Once in a Lifetime

Ch. 2

Kurogane remembered that he was in a bar the night he met Fai. It was still early in the night but he doesn't want to stay around any longer, surrounded by the smell of alcohol and half-drunk men. He just wasn't in the mood for it that night even if he was in his usual spot overlooking all the people and with his usual drink. And he doesn't know why. He got up and stepped outside of the bar. He turned and started his way back to his apartment, away from all the neon signs, alcohol, and the noises of city life.

The night was chilly and quiet. Standing in the thick, syrup-like air, Kurogane felt very self-conscious. No birds or critters lingered about nor were there any lights on in the buildings he past by. Only a few dirty street lamps illuminate the deserted street. Walking alone with his hands in his pockets of his overcoat, Kurogane felt he was the only person in the world at that moment. It seemed like he was the only survivor of some terrible atrocity that wiped out all the living creatures except for him. He reached in his coat and took out a lighter and a cigarette, to calm his nerves and break the silence. His instincts tell him fate has something in store for him and something is going to happen tonight. Instead of dwelling on it and let it catch him by surprise, he took a shortcut to get home faster. He felt that something is very wrong and unnatural, as if some supernatural force is playing a game of cat and mouse with him.

He turned another corner and then all of a sudden, someone smacked into him, almost made him topple over. He put a hand on the other person's shoulder to steady himself. The man in front of him as shaking and had his head down. All Kurogane could see is the messy mope of blonde hair and a slender body clad in a thin layer of clothes. The man doesn't even have a jacket on, calling him underdressed for late autumn would be an understatement. Kurogane wondered if his shivering was due to his lack of proper clothing or something else. This man was most likely a lost foreigner.

Just then, the man looked up and met Kurogane's eyes. Kurogane was immediately lost in the sight of the man's amazing blue eyes and a feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed him. It wasn't as if Kurogane had never seen a foreigner up close before, in fact, he had many interactions with foreigners because of his family's business. Moreover, his own eye color is a rarity in Japan. He knew that this person is different and special. Kurogane can't help but be pulled into those clear, beautiful blue eyes. It was as if he could look into them for all eternity, those eyes that reflect the other person's soul yet hid startling secrets. Once he got over the initial shock, he began to notice the other man's features. The man seemed dainty and delicate like a blossoming flower.

The other man couldn't pull away either, not because of the hand on his shoulder, but because of Kurogane's deep ruby colored eyes. Gradually, his shivering stopped and became tranquil. They stopped like that for only a minute or two but to them, time itself stopped. Suddenly, shouting erupted, breaking them out of their trance.

"Look! There he is! Get him!"

About three men came running towards them. Another two appeared in the opposite direction and cut them off from the main road, effectively surrounding them. These people were obviously out to get the blue-eyed man here. Kurogane did not even need to contemplate whether to help this person out or not, he just did it. One of the men rushed out at them. Kurogane engaged the man into a fight. His years of martial arts training successfully knocked the opponent out cold. He took on two more and defeated them just as fast. He stole a glance at the blue-eyed stranger and what he saw truly impressed him. Knowledgeable in many different forms of martial arts, what he saw was Capoiera, a Brazilian martial art that incorporates dance and music. Its origins were from African slaves in Brazil practicing it under the guise of a dance. One cannot underestimate a person's strength by his appearance. The stranger just became more intriguing.

Soon enough, their opponents lay unconscious on the ground. Kurogane and the blue-eyed man looked at each other, both at a stand still. Somewhere in the distance, a siren sounded and it was getting louder each passing second.

"Oh, shit! The neighbors must have called the police! Come on!"

Kurogane grabbed the stranger's hand and they made a run through the park for Kurogane's apartment. Kurogane fished out his keys and opened the door. He motioned Fai to sit down and went in the kitchen. With years of proper etiquette drilled into him, he offered his guest a cup of tea and sat down as well.

"Who are you?" asked Kurogane.

"Why did you help me?" he asked, ignoring Kurogane's question.

"Answer my question first," said Kurogane, getting annoyed.

"My name is Fai, beyond that, I don't know anymore." confessed the man called Fai.

And that was how they met one month ago.

During the month together, Kurogane learned something new everyday about Fai's character or personality, but his past remained hidden.


"Kurogane..." Fai's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"...I'm sorry," said Fai quietly.

"You have nothing to be sorry for and stop blaming yourself for everything, jeez. We've been through this already."

After a moment, Fai said softy, "Yeah, you're right." Fai beamed at Kurogane. "So what do you want for dinner?" asked Fai.

"Don't care."

"Then we'll be having curry and rice tonight!" Fai exclaimed cheerfully. He continues to babble the rest of the trip. Kurogane just drives while listening to him, having gotten used to it already.

After another hour, they arrived at the house of Kurogane's parents. The house cleaner opened the door and welcomed them in. Soon, Kurogane's mother, Tomoyo, came in to greet them.

"So how did it go?" asked Tomoyo with a smile. She took one took at their faces and concluded, "Not so well, huh? I guessed as much. Father really believes in the traditional values." She nodded sympathetically. "So you'll be coming with me to pick up your fiancé tomorrow?"

"He didn't really give me a choice. What's her name anyways?" asked Kurogane.

"Father didn't even tell you?" asked Tomoyo incredulously, thinking how Kurogane's grandfather could have forgotten to tell him. "Her name is Sakura L. Flourite."

Somewhere in the back of Fai's mind, a bell went off.