Author's Note: Yeah, that's right. Third chapter. I've gotten further than I thought I would. Go me! I apologize for any confusingness that may ensue due to scene switching. I have a thing of doing that. It's, unfortunately, necessary. But anyway, I'm glad that some people like my story and I'm willing to trudge on! And I'm making no exceptions when it comes to reading the story. (You know who you are.) You'll read it as I post it. I DO NOT own Juvenile Orion (But, oh, the things I would do...). Well, enjoy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter III:

Feelings

Isshin (though he hates it when you call him that and he must be called Yi-Xin) Shiba stood in the center of the wilderness, admiring all of God's wondrous creations. He had just finished training, and as usual, he was hard on himself for coming off so weak.

"It's because you're in love," he told himself, wiping the sweat from his brow.

It was true. Ever since Kaname and Mana had gotten together, he dragged his feet around like a love-sick puppy. He couldn't stand it.

"I'll… just have to move on!" He announced to himself in a confident tone.

He felt a sudden sense of pride at conquering his emotions. He knew he would be over her… soon, he hoped.

And then, suddenly, his feelings of confidence were washed away. His muscles tensed and his mind ached. He sensed something, but he couldn't quite identify it. Was somebody watching him? He allowed his eyes to dart this way and that, but he could see no one.

He swore to himself; he had felt eyes on him, following his every move. But maybe it wasn't even a person... Perhaps... Was it a premonition...?

At that point, he decided his best option was to head home. His mother (yes… he still lives with his mom) would be worried sick about him if he didn't return by sundown.

He walked out of the wilderness and out into the streaming sunlight. At least, if he had to fight, he would have more room out in the open.

No one attacked him. If they were intending to, they would have by now. He sighed. He was kind of hoping for a fight... He needed to keep his skills sharp. It had nearly been a year since he had last had a good brawl.

The feeling had subsided as quickly as it had come, yet it left an unpleasant taste inside him.

"Yi-Xin… just head home and think no more of it."

---

Tomonori kneeled next to the altar, deep in silent prayer. Beside him stood Amou, patiently awaiting the time when they would need to go to bed. He always felt safer if Tomonori came with him. He didn't like to go alone.

Amou admired the highly detailed outlines of the people in the stained glass windows. They were all so beautiful and intricate, each one depicting a beautiful (yet mournful) scene. But one he noticed in particular. He had never thought to ask about it, but he decided that since it was on his mind, he would ask.

"Tomonori-san…" Amou whispered quietly, not wanting to break Tomonori too abruptly from his deep prayer, "What is happening in this picture?"

He pointed to the window of interest and then let his arm come to rest as he stared at the priest attentively.

Tomonori was a bit astounded that Amou didn't know what it was. It was like an American 5 year-old not knowing who Santa was.

But then he remembered that Amou was an amnesiac and naïve to boot.

"That is our Lord Jesus Christ being nailed to the cross. He died for our sins."

Amou covered his mouth in a silent gasp and his eyes began to well up with tears.

"How honorable! But so sad! Why did he have to die? Just for us?"

At this point Amou was openly crying. He buried his head on Tomonori's chest and held him tightly. He had never known much about Jesus or anything of the sort even though he had lived in a church for two, almost three years now. Tomonori liked to protect him from anything and everything that made him cry.

"It's alright Tsukasa. He's up in heaven, watching out for all of us. He doesn't want us to feel grief for his death. He wants us to be happy for the life he gave us."

Amou looked up at Tomonori with a face that made his heart ache. It was tear-streaked and tarnished and his eyes were lost and scared.

"Tomonori-san… If I… If I ever have to die… I want to die like that…"

"Come now…" Tomonori said, wanting to pull Amou away from the depressing subject, "Let's get to bed. I know someone who's going to be cranky in the morning."

"Alright," Amou yawned, wiping the wetness from his eyes.

It always hurt Tomonori to see his little Tsukasa like that. But he knew there was no way to prevent all of his tears from being shed. He knew he would have to cry sometime. He also knew that someday, maybe, he would grow up, leave him, and pursuit a life of his own. But the thought of Amou leaving was just too much to handle. He decided to push the thoughts away and think positively.

Tomonori walked Amou to his room and shut the door softly when he saw that he was all tucked in.

He walked back to the altar and knelt down once again. But he couldn't return back to his state of deep prayer and concentration. He was too busy trying to get the words that Amou had said out of his head:

'...If I ever have to die… I want to die like that…'

After a while, he gave up. He was too tired to try and fight his worry. Sleep would be the best thing, and it would bring on a new day in which he could solve his problems.

---

Kaname had just gotten out of the shower when he heard the phone ring. He walked over to it, picked up and said an extremely "enthusiastic" hello.

"What're you wearing?"

"Itsuki… You sicko. I just got out of the shower and--"

"OHH! Say no more, my love! So you are the official phone-sex starter, where do we go from here?"

"Well… I get a big… long…--- BASEBALL BAT AND BEAT YOU SENSELESS WITH IT!"

Itsuki held the phone away from his head. He knew that was coming. He put his ear back to the phone when he knew it was safe to talk again.

"What the Hell do you want Itsuki? It's 8 o'clock at night and you know this is my 'me time'. You know... When no one calls and leaves me the Hell alone...?

"Look, here's why I really called. Do you want to skip class with me tomorrow to go check something out?"

"And that would be…..?"

"Something E.G.O. found. You might be interested. This is very much in your league. You want to?"

"I don't know…" Kaname's voice was a bit hesitant, "I'm not doing so well in school and I promised Mana that I would work harder…"

"WHAT! Just because of some….girl…. You're going to suddenly become a wimp? Don't wuss out on me now! Besides… this could give you a chance to find out more about your place in the entire fabric of existence!"

Kaname thought for a moment. He had promised Mana that he would go to school and do his work and be a good little boy. But it was only going to be one day. And besides, he could sense a tinge of urgency held back in Itsuki's voice.

Then he decided. It wouldn't hurt.

"Fine. Meet me on the roof. 6 o'clock in the morning. Sharp. Take me directly to the object of interest. But if this turns out to be some kind of joke, I'll ring your scrawny neck until your head appears to be directly attached to your shoulders."

Itsuki smiled. He liked it when Kaname was all riled up to go.

"Done and done."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hooray! Another chapter down! I'm just going through thse things like Twinkies! (Yes, Twinkies.) I felt that this chapter was just a bit of a filler, but I wanted to reestablish the characters (for myself mostly). I'm sorry if you felt that it was kind of... flat... but it gets better! Oh, and another thing... I may have to apologize for Itsuki's bad behavior. He's so dirty. But that's just how I imagine him. Well, I'm looking forward to posting the fourth chapter!