Hello again! I think that I updated faster this time, but there was still a good week in between updates. -.-' I do apologize for going so slow, but that's just how I roll, I suppose...I'll try to get faster as time goes on, I promise!
Anyway, any UraBoku fans out there? I just started reading it and IM IN LOVE 333 Hotsuma and Shuusei are my favorite couple as right now, with Luka and Yuki as a close second. It's just a beautiful story, and the angst gives me so much muse :3 I think that I just might be obsessed, haha...
Things You May Wanna Know:
0330330330330330330 - Means Time Passing!
I did get one lovely review! I will reply to all of those right here in this space:
Reviews:
ChouRan - I'm glad to hear that you're hooked! It makes me wanna write more :3 Here is an update! I hope that it's to your liking! *bows*
Please Review! It helps me to know more of what you are looking for and how to make the story experience better for you! To those who favorited and followed, you guys also make me write more. Every time I see those numbers, I feel like I'm actually doing something worthwhile :) Thank you all so much! Even to you who are just reading and trying to see where this goes before making a decision...I know that you're there, and I'm so grateful that you chose to read my story! Please continue to support me as I go through this journey with you!
Chapter Quote Credit - "A Tale of Two Cities", Charles Dickens (one of my favorite novels of all time)
Have a good week, everyone! I hope to see you back here again soon! ^.^
'I wonder how Kuro-puu is doing,' The blonde thought to himself, adjusting the strap of his bag. He wanted to get in and get some groceries tonight. With the extra money that he was making from his...side activities at his job, he had recently been able to actually eat more than ramen this week – more than he'd had since Fai had moved to Japan.
To be honest, going and doing that mock singing battle had been the best thing that had ever happened to him. He'd never thought that he would earn a promotion at a karaoke bar, but as soon as he'd agreed to be the manager's friend with benefits, he was starting to actually make some money. By doing some special favors and using his talents, Fai had been able to get the man to start paying him at least double his last salary. Hopefully, by the time that the man realized what it truly was, the lithe male would be long gone – somewhere that he could go to a better school, and get a better job. The only problem was that he couldn't put this manager down as a reference; there wouldn't be anything worse than the guy actually finding him when he was supposed to be far, far away.
Fai hummed happily to himself as he stood in the grocery line, trying to ignore the slight soreness in his hips, the way that his whole body just seemed to hurt nowadays. He was often up late at night, trying to earn some extra money, and his new bedmate didn't take his own personal needs into consideration. But, as there wasn't anyone else exactly lined up to pay him as good of a salary in the manager's place, he was stuck for the moment. The difference between now and then was that he was eventually going to be free...he just needed a little more money, and he would be there.
'Soon, I might even be able to afford a scooter...I can work almost anywhere I want to when I have that!' The willowy male almost giggled aloud at the thought, excitedly plucking some cans of vegetables from the grocery store shelves. His life was finally starting to go somewhere, and it was all thanks to those awesome Academy kids.
If Fai was being honest, he knew that he missed that caramel-skinned raven. Kuro-myuu had been something special, something that he didn't always see in this mundane life. He missed sitting next to that muscly form, gazing into those intense garnet eyes. He missed everything that was Kurogane...but he knew that he couldn't see him again. That would mean purposely seeking that school out, and he knew that he wouldn't be able to resist if he was caught by them again. The idea of getting to dance was just too tempting.
As soon as Fai had gathered all of his groceries, he went up to the front of the line. It didn't seem like he was spending everything he had to eat anymore – now, with these extra funds, he would have no trouble paying the rent, his tuition, and for anything else that needed fixing. He knew that he had to save most of it, but he couldn't help thinking about renovating the house, making it look nice for anyone who happened by. That notion was silly – there really weren't many people who came to visit, but the ones who did deserved something nice.
'Especially if a certain someone decided to happen my way sometime,' The blonde thought, laughing to himself. It was a silly idea, to believe that he would find the raven again someday and possibly get to know him a little better, but there was no harm in playing make believe. If it got him through those horrible nights with the manager, then he would allow himself to dream.
Fai hated the nasty way that his body responded to such a repulsive man. He hated the way that he would feel when everything was over, like a used towel. He especially hated that the man made love – he was as rough and demeaning as possible, thinking that the blonde must really enjoy calling Fai a 'dirty whore'. He didn't know what love was; he didn't know how to properly make it to anyone. It made him nauseous even thinking about it, but it was a way to make more money. The job only made enough to barely cover his butt each month. If the blonde had to do some 'night work' to make ends meet, then he just had to. It didn't matter what it was.
