***
Shards
By RubyD
Chapter Three: The Night Life
***
An hour had passed between escaping the bodyguards and roaming the streets.
A lot can happen in an hour.
Touma whirled dreamily along the dimly lit streets not bothering to glance at the sauntering women, and a few men, who catcalled. Even at night the place was busy. A dark yet accepted side of Japan with its nightlife of paid-dates, dealers, and secret societies. But he didn't care about any of that as he rode the surge of clarity and joy in his blood.
Though the growling clouds domed the skies he imagined he could feel the stars twinkling and vibrating energy to him. Every little point was its own sun pulsing with magic. The whole universe in the palm of his hands… That was what Touma wanted. For it all to belong to him, to depend on him.
It's possible, he thought. Only if I tried hard enough.
He was heading to Shu's place, the bar, to talk. The two had known each other for a few years, they met one day when Touma was wandering around in the alleys to avoid going home - a bit like right then. Fortunately his father didn't know about Chen-San's, so it would be safe.
He gladly shoved thoughts of his parental unit aside. This was a happy night.
Almost there. The doorway was highlighted with a single lamp, and the neon arrow burned a dying orange. Jogging at a clumsy pace, he didn't see the bum sitting in the shadows until he nearly tripped over him.
"Hey, could you move?" Touma asked, seeing him leaning against the doorframe. "I need to get in."
"Oh, sorry," he answered, scooting away. The voice was clear and young, not the rough rumble of men who've lived on the streets for a years.
He blinked, squinting at the slumped shoulders and defeated tone. Maybe the guy got beat up. "Are you all right? You look terrible."
Ryo sighed irritably and looked up, uninjured face annoyed and analyzing. He blinked. That hair… Touma's reddish eyes had bags decorating them, and the hair was dirty and unkempt. There was something about the air around him that made the teen frown. "So do you."
"What! Such compliments!" He laughed at the attitude. The guy looked fine - maybe it had been a spat with his girlfriend. "Did you just get dumped?"
"Dumped?"
"Or a fight with your lady?"
"My lady? No, I don't have one…"
"Really, a handsome guy like you? I was sure you'd have one, or why would you be out like this? Or maybe you like guys…?" Touma grinned brightly.
What? Ryo was confused for a moment at the slightly garbled words, then flushed a bright red. "No, nothing like that at all!" he denied angrily.
"Sure? 'Cause I've seen guys like you before in your situation…" He tilted his head, thinking. "Or at least, I think I have. You seem familiar, actually… Do I know you?"
"Sorry, I don't thing so." The teen sighed once again, seeming to deflate. "I'm fine, just - just go in."
Touma shrugged. "Suit yourself, but a word to the wise: if you never ask for help, you'll never get any."
"You're strange…" He was puzzled for a moment, staring curiously. "By the way, you *do* look bad. Are you okay?"
"Still with the compliments. I've never felt better!" he answered absent-mindedly. He jerked the door open, swatting at a few flies buzzing near.
"Oh, all right."
The door closed, and Ryo was left alone once more. A second later Byakkuen crept up from the shadows and nudged him on the cheek. The boy rubbed the soft muzzle.
"Weird guy," Ryo said. He stared at the door, wondering. "And that hair! Were you following him? Do you think…?"
The tiger whuffed in affirmation and sat down to wait.
*
"Touma!" Shu ushered when he recognized the blue mop descending steps. The two had known each other for a few years, they met one day when Touma was wandering around in the alleys to avoid going home. Usually their visits were good-natured, but when his friend plopped down on a stool the bartender's welcoming mood suddenly faded. "You look like hell."
"And the flattery keeps coming. I'm perfectly fine." He set his bright gaze on his friend. "My mind's so clear tonight!" Hearing this Shu frowned and eyes narrowed, scrutinizing. Red-rimmed, tired and dilated pupils, a slight tremor of the hands, and the rank odor of sweat could be detected within a three-foot radius. He knew the symptoms.
"Shit," he said simply. "You're high."
"On life!"
"On Ice."
"Liquor is quicker," he giggled, "but fire's dryer."
"On Ice," Shu repeated, dismayed. He pulled up a seat from his side and prepared to stay there. It wasn't going to be a pleasant night. "And now you're babbling. What happened? Your dad's hounds after you again?"
"Grand old chase," Touma answered with a wavering grin. "The Suits never got close."
"Liar. I bet they did."
The boy pouted at that then stuck his tongue out. "I had to ditch the Hawk," he finally admitted. "You got anything to drink?"
"Your birthday car? Geez, your mom sent that to you from *America* . . ." He shook his head. Some people had too much money. "So you escaped, got into the junk and now you're - "
"Just great! I wanna drink."
"Not 'just great'. Man, I thought you'd stop doing this stuff after getting kicked out of school."
