A/N: I apologize in advance if next week's Monday or Thursday update is late (or early, but I bet you guys wouldn't mind early, ha haha). Long story short, I'll be mom sitting. Cross your fingers and hope that the internet gets set up at her place in time! Also, I've started a live journal that'll be my life stuff, fics, fanart, other arts, and things like that, so if you have a LJ add me, and if you want to stalk me…lawlz, go ahead. Either way, I'd be more than glad to make some new friends! Information is on my main page. Also - the story's rating has been changed to Teen. I had it as mature as a preemptive measure, but it looks like these two aren't getting jiggy with it anytime soon, if you know what I mean…So there's no need for it to be mature. I'll change it back if they do get that far.

Warning for some ooc-ness, most likely!

Thanks to my beta, who's continued to be a great beat despite all the craaaazy stuff going on in her life.

Reader responses! You guys were so great this time around! Thanks muchly!

Irene Gerke - I've been meaning to get myself to the bookstore. I'll have to look it up and see if I can find a copy, or peek around on the internet. Thanks for the recommendation, and I'm glad you liked the chapter!

Rahar Moonfire - It would have happened sooner but someone (Kuro!) is just too stubborn for his own good here. Ha ha ha.

ZELLT - It wasn't flat out said, but Fai was probably going around a being a little bit of a hooker. I hope that answers how he got the money, ha ha ha.

1337kitsune - a ha ha, you wrote me an essay of a review, but I love it! First, feel free to call me Sophy-chan, ha ha. I fear it may come around that I'll end up the KuroFai Sci-Fi girl…and I'm okay with that. Ha ha ha. Aaah, but let's not start in the middle of replying to your review, back to the top! There will be more tower/valley references as the story goes on, I'll say that much. And I love the reasoning behind 'falling in love' in that context, it's just….romantic. Party will come eventually. And yes! The clones! No one else mentioned it, but that's the basic idea, tough how it's executed eventually might surprise you. I love using all kinds of aspects from the series - it's like an Easter egg hunt~ Yukito is mentioned in this chapter, and I think Touya/Toya was mentioned in chapter one or two. I think he sent Kurogane an e-mail, I'd have to check. Thanks for the crazy long review, I loved it! Ha ha ha-

Turtle's Chopsticks - Aaah, I feel so honored to hear all that! Seriously, your entire review makes me smile like the Grinch. Ha ha ha. The KuroFai slows down from here on out, no worries that they're being rushed. Also - ha ha…Time traveling, makes me think of Tsubasa crew on the TARDIS. But no - the bruising (and more!) will be explained in the chapters to come.


By the next day, it was if nothing had ever happened. Unfortunately for Kurogane, that meant that Fai woke him up, but at least it wasn't at seven in the morning.

"It's nine," Fai announced, laying across Kurogane's chest as the man stirred. "And it's Saturday. What're you going to do?"

"Don't know," Kurogane said, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "Get off me."

"You don't mean that," Fai said, smiling and still snuggling. When Kurogane didn't move to get up, just closed his eyes, Fai let out a little laugh.

"I'm going back to sleep," Kurogane muttered, letting out a loud breath, only to curse loudly and sit up when he felt a pain on his shoulder. He pulled at the collar of his shirt, feeling at his neck as Fai jumped up and ran out of the room, laughing. "The hell? You bit me!"

"Well, it got you up!" Fai called, peering in from around the doorframe. "I must be a vampire!" He waved his hands in the air before disappearing and making his way down the stairs noisily.

Kurogane growled and got up, going to his bathroom and looking at his neck in the mirror. Bright, angry teeth marks. Right over his jugular. He stomped out, and down the stairs.

"Fai, I swear I'm going to dismantle you - Don't let him cook!"

"Too late!" The other two androids said in unison.

"Damn it. At the least keep the knives away from him." Kurogane stared into the kitchen as Syaoran demonstrated how to flip pancakes. Fai must have had some kind of learning program, Kurogane decided, when Fai mimed the motion. Or maybe he was stupid, Kurogane decided just as quickly when Fai's first effort earned him a pancake stuck to the kitchen ceiling and three androids stared at it.

