A/N: Yay! I actually updated a bit quickly this time! I can't believe how fast this thing wrote itself. I personally think there's something missing, but I can't find anything! Maybe you readers can find it! Anyway, read away and let me know what you thought!

Well, well, well. Look at what we have here!"

Kurogane Suwa glanced up from glaring holes in the floor below him to stare into the red eyes of his school principal, Yuuko Ichihara. She was the archetype of evil in Kurogane's mind.

Miss Ichihara examined the seventeen year old boy from over her spectacles. She knew this boy and his family quite well…mainly because he was in her office more than he was in class.

"So, let's see here. You and…Kamui Shiro got into a fight…again?"

Kurogane just grunted, shrugging his shoulders. He knew that she knew that it was true. There was no use trying to defend himself…even if Kamui had started the fight in the first place. His eyes returned to staring at his feet as if they were the most interesting thing to him at the moment.

Yuuko raised her eyebrows and said, "What? For once you have nothing to say?"

"There's nothing to say," he barked.

Miss Ichihara glanced up at the clock. It was only 10:30, a record for Kurogane. She sighed.

"Okay, Mr. Suwa, you've got two choices."

The teen's head shot up. He'd never gotten choices from her! It was always a call to his parents, letter home, detention, etc. However…he knew that Miss Ichihara was sneaky and he approached these "choices" with caution.

Yuuko smiled when she saw the apprehension on Kurogane's face. Adjusting her glasses, she picked up a file that just so happened to be lying right in front of her. Opening it, she was greeted with a boy's name, address, grades, school records, and a picture of a smiling blonde haired, skinny teen.

Sliding the paper clip off of the papers in the file, she took the picture out and examined it, comfortably torturing the raven haired adolescent who was sitting just a few paces and a desk away from her. The picture was of Fai D. Fluorite, a new transfer student. His blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight in which the photo was taken and he had a carefree and playful air about him. He was perfect.

Standing up, she walked around her desk and sat on the edge of it. Flipping the picture around so Kurogane could see, she asked, "Do you know who this is, Mr. Suwa?"

Kurogane examined the picture with very little interest. He observed a skinny boy with blonde hair so light it couldn't be natural and who looked like he was way too happy. He slumped back into his chair and replied with a simple, "No."

Yuuko smiled. She smiled a smile that meant "I know something you don't." Kurogane didn't like it one bit.

Yuuko put the photograph in her lap and said, "Well Mr. Suwa, you are going to get very familiar with this particular person, whose name is Fai D. Fluorite. He is transferring to Horitsuba High tomorrow, and you are going to make sure he gets to all of his classes, gets along with his classmates, and help him if he needs it."

Kurogane exploded with anger. "I have to baby-sit some freaking pretty boy?!"

Yuuko smirked. "Well yes. He is in almost all of your classes, so I figure you could do this job very competently."

"No way in hell, am I doing that!"

"Fine, I'll just call your parents tonight and give you a week of detention instead."

The crimson eyed teen froze mid yell. If she called his parents, he'd get a lecture and a screaming match from his dad, and that disappointed mom look from his mother that he HATED. He'd probably get grounded too. There was no choice.

Glaring at Miss Ichihara with all his might, he mumbled, "I'll take the pretty boy."

Miss Ichihara clapped her hands together. "Wonderful! You'll meet him here tomorrow at 7:30. Don't be late!" With that said she strolled past Kurogane and opened her office door, signaling he could leave.

Fai feverishly scanned the map of Horitsuba Academy he'd been given at a previous meeting with the high school's student secretary. He was lost beyond belief. Apparently, all the buildings looked the same and there was no one around whom he could ask for directions. The hall of the building he was currently in was crowded, but he figured that asking a bunch of five year olds was a bit pathetic.

He hadn't wanted to move. He loved his old school, and even though he hadn't had many friends, he still had loved the simplicity of the small town. But he couldn't change the fact that his father had gotten transferred, so he put on a happy face for the sake of Ashura, and he hoped for the best.

The blonde left the apparent elementary school from which he had come, and quickly crossed a courtyard and approached another door. Praying that he had found the right one for the millionth time, he opened it and sighed with relief. This was the high school. He saw bunches of people his age mulling around lockers, bulletin boards, and bathrooms. He scouted out someone who didn't look so intimidating, and chose a pretty girl with auburn hair and bright green eyes, who looked to be about a freshman.

"Excuse me miss? Could you direct me to the Main Office? I have a horrible sense of direction."

The girl stopped talking to her friend and said, "Sure! It's down this hall, make a left, and it's right there! You can't miss it!"

Fai flashed a charming smile at her and took off. He followed the instructions and lo and behold, he was there! The words MAIN OFFICE could easily be read on the door. The teen took a deep breath and turned the knob.

