Characters: Felix and Ushio

Rating: PG

A/N: So this more or less is the beginning of Ushio and Felix's friendship, cause even though it doesn't seem like it in the series, they are best of buds. and precious precious babies! Also, this is really the first appearance of Tahno, Vinh, and Ushio's parents, Shinju and Rabi!

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Ushio did not have friends.

Friends were for the weak, for those who could not depend on themselves.

This sort of thinking concerned Shinju, especially during the night before her youngest son started junior high school. Kids at that age were cruel and while Ushio managed relatively fine in elementary school, she worried that perhaps his…picky tendencies…would have him shunned by the student population. She could care less if others liked or disliked her son, but she knew he would be entering that fragile stage of pre-pubscent hood where kids actually started caring about what others thought.

Not that there was anything physically to dislike about Ushio. He was a beautiful child, head full of curls and a bone structure that could make a goddess weep. His personality though left some to be desired. She couldn't, for the life of her, figure out how he got his attitude. She supposed it came with the titles their family touted. Images of Ushio bossing around the other children on the playground came to mind and she shuddered faintly.

"Jujubes, you're still awake?" Her husband's sleepy voice made her look over. Rabi looked at her, eyes full of sleep. It was the middle of the night after all. Selectively ignoring the fact that her husband had once again called her Jujubes, she rolled over and curled close to him.

"I'm worried about Ushio." She frowned, fingers tracing along his chest. "That he won't make any friends at school."

Rabi smiled slightly at his wife's worried face. She seemed more anxious about Ushio's first day of school than Ushio probably was.

"I'm sure he'll make some friends. Junior high is much different than elementary. It's a time of social blossoming."

"But Ushio's so tiny. Vinh had already sprouted up by the time he got to junior high. He'll be picked on." She pouted and Rabi ran his thumb over her lower lip.

"Ushio can take care of himself. He's never let his stature get in the way before." He assured her. Shinju let out a sigh.

"I suppose." she closed her eyes. "I really hope that he makes friends this time around." She smiled faintly as Rabi's warmth engulfed her.

"I'm sure he'll make more friends than he can keep up with." He kissed her head gently. "Now get to sleep." He murmured.

—

Junior high was living hell.

Felix stood in the mirror, trying to towel off his hair. Good thing his mother packed him some clothes to change into. It wasn't even lunch time and already he had had two swirlies, an atomic wedgie, and his lunch money stolen. Not to mention the stares and laughter that accompanied him where ever he went. Being an imp meant that he was low on the pecking order.

Everyone bullied him.

Even the instructors seemed to hold some disgust over having him in their class.

He guessed that on top of being an imp, coming from a middle class background certainly didn't help. Most of these kids came from wealthier families. Only reason he managed to get in was connections from his uncle.

He picked up his glasses, frowning at the cracked lenses. His mother would be upset. He put them back on his face and picked up his books and papers, shuffling out of the bathroom with the heavy load. He moved to his locker and opened it up. A bucket of rotten fish spilled out from his locker and chuckles echoed around him.

Correction.

Junior high school couldn't be hell.

Because hell surely wasn't as bad as this.

—

When the kitchen door open, Rabi dropped the dishes in the sink to soak and turned around, a large smile on his face. Ushio stalked in, a scowl on his face. Rabi's smile fell and he instantly picked up Ushio's bag from the floor as he settled himself at the table, reaching for a plate of cookies.

"So…how was your first day of school?" Rabi asked, sitting down at the table with his youngest. Ushio bit into a cookie, contemplating his answer.

"I hate school. I'm not going to go." Ushio finally responded. Rabi blinked.

"What happened?"

"Everyone thinks they're better than me." Ushio sounded truly offended. "Some guys made fun of my hair style and girls were laughing at how short my horns are." Ushio glared heatedly at the cookies and Rabi was afraid for a second that he would burn the cookies. "And the teachers. They think that they know everything. They're rather stupid. Vinh could do a better job teaching me, and we all know that Vinh isn't the brightest star in the sky."

"Oh, don't talk so bad about your brother like that." Rabi chided him gently. Ushio shrugged, finishing off the cookie. "I'm sure it was just first day craziness. I'm sure by the end of the week you'll be fitting right in."

"Fit in with those losers?" Ushio scoffed. "There's a better chance of Vinh learning how to count without using his fingers."

Rabi rubbed his forehead.

It was going to be a long week.

—

By the time Friday rolled around, Ushio was secretly plotting the demise of all the students and faculty. The merciless teasing only intensified. Whispers followed him where ever he went, people knocked over his lunch trays, and he even had the unfortunate incident of someone sticking gum into his hair during class.

He cried while his mother cut it.

