Silence

Intro: This is my thirty-sixth fic! Yay! The only bad thing about it is that it has 'three' in there. The play list on currently is QUEEN . Well, please enjoy some refreshingly new serious stuff.

A/N: AU?

It was a gorgeous sunset. The colors merged and bended into one another while the sky retained its royal blue perfection. Their current residence was a small studio-like housing with bare furnishings and minimal amenities. It would have seemed as if this country lacked both money and resources. Though the physicality of this world seemed dim and bleak, its natural beauty couldn't be divested. It was green and fertile yet seemed to lack all existence. It had a somber type of beauty, somewhat similar to one of the party's members…

"Kuro-Min. Do you enjoy being a ninja?" Fai asked innocently. 'Where did that come from?' was all that Kurogane could think. It had been a fairly normal night. The boy was out, scouting for the princess' feathers with the manjuu bun as he always did, never taking a rest. As for the princess herself, she had fallen asleep ages ago. As had been happening lately, the two elder 'adults' were left alone with each other's company.

"What brought this on?" Kurogane grunted, trying to enjoy the scenery. The ninja had just left the room momentarily when he was distracted by the peaceful setting. The mage, looking as to where his companion wandered off to, finally found him. After he had settled down into place, he stared in awe at what caught the ninja's attention. Most important of all, though, he was quiet. QUIET!

It was a miracle! What were the odds? Well, five minutes later, the mage just had to open his mouth. Groaning while scratching his head, Fai answered back to him. "Well, I was just curious why Kuro-Chu might have wanted to become a ninja." The mage turned his head to look at the ninja. Yes, Kurogane was most definitely a ninja. Everything about the broad man screamed 'ninja.'

"It wasn't my choice," he replied while scratching his back. "The heirs in my family have all been ninja. We have protected the royal dynasties since we've ever known. It's only natural that I succeed that goal as the heir."

Fai nodded slowly. "So Kuro-Run comes from a powerful family, huh? That's interesting. Most of all, Kuro-Rin lives up to what people expect of him," the blonde remarked.

"Put a can on it or I'll shove my foot up your ass," the ninja said shortly.

The mage giggled. "But that wasn't my question. I asked if you enjoyed being a ninja," he smirked, glancing at the brunette.

"Sure. Why not?" the taller man asked, leaning back.

"Well, it seems to me that Kuro-Gin puts his life on the line all the time to protect someone. I was just wondering if this person was worth your time. Do you think they're worth your time?" Fai asked, his eyes seeming to sharpen. His gaze stayed on this blazing scenery, though.

Kurogane didn't like where this conversation was leading. The way Fai stressed out the words 'someone' and 'you' made him uncomfortable. "It's not my choice. I protect who I need to. Are they worth protecting and do I personally enjoy protecting my princess? I guess. That's not really my choice. I don't think of it as protecting her, more of a way of serving my country and royalty. Although, I guess I wouldn't mind letting Tomoyo get just a few scratches? It might teach her a thing or two about making enemies and allies and make my job easier."

Fai nodded with a 'hnn…' Kurogane looked up. "How about you? Why did you become a wizard? I highly doubt that's something passed down through family heritage. A summoner or a high priest, maybe. But a wizard?" the muscular man asked.

Fai flinched. "I'm not a wizard. Wizards only cast spells. That would be too easy. I'm a mage. I'm highly specialized in both magic and combat," the blonde replied.

Kurogane averted his gaze. "Same thing. Why'd you want to become something like that?" Fai continued to stay silent. Opening his mouth to change the subject, the ninja cut him off. "I asked you a question. You aren't going to run away from it still, are you? At least be a man and tell someone," the ninja snapped.

"And why should I tell you?" Fai sneered.

"Because I answered your question. Now I'm sure you know that you shouldn't pry. Consider this your punishment. Now tell me." Kurogane answered back with a sharp tone in his voice.

Fai faltered. "I became a mage to serve this person."

"Why?"

"I answered your question."

"Yeah, but come on! 'To serve this person.' What kind of person?" Kurogane asked. Turning the tables, he recalled Fai's other question, "I was just wondering if this person was worth your time. Do you think they're worth your time?"

Fai flinched again. He knew he couldn't just stop. How did he end up being the one cornered? He never expected to be cornered. Not like this, at least. It shouldn't have had come as a surprise, though. This situation had happened a few times before, each time cornered by Kurogane alone. "Ashura. I became a mage to serve Ashura. Is that enough for you?"

Fai stepped up from his current position. Leaving the balcony with a stride, it seemed that an awkward silence was created in the process. He shouldn't have done that. By the time he asked the first question, 'how about you?' the smile had already started to cease. Still, the mage was special. He felt comfortable not smiling around Kurogane and yet he never frowned. It was just a serious, stoic expression.

All Kurogane could do was cover up his pride by saying things that threw more oil into the fire. Afterwards, the mage would leave with an awkward stride and go to his room. He'd roll himself up into a ball and cry silently, closing his eyes so as to not to remember his past. Alone in the silence. As for Kurogane, he was left to sit there while staring into the stillness regretting every word he said. Alone in the silence.

Afterthoughts: Serious stuff… (evil laugh) This fics are much easier. (smiles) Reviews of all kind welcome.