A woman with long black hair was sitting behind a desk with a name plate that read Yuuko Ichihara, Principal. The woman was writing something and had yet to acknowledge Fai. She had an intimidating presence, but the new student stood his ground and approached her.

"Excuse me, Miss Ichihara? I'm-"

"Fai Fluorite," she finished for him, finally looking up from her papers. Fai nodded. Yuuko smiled and the blonde relaxed a bit more.

"Okay, Mr. Fluorite, I have your class schedule, your locker number, and its combination. I think that my student secretary gave you everything else you needed beforehand, am I correct?"

Fai smiled. His memory of the slightly spastic secretary was humorous, even if Fai did find it a bit odd for someone to prefer to be called by their surname. "Yes, Watanuki gave me a map and such."

"Good. Now where is he?! He's late!"

Fai blinked, confused. Who was she talking about, Watanuki? He took a look at the clock on the opposite wall and saw that it was 7:40, twenty minutes before class started. As he continued to ponder on whom Yuuko was speaking of, the door behind him flew open and someone came running in. Thankfully, the office was pretty spacious and Fai didn't have to worry about this person knocking him over.

"God dammit, I'm here!"

"Thank you so much for joining us Mr. Suwa." Yuuko's lazy drawl made the stranger's face come to attention and Fai's eyes widened.

The stranger had the most piercing crimson eyes he had ever seen before. They just made his tan skin and black hair even more scary-looking even though this person couldn't be older than the blonde. And yet, Fai couldn't help noticing the boy's resemblance to an angry puppy dog.

"Mr. Fluorite, meet Kurogane Suwa."

Fai held his arm out cautiously to "Mr. Suwa". After a moment, it was clear that he wasn't going to get anything else but a glare, so he put his hand down.

Miss Ichihara cleared her throat and went on, "Mr. Fluorite, Mr. Suwa is here to make sure you get to all of your classes alright until you're settled here at Horitsuba. Think of him as your personal hand guide to our school. The blonde indicated that he understood and she continued, "Mr. Suwa, if I hear from Mr. Fluorite that you have been a less than gracious host, I will be calling your parents and informing them of you're little escapade with Mr. Shiro."

Now Fai understood. His classmate was only here because she threatened him with the "parent" card. Oh well, he looked like he would be fun to tease!

"So, you two have fifteen minutes to make it to you're next class! I wish you well, Mr. Fluorite!"

The pair of boys turned and left the office. Yuuko sat back down at her desk and rested her head in her hands. Match making was such a tiring thing.

The two teenagers made their way into the sea of students and Fai looked at his assigned locker number. Counting in his head, he started to walk down the hall, if he was right; his locker was only on the end of it. Suddenly realizing that he wasn't being followed, Fai turned around and noticed that Kurogane wasn't following. He called out, "Come on, Kuro-tan! You're supposed to come with me!"

At the name "Kuro-tan" the raven haired boy's face contorted in anger and he yelled, "MY NAME ISN'T KURO-TAN! IT'S KUROGANE!" People stopped in their tracks and stared at Kurogane, until he let out a snarl and yelled, "Quit your looking!" The students immediately averted their interest. No one wanted to be on Kurogane Suwa's bad side. They hoped that that new kid would be alive by the time the first bell rang.

Kurogane jogged up to where Fai was standing and growled, "Look, I'm only doing this because I have to, and that's IT! Don't expect much help."

Fai laughed. Kurogane couldn't help noticing how Fai's laugh sounded like tickling bells. "Oh Kuro-pu, you shouldn't treat new people like that! People might think it's rude!" The blonde found his locker and dialed the combination. Opening it, he dumped some of his new books into it, ignoring Kurogane's splutters of rage at yet another nickname. Fai turned back to him, smiled, and said, "So where's the first class?"

1 Week

Kurogane really wanted to smash his head into the nearest wall. This week so far had been hell. That blonde idiot just didn't get that nicknames didn't go with him! That blonde moron also didn't know that being happy all the time was NOT good to be around. Unfortunately, Fai had won over most of the class in no time, leaving Kurogane the only one who couldn't stand him.

"I think you like him," commented Fuuma as he and Kurogane got into the lunch line.

"WHAT, ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY?!"

"Calm down. It's just that you only react this explosively when he's mentioned, or when he's around. It's quite entertaining you see."

"Oh jeez, I'm so happy you find my daily nightmares entertaining."

Across the spacious cafeteria, Fai was waving at Kurogane to come over. The raven haired boy simply ignored him and made his way to an empty table at the opposite end of the room.

