005.

(Authour's note: Some details involving the hospital may or may not be fudged, because well, they wouldn't let me self-tour the place. Patient privacy issues, they said. You know how hospitals can be...I did some research on the policies which made me have to change some details, like that young guests are not allowed to not be supervised, and here I was hoping to have Kuro and Fai go on a brunch alone…Oh well.)

About 45 minutes later, Kurogane was searching for a parking spot, finding one after a few minutes of searching. Taking the Visitor's spot, he pulled in slowly, parking it once it was aligned properly.

Grabbing the bag from the back seat, and Tomoyo handling the flowers, Kurogane shut the doors and locked his car, before heading into the hospital. He was greeted by baize walls, a reception desk, a small snack booth and a front lobby waiting area. Fai was seated at one of the four chairs attached to one of the few tables in there. He turned his head at the sound of feet approaching, and smiled at the sight of Kurogane with his hands holding a bag, and a bundle of flowers with its own body beneath it.

"Hey there," Fai called in a cheerful voice, waving a hand at them, and grinning.

"We brought you what you asked for," Kurogane said approaching the table. Tomoyo peeked out behind the flowers, "And a gift for Chi!"

"Awh…that's so sweet of you," Fai cooed in that happy voice, standing up before he clasped his hands behind his back. "Well then, you should definitely check in first, and then we can go and see Chi."

Kurogane nodded, before going over to the admission desk and filling in their info for him and Tomoyo.

"Mm…what a lovely bouquet that is Tomoyo," Fai said admiring the flowers from a small distance.

"Why thank you Fai."

"And how have you been? No more ominous dreams of late?"

"Not in the last fortnight."

Fai smiled an open relief. "Well that's good news."

After a minute, Kurogane returned with the bag, "So … where is she?"

"Ah, Chi is on the second floor right now. Why don't we head on up? The elevator is just up ahead. From here, the cafeteria is to the left."

Moving to the elevators, Fai pressed the up button. It took a moment for the elevator to arrive, and when it did a small group of people was getting off of it, before the three of them could get on. Inside, Fai pressed the number 2 button before the doors shut.

"Fai...are your hands alright?" Tomoyo asked, having noticed that Fai's hands were wearing a pair of thin gloves. "You normally don't wear those indoors."

"Hm? Ah, it's nothing," he says, quickly hiding them behind his back.

Tomoyo frowned lightly. "Please remember to take care of yourself too, Fai."

"You spoil me, Tomoyo, worrying on my behalf. I'm fine, really," Fai said, trying to assure the youth.

Kurogane watched Fai, with a small frown. Seemed that this was actually pretty common with the blonde, for him to try and not cause others worry on his behalf. Even if he was hurting, he would hide it so that others wouldn't worry.

Once the elevator reached the correct floor, the three stepped out as Fai led the way to Chi's room. Chi was sitting up in her bed with a monitor and IV attached to one of her arms, a cast on the other and staring at the wall in front of her, where a TV was hooked up and turned on to a cartoon channel. At the sound of people entering, she turned to the noises before smiling brightly. "Fai! You're back."

"Yup and look who came to see you. It's Tomoyo."

"Hi Tomoyo!"

"Hello Chi. How are you doing? We brought you some flowers."

"Thank you Tomoyo… ! They're beautiful."

Fai relocated himself to the corner, watching the two with a small smile as he leaned against the wall, his hands tucked into his pockets. He was happy to see his sister smiling like that again; Tomoyo seemed to be just what she needed right now. While he could take care of her needs as best as he could, nothing could quite fill in knowing you had friends support you and eager for your recovery. Something he couldn't quite provide for the youth.

Kurogane moved closer to Fai, as he watched the two preteens happily discussing plans and just being cheerful little girls, even if one of them had a cast over her arm, keeping it immobilized, and he swore Tomoyo offered to help decorate it and make it 'exquisite' for Chi.

"Aren't happy children the best?" Fai said wistfully.

"I spose. Better than screaming, whiny brats who can't take no or it's time to go for an answer," Kurogane muttered, and Fai chuckled at that.

"Oh believe me, I wouldn't take the children anywhere if they acted like that." Fai smiled at Kurogane, "By the way, thank you for getting the food for me. I really appreciate it."

"...it was no big deal," Kurogane said, looking away. "Anyway, where do you want it?"

"Would you like to have some now?" offered Fai. "It's almost lunch time."

"Well..." Kurogane began, not wanting to seem desperate for food or anything, but he had gotten a good look of Fai's leftovers, and they did look good, and he hadn't exactly eaten yet.

