Warnings- Major OOC, Some characters backgrounds changed (it is and AU after all), homosexuality, and swearing.

"Talking" 'Thinking'

The Great Escape

We'll cry

Dec. 17

It was Friday. Finally Friday. For most kids and teens that meant a weekend of freedom, but not Tokiya. He didn't get a day off, then again he rarely did. It was exhausting living a double life. What Friday meant to most teens meant a hundred times more to him. It meant getting more than two hours of sleep, it meant more interviews, more songs, less Tokiya and more Hayato.

This weekend though was a little different. His manager had yet to make plans for Saturday so Tokiya took it upon himself to make his own. To him, this visit would mean more than the world it's self.

Something was weird though. His blue eyes darted around the class room. It was silent. Normally most classes were, but not this one. Not Reiji's class. His was always loud and brought a tiny bit of excitement to everyone who happened to share the class with Otoya, Ai, and Natsuki. But even the two remaining of the terrible trio seemed tranquil.

Tokiya had caught wind of it earlier, but most kept their mouths shut. So it was rather hard to understand what was happening. All Tokiya knew is the three words he heard as he passed by the student council room before he headed off to lunch.

Haruka was caught.

He had no idea what she had done wrong. He barely knew her. Syo sometimes mentioned her name during their first class together, but most of the time since Otoya had gone to Japan, the small blonde was quiet. Lately everything and everybody was like that.

"Hey." Tokiya perked up at the sound of Natsuki's voice. "Reiji is it true THAT guy is coming back?"

Reiji looked almost as if he was about to jump for joy at the sound of the blonde's voice. "Yes, yes. I almost forgot to mention that. Class Monday Hijirikawa is coming back. You'd all better give him a warm welcome."

"Hijirikawa?" Tokiya leaned over and whispered to Ai.

"Hmm?" Ai hummed. "Oh him. That's right Ittoki beat him up before you transferred. Masato is a friend of ours. You'll like him. Maybe. Probably... You do like Otoya's personality right?"

Tokiya gulped. "Two Otoyas. Please tell me that's a joke."

"Not two of him. Masato is way worse. He beat up three people before Otoya stepped in. Otoya was probably the only thing that kept him from getting expelled." Ai laughed.

Tokiya tried to picture him in his head. The more horror stories Ai told him, the more he saw some big bad evil villain with scars and tattoos. It totally made him freak out. Otoya had hated him at first, this guy would too. And he wouldn't stop with hating him, this Masato would probably kill him.

Ai seemed to noticed, so he gave the teen a pat on the back. "Don't worry Masa is totally chill. He's probably adore you."

The bluenette was doubtful. "I think I'm gonna be sick."

"That reminds me. Are you coming over today?"

Tokiya bit his bottom lip, but his voice didn't reach the tip of his tongue before Natsuki spoke. "When the hell did you two get so chummy."

Again, Tokiya went to answer but was seconds to late as Ai's cyan head snapped around. "Maybe while you were ignoring my texts about the project. Toki at least answered."

"Oh it's Toki now? Been forcing Syo to hang out with you losers?"

Tokiya flinched looking to the teacher to help, but Reiji's eyes sparkled with fascination, it was as if he and the rest of the class had been waiting for this for the last fifty-two minutes. Four more minutes and they would have gotten thru the day without a fight.

"I never asked to be friends with you." Natsuki yelled.

"No you just wanted to one up your amazing brother cause you can never be him. You just had to have one more friend than he did."

"You don't know anything." Natsuki went in for a punch.

Cyan eyes widened in shock, along with everyone in the class, when his fist connected with Ai's face. Or to be more exact his jaw.

"Kotobuki." Tokiya finally yelled. Wow, and it felt good to yell. When was the last time he had ever spoken that loud without having to add Nya~~ at the end. "I don't want to get hurt."

At that Natsuki froze.

And Ai... he did the craziest thing. He started to laugh. With the brown already setting in, marring his creamy pale skin, it wasn't as if it were a light tap. Tokiya knew it probably hurt. So why... Why was he laughing?

"A-Ai." Natsuki said in the smallest weakest voice any of the student had ever heard. "I-I'm sorry."

The cyan haired boy stood, still laughing. "No, no. Do it again!"

xxx

Tokiya really really hated his idea. He hadn't thought it would be a bad idea, until his arms were wrapped around Ai's waist. How did Ai ride this... thing to school everyday?

The ride to Ai's house wasn't long, but there were a few scares. Time and time again Tokiya thought they would tip over and go skidding to the cold icy ground below. It took far more than a few minutes to settle his nerves once getting off.

"See it's not that bad." Ai said to him.

"No. It was far worse than I though."

"Come on. It's to cold to be talking out here." The cyan haired teen rolled his eyes.

