Chopsticks

Intro: Twenty-ninth fic. I'm hoping to get to thirty-five, but I highly doubt I'll get that far… Anyhow, please enjoy. Good Charlotte play list is on right now. (smiles)

A/N: This fic is set in the eighth volume. The timing and circumstances have been altered just slightly. Also, the host's personality was changed just a tad to fit the fic.

"Wow, these are pretty difficult to use!" the blonde said with frustration. Fai held and dropped the chopsticks until he finally got a still hold of them. Soon after, however, the mage had lost his grip and the black chopsticks fell once more.

It wasn't his choice to use chopsticks. If it were up to him, he would be in a plush, luxurious country with slick silver-ware and feather beds – a world without Ashura-O. This country was very different than what he wished for, though. It was of rag-tag measures and eastern-like customs. Actually, from what he had gathered, it was somewhat like Kurogane's world.

He looked around the room and wondered if it were anything like Kurogane's. The room was rather bare, but there were personal foldable tables for each person and waiters dressed in strange robes. Kurogane looked very at ease in this setting so Fai drew the conclusion that it was similar in more ways than just one.

The host was very considerate and kind, although sometimes somber and quiet. Noticing how the blonde struggled with the sticks, the long-haired man smiled. "Hold them like this," their host explained. The ninja glanced at the two as the robe-clad individual showed the chopstick skill-less mage the way children ate. The mage conversed a while with the glasses-wearing man. Kurogane couldn't help but feel the least bit jealous. He just didn't know why, though.

Fai returned to his eating. At first, the plan was to eat and tease Kurogane in front of all the hosts, but then a problem occurred when he couldn't use the long sticks. It wouldn't work to make fun of the raven-haired man when he himself was making the fool. So plan B was set into motion: "tease Kuro-Rin by making him teach Fai-Chan how to use chopsticks!" However, Fai's plan-B failed miserably when the host took a liking to the blonde. The taller man gladly taught Fai the easiest way for him to use the sticks and the best way to eat. Indeed, Fai's plan had back-fired immensely – and twice!

Kurogane, seeing the two flirt shamelessly, lost it somewhere in the translation. It wasn't because he cared or even thought anything of the mage. It was just… seeing them two like this really pissed him off. It was disgusting how they could even carry one like this! Two men should never act like this if they had the least bit of manhood within them. The ninja decided it was time to do something – take action, his way of handling things.

Observing the two calmly, he devised a plan to break the two up without any suspicion. In a few moments, the two would have to stop talking for a little break to eat and afterwards, their kind host would turn to the server to ask for a glass refill. It was then – at that very moment – which he would start his plan.

His deductions were correct, a first for Kurogane, and so, he took action. "…Damn mage. You can't even use chopsticks?" The taller man leaned on his hands which were sturdily placed upon the low self-placement table. He flicked an eye at the mage and cocked a smile for once. It was one of those few moments where Kurogane could savor his victory.

The mage was silent for a while, thinking of the numerous things he could say. Finally, the mage popped his head up and gave the brightest smile he could. "Well then," he cheerfully started, "is Kuro-Nin going to teach me how to use them correctly?"

Crimson eyes faltered. He had the up hand of the situation and already he had lost his trump cards. Getting the handle of things, he wasn't about to loose. This was just a tease. It was a chain of words that could be used to his advantage – if used the right way. "Hell no. You figure out your damn self."

"Aw! But Kuro-Piipi! I don't know how to use these! And you are so well versed!" the blonde wailed, clinging onto the ninja's waist.

Pushing the other man off, Kurogane managed some words out, "Aggh! Get off of me! If you're going to act like this, I guess I have no choice!"

The mage let the grasp go of Kurogane's waist. Throwing his hands in the air, Fai cheered, "Yay! Kuro-Wheet is going to teach me!"

"Only because it's so damn annoying that you eat like a frickin' kid, though, alright?" the taller man said, glaring sharply at the mage. Fai nodded and smiled. "Alright well, you hold them like this and then you pick food up like so and then-"

"You're going to fast, Kuro-Sii. And I can't see the chopsticks very well," Fai complained. He jumped into Kurogane's lap and wiggled himself into place. "Can you take it up from the top and a little bit slower, Kuro-Win?" Fai haunted his head up and smiled innocently.

Kurogane blushed. He couldn't do anything else. All he could think to himself was, 'must not let Fai get the better of me!' However the blonde had just done so, whether Kurogane noticed or not. "…Fine. But I'm not repeating myself, you got that? Only one time." Fai nodded again in agreement.

Kurogane went over the simple steps again for Fai. Their host looked at the two and smiled softly. He was no match, but even so he had nothing to bring in the first place. He was bland and boring and couldn't compete with the dark haired man on any terms. They were just perfect together. They way the acted, the way they smiled, they way they looked together and at one another. The two were stunning, picture perfect.

"…Umm, Okay! I think I have it, Kuro-Fon, but it's different when you're actually doing something. I think I need to practice, but I'm not very good at it still. Guide my hands, please?" the mage smirked, already holding Kurogane's hands.

The ninja stayed silent for a split second. It was a long choice, though. "Damn," he complained, guiding slender wrists the right way slowly. Fai couldn't say that he didn't get anything or that he missed something because Kurogane pulled his stunt off perfectly.

Fai was even amazed at Kurogane's teaching. It seemed that when he wanted to teach something, he could – and very well. This wasn't going to be the end, though. Fai had to do something. He didn't know the reason, but he slightly flustered at this thought – something. The mage dropped the chopsticks. He was loosing assurance within himself.

Kurogane bent over slightly to pick the fallen black pieces up, but at the same time Fai tried getting out of his current seat. The experience ended with the two falling on top of one another – Kurogane atop Fai. It seemed like a clumsy play. It was played out wrong, like the actors didn't rehearse the lines correctly, but it was still beautiful.

The two blushed before quickly getting out of place and brushing themselves off, blushing to themselves. If it were any other time, Fai might have tried to stay in that position, but with the information he had on Ashura he couldn't take any gambles. What was an amazed expression for a slip of a moment was now covered by an embarrassed smile, somewhat genuine. For Kurogane this was a first. He had never felt attract to Fai, and even if he did he hadn't realized it yet, but for that moment Fai was under him, it just felt so right.

However much they didn't want to feel at that moment, they did – and neither one could blame the other for it. The confusion they both felt for one another against the circumstances and conditions were all in the midst of their feelings. This 'force' that pulled them together also kept them apart. "So, they just don't realize it. How sad," the silent man finally remarked.

Putting a smile back on, Fai turned around. "Excuse me? What was that?"

The blonde looked over at Kurogane who continued to eat his food silently. Fai blushed, or maybe it was shame, whatever the reason, he averted his gaze back onto his host.

"Nothing. I think you should practice what you just learned," somber eyes commented.

Fai returned back into his preppy self and used the skills he had acquired. It was an awkward moment but things seemed to be going smoothly according to the norm. It wasn't the chopstick skills he was referring to, but one day or another they would have to confront this problem. If they accepted it together, they were sure to overcome their hardships, though.

Yes, they were just so perfect for one another. They complimented each other so nicely. In fact, it was as if fate had made them they way they were just so that earth could see a broken yet beautiful love. It like shattered glass. They were made for each other: two pieces of a pair. Like chopsticks. There are only two pieces and if with another chopstick of a different pair, it looks completely wrong.

Afterthoughts: I think this turned out pretty damn good! But to Hell with what I think! What do YOU think? Leave me a review on your way out, please!