OMG I WROTE ANOTHER FANFIC INSTEAD OF UPDATING MY OLD ONES D:
Jury's decision: ...GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES. TO BE HANGED AND QUARTERED!
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It's Bliss to Forget
Chapter One: What Hate I hold for You...
Summary: Fea Cruz "died" before he could seal away Teito's memories. Burdened with the past and all the lies and deciets that went along with it, Teito marches on towards his destiny: Death. Think it'll be easier this time around? WRONG.
Brotherly! Mikage x Teito
No pairings
"..." - Speaking
italics - Thinking
Bold Italics - Mikhail thinking
Bold - Mikhail Talking
*Teito's dream*
Snow slowly drifts from the heavens to the white-blue landscape of the holy Barsburg church. A young boy dressed in white and blue robes was being led to the church entrance by a tall dark-haired man wearing peach-colored robes.
The boy pulled looked up at the man and pulled on his sleeve. "Wait... Father, where are we going?" The young boy asked his companion, curiously.
The man turned to look down at the little boy. "We're going to meet a very important person," The he answered.
The boy blinked. "An important person...?" He wondered aloud, curiously. When the man did not reply, the boy turned to look at the path in front of him.
Though the boy could not make it out at the time, too distracted by the size of the castle-church, a lone figure stood before the church doors, his white robes blending into the scenery.
Its strange... This place, which has caused me so much pain...
It feels so nostalgic though... and safe...
...Father... Dad... if you can hear me, forgive me...
*Real world, same time*
As Teito reached the end of his dream, the loud morning bells of Barsburg's Military Academy rang out, startling nearly every cadet in the large dorm room awake.
A middle-aged woman wearing the military uniform opened the sliding metal door, letting in light from the outside hall to filter into the still sleepy room. "Okay, wake up everyone~" she said in a shrill voice that always seemed to grate at Teito's ears. "Before the bell stops ringing, you guys have to be at the meeting place. If you're late, you fail~"
Almost immediately as she said that dozens of students, already fully dressed, started jumping off their beds and running towards the doors, some even pushing each other out of the way to get out first.
Teito just sighed as he pushed his blanket off of him and jumped down from his top bunk. ten seconds later, he was fully dressed and ready to go. The guy who usually sat in the bunk below him- a Osamu or something like that- had already left though Teito didn't really care, having only one goal in his mind: to get to the auditorium before the bell stopped ringing.
*At auditorium*
"As the 315th class of our Honorable Barsburg Empire Military Academy, we are the elite chosen to be potential soldiers of Hohburg Fortress." Shuri Oak said from his place on the stage's podium. "Let us all endeavor to become superb soldiers who will not bring shame to the name of the empire. I am the president of the graduating class, Shuri Oak."
With that he and the other 499 students of the graduating class turned to solute at the school's chairman, Miroku Barsburg who nodded approvingly at them all. Taking this as the sign of dismissal (it was) all the students filed out of the auditorium towards their, hopefully, last day of classes.
Teito breathed a sigh of relief when Miroku dismissed them all. He hadn't been sure how much longer he would have to listen to Shuri's obnoxious voice. Just thinking about it sent shivers down Teito's spine.
*Two hours later, near end of class*
"Alright, you guys, settle down," Llyod sensei told his batch of restless students. "I know its nearly lunch time but I have an important announcement to make."
You say that about everything, Teito thought as he sat with his face leaning against the palm of his hand, his eyes closed.
"The army's chief executive officers will be here for tomorrow's graduation exam." Llyold-sensei informed the class. "Please try your best to show the results of what you have learned so far."
At that tidbit, Teito stirred slightly. Chief executives... He had heard of them before. He remember Miroku talking about them when he was younger. I think they're called... the Black Marks? Crack Hawks?
"Shuri-san, you must have already prepared for this, right?" A no-name cadet asked Shuri who was unfortunately sitting right behind Teito.
"What? No, that's not true," Shuri replied, a self-important smile on his face clearly giving away his lie.
"As expected of the noble Oak Family! You're special, aren't you?" Another no-name asked.
"By the way, Teito Klein," Llyold said, walking closer to Teito's desk. "You never came to any of my practical skills lessons. That makes me very sad."
