Welcome to the next chapter created by yours truly (inspired by avoiding housework due to laziness! YAY LAZINESS!)

Anyways, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Sukisho or the characters. All I own is the idea.

Chapter 2

Little Brother

Sunao was sitting on his bed, watching Sora unpack his clothes from the small suitcase he carried in—watching in disbelief. His mind was screaming that Sora had to be Yoru; but his gut was questioning it. And when all else fails, trust your gut.

"So umm…Hashiba-san," Sunao began. Sora stopped unpacking his items and glanced over to his roommate, looking at him with a curious expression. "Umm…where are you from?"

Sora shrugged his shoulders and smiled dumbfounded, "Oh…here and there really. I kinda travel so often that I never really had a place to settle and call home. Course, I enjoy the different views and people I come across."

'Maybe if I can ask questions, I confirm if this Yoru is in disguise or not. Or maybe instead…I can trigger it.'

He placed his hands behind his back as he continued talking. "That's interesting," he said as he pulled out his little dagger that he hid on the side of his bed carefully so Sora wouldn't see. He lifted it to which he could feel the sharp pointed end of the blade and gripped onto it until he could feel the blood oozing from the palm of his hand. He watched Sora's reactions very closely. However, Sora acted as if he didn't even smell it, like he was actually human. He just went back to unpacking. Sunao silently sighed in relief. 'I guess this is just someone that looks like Yoru.'

He pulled his arms out, now looking at his fresh wound. Sora was over to the dressers and looked up, seeing Sunao and his cut. "What happened to you, Fujimori?" Sunao shook his head slowly. "I just scratched myself with the headboard by accident. I'm going to go wash it." He walked out the room and shut the door behind him. Sora looked over to Sunao's bed, not seeing any sign of Sunao's blood or really anything that could have scratched him, except for a couple drops from his bed. He raised an eyebrow, staring at the stains, just wondering what could have caused it. "There's no blood on the headboard…"

Meanwhile, Sunao was in the bath hall, placing his injured hand under some warm running water. He winced slightly to the stinging sensation he felt, and quickly grabbed some paper towels and applied pressure against his wound with the dry paper towels. "This should take no time before it's healed," he thought out loud.

He was walking up his stairs then, back to his dormitory. He stopped when he made it to the top of the first level of stairs, seeing through the large window against the wall. He was able to see the exact spot where he first saw Yoru and his apprentice—if you can really call him that. His mind journeyed back into deep thought. 'Since Yoru and Hashiba are not the same people,' Sunao thought to himself, 'Where does Yoru and Ichikawa go afterwards? It's actually kind of scary to think that they are so close by, and not ever sure when they are going to strike next.'

A gust of wind crossed paths with Sunao's view, carrying leaves of different colors, spinning them as if they were caught in a very small tornado. Sunao surprised himself when he caught himself smiling to the view. He shook his head. 'Focus,' he demanded.

"If I call Nagase about other sightings of vampires, he'll get worried and come here…and at that point, I'll never be able to…" He gripped onto his fists tightly in which his nails were digging into the paper towel he kept pressed onto the cut. "So does that mean that I'll have to just fight them myself?" He looked down to the floor with a saddened expression, and began thinking about his future—how his deepest dreams and reality crash together, shattering his dream to pieces.

"Aww. What's the matter? You look so alone, little slayer."

Sunao didn't show any sign that he was surprise that someone was close by or any sign of caring who it was—because it didn't take many guesses for him to know who was behind him.

Ichikawa was sitting on the railing of the steps along the top of the second level of the stairs with his legs crossed like a girl's, and smiling like a devious little child. Sunao didn't turn around, or showed any acknowledgment of him. Ichikawa snickered. "Do you miss my master already?"

There was a long pause before Sunao responded. "Why is he your master?" Ichikawa raised an eyebrow, not really understanding the question at first, but then just wondering why he cared. "Do you even have a choice or were you forced into this?" Sunao asked both questions without any emotion, almost like he didn't even care if he got an answer or not—talking to him like Ichikawa was just this normal person.

Ichikawa huffed. "I have the choice to leave anytime I please."

"So why don't you," he asked in that cool and lifeless tone.

Ichikawa looked off to the side as he answered, "Because he gives me purpose…"

Sunao smirked. "Some purpose. Being used as walking lunch bag on a daily basis."