"O-only for a little while. I have things to do today."

As he had hoped, Ai didn't pry any further. Then again, from what he learned, Aine was the one who had to know everything everyone was doing. Tokiya found amusing so he more often than not made up stories about the 'great' life that he lived. Well, some of those stories weren't lies at all.

"Tokiya!" Aine bounced down the stairs to give him the biggest hug he had ever had. It was like every worry rushed away from his mind once the older man pulled him in. This was what a real father acted like. Or was it? Tokiya couldn't remember the last time his father showed any kind of love for him.

"I thought I would drop in and say hello before I go to work." He smiled at the sickly man, not missing the curious glint in the teen's eyes as Ai barely glance over at them.

"Do you need a ride dear? Ai is going out today."

"No!" Tokiya's eyes widened. "I'm sorry but no thank you."

Ai laughed, giving a small cough. "He's taking my car."

Tokiya looked to his friend only to have the other nod back at him. "I don't mind."

Tokiya bit his lip at Ai's voice. "I wouldn't want to impose."

"Don't worry about it."

Tokiya looked between Ai and Aine. They both gave him the same look. It was cold out and they would rather him ride with Ai than have to call his manager because his truck broke down last month.

Back at school he was almost grateful for a Friday such as this one. One where he had the next day off, to himself. But as he stood in the hallway at the Mikaze residence he decided that he hated it. Mostly because his bright idea's always got him into trouble.

"I-I guess I have no choice but to accept your kindness." He bowed his head to them.

"So where are we going?" Ai asked. "And how long before you have to leave? I wanna take a shower first."

Tokiya groaned. He would be able to figure out a lie soon, but it was going to be a long weekend.

xxx

Dec. 18

Tokiya hated to bring flowers with him, so he never did. That meant that there were either never any there or a small dying bundle that a kind nurse had cramped into a small glass vase.

"Hello there Mai." The nurse behind the counter called.

It snapped Tokiya out of his daze. He saw the little blue haired girl struggling to see over the top, standing on her tippy toes. She had a small folded paper in her hand that she desperately tried to place on the counter for the nurse to see without help. 'Mai' couldn't have been more than four or five.

"Yup!" She chirped excitedly. "Mama sent me to give Onii-chan his homework. Since I'm a big girl, I'll do it all by myself!"

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be so happy. I know I would be." The blonde haired nurse, Diana, smiled.

"So I can go give it to him?"

"Of course dear. You know the room number right?"

"Yes!" Mai cheered.

She turned around bumping right into Tokiya. She would have landed on her butt, except Tokiya flung out his arm to catch her arm before she went down. Her big blue eyes looked up at him.

"I-I'm sorry." She stammered.

"It's okay, but be more careful."

"Ah, Ichinose." The nurse smiled. "It's been a while."

"Yeah." He nodded, letting the small girl go. She rushed of to her destination.

"They're always so cute at that age, aren't they?" Diana cooed. "She comes almost everyday. I think I'm going to miss seeing her bright face."

"Relative getting out?" He leaned on the counter. "No wonder she was so excited."

"No, little Mai is always like that. Just so positive and sweet." The nurse tapped her polished nail against the glossy counter. "I just Hijirikawa would be alittle like her sometimes."

For some reason he felt like he knew that name, but couldn't place it. So he shrugged, bidding the kind nurse farewell, and walked to the same room as always.

On the way, he saw that same little girl. She had carelessly left the door to her brother's room open. She smiled brightly, her voice carrying out into the hallway how excited she was about school. As Tokiya passed he could see her brother listing arms folded over his lap as he listened. Just before the teen could pass the older brother lifted his hand and gave Mai a pat on the head, messing up her hair. That caused her to title with glee. It was something that really warmed his heart before he went into the room he was there to visit.

A bleak room with a identical sleeping face in it.

Tokiya sighed deeply before opening the door. He stepped into the white room. Machines buzzed in the background. "I'm sorry I haven't come in a while." He closed the door, quickly finding his normal seat next to the bed. His hand reached out to touch the bony hand that rested on the white sheet. As usual it was cold, but not without some warmth that let Tokiya know the other was still alive. "Things are kinda crazy. It's nice to see you again, Hayato. I have so much to tell you about."

Let's be honest. How many of you though Ren broke up with Syo because he was dating Masa?

Kiscia- I know Ren is really a mystery for now. But there will be more of him. Syo's not ready to let go just yet.

ScarletHorn- I'm glad you like it!

MikaraRinna- I know it's not real, and even if it does sound depressing I'd rather hear the truth. And I hope I can keep writing stories you enjoy.

Thanks for all the reviews favs and follows.

Don't fort to vote on the poll for the next story (although this might have a sequel, still think about it.)

-Sk-