At least...that's what he told himself.
When Fai was up late at night with that man, he just thought of the raven. It was all he could do to keep himself from drowning in despair all night long. He imagined that it wasn't the disgusting pig above him; that it was Kurogane, treating him like he should have been treated, loving him as no one else could. That was what brought him to completion; if Fai didn't have Kurogane for inspiration, he wouldn't have ever been able to finish. Forty-something year old, obese men were definitely not the blonde's type.
The willowy male quickly made his way through the line and prepared to make the twenty minute walk back to his place. He stepped outside of the brightly lit grocery store and took in the sky, wincing when he saw how dark it was. Bad things happened when the sun set around here...Fai didn't like to be anywhere but his apartment when the sun went down. Yakuza, kidnappings, rapes...anything bad that could happen did happen, and often he had to hear awful noises as he drifted off to sleep.
This neighbrohood wasn't the best, but Fai called it home. He'd been living here for the better part of a year now, and he was starting to get to know his way around. Now that he was entertaining his manager, he found that a lot of people were being nicer to him; the guy was ugly and balding, but he did have some pretty powerful connections. That was why the lithe male had to bide his time – when he left, he was going to have to get far away from here. There was no telling who would show up to drag him back.
Thinking about these things didn't help as the blonde continued walking home that night. He sighed, gripping his bags as he hoped and pleaded that no one would approach him. Every noise was someone lunging to mug him; every shadow someone tailing him from behind. Before he knew it, Fai had worked himself into a frenzy, his heart beating hard and his palms sweating rivers. He was so sure that he was being followed, that as soon as he stopped something was going to jump out and get him.
'Please let this be my imagination. Please just let me get home safely.' The lithe male thought, shutting his eyes and continuing to walk, replaying this mantra over and over in his head. 'Please, please, please...,'
It was then that Fai heard the footsteps behind him; in a terrified craze, he kept walking, heart pounding almost painfully against his ribs.
There was a park up ahead. In the daylight, it was a peaceful place – children came here to play, and mothers would keep a watchful, wary eye on them. He liked to eat lunch here sometimes, or skip school here. It was a nice place to just kick back and relax. But, in the dark, when no one was here...it was completely different. It was a monster's haunt, filled with black shapes, unrecognizeable in the darkness. Fai headed right toward it, back straight and hands clenched, thinking that he would somehow loose them in the park.
The steps began to speed up. Fai could hear the sounds of breathing behind him. This person obviously wasn't trying to stalk him, or be subtle about their presence. They were coming for him, and judging by the sound, he didn't have much time to get away. He needed to come up with a plan – and fast.
Still continuing on his path, the willowy blonde decided that it was best to just start running at this point. He started at a slight jog at first, but soon was sprinting at full force, barreling right through the abysmal park. 'If I can just make it...if I can just get to the other side, I'm practically home. I'll just have to run up the stairs...or maybe to the manager's office...,' The terrified blonde thought, his body in a frenzy as he burst through the park.
Fai's assailant was suddenly much closer than they had been a second ago. He tried as hard as he possibly could to keep going, but he wasn't in shape anymore – he had never been that great of a runner anyway. His body was failing, that he couldn't go on like this much longer. He whimpered in defeat, petrified at whatever was going to befall him...
"Dammit, you moron! Slow the fuck down!"
The blonde blinked, realizing that this person had been shouting at him the entire time...and he had just been blocking it out. What was more was that he recognized that voice from somewhere, he just couldn't remember exactly...
A warm hand took its rightful place on his shoulder, and Fai just knew.
"Kurogane...?!"
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The tanned male glared down at Fai, not even slightly winded by the run that had exhausted the skinny blonde. "Why the hell were you running? Is someone after you?" He asked roughly, looking around the area.
"...Y-you scared me, Kuro-pon...I thought that you were a bad person chasing after me...," The willowy male said softly, looking up at him. He felt like he had been rescued...even though the thing that he had been rescued from was nothing more than a delusion. He couldn't help but feel like he had just wished Kurogane into existence...or that the male had heard his desperation somehow and come to save him, like a knight in shining armor...
