The Chinese food was set to arrive in an hour. Chazz and Judai return to the basement where the group was cheering on two of the boys who were playing mortal Kombat on the game system while Syrus and Blair were looking over the math work for their class, occasionally glancing over to see who was winning at the game.

Chazz and Judai took the seats on the couch watching Jim and Johan beat each other in Mortal Kombat. The game ended with Johan slumped on the ground with Jim laughing at his friends exaggerated reaction. Judai patted his back laughing pity in his voice. "You did your best."

"Geez thanks a lot!" Johan slapped the brunettes hand away playfully as to not hurt his friends feelings but gave a sarcastic grin in response which Judai returned as a cheeky grin. Johan looked at the brunette's face closely his emerald eyes scanning his face having noticed the slight red around the edges of his eyes. 'Has he been crying…? Why, Judai…?' His eyes harden slightly but looked away from the brunette.

He wasn't gonna ask his friend unless he wanted to tell him what was the problem, he knew Chazz or Syrus would know as well, if not. He felt like asking them but that's when Judai took to the microphone his guitar in hand, he could see those same brown eyes tears in his eyes.

"Oh Judai…" Syrus breathed out. Syrus and Chazz knew that if Judai sang more than once during their stay it usually meant he was trying to get out emotions he was hiding. The brunette played the guitar in his hands, it wasn't an electric guitar but Chazz and Syrus knew from the way he played he was copying a song from his favorite band and he normally only sang their songs when he was upset with something or trying to get out emotions he couldn't put into words.

Ever since he first heard the band when they were in middle school he said back then that the band spoke his inner emotions and that listening to them made him feel seen and heard so when he sang the songs he was seen and heard by his friends.

Judai's lip trembled as he played the guitar, his mind a torrential mess of thoughts and emotions as he sang the karaoke playing behind him as he sang the song he knew by heart because whenever he thought of Bruce outside of school, this one song made him think of his bully and childhood crush.

Perfect by nature. Icons of self indulgence

just what we all need

More lies about a world

that never was and never will be

Have you no shame? Don't you see me?

You know you've got everybody fooled

Everyone watched in silence feeling sweeper into the emotions that Judai was shedding. Syrus and Chazz knew what the song was about but this left the others to speculate their own thing as Judai continued.

Look! Here he comes now!

Bow down and stare in wonder

Oh how we love you

No flaws when your pretending

But now I know he

Never was and never will be

You don't know how you betrayed me

And somehow you've got everybody fooled

Judai had tears well in his eyes as they poured down his face as he sang his heart out. The male feeling broken on the inside screamed his lungs out to the song that perfectly described his and Bruce's relationship.

Without the mask where will you hide?

Can't find yourself

Lost in your lies!

I know the truth now!

I know who you are!

And I don't love you anymore!

That's when everything shattered as Judai dropped the guitar and ran upstairs. The room was in silence as confusion spread to the four. That didn't stop Johan from jumping up and racing up the stairs slamming the door behind him. "Ju! Judai!" He cried out entering the living room he scanned the room quickly before seeing the trap door for the attic now open with a ladder extended for the ground.

He rushes to the stairs and climbs up. At the top it was dimly lit with a window bringing in extra lighting, a desk lamp giving the rest. Against the wall of the attic was a dresser, a desk with a lap top closed and plugged in, and a full sized bed with a red comforter on it.

Judai was on top of the bed his back pressed to the wall and his pillow in his arms as quiet sobs wracked his body. Johan walked carefully to the bed and stood over it looking down at the sobbing brunette.

"Ju?" The brunette froze before raising his face to the bluenette standing over him his emerald eyes glowing in the dimly lit room. "J..Jo-kun.. G-Gomen.. I-I I mean I'm sorry…" Johan quickly but carefully sat on the bed reaching towards the brunette and pulled him tightly to his chest, burring his hand into Judai's brown locks.

"Shhh…" He wrapped a gentle arm around Judai's back as the brunette looked at Johan his eyes brimming with tears as his hand touched his shirt before clenching it against the fabric. "Jo-kun…" the crying male's voice was broken and thick with tears.

Judai pulled the rest of his body against Johan as he practically sat in his lap, his arms going around the teal haired male's neck. Johan pressed Judai firmly to his chest and held him in genuine comfort rubbing his back and ruffling the ends of his hair.

"I'm here Judai.. I won't let you go okay? And I won't make you talk either…" Johan burried his face in Judai soft brown hair, smelling of winter mint chocolate. The shorter male just nodded his head as he stiffled a sob burring his face in the males neck and chest, tears soaking his shirt.

"Oh, Judai… I hate to see you like this.." he sighed under his breath, Judai clutching tightly to him as he let out a heavy cry the loud scream ripping from his throat.

