Hi!
Yay, reviewers!
SaturnMax- Thanks alot! About the pairing...hmmm...I'm not sure yet...
Nadare-chan- Yes, I shall! -giggle- Thanks a whole bunch for your review! You totally inspire me!
Remember, this is ALTERNATE UNIVERSE!
Yoh Asakura sighed, kicking his feet idly. He perched on the top of the monkey bars in a small park, his legs dangling beneath him.
His mahogany eyes stared sorrowfully off into the distance, and he heaved another sigh.
Things had been gloomy lately. Of course there had been excitement after Horohoro came back, but then the others had lapsed into a tense silence. It was expected that Ren would be sullen after meeting ShangDi, but still…something about the whole situation scared Yoh.
Maybe Ren was the fastest and strongest, maybe Horohoro the most loyal. But he himself, Yoh, was the most observant. He'd always been able to sense things around him that no one else noticed.
It wasn't just within his friends. The air of restlessness seemed to be everywhere, inadvertently affecting the mortals of the world. Maybe it had something to do with the President of the United States' proclamation. The U.S. had been growing in power the past few decades, and so had the President. Clark Wilson, president for a shocking three terms, had announced that he would be retiring – and that he would be handing the presidency over to someone else, a close friend. This had been met with shock and anger, but the move had been well planned. Wilson had the power to crush anyone who opposed him now. The other countries wailed at this loss of democracy, but did nothing.
Yoh hoped fervently that this was merely another human up-riser, another Adolf Hitler. But something told him this was different, that this was dangerous. If this –
" Hey."
Yoh looked up in shock, startled from his thoughts. Seeing only blue sky, he quickly remembered his lofty position and looked down. He was struck by what he saw, and instantly regretted being in the park.
A tall youth with long chocolate hair and matching eyes stared up at him, hostile, yet hopeful. " Who're you?" His large earrings clanked as he tilted his head.
Yoh stared, a nervous sweat forming. To the human world, he had died from anemia five years ago. But now, he sat before his twin brother, most definitely not looking dead. The only thing he could be grateful for was the fact his hair had grown to brush his shoulders, and that Ren forced him to wear sunglasses when he went out, as the people who knew him were still alive.
" Well?" Hao Asakura crossed his arms, slightly glaring.
" I'm…Yoshi." Yoh lied, shifting uncomfortably.
" …Oh." The slightest flash of disappoint crossed Hao's face, but soon it returned to its impassive mask. " …Sorry. I thought – nothing." He looked away, adjusting his canvas jacket. Yoh smiled sadly, remembering how his brother hated wearing a shirt. All he ever wore were his strange pants and a coat. The townspeople had frowned at first, but then quickly gotten used to it.
" It's no problem." Yoh shrugged, greedily taking in the sight of his brother from behind his sunglasses. Five years was a long time. Hao hadn't changed much, just his hair had grown even longer, and he was thinner and more toned than before. Also, there was a bit of a strange sorrow and acceptance in his eyes, most likely caused by his twin's 'death'.
" So…" Hao cleared his throat. " Um…I'm Hao Asakura. I – I haven't seen you around before."
" Oh! I, uh, I just moved here! Recently." Yoh nodded, trying to look confident.
" Really? Hmm." Yoh could tell Hao was trying to be interested, having initiated the conversation. Idle chatter had never been his twin's strong point. Yoh knew Hao was about to excuse himself, and he couldn't let that happen. No matter how dangerous it was, he couldn't let his brother leave after so long. Five years.
" Hey, can you…" Yoh searched his memory. " Show me where the music store is?" Hao had a thing for music.
" Uh? Sure!" Hao's eyes lit up. Finally, something he was interested in!
Yoh hopped off the monkey bars and trailed after Hao. He followed the other boy, listening to him introduce a town he'd known for seventeen years.
" The music store is next to the tech store." Hao pointed down the street.
" Thanks." Yoh started walking, with Hao behind blabbing about different artists.
