DISCLAIMER: This is a rewritten version of another Syo x Ai fanfiction called Beautiful Love, by HyperxSuperxLover. The fanfiction appears to have been discontinued (it has not been updated for two years). So, basically, the ENTIRE STORY CONCEPT BELONGS TO THAT STORY AND AUTHOR. However, because it is discontinued, I hope to continue it, with my own ideas.

It became obvious to Syo after everything.

Others may consider Syo and Natsuki as friends that are incredibly close. Best friends, even. Knowing each other since childhood, it may seem that their friendship was destined as they meet again at Saotome Academy, and debut together in STARISH.

Syo hated fate. He also hated the fact that he was subliminal. He hated that he would do anything to help Natsuki. To help him forget the disastrous and traumatic experience Natsuki went through when he was younger. Syo had always wondered whether he was doing it for sympathy or if it was because he cared for Natsuki. Of course, he always reassured himself it was the latter.

Then why?

Why did he have to choose the second option?

Natsuki was prone to taking off his glasses in frustration, still unaware of what happened when those glasses were off.

Natsuki was usually frustrated when his efforts of being with Haruka Nanami failed. Being aggressive, and with no one else to help, there were many sexual suppressions that he had to go through.

And Syo, being an idiot and falling for it when Natsuki declared to him that their relationship was love, let Natsuki, or really, Satsuki, use him for that purpose.

They wouldn't speak of it the next morning. After it, Satsuki would return to his own bed, put his glasses back on, and forget of it. To be strictly honest, now, Syo wondered if Natsuki even knew they had a secret relationship. If it was even considered one.

Now, Syo was unsure what happened when Satsuki told him that they wouldn't do that anymore. A new, very cute female senior came in, and Natsuki and her struck up a conversation. In the end, Natsuki moved dorms, leaving Syo alone with Ai.

He remembered it clearly, like it was just yesterday.

Satsuki had Syo pinned down. "S-Satsuki, it's morning, we can't-" Syo says, when Satsuki basically slapped Syo when trying to get him to shut up.

"We're. Not." He said, cold, as if the statement was written in stone. Syo opens his eyes.

"Huh?"

Satsuki gets off Syo, climbing down the ladder. Then he let out a dark,harsh laugh.

"You're ridiculously stupid." Satsuki says, glaring at the shorter boy above on the top bunk. Syo's expression was replaced with pure shock.

"You fell for this mechanical thing that I labeled, 'love.' And now you know. Neither I or Natsuki ever loved you." Satsuki finishes. He fishes in his pocket and pulls out glasses, hastily putting them on. He blinks, and it was Natsuki again. Natsuki looks up at Syo with a smile.

"Ah, Syo-kun! What are you doing up there? Anyway, it doesn't matter. You'll get more space today! I'm moving dorms!" He exclaims cheerfully. Syo was speechless, the events happening before his eyes not registering. Natsuki walks over and grabs a suitcase, which Syo had never noticed was there, and leaves the room.

"See you around, then!" Natsuki calls over his shoulder.

The door shut, leaving Syo in the darkness, except the bits of sunshine that escaped through the closed blinds of the window. And Syo felt something damp slide down his cheek and splash onto his blanket.

Afterwards, STARISH was announced to go on a tour, which would last a week or so. However, Syo felt ill, so he was rushed to his doctor the day before, and it was stated that he couldn't go because his heart was unusually having a few small problems and he needed rest.

Syo knew why.

It was the morning before the tour. As the STARISH members boarded the bus, Reiji helps Otoya and Haruka with their luggage.

"Huh? Where's Syo?" Otoya suddenly asks. Haruka looks at him, showing that she also did not know. Reiji lets out a brief and forced laugh.

"Aha, oh, he's not feeling well, and can't attend. Since you're not performing any concerts, it's okay for him to skip." Reiji explains. Otoya and Haruka exchange looks.

"I see. That's... That's horrible..." Haruka murmurs. Otoya looks up at the bus windows, surprised to Natsuki, expressionless, and staring straight ahead of the bus.

"What? Natsuki-kun isn't... Worried or anything? Does he know? They're close friends, right?" Otoya wonders. Then he shakes the thought off and smiles weakly.

"He'll be okay, right?" Otoya asks Reiji, who gives him a thumbs up.

"Yup. He's in good hands." Reiji responds.

Otoya and Haruka nod, and board the bus, but their moods dim.


Ai sighs. It's been a long day, and the members of STARISH were gone. He stretches and he opens the door to his room. He switches the light on.

