Notes: Yes… My command of the English Language is horrible, and as to where I got this stupid idea, is actually from my test I had on Monday. Absolutely hate the school…

Warning: Shounen-ai ahead! Homophobes stay away or press the back button if you're uncomfortable!

Disclaimer: Broke like nobody's business… Barely enough to get class photos. Don't own Tsubasa!

(Edited on 04/02/09)

Solitude

(Chapter One: Alone?)

It was amazing how easy it was to find solitude out in this area under this shady tree, where moonlight filtered through the leaves on the tree and danced on them and all over the ground.

Fai leaned backwards into the tree, Kurogane on the other side. They gave solitude a whole new meaning, since technically, it means being alone without other people bustling around you all day long. Of course in the day it was virtually impossible to get some peace with the mage keeping up his stupid, smiley face in front of the kids. Or the term 'brats', so it seem he would prefer.

The first time you meet that guy, staring out into the glittering sky in silence seemed too much to ask, a notion one could only pine after or achieve in his own dream-world, but Kurogane was perceptive, and it just didn't seem as improbable as it did anymore. It wasn't so much as a relief that there would actually be a time of peace and quiet since they had started out on this adventure of theirs, not since they lost the most precious of items to the Dimensional Witch, no. Kurogane was slowly learning the meaning of true strength, and Fai was teaching him; surprisingly.

"Kuro…" It was barely a whisper, and the fact that the mage had left it hanging at that confused him. Still, he wasn't sure if this was another trick of his, one of the many bastardizations of his name, or he was torn between the decisions of whether he should address him by his real name or not. But then again, it was perhaps a better idea to answer than cause possible bigger problems.

'Like what?' He couldn't help but ask himself. Then he said aloud, "What?" The word came out hoarse, and he resisted the urge to clear his throat. He settled for a frustrated look, and stared into the ground, watching the small squares of light in the city slowly diminishing the longer they stayed.

Somehow, just somehow, perhaps just out of pure curiosity, he decided to wait for Fai's response. He realized the fact that he had never called his companions by their names before, be it whether he felt that it was going to degrade his ninja pride, or he was just simply unwilling to, wasn't clear to himself either. Or maybe it was a manner of endearment, and he was reluctant to have any closer bonds.

The reply he was waiting for left him strangely disappointed, but he didn't say anything to protest against it, or to probe into the other's mind. He simply provided space.

"Nothing…"

Kurogane busied himself with the job he had found himself in this other world. He did not bother to ask for the name of the country they had landed in, concerning himself with the only pressing matter at the moment: to collect that freaking feather and get the hell out of here. He doesn't react as strongly as he used to when they just started out, and one thing that didn't change was that that white ball of a meat-bun still annoyed him to no end.

A sound of metal hitting flesh was heard, and a wince resounded across the room.

"Look, you better fix that back up again, or I'm docking your pay…" Curse the lousy, stupid, leaking roofs and stingy employers…

Metal once again connected with flesh.

Hammers too.

He reached back home with a plastered thumb, flopping himself onto one of the chairs in the dining area, closed his eyes and tilted his head backward. He peeped open an eye when he heard the door clicking open. The scent of babies, and something that smelled suspiciously like something they excrete, wafted into the room.

"Hello Kuro-pipi! Boy, aren't you early today?" He then let out a mock gasp, immediately noticing the tortured thumb that Kurogane was trying to hide. "Whatever did you do to your thumb?" He made a move to go closer to inspect it, but he stopped it with a wave of his hand.

"Don't come any closer. I don't want to smell like baby crap…" Fai pouted, and walked past him towards the kitchen. Kurogane just stared at the spot he had been in just a moment ago, before standing up and stretching his arms upwards. At least, fixing broken ceilings were much better than being a babysitter.

Yes, much better.

Kurogane strode towards the usual spot. The tree stood out tall in the twilight, leaves occasionally leaving it for the ground. He sat down on the damp earth, musing on the afternoon on how he was almost fired for making a hole that was meant to be patched, bigger. He could have sworn that his employer was biting his tongue from screaming out and attract trouble to herself instead, while he stood at the side grinning like a fool holding a broken hammer.

Even though his pay was cut from the extra materials they needed, the expressions the woman had sported was enough to make his day, so he wasn't complaining.

Life wasn't bad.

No, he wasn't a failure at life which his employer had labeled him just a few hours ago. But then again, he probably shouldn't be here trying to badmouth her, since it was already a miracle in itself that he still held that ridiculous job. That, and he had seen the woman sneeze out of the corner of his eye.

It was then, that he noticed that a familiar figure was missing, and the grass felt lingeringly warm. He narrowed his eyes, trying to think. The chances of him having gone back home wasn't really high, since he would have seen him on the way here. He should try to find him, even if he did not particularly like his presence. Only that it felt different when it was dusk, for some reason or another. Thoughts were just hard to come by when he wasn't near. He sighed. Since there was no one around, he guessed this wouldn't count as tarnishing his reputation.

So, Kurogane went in search of the idiot, if only to see he didn't get into more trouble than he usually did.

Notes: Ok… Review? Constructive criticism appreciated…