It took me forever to come up with a new story. It's an AU idea that came from another AU idea. Hopefully I can properly complete it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Cardfight! Vanguard.

A Living Lie

Chapter 1: The lying smile

"It's a wonder how your family puts up with your cold attitude," Kamui muttered from the side of his mouth.

Kai usually ignored whatever he said. It never really bothered him. But the words Kamui had uttered hit something hard. If he was not rational, he may have done something that may not have been normal in a friendly card shop. So he just clenched his fists so hard it hurt and made sure his teeth were in the same boat.

He completely ignored the stares he received from everyone and silently left the shop. He jammed his hands in his pockets and walked down the street.

Kai did not like showing that that affected him, but it had. More than he would like to admit. There were too many angry thoughts for him to actually hear, so he just pushed them away –like he always did– and smiled an empty smile.

"Don't worry. My family has a special way of dealing with me."

The brunet quietly closed the door behind him and took off his shoes. He headed straight for the stairs. His destination was his room, but he stopped after hearing something. Turning to the right, he was given view of the living room and saw his parents seated on the sofas.

Kai watched them with grim eyes as he listened to their conversation. They must have thought he was already in his room. It was his habit to immediately head to his room after all. Kai's closest thing to call a house was only his room. In the past, he had refused to believe he had nothing to call home, so he forced his mind to believe his room was his home.

"How long are we going to do this?" his mother, a woman with long magenta hair and brown eyes, asked her husband. "I think it's about time the deal expired."

The man with jet-black hair slowly nodded his head. "The boy is just too ungrateful. We give him clothes, food, offer him anything he wants, but he won't take any of it. We should just get rid of him. The deal was…"

The conversation abruptly stopped when the two adults finally took notice to their son.

Like they think of me as their son.

Parents and child stared back at each other silently. The boy wanted so much to just coldly glare at them and go up to his room. But no matter how many times he wished for that, it never happened.

A smile formed on his face as Kai broke the tension in the air.

"You're home early, Oto-san, Oka-san." He would play dumb. He always did. His parents would just play along. Or they actually believed him to be someone that stupid.

Even as he displayed a cheerful smile, the thought still came.

That's just like them. They don't know anything about me.

"You're the one that's late," his dad responded calmly and coldly. "As usual."

"Eh? I hadn't noticed." Kai just smiled through it all. His parents never bothered to hide the coldness in their tone anyway. Besides, he purposely avoided home as much as possible. "I'll be in my room if you need me."

As Kai walked upstairs, that fake smile finally died away.

Need me? They don't need me. No one does.

Despite all the emotions that were threatening to explode, he calmly stepped into his room and closed the door behind him, locking it.

Even after years of self-questioning, he still could not answer why his room looked the way it looked. For one thing it was neat. No surprise there.

The bed could never be seen without being properly made. No matter what was placed on the nightstand, it was always placed neatly beside the small lamp. His desk was perfectly organized. A small lamp for light whenever he worked, a black cup of ballpoint pens, a silver laptop, and a small stand for loose-leaf paper lay on it. His closet had all his perfectly unwrinkled clothes.

But at the same time, there were many uncharacteristic things here, most from his childhood. For instance, there was still a poster of his favorite band when he was a kid over his bed. The bedspread was also an array of colors, changing from blue to purple to bright red. Its design resembled a galaxy. His desk's drawers still held drawings of him and Vanguard units.

Kai sighed, still unable to figure out why he has not gotten rid of those childish things. He walked over to his bed and flopped down on the soft pillow. Green eyes stared upwards, not really seeing the white ceiling. He wondered what his parents had been talking about

"We should just get rid of him. The deal was…"

"Probably planning to drop me off to some other family member," Kai chuckled dryly. That would make it easier for him to move out and live by himself anyway. He couldn't care less. His parents didn't. Why should he?

Kai gripped the blanket under him tightly, closing his eyes. He wished he wouldn't care at all. He wished his parents would, even if it was a little.

The brunet immediately hated his willpower. He had gotten over that years ago. It was pathetic to still wish for his parents to care.

Shaking his head, Kai decided he should just forget about it and take a nap. It was his way of forgetting about this problem, even if he got dreams about it.

"I thought you were sick."

Kai realizes he slept up until morning and was running late. Late by his standards since he liked to leave early. By normal standards, he had plenty of time to reach school. And the first thing his parents tell him is that they assumed he was sick in bed. Don't even bother to check if your son is okay.

"Sorry to worry," Kai sported his usual fake smile with them. "I'll be heading out now."

Once he was outside, he muttered angrily under his breath. Last night he dreamt dreams he wish had never existed and the FIRST thing he hears is their sneering voices!

