A/N: This story may not be as serious as the summary makes it sound. This story takes place during the Meiji period or something like that because I'm not very familiar with Japanese History so forgive me for any inconsistency on that and I ask that you ignore it or you may enlighten me about it. Still, I hope you enjoy!

PROLOGUE

Nanase Haruka was making his way towards the Chairman's office while going over in his head what he wanted to say and needed to express towards the person with the highest position within the school. He wasn't entirely sure if he could get to talk with the Chairman or if he would even be allowed to see him. But this was for the sake of a good friend, a special friend, for his future and for the greater good. So he wanted to do everything he could do to help his friend even if that meant that he had to use whatever power his family name had.

Seeing the last turn of the corridor to reach the Chairman's office, Haruka inhaled deeply and held it in as he made the turn. But the breath he held in was released at the sight of silky red hair. His feet stopped walking and he just waited for the woman with the red hair to reach him.

The woman had her head bowed and a hand covering the lower part of her face thus making it difficult to see her face. At first, Haruka thought that maybe she wouldn't even notice him but as she was just about to pass him by, she stopped and looked down at him with wide, glassy eyes. "Nanase-kun, what are you doing here?" She asked in a gentle, comforting tone that the adults always seemed to use when talking to a child. Except, the gentleness and comfort in her voice were sincere and Haruka knew that.

"I…" Haruka started then trailed off, finding out that he didn't know what to answer to her question. He searched his mind for the right words to say that wouldn't offend and hurt this woman but because there were too many things that ran in his mind, he ended up staying silent and just balling his hands into fists.

The red-haired woman seemed to have noticed his loss for words. The corners of her lips rose slightly as she placed a hand on his shoulder and bent down on her knees to get their heights at a level. "Nanase-kun, you've been a good friend to my son. Thank you for taking care of him for all these times." Her arms slowly enveloped around the small body of Haruka and wrapped around him tightly. "I'm glad that you gave him good memories of this society."

Haruka's breath caught and he felt that he didn't deserve her words of gratitude. Or rather, he didn't want to hear them and he didn't like how she made it sound like it's a farewell. He was still going to talk to that Chairman so there was still hope. So he didn't want to hear any goodbyes just yet.

The warmth of the woman's arms left him as she straightened up to her feet and ruffled his hair. "Sorry, Nanase-kun, I have to go. Rin's waiting for me. I really hope I get that chance to see you again." She gave him one last smile before turning away and walking towards the opposite direction to the Chairman's office.

Forgetting about his nervousness and the script he'd made in his head to say to the Chairman, he almost ran to the door that led to the person he needed to make his friend stay and it took his all to not burst in and to stop in front the door to knock.

However, when his knuckles lightly hit the wooden material of the door, it slightly cracked open, bringing to him the sound of voices talking. He was surprised to find that he recognized both of the voices that conversed inside and he couldn't help himself turning rigid with confusion.

"…waiting for this to happen. He'd started to become a threat that just had to be removed before things turned for the worst." A deep, intimidating voice that Haruka knew all too well to the point of making his blood turn cold stated.

"Well, this is definitely good for you. Recently, the son of that person had also started to get close to your son." This voice Haruka recognized was that of the Chairman's. He knew that eavesdropping would get him punished if he's found out but because he'd heard of something he understood, he couldn't remove himself from outside the door. "If he knew of what you did, your son might rebel against you."

A chuckle followed by the deep voice. "Well, I'll re-educate him well. So well that even when I told him I'm the one who killed the bastard who happened to be his friend's father, he wouldn't even bat an eye."

The hair on Haruka's skin stood on ends, his eyes widening as wide as they could. He took a few steps backwards, refusing to hear any more and without even realizing it, his feet started to run. He didn't know where his feet was bringing him for all he could think of was to escape. Escape the sound of that deep voice, escape the true meaning of those words, escape the realization that they're parting and escape the feelings of reality that was too real.

When his feet slowed down, his breathing coming out in pants, he wiped away the sweat that was forming on his forehead with a sleeve and he looked around him. He immediately recognized the place that his feet led him to and this… this place was his escape.

He walked the rest of the way and he let out a soundless gasp when he saw a familiar figure with a head of red standing underneath a tree that had not a single leaf left. He could only stare at the back of the person when a surge of mixed emotions flooded him just as much as the many thoughts that occurred in mind. He hesitated between letting the person know of his presence or to just leave even this place to run somewhere else. Before he could decide, the person turned around and laid red eyes on him.

The two just stared at one another with identical shocked expression until the red-haired finally broke out into a small smile and spoke, "I guess this is goodbye, Haru." He attempted to appear cheerful but the hint of sadness was there. "But I don't really want this to be the end of our friendship so I was thinking if I could go and visit you in your house sometimes."

Haruka's breath hitched and he shook his head a bit forcefully. "You can't." He didn't know how he managed to sound the same as usual when everything inside of him was in turmoil. He didn't want their friendship to just end either. "You can't. The high-society is just not for you, Rin. You're not suitable to be among us. It'd be so much better for you to just live a normal life." He swallowed a sound that almost escaped him at the sight of Rin's hurt expression. But this was better, he told himself. Much better than other people hurting Rin.

Rin's expression changed into that of anger, his shoulder tensed up and his hands clenched into tight fists. "What the hell?! I thought you didn't care about status or fame!"

"You're wrong!" Haruka countered with as much anger as he could. "I do care! From the very beginning, I didn't want anyone with a low status around me! You're the one who forced yourself on me!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to take them back. Well, they were actually the truth but he didn't want Rin to misunderstand his meaning. But misunderstanding him was better. So he pressed his lips together into a tight line to prevent himself from spouting any more words.

Rin visibly shook in anger, his face burning a red as red as his irises. "Well, fine! I'm out of your life!" He yelled and started stomping towards Haruka. "I'm never seeing you again! Ever! I hate you!" were his last words before he passed by Haruka and stomped away.

Haruka just watched him leave until he was out of sight before Haruka fell on his knees on the ground and trembled. He told himself that these was for the better.