Chazz and Syrus looked down from the group as they had finished explaining Judai's history with Bruce Campwell. "That's… some heavy stuff." Jim mumbled out still overwhelmed. "Tho I don't feel bad for kicking his friends ass that day." Hassleberry choked out a laugh earning a hard kick in the leg from Jim's leather boots.

"Yeoooow! What in the sam hell was that for!?" He jumped from his spot on the couch nearly falling over the coffee table holding his leg in pain. "Cause your a giant moron, Kenzan that's why." Chazz deadpanned at the same moment Jim did. Hassleberry feint being hurt as he pouted returning to his seat on the couch after rubbing his throbbing leg.

Blair leaned over. "So this whole bully situation between you guys and Bruce happened because Judai knew Bruce was in the closet and asked him out??" Blair said in disbelief. Chazz and Syrus nodded heavily. The duo were standing over the others explaining the whole thing.

"Yuki always said he could tell a person was gay or in the closet by how the dressed, how they made themselves look and how they spoke to others. He knew Bruce was in the closet because he would get embarrassed being praised by guys or even accepting compliments, tend to give long hugs to males especially his friends." Syrus nodded along with Chazz's explanation.

"That's really observant…" Jim looked nervous. Syrus gave the Aussie a pointed look. "Johan's gay isn't he?" Both makes sweat profusely at his words before caving.

Kenzan and Jim groan heavily while Chazz busted out laughing. Blair covered her mouth giggling. "I knew it! I knew it! He was too sexy to not be gay! Hell if I call a guy sexy he's too damn sexy!" Chazz held his gut laughing harder. Syrus shoved the black haired male who just fell on his ass still laughing. Jim threw off his hat ruffling his hair in embarrassment. "Aw crickey that chocolate boy is too good at figuring it out." Hassleberry rubbed his face before pulling the ends of his hair in exasperation.

"Damn you guys. Johan was trying to be coy."

"Well his actions speak too damn loud. He's like the warning alert they put on tv for a hurricane!" Syrus cracked the joke making Blair giggle even more in response. Chazz couldn't even stand up he was laughing so hard. At that moment the door bell rang which made Syrus and Chazz dash out of the basement the ebony eyed male still chuckling as he pulled out his wallet getting to the door. "Move out of the way Kuriboh." Syrus picks up the cat who was scratching the door as Chazz opens it seeing the delivery guy standing there.

He hands him the money and takes the bagged food from the delivery guy before shutting the door. Jim and Hassleberry make their way out of the basement as Syrus passes the cat to Jim who oohed and took him delightfully as Blair followed up behind them. "Where's Judai and Johan?" She says that as the three noticed the latch door was pulled down and a ladder it it's place. "Attic." Chazz and Syrus spouted off in unison.

"The attic?" The three questioned while Jim was caressing Kuriboh who meowed and jumped from jim's arms to the top of the ladder before making its way inside. "Kuriboh! How many times do I have to tell you not to come up here! Remember when dad locked you up here while I was at school!?" Judai picked up his cat and made his way back down the ladder with Johan following behind him.

The cat just meowed in Judai's arms as he nuzzled his owner making the brunette laugh as he puts him down noticing Chazz with the Chinese food as him and Syrus were setting everything out on the bar so everyone could make their serving.

After everyone got their helping the group returned to the basement talking and chatting away while enjoying the Chinese food. Judai even managed to teach his new friends some Japanese words especially the ones that him Syrus and Chazz had thrown out earlier.

"So that's what you Bloaks we're saying earlier! Threw me for a loop, I'll say." Jim laughed. Blair smiled at the group. She was enjoying herself, she didn't think she'd have such a good time with Syrus's friends. She didn't know what kind of people they would be, but something in her gut told her that they seemed like good guys.

"This has been amazing you guys. Thanks for inviting me along, Judai-san." She picked up his friendly dialect as she referred to him with an honorific as he taught them before. Judai waved his hand sweating just a bit. "Nah, nah! I'm glad you came! And, I know we don't run in the same groups at school Blair-chan but just know we're your friends too!" He gave his thousand watt smile which just lit up the room from afar making the navy haired girl smile even more.

"Thank you. I gotta make a call." She was about to stand up when Syrus offered. "I-if you need a ride home I can call my brother to come get us!" She looked at the light blue haired teen who looked a little bashful at his own outburst, making her smile. "That would be nice. Thanks Syrus." The boys glasses fogged up from the heat on his face as he rushed to wipe them clean before anyone noticed.

Judai eventually put a movie on for the group as Syrus made the call to his brother. Luckily it was the older Truesdale's day off so he had no qualms with coming to pick up his brother or his friend. The two made their way upstairs Judai seeing them off as they walked outside back into the cold with their jackets shoes and bags back on. "See you guys Monday!" Judai called out the door giving a wave to Zane who gave a slight hand wave before pulling out of the driveway with Blair and Syrus waving from the back seat.

