Disclaimer: No, it's not mine! Teito and Frau will never be mine…but I can at least toy with them…mwahahahahaha XD
Thank you very much for my beta: Yayubaru1 for her help. I know you're busy and all, but you know I'm really grateful for your help *hugs*
ianandra: Thank you. Here's chapter 4 XD
To all reviewers, thanks again for your support! I hope I didn't miss replying any of you :)
This chapter is dedicated you all of my faithful readers, particularly my reviewers, and my lovely beta, Yayubaru1
"It's rare to see you fail your job for once, Frau."
The said blonde scowled. His blue eyes glare sharply at his raven guardian. Frau was annoyed by his foster father's words, but more than that, he was irritated with himself. What was he thinking? He had just let go of his prey. It wasn't easy to lure them out and when he had, he let the boy go.
Frau watched in distaste as a small colt twirled and dance around, led by his fingers. He had failed to capture Teito Klein and all he had now was the boy's colt. It wasn't enough proof to seize the brunette. Frau might have been suspicious and that alone could only grant him more authority to inspect the boy. However, it wasn't enough to obtain capture warrant, not when he was the only one who knew about the boy's infiltration last night.
"I just want to make sure he comes. He hasn't been caught red handed murdering someone," Frau defended. "Though I'm quite sure he is one of them."
"Then I give you permission to catch him so we can interrogate him."
Frau nodded to greet the newly arrived man. His medium-built body was covered by layers of robes, making him appear larger. His old face was rough with one long scar slicing from above his left eyebrow to his cheek. Jio -the archbishop- was a great man with great mind. He could be often harsh but anyone knew, beyond his rough façade, lies heart of a saint. He often let Frau go, knowing very well the blonde was a heavy smoker. He understood that cigarette was the only escape Frau could ever have.
"How?"
"I leave the 'when' to you. As for 'how', try to capture him if he tried to infiltrate this church again. Fortunately, we had known beforehand that their newest target is me," the archbishop explained calmly. It was really inexplicable how the scarred man could be so calm knowing his life was on the line. Then again, this man was always so tough, Frau secretly thought.
"I'll do that then. What about Castor and Lab?"
"Let either one to help you if necessary. Other than that, they should resume their prior job."
"Got it. I'm going now. After all, I get a slippery mouse to chase," said Frau with unconcealed grin.
Just like endless torture, Teito Klein awoke to greet harsh reality of his life. Morning sky was clear and the weather was warm. It was supposed to be a good morning to start a day, yet Teito just had to sigh in desperation. He was sure his cover was blown this time and Ayanami wouldn't love to hear about this. Thinking about the Platinum blonde and his reaction made him cringed.
Looking at his own reflection in the mirror made him realized how his face had become more than pathetic lately. His eyes had dark circles around them, resulting from his last night's insomnia. The brunette couldn't bring himself to sleep until the first light of sun penetrated his thin window. When he had finally tired himself to sleep, his alarm buzzed him awake.
Not too gently, Teito splashed his face with cold water. It jolted him awake but didn't wash away the tiredness. Teito then gave up throwing water to his face and instead choose the shower. Most of the time, he was hoping his room was equipped with water heater. It was too cold in the morning but he couldn't afford to buy one. After all, he didn't get money for killing anyone.
'Maybe I need a part-time job or something,' he thought with a heavy sigh.
Rain of cold water came down from the shower head when he turned the facet on. It quickly washed away Teito's impossible thought. It was comfortably cold although nearly every day, he cursed the cold. Teito was actually born in a snow country so he was supposed to have certain level of endurance. Living in a country with uncertain weather like Barsburgh had certainly lowered his resistance toward cold. Every now and then, he was shivering under the blanket. Even now, he kept sneezing.
Turning off the water, the brunette quickly dry off his body with a clean towel then dressed up in his usual black uniform. He didn't check his still-wet hair anymore and chose to leave early.
In contrast to his seemingly torturous morning, Teito's day at school was nothing but normal. He did his best to avoid Frau, Castor and Labrador though a few times he couldn't. Differ from his thought; Frau didn't confront him about what had happened last night. He taught like usual and still showering Teito with praises whenever the boy excelled any hidden test the teacher gave.
Teito had never missed secret glances the teachers gave him whenever he met one of them. It was as if they were putting up a distance but never failed to inspect him. It was nerve-wracking to had three adults keeping their eyes on you whenever you go. He was nearing the point of snapping when Frau finally approached him.
"Yo, brat," the blonde greeted casually.
Teito glared at the man. The boy had a feeling the blond was about to confront him about last night. However, that was merely a probability. It might be best if Teito pretended to follow along.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"What? I'm a teacher so it's only natural for me to be here; in a class I'm supposed to teach, isn't it?"
That annoying grin of his, how Teito wished he could jump out and kicked that teacher on the face! But this wasn't the time to get intimidated by the hunter. Judging from how they acted, they had long suspected the boy, but had no proof. At most, they would only stalk him. If Teito could lose them, he would be able to carry out his job. Then Mikage would be safe, and that was what he planned to do.