"Kai, you're late!"

The brunet looks up and sees Miwa walking towards him. The blond was used to meeting him in school, as he was the first one there.

Kai bit back anymore dark remarks. This was bad timing. He was just too irritated right now. If he was honest with himself, he would know he was more hurt than irritated.

"Slept in?" Miwa grinned at his friend.

Kai heaved a sigh, massaging his temple. He did not feel like talking, so he just brushed past the blonde and walked towards school.

Miwa was not affected by this and caught up to him. He started his usual chatter early today and told Kai everything that he missed yesterday.

Despite his annoyance, Kai eventually let it go. Being with the blond made him feel better. After all, the cause of his pain was the feeling of having no one that cares.

A hand on his shoulder made him blink and turn.

"Hey, are you okay?" Miwa asked, his cheesy smile no longer there.

Kai hesitated, surprised about Miwa's seriousness and how easily he was read. "…Yeah."

"So what Kamui said didn't bother you?"

The brunet involuntarily flinched at that reminder, and he knew Miwa had seen that. Still, he acted like it didn't happen.

"…Yeah," he murmured quietly and lightly brushed Miwa's hand away. Kai then continued towards school, not wanting this to go on. Miwa acted silly, but he could read Kai so easily it made the brunet think he had never put up an emotionless mask. The green-eyed boy knew Miwa did not believe him since the blond was silent the rest of the way.

Even in school, he could feel Miwa's eyes on him. He inwardly sighed. It was annoying but expected. Miwa knew nothing about his family. The blond had never even seen his parents and with good reason.

No one that knew Kai had ever met his parents. His parents would no doubt comment on any flaws his friends would have and find something else to belittle him. Just being him was enough for them to sneer at. He did not need anything else.

Miwa was better off not knowing his family.

"Yeah, I think I'm right."

For the second time today, Kai was caught by surprise and pulled away from his thoughts by Miwa.

"Huh?" Kai glanced at the blond in confusion, dismissing the thought that they had not spoken all day.

"This is about your family. You know, the folks I never got to meet?"

Kai guessed this was Miwa's not-so-subtle way of saying the blond figured him out and wants to help and maybe meet his family.

"So, will you tell me?" Miwa asked with a smile as they left the school.

"There's nothing to tell." Kai did not want to admit anything, but he knew if he denied it, Miwa would try until he succeeded.

"You know, I noticed something," Miwa spoke as if the brunet had not even said anything. "No matter how cold you act, you still help people out but do something so they will be too angry to notice."

The brown-haired boy had not expected Miwa to bring this up now. He assumed his friend would just keep quiet about that.

"I can tell from your eyes," Miwa murmured, no amount of humor in his voice. "They're always lonely."

Kai stayed silent. He knew he could never fully hide his emotions, but he wished he had done a better job.

"I'm telling you this because you're not alone, Kai," Miwa lightly slapped his shoulder and grinned, back to his usual self. "If you have not noticed, I'm always ready to talk."

The brunet blinked in surprise at this. He expected Miwa to interrogate him until he was told everything. This was an unexpected surprise. Kai managed a small smile.

"Ah! You smiled!" Miwa gasped, pointing at his best friend.

"You're seeing things," Kai scoffed, walking ahead with a hint of red on his cheeks.

"Ha! I am not! You smiled!" Miwa laughed beside him.

"Whatever."

Miwa grinned. "So, you up for going to Card Capital?"

Kai shrugged, pretending not to care. It's not like Katsuragi would make a scene again. Probably.

Thankfully, Miwa did not ask for the truth, and the two headed for Card Capital.

"I lost again," Miwa scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"You've gotten better," Kai commented quietly, to which Miwa grinned at.

"Kai, you've gotten soft~"

"Shut up, you…" Kai stopped speaking. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone when he felt it vibrate.

"You have a text?" Miwa questioned incredulously.

"…Ah." Kai felt the same way. It was his parents no less. They had NEVER texted him. Kai did not even know they knew how to text. Pushing away his shock, he read what it said, and his eyes narrowed.

"Kai, what is it?" Miwa did not like that empty look that was placed on the brunet's face.

Kai did not even hear him. His mind was just too focused on what this said. He couldn't say he was surprised, no matter how much he wanted to. But the fact was he was not normal. A normal person would be surprised. A normal person would beg to their parents when they told their child they wanted him to leave.

But Kai was not normal. No matter how much it hurt to hear his parents say that, he really was not surprised.

That's it for now. I needed a little break from "Burnt Memory". The style is hard to do... Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it.

Review!