It was just odd, Kurogane thought in the end, going to get his laptop. He grabbed it from the computer room and came back with it. "Fai, come here." Kurogane sat down on the couch and opened his laptop. He opened the disk tray and dropped a CD in, closing it as Fai plopped down next to him. The android's head flopped onto his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around Kurogane's. He let out a happy sigh as he snuggled up. Kurogane ignored him, to a point.

"Kuro?" Fai asked, watching the screen.

"How much free room do you have on your hard drive?"

"Some." Fai shrugged. "I don't really know."

"I want to put some basic programs on. Same basics as Sakura and Syaoran." Kurogane typed into the computer, passwords and codes to reach the programs. "Cooking, since you seem to insist, basic household stuff."

"I've been meaning to ask about them," Fai said. "What's with them? Why did you make them like that? Looks and such." He closed his eyes.

"Why did someone make you the way you are?" Kurogane countered.

"I asked first, Kuro!" Fai laughed.

"Whatever. Read this code and add the program, I don't trust you with my laptop in a lined connection." Kurogane motioned at the screen as white-on-black text appeared.

"I could be your laptop," Fai said, grinning as his eyes scanning over the code. He scrolled down even as he spoke, taking it all in. "You didn't answer my question."

"It's not important." Kurogane repeated. He kept his eyes on the code, watching Fai's progress in reading.

"Done!" Fai announced, and Kurogane pulled up the next document of code. "Hey hey, Kuro-"

"You know, I've heard you use my full name. And you use Sakura and Syaoran's full names, right?" Kurogane watched again as Fai read the code, scrolling down at an amazing speed. Clearly, he did have a learning program, and his processing speed was…incredible. Easily double Sakura or Syaoran's, or even Tomoyo's Yukito who was built for household and small business financing and practically devoured code and numbers. He hadn't seemed like Tomoyo's 'type' of android, but she insisted that Kero and Yukito were, simply, a perfect set.

"Kuro is more fun to say," Fai stated. Without being asked he moved onto the next file when he was finished. "What would you do if they changed?"

"They won't change," Kurogane said.

"Everyone changes." Fai's speed seemed to be ever increasing, pupils contracting and dilating.

"They're not everyone. They're androids." Kurogane yawned, then stopped when Fai turned and looked at him. "What?"

"What am I?" Fai asked, with a serious, honest gaze.

"You're insecure." Kurogane narrowed his eyes.

"What am I?" Fai repeated, leaning forward, sounding almost offended. "To you. What am I, Kurogane? Am I just an android?" His eyes narrowed. For a moment he looked almost dangerous. His stare kept Kurogane from speaking, from thinking, until Sakura and Syaoran called from the kitchen.

"Breakfast!" They announced, and Fai and Kurogane both looked over.

"It's closer to lunch, you know," Kurogane grumbled, half-heartedly, then shook his head. "Damn it, I give up, I don't care." He sighed, then stared when all three androids laughed.

"Isn't that just like Kuro?" Fai asked, cheerfully teasing, and the other two nodded.

"But usually so stubborn," Syaoran said, and Sakura giggled.

"...Who are you three, and what have you done with my androids?" Kurogane asked, staring at them. They were all acting oddly. He leaned away when Fai leaned towards him, smiling that dark, mysterious smile from before.

"Everyone changes," Fai said softly, then clapped Kurogane on the shoulder, hard. "Go eat up Kuro! I am going to try out these new programs!" He stood and cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Sakura! Syaoran! Let's make Kuro a cake!"

"I don't want a cake!" Kurogane yelled, but they all ignored him.

Halfway through making the batter, Syaoran froze up, and almost dropped the egg he was holding. "Incoming call. Caller, Ashura Celes. Would you like to accept?"

Kurogane looked up, raising an eyebrow. "…Sure," he said, after a moment. While it was Syaoran's lips that moved, it was Ashura's voice that came out.

"Kurogane?"

"Ashura." Kurogane hesitated a moment. "Did something happen to the prototype?"

"Oh, actually, it blew two joints, but that wasn't what I was calling about. That can wait until Monday." There was an amused laugh. "Actually, I have a proposition for you. It concerns your android. Fai, was it?"