"Jeez. This place is quieter than ever without the juniors." He mutters to himself. As he heads to his side of the room, he passes the bunk bed. The bottom of the bunk bed was, well, no longer going to be occupied, so it was folded neatly and untouched. He notices at the top of the bunk bed that there was a large lump.

Ah, so Syo is in here. I'm glad he listened and is resting.

Ai climbs quietly up the top of the ladder, wondering if Syo was asleep. Shining had ordered him to take care of the blonde over the course of the trip, since Syo was presumably ill.

As he peers at the lump, he sees that only half of Syo's body was covered in the blanket, and his face could not be seen, since it was pushed into the pillow.

"Syo, you're going to catch a cold if you sleep like that. And you'll suffocate." Ai mumbles. He reaches forward to adjust the blanket and Syo's head, but as his fingers brushed Syo's ear, Syo jerked, sending a kick to Ai's face.

Now, there is a program in Ai where he does not feel simple pains that humans feel, but it had to be toggled. So Ai was sent flying backwards. His back collided with the end board of the bunk bed, and he could feel a bruise form on his cheek.

"Ow..." He moans quietly. Syo looks up from the pillow, and his eyes widen.

"A-Ai! I-I'm sorry, I didn't know it w-was you..." Ai heard Syo apologize. The bluenette looks up, ready to scold the ignorant blonde boy, but stops short when he sees Syo's face. Tear stains marked his cheeks; his blue eyes displayed sharp red veins, as if he was crying for hours on end. Syo looked like a mess.

"Syo? What's wrong?" Ai asks quickly in concern. He had never seen the boy like this. His data showed that Syo hasn't cried in a very long time, and he was certain that Syo would not show anyone that he had been crying. Nothing made Syo cry. Then, what did?

Syo coughs, which Ai guessed was supposed to be a laugh. "Oh, it's nothing. Nothing. Just not feeling well." Syo responds, showing Ai a weak smile. It was a horrible facade, and Ai didn't believe it even for a second. Still, Ai disliked the way tears looked on Syo's face, though he was unsure why he didn't. He searched in his left pocket, his fingers wrapping around the small tissue pack. A tissue in his hand, he pounces on Syo, pinning him beneath him, spat on the tissue, and begins to scrub his face. Ai used his free hand to begin to tickle Syo's side, which caused the older male to be thrown into uncontrollable laughter.

"A-Ai! Pfftt, ahahaha! S-stop, please- hahaha- it hurts, Ai, stop!" Syo yells out in sections. Ai scrubbed the remaining stain off his cheek, ceasing his tickling. Syo breathes, trying to regain his breath.

"I'm sorry, that was the only way I could probably get you to submit." Ai explains with a smile. Syo looks up at him, his exhausted and unhappy expression returning.

"Why'd you do it anyway?" Syo mutters, using his hands to massage his face. Ai tilts his head.

"Tear stains are bad for your skin, and-" He pauses, and flicks the older boy on the forehead. "They don't suit you."

Syo coughs. "Wow. You're so corny. Referencing Triangle Beat, me, you, and Natsuki's..." His voice trails off, and he bites his lip, feeling the sudden urge to cry all over again. "...song..."

Ai looks at him, and he rolls off Syo and sits upright against the wall. "Ah, I see." He says. It made sense. "Natsuki's the only one capable of making you cry."

Syo's lip quivers, but he stops. Ai leans against the wall. "Normally, I wouldn't ask you for such personal information, but at this rate, it'll definitely affect your performance in the industry. As your senior, anyway." He states.

Syo simply looks at him, obviously confused. Ai lets out a sigh, and smiles softly.

"I mean, tell me what's bothering you." Ai repeats.

"Oh..." Syo says, though he doesn't continue.

"Natsuki... Did Natsuki say something to you?" Ai asks.

"W-What do you mean?" Syo replies, noting that his voice shook with each syllable.

"My data suggests that this certain 'problem' will remain this way, affecting your interactions with others and everything, unless we figure out the source of this, 'problem.' And the data easily suggests that your source is Natsuki, since he is the only one capable of putting you in this state." Ai explains.

Despite the pain in his chest at the mention of that name, Syo's eyebrow raises.

"Wha-" Syo struggled to reply, trying to understand the deeper meaning behind his senior's answer. He frowns, "How much do you know?"

Ai shifts his gaze. "I know more than you think, but don't worry. I'm not going to go around and spill private information; it's against my nature."

"Your... Nature? But, aren't you an andro-" He starts.