Teito opened his eyes before addressing his teacher, who was perhaps one of the very, VERY, VERY small group of people who treated Teito like an actual human being. "I was excused from all general practice lessons."
Llyold looked as if he were at a loss of words at that statement.
Shuri's snort of amusement was what warned Teito of what was coming next. "As one would expect from Miroku's dog," Shuri said derisively. "It gets special treatment, doesn't it?"Teito schooled his face to that of an emotionless one, though he was seething inside. Oh, how I would just love to get out of my seat of rearrange your face to a pile of manure, you self-centered git, Teito thought, angrily.
Teito, though, was soon distracted a few seconds later when he suddenly saw his sensei covered with... WHAT?!
"Sensei, Shuri-kun brought THOSE magazines with him to class," a bored sounding voice said from the middle of the classroom.
"So many of them," Llyold-sensei commented as though talking about the weather.
"No, it's not like that! It's NOOOOOOOOOT!" Shuri shrieked, trying (and failing) to regain his dignity.
*After class ends, Hallways*
"Oi, look. There goes Chairman Miroku's favorite student." One of the student's stage-whispered.
"Wearing that sour expression like always. He doesn't even say hi." His friend answered back.
"Hahaha, good morning, young master Teito Klein," Another shouts out mockingly.
"Heh. Even he can be a student here in this special program?"
"Can that chibi even keep up in classes?"
"Oi, oi, don't piss him off, or else he'll get the chairman to expel you!"
"Morning famous young master~"
As soon as Teito heard that voice, he immediately turned around, nearly decking the source of the last taunt. "Shut up, Celestine!"
"WHOA!" Mikage shouted, leaning back to dodge the nearly lethal blow to the head by his self-appointed best friend before straightening himself. He sweat-dropped at the fuming brunette. "Oh? So you knew it was me?"
"How can I not?" Teito growled. I would be a fool not knowing who my enemies are. "Your very voice is the source of my nightmares."
Mikage whispered. "Harsh words for a chibi~."
"SHUT UP!" Teito screamed, this time lunging for Mikage's head. Again, Mikage smoothly evaded the attempt on his life and came to place an arm around Teito. "And how many times do I have to tell you to call me Mikage!"
"We're strangers," Teito reminded the blonde, irritably. Why, why do I always get stuck with the blondes...
"But I call you by your first name!" Mikage whined.
"Only because YOU don't have any sense of respect!"
"Hey, I know! Let's go eat lunch together!" Mikage said/commanded happily, swiftly changing the topic.
"Eat with someone else!" Teito snapped.
"When I'm with you the lunch lady gives us free food~" Mikage continued on, a content expression on his face.
"Did you not hear what I just said!? I don't want to eat with you and GET OFF already!"
*Ten minutes later, cafeteria*
"Tell me again why I'm here?" Teito asked as he looked down at his bowl of chicken soup.
This was actually the first time Teito had ever stepped into the cafeteria, opting to sit on the roof and eat his vitamin and protein pills.
(After all, what sort of human being can stomach solid food after seeing so much blood shed every few days?)
"Because I was hungry and wanted free food and dragged you here before you could escape," Mikage cheerfully reminded the green-eyed boy sitting across from him, munching contently on his Yakisoba. "And because of FREEEEEE FOOOOOOD!" Mikage screamed, resulting in complete silence in the cafeteria as everyone turned to stare at Mikage strangely. Teito place his right hand over his eyes and groaned.
"And then you wonder why I hate you," Teito muttered, bitterly.
"Eh? You say something?" Mikage asked, too busy eating to notice the state the cafeteria was in.
*Later, in the hallways*
"Good grief, what's wrong with you?" Teito shouted as the two of them walked down the hall. "If I told you once, I've told you a thousand times, STOP FOLLOWING ME!"
"But we have the same class next period," Mikage said innocently.
"NO WE DO- Oh, wait we do, but that's besides the point. You!" Teito said pointing his index finger at Mikage, who immediately put his arms in the air. "You have done nothing but TORMENT me ever since I first met you! For A YEAR now you have belittled, mocked and shamed me with your repeated attempts to wart me from my path of becoming thegreatest and most influential general this country has ever se-"
"Your dream is to become general?" Mikage interrupted, looking cheerful at learning something new and important about his "best friend."