From the corner of his eyes, Kurogane saw Fai freeze, looking over, staring at Syaoran. "That's right, what about him?"

"We just designed some new hacking software for our military contracts. They're quite strong, but I thought, perhaps, we should put them to the test. You mentioned he had firewalls. I was thinking, if you hadn't already broken through Fai's firewalls, it would be an interesting test. With your permission, of course."

Kurogane narrowed his eyes. For a moment, it almost seemed too easy, but he shrugged after a moment and looked back at Fai. It was all too easy. He tried to tell himself it was just an opportunity. He wasn't buying it. "…Fai?"

Fai broke his stare at Syaoran to look at Kurogane. "...If it's what you want, Kuro," he said softly, after a few moments. "After all, I'm just an android, as you keep insisting. Your property." He looked back at the bowl and started to stir, almost violently.

Kurogane narrowed his eyes again, and looked back at Syaoran. "Alright."

"Excellent. Why don't you bring him in tomorrow?" Ashura sounded pleased.

"Tomorrow?" Kurogane glanced at Fai. The android seemed to focusing on the cake batter, intently. "Alright, that's no problem."

"Wonderful, I'll see you both at noon. It shouldn't take longer than a few hours. Thank you for the opportunity." Syaoran's pupils shifted as the call ended abruptly, and he shook his head, voice returning to his own. "Call ended."

"Fai," Kurogane said, but the android didn't look up. "Fai. …Fai."

"I'll go," Fai said simply, holding up the mixing bowl while Sakura scraped the batter that clung to the insides with a spoon. "Because it's something you wish of me." The android didn't take his eyes off the cake batter.


"I don't see why you had to wear my old college hoodie," Kurogane muttered as they walked into the near-empty Celes building. Fai just laughed, only slightly swimming in the large zip up, hands hidden in the sleeves.

"I don't see why you have to be so big," Fai countered, grinning. "I'm much slimmer than you, so this is comfortable. That's why I like wearing it!" Fai lifted the collar of the hoodie over his nose, leaving only his eyes uncovered as Kurogane steered him over to the elevators. "Besides, it smells like you. You have a comforting scent."

"That's something an idiot would say," Kurogane muttered, pushing the 'up' button.

"Then I guess I'm an idiot," Fai said, looking around. "So, this is where you work?"

"I work on the second floor-"

"Kurogane! What are you doing here?" Tomoyo said from the lobby's front doors. She had a large roll of fabric in one arm. "I, of course, am here on business. The material we used in the last android's uniform wasn't quite sturdy enough, so I went and got some more." She gestured to the fabric as she stepped into the elevator after them.

"Ashura called me, asked me to bring in Fai to try a new program." Kurogane shrugged. "Firewall breaking-"

"Ah, the military contracts!" Tomoyo laughed and looked at Fai. "Fai, how are you today?"

"Quite well, thank you," Fai said, smiling. When Tomoyo turned back to speak to Kurogane, Fai turned his head, gazing at his reflection in the side the elevator. He felt the program activate, flowing through him as his vision went black and white and the only thing in color was the other him in his reflection.

"Fai should not be here," Yui said. They both raised their hands, pressing them together through the reflection. "He will get his hands on Fai again. He has already interfered."

"I know." Fai watched Yui as he pulled back, as if in shock, though their hands remained together.

"Then, the barrier, holding Fai back-"

"Kurogane said the password. I am beginning to remember." Fai smiled when Yui frowned. "But I don't know everything yet. It's still cloudy."

"There is nothing holding Fai back but Fai's self. Remember that." Yui seemed to come through the elevator wall, the reflective surface seeming to ripple like water's surface, and pressed his forehead against Fai's, before turning and looking at Kurogane's back. "He is special?"

"Very special." Fai smiled and closed his eyes, pressing a hand to his chest. "But he can't know. Not yet-"

"Can't know what?"

Fai jumped as the image of Yui shattered. The shards fell and vanished as Fai turned, looking at Kurogane. "Kuro!"

"Can't know what?" Kurogane repeated. Tomoyo was gone, and he was stepping out of the elevator, holding the doors open with a hand. "You're talking to yourself."

