Disclaimer: Unfortunately –for me at the very least- they're still not mine. Sigh.

A/N: Well, since I was in a fit of inspiration and finished this chapter, I figured I could as well post it before going… Might post one more if I have time (two if I'm reaaaaally lucky ^^')
Oh and, yes, this chapter has got a purpose. Even though it probably won't appear for now, but meh

Quick word to the reviewer:

Kayla-chan1990: Especially when you're not involved in it :)

Tuliharja: Yeah, the whole 'buying the condoms' part is my favorite, too ^^ I think it's worse for boy, actually, because girls get some form of training when they buy their tampaxes (or such) for the first time ^^'
Yeah, Tomoyo definitely is a Fangirl… and as you said, it's already a bit embarrassing to speak about sex, so if you're gay AND no one knows it… it's all the more difficult ^^'
You know, the French version of this fic is very different from that one… In fact, I only took back the 'Baby Kuro falls in love with 10years-older Fai' concept, that's all… (That, and Chii's OOCness, because I'm planning on giving her a personality that could match Kuro's ^^') Other than that, really, it's not really the same story^^' (For example, neither Yuuko nor Fei Wong appeared in this first version)
I might try to translate it while I'm on holidays, and if you're still interested by then, I could send it to you, if you want :)

10 Unrequited Skills

No one had ever taught Fai how to fight.
Opposite to Kurogane, who had always had a liking for fighting sports, or Chii, whose energy was so extremly wild that Sonomi and Hiromu had barely hesitated before agreeing, when she had asked to try kick boxing –which she would begin the following year- Fai had never, ever had any intention to learn how to fight.
He had never been the kind of boy to get all angry as soon as something unwished for appeared in his life, let alone start fights. Fai, like Yuui, was rather the kind of guy who would shrugg attacks off and go on with his life... Unless someone who mattered to him was endangered, in a way or another.

When Kurogane had fought because of him, more than six month before, Fai had not hesitated one single second to defend him. He had not told Yuui what he had planned at the moment, so as not to worry him, and had decided to face Ni Jen Hi alone.
Of course, the fight had never been part of his plan... Even though the way he acted looked more and more like he was nuts, he had never been –and would never be- so stupid as to actually plan a fight he knew he could only loose!

No one had ever taught Fai how to fight, mainly because he had never wanted to learn... Still, as time passed, he had begun to realise that he would have to.
After his first fight with Ni Jen Hi, things had gotten worse at school. Some people –who did not even belong to the 'J Section' but who were quite notorious among the students- had begun to come to him an get him into fights, seemingly for the sole pleasure of it.
Sometimes they made up excuses to start the fight… "You hurt my brother." "It was my friend's nose you broke." Other times, they would provoke him until he could not restrain his fist anymore. It all happened as though, having found his weak point, they were determined to use it as long as they could…
Fai was not the kind of guy who would fight because he was dared to do so, really. But the painful hell his school life had become could have led anyone on the path of violence. How would you react, if some brainless bastards kept on following you as soon as you were alone, asking if your brother was a good sucker –and when do you plan to invite the third one? Do you play with that Daidouji chick, too? Let's hope her brother is not too traumatized… unless you take him along as well? You'd be glad to do that you pig… And 'Pig' was one of the nicest.

Not a week, and very few days passed without one of those fight… And each time, Fai wondered: had he not fought Ni Jen, would things have been different? Would his life be one of a normal student, going to school and then walking home with his friends, laughing and having fun, oblivious to the stupid rumors? Sometimes he believed it, sometimes he doubted it. It was beginning to feel like fate.

Yuui did not know about the fights... Not all of them, at least. Sometimes, when Fai won, he would hide his bruises and scars as much as was possible –though, with summer nearing, it was becoming harder each day- and, when he lost, he would come up with lies to explain what had happened to him... Yuui didn't believe him often, that was for sure. Nearly each time Fai came home with a new scar, or bruise, or any trace of what he did after school, Yuui would help him to heal it wordlessly, frowning all along....

True, if Fai had told him what happened, he would have listened to him, and he would never have blamed him... However, he certainly would have wanted to help him as well, and if there was but one thing Fai would never, ever allow, it was for someone else than him to get hurt... So things went on this way: Yuui knew, and Fai knew that he knew, but they both acted as though nothing was happening, because speaking about it would have been too painful, at least on Fai's side.
It didn't matter to him, that he was gaining strength and experience while loosing weight –and becoming skinnier than ever- as long as his family and friends were safe...

What truly bothered him, to the point of loosing sleep, was that his new 'routine' had brought side effects with her.
The first one he could remember very well: in his second fight, he had nearly broken his fingers... He was a guitar and violin player, and therefore needed his fingers to keep all the agility they could have.... not only to go on improving his playing –which were qualified of "amazing" by his teachers- but also because playing music with Yuui was now the only way he had to really feel totally reunited with him. When Fai played guitar with Yuui and the rock band they had formed together –Wings, they had called it- Fai felt as though none of his fights had ever happened. It was like leaving his burden on the entrance of the building they practiced in… However, should anything happen to his fingers, this small, heavenly feeling might be lost forever…
So instead of taking such a risk, Fai had bought a pair of black mittens, which he had reinforced with metal plates, placed on his first phalanges. Of course, the plates were hidden with fabric, and only created a small bump under the black wool. Though this side effect was not the most noticeable one Fai had to face, it was the one that bothered him most. It had been the first change he had been aware of, after all, and the most symbolic of all. Making those mittens meant to accept what his life had become.

Nevermind. Nevermind the blood, the bruises, the pain. Nevermind the scars and the concern, nevermind the emptiness. If I'm the only one to feel it, it's okay. It's okay, if they're safe. It's okay, if they're happy.

Slowly, carefully, Fai was beginning to build up a mask. He never slept on his back anymore, but laid flat on his stomach, his face buried between his pillow and hair, hidden from the outside world, and even from Yuui. His hand, at night, never rested in his brother's anymore. Now, if he wanted to sleep, he had to be the one who wrapped his fingers around Yuui's, making sure he could protect him even while sleeping.
On the other hand, he acted more and more cheerful each day. He had always been a very lively guy, always ready to cheer up, always ready to say something stupid, even when it was not needed, because sometimes, when atmosphere was too thick, someone had to break it, right? It was even more important, now. Making sure no one was worried for him. Making sure their life went on as happily as they could… And if it meant exhausting himself by smiled when he had no wish to, then he would do it without complain.

There was one more things those fights had brought in Fai's life. Something rather unexpected, in fact, but something he was willing to grasp, and hold onto until his very last breath… He had begun to write songs. Mostly Love songs. About brotherly love, motherly love…Straight or not, happy or not, one-sided or not… No matter what, his first songs were all about love because, really, that was what he was craving for. Of course, there was Touya. Of course, Fai had friends, and a family, and they all loved him, in their own personal ways… All the love in the world would not have been enough to overwhelm the dark, lonely feeling his fights brought him.

With time, his text would change, become more profound, and speak of more diversified topics… But one thing was already certain: Fai would go into music. Even though he studied foreign languages, even though he would go on with his studies for Sonomi's sake, he knew he wanted, needed to be a professional musician.

Even if it was only to forget that he was slowly becoming a talented fighter. To forget the dark, crazy smirk floating on Fai Wong Reed's lips whenever he came across him.

Even if it was only to forget that, more and more each day, he was developing unrequited skills.

End of Unrequited Skills