He sat at the breakfast table, poking around on his plate. He had no desire to eat. Shinju glanced worriedly at Rabi, who frowned. No matter how much they tried to talk to him, Ushio simply shut down. Vinh strolled in, fresh from a morning workout. "Good morning all!" He ruffled Ushio's hair as he went, causing the younger to hiss. He kissed his mother on the cheek and playfully punched his dad before sitting down at the table. He looked at Ushio and his smile faded.

"What's wrong little bro? Those kids still harrassing you?"

"How could you tell?" Ushio ground out.

"That scowl on your face."

Shinju shut her eyes. Bless her baby Vinh. Sometimes he just couldn't take a hint.

"You know why they're harrassing you." Vinh started, pointing his spoon at Ushio.

"Please, enlighten me." Ushio drawled. Vinh paused, thinking over the word.

Finally, "It's because you look better than the rest of them."

Ushio quirked a brow.

"Yeah. I used to get harassed in junior high too."

Shinju tilted her head, confusion on her face. Rabi's hand settled on her thigh, squeezing it gently, a signal to keep quiet.

"You? Harassed?" Ushio didn't quite believe his ears. Vinh had been the most popular guy in high school. So why would he be so hated in junior high?

"Yep. They made fun of my hair, made fun of the way I was really bulky. They'd call me muscle freak, the giant, the oaf." He bit into a rice cake. "But that's because they were jealous. You see, when people are jealous of others, they make fun of them. That's their way to disguise their hurt. Those are the type of people you don't want to associate with anyways. So my advice is to ignore them, don't let them know they get up under your skin. They'll leave you alone. And the chicks dig a guy who can rise above petty insults." he nodded sagely. "You'll find that things will change. Plus, a good insult or two doesn't hurt. And we all know you're wicked good at those."

"I am good at insulting people." Ushio murmured. He nodded. "I will do that then!" He hopped out of his chair and moved past his brother. He paused. "I guess you aren't as stupid as I thought you were." He smirked, grabbing his bag so he could head out and catch the bus. When the kitchen door closed, Shinju turned to Vinh.

"But you were never bullied in junior high." she questioned. Vinh gave a tiny smile.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him." he chuckled.

—-

By the end of the next week, Vinh's advice seemed to work. The taunts slowly faded and admirers were gained. But Ushio noticed that those taunts were being directed somewhere else.

Or rather towards someone else.

Namely a little imp named Felix. Ushio didn't know much about him. Only that he came from a middle class family with no significant family (though his uncle was rumored to be a rather powerful member of a demonic mafia). At first, the thought didn't bother him that much, but he became increasingly aware of the problem as time went by.

As he walked onto the play yard to go home, a sudden commotion caught Ushio's attention. He hurried over, seeing a group of boys surrounding something. They were yelling, fists tightening. Ushio peeked through the space and saw that it was that little imp, Felix. He was laying on the ground, glasses knocked off and hand raised up to protect his head. Ushio wasn't sure about the situation, but he knew that if something didn't happen, the situation would become violent. The thought of this little imp, who was most likely innocent of any wrong doing, being bullied made Ushio hot.

Ushio may have been a bully himself in previous situations, he never bullied the weak and defenseless.

That was simply unacceptable.

"Hey!" Ushio called out, effectively diverting the attention.

"What do you want, you little brat?" A boy spat at him. Ushio raised his lip.

"Pick on someone you're own size." He demanded. The group turned to him.

"Like you?" The boy smirked and Ushio tilted his chin.

"If you think you can take me peasant."

Felix slowly lowered his arm, blinking when he realized that the attention was no longer on him. Instead, the oldest one who had pushed him anyways was engaged with what looked like that incubus kid. The two were wrestling on the ground and he watched in amazement as Ushio managed to get the other in a strong headlock, effectively cutting off his air. He scrambled up, wanting to help the other but knowing he couldn't do much, he ran off into the school to grab a teacher.

A few seconds later, the scuffling boys were pulled off each other by two teachers and promptly escorted into the building. Felix went as well (he was sure the teachers would try to blame him for the entire incident). They were put in seats outside the principal's office while their parents were summoned. Felix looked over at Ushio, who had a bleeding lip and bruised eye.

"Thanks." Felix said quietly. Ushio glanced over at him.

"For what?"

"For sticking up for me." Felix shifted uncomfortably, looking away. "My name's Felix."

"I'm Ushio." The two looked back ahead at the wall in front of them.

"Why did you do it?" Felix asked.

Ushio sighed. "Do you always ask this many questions?" Felix blushed and looked down. "Because you don't deserve to be bullied because you're an imp. It's cowardly to pick on the weak anyways. My father says that the weak have to be protected."