"Then it's a date." Fai said, before turning to Tomoyo and Chi, "Hey princesses, you hungry?"

"Is it your cooking, Fai?" Chi asks.

"Sure is. Kuro was nice enough to bring it."

"Then, yes please."

"Yes please."

"Alright, let's all head down then."

"Hey...! I didn't say yes."

"Don't be silly; you were being quite obvious that you would like to but don't want to intrude. Don't worry about it. Think of it as my treat for bringing the food."

"...fine."

Down in the cafeteria, Kurogane had set the bag down on a table, while Fai pushed Chi's wheelchair up against the table about to pull the food out so they could eat, when he had to pause for a moment.

"Hmn?" Fai began, noticing the unfamiliar toy inside the bag, and gently taking it out, "What's this? This certainly isn't one of mine," he began, inquisitively turning to Kurogane with a small questioning, innocent head tilt. It wasn't suggestive, just curious.

"That is…" Kurogane's eyes lit up as he mentally facepalmed, as he had forgotten to take it out, before explaining, "well…when Tomoyo was picking out flowers I noticed it, and I dunno, I thought you might like it. I just….wanted to try and …to thank you for that other day, s-so I got that for you. Y-you can do whatever you want with it; not that I care." Kurogane finished as he looked away.

Fai looked at Kurogane with wide eyes, before turning back to the toy. "Oh, he's adorable," Fai said with a happy coo, grinning widely as he delicately held onto the toy, staring at it before giving it a big loving squeezing hug to his chest. "Oh, it's wonderful! Thank you, Kurogane. I love him."

Kurogane turned back to look at Fai. Fai was grinning and there didn't seem to be anything superficial about it. He was just genuinely happy, and then gave Kurogane a hug too, wrapping his arms around his neck, the stuffed pup falling onto his shoulder. "Really … thank you."

Kurogane awkwardly returned the hug, patting Fai on the back, "Yeah, ok… You're welcome. I mean it's nothing special or anything, it's just..."

Fai backed off a step with a smile and holding the dog to his chest as if to protect it, to love on it, "Just the fact that you were thinking enough about me to wonder if I would like it and get it, is something special. Almost no one gets me a present because they were thinking of me. So this means a whole lot."

"Really?" Kurogane asked a bit surprised. "You haven't had birthday parties with friends getting you lots of things?" Considering Fai's energetic and friendly personality, he kind of assumed he'd have lots of friends over as a kid.

"Hardly. Brother and I didn't exactly have a lot of actual friends. We make friends easily, but they're more …acquaintances."

"I see."

"So … shall we eat?" Fai asked before putting the toy atop his head, its beanbag-like legs splaying about in his hair.

"Won't that fall off like that?" Kurogane asked, concerned that the toy animal would fall into the food, and thus mess up both.

"Only if I want him too," Fai answered smoothly.

Fai began to pull out the food from the bag, the pup managing never to fall off his head, as he set the food on one of the tables in there, spreading it enough that everything had some space. Kurogane watched Fai for a few moments, noticing a gracefulness in his movements, a practiced ease, always aligning his head so that the dog would stay. After a little bit, he looked around, and noticing some napkins and plastic silverware, went over and grabbed a few. All that was missing was a couple of plates.

And as if Fai could read his mind, "If you want to get some, the people at the food counter should be able to give us some paper plates for us."

"Right."

Fai finished opening the foods, and putting the lids in the bag, the girls sitting right next to each other, and Chi's IV sitting beside her on the other side. He gently lifted the pup and held it dangling over his arms, smiling as he watched the other fetch a couple of plates before returning with everything in hand. He then gripped one of the puppy's paws and had it wave at Kurogane for fun, saying in a teasing voice, "Look, there's Daddy; wave hi to Daddy."

Kurogane's good hearing heard the other, and he blushed faintly at the comment. As he arrived at the table he set the things down and commented, "I am … not a Daddy."

Fai chuckled at being caught, grinning at the other, "Thanks for getting the plates and silverware Kuro. Now we can all eat."

Kurogane separated the plates, and handed one to each of them to begin filling up, taking some of the extra silverware he'd grabbed to use to serve the food.

After filling up their plates, Fai and Kurogane walked over to where they had a couple of microwave ovens, the girls sitting patiently at the table and talking, while the men put the food in and turning them on, only able to heat two plates up at a time. "They have much newer model ones here than mine."