Ichikawa was getting agitated about Sunao's attitude. He growled for a second before returning to his original cocky mood. "And what of you, slayer?"

Sunao looked over his shoulder. "Hmm?"

"What is your purpose for slaying?"

Sunao grinned and looked at Ichikawa right in the eye as he answered, "I don't know. I guess most of it is just boredom."

Ichikawa's eyes widened of shock. Sunao chuckled to himself. "Was that not the reason you're looking for," he sneered. "Were you looking for a long deep sad story? Well there isn't a story…or real reason why I fight. I fight because I can and I do."

Ichikawa was kept his shocked expression on his face, surprised such morbid words were coming out of this young male's mouth. Sunao turned his body in which he was facing Ichikawa head on. Sunao was walking up the steps at a normal pace, not paying much attention to him. He stopped when he was standing behind Ichikawa. "I fight because I'm not blinded from the tribulations this world bares, and will do what I can for the light to shine like the people that dwell among people like you and me believe in." He was on the first step to the stairs leading to the third level when glanced over to Ichikawa.

"If you don't have any more questions, then I'm going now." He paused a moment, seeing if Ichikawa had anymore. He didn't wait long for a response and left. Ichikawa swung his legs over the railing and hopped to the second level stair. His eyes were locked on Sunao until he was completely out of sight. "What a strange guy," he mumbled to himself.

"Now remind me again," he said as he was walking down the steps. "What was the meaning of that confrontation?" He stopped walking until he was at the top of the first level of stairs, looking down to the bottom of the steps, toward the section that light didn't shine on, where he found his master.

He was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, looking off to the side. As Ichikawa spoke to him, he looked up to him with his multi-colored eyes—his golden eyes glowing so brightly.

He looked back down as he answered. "I sense something about him," he answered.

Ichikawa looked at Yoru with a confused expression. "You sensed something? Like what?"

Yoru shook his head slowly.

"I'm not sure, yet. There's just something about this slayer."

Ichikawa nodded. "You're telling me. He almost sounded craz…"

"He lied, Ichikawa."

Ichikawa's eyes widened again. "How do you know? He sounded pretty convincing to me."

Yoru spoke out loud as recalled what he just witnessed. "There was something in his eyes when he answered your question, as if…he wasn't answering it."

Ichikawa tilted his head to the side, feeling even more confused. "So you're saying he was under control?" Once again, Yoru shook his head. "I wouldn't say 'under control'…but I would say 'tamed'. There's more about this slayer than meets the eye."

"You really think that?" Yoru nodded. "I'd like for you to keep a close eye on him for me."

Ichikawa smiled. "You sure are keeping me busy lately—there's so much on my plate now."

Yoru smirked as he walked off deeper into the first level of the dormitory.

The door to Sunao's room was peeked open just barely—enough for him to see inside. The lights were out in his room. He slowly opened the door wide enough for Sunao to step inside the room without making any sounds. As he walked into the room, he saw Sora's suitcase up against his bed and opened up, seeing nothing inside it. He looked around, and didn't see much of a difference in the room. The only thing he noticed was the thick white comforter laid out on the bed. 'Those are the sheets the school sells,' Sunao thought. He glanced over to the suitcase—the only thing that Sora was carrying when he moved in. 'He didn't have much, did he? Could Hashiba be poor?'

His eyes shifted to Sora's bed, noticing the large and long lump in the bed. He smiled to himself as he watched Sora sleeping soundly with the comforter pulled over his head. Not too long after, Sunao yawned, now looking through sleepy eyes. He glanced over to the alarm clock on his nightstand—the only few sources at this hour.

11:23 P.M.

"It's late. And I didn't even get much sleep last night either." He walked over to his bed and fell asleep shortly, with a thought that was expected to keep him up, but his desires to sleep were much stronger. 'If Ichikawa is in the school, then that means that Yoru is…'

His eyes were shut when he woke up, still feeling sleepy. He felt someone shaking his shoulder, trying to wake him up. Sunao was praying that Sora would just give up eventually and let him go back to sleep.

"Fujimori," Sora said sluggishly, "You better get up pretty soon. School starts in an hour."

Sunao turned over to his side. "Five more minutes," he answered. He could hear Sora exhaling deeply, sounding as if he was annoyed.

"Come on, Fujimori," Sora said, "You're going to be late." Sunao rolled back onto his back, groaning a little as he opened his eyes slowly, seeing Sora looking down on him. Sora smiled as soon as he saw Sunao awake. "Well, good morning."