Though, if we were talking about Kurogane here, it was more like a badass ninja from a manga.
"Why would you think that?" The caramel-skinned male asked gruffly, stepping closer.
"I'm not fond of being outside after nightfall, Kuro-myuu~ that's all!"
"You're gonna have a lot more to be scared about if you keep calling me those stupid nicknames." The male glowered, fisting his hand in Fai's shirt. "You'd better stop."
The pale blonde felt like he should have been scared. Here he was, being physically threatened by a man in a dark, scary place...but he'd never felt so safe. "You wouldn't hurt me." He said, absolutely certain. Cerulean and garnet met in that moment, combining in two separate gazes and intwining themselves into one. "You like me too much for that~,"
"Like you?!" The male scoffed, but released the blonde. "I don't even know you. How could I like you?" He asked angrily, huffing like an enraged bull. "You're just an ass."
That hurt a little bit, but Fai would do his damndest not to show it. "I don't know you, so how could you already dislike me so much?" He asked curiously, looking up at him with bright eyes. "Did I do something to make you angry?"
The look that the blonde got in return for that statement was so fierce, it nearly sent him to his knees. "What did you do?! You walked out on us is what you did! Fuuma was actually asking for some much-needed help, ya damn idiot! He needs someone who knows what they're doing to help him, but you just completely ignored that!"
'Oh.' Fai thought, trying to keep his face from twisting in displeasure. He had completely forgotten about them...all that mattered to him was the person standing before him now. "...I'm sorry?" He asked, only succeeding in making Kurogane even angrier.
"Sorry doesn't help anyone, dammit! You should actually try joining them!"
"And what if I don't want to, Kuro-chan? What if I just want to have a good time every once and awhile?" The blonde smirked at him, walking closer. "I didn't sign up to be your friends' show pet for life. I signed up to help him, at that moment, when he needed it. And if that's not enough, then that's not my problem~," The tone was cheerful enough, but he could see the sting of his words in Kurogane's eyes. He didn't like being like this...Fai wanted to be the friendly, happy blonde that everyone wanted him to be.
But on the inside, he wasn't sure that the carefree, good time guy everyone liked actually existed.
"Then that makes you a coward." Kurogane spat, his fists clenched, eyes boring into him. "You know that you are good – no one who doesn't know that can perform like you did! Yet you're not going to help someone out who really needs it? What are you using your talent for? Who is benefiting from it?!"
"No one, Kuro-bun, and that's for the best." Fai said softly, looking away. "No one can benefit from it. And the sooner your friend realizes that, the better."
Hands were suddenly gripping small shoulders, dark fingers gripping the milky white skin that Fai's shirt didn't cover.
"What the hell are you so afraid of?! Why are you so scared that you can't even try?!"
Fai tilted his head down, wheat gold bangs falling in front of his eyes. He knew that there was a way to answer this question that would shut him up...but he decided that it was better not to. The blonde placed his hand on the other male's chest, and as soon as he knew he could handle himself, he looked up. "Let go of me, Kuro-myuu~ you'll make someone think that you're a bad person."
There was no diverting the taller male. "Answer the question, dammit. Why are you so scared?"
Roughly as possible, Fai shoved the tanned male back. Kurogane's grip slackened on his shoulders, and that was the opening that the blonde needed. He slipped away quickly, snatching his fallen bags and making a break for it as fast as he possibly could. This time, the raven didn't follow; instead, his attention was diverted by something on the ground that had fallen out of the blonde's many grocery bags.
The blonde never noticed; he just didn't stop until he was completely inside his apartment again, dry heaving against the door. He sank to his knees, a pile of bags and limbs, and put his face in his hands.
"I don't know...," He panted, desperately trying to get his breath back. "I just...I just don't know...,"
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Things had been quiet for the last week, leaving Fai shocked and a little disappointed. He had figured out that he'd dropped his school ID when he had fled from Kurogane as soon as he'd gotten control of himself that night; ever since, the blonde had been dreading (more like anxiously awaiting) the time when Kurogane would make his way over to confront him again.
But that day hadn't come.
To be honest, the willowy male had halfway hoped that he would be able to see Kurogane again. He had really, really wanted the male to swoop in and save him from all this disaster, or maybe carry him away to his magical kingdom where the sun never set and happiness never ended, but that obviously was not going to happen. Real life wasn't a fairy tale – it was anything but. This dull, boring reality was just the cards that Fai had been dealt. Try as he might to change his hand, it would always stay the same.