They'd almost passed the tech store when a sudden news-blast sounded on the TV screens in the window display.
Yoh turned, startled. The news music blared as, on the screens, President Clark Wilson came into view. He stepped onto a waiting podium, and cleared his throat. The music died away.
Yoh strained to hear the man, and stepped closer to the window.
" …and now I shall introduce my successor!" Wilson smiled, but it was a slow smile. His eyes were dull and unblinking, and his shoulder slumped. Yoh took all of this in critically, studying the President's body language.
Wilson stepped down, and gestured to the guards on either side of the doors behind the podium. The guards nodded, and simultaneously opened the doors. A figure stepped out, and onto the podium.
Yoh's eyes widened enormously behind his sunglasses.
The young man who appeared looked no more than fifteen, although Yoh knew he was much, much older. He was short and slender, dressed in a black suit. His skin was the white of one who had never seen daylight, and it glowed sickly in the artificial lights. However, his slanted eyes shone like hardened gold, piercing, and his dark purple hair had been neatly pulled back, with his bangs slicked to one side.
In the television, the audience was indignant. They shouted about the age of the stranger, doubting his ability to govern.
The new President smiled, revealing very white, slightly pointed teeth.
" Please…" He admonished. His voice was soft, but it travelled without the use of the microphone.
He stared, waiting. Eventually, the crowd quieted. The President allowed another beautiful smile to spread his red-stained lips.
" That's better." The way he said it made you feel happy, like a small child being praised.
" It is my pleasure to…" The words faded out for Yoh. His mouth opened and closed speechlessly, and his face was paler than usual.
" Yoh? Yoh – " Hao checked himself. He'd been calling his deceased brother's name. For some reason, this strange boy reminded him of his carefree twin, although it seemed they were nothing alike. Anyway…Hao shook himself out of his daze. " Yoshi! Are you alright?"
" Uh...um…I have to go!" Yoh shouted after him, running off. His sandals slapped the pavement loudly as he disappeared in the crowds. Hao stared after him in shock, and looked back at the television to see what had surprised his new friend so much.
On the screen, the new President had finished his small speech, and Wilson had stepped up again. 'Yoshi' had left before the new president's name had been announced.
" …welcome your new president! CEO of Tao Enterprises in Japan, Tao Jin!"
Faust hurriedly grabbed his books out of the taxi and thanked the driver. He pulled out a worn leather wallet, trying to pay the cab driver and juggle his many medical texts at the same time. He tried to tug open the stuck zipper on the coin pouch, and the top book in his stack fell. Faust huffed, and bent down to pick up the fallen volume; consequently, every other book tumbled out of his arms. The frazzled doctor was at the end of his rope. Swearing viciously in German, he ripped open his wallet and threw some bills at the taxi driver irritably. The cab instantly sped off, leaving a cloud of smoke in its trail. Faust coughed, shoving his wallet back in his pocket. He ignored the coins that had spilled out, clattering on the pavement around him. He scooped up his books, and walked as quickly as possible into the building before him. He entered the hospital, immediately rushing toward the left wing.
" Excuse me sir, you can't go there –" A young nurse in a pink uniform stepped in from of him, her hands held out.
Faust took a deep breath, trying not to lose his temper again. He'd woken up late because his alarm hadn't gone off, he'd waited an hour for a bus that never came, been forced to take an overpriced taxi and now this!
" Please, miss, I am very late. If you could –"
" I'm sorry, you aren't allowed –" The nurse persisted.
Faust had had enough. " I am very late miss, so if you could please get the BLOODY HELL out of my way!" He snarled, pushing past the poor girl.
He stomped down the hallway, and composed himself before knocking on the last door. He waited a second, and then pushed the door tentatively open.
" I'm sorry, this is a training session. You aren't allowed – Johann." The professional doctor sitting in the circle of people in the room raised his eyebrows.
" I'm sorry, I'm very late." Faust bowed, feeling heat rise to his cheeks. He knew what he must look like to the rest of the interns. His longish hair was mussed, and his clothes tattered. The end of his too long scarf trailed on the floor, and was wet from where it had been dragged through a puddle.
" Forty-five minutes." The other doctor remarked. " We thought you weren't coming. Today is a very important lesson. You begin your partnership with a nurse or doctor. If you are serious about obtaining a licence in Japan please attend classes on time." He stared sternly at Faust over his glasses.
Faust ducked his head. " Yes, Dr. Kagai." He mumbled, feeling like a chastised schoolboy.
" Now, please join your partner, Eliza. You were very rude to keep her waiting." Kagai gestured.
Faust looked up, and his eyes met with wide orbs of blue. His breath caught in his throat. Eliza sat apart from the others, the only one without a partner. Faust dimly thought she was what an angel must look like. Her slender, curvy form was clad in a pink uniform, and her waves of long golden hair almost reached the floor, as she was sitting.
" Well?" Kagai smirked. " We don't have all day."
Faust flushed again, and clumsily crossed the circle of people to collapse into the empty chair next to Eliza.
Kagai turned to the others, and began speaking loudly about childbirth. Faust frowned; this hadn't been where they'd left off last class.
" We covered emergency procedures already. If you want, you can look at my notes." A soft female voice spoke near his ear. Faust turned to see Eliza smiling sweetly at him.
" Ah – er, um…danke, danke…er – " Faust stuttered, lapsing for a bit back into his native tongue.
" Sie sind willkommen." Eliza tilted her head, brushing off the thanks.
Faust blinked at her. " You're…"
" German? Yes." Eliza laughed. She smoothened the cover of her pink notebook.
Faust nodded slowly, accepting this piece of information. This really was amazing. For such an extraordinary women to have the same ethnicity as he…it was love at first sight.
Eliza quirked an eyebrow, but an amused smile tilted her lips. She observed the doctor, taking in his dishevelled appearance and his shadowed eyes, but also his flaxen hair and boyish features. She decided he was rather…cute. Even with the odd, violet colour staining his lips. She wondered if it was lipstick. She really didn't need to hit on another gay man.
" So, are you training to become a doctor?"
Faust had been admiring his partner's lovely hands, which were clasped demurely on her lap. He looked up, startled by the sudden question. " Uh…yes! Well, no, not really. I'm already a doctor, but I have to get my licence in Japan now."
" So you were a doctor in Germany? Wow…How old…?" Eliza let the question hang.
" Thirty-six." Faust blushed slightly. Hey, what would you do if a drop-dead gorgeous woman asked you your age? Especially if the said woman looked sixteen years younger than you.
" A little younger than me." Eliza noted.
" Really? I mean…well, you don't look that old – er…you are holding up well for your age? No, uh…what I mean to say is – " Faust blathered. He had completely lost his head. Eliza just watched, waiting for the inevitable collapse. She didn't mean to be cruel, but the man was just so adorable when he was flustered.
As expected, Faust slumped in his seat. Eliza must think him an idiot, he thought bitterly.
Minutes passed in silence. Then a cool hand touched Faust's wrist, taking him out of where he had been wallowing in misery. He looked to see Eliza's clear, crystalline eyes very close to his.
" Have coffee with me later?"
Faust could hardly believe his luck. Speechless, he could only bob his head.
" If you would stop behaving like a chicken, Johann." A drawling voice cut in. Kagai stared lazily at the German doctor, tucking back a strand of oiled black hair.
" Please inform me of what was just said."
Faust blinked, and looked around the circle for clues. No such luck. Hostile, uninviting stares radiated from the other adults in the room. They obviously thought he was a loafer.
" Well then, if you would listen." Kagai shook his head. " First late, now this…"
Faust flushed and sank down in his seat. He tried to pay attention for the rest of the lesson, but his mind wandered, and he continued to rub his wrist.
She'd touched him! Touched him! Faust was in heaven.
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