"I'm not weak." Felix protested softly. Ushio raised a brow. Felix felt a small smile trembling on his lips. "Thanks anyways."

"Whatever."

A few seconds later, Ushio's parents and Felix's parents showed up. The other boy's parents couldn't be reached and he was simply sent home with a note. Felix's mother rushed over to Felix, grabbing hold of him and pulling him close, telling him how upset she was that he had been hurt. Felix struggled in her grasp, embarrassment flooding him. He looked over and a laugh escaped at the image of Ushio's own mother holding him tight, licking her thumb and wiping the smudges off of his cheek. The principal came out and addressed the parents.

"Your son," He looked at Ushio's parents. "Was caught fighting with another boy."

Shinju looked at Ushio. "Why were you fighting?" She asked softly.

Ushio looked over at Felix. "Because they were about to beat him. I couldn't let that happen." Ushio's parents looked at each other before glancing at Felix's parents, who looked rather stunned as well. Rabi and Shinju stood up, Rabi placing a hand on his son's shoulder.

"We'll make sure to discipline him appropriately." He nodded gravely and Ushio frowned, not liking his father's serious tone. A serious tone meant serious business. He knew that imps and other demon classes never got along well but his father had never done anything unkind to an imp. The principal nodded and glared half heartedly at Felix and his parents. Without another word, he disappeared back into his office.

The group made their way outside, though Ushio noticed that his father kept staring over at Felix's dad, like he was trying to place his face with a name. Finally, Felix's mother stopped them and stepped forward, holding her hand out in offering. "I'm Mikiko, and this is my husband Zev. I wanted to thank you." A sweet smile came across her face. "No one's really stood up for our boy. You've raised a fine son." Shinju smiled proudly, taking her hand and gripping it firmly.

"We've always taught him to do what's right. I hope next time we can meet under happier circumstances?" She suggested. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Shinju, and this is my husband, Rabi." She gestured to Rabi, who's face suddenly lit up. Rabi stepped over and bear hugged Zev, making the other man's eyes widen and struggle lightly.

"ZEV!" He yelled happily.

"Rabbit?" Zev stated cautiously, hope coming into his eyes.

"Aw man, don't call me that!" Rabi laughed and Zev embraced him back tightly. Mikiko and Shinju looked at each other, confusion in their faces. Rabi turned around, hooking an arm around Zev's neck. "This is my old college buddy! Spirits, we had some great times together!" Zev wrapped his arm around Rabi's waist.

"Ah man, we sure did. Spirits, you look great!"

"You too!"

While the two men engaged in memories gone past with their wives watching on in some amusement, Ushio and Felix untangled themselves from the group and wandered off a little ways. Felix kicked at the dirt and Ushio pocketed his hands. "So. Uh…" Ushio started off, feeling a little unsure of himself.

"You wanna be friends?" Felix blurted out. Felix immediately looked down, face flushing. "I mean, if you want. I just figured that since our parents know each other, then they'll want to hang out. And my mom says that I need more friends."

"Yeah, my mom says I need more friends too. Hey, you're really good at math, aren't you?" Ushio asked.

"Uh, I guess." Felix scratched the back of his head.

"How about this, we can be friends with benefits. I think that's what my brother calls it with his lady friends that help him with stuff. Anyways, you can help me do math and I'll beat any one up who tries to hurt you." Ushio held out his hand. Felix tentatively took his, his grip tightening. A smile came across his face.

"Cool." He paused. "So, uh, you wanna come over one afternoon?"

"Sure. I always want to get away from my annoying brother. And you can come over too. We have a lot to do at our house. And my dad makes some awesome rice cakes."

"Really? I love rice cakes!"

"Me too. I could eat them all the time."

—-

Ushio sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at the picture frame in his hands. Felix's mother had taken this when he had come over one afternoon. Felix had been awkward and embarrassed and of course, Ushio knew how to work a camera. A faint smile touched his face at the memory.

"Hey Ushio, I brought your music player. I put some songs on there that you might like too." Felix knocked on his door, pushing up his glasses. A groan left his lips. "Aw, you don't still have that picture do you?" He settled beside Ushio, leaning against him lightly as he studied the picture. "I was such a dork."

"Was? You still are." Ushio smirked, nudging his friend lightly. Felix grinned.

"And you're still stuck up." He ribbed Ushio lightly.

"Never said I wasn't." Ushio put the picture frame back on his nightstand. Right by the picture of his parents and his brothers.

"Hey, my mom sent some rice cakes with me. You want some?" Felix asked softly. Ushio smiled.

"Yeah. You know I love rice cakes."

Mikiko's rice cakes would never be as good as his father's rice cakes.

But they were made with love and that was good enough for him.