"Drink now, preach later!" Touma demanded, slapping his palms on the counter like a child having a tantrum.
He sighed, knowing that the only way to reason with his friend was to appease him. "I'll get you some coke." Shu reluctantly got a glass and opened the mini fridge under the table.
Touma leaned over and looked to converse better. "I didn't drop out," he insisted. "They kicked me out."
"Well, no wonder." The drink appeared in hand, and he took it greedily, all the while slipping a small bag out of his pocket.
"No, really." Touma tried to turn the topic. "I was too damn smart for them."
He let him. "Smart aleck, you mean."
He laughed loudly. "Rude, condescending, egotistical, smart ass… that's me."
"You used to be a shy kid. Such a change." A regretful tone.
"What happened, I wonder?
"I wonder," Shu murmured with disapproval. He didn't understand why people didn't enjoy school - he'd jump at the chance to be able to do and learn about something, anything, other than a life of mixing drinks.
"Probably I just got bored. Just… tired." There was a dramatic sigh. "I stopped paying attention and started speaking up. Spoke pretty loudly, too."
"In comes the smart aleck, emphasis on the smart?" he responded dully, already knowing the full story.
"Yeah, I made a few of them feel stupid, but I didn't mind. They were all idiots. And nobody would ever lay a hand on me because ol' daddy-dearest and his fountain of cash could pay them off when someone complained." Touma gave a lopsided smirk, remembering the remarkable self-control the teachers managed when he was in class. It was amazing to see just how angry one person could get. He wanted people to be angry, wanted them to see how incredibly frustrating it was to have so much rage yet not be allowed to act on it.
'See?' he had wanted to say. 'It sucks, doesn't it?'
Shu was sorry at his friend's expression. "Didn't the principal ever call your father in for a lecture on 'How to Improve on Parenting'?"
"Dad didn't bother with school conferences - they took up his valuable time." Touma took a sip of the bittersweet drink. "I took up his time."
"He got you a tutor instead."
"One I never go to. I refuse. My father's minions can chase me all they want, but I didn't quit educational prison just to be put into another one." The teen scowled at the glass.
His friend looked on with concern. "Touma?"
"How old is this? It's flat."
"So are most of the drinks."
"I'll just spice it up, then." He tapped some pebbly white clumps out of the tiny pouch and onto his hand. Shu's eyes widened. With a feral swipe, the bartender knocked the drink and the hand into spilling their contents.
"Damn, Touma!" he growled, soda splashing the counter. The customers were staring and ready to leave, but he didn't notice. "You *know* you're not supposed to bring that crap in here!"
"I'm tired," he whined petulantly.
"Then get some stupid sleep! You've probably been up the last three days running around for what? Nothing."
"It's nothing." Touma wiped his hands slowly, aware of every drop of crystal that he dropped on the ground, forever unused. "It just keeps me awake, that's all."
"It's Ice, it's a drug, and that's not all! The first excuse was taking them so you could stay up late to do homework. Now that you'll never do schoolwork ever again, what's your excuse?"
"I'm telling you, they help me stay alert now that Dad's lackeys are always on my back. And it makes me feel better." Why couldn't Shu understand that? He *needed* it.
"Is that how you justify it: to stay awake and alert? What happens when it finally runs down your system and you're all moody like my mom on a bad day…?"
Touma gritted his teeth, scratching at his palms desperately until they turned pink. "I use it to keep focus."
"I think you use it to piss off your father."
"What would you know about Mr. Big Shot Scientist, huh?" he irritably snapped. "Both of you haven't met, you don't know what he's like."
The bartender grew quiet, somber. "I know you, Touma."
"Know me? Know *me*? Nobody can know about me but me! Hell, you don't even know what's happening with your own parents! They left you here in a crap job with crap pay!" A second too late he realized what he had said and regretted opening his mouth.
A stricken expression flashed across the Chinese boy's face and he dropped his eyes to the wet tabletop. "Touma…"
There was an uncomfortable pause.
"Sorry," he sincerely said. "I didn't mean it."
"Get out."
He was surprised, and yet not really. "But I said - "
The look Shu gave stopped him. "I know what you said, and that's okay." Before Touma could relax he added, "But I'm not going to watch you sit there and suck in that stuff through a straw then spit this denial on me. I've known a few bums that collapse in here after telling themselves once too many times that 'it wouldn't hurt'. I don't think you're a bum. You're smart, and you do know better.
"So get out."
*
Ryo and Byakuen dove to the side as Touma angrily flung the door open and ran out. They had heard the confrontation and Ryo knew he had to keep track of the teen. The echoes of rapid footsteps were already fading by the time the pair got up and gave chase. They were swallowed into the night, and the slapping of feet on pavement like the beating of a drum tapered away.
