenly taste that burst in his mouth. Within seconds it was gone and Teito was licking his hands clean of both the bun and dirt. He sighed contentedly and reluctantly stood up, peering over the edge of the roof. The alley below was empty. He bit his lip, debating on climbing down. Either I stay and risk the man retracing his steps and finding the ladder, or I leave and risk running into him again.

"Dammit!" He cursed in frustration. Teito sighed and sat back down. Half an hour. He would wait half an hour then leave.

"Promise me something, Teito." Teito clutched the bloody hands in his and looked into his eyes, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Anything." The boy in his arms coughed weakly, hacking up some blood. He looked to Teito again, his eyes glazing over.

"Live, Teito. Live, for me. For you." Teito clutched the boy closer to his chest. The boy shuddered and grimaced in pain, looking at Teito expectantly.

"I promise." The boy smiled, a smile full of love and joy. Then he stilled and his eyes slipped closed, his breathing becoming nonexistent. Tears fell on his face and Teito pulled the boy in even and closer, letting his head fall on the unmoving chest and finally sobbing against the broken body.

Pain flared around Teito's heart, waking him up. He jerked into sitting position, his head in his hands.

"Fuck." His tears started to slip from his eyes and through his fingers. "Fuck." He said again, and curled into a ball on the roof, the sun beginning to set.