At the moment, said blonde was in his Literature class, typing a paper up on one of the computers. He didn't even read the book that they were supposed to be analyzing; he didn't know what he was going to do. He just figured that he would kind of wing it somehow, make it pretty and filled with meaningless words, and flunk the grade. It was alright; Lit was one of his best subjects. He just didn't have any time to do the reading right now because of his situation at work. There was no way that he could explain what he was up to all hours of the night, so he'd just have to pretend that everything was fine. After all, he really wasn't supposed to have a part-time job anyway...he didn't want to get in trouble. This was the only school that he could afford; anything more, and he would be drowning in bills like he had been before he'd agreed to be the manager's bedmate.
'Just a little more money, and a little more time. I'll be out of here. Maybe I can stay a little longer to afford college. He would probably pay it for me if I could turn it into some kind of bedroom entertainment...Izawa-san's naughty student...,'
The male sighed aloud, not really wanting to think about that at the moment. He was already pressed for time as it was; this whole 'friend with benefits' thing was really starting to take its toll on him. It wasn't that he hated it...well, okay, he hated it, but Fai had no other choice. He was getting paid extremely well for a prostitute, and he wasn't about to compromise his situation. No, he needed this money. There were no other jobs that he could find that would take someone without a high school diploma...or that would take him in for his 'nighttime activities' with minimal risk of disease.
Or it hadn't...until Izawa had suggested that he bring some of his friends tonight. Fai had no idea what that meant, but he was sure that he wouldn't like it. But, what other choice did he have? There was no way that he could just take tonight off. The manager would get really angry at him, and probably stop paying him; that was the way this 'job' was – turnover rate was extremely high if you didn't follow the boss' exact orders, didn't give pleasure to his every whim.
The only thing that got Fai through was the promise that, someday, he would be out of this hellhole and somewhere where he could leave all of this pain behind.
Sensei's voice brought the blonde back to the present. "Alright, everyone. Time's up on the Brave New World papers. I want you to get your Tale of Two Cities books and turn to chapter five."
The willowy male did as asked; he took out the well-worn paperback (only a couple yen at a used bookstore – apparently, not even the library wanted this poor, abused thing) and flipped to the correct page. This being the only book that he had, he'd read it many times and was well familiar with this chapter. 'The Jackal,' The male thought to himself, directing his eyes back to the podium where his sensei stood with her own copy in hand. 'How ironic.'
"Surely someone did the reading last night." A chorus of boo's echoed through the room, and the teacher rolled her eyes. "Did anyone actually read the book?"
Fai's hand seemed to go up on its own. Shocked, he realized too late that he couldn't undo this action; he made a great habit to never participate in class. He didn't want anyone focusing attention on him, or the sound of his voice. It was a bad idea to start having people prying into your life, your background. He'd barely had enough information to satisfy the school upon his entry here; having to make up enough to satisfy people who actually cared about you would be too much trouble.
"Flourite-kun?" Sensei looked hopeful; all the lithe blonde could do was sigh softly, stand up, and gave a small summary, hoping it woudl be enough to placate her.
"You see Sydney Carton in more depth...see his relationship with the lion, Mr. Stryver, and why he's called the jackal." Fai shrugged his shoulders, looking down at the yellowing pages of his novel. Sydney Carton...the blonde hated him. Reading about him, hearing about him, the whole nine yards. He much preferred Charles Darnay, the one who had it all together, and who got the girl in the end. He didn't care about Carton at all, actually; Fai believed that he deserved to die because there was nothing else for him to do. He was useless, only good for being a sacrificial lamb for those that claimed to love him.
"Very good, Fluorite-kun," The teacher said, turning her attention to the board behind her. "The jackal. The one behind the lion, who could be the true king of beasts if he really wished to be. Does anyone know why...,"
The teacher's voice faded, and Fai sat back down, staring out the window. He knew all the answers to this, and to be quite honest, he really didn't want to hear it. This Literature class took books from all sorts of cultures and languages. He would never understand why Tale of Two Cities was on this list; it was an English classic, but they could have read Jane Eyre, or The Canterbury Tales, or anything else. Perhaps even another work by Charles Dickens – but why did this have to be the book?