Sunao noticed quickly that Sora had dark circles around his eyes, a result to a bad night's sleep. 'But he went to bed before me. How can he still be tired?' He sat up in his bed and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "Thanks, Hashiba," he groaned, not really liking the idea of waking up, but knew he had to.

Sora smiled slightly. "Your alarm was going off, and you didn't seem to wanna get up. So I'd figure you needed a little a help."

Sunao was now sitting on the edge of his bed, pushing his sheets off of his lap, still struggling to wake up completely. Sora couldn't help but chuckle on how Sunao was having a hard time getting up. "You're not much of a morning person, are you?"

Sunao shook his head slowly as he answered in a groggy voice, "Not today, evidently." He spent another moment still rubbing his eyes until the light wasn't irritating him. Once that was done, Sunao stood up and walked over to his dresser, grabbing his uniform and a towel. He looked over his shoulder, seeing that Sora was already dressed and ready to go already. Sunao raised an eyebrow. "When did you get up?"

Sora shrugged his shoulders. "I was up for a while," he said, rubbing his shoulder, "That bed takes some getting used to." Sunao laughed inwardly. "I know what you mean." Both left the room, heading off into different directions—Sora went off to class, while Sunao went off to the bath hall.

It was lunch time, and Nagase stopped by for another visit. They were sitting outside on the metal tables with the attached benches again. Nagase didn't have anything to eat this time, but had a cup of coffee instead. "So," Nagase began, "Any updates with your 'friends'?"

Sunao thought a moment. 'If I tell him that I didn't kill Yoru yet, then he's bound to coming to the academy. But if I don't, then it would be up to me to slay him, and I'm not sure if I can do it on my own.' "Umm," Sunao answered. Nagase raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.

"…It was taken care of," Sunao finally answered.

"Why didn't you answer so quickly?"

Sunao thought for a moment. "I was thinking about it again," he answered, "It took a lot, but he made the wrong turn, and I pierced him through his back."

Nagase smirked. "That would explain why you look so tired."

Sunao nodded. "I didn't get much sleep afterwards. That fight did last quite a while."

"Any injuries?"

Sunao shook his head. "I'm sore more than anything. But I wasn't bitten or did I drink his blood, if that's what you mean."

Nagase took a sip of his coffee. "And it was just that one?" Sunao nodded his head in response. Nagase smirked. "Well I must say that I'm impressed."

Sunao raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? I've slayed many on my own before."

"But not any without father or me close by." Sunao rolled his eyes. "Give me some credit, brother." Nagase shrugged his shoulders as he answered, "Can't help it. I will always see that little boy in you."

He groaned. "I'm not that helpless seven-year old anymore, brother." He looked up to his brother with a serious expression, but softened slightly. "I've grown, brother. I've spent most of life training. I think it's safe to say that I am just as strong as you." Nagase couldn't help but laugh. "You? As strong as me?"

Sunao smiled and rolled his eyes. "Excuse me. Almost." He playfully stuck out his tongue toward his 'older brother'. Nagase smirked as he couldn't hold back this cocky grin. "That's better." Both laughed for a while, expressing how close they are, revealing also how open Sunao is towards Nagase. "You're still so full of yourself," Sunao said as he went on laughing.

Nagase stopped laughing for a moment. "So you understand where I am coming from?"

Sunao seized from laughter as well. He stared in bewilderment, wondering what Nagase meant. Nagase gazed upon Sunao with soft eyes. He reached over and took a hold of Sunao's delicate hand. "Some things about our past never change…like a characteristic." Nothing Nagase says made any sense to Sunao—it was like walking deeper into the fog.

"What do you mean by that?"

He tightened his grip on Sunao's hand. Sunao could feel the heat rushing to his face. "Just like you still see signs of my younger self, I still see your younger self still dwelling. I'll admit that you have grown into this magnificent slayer; however, I can't help but doubt your skills. You don't always come out of battle unharmed…and when you do…I see that child in you crying out…to me." Sunao smiled softly.

"You were the one I could always turn to," he began. "It wasn't long after I started living with you and your family that I found you as an older brother." Sunao moved his hand away from Nagase, bringing them back to his knees. "And I am truly grateful for having someone like you looking out for me, but…"

Nagase sighed. "But this working alone idea has been glued to you."