***
To Be Continued
Shards
By RubyD
Chapter Three: The Night Life
***
An hour had passed between escaping the bodyguards and roaming the streets.
A lot can happen in an hour.
Touma whirled dreamily along the dimly lit streets not bothering to glance at the sauntering women, and a few men, who catcalled. Even at night the place was busy. A dark yet accepted side of Japan with its nightlife of paid-dates, dealers, and secret societies. But he didn't care about any of that as he rode the surge of clarity and joy in his blood.
Though the growling clouds domed the skies he imagined he could feel the stars twinkling and vibrating energy to him. Every little point was its own sun pulsing with magic. The whole universe in the palm of his hands… That was what Touma wanted. For it all to belong to him, to depend on him.
It's possible, he thought. Only if I tried hard enough.
He was heading to Shu's place, the bar, to talk. The two had known each other for a few years, they met one day when Touma was wandering around in the alleys to avoid going home - a bit like right then. Fortunately his father didn't know about Chen-San's, so it would be safe.
He gladly shoved thoughts of his parental unit aside. This was a happy night.
Almost there. The doorway was highlighted with a single lamp, and the neon arrow burned a dying orange. Jogging at a clumsy pace, he didn't see the bum sitting in the shadows until he nearly tripped over him.
"Hey, could you move?" Touma asked, seeing him leaning against the doorframe. "I need to get in."
"Oh, sorry," he answered, scooting away. The voice was clear and young, not the rough rumble of men who've lived on the streets for a years.
He blinked, squinting at the slumped shoulders and defeated tone. Maybe the guy got beat up. "Are you all right? You look terrible."
Ryo sighed irritably and looked up, uninjured face annoyed and analyzing. He blinked. That hair… Touma's reddish eyes had bags decorating them, and the hair was dirty and unkempt. There was something about the air around him that made the teen frown. "So do you."
"What! Such compliments!" He laughed at the attitude. The guy looked fine - maybe it had been a spat with his girlfriend. "Did you just get dumped?"
"Dumped?"
"Or a fight with your lady?"
"My lady? No, I don't have one…"
"Really, a handsome guy like you? I was sure you'd have one, or why would you be out like this? Or maybe you like guys…?" Touma grinned brightly.
What? Ryo was confused for a moment at the slightly garbled words, then flushed a bright red. "No, nothing like that at all!" he denied angrily.
"Sure? 'Cause I've seen guys like you before in your situation…" He tilted his head, thinking. "Or at least, I think I have. You seem familiar, actually… Do I know you?"
"Sorry, I don't thing so." The teen sighed once again, seeming to deflate. "I'm fine, just - just go in."
Touma shrugged. "Suit yourself, but a word to the wise: if you never ask for help, you'll never get any."
"You're strange…" He was puzzled for a moment, staring curiously. "By the way, you *do* look bad. Are you okay?"
"Still with the compliments. I've never felt better!" he answered absent-mindedly. He jerked the door open, swatting at a few flies buzzing near.
"Oh, all right."
The door closed, and Ryo was left alone once more. A second later Byakkuen crept up from the shadows and nudged him on the cheek. The boy rubbed the soft muzzle.
"Weird guy," Ryo said. He stared at the door, wondering. "And that hair! Were you following him? Do you think…?"
The tiger whuffed in affirmation and sat down to wait.
*
"Touma!" Shu ushered when he recognized the blue mop descending steps. The two had known each other for a few years, they met one day when Touma was wandering around in the alleys to avoid going home. Usually their visits were good-natured, but when his friend plopped down on a stool the bartender's welcoming mood suddenly faded. "You look like hell."
"And the flattery keeps coming. I'm perfectly fine." He set his bright gaze on his friend. "My mind's so clear tonight!" Hearing this Shu frowned and eyes narrowed, scrutinizing. Red-rimmed, tired and dilated pupils, a slight tremor of the hands, and the rank odor of sweat could be detected within a three-foot radius. He knew the symptoms.
"Shit," he said simply. "You're high."
"On life!"
"On Ice."
"Liquor is quicker," he giggled, "but fire's dryer."
"On Ice," Shu repeated, dismayed. He pulled up a seat from his side and prepared to stay there. It wasn't going to be a pleasant night. "And now you're babbling. What happened? Your dad's hounds after you again?"
"Grand old chase," Touma answered with a wavering grin. "The Suits never got close."
"Liar. I bet they did."
The boy pouted at that then stuck his tongue out. "I had to ditch the Hawk," he finally admitted. "You got anything to drink?"
"Your birthday car? Geez, your mom sent that to you from *America* . . ." He shook his head. Some people had too much money. "So you escaped, got into the junk and now you're - "
"Just great! I wanna drink."
"Not 'just great'. Man, I thought you'd stop doing this stuff after getting kicked out of school."
"Drink now, preach later!" Touma demanded, slapping his palms on the counter like a child having a tantrum.
He sighed, knowing that the only way to reason with his friend was to appease him. "I'll get you some coke." Shu reluctantly got a glass and opened the mini fridge under the table.
Touma leaned over and looked to converse better. "I didn't drop out," he insisted. "They kicked me out."
"Well, no wonder." The drink appeared in hand, and he took it greedily, all the while slipping a small bag out of his pocket.
"No, really." Touma tried to turn the topic. "I was too damn smart for them."
He let him. "Smart aleck, you mean."
He laughed loudly. "Rude, condescending, egotistical, smart ass… that's me."
"You used to be a shy kid. Such a change." A regretful tone.
"What happened, I wonder?
"I wonder," Shu murmured with disapproval. He didn't understand why people didn't enjoy school - he'd jump at the chance to be able to do and learn about something, anything, other than a life of mixing drinks.
"Probably I just got bored. Just… tired." There was a dramatic sigh. "I stopped paying attention and started speaking up. Spoke pretty loudly, too."
"In comes the smart aleck, emphasis on the smart?" he responded dully, already knowing the full story.
"Yeah, I made a few of them feel stupid, but I didn't mind. They were all idiots. And nobody would ever lay a hand on me because ol' daddy-dearest and his fountain of cash could pay them off when someone complained." Touma gave a lopsided smirk, remembering the remarkable self-control the teachers managed when he was in class. It was amazing to see just how angry one person could get. He wanted people to be angry, wanted them to see how incredibly frustrating it was to have so much rage yet not be allowed to act on it.
'See?' he had wanted to say. 'It sucks, doesn't it?'
Shu was sorry at his friend's expression. "Didn't the principal ever call your father in for a lecture on 'How to Improve on Parenting'?"
"Dad didn't bother with school conferences - they took up his valuable time." Touma took a sip of the bittersweet drink. "I took up his time."
"He got you a tutor instead."
"One I never go to. I refuse. My father's minions can chase me all they want, but I didn't quit educational prison just to be put into another one." The teen scowled at the glass.
His friend looked on with concern. "Touma?"
"How old is this? It's flat."
"So are most of the drinks."
"I'll just spice it up, then." He tapped some pebbly white clumps out of the tiny pouch and onto his hand. Shu's eyes widened. With a feral swipe, the bartender knocked the drink and the hand into spilling their contents.
"Damn, Touma!" he growled, soda splashing the counter. The customers were staring and ready to leave, but he didn't notice. "You *know* you're not supposed to bring that crap in here!"
"I'm tired," he whined petulantly.
"Then get some stupid sleep! You've probably been up the last three days running around for what? Nothing."
"It's nothing." Touma wiped his hands slowly, aware of every drop of crystal that he dropped on the ground, forever unused. "It just keeps me awake, that's all."
"It's Ice, it's a drug, and that's not all! The first excuse was taking them so you could stay up late to do homework. Now that you'll never do schoolwork ever again, what's your excuse?"
"I'm telling you, they help me stay alert now that Dad's lackeys are always on my back. And it makes me feel better." Why couldn't Shu understand that? He *needed* it.
"Is that how you justify it: to stay awake and alert? What happens when it finally runs down your system and you're all moody like my mom on a bad day…?"
Touma gritted his teeth, scratching at his palms desperately until they turned pink. "I use it to keep focus."
"I think you use it to piss off your father."
"What would you know about Mr. Big Shot Scientist, huh?" he irritably snapped. "Both of you haven't met, you don't know what he's like."
The bartender grew quiet, somber. "I know you, Touma."
"Know me? Know *me*? Nobody can know about me but me! Hell, you don't even know what's happening with your own parents! They left you here in a crap job with crap pay!" A second too late he realized what he had said and regretted opening his mouth.
A stricken expression flashed across the Chinese boy's face and he dropped his eyes to the wet tabletop. "Touma…"
There was an uncomfortable pause.
"Sorry," he sincerely said. "I didn't mean it."
"Get out."
He was surprised, and yet not really. "But I said - "
The look Shu gave stopped him. "I know what you said, and that's okay." Before Touma could relax he added, "But I'm not going to watch you sit there and suck in that stuff through a straw then spit this denial on me. I've known a few bums that collapse in here after telling themselves once too many times that 'it wouldn't hurt'. I don't think you're a bum. You're smart, and you do know better.
"So get out."
*
Ryo and Byakuen dove to the side as Touma angrily flung the door open and ran out. They had heard the confrontation and Ryo knew he had to keep track of the teen. The echoes of rapid footsteps were already fading by the time the pair got up and gave chase. They were swallowed into the night, and the slapping of feet on pavement like the beating of a drum tapered away.
***
To Be Continued