"Indeed you can. If you will excuse me," the boy said with dripping hatred. It wasn't actually hatred he felt toward the blonde hunter. He was angry at both Frau and himself. Teito felt foolish for ever letting him caught by the blonde teacher.
Stomping out from the classroom in somewhat inelegant way, Teito enjoyed every tiny spark of satisfaction he felt for defying the teacher. Though he knew the blonde wouldn't react much but laughing amusedly, Teito still hoped it would annoy the hunter.
"Teito," called the teacher. Responding to the call, the brunette paused midway but not turning. "I trust you."
That, to put it bluntly, shocked Teito more than anything. It even made the boy forget about annoying and ignoring the teacher. As fast as his reflex could manage, he turned his head, finally looking into the blonde's blue eyes for the first time today. Those blue orbs full of wonder and mysteries, they never failed to mystify Teito. It drew him in, making him confuse and unsure about his own feeling. It made something in his stomach stirred.
"Where does that come from?" stuttered the boy. He frantically tried to cover his blushing face with his hands but the red never escaped the teacher's eyes.
Frau, still smiling ever so mysteriously, walked closer to the frozen boy. He was always so tall, so big, Teito thought silently as he watched the blonde slowly hid the brunette under his shadow.
"Stop killing. I trust you will, won't you, Teito?"
His large palm softly cupped Teito's small face. The warmth radiating from that palm sent spark of pleasure. It was comforting and Teito knew he wanted time to just stop. Yet time never stopped ticking. The assassin knew he was being foolish for wanting to trust this man. However that blue eyes seemed to draw every truth Teito tried to hide.
"I…can't…"
The boy turned away. He wanted to run from those protecting hands, yet at the same time, feared them. Just like how his hands were stained by blood of innocents, Frau's hands were tainted by uncountable assassins' lives. Frau's job was to kill every person like Teito. So why would the blonde spare his life now? Frau would kill him someday but Mikage was different. He was clean and innocent.
"Frau, there's nothing you can do to pull me out from that world. I have killed too many to be forgiven."
"Then you confess you're an assassin?"
Chuckling, Teito released himself from Frau's hands but his smaller hands held tightly onto his warm fingers.
"Even if I say no, you guys have suspected me, haven't you? There's no point denying it now. But…"
What was he hoping? The boy wondered silently. He wanted forgiveness he knew he couldn't obtain. There was no happiness in his dictionary of life. Still, he was hoping there was. Mikage was the only joy he could ever hope for. For Teito, to lose Mikage was the same as losing his reason for living. Teito was a proud person, but for that sole light of his life, he would beg if that would ensure the blonde boy's life.
Breathing was hard and even more talking. He wanted to keep this to himself but Teito knew he was always searching for someone. That someone, he believed would save Mikage from Teito's twisted destiny. Was Frau the right man? Maybe yes, or maybe no. But he wanted to try. When he looked into that man's eyes, he felt something. He knew Frau was an honorable man. He would save Mikage for him.
"Please, protect Mikage."
Frau was caught off guard by that. His eyes widen in surprise but he was calm.
"What do you mean?"
"I…I can't tell you. But, if you promise to protect him and his sister, I promise I won't go after the archbishop anymore."
"And if you don't…? I know there will be consequences."
Consequences? Heh, yeah. Ayanami would be pissed and he wouldn't get away with a single kick or slap.
"Killing him is my responsibility. Any punishment I receive has nothing to do with you or Mikage. I will bear it alone, so please, just promise me you will protect the two of them no matter what."
"…aren't you afraid I was lying to you?"
"Not really. I know what kind of person you are. You may be annoying," the boy paused to laugh when Frau pouted. "But you will honor your promise. I'm sure of that."
"Why do you trust me so much? You don't even know much about me."
"Indeed I don't. But you said you trust me, so to answer that, I trusted to you my best friend."
"Ha-ha. Nicely put. Fine, I give you my words. But, Teito, promise me something…"
"What is it?"
"…don't you dare to die without me knowing."
'I wonder why,' the boy thought as he gazed into the blonde's blue eyes. 'I felt like I've known him for long. I trusted him more than I could anyone…'
"I know. I won't, I promise."
Yet the boy knew, when it came to Ayanami, promises meant nothing. The moment he offered the deal to Frau, Teito had prepared to give up his life. Now that he had made the promise, he could only hope Ayanami wouldn't be too angry and intentionally kill him.
Frau sat on a white wooden chair beside the window in his room. His eyes never left the darkening sky yet his mind never seemed to stay put. He couldn't prevent himself from thinking about his brunette student. Whatever the boy had told him made him think. He had known from their meeting last night that the boy was – most probably – threatened to kill. Their conversation today proofed it.
Whoever blackmailed the brunette was using Mikage as a hostage. Although he didn't seem to be made hostage directly, but Frau was sure someone important to the blonde boy was used. Teito asked for Mikage and his sister's protection. Did that mean Mikage's sister was the hostage?