Kurogane could tell that just from looking at them. Fai's was considered ancient for technology, from a company that no longer existed. It had to be at least as old as the other's sister, back when things were built to last instead of replaced every six months or so, like a lot of modern things. And it was apparent Fai was not that fond of them, by the poorly disguised sigh of discontent.

"As long as it does what it needs to do, I don't see what the deal is."

"…I guess they suit hospitals. They prefer to get rid of them used and or damaged but still alive, then have to put them out because they are dead."

"Are we talking about microwaves or hospital principles?"

"What?" Fai says, turning to Kurogane with a look of feigned innocence, "I was talking about microwaves; what were you talking about?"

"…nothing."

"Personally, I've had to get used to such short-lived relations with them… I'd prefer the long-haul, long-term commitment. Put in the investment, show that you're serious about having the one in your house and you're with the other for a very long time, until one of you dies."

"Are we still talking about microwaves?"

Fai smiles playfully, picking up the pup to face-level to stare at the other, "I'll leave that for you to decide." He softly manipulated one of the toy's forelegs to point in Kurogane's general direction.

"Seems you're saying a lot more with your words than just microwaves," Kurogane said, "So tell me, … where's Yui?"

"Yui?" Fai said instantly sobering up, and alert, and the toy dog lowering almost immediately.

"Yknow, your brother…where is he? I think I'd like to meet him," Kurogane offered casually.

"I… I'm sure he'd love to meet you too; unfortunately," Fai said shrugging with that plaster smile, and holding the puppy tight close to his chest now, "he left."

"Left?"

"Yeah," Fai said his tone soft and a bit rueful, "he left."

Then, it was much more light, as he turned away and stared into the marble eyes of the dog, holding him up above head level, "He is supposed to come back. I mean, he's the one with legal custody of Chi… A while ago, we were fighting over that…Who would get legal custody of our sister if our Mom was gone. We would barely mince words to the other for a whole month. Now that I think of it, it was such a silly fight. Seems we always fought over petty things… nothing serious – we always agreed upon the important matters, but we would have these petty little fights over things that were so trivial, they were only important then. Like who got top and who got bottom bunk when we were sleeping. Stupid, I know, but those were the types of things we would fight about. Against Brother, he could almost always beat me at chance games, like cards and dice and even coin-tossing. I could hardly win against him. Sakura always beats me too, for some reason, but then again, I've never seen her lose."

Kurogane listened to the other, "Can't say I really know much about that. I was an only child. Not that my parents didn't want more children."

Fai turned back around, bringing the dog back down near his chest, holding it there. He smiled, "So what was Kuro's childhood like?"

"It's … complicated."

"We've got time; I'll listen if you want to share," Fai said in what could be labeled as an encouraging but not overly prying tone.

Kurogane scratched the back of his neck, "Where to start? My folks wanted a family. A big rowdy loud family, with lots of kids. That had been one of their dreams. Big house, big family. But things just didn't work out. I was the only one Mother was able to have."

Fai kept quiet as he listened, watching Kurogane talk about his parents, how sappily romantic they were, about his father, who worked as a police officer, and did the graveyard shift, so he could spend most of the day with his family, who would spend time playing with him and sparring, teaching him about things, and his mother, with her weak heart condition, but a strong mind. A caring and loving mother who would take care of their family, who would worry about when their father left them at night. Even with her weak heart, she always would be there. Although they had wanted a large boisterous family, they were still very happy with the family they had, and never stopped trying to spoil him and nurture him and show him all the love in their hearts, or embarrass him by being complete lovey-dovey saps in front of him. Fai smiled as Kurogane seemed quite fond with strong good memories of his childhood.

"It sounds like you had wonderful parents..." Fai said wistfully. However Fai was not so dull to note that it didn't stay happy like that, and hesitated to ask. "What happened?"

"I was sixteen when they died. Mother had her heart problems, and one night, her heart just … gave out, and she just stopped breathing. The same night, Father died, apparently, he got caught in some deadly crossfire. They were securing the perimeter. Bulletproof vest and shields only protects you so much when the area is rigged to blow. When the police showed up the next morning, they handed over Father's favorite revolver. It had never let him down, but that was about all they could find of him. I pretty much lost it for a little while."

Fai covered his mouth as he quietly gasped. "I … I'm so sorry."

"Well, unless you're part of the gang that rigged the place to blow, it's not your fault. Besides, neither had to suffer for long when they went. That I can be thankful for."

"Still…" Fai said, "it's never easy to lose one's parents … and on the same night too."

"Yeah, well, what about you? You also lost your parents."