"Wha-" Teito eyes widened as he realized what he had just done. "N-n-no, o-of course not!" Teito stuttered. "I-I was just- ugh, SEE?! THIS IS WHAT I MEAN! YOU'RE MESSING WITH MY HEAD!" With that, Teito turned on his heels and stormed off, leaving a smiling Mikage behind.
*Few minutes later, in front of classroom*
Teito stared at the the notice on the door:
Attention my lovely students~
Due to unforeseen circumstances I had to cancel today's class
Feel free to use the nest two hours to your leisure
(By leisure I mean preparing for tomorrow's exam)
Ta-Ta~
~Commander Alyza Mantra
"Yay! Free period!" Mikage cheered, once again putting his arm around Teito. "I know! How about we go sparing!?"
"Okay first all GET OFF. This is the THIRD time I've asked you this in the last ONE HOUR," Teito growled. "And secondly, why would I want to spar with someone as weak as you?!"
"Me? Weak?" Mikage blinked in mock surprise. "I'm hurt, Teito, I really am. Here I thought you were the big man here." He sighed, turning around as he crossed his arms. "Oh, well, if you are REALLY that afraid of LOSING-" A tick mark appeared on Teito's forehead. "-I guess we can forego a spar- CHIBI CHIBI CHIBI!" Mikage screamed the last part, circling Teito while making weird faces at the short male.
"ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT, YOU, ME, AT THE COURTYARD, RIGHT NOW!" Teito shouted angrily. (He's been shouting a lot around Mikage these days...)
*In Courtyard*
"Okay, I lost, I lost, Teito!" Mikage freaked out, as he took in the the sight of the blue zaiphon circling his neck, just seconds away from chopping his head off.
Mikage sighed in relief when Teito banished the zaiphon. "Geez...That was a close one, man!" Mikage exclaimed, as he stretched his arms out.
"Is that so?" Teito asked, looking at Mikage with a bit more respect. The two of them had had several spars over the few hours they had been in the court yard. Teito didn't know the exact time, but he had a feeling that they had missed more than just Mantra-sensei's lesson.
The blond had been better than Teito had thought. Granted, Teito had to hold back a lot more than usual, since he WAS just fighting a student (not some half-starved sklave mentally scared so deeply he couldn't tell the difference between a fly and a machine gun aimed at his forehead...)
"As long as you can move that swiftly, you'll make it into the army for sure!" Mikage said earnestly. "I bet that if you keep it up, you'll be able to climb the ranks to gener-"
Mikage stopped abruptly when he saw that the battle zaiphon ring was once again around his neck and a murderous looking Teito had his arm outstreched towards him.
"T-T-TEITO, I'M SORRY, I REALLY AM JUST PLEASE, DON'T KILL ME! I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE MY FIRST KISS YET!"
Teito glared at Mikage, as if measuring how sincere he was (given that Mikage's quickly bluing face wasn't enough...). After a few moments, Teito was satisfied with what he saw and released Mikage again.
"Oh," Mikage breathed, "oh" breathe "air~" breathe "Beautiful" breathe "AIIIIIIIIRRRR!"
Teito seat-dropped at the scene in front of him. "Pathetic..." He said, gaining Mikage's attention. "Had I been an enemy soldier holding you for questioning, you would have cracked in seconds. Are you really suited to be a soldier for this Empire, Mikage? Are you really willing to place your beliefs and values before your own life?"
"Hey! That's not fair!" Mikage defended. "You aren't my enemy, Teito!
Tired and fed up, Teito screamed, "I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND!" (Friend... rend... end... nd... d...). Though he screamed at the volume he regularly did when around Mikage, the empty courtyard seemed to make it sound louder. "I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND! I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND! WHY?! WHY WON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?! I DON'T WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND, I JUST WANT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE!"
Mikage, surprisingly didn't insert any of his stupid comments like he usually did, too stunned to do so.
Teito took this as a chance to continue on ranting. "I hated you since the first time I lay my eyes on you! I hate the way you were always so carefree and happy! I hate the way you always seem to take everything for granted. I hate the way you wore your heart on your sleeves for everyone to see! You want to become a soldier, don't you?! You want to serve this country?! You don't know what suffering is like! You don't understand the true burden you have to bear once you're a soldier. None of you in this school understands!"
