A/N: Hello. C: Another update, why yes it is. I have a feeling that you're all going to kill me though. CX Actually, I'm pretty sure you are, but you can't spell conflict without Albedo (even though you can). So on with the fic!

I do not own Xenosaga or its characters but I don't think I'll ever get them after this chapter. ^^;

Conflicting Numbers
Chapter 11
Tabloids

Jr. was beginning to wonder just how he had survived without being this close to Gaignun. His whole world was changing and he wasn't sure how to handle it. Was it a good thing that he was slowly becoming even more attached to Gaignun or was it a bad thing? Was it a good thing that he was checking up on his brother more and more often, just to be near him or was it weak and foolish of him? He felt himself becoming more and more willing and eager to please Gaignun. Every little thing he could do to make Gaignun happy he did, hiding how much he liked to see him smile. Gaignun had said he wasn't very good at lying, but he was good at hiding and that's all that mattered. Gaignun couldn't know that Jr. liked the way it felt when he said sweet things to him. He couldn't know how his mind whirled when Gaignun kissed him and he definatley couldn't know how it made him feel when he whispered, "I love you, Jr."

"Shelley, what does Gaignun...like?" Jr. had asked one day at the bridge. He stood, blushing and looking around to make sure no one heard him. Shelley smiled at him and pretended to continue working, so that it would look like they were discussing something work-related. Jr. would never be able to describe how grateful he was for her. "Be specific, Little Master." she said, toying with him.

He groaned angrily. "Shelley, come on. I need to know. Please." She smiled to herself and nodded, telling Jr. everything he wanted to know and probably a few things he didn't. She'd even gotten so descriptive at one point that he was afraid she was going to pull down a screen of Gaignun's anatomy and grab a pointer from out of thin air. It had been the most embarrassing hour of his entire life but he was glad he'd asked because it had worked out in the end and Gaignun was still in shock over it. Jr. lie next to him, laughing over his victory with his pranks.

"It was better than the prank you pulled on our birthday, I'll give you that."

Jr. grinned, "Of course it was. I'm just that good."

"You're always good, Jr."

"I didn't know though, honest. I got them mixed up, I didn't want to use them after last year after you told me you didn't like pudding."

"Sure," Gaignun said, pulling Jr. close to him and nuzzeling his face in Jr.'s neck.

"I'm telling the truth." For a moment, they were both silent in the darkness.

"Jr.?" Gaignun started quietly.

"Yeah?" There was another long pause before Gaignun spoke again.

"I want to thank you for this. All of this, everything you've done. I know...that this might be hard for you sometimes, but I'm glad you're giving me a chance. These last few weeks have been the best of my life." Gaignun kissed Jr.'s neck, making him shiver. He grinned, "Thank you."

Gaignun...Jr. thought, surprised when it hadn't come out of his throat as he had expected it to. I...

"Jeez, you're such a sap." Jr. responded. Maybe he just wasn't brave enough. Maybe he was afraid.

"You've made me that way." Maybe he just couldn't put it into words.

"You were always that way." Maybe it was too strong a phrase on its own.

"Shut up and sleep, Jr." Maybe he was just wasn't strong enough to say it.

"Make me." Gaignun lifted his head and placed a loving kiss on his lips, forcing the boy's mind into sweet oblivion. I love you, Gaignun. Perhaps this is why Jr. had never seen this one coming. Why neither of them had and why when the moment arrived, neither knew what to do and it was too late.

Jr. had first heard the message with chaos. He was bragging about his terrific accomplishment over Gaignun the day before when Shelley came running for him. "Little Master, I need to see you, it's urgent." Jr. nodded and said goodbye to his friend before following her. "What is it, Shelley?"

"Little Master, I'm afraid our time is short and there is no time to talk. You must see for yourself."

Worried and suddenly serious, Jr. followed Shelley to the bridge. The elevator stopped and they entered hastily. 100-series and workers had formed themselves around the captain's seat, looks of surprise on their faces. "Little Master, watch." Shelley said, she moved quickly, pressing a button to summon the overhead monitor. A news Realian sat at a table before the camera, a stern look on her face. She held a piece of paper of paper in her hands, but she didn't read off of it, staring straight into the lens.

"And as it appears, Gaignun Kukai will be held fully responsible. A team has appeared to retrieve the boy as soon as possible. He should be in federal custody by the end of the day. Gaignun Kukai will be arrested and will remain in custody until his trial where-"

Jr. was confused, as he had already missed the major part of this announcement. "Shelley, what's happening?"

Shelley turned her purple eyes to him, trying to control her fear. "Pictures of you and the Master together have been given to the news stations and tabloids. Little Master, they have deemed Master Gaignun an unfit father. They are coming here to take you away from us."

"What?!" Jr. asked, he turned his head back to the monitor. It was true. All of it was true. "How could have--?! Why would anyone--?!"

Gaignun! Gaignun!

I know, Jr. I'm talking to Helmer as we speak.

Gaignun! They can't do that! They can't take me away from you! I'm twenty-six! I'm an adult!

They don't know that, Jr. you're registered as my adopted son, you know that. Not even the workers or the people of the Foundation know we're related.

What did the pictures look like, Gaignun?