"I was respectively born and raised, but that's against the point. What I'm trying to say is that I obviously respect your private concerns, but as your senior, I must take action when it intervenes with matters such as your interaction with STARISH and specifically, Natsuki." Ai interrupts.

Syo bites his lip hard, almost to the point where it bled, much to Ai's distaste.

"Enough. Just answer my question already." He groans, using his hand to comb through his tragically messy hair.

"I know that you and Natsuki are in an unauthorized sexual relationship." Ai states clearly.

"Were. And it wasn't actually with Natsuki..." Syo corrects, though his stomach lurched.

"Correct, it had to do with Natsuki's Gemini syndrome, or as I should call it, his 'alter-ego,' Satsuki." Ai says. "And I see."

Syo shifts his position uncomfortably.

"And I also know that this relationship was slightly domestic, though it shouldn't really be labeled that since it was to your consent." Ai continues. Syo felt the blood in his head pound, which caused him to visually wince.

"Also, I understand that because of the sexual suppression Natsuki, or Satsuki, had to deal with about Haruka Nanami, this relationship was formed because of his tendency to subliminally force you to submit to his whims and-"

He was stopped when Syo placed his hand over Ai's mouth; the tears that he had managed to hold back for so long welling in his eyes.

"That's... Stop..." He managed to choke out, as he began to softly sob.

Ai slowly placed his hand over Syo's and removed it from his mouth, though not letting go. "And what I recommend is that you have someone comfort you. Since your brother is not in proximity for that and Otoya is on the trip, I'll be taking their place." Ai smiles gently. He uses his free hand to wipe away the trickling tears that slid down Syo's face as he cried. "If you cry too much, you'll get a headache."

Syo would respond that he already had a headache, but he couldn't find his voice. Instead, he desperately tried to wipe the tears away with his sleeve, though failing. Ai squeezed Syo's hand in an attempt to calm him; he pulled out more tissues and helped Syo slow the onslaught of tears. It was still an unfamiliar thing to Ai, the use of tissues for tears. Since his system was not updated for that emotion, he was physically unable to cry, so it was such an unknown concept.

"Even if you're a little slow sometimes, and you're unusually sensitive to topics such as height, you're not what you call yourself." Ai began, "And you can always brush it off with Otokogi Zenkai." Ai makes a pulling movement with his arm to reference, 'Victory!,' or, 'Yes!' This earned him a small chuckle from Syo, even through his tears.

"Things of similar context." Ai finishes, smiling. Syo looks at him, and returns with a very small smile. Though pained, it was genuine, and that's all Ai wanted. Ai felt Syo squeeze his hand back, and suddenly, he felt an odd sensation in his chest.

What's this?

Ai was used to being introduced to new emotions, since some could not be easily downloaded and had to be learned through experience. But he had never expected to feel a new one now. This only made him confused. This new emotion felt as if it was targeted towards Syo. Ai blinks.

What is this called?

As Syo lay in Ai's lap, recollecting himself, Ai quickly thought of what he was thinking and what he was feeling.

Let's see. I had the sudden thought of wanting to... Not let others hurt Syo? Not letting others interact with him in case this happens again? This is possessiveness, but...

Ai's new thoughts also confused him. He had a random image of locking up Syo in an iron cage, so no one could ever hurt him again. That way, Ai would never have to see the pained look that had appeared on Syo's face ever again.

That's a strange thought. I don't think I'm supposed to be imagining that...

Still curious, Ai thought of other images, wondering if he could stir this new emotion further. The image of Natsuki appeared, and surprisingly, Ai's mechanical heart flared.

Maybe it's because he has relation to Syo's pain.

More images began popping up as Ai addressed what he knew.

Syo's sexual relationship with Natsuki.

Syo being slightly sexually abused by Natsuki.

Syo and Natsuki doing... Things...

Syo having his-

Ai's mind whirred, and he felt himself overheat. Or, at least that's what he thought it was.

No, no, no. What happened there? That was oddly unpleasant.

Why did he feel this emotion strictly when he thought of those things? This bothered Ai to no end, and left him flustered.

Finally, he became aware of the weight on his lap. Ai looks down and sees Syo, calm, but asleep. His hair looked fluffy. Without really thinking, Ai shifted his hand through Syo's hair, making sure the blonde didn't wake up.

It's soft. My chest feels warm. Am I overheating?

Ai snaps out of the daze at the faint smell of metal. Shit, he really was overheating.

Not good, not go-od.

Ai felt his vision flicker, and he fell unconscious.