Teito's ears were ringing from all the screaming. If he had been clamer he would have been horrified with his behavior. Teito had prided himself in his ability to stay calm and collected through almost any situation.
But then YOU came along...
For the whole year Teito had know Mikage, the blonde had always managed to get a rise out of Teito in a way not even Shuri could.
I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.
Half of Mikage's face was obscured by the shadow of his bangs so Teito wasn't able to tell what he was thinking. After several minutes of silence, Teito turned around and began walking away
Teito..." Mikage called out. Teito hesitated and stopped. Turning around, Teito was about to ask Mikage what he wanted, but the words died in his mouth when he took in Mikage's appearance.
Mikage's eyes, usually alight mischief and curiosity, were now overflowing with determination. The carefree grin that Teito was by then used to seeing was now a frown, and even Mikage's face in general looked tense and not at all relaxed. Teito couldn't believe it, but Mikage actually looked... SERIOUS!
(O.O Oh no... we've reached "The End of the World (End) 98 chapters in advance!)
"I know we don't have the best of relationships," Mikage began, "but I want you to know... I won't give up chasing you until you agree to be my friend!"
...You don't know a thing... You aren't that type of person, Celestine... the type to place the Empire's needs over those of your loved ones...
*At Night*
"...Why are you here?" Teito asked, sitting upright on his bunk.
"This is the dorm room where our class sleeps in, duh," Mikage said.
"...That's not what I meant..." Teito said slowly. "I'm asking why are you HERE, sitting on MY bed, invading MY personal space."
"I'm not sitting on your bed! I'm sitting in the bunk next to your bed!"
"Which is close enough and STILL invading my personal space."
"What?! There's a good 2 and a half feet separating us!" Mikage protested loudly. A few few beds stirred and a few mumbles could be heard.
"Shush it," Teito hissed. "At this rate, you'll wake everyone up! And you shouldn't be here! Go back to your own bed!"
"Why not? No one sleeps in this bunk!" Mikage retorted with a much lower voice.
"It's against the rules to sleep in a bunk you aren't assigned to- wait how did you know this bunk was empty?" Teito asked suspiciously. "I thought you slept on the other side of the room!"
"I got some friends who sleep in this area," Mikage said smoothly and a bit too quickly for Teito's liking. "I found out from them."
"Suuure you did," Teito said, looking disbelievingly at the boy under the neighboring bunk's blanket. Teito sighed and closed his eyes as he fell back onto the bunk.
"...Hey, Teito, can I ask you something?" Mikage asked after a while.
"You just did, moron."
"Why do you hate me so much?" Mikage asked, ignoring the last comment.
"I thought I gave you ample reasons in the courtyard," Teito answered tiredly. Just thinking about the incident made him feel tired.
"But you always act as if I'm some sort of enemy," Mikage pressed on. "You always have that guarded look in your eyes whenever you're around me." And everyone else was left unsaid. (The two already knew the answer to the unspoken part...)
Everyone in this country is my enemy, no matter how kind they may seem. "That's because you are my enemy. You're the enemy to my ideals."
"So what if we have different philosophies? Can't we still be friends?"
I have no allies. I have no friends in this diseased country. You're all rotten, all of you!
"Let go of it already Celestine," Teito interrupted. "I can't handle that voice of yours anymore. It's late and I want to sleep."
"..." Though Teito couldn't see it, he had a feeling that Mikage was still watching him, searching for something. After some time passed, Mikage finally whispered "...Goodnight, then, Teito," just loud enough for Teito to hear.
*Next Day, Part One of Begleiter Exams*
The gigantic... THING that stood towering over Mikage and Teito laughed at what he saw. "So the last ones are you two?" It asked, its slimey voice making Teito want to vomit.
"Please save me! I'm going to die!" Shuri shreiked as he pounded hard against the glass dome.
In any other case, this would seem like music to Teito's ears. Now, though, it painfully reminded him of the new sklaves that were freshly picked up from the streets and forced into the battle domes of the underground world the military so prizes itself for keeping a "secret" from the country's public.
Appaerently, though, Teito wasn't the only one to notice. A quick glance at Shuri was all the warning they had before the troll lunged at Shuri.
If this guy is not defeated or if you abandon your teammates you will fail. Llyold-sensei's words resonated in Teito's head as his legs started moving on his own.