Someone...someone took pictures of us yesterday. I don't know who, but someone took pictures of us in the shower together. They're...everywhere.

Gaignun, we have to tell them, we have to!

We can't, Jr. Do you know how dangerous that would be? Letting them know who we are?

I won't let them take me from you!

Jr. pushed himself from the panel and ran to the elevator. The minute he stepped out of the doors, unfamiliar people in blue uniforms came walking towards the bridge. They advanced on him the moment they saw him, trying to call him forward. "Get the hell away from me!" Jr. threatened, pulling his guns from his back pockets. The crowd backed up. "I swear to God I'll fucking shoot you." A tall man from the group, disbelieving the fourteen-year old boy's threats, stepped up to grab him. Jr. shot him without hesitation in his shoulder, uncaring of the gasps that sprung from the people. Jr. fired another round into the air. "I dare you to try and touch me again." The crowd moved away from him as he ran into the transport. He flew from the open door, running full speed to their room. Why? Why was this happening now? Who would've purposely snuck into their room just to take pictures? What was going on? The same workers who had smiled and laughed warmly at him the day before, stared in shock and dismayed confusion as he reached his bedroom. The door slid open.

"I don't care, Helmer!" Gaignun yelled, "You have to help me. Please, help me!"

"Gaignun, you're going to have to calm down, I know this is stressful. I've don't think I've ever seen you so upset."

"They're trying to take Jr. away from me! Please Helmer!" Gaignun's head snapped up at Jr.'s arrival, fear in his green eyes. "Gaignun..." Jr. choked, unsure of what would happen to his voice if he continued.

"Gaignun, I can't help you today. I'll get busy talking with the Second Miltian government on this right away, but there's no possible way I can stop them from taking him. It will only be for a day at the most. I have no choice. I'm sorry."

Their door opened and people poured in, this time armed. They slammed themselves against the walls, pointing their guns at the two of them.

"Drop your weapons!" One of them cried.

I could kill them. Jr. sent, staring straight at his brother. I could kill them all. One movement. Jr.'s body began to shake as his anger built. I could slaughter them.

But you won't, Jr. You can't.

I could. I could. I could. I could.

"Drop your weapons!"

Jr...

Jr. raised his arms high enough for the people behind him to see. He dropped his precious Makarov's onto the floor. He didn't wait for them to grab him and instead took off running for his younger brother. "I won't let them keep you, Jr." Gaignun whispered, bending down and wrapping the boy in his arms. "Gaignun, I didn't get to tell you this. I wish I had. But..."

"That's enough!" The people began to circle around him, prying his arms away from Gaignun's back.

I love you.

With almost no struggle, Jr. allowed them to drag him away, sadness in his eyes.

"Gaignun Kukai, you are under arrest for counts of..."

Gaignun stood, unlistening as the officer planted handcuffs onto his wrists. The only thing he heard was Jr.'s loud cursing as the door shut behind him.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" A down, but not defeated Jr. asked angrily.

"To your brother and away from that pervert. You're safe now."

"Don't you dare talk about him like that! I was never in danger, you idiot! And I don't have a brother!" Jr. barked.

"Oh, did he keep it a secret?" One of the other officers laughed, "You didn't even know about your family before your adoption?"

"You aren't making any fucking sense."

"We're taking you to your new home, to your guardian."

"I don't have a goddamn brother."

"Yes you do." the first officer said, rolling his eyes. "Albedo Piazzolla."

Gaignun morphed into his old calm, suave self; a defense mechanism. He was polite to his captures and did everything they asked without protest, even ignoring the mocks of the officers as they called him names he didn't deserve. They just didn't understand. He would forgive them for now, as long as he got Jr. back. That's all that mattered. He kept his link closed in order to concentrate fully on the instructions and accusations given and made toward him. He followed them, hands behind his back into the hallways of the residential area; a royal walking to his execution. The workers stared angrily at their intruders. Guilty or not, Gaignun and Jr. were their masters and no one likes to see their hero bound and badgered. Gaignun walked with an air that suggested he was in control of the situation, not the other way around and as he reached the transport that would take him onto Second Miltian soil he had convinced the rest of the ship that he was going to be alright. Shelley and Mary waited for him on either side of the small sliding gate that would allow him to reach the transport. He looked at Shelley, her right hand over her mouth as she tried not to cry, and gave her an almost invisible smile to reassure her. When he turned to do the same for Mary, he saw that she was sobbing. He was curious as to why she wasn't yelling instead, demanding them to release him, and give him support. Again she let him down. She looked up at him, blue eyes red from crying and said so low it was almost inaudible. "I'm sorry, Master Gaignun...I didn't know."

Then it dawned on him, and he stared at her through confused and hurt eyes as they dragged him away.

A/N: Yep, you can kill me if you want to...but if you do that then you won't get Albedo's chapter. CX So maybe you should hold off on the fatal stabbing until after the next update. XDDD

Yes, the next update will be all about Albedo (minus entrances and stuff, gotta have a little bit of Gaignun and Jr. in there, right?). It might not be updated as fast as the others as Albedo's language is kind of hard to get just right. ^^; So bear with me, it will be up soon, so hold off on the stabbing...please?....*backs away slowly* Reviews are my muse so inspire it up, people! C: