Author's Note: Haha, thanks to all my enthusiastic readers who ask questions. You make my day. I'm getting there, don't worry-I just type slow…MEGA slow…
Disclaimer: Refer back to the prologue.
Warnings: A little violence, angst, and possibly minor fluff.
Fic Note: Questions may or may not get answered here. Depends how my brain decides to roll. Contrary to what the reader may believe, I do not plan this-I write whatever comes to my mind and then I let it out. So blame my muse for the pace. Haha.
This Chapter is Dedicated To: The wonderful and enthusiastic first 7 reviewers of this fic. You know who you are. I am highly appreciative of your enthusiasm and as a result, I am inspired to continue working on this fic.
Without you guys, I probably would've dropped this project. As with my other projects, I'm usually not satisfied with the initial stuff…period. But? As long as the audience enjoys it, I'm happy.
Diverged Soul
"Lan…why are you fighting on the side of the Trojans?"
A fixed stare. Chaud frowned in disapproval. "Lan! I asked you a question. I need an answer from you."
Lan burst out laughing. His head tucked in towards his chest, as he bent over and shook with laughter. Chaud became furious. "I don't see how you can laugh, Hikari! This isn't a very laughable situation!"
"Ah…" Lan got up slowly, recovering from his fits of laughter. "Tell me, Chaud. Was I really always like that?"
Chaud gave Lan a look of confusion. "What…?"
Lan casually leaned back on the wall, putting his hands in his pockets, looking up at Chaud-amused. "Did I always submit and take your orders so readily when we were little kids?"
Chaud blinked. First of all, Lan's sudden knowledge of vocabulary was shocking and unexpected. Secondly, he felt a bit uneasy with this Lan-he had no authority over him at the moment other than by legal means. "You…"
Lan half-smiled. "I really did, didn't I. Hah. I must've looked damn pathetic."
"…"
"Well, let me tell you something, Chaud. I don't answer to you anymore. What I've been doing all this time is my own business."
"Is it because of your father?"
Lan glared at him. "I have news for you, Lan. Your father is alive. He's at home, waiting for you to come back."
"Don't lie to me!"
Chaud frowned. "Why would I lie to you? I'm not one to make jokes or lies about something like that. You should know better."
Lan snorted. "Yeah, I do. Which is why I say you're lying."
Chaud felt hurt. "Lan…"
Lan gave him an icy glare. "I've been in this maverick business far too long not to have figured it out by now. With your lies, I believed every word. Now I know the reason. You wanted me to believe, to have faith. Always to have something to smile about…"
Chaud flinched. Though this was not entirely true, there were many times-perhaps a little too many, where Chaud had tried sweetening or hiding the truth from Lan to keep him from getting too upset. He had done it for the brunette's own good, however, and not for his personal benefit. Though Lan seemed pretty set on his explanation.
Chaud cleared his throat. "Yes…I admit that sometimes I did that, but I did not always hide truths from you. The times I did, I had a very good reason for. But listen to me, Lan, I do not lie about people's lives. Your father is-"
"I'm done listening to you!" Lan exploded and tackled Chaud down unexpectedly, infuriated. Chaud failed to respond immediately due to the sudden impact of his head on the ground.
Chaud fought back forcefully as he felt strong hands at his throat. Chaud was slightly surprised. Yes, he realized Lan had recently been living a rough life, but Chaud had never expected Lan to be so skilled at anything close to murder. Lan had always been the one most opposed to violence, and only cross-fused with his navi when it was absolutely necessary. This, as far as Chaud knew, was pure insanity at his throat.
Lan grabbed tightly at Chaud's neck, demeanor transformed. The person he was seeing in front of him was not Chaud-it was all of the callous faces he had encountered these past years. He was letting out his pent up rage.
Of course, not about to die, Chaud reached for his second gun at his belt, and with several jerky movements, slammed the butt of the gun hard over Lan's head, causing Lan's grip to loosen immediately out of shock; this gave Chaud time to push Lan off and pin his opponent down. Chaud would no longer let sentimentalities get in the way here; the Lan he knew was gone for the moment. He had a mission to accomplish.
Due to Lan's attack, Chaud had little to no energy left. This being the case, he put whatever energy was left in him to putting his whole weight on top of Lan's body, to pin the younger boy there in hopes that some sense could just be knocked right into him.
Both boys were breathing heavily and in a daze, one from the hit and the other from the choking. Had this been another time and place way in the past, both boys would have found themselves flustered in this compromising position.
Chaud pulled at the collar of his uniform as he straddled on top of Lan, keeping the other dazed boy pinned down underneath him-though the other could simply slide through and leave if he wanted. Chaud felt his neck and rubbed where Lan's hands had been and frowned; he would probably have bruises in the morning. That would mean Chaud would have to wear a turtleneck for weeks; not that Chaud was really thinking about that at the moment. He was more focused on giving the darkest death-glare in the universe to the young boy below.
One hand clasped over a knee for support, the other formed a fist and slapped his forehead. "Okay…okay…" Chaud closed his eyes, trying not to lose his self-control. "Lan."
Lan's glazed eyes slowly blinked. "Nnn…?"
Chaud took a deep breath then sighed out the air. He opened his eyes and started to wave his hand in a quick up and down motion. "Let's discuss this situation like civil people. Being at each other's throats…" Chaud winced at his bad choice of words, "Literally speaking…is not the way we get answers from one another."
Lan groaned and raised an arm slowly to nurse the back of his head where he had been hit, and not very thoughtfully either, though his current actions hardly warranted a lighter attack. Chaud bent down and shook Lan slightly, "Are you listening, Lan?"
Lan's eyes were starting to become more focused. The brunette nodded his head slowly, his words slurring, "Nn…yeah…I hear you…"
"Good," Chaud, frustrated, ran a hand through his hair and sighed, "Then listen to me, and listen to me well. Your father is alive. I do not joke about these things, nor would I ever hide the truth from you. It is time you come back home. Enough of this crap."
Lan blinked several times, letting his body relax completely as he digested this information. His thoughtful expression finally seemed genuine, so Chaud got off the other teen. After several moments of silence, Lan's eyes finally locked with Chaud's. "He's…alive," Lan whispered.
"Yes," Chaud agreed, "Yes, he is."
Lan chuckled softly, then curled up into a ball. He thrust a hand into his mess of hair and gripped at it, his other arm hugging around his knees as he shivered slightly against the cold and against his disbelief. "He's…home…"
"Yes."
Lan's teary eyes met Chaud's strong blue ones again. "I…all this time…I've been so incredibly wrong."
Chaud sighed and managed to crack a small smile; if there was one thing that didn't change over the years, it was Lan's poor ability to comprehend a simple concept in a few minutes. Rather, Lan more likely needed a few moments more in his mind to map out all possibilities. Chaud leaned down to help Lan up. "All right. Now that we finally got that settled, time to go."
Lan flinched away. "No!"
Chaud grumbled. Another thing that didn't change, Lan's stubborn behavior. "Why not?"
Lan looked at Chaud again, the tears flowing freely now. "After all that I've done…do you honestly think I would be accepted back home?"
"Of course! You know your parents, they are very understanding people."
Lan laughed weakly. "Are they…? Were they…? I don't remember…"
Chaud sighed and held out a hand. "Come on, Lan. Let's take you home. We can sort things out there."
Lan reached out for Chaud's hand, then slapped it away, as if it were an afterthought. "No. I could never go back. I can't go back!"
Chaud watched in slight surprise as Lan took off away from him. He slumped to the ground and sighed. Where Lan always got his energy to run, Chaud never understood. Right now, he was exhausted.
He vaguely remembered taking out Protoman from his pocket and asking him to call for some help before he passed out on the cold ground.
TO BE CONTINUED…Unfortunately, this is the end of Chapter 2! I'm planning the next chapter to be more about why Lan joined the Trojans in the first place.
So far, all reviewers' votes go as follows: You want a happy yet angsty ending, and you want less storyline more pairing. I will do my best.
I also have a request for a sad ending. But right now happy-sad ending count is 1-1, pairing vs. storyline, however, seems unanimous for pairing.
If you want a say at how this ends, keep voting in your reviews! You may vote more than once (if your opinion changes!)
Continuous reviews are always appreciated. Thanks everyone!
See you all soon!
-SaiKenYuu-