"Dodge it!" Teito shouted, pushing Shuri to the side before jumping up to the ceiling, just narrowly missing the troll's arm.
Angry at losing it's pray, it swiped once again with his right arm, only this time at Teito. Caught off gaurd, Teito was swept away, but manage to keep his hold on the stiff grey skin.
"Teito!" Mikage shouted, fear evident in his voice before he ran up and jumped up, elbowing the troll's right armpit hard just as Teito broke the bone of the troll's forearm.
The troll screamed in pain as it let its right arm fall limp. Frustrated, the troll aimed a kick at Teito, who dodged the kick completely. Unfortunately, the troll then chose the time Teito was still in the air to reach out to him with its left arm. Teito was about to use zaiphon to cut through the hand, but Mikage decided that that was the perfect time to intervene again, this time jumping up to push Teito out of the way.
Of course, this led to Mikage (Teito: THAT MORON!) to being the one trapped in the hand. Unable to use his arms or legs effectively, all Mikage could do was yelp in pain as the troll's grasp tightened.
If this guy is not defeated or if you abandon your teammates you will fail.
I don't want to fail. I don't want to lose to a guy like him, Teito thought, angrily. Without another thought, Teito leaped up into the air and kicked the brute in the eye. Teito then proceeded to severely beat the troll's chest, punch after punch.
Weakened, the troll had no choice but to release Mikage who sat on the ground, staring in shock at the way the brunette brought down the brute that had defeated Mikage and three of their classmates within seconds. Just how strong are you...Teito?
Finally, content with his beating of the troll, Teito summoned his zaiphon, forming a ring of it around the troll's neck.
Don't be so compassionate, Teito. That is your greatest weakness. Miroku's most constant words of advice reminded Teito.
...Go to hell, Miroku.
"Give up," Teito demanded. "If you don't, if you dare try to move, I've have no other choice but to kill you."
"I give up..." The troll begged, his voice strained as he tried not to move his neck too close to the dangerous ring of zaiphon. "Don't kill me..."
The metal door opened, allowing Llyold-sensei access into the dome. "In this situation, the exam hasn't ended yet," Llyold-sensei said as he walked into the dome. "I clearly said you had to kill him to graduate."
"He isn't our real enemy. Thus, it is not necessary for us to kill him," Teito replied without turning away from the troll. Quietly, Teito removed the ring of Zaiphon from around the Troll's head... before he saw in surprise as a stream of red zaiphon appeared and cut off the giant's head.
Swiftly, Teito turned to look at the entrance... And nearly forgot how to breathe.
A man with one of the palest skins Teito had ever seen with shoulder length wavy hair stood wearing a black, or possibly dark blue, ankle-length overcoat with gold trimmings on the chest, sleeve cuffs and neck-guard.
Despicable, lying murderer.
Teito couldn't move, he couldn't breathe. All he could do but stare in shock at the silver haired man.
I know you.
A boy with silver hair and velvet eyes stood staring blankly at the duo from his place in the family portrait.
I know you.
"See that boy? His name was Krowell... He was... your uncle."
I know you.
"...You're too soft," the man told him, direct and too the point, his violet eyes focused solely on Teito with what Teito believed was scorn and ridicule. But it could just as well be emptiness (Teito never was good with reading military people...tough crowd they are...). After a few seconds, the man turned around and left.
Teito just stood there, still in shock at what he had just seen, watching blankly as Alyza-sensei announced the end of their exam. "Krowell..." Teito whispered quietly. Fortunately, the man was then far away enough to not hear the brunette's whispered word...
If only the man had stayed longer... he could have stopped the wheel of time before it was too late...
"I'm sorry Teito. I wanted to stay by your side forever..."
"Teito, I will definitely come back for you..."
Where are you... Father... Dad...?
Didn't you promise me... you would come back to me...?
Didn't you swear you would save me from this darkness...?
Dad... Father... I'm so cold... Please, don't leave my side...
Don't abandon me...
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN 07 GHOST IN ANY SUCH MANNER OR WAY
If you review, please be appropriate and no swear words! :(
Stuff in brackets: Random stuff that wouldn't fit in the story.
THERE ARE ALSO NO PAIRINGS AS OF YET, BUT MAYBE TEITO X OUKA WAY WAY WAAAAAAAAY LATER