Fly Away:

I heard he has his own house...

Really? I heard his dad killed his mother right after he was born to get her fortune.

No! His mom was the rich one? Is that really how she died? I heard he locks himself in his room and just paints. Freak...

Yeah, but he's totally hot.

Krad sighed and lowered his eyes to the ground. No matter how much they faked a smile, or called him names like Krad-san, he knew how whispered about him. He knew the words that passed from lips to lips like a wild fire, spreading through the halls of Azumano Middle School. He'd lived in Azumano for most of his life, and was already in the eleventh grade. Just two more years of this living hell and he was moving far away from Azumano.

"Krad-san!" The blonde looked up to see several girls rushing over to him with wide grins. He kept a smile plastered on his lips even as he watched them giggle and exchange a few words in whispers that poisoned their mouths.

'Gossip,' he thought bitterly, 'Stupid girls...'

"We were wondering if you would take one of us to the state fair next week? We don't care which one, just pick!" All three girls looked up expectantly at him, their hair in curls and decorated clips. Their clothes were neatly ironed and make-up coated their faces as they pouted out their lips, full of bright sticky lipstick. He always humored himself in thinking that one day they would take that lipstick and run it across their faces in some kind of war mark, and come at him with spears and knives. Krad scrunched his nose a little.

'Damn, have enough perfume on? You could kill a skunk with that stuff...'

He simpled continued to smile before he said softly, "I'm sorry, I'm not attending the fair next weekend. I have something important to do. If you excuse me." He nodded his head and pushed past them, walking to his next class. He grinded his teeth as he heard them laughing cruelly.

I told you he was a freak, he doesn't even go out with girls!

Krad lounged in the back of the classroom, staring up at the ceiling as he spun a pencil between his fingers. The teacher continued to read from a book that Krad most despised, known as Oliver Twist. Not only did they have to translate the story, but they had to read it. He glanced down at the cover, plain, black, with the title in golden calligraphy on the front. Krad ran a finger over the title, feeling that is was embossed, and the cover was soft, like leather. He flipped the book open, stuffing his pencil into his mouth. As he nervously chewed on the wooden material he read the first line, and then the second, and a few more before he closed the book. He began to stare out the window, reciting in his mind the words that had locked themselves in his mind.

...The pale face of a young woman was raised feebly from the pillow; and a faint voice imperfectly articulated the words, "Let me see the child, and die."

Finally, the bell rang and Krad burdened himself by gathering his things and lazily packing them away. From behind a cold voice spoke out, saying, "Why so gloomy?"

Knowing who it was, Krad did not bother to plaster his fake smile on and turned to find that of Satoshi Hikari standing before him. Satoshi was his cousin, but they were very distant. Both cold and distant in their own way, and for the most part, the silence that always hung between the two said more than words could. Krad had lost his mother, and his father had left him with half the Hikari fortune and the Hikari mansion itself. Kei Hiwatari was a close friend of his father and had taken the boy in, but Krad refused to be Krad Hiwatari, and stayed truthful to the Hikari name. Satoshi however, had both parents. It made Krad wonder why the hell boy acted so depressed. At least he had parents.

"Ha, what do you think? How was your day?" Krad turned back to his things as Satoshi took a seat on the desk next to him and tilted his head as he watched Krad pack his things.

"Ah...Not much. Daisuke and I are going to the fair next weekend. What about you?" The boy adjusted his glasses and finally, annoyed, took them off and stuffed them in his pocket. Krad shook his head, letting strands of gold touch his forehead softly. He said nothing and when he was finally done packing his supplies he turned to face Satoshi.

"I'd better get going come. You know how Kei is..."

He simply nodded and left the blonde to linger in the classroom for a few more seconds before he too, left the school. He tilted his head up toward the sky as he was lost in thought, walking along sidewalks with stares from nearby people.

Is that a girl?

Wow, that's a pretty person...

I think that's a Hikari!

He ignored them, watching as a bird flew by, and then vanished in the light of the sun. Krad continued walking, squinting his eyes from the bright light before he tripped and fell over. He groaned his books spilling out everywhere on the sidewalk. Those who had been staring continued on their way, mumbling more harsh words.

Ha! He's a total clutz.

Idiot...

Krad pushed himself onto his knees and started to gather his things when someone held out several of his books. He looked up at find a boy about his age with violet hair leaning over. His clothes were black and raggy, yet he had a careless grin on his face.

"Dropped these?" Krad nodded in thanks and took the books, stuffing them in his bag. When the boy hadn't left Krad held out his hand, plastering another smile on his face.

"Krad Hikari."

Dark tilted his head to one said and grinned lopsidely. He didn't take Krad's hand.

"Dark Mousy, at your service." The boy tucked his hands behind his neck staring at the sky in a confused expression.

"What was so interesting that you fell?" Dark asked. Krad's cheeks flushed for a moment.

"I...Was only thinking."

"About what?" Dark asked. Krad blinked, his mouth nearly dropping open. Who was he to ask? He'd just met him within seconds!

"Things...Ah, Dark-san-"

"No! I'm Dark!" He leaned forward, grinning again. Krad noticed his eyes were a deep amethyst color, and a beautiful color at that. He shook his head to rid himself of thoughts and nodded toward Dark.

"Well, I'd best be going...Dark."

Krad gently pushed past him and started his way home, his face suddenly considerably warm. He didn't notice Dark grinning as he ran off into an alley.

What an odd guy... Krad blinked a few times as he sighed. He passed a small gas station and stopped, looking in on the window.

"I need something to drink," he grumbled making his way into the small glass room and reaching into his pocket. His fingers clutched around nothing but empty space as the woman at the counter waited impatiently. Krad smiled, but it turned out to seem more like a worried twist of the lips.

Where...?

He dug in his other pocket and found nothing, eyes widened. His fingers twisted into a fist as he gritted his teeth, the truth dawning on him.

"That bastard stole my wallet!"

XDD Aha! Silly Krad. So? Continue? No? This could be a one-shot...Sort of.Stop making so many fics? Dai and Sato are already a pairing, if you're wondering, but this is centered all around Dark and Krad. I have big plans for this, so I hope those who read enjoy it and please (am I begging?) review. Thanks for reading! --peachie