So many mysteries were shrouding the brunette. Frau couldn't help but feel challenged to solve them. Frau liked the boy. He was interested in him despite the boy being an assassin. Frau was certain he felt something whenever he saw the boy. What it was, he wasn't sure yet. One thing for sure, he would keep an eye on the assassin.
Thinking about the boy, Frau was forced to remember their deal. Looking from his side, certainly it benefited the hunters. Yet, from Teito's side, it was nothing but trouble. Judging from the boy's reaction, Frau made a guess, the punishment the boy received wouldn't be light. Death was also possible.
That thought scared him. It worried him to no end.
"I guess I will go ahead and check up on the brat."
Fear, it was a word Teito hated. If anyone asked him about what his fear was, then he would immediately think about Ayanami. That man himself was 'fear'. His very existence existed to make Teito's life more miserable. Though there was a time he was grateful the platinum blonde picked him up, now he regretted it. It was probably better if the man let him died on the street.
A step and another step, Teito was getting closer to Ayanami. His palm was wet from cold sweat. He swallowed hard several times but his throat remained dry. Teito couldn't even start to imagine what Ayanami would do to him.
"Teito-kun, go ahead," said Hyuuga, Ayanami's right-hand man. Teito nodded nervously and entered when Hyuuga opened the door.
Ayanami was sitting on his usual seat, in his usual haughty expression. His platinum hair glowed in the dim room, making him appear like a silver-haired ghost.
"Your report?"
His tone was as cold as always, Teito noted absently.
"I failed."
There was no response, no movement or change in Ayanami's countenance. Still, Teito knew better not to take light of the situation. Ayanami was angry but he would never allow it to show on his face.
"Leave us, Hyuuga," said the commander. Though the raven obeyed with a smile, it meant trouble for Teito. Leaving him alone with the sadist showed that the man had more than a punch in mind.
True to Teito's fear, the moment Hyuuga left, Ayanami dangerously moved toward him. Teito wished he could vanish that very second, but again, Fate never liked him.
"You know what a failure means, don't you, Teito Klein?"
The boy nodded nervously when the pale man's hand snaked down from his caressing his cheek to neck. Teito opened up his mouth to reason but before any word was spilled, Ayanami not so gently, pressed the brunette down. His cold, gloved hand was still on Teito's fragile neck.
The impact when he was pushed down and the pressure on his neck made him coughed violently. As if enjoying it, Ayanami gave more pressure to his neck and effectively cut off his breath.
Teito gasped hardly, trying to get air into his lung. It wasn't his first time experiencing this, yet every times were so different. With Ayanami, it was pure fear and desperation but with Frau, he felt something more. Ayanami meant to punish him, to hurt him. Frau was different. He taught him to value his life and that was why he frantically tried to push him away.
"Strange. You struggle more today."
The platinum blonde pulled off his hand and Teito coughed again. He felt really pathetic, panting heavily and weak like that.
"I see you've gotten braver. I see the need of new punishments."
The man, without waiting for Teito's desperate protest, pulled the boy up by his hair. His free hand reached down to a silver dagger hanging loosely on his side. Teito didn't remember much after that as his senses numb by pain. The first, there was a shot of pain on his left shoulder where Ayanami pierced the bruised muscle with his dagger. He screamed, he cried. The dagger twisted and moving under his flesh and he cried again.
He fell to the ground but all he saw was his own pool of blood and Ayanami's black boots. They were stained by his blood.
"Aya…nami…sama…" the boy pleaded yet the punishments never ceased to stop.
Kick after kick landed hardly on his body. He heard a loud crack when the man's hard boot connected to his ribs. It hurt. It hurt so much. Tears welled in his eyes blurring his vision. Amidst of the hazy pain, he could only bit his lips. He was broken and the only hope he had was Mikage's safety.
"Ah, Teito Klein, such beauty…" Ayanami pulled up his head again but this time, he slowly kissed the lips. Teito tasted his own blood when Ayanami's tongue pushed deep into his mouth. "I always love that girly face of yours, you know."
That man's words, it sounded like mockery to Teito's ears but he couldn't even retort back. When the man finally satisfied, he turned back to his seat and ordering Teito as if he had done nothing to the boy.
"Go back and I won't accept anymore failure."
The brunette coughed off blood from his throat, then nodded obediently. He wanted to scream 'fuck you' to the man but Teito knew his body wouldn't hold much longer. All he need right now was to collapse on top of his bed. He wanted to escape the pain. So, without waiting any longer, he dragged his body back to his house.
He was swaying on his step. He felt vertigo and weak. His knees trembled and the cold wind didn't help. Teito covered his shivering body with his black leather jacket. It was heavy. When it rubbed against his wounded shoulder, Teito had to stop walking just for the sake of not blacking out.
The walk to his house seemed like eternity. Teito wasn't sure he could ever reach his haven like this.
Just when his body was about to give up, he heard familiar voice. Right before he blacked out, he remembered seeing a pair of beautiful blue eyes. It glowed like a two blue moons in the middle of the night. Then, warm arms accepted his fall.
Damn boss practically throw everything to me! I don't even have time during weekend :(
I hate End of Year *sigh* but I'll be happy to receive some R&R XD