Every time Fai heard this story, it all came rushing back to him...
"I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul...,"
The blonde closed his eyes, trying to keep the pain from appearing on his face. Why now? He was in school; he couldn't think about this right now! 'Stop it...please, stop it...,' He thought, pale fists clenching in his lap. Nothing he said would stop it...his mind wasn't listening to him. The sweet words and lost nights just kept coming back to him, those dark, bottleglass blue eyes flashing to the forefront of the lithe male's mind.
" And yet I have had the weakness, and have still the weakness, to wish you to know with what a sudden mastery you kindled me, heap of ashes that I am, into fire."
That low voice had whispered such things to him in the darkest parts of the night, purred them against his skin. With every syllable, he had stolen a little more of Fai's soul...had drawn him in deeper and deeper. He was falling; falling back into the longing, the hope, the terror...it was taking over him again. He knew if he didn't leave right now, he was going to have another one of those episodes, but he couldn't...he had no escape. With a shudder of terror, Fai realized that the darkness was coming. It was unstoppable; there was nothing he would do. Soon, the shaking would start...and shortly after, the tears, maybe the screaming. He'd been through this several times by himself, and he knew just how terrified of himself he became. What was going to happen here, in this classroom full of kids who barely knew him?
'Please...a little longer...just let me hold on a little longer...,' The male pleaded with himself, but it was to no avail; he could already feel the trembling in his hands. One of his episodes was coming, the thoughts swirling around in his mind no matter how hard he tried to shove them down.
"...Since I knew you, I have been troubled by a remorse that I thought would never reproach me again, and have heard whispers from old voices impelling me upward, that I thought were silent for ever. I have had unformed ideas of striving afresh, beginning anew, shaking off sloth and sensuality, and fighting out the abandoned fight. A dream, all a dream, that ends in nothing, and leaves the sleeper where he lay down, but I wish you to know that you inspired it."
The words echoed in Fai's mind, bringing tears to his eyes. 'No...please, not now...not now, not now, not-,'
There was a loud crash as the door was rudely slammed open, shattering his thoughts completely.
The entire class flinched, their eyes flashing to the front of the room. It took only a moment for the blonde to identify the two clowns that had just walked into his classroom; with horror, he realized that they were some of those kids from the karaoke bar...Kazahaya and...Fuuma, if he wasn't mistaken.
"E-excuse me, you two! What in the world do you think you're doing?!" Sensei demanded, glaring at them with intense hatred. "You can't just barge into a classroom whenever you feel like it! Go back wherever the heck you came from this instant!"
Fuuma's eyes found Fai's...and in an instant, everything that the blonde had worked so hard for seemed to collapse right in front of him. He pointed to the blonde and grinned, giving him a small wink.
"Sorry, Sensei. This one's coming with us."
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"Why are you guys here...?" Fai asked, both of his arms captured by the males on either side of him as he was quite literally dragged down the hallway. "You know, this kind of thing is frowned upon! Aren't you worried that someone's going to call the police?"
Kazahaya sent him a wink in reply, shrugging his shoulders.
"You know, that was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be~ as soon as she found out that we were from the Academy, she just relinquished you." Fuuma stated cheerfully, turning the corner to the main hallway. "We thought that it was going to be a lot tougher to get you out...but then again, we wouldn't have had to resort to such extreme measures if you hadn't tried to avoid us for so long!"
The blonde sighed, figuring that they were heading for the main office. "You know, in most countries, the word 'no' does count as a valid answer." He said, looking up at them with a tired look in his eyes. "I would really appreciate it if you let me go back to class now.
"Unfortunately, it's not an answer when you're dealing with us." Kazahaya pulled the glass door open, pulling up on his arms with Fuuma so that the skinny blonde could stand up straight. "Besides, what's the harm? Won't you just hear Yuuko-san out first?"
"...Yuuko-san?" Fai asked hesitantly, straightening up and stretching his sore muscles. He wasn't sure that he wanted to meet anyone else from this crazy school – the blonde liked a good spectacle now and then, but he certainly didn't want to be apart of it. These people were insane, possibly more insane than he was...and that was saying something.
Looking around nervously, the lithe boy looked around. His only exit was through the glass door, which Fuuma and Kazahaya were now guarding. They both pointed ahead to the main principal's office in a fluid movement, perfectly timed and exactly the same. Fai rose his eyes in surprise; yes, these people were serious about group dancing. Only people who had trained together for hours could do something like that on a whim...those who knew each other better than they knew themselves.
