A\N: English is not my native language, I'm sorry for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes that might be ahead.
It's a *fan*fiction, therefore- I'm a fan and not the actual owner of No. 6.
This fanfiction is based on the novel and 'beyond'. If you haven't read it, here are the few things that you'll need to know if you watched the anime (Spoilers about 'beyond' and No. 6 in general ahead): Yoming, the guy who tried to convince Karan to rebel against No. 6 and died of the parasite bees actually led a group of rebels that tried to break into the Moondrop during the Holy Day. When the Restructural Committee ( the new governing institution of No. 6) took control he became the representative of the rebels, but he was really violent so Shion faked few evidences to put him in jail. The guy who helped Inukashi and Rikiga enter the Correctional Facility was Lili's father, his name was Getsuyaku and he died on that operation. Lili's mother, Renka, wasn't in the anime at all. I think. Oh, and Nezumi met Shion's father (who's about the exact opposite of Shion) outside of No. 6.
Anyways, this is my first fanfic and I hope I didn't do anything wrong… I hope I didn't suck too much...
Chapter 1: Waste and Void
"Goodbye Mr. Shion!"
Shion's secretary called, waving her hand from the doorstep. Shion turned his head from the computer that stood before him and smiled at her. "Goodbye," he said, "have a nice weekend." She smiled and wished him the same, then shut the door behind her, knowing that he was already deep in his work and did not hear her. It was already late, and Shion, like always, stayed in the office all by himself. He had too much work and not enough time: Many of No. 6's former residents still refused to accept the residents of the West Block and Yoming's group of rebels still held too much power and clanged to their violent stands with an exhausting fanaticism; even after Yoming's forced… retirement.
Sure, Shion's voice had a noteworthy influence in the Restructural Committee, mostly because he stopped Yoming's riots when the rebels tried to break into the Moondrop. There was also the case of Yoming's arrest. People came to respect Shion's words, if not because of his charisma, then out of fear. Followers of parties that represented other districts would either chase him down the halls of the Moondrop to shake his hand eagerly, or they would stay out of his way, preferring not to get involved with him.
The actual members of the Restructural Committee were the official representatives of each district. This groups of twelve people (including Shion) became the governors of No. 6; they had more experience in politics than their followers, which made them the only ones who did not adore nor feared Shion. This was, after all, the art of politics; it was only a matter of playing the right card on the right time. For them, Shion was nothing more than an outstanding player.
Shion changed, and he knew it. He knew that under normal circumstances he would have quivered at the idea of people fearing him the way they did. I want you to stay as you are, Shion. Nezumi's voice popped to his mind. What will Nezumi say when he'll come back and see me like this? Shion sighed. If he'll even come back at all.He could hear that annoying voice saying that over and over again ever since Nezumi left. Every time that thought reached his mind he shook his head and tried to think about something else.
Who cares what Nezumi thinks? It's his fault that I'm like this anyway. After thinking these words Shion had one of those rare moments when he knew he did not lose his heart completely- something he did not have could not cause him so much pain. It was too painful to think those things about Nezumi. He could not bring himself to hate him. No matter how much he thought about it, he knew he should hate him, but he just could not. Shion looked at the ceiling with frustration. Only then he noticed it was already dark. He sighed. That's enough work for today.
The office was in the West Block, obviously. Every party had its own office, and once a week, the members of the Committee assembled at the Moondrop; once a month, the rest of the party members would come as well. Shion still lived in Karan's bakery, for the time being. He received (no matter how much he insisted to pay like everyone else) an apartment in the new residential area he initiated in the West Block. It was a small apartment with two levels, one with a living room and a kitchen and the other with a bedroom, a bathroom and a balcony. Shion already had most of his (and Nezumi's) belongings in the new apartment, but he was too busy to unpack, and so he stayed with his mother for a little longer.
Two years have passed, Nezumi. Whole two years. How much longer will I have to wait?
Time did not leave Shion without any scars. He did not look like a little boy anymore, but since he barely slept and ate he was even skinnier, which was hard considering the fact he used to live in the West Block. His mother and colleagues were worried about him, and the doctor warned him over and over again to watch his health, urging Shion to take break from work. Shion, of course, ignored his instructions and ended up fainting at work at least once every two-three months.
It did not bother Shion, he was more concerned about making No. 6 a better place for Nezumi than his own health, and every second he did not work he could not bring himself to eat or sleep, knowing that some of the residents of the West Block were still starving. Shion's efforts did not go unnoticed: the rumors of his health reached the public, and people began to call him the hero of the city. It spread quietly, slowly, but the nickname was definitely out there. This new hero, however, was too busy to notice his own popularity, completely ignorant to the way in which people around him, especially women, looked at him. Nezumi would probably say it's because he was a natural.
He left the office and started walking to the train station. Shion made sure that No. 6's train will be connected to the West Block, so people in the West Block could participate in any activities inside No. 6, and could influence their future themselves. With the 'insiders' refusing to accept or even care about the 'outsiders' (even without walls that can dictate in and out), there was so much Shion could do for the 'outsiders' without their help, and this physical connection was required to achieve a better future for all.
Shion arrived Lost Town and walked straight to the his mother's house, lost in his thoughts. He entered the street where the bakery was located, catching the scent of his mother's work. The fragrance washed him with a wave of comfort, taking away all of his unpleasant thoughts about the future of No. 6. When he got closer to the source of the smell, Shion met Renka, Lili and Getsuyaku- Renka's two-years-old son.
"Shion! It has been awhile. You work so hard I rarely get to see you anymore." Renka smiled at him, Getsuyaku sleeping in her arms.
"Shion!" Lili cheered. She still had her childish charm, even after losing her father, again, and living through the rebirth of No. 6.
"I missed you, Shion. You come home reaaaaaaally late every day and I never get to see you." Lili said as she hugged Shion's waist and buried her face in his stomach. Shion shuffled her hair fondly and said:
"I'm sorry, Lili. I wish I could spend more time with you."
"But you will move in few weeks and then I won't get to see you at all!" She replied, lifting her head to look at Shion with watery eyes and an angry expression. Renka laughed. Shion felt helpless as Lili tightened her grip and Renka did not offer her help. He sighed again.
"Ok, ok, I get it," he said, completely defeated, "I'll leave some work for later this week and play with you a little bit during the weekend, fine?"
Lili's face brightened up, but before she could say anything Renka interrupted.
"Oh, Shion, there was a visitor at Karan's bakery last time I visited her, about an hour ago. Do you have any idea who that might be?"
Shion looked puzzled. "A visitor? There shouldn't be any customers by now. We weren't expecting anyone, at least, not that I know of."
"Oh," Renka said, "I was just wondering, because your mother was pretty excited about it, seemed like they haven't met in years. It looked like he went through quite a lot of traveling to get here. A peculiar guy, I was just curious that's all."
Shion froze.
He's back.
He's finally back.
It's finally over.
Waking up alone.
Losing myself to the games of control over No. 6.
Running to the window every time I hear a noise on a stormy night.
Having my heart broken into tiny pieces, again and again, understanding it was a false alarm.
It's over.
He's back.
Renka, who knew what he was thinking about by looking at his frozen face, shook her head sadly.
"Shion, it's not Nezumi."
A/N: Well, that was the first chapter. Yay :) I have no idea how many people will read this thing anyway… But, assuming there is someone out there, I will try to post the next chapter in less than a week from now. I'm not sure though, I'm still building Nezumi's life at the time in my head so it'll probably take a while before I'll be truly satisfied with the product. See you next time (again, assuming that there is a 'you' reading this…)