Sunao nodded, keeping his head down, as thoughts that have been kept within began to echo in his head. He was on the verge of tears, but with all his might, he was able to keep them in. 'No point in crying,' he thought. He gave himself a moment, thinking about how innocent things were back then between Nagase and him. Finally, he looked back up to Nagase, who was staring at him with concern gleaming in his eyes. He smiled once more, looking to the side as he finally responded. "This is a dream of mine, Nagase."

Nagase raised an eyebrow. "To go off slaying on your own?"

"…yes."

"Then if it's a dream…then I guess I'll have to accept it."

Sunao looked up to Nagase surprised. "Accept?"

He nodded. "Evidently, you're not going to let this dream of yours go so easily. I'll admit, father and I are going to hate seeing you leave, but…we'll come to understand your wishes." There was more within Sunao's smile this time. Sunao could feel this inner warmth of pure happiness and joy…and even, perhaps, hope. There was so much stirring up within that Sunao wasn't sure how to express it. He figured he would frighten his brother if he leaped over the table and hugged him. No. That wasn't the way to approach it.

"I'm glad you've come to understand," He said with that smile still on his face.

"However," Nagase added, "This doesn't mean that I am going to lose complete contact of you, right?"

Sunao raised his hands and waved them nonchalantly, still keeping that happy smile. "Of course we won't, brother."

The bell rung its warning bell, breaking the touching moment between the two brothers. Sunao's eyes widened surprise for a moment and glancing to the students who were rushing to class. He stood up from the bench and gathered up his items and shoved them into his bag. Nagase smirked as he watched Sunao frantically rush himself.

"I'm sorry for cutting things so abruptly, brother," Sunao said as he swung his bag over his shoulder. Sunao didn't even wait for a response when he ran off toward the main building. Nagase just sat there, watching Sunao closely, as if he was watching something so mesmerizing as he traveled into a point of pure relaxation.

/Flashback/

So many years ago, and yet, he remembers it like it was yesterday. He remembers seeing rain through his bedroom window pouring down like cats and dogs. Clouds were so dark and gray that covered the entire daytime sky, making it appear as dark as night…without any sign of the sun's light.

He heard the front door open, and felt his instints taking over. His small hand reached down to his pistol he had on his twin sized bed until he heard a very familiar voice.

"Kai, come here." He left the gun on his bed and walked towards the front door, finding his father there, closing the front door behind him as he stepped further into the house. Nagase, as he approached his father, noticed that he seemed to be speaking to someone and looking down. Nagase now stood in front of his father. His father, Aizawa, looked to Nagase with a warm smile. Nagase was curious if his reason for such an appearance were good news or not. He just stood there, waiting for whatever is yet to come.

Aizawa stepped to the side, revealing that there was someone else there. His eyes were locked on that person. This guest was covered with a thick blanket that was wrapped around him from the shoulders down. So all Nagase could really see was the face.

Clearly, he was young, maybe around six years of age, very close to Nagase's age. This boy had thick and short pink hair drenched from the rain. The boy continued to stare down with those bold pink eyes to the floor with a blank expression. It didn't take long for Nagase to figure that something troubles him.

"This is Sunao Fujimori. He's staying with us for a while."

Nagase nodded his head, but kept his eyes on Sunao.

It's been about a few weeks since Sunao came to stay with them, and Nagase can't get through to this child. Whenever Aizawa goes off to slay, it was Nagase who has to watch over Sunao. Communicating with Sunao was one of the hardest tasks that Nagase has ever faced. Sunao prefers to keep to himself most of the time. He usually sits in the corner of Nagase's—and now his—room, not doing much, but just waiting for the day to pass. He never even comes out for anything, besides using the restroom. If it wasn't for Nagase, he would skip his meals as well.

When it was time to eat, Nagase would bring up something light to eat, such as a sandwich or a small bowl of ramen, and place the plate next to Sunao. Nagase figured out quickly that Sunao doesn't like to eat whenever people are around. He would leave the room for a while and come back to find an empty plate next to him. At times, Nagase would try talking to him, but doesn't seem to see any progress.

He would sit beside to Sunao and speak to him in a soft and friendly tone. "You seem to like ramen," he would say, "you usually eat that faster than you would eat anything else."

Sunao never responded.

When small talk didn't work, Nagase would try reading to him. He would wrap the orphan around with one of the sheets from his bed and sit right beside him as he would read.