'If things were different...maybe I'd actually tell them that I could be with them...,' The male thought sadly, turning to face his fate in the principal's office. He shuffled forward into the small, cramped room, trying to keep his eyes on the ground. He wanted to look as innocent and victimized as possible; hopefully someone would recognize that these guys were insane, and set him free!
There were already two people in the office; one was the principal, a frumpy looking old woman who always seemed out of sorts...and a very sleek, professional young woman with long black hair, wearing stylish street clothes. The unknown woman smiled at him, her eyes holding a mischevious, curious light in them. "Well, hello there, D'Fluorite-san." She said softly, offering her hand to him. Her voice was low, warm, and strangely enchanting – it was all the poor blonde could do to offer his hand, trying not to stare too long into her gaze.
'It's like she can stare into my soul...,' The male thought, trying to suppress the shiver that ran down his spine. "It's a pleasure." He said, not knowing where he found the words. "Do your students always drag people out of their classrooms?"
"Only when the person getting dragged isn't smart enough to take them up on their offer the first time they make it." The woman replied, not missing a beat. Fai felt his face color in embarassment, though he wasn't sure why. He stared back at her, trying to surprise the rising tide of annoyance welling up in his chest.
"...Yuuko-san, correct?" Fai asked, waiting for a nod from the woman to continue. "I am in a situation right now where I cannot possibly join this group. I understand that Fuuma-kun is in a bit of a bind here, but I honestly would not be of any help-,"
"Oh, I know about that." Yuuko smiled, studying her nails. "I am prepared to offer you a change of situation. Away from a certain Izawa-san, if you know what I mean."
Fai's blood ran cold. He stared at the woman, immediately giving her a strained smile; it was the only cover he could run and hide behind at a moment's notice. For the first time since he'd come in, his own principal spoke up. "I've been notified that you're not in the most wholesome living arrangement at the moment, D'Fluorite-kun. Because of that...I've been notified that we cannot accept you at a private institution, considering that you don't have any guardians that you can go to stay with on record." She actually looked concerned for once, though it was most likely just an act. "Yuuko-san here is prepared to offer you a nice place to stay and a great education. I recommend taking her up on her offer."
Fai turned his eyes back to the mysterious woman, not sure how to respond. He had thought that he had been extremely careful with this whole thing; he'd never let on that anything was wrong with the people from the Academy, or those at his school. 'How the hell did they find out?! How did anyone know about this?! And, if she already knows about that...what else does she know?' He thought, feeling the panic beginning to close in on him. He had to get out of here before she revealed too much...
"All I am asking is a fair trial of our instiution, D'Fluorite-kun." Yuuko-san fixed him with her stare and came close enough to put a hand on his shoulder. Instead of frightening him further, this seemed like a gesture of...friendship. It was almost motherly in a way, mentor-like. "I just want to help out Fuuma-kun and you at the same time. If you would just come and see what he has to offer, it really would mean a lot."
Fai wanted to say yes. He wanted to say yes more than he had wanted anything in a long time. But there was just too much...there was no way that he could. He couldn't go back to that world again. He couldn't allow himself to return to something that had nearly destroyed him before.
"I...I just-,"
"You don't have to join."
Fai turned his head to see the aforementioned male standing in the doorway, running a hand through his spiky brown hair. "You know, you just have to see what we can do. That's all I'm asking for."
"Asking? I wasn't aware that we were taking no for an answer." Yuuko-san's voice was eerily cheery for her words. "Fate has come calling for you, Fai D'Fluorite. There's no stopping it when it arrives."
The mysterious woman's red eyes fixed him with an impenatrable stare; Fai found that it was impossible to look away. It was impossible to do so many things right now – including escape from this trap. Sighing, he realized that he was cornered; it was time to admit defeat and do what they wanted. 'After all, he said that I didn't have to join,' He thought, closing his eyes. 'Maybe this is only a temporary thing...,'
"I'm sending Kazahaya-kun and Fuuma-kun with you to pack your things." Yuuko-san was already leaving, waving at them as she exited the office. "I expect you to be on campus at four o'clock! Not a moment later!"