Fai smiled wryly, "Won't lie and deny it. Ours are dead too."

"So what's yours?"

"Mine?"

"Your story … what happened to you and your parents?"

"Oh well … you see, Brother and I, we … we were 'military brats'," Fai began.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

"Ah, their breakfast is ready."

Kurogane pulled out both plates from the microwaves before bringing them over to the table, and setting them down in the open space in front of the girls, before returning to stand by the microwaves next to Fai, where Fai had just finished putting their in and turning them on.

"Sorry about that. You were saying?"

"Mom and Dad met through the service. She worked for the Navy and he for the Marines. They did not get along at first. Always harassing the other, teasing each other and generally giving the other a hard time. Blondes usually get knocked for being dumb, but Dad was a smart one. And Mom was even sharper; Mom always got the last word. Every now and again, it had something to do about 'and who do you think signs your paycheck?' Marines… they get their money from the Navy, so…" Fai chuckled a bit, "Well they eventually evolved from childish teasing to going steady, and well, Brother and I were what became of that. However, we were usually on the go every few months. Unlce Ashura helped raise us too. We knew he was in the service as well, but he was the one that would be there when they weren't. When we were six, Dad popped the question, and when we were ten, they finally got married."

"Wait… so they got married after you were born?"

"Yeah, Brother and I got to help out at the wedding. I was Dad's flower maid, and Mom had Brother as her best man."

"Wai~what?!"

"Oh, right… Mom definitely wore the pants in their relationship, same at the wedding. You should see the pictures! Everyone had a blast… We were in Greenland for the wedding. Then, after the honeymoon in Hokkaido, Brother and I were split up. Dad and Uncle Ashura kept me and Brother went with Mom. Brother got to spend the next eight years in France, while Dad and Uncle Ashura, we moved from country to country about once every other year, until we could get together again for a longer term. Because of Uncle's position, he held great respect in the military, but he was such a fun-loving goofball too; he was just amazing. When Dad wasn't around, Uncle Ashura made it his point to make sure he was for me. He was the best Uncle I could have ever wanted. We kept in touch through letters and over the internet, and it wasn't long after that, that we all just stopped and were able to stay together for two years, and Mom got pregnant with Chi in that time. That was the last time we were all together." Fai paused a brief moment, "After those two years, Dad was called back, and at one point during his duty, he and his squadron got caught behind enemy lines. After torturing them for a few months, trying to extract our military secrets from them, they were nice enough to send the government a ransom note. And well, the US just don't give in to blackmail. They sent in a SWAT team to try and retrieve them, said, if they don't give them back, they'll just nuke them all. Safe to say, Dad didn't make it out alive. Mom took the news hardest. She sunk into depression; began doing opiates and drinking. She died from overdose."

Kurogane listened, and a bit surprised at how similar and dissimilar their pasts were. "Wow… that's …" Kurogane didn't know what to say. "…Damn."

Fai chuckled hoarsely, slowly petting the soft toy with the tips of his fingers, "…Yeah." Kurogane didn't have to say much anything. His eyes said more than words could probably properly vocalize.

Fai decided to change the subject; to something a lot lighter in conversation. "Curious… do you get sunburns easily?"

Kurogane took a moment to process the question he was just asked, as it was a total mind shift from the previous conversation. "Y-yes... why do you ask?"

"Just a guess." Fai said, his gaze looking over what he could see, before meeting Kurogane's eyes. "Your eyes … they're a very pretty shade of red. Red eyes is usually an albino trait, but you have black hair, and have a tan even in winter, so partial albino. So is Tomoyo, with those sagely eyes of hers. Is OCA4 a family thing?"

"I … what?"

"Sorry … correct me if I am wrong, but with the Japanese earlier, and your Asiatic appearance, I kind of assumed your family was of mostly Japanese-heritage, and OCA4 is the most common form of albinism in the Japanese bloodlines. But even if I have the wrong OCA, both of your parents had to be at least heterozygotes of the recessive allele, in order for any form of albinism to be passed down. "

Kurogane held up a free hand to try and pause the other. "Just … how versed did you family insist you be?" Kurogane asked.

Fai chuckled weakly as he blushed a bit, looking away as if embarrassed, and Kurogane felt his stomach getting jitters, as if he was in high school all over again.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

At the beeping, both turned back to the microwaves, before removing their own meals

"When we younger, Dad or Uncle Ashura would begin to read a story but would stop before quite finishing. A chore he had to do or an important errand or the phone ringing, and leave the book there. Well, we couldn't leave it there; we just had to finish the story. He would come back eventually, and make sure to tuck us in. Mom wasn't so kind; she flat out wouldn't, so we made up stories or found a book to read to each other. Sort of just stuck, reading books before bedtime."