(1)"Deep in the Enchanted Forest, in a neat gray house with a wide porch and red roof, lived the witch Morwen and her nine cats. The cats were named Murgatroyd, Fiddlesticks, Miss Eliza, Tudor, Scorn, Jasmine, Trouble, Jasper Darlington Higgins IV, Chaos, and Aunt Ophelia, and not one of looked anything like a witch's cat…"

Every now and then, Nagase would add in his thoughts, hoping to make him smile or talk…or anything.

"Those are pretty weird names for cats, huh Sunao? I feel bad for Jasper Darlington Higgins IV. It would take forever to call him."

Nagase heard a faint and brief giggle. Nagase gasped quietly. He couldn't believe what he just heard. It almost took him a moment for him to realize that that noise came from him. He didn't want to react too sudden to an extent that it would scare Sunao. He smiled to himself, and continued to read. Since that day, Nagase would take some time out of his hands and read.

Since then, Nagase would see more and more progress. He would respond with a nod or shake his head; he would eat with Nagase around; and even once in a while he would get up to use the bathroom while they read. It was tiny little things like that that reminded Nagase to continue working with him.

Another month has passed since then, and Nagase was so proud of how much Sunao opened up now. He didn't spend his days in a corner, but followed Nagase everywhere he went. Nagase never did mind Sunao tagging along with him everywhere he went. In fact, he enjoyed the company. With his father always out working in his lab—and training when he was there—it was nice to have someone to talk to. Sunao became a very special person in his life.

One day, Nagase took Sunao out of the house and walked to the library. Sunao was so excited to see all those books in one place, he didn't know where to begin looking. Finally, he picked a few random books to take home. Nagase checked out the books and placed them in his bag.

They were walking home together—Sunao right behind Nagase, holding the back of his shirt. Nagase reached behind his back and pulled out one of the books from his bag. "What kind of books did you get anyway, Sunao?" Nagase glanced at the title of the book he held in his hand.

"Our Bodies, Ourselves. The Boston Women's Health Book Collective."

"Sunao…why did you check out a women's health book?!" It was then when it came to him. 'Can Sunao even read,' he asked himself within his mind. He glanced over his shoulder, only to discover that Sunao wasn't right behind him. Nagase quickly spun around and looked from side to side, hoping there was any sign of little Sunao. "Sunao," he called out as he began to walk toward the direction they came from.

He found Sunao crouched down in an alley. He sighed in relief. "Sunao. You can't wonder off li.." Sunao quickly spun around and smiled so happily. "Look, big brother," Sunao said. He lifted up to Nagase this small alley cat. Nagase stared at the cat, then Sunao. "It's a cat, Sunao," he said, making it sound like it was no big deal. Sunao shook his head. "It's Fiddlesticks," he corrected.

It was then when Nagase discovered he never saw Sunao smile so happily like that until today. He could feel a blush coming to his cheeks. "Sunao's really cute when he smiles," he thought to himself, as he was watching Sunao pet the kitten and laughing out of pure joy.

/End Flashback/

Nagase continued to watch Sunao running off. Just as Sunao was about to walk into the building, he waved to Nagase and smiled to him. Nagase smiled to himself as he waved back to Sunao. "Still the same," he said so softly that he was the only who could hear him, or so he thought. Not too far from Nagase, Ichikawa was in a tree, listening closely to their conversation, and then watching Nagase stare in such a captivated manner at Sunao. Ichikawa huffed in annoyance. "Everyone is so into that little slayer brat," he scolded and crossed his arms as he watched Nagase stare. "What's so great about him anyway?"

(1) That was a bit taken out from the book 'The Enchanted Forest Chronicles' by Patricia C. Wrede. To be honest, I have no idea what that story is about. I just flipped through the pages until I found something I could use for this chapter…..now I'm tempted to read it. xD.

Anyways, I hope you're enjoying my little story so far. It's actually a way for recovering from my previous 'writer's block' I got not too long after I finished 'Tears to Roses'. The story I came up with was fun, but it flowed together. That usually happens when I make an outline to a story. T-T (FAILED).

Lola- *points and laughs* I told you that you'd get major writer's block from it.

Me- Don't be hatin…

Rosie- Well, till next time. Ja ne. AND DON'T FORGET! NO REVIEWS=NO NEXT CHAPTER

Me- THAT'S MY LINE!