Fai just laughed. "No, I was talking to my reflection!" He poked at the reflective wall before dancing out, smiling. He stopped midstep when Kurogane grabbed his arm.

"Don't lie to me."

"A little bit longer Kuro. A little bit longer." Fai looked over his shoulder, smiling. "And then you'll know."

"Know what-"

"Ah, you're both early," Ashura said, interrupting them. The man had his hair tied back and the sleeves of his workshirt were rolled up. There were a few splatters of dark android coolant on his fingertips. "I was just tuning an android," he explained, then gestured to an open door at the end of the hallway. "Please, follow me, we'll get started." Ashura turned, walking towards the room.

"…Fai," Kurogane said, when the android didn't move.

"Isn't this exciting, Kuro?" Fai asked, suddenly moving, looking up at Kurogane and smiling.

"Yeah, that's a word for it," Kurogane muttered, following after Ashura. Fai was right by his side.

The room wasn't too big, but it was clearly a diagnostics room. It was for full diagnostics, so there was just a chair-shaped robot hub in a corner, surrounded by machines and screens. Kurogane narrowed his eyes at the full-body scanner next to the chair - a long flat piece of metal surrounded by a tune of glass. On the opposite side of the room, behind a wall of thick and clear plastic, were the computers used for the actual working. Beside the computers was one of the odd, egg-shaped chairs, helmet hanging off the side, used for only the deepest procedures, when virtual hands were needed. Those needed experts, people who knew what to expect going in and were used to the physical strain.

"If it's okay, we'll start with a full body scan. It's common procedure at Celes," Ashura said, gesturing at the large tube. "I'll trust you to get him all set up, since you're his owner." Ashura smiled with an old, cool warmth, collected and all business as he started up the computers on the other side of the room.

"I recognize this place," Fai muttered as Kurogane led him over to the tube. Without a sound, the glass pulled back. Kurogane just raised an eyebrow as Fai unzipped the hoodie and took it off, holding it out to Kurogane with one hand.

Kurogane took the hoodie, watching as Far climbed in and laid down on the metal table. "Palms down," Kurogane said as the glass started to come back over the table.

"Kuro," Fai said, lifting a hand and pressing it against the inside of the glass. When Kurogane didn't move, Fai spoke again, almost desperately. "Kuro, please, don't leave."

"You're so clingy, what's wrong with you?" Kurogane narrowed his eyes. "You'll be fine-"

"Kurogane, it seems you have a telephone call," Ashura said. "I'll get started here…Why don't you go ahead and take it in my office? Line one."

"Fine," Kurogane called over his shoulder, before looking down at Fai. "I'll be right back."

"Kuro-" Fai started, but the scanner started up with a loud whir, drowning out whatever he was going to say.

"I'll be back," Kurogane said again, before turning. He tossed the hoodie aside, onto a chair at the computers, before leaving. Ashura's office was a short walk down the hall. Half way there the lights flickered all the way down the hall.

He'd only been there once before, when he'd been hired onto the project. It hadn't changed much. It were the same cool colors, mostly blues and greys. Not exactly Kurogane's cup of tea, but it was comfortable enough. He picked up the phone and pressed the blinking 'one'.

"Kurogane Suwa speaking."

"Mister Suwa! Wonderful, I've been trying to get to you for quite a few days," came a female voice on the other end. "My name is Yuko Ichihara."

Kurogane pulled the phone from his ear, staring at it. He'd heard of Yuko Ichihara - anyone in the android business had. She was the founder of a small, but very rich and even more powerful, android software and technology company, with side dealings in basic computer software and smaller, 'underground' dealings with professional custom jobs.

"…Yuko Ichihara," he said when he finally put the phone back to his ear.

"That's right!" The woman said, cheerfully. "Now, I have something ask you. Where is Fai? You do have him, don't you?"

"How do you know about him?" Kurogane's hand clenched into a fist as he felt a surge of protectiveness. He shoved it back down and swallowed roughly.

"A ha! So you do!" Yuko laughed, and Kurogane could practically hear her smile. "Wonderful, so he's in safe hands."

"How do you know about -"

"Your work with Celes Corp is almost done, correct?"