"Huh… my mom used to read bedtime stories. 'Cept she would finish the story."

"I can just imagine… small little Kuro, tucked in, your mother sits on the edge of the bed, and then after a story, kisses your forehead goodnight, turns to leave, turns off the bedroom night."

"….spose it was something like that… though the stories always ended with a '…and they lived happily ever after.' "

"That's so cute," Fai cooed.

Kurogane made a light grunt, looking away a bit, not wanting to be caught turning pink due to the comments.

"Why don't we give our girls some space? I'm sure they have a lot of catching up to do."

"Sure. Just can't leave them alone right?"

"All young visitors must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Hospital rules. Yknow how they are."

Kurogane gave a small affirmative grunt. The two sat down at another table, where they could keep an eye on the two girls, but where they could have some privacy to discuss girly matters like best friends and dresses and Chi's recovery. They both gave a quiet thanks before digging in. Fai moved one hand to his lap, where he shifted the pup to rest, while he used just the other to eat.

"So … who is the Witch?" Fai asked after a bit.

"Hm?"

"The Witch. You mentioned a Witch before. Who is she?"

"Oh,… her. She's my boss. I'm working for her only so I can pay off a debt and save up so I can go to school for a teaching license."

"How wonderful. Someone who wants to be a teacher. Who do you want to teach?"

"PE. I'm thinking about middle school."

"Ooh, right at the preteen level. I wish you the best. If you would like any help, just give me a ring."

"Isn't that a bit difficult if I don't have your number?"

"Whoops, silly me. Didn't realize you didn't have it." He set his silverware down for a bit and looked about for a moment, realizing he didn't have anything to write with, "Do you happen to have a cell phone with you?"

"…Yeah."

"Mind if I?" he asked gesturing if he could see it.

"Go ahead." Kurogane gave a shrug and pulled it out from his pocket, handing it over to the other.

"Ooh, flip phone…fun," Fai idly commented, as he easily manipulated the lid open. The electronic had been on, but quiet. Fai easily located the contacts folder, as it was a pretty simple design. Easy, convenient, simple. Nothing much but the necessaries. Its most advanced feature was it had the capacity to take photos. Fai was quick, inserting his number into the phone's contact list, before handing it back to Kurogane. "There you are. Fai Fluorite, at your service." He made a mock military salute, before lowering his hand and resumed eating.

"What about you? What do you do?"

"Me? I run around doing odd jobs. Although, right now, I'm preparing for the Olympics."

"For real? That's pretty cool. What sport?" Kurogane said his interest piqued.

"What sport do you think I'm going for?" Fai had to tease just a little.

"Well," Kurogane said his gaze falling upon the other. He was skinny, but not in an unhealthy way, in a lean and limber way. He knew the guy was good on his feet from the impromptu earlier, but that didn't necessarily mean anything. Yet there was still this soft, tenderness about his features. Strong but gentle. But with how aloof he acts, it does leave one to question.

"You look like you'd be good at Cross-country or basketball or a gymnast or ice-skater or something like that," Kurogane said. "You're all… twigly and … fast, and well …pretty girlish for a guy, but still … masculine," Kurogane rubbed the back of his neck.

"Thanks; I'll take that as a compliment," Fai said, "Actually … as good as I am at all of those, this year, I'm going first and foremost as a sharpshooter." Fai then grew a wistful look to his eyes, "The family always did preach about the importance of having a healthy mind and body. Hate to boast, but I do have great aim."

"So… you're a good shot huh?"

"Well, good enough … this will be the fifth time I'll be going to the Olympics. I'm … planning to head to a range I go to for practice tomorrow… if you're interested and not too busy…would you like to come?"

"Huh. Be bugged by my cousins complaining I don't get out enough or watch a world-class athlete. Tough choice."

"Well, family worrying is family caring," Fai said humming lightly.

"You wouldn't mind the extra company?"

"I'd prefer it actually."

"When are you going?"

"I'll be making breakfast for Chi and bringing it to her at about 8 in the morning, so then, get home get ready. Is 10:30 too early for you?"

"No, that… 10:30 is fine."

"Great. I'll pick you up then."

"I live across the street. I could…just walk on over, right?"

"Oh right. Silly me. Yeah, you can definitely do that. Do you like tuna sandwiches?"

