A/N: More lovely terror. My beta is on vacation right now, so unfortunately there might be typos…if you happen to catch any, point them out to me and I will be glad to fix them. Most of the typos I probably noticed, but didn't fix at the time and continued typing, and by the time I got to the end, I forgot all about them. My beta-san has been most helpful. I accidentally typed Albel's name as Label. XDDDD Thank god that didn't go into print. Err…yeah, I'm rambling again, aren't I? It is I, the almighty topic hopper! I shall now hop back to the topic! XD

Disclaimer: Boy, I'm tired of these things….finding less and less amusing ways to state that things aren't mine….maybe Albel or Fayt could do that for me?

Albel: Fayt does not belong to her, Fayt belongs to me.

Me: No, Albel…he doesn't belong to you…he belongs to who created him.

Albel: Oh, right. Fayt doesn't belong to her, or me, but belongs to his parents…which are dead….that's not cool.

Me: NO! He doesn't belong to his parents either...he belongs to his creator.

Albel: Creator….wait a minute…isn't Luther the creator? Wtf? Don't tell me Fayt belongs to Luther! -grabs onto Fayt protectively-

Me: This is a nightmare…..now I have to do it. -sigh- I don't own anybody from star ocean or the hell song by sum-41. I'm just a fan.

Fayt woke up to the lilting sounds of music coming from another room. Albel was already up and out of the room. Fayt sighed heavily and got up as well. "So early," he complained.

Fayt followed the sound of music until he turned the corner and saw Albel sitting on the floor in the living room, playing a guitar. Albel didn't notice him. He was looking at the ground in front of him as he played and sang.

"Everybody's got their problems

Everybody says the same things to you

It's just a matter how you solve them

Knowing how to change the things you've been through

I feel I've come to realize

How fast life can be compromised

Step back to see what's going on-"

"I didn't know you played the guitar," Fayt said softly.

Albel glanced up surprised. He carefully set the instrument aside. "Good morning, fayt." He spat.

Fayt jumped back and frowned. "That was rude."

Albel smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, just had to get the blood out of my mouth."

Fayt's eyes widened as he stared at the red spot on the carpet. "If you cough up blood, you have internal bleeding."

"Nope," Albel said calmly. He rolled up his pant leg to show Fayt a long gash on his leg. "The bastards visited me last night. They cute me and then tried to drown me in my own blood. Luckily, it didn't work, but I've had blood in my mouth all morning."

"Fill up your mouth with water, swig it around, and then spit," Fayt suggested. "That's probably get rid of most of it, at least more of it at once than just spitting dry. But when you try that, use the sink."

"Right." Albel carefully got to his feet. "I forgot it's your house."

"Won't be for long."

"Yeah, got to keep it all nice and clean for the new owners."

Fayt hesitated at the annoyance in Albel's voice. "I'm not inconveniencing you in any way, am I?"

"What?"

Fayt looked nervous. "I mean, if you don't want to be here-"

"You think I'd leave just because I can't spit on your carpet?" Albel's voice rose with anger.

"Well, but-"

Albel talked over him. "This is your life we're talking about! If I leave, you'll be completely at their mercy. I can't let that happen. I don't care if I have to keep everything perfect. I'm protecting you from those ghosts if I have t do so with my life."

Fayt turned bright red. "Albel!" he protested.

"I'm serious, Fayt. What kind of bastard would I be if I left you?"

"You don't have to stay," Fayt said softly. 'I don't want you getting killed either."

Albel smiled. "Don't worry about me. We're safer together. I'm strong enough for us both. I've been through so many things before, that I can laugh at death."

Fayt nervously dug at the carpet with one toe. "How did you cope with all that? I would have died a long time ago."

Albel smiled. "Music helped, mostly happy songs. It cheered me up. My mother thought sad songs would make me realize I'm not the only one suffering and would make me feel less lonely, but they just made me feel depressed because no one was suffering the same thing I was. Anyway, pretty much anything with a good rhythm helped distract me. I hate things that are slow. Sometimes I listen to the same song over and over again if I like it enough and then I learn how to play it. Occasionally I make up my own songs."

"What were you playing just now?"

"Oh, that was the 'Hell Song'. I didn't write it, but it seems to fit me, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does," Fayt said thoughtfully.

"Here, I'll play something else. Look through my i-pod and pick a song." Albel tossed the i-pod to Fayt.

Fayt caught it and scrolled through the songs. "Wow, you know how to play all of these?"

"Yeah, as soon as I learn a song, I put it on my i-pod."

"You must be really talented to play all of these. You've got nearly a hundred songs on here."

Albel studied Fayt carefully. "I think that's the first nice thing you've said to me all week. You better be careful. That look of awe is awfully cute."

"Albel," Fayt growled.

Albel laughed. "Relax, Fayt. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just teasing."

Fayt rolled his eyes. He found he didn't mind Albel's teasing, since he wanted Albel to be happy, but he couldn't let the other boy know. "Let's have breakfast," Fayt said stiffly, turning to hide his smile.