In less than a minute, Fai was next to him, chattering happily about meaningless things. Kurogane couldn't help noticing that Fai was practically radiating with happiness even though he couldn't make it clearer that he wanted nothing to do with the blonde. He definitely made no effort in covering up his discontent with his "babysitting" job. But, if he just tuned out what Fai was saying, the idiot actually didn't annoy him as much…

1 and ½ weeks

"Hey Watanuki, want to eat with me?!"

A dark haired youth turned his head in the direction of the call. His new friend, Fai, was motioning him over so he picked up his lunch tray and made his way through the crowded cafeteria to the new student.

"Hi Fai, what's up?"

Fai sighed dramatically. "Well Kuro-chi isn't in school today and I'm BORED!" he whined. It wasn't Kurogane's fault, he couldn't control when he had dentist appointments, but the blonde teen was still bored to tears without his normal aggravated "host".

Watanuki chuckled. The two had known each other for only a few weeks, but Kurogane and Fai were really a sight to behold. Everyone was shocked that Fai wasn't scared or intimidated by Kurogane, and even had the nerve to call him nicknames! Everyone was even more shocked that Kurogane tolerated said nicknames, besides the usual "SHUT UP IDIOT". Basically, the whole school was in shock.

"Do you want to know what I think? I think you like Kurogane."

Fai blushed immensely at the comment, turning his pale skin aflame and his insides clenched. He did admit to himself that he had a tiny crush on his classmate, but he thought that no one had noticed! The blonde attempted to change the subject.

"Well I think you like that Doumeki from PE!"

"YOU THINK I LIKE THAT BIG OAF?! HE'S AN IDIOT, HE HAS NO FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, HE HAS…

Fai's insides uncurled themselves in relief.

Fai swung his arms happily as he walked to his new house from school. He had finished almost all his homework, and now he could do whatever he wanted! However, the person whom Fai really wanted to be with was still at school. The last time Fai had saw him; Kurogane had been trying to get out of trouble with Mr. Sorata…again.

The slender teen whistled to himself as he walked. Maybe he could get a jump start on that English assignment tonight. He didn't seem to have any other decent plans.

Suddenly, a hand shot out from the alley Fai was passing, grabbing onto his shirt, and yanking him into the smelly darkness. He was pressed against a wall, and caught sight of his attacker, Kyle Rondart. Kyle was a big shot at school, but he was a big bully who dappled in drugs and gangs. Fai had been told by Kurogane to stay away if he knew what was good for him.

Kyle leaned in close to Fai's ear and said, "Look who's here. You think you're so cool, hanging with Suwa all the time. Well why don't I teach you a lesson?" Fai could tell by Kyle's slurred words and sluggish movements that he was drunk, but he still outmatched Fai in strength and speed. Nonetheless, Fai still struggled, attempting to wiggle himself out of Rondart's grasp.

Kyle slammed Fai's head against the wall of the alley, and let go of him. The blonde slid down the wall, his head was so painful, and he was dizzy. Before he knew what was happening, Kyle had started to kick Fai. He kicked a few times and Fai was beginning to waver between consciousness and unconsciousness.

Then it stopped. Fai cracked a blurry eye open and saw Kyle stumbling out into the sun. He looked for his rescuer and came face to face with red eyes. "Kuro-pu…" and he was out cold.

~*~

Fai opened his eyes and, discovered how chilly it was, instantly curled up more into the big space heater that was Kurogane. Hold on…KUROGANE?!

Fai's head snapped up and instantly regretted it. His head was throbbing, and he was pretty sure he had quite a bump on the back of it. Kurogane was staring at Fai and he could tell that he was both amused and concerned. Fai began to speak, "Aw, Kuro-cutie came to my rescue!"

Kurogane clucked his tongue and for once, ignored the pet name. "You idiot, you're lucky I heard Rondart back there!"

Fai laughed weakly. "Well, I guess lady luck was on my side then! So Kuro-puppy, why'd you follow me? If I recall correctly, your house is that way!" The skinny boy pointed in the opposite direction from which Kurogane was carrying him.

"You forgot your house key. You left it on your desk final period. You did say that your dad wasn't home when you got there and I know an idiot like you wouldn't have another key stored by the house."

Fai giggled. "Kuro-pi must like me a whole lot to remember all that! And he rescued me no less! I think he deserves a kiss!" And before his rescuer could react, Fai craned his neck and had planted a light kiss to Kurogane's cheek.

"Y-you idiot!" stammered the fire engine red Kurogane.

Fai was put out for a second, before he realized that Kurogane hadn't argued with the kiss. He laughed.

They continued walking in a semi-comfortable silence for a minute and then Fai said, "You know, I can walk Kuro-bu."

Kurogane snorted. "I'm not risking you falling and then blaming it on me." He tightened his grip on Fai's featherweight body for good measure. Fai happily let his head rest on Kurogane's shoulder.

Maybe this new home was something good after all.

A/N: Like it? Hate it? Let me know please!