"Yeah…"

"Great; I'll make some for tomorrow's lunch."

"Um, you don't … have to if you don't … want to."

"Nonsensical. Besides you don't like to, right? Unless you rather hit a Micky D's instead when we get hungry?"

Kurogane let out a breath. Fai seemed to have his mind set up, and well, he was right. "…thanks."

"My pleasure." And with the grin Fai wore, he'd take a wager that that was true. That making other's happy gave Fai his own kind of happiness. Which made him double recall Fai's hands and how red they were a couple weeks ago. He had thought it was just because he was holding something warm while otherwise chilled. But he had insisted he was fine to Tomoyo, while hiding them. And he'd barely used his one hand. Which made him think it was a ruse, and that they weren't really as fine as Fai said.

"How're your hands?"

"Fine," Fai said offhandedly.

"Really?" Kurogane asked with a skeptical raised brow, studying red eyes.

"Really, they're fine…I'm fine. You don't have to worry about it," Fai said with a nervous smile.

"Why don't you prove it and show me?"

"Kuro, I'm telling you…"

"If they're really fine, then it shouldn't be a problem, should it?"

Fai gulped quickly, before letting out a defeated puff.

"…you win."

He gently lowered his elbow onto the table and offered the one hand, so Kurogane could see it. Kurogane took it gripping it lightly at the wrist, and slowly removed the glove, turning Fai's wrist as he inspected his hand. It was swollen and there were many small knicks, most old and some new. But most notable, there were large trails of bright red flesh, some patches darker than others all around his palm, but luckily no blisters were present. He was gentle in touching it, keeping his attention on Fai's body language, who seemed a bit tense, and looking away, his gaze shifted downwards.

"It's fine…it's just … I just spilled some hot chocolate on them earlier today … it's nothing. I made sure to take proper care so they wouldn't get worse," he murmured in a low voice, as Kurogane finished looking them over before he helped put the glove back on.

"Other hand."

"Kuro…"

"Other hand," he said more demandingly.

Fai took his one hand back, and slowly brought out his other hand, keeping his gaze averted. Before it was fully withdrawn and out, Kurogane could tell it was worse than the other. The glove was stained with some pussy liquid, in at least one spot. Kurogane gripped Fai's wrist just beneath the glove, pulling it closer and looked at it.

"How bad is it?"

"I've had worse…"

"That's not what I asked."

"It's just as red and swollen… A … few blisters. Small ones. It's just a minor second degree."

"Two've burst open. You need to get it cleaned up soon, or it could get infected," Kurogane said in what Fai swore had an underlying tone of concern in his matter-of-fact voice. Kurogane did not try to remove the glove to verify Fai's words, as Kurogane did not want to jostle any more open himself if he could avoid it.

Fai smiled, his gaze slowly returning to the other. "I know. I just didn't want the girls to worry about it. They already have enough worries as it is. They don't need to be worried about something this small."

"Do you let them worry about anything regarding you?"

Fai had to think about that for a moment as he subconsciously grabbed and held the stuffed toy closer. "Not…usually."

"Do you let anyone?"

"Mmm, not really… ah-just Uncle Ashura, now that I think about it. Children shouldn't have to worry about an adult's problem, and most the adults I do know are just like modern microwaves."

"What about me?"

"What about you?"

"Am I just a modern microwave to you too?"

"No…no you're… you're more like a dusty old book."

"And how do you figure that?" Kurogane asked raising one brow.

"Well, there's that old book that has just been sitting there for a while and one day, you just notice it for whatever reason, and take it out of the archives, you find out its name and you decide you'd like to take a chance on it, see what adventure that book has within it. And it may make your sad, or it may make you angry and it may make you happy. And you may regret the decision or be glad that you did, but most of all, you took a chance to get to the know the book inside the dusty cover. And I'd … I'd like to take a chance on you, Kurogane, that is, if that's okay with you."

"Can we try being just friends for now and see where that goes?"

"That's a good start. But…um… Kurogane… you're … still holding my hand," Fai said with a small blush.

Kurogane turned quite red and quickly let go, "I'…I'm sorry."

"It'…it's fine," Fai said hiding his hand back into his lap, "but thanks…for caring. I was planning to tend to it after lunch. That is, if you don't mind watching the girls long enough."

"I have to babysit Tomoyo anyway..."

A couple of quiet giggles echoed from the other table, and Kurogane turned to face them better, and hoped they were giggling about preteen boys or dresses or something girly. Tomoyo turned to face him, and the giggling picked up.