He returned inside taking a deep breath as he took his plate to the kitchen. A shudder went through him. 'Whoa that was weird..' he thought for a second feeling slightly off as he begun washing the dishes that were in the sink unaware of Johan making his way out of the basement to get more kung pao chicken from the take out box.

He noticed Judai at the sink before walking up behind him. "You feeling okay?" Judai turned at the sound of his voice surprising him just a little as he looked at Johan who stood about 3 inches from him. With a tight lip smile he nods. "Yea… I think so. Thanks for listening to me earlier… I know I was a big mess."

"Nonsense, Ju." He reached and grasped his shoulder comfortingly. Judai looked at the teal haired male searching his expression which was kind and compassionate. "You have every right to grieve. Even over someone who made your life hell." Judai shook his head viscously his chocolate eyes wracked with pain. "That's… not all." Johan cocked his head to the side before reaching past Judai to shut the water off in the sink before pulling back looking at Judai full force his emerald eyes filled with puzzlement.

Judai let out a shakey sigh, his body trembling. "I was in love with Bruce years ago… he was moved to my class in middle school. I got to know him vaguely… b-but I knew, he was in the closet. I don't know if he was ashamed.. or if he was denying the whole thing… I..I-I asked him to go out with me… h-he shoved me into the lockers, called me Hazelnut Queer and from then on he targeted me relentlessly. I had though he would've stopped, it's been 3 years, but he hadn't let up.." Johan dudn't listen his grip on Judai as he squeezed his arm before taking his hand gently, his thicker warm hand grasping Judai's more slender and wet one and gave it a tight squeeze.

"He missed out. He didn't deserve the attention you gave him. And you didn't deserve the bulling he gave you in return." Johan released a tight breath which was ragged and half from anger. He was holding in the bundle of emotions he had for the deceased male. Judai could tell from the tension on Johan's face that he was holding back his anger as he reached with his other hand to tough his face, snapping the emerald eyed male from his anger induced daze.

"Don't waste your emotions on him, okay? My tears are wasted on him, but that's on me. I don't want you to be angry at a dead man who got his due." A smile broke out on the slightly taller males face as he leaned his cheek into Judai's hand taking a deep breath, breathing in his chocolate mint smell that he was enjoying. "No more tears okay? You'll ruin your voice. You need it to play in the talent show."

Before Judai could interrupt or say anything the rest of the group climbed the stairs, Hasslberry letting out a groan. "I can't believe that fuckers coming! And we gotta miss school for a week!" That made Judai and Johan pull away instantly both their faces flushed slightly red from almost being seen as Johan exits the kitchen first to see what the problem was.

"What do you mean miss school for a week??" Johan's eyes met Jim's who look solemnly back. Johan grit his teeth in return as Judai exits the kitchen. "Something come up with your family?" Jim let out a shallow sigh but nodded. Chazz looked indifferent but was surprised by the news.

"We have to get over there now. You know get the house set up and what not." Jim rambled slightly on the details as Hasslberry grumbled grabbing his hoodie and throwing it on passing Jim his in return. The three males got their coats on and the bags back over their shoulders.

"Ju. Can I see your phone?" The brunette wordlessly passed him his cellphone. He clicks on it for a second before handing it back on the screen was a new message board with Johan's name in it with Hassleberry and Jim's names and numbers in it as well.

"Text me okay?" Johan murmured quietly to the boy in front of him who blushed and nodded. "See you next week okay? Sorry we won't be there for the memorial." He gave Judai a tight squeeze of his hand before stepping away to collect his coat bag and shoes, Hassleberry and Jim already at the door waiting for him.

"Later mates! Tell Syrus we'll see you guys!" Chazz and Judai nodded as they watched the three men go out the door and vanish into the now snowy wind.

Xxx

Johan grumbled as they walked having shaken loose his clothes and took the clothes in his muzzle after shifting as his emerald eyes gazed at Jim who was a dark navy wolf his hat still covering his head and Hassleberry a dark brunette wolf with his bandana still on his head as well.

'I hate this so much why are Adrian and Axel coming now!' The teal wolf grumbled. Jim snapped his jaw at him as a warning, as if to say knock off his groaning as the three of them raced through the woods.

'The sooner we do this the sooner they leave and we can continue our semi normal lives alright?' The three hide their book bags in knot holes across the woods so that their fellow wolves didn't know they attended school.

The three males run through the woods returning back to the house not far off from where Judai lived. Out of all the kids in the neighborhood Judai's house rested closer to the woods than others. The three males shift back into humans and quickly got dress to avoid freezing as the went inside to prepare for their pack mates arrival.