The abrupt change in conversation made Kurogane blink at the phone before speaking. "Yes, but-"

"Wonderful! When you're done, call me up, and come in for an interview for a position here. I think your experiences will make you a wonderful candidate to be on our elite team. And do keep an eye on Fai, he is very important!"

Kurogane opened his mouth to speak, but didn't bother when he heard a dial tone. He put the phone back down. "The hell was that about," he muttered, starting to step away from the desk. He walked out of the office and back to the diagnostic room. He paused just inside when he spotted Ashura by the scanner, scanner opened. Ashura seemed to be speaking, softly, but Kurogane couldn't hear what he was saying. "…Ashura," he said, but Ashura spoke before Kurogane could say anything else.

"Your Fai is a very high custom job. He seems to have a bruise." Ashura said, looking back and leaning against the scanner. "I'm surprised no one claimed him….He's sweating."

"Sweating," Kurogane muttered, with a small scoff as he went over. Sure enough, there was a small sheen of sweat across Fai's brow. He narrowed his eyes. "..Fai, come on, scan's done, wake up."

"Kuro." Fai opened his eyes, but they seemed hazy. His pupils dilated smoothly, without the usual jerkiness that androids had. "I don't feel very good."

"Fai does not feel well because of him," Yui said, appearing beside Fai, to Fai's eyes only. The image was just barely see through. Still, it seemed like it was there - when Yui placed his head on Fai's chest and intertwined their fingers, Fai felt it. "Will you tell him yet?"

"No," Fai said, staring at Kurogane.

"No what?" Kurogane stared at him, dumbly.

"Why not?" Yui asked, closing his eyes.

"He won't understand yet," Fai said, quietly, eyes closing.

"He activated the Tower Program, didn't he?" Yui asked, lifting his head.

"Yeah…." Fai whispered, before his head fell to the side, limply.

Kurogane looked up at the screen over the scanner. 'Unexplainable interference' was across the screen in red letters. "How long has that been up there?"

"The scanner can't pick up anything from him. Just his skeleton, and that was only at first. After a few moments, it went offline. The lights flickered too. For that matter…everything in the room did." Ashura nodded.

"Down the hall too," Kurogane said, then leaned over and tapped the side of Fai's head. "Oi. Wake up."

"I didn't fall asleep," Fai said, opening his eyes. No more haze. "When does the scan start?"

"Perhaps you should check his short term memory files," Ashura suggested.

Kurogane narrowed his eyes, looking down at Fai. "Sorry. I've changed my mind, I think I'm just going to take him home."

"Ah, I'm sorry to hear that. Another day, then." Ashura folded his hands behind and left without another word while Fai sat up and swung his legs over the edge.

"Kuro seems worried," Fai said, pointing at Kurogane's face.

"You keep doing weird things," Kurogane muttered, then shook his head. "Whatever, I'm tired of trying to keep up. Get your jacket, we've go to go home. Sakura and Syaoran are probably lonely."

"Well, that's no good!" Fai jumped up and grabbed Kurogane hands, spinning them in a few circles before letting go and getting his hoodie.

Kurogane stumbled a few steps before he regained his balance, just in time to see Fai running out, arms up in the air. "Fai! Get back here! Idiot!" He shook his head as he followed, spotting the android by the elevators down the hall, waiting for the doors to open, pulling on the hoodie and laughing. "Idiot," he repeated, walking over as the doors opened.

"The way you say that, it almost sounds like a nickname!" Fai said, laughing as he stepped into the elevator.

"It's not," Kurogane grumbled, crossing his arms as he stepped in. Fai just continued to laugh as he pressed the bottom for the lobby.

"Hey, hey, Kuro, I'll tell you a secret," Fai said, as the elevator moved.

"And what's that?" Kurogane asked, arms still crossed.

"I'm not finished." Fai swung his arms as he stood, and looked over at Kurogane. "There's one thing I'm missing."

"And what's that?"

"That is…" Fai looked around, then motioned for Kurogane to come closer. Kurogane grunted but complied, bending over slightly. "That is….a secret!" Fai laughed and dance out of the elevator as the doors opened, half-running out of the lobby, arms in the air, Kurogane in pursuit and yelling, 'Get back here!'.