Kazahaya muttered something about the teacher missing her appointment with her favorite sake salesman under his breath, and Fuuma chuckled. The principal was trying to get Yuuko-san to wait, running out the door after her...but Fai was barely aware of any of it. All he could think was that he had just dug himself into a giant pit, one that he had no hope of getting himself out of. He was screwed, and it was all his fault. There was nothing he could do now but go to this place and hope that he could lie low enough for no one to find him until he could jump on a plane to America.
"Oh, and we were told to give this back to you." Fuuma was putting something in Fai's hand. The blonde lifted his slender fingers to see his school ID nestled between them. His eyes widened, remembering the night when he'd lost it. His eyes went back to Fuuma, who was grinning like a fool.
"Kurogane said you'd probably want it back." The brunette shrugged, looking to Kazahaya and then back to Fai. "You guys ready to go get the stuff packed up?"
The lithe blonde nodded, pocketing the small card. It was still warm, as though it held some of the raven's burning energy...as though there were still a part of him in it. 'He cared enough about Fuuma to send him my way,' Fai thought, sighing softly. 'He really is the kindest person I've ever met...,'
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Three hours later, Fai was standing in what was to be his new home for at least the next semester. To be honest, this was his worst nightmare – he was going to share the room with two other people, at least one that he didn't know, because there was an overflow of rooms. Normally, having to share with just one other person was bad enough; they didn't know about the episodes, the nightmares...it wasn't like Fai could never sleep again, but he was going to have to try not to for as long as possible. It wasn't like his bad dreams were going anywhere; not when they were about things that he could never, ever forget.
"I know it's not gonna be very spacious for awhile...but it's uh, comfy." The blonde turned to see the unknown of his two roomates: Syaoran. Fai was rooming with Fuuma and he for the moment. While they seemed to be nice enough, he still wasn't all that comfortable. There was the people thing, and the fact that he was going to have to sleep on a cot in the corner until they could find him a room. There was no telling when he would have his own private bed to sleep in...when he could actually have a place to put his things. It wans't like he had much – Kazahaya and Fuuma had been ready to empty the apartment, but they'd only really needed two gallon-size trash bags. Right now, the cot was crammed against them in Fai's corner – not the best living arrangement, but it was all he could do.
"It looks very nice, Syaoran-kun," Fai gave him a small smile, laying out the red and gold uniform that he'd been issued at registration on the bed. As promised, he'd been given a full scholarship to the Academy, meal plan and lodging completely paid for. Apparently, the lithe male wasn't the only one who was here on scholarship; there were a few others, though he hadn't been told who they were. It made him feel a little better...but not much.
The boy with the emerald green eyes nodded, his neat brown hair catching the light of the setting sun. "Um...I guess you should go ahead and get changed, and we'll show you around the place a little bit." He suggested, shrugging his shoulders. "Bathroom's over here...,"
Fai nodded in thanks, and disappeared into the bathroom, snatching up the clothes and hugging them tightly to his chest. He shut the door softly and began to change, sighing as the foreign material of the uniform brushed against his skin. It was a rather simple uniform; yellow dress shirt with a red blazer and matching pants. The shirt was supposed to be worn tucked, but he decided to leave his shirttail out; he'd seen several students doing the same around the campus, so it couldn't have been a very strict rule.
The boy looked in the mirror once he was done, wincing at his reflection. He looked like death warmed over – too pale, huge bags under his eyes. He looked like shit; no wonder his new principal had found out about his nighttime activities!
'Just pull it together, Fai,' The male thought, taking a deep breath. 'It's going to be okay. You'll get through this somehow. You've just got to try and put him behind you-,'
"KAMUI, YOU SONUVA BITCH!"
The shout thundered down the hall, scaring the beejeezus out of the male. He ripped open the door to find that Syaoran was already in the hallway, shouting something else back at whoever was yelling. Confused, Fai made the mistake of stepping outside of the protection of his room – he didn't register the panicked yell of his name before something warm and very hard slammed into him.
Before the blonde knew what was happening, he smacked into the floor, head cracking on the hard marble. He felt a vauge sensation for a moment, like he was falling...
"Shit...oh, shit...,"
Fai had heard that voice before. He was sinking fast, but not fast enough to miss the flustered sound of the raven. "Shit...oi! Are you okay?! HEY! ANSWER ME!"
The lithe male smiled weakly before the pain drew him under, his body sinking into much-needed sleep.
