Warnings- Major OOC, Some characters backgrounds changed (it is and AU after all), homosexuality, swearing, and the complete annihilation of the English language (such as spelling and grammar). Sequel to The Great Escape... and, uh, Ren.

First of all, I would like to apologize for the lack of updates. Ann and I have both moved to a different fandom. So. this will most likely be one of the last chapters, non-requested, stories I do here. I do plan to finish this, and Ann will be completing Never forget. And secondly, I had lost my notebook for this but with it found, updates should be more of a weekly thing. And if I am taking to long, you guys can always remind me through reviews (which I love) or bug me on Tumblr.

Honestly, I didn't think anyone would really read this. So I'm glad to see so much support from the first chapter.

Thank you to all those who reviewed. And yes, Everyone, even those you might not expect, will have a definitive ending here.

SK

Nothing Escapes

Reality

Oct. Pre-Meeting (year 2)

Syo collapsed to his bed. Nagi, his brother's long-time rival and apparently the greatest friend, had been bothering him all day. For some reason, that Syo could only guess was called Kaoru, the salmon-haired teen had been questioning his every move. At times like this Syo had wished that he chose an out of state college. Having to be stuck in any course with Nagi was pure torture, and since they had the same major, they had a lot of classes together.

"Just kill me now," Syo whispered to himself. "I can't take another day of this."

He missed everything about high school. Well, really he missed one thing in particular. Syo missed Ai. The same man that somewhat broke his heart after graduation by telling him that for the next four years he would be in France for a scholarship he had received. Sure Syo was happy for him, but at the same time, it was happening again. Someone he loved was walking out of his life and there was nothing, short of following him to France like a stalker, he could do to stop it.

Ai said that they would talk. He promised that the time difference wouldn't affect them like it had with him and Ren. He promised that this wouldn't be the same. Syo wouldn't have to endure all the pain that he hid from everyone again.

But promises were made to be broken.

Two years in and Ai was starting to waver. He had stayed strong for so long, doing all that he could to be the best boyfriend Syo could ask for. The blonde knew that the long distance was hard. It had always been hard. He had grown used to feeling Ai's silky skin against him, his warm breath teasing him before that inevitable kiss met his lips. He missed forcing his way into Ai's house and forcing him to wear new things. Colors that weren't black and gray. But now, after the only source of seeing his boyfriend was video chats and pictures, he even missed the dark style that Ai was known to fall back into.

"I wish you were here." Syo whimpered. Was that too much to wish for? It didn't seem like a lot, but it was apparently.

The sound of his phone's jingle made him bolt upright. His blue eyes widened as his heart filled with joy as he hoped it was Ai calling him. But with a glance at the screen, the smile that had momentarily found it's way to his face, dropped instantly.

He didn't know the number, so it couldn't have been Ai. Half of him didn't want to answer since it wasn't Ai. Half of him wanted to crawl up into a ball under his covers and fall asleep. But luckily for the person on the other side of the call, he chose not to. He gingerly lifted the device to his ear.

"Hello." he called into the phone, almost wincing at how hollow his voice sounded.

"Syo!"

Sky blue eyes widened. The seductive purr. That silky voice. Syo knew that voice. It could only belong to one person. How long had it been since he had talked to him? Since he listened to that beautiful singing voice?

And everything came rushing back just like that. He missed him, not Ai, but him. He missed his Ren. His Ren who had tried to contact him. His Ren, whose breathing could be heard steadily through the phone.

"Ren?" His voice hushed, fearful. If he wasn't careful everything would fall apart and he would just end up running back to Ren. Back into the arms, he knew he wanted to be in, into the arms he couldn't

"Syo, I've been trying to call you for a while now. You wouldn't believe what I had to do to get your phone number?" He said somewhat gleeful.

"O-oh." He said somewhat shocked. He hadn't realized that Ren wanted to speak to him that badly. "W-what's up?"

"Nothing, nothing. I'm just in town again for business and thought I would say hi." Syo could listen to Ren's soft seductive whispers all day. "Do you want to hang out?"

Syo bit his rosy lip. He shouldn't, he couldn't. "Well..."

"Well?"

"I guess I have nothing better t do."

Kaoru wasn't what most would call the perfect big brother. He was a bit on the overprotective side and never wanted to let his younger brother make his own mistakes. But it wasn't like he was a bad big brother. He did try his best at everything he did.

"Do you think I should give Syo some space?" Kaoru slumped, on the cafe table inside the mall. Ever since Syo showed it to him when they met Kira that one time, he hadn't noticed that he and everyone else he knew hung out there more that he thought. "He seems so sad lately."

"Just leave him be." Nagi removed the coffee cup from his lips.

"But what if he does something stupid? How can I protect him from himself if I leave him be?" He mumbled into his arms, hiding his head from the world. He wouldn't always be around to save Syo from falling or tell him that there was a pebble in the way so he couldn't fall. But he couldn't let his brother, the one that just recently let himself become part of the world beyond visiting the mall get hurt and crawl back into his hermit-like ways.

"Kaoru, he will be twenty next year. You can't save him forever. You have to move on and live your own life. Aren't you and Haruka supposed to go out tonight? Maybe you should take tonight to think about the two of you and forget about Syo for a while." The fashion major suggested,

"I don't know. Haruka also worries about him. It might just be the two of us and a giant worry-fest."

Nagi's mouth formed a thin frown. "Ugh, you two are so boring."

"We are not."

"Are too."

"Are not!"

"When is the last time that you two have had fun on a date and not just been together because you're lonely?"

Kaoru stopped before he could answer. When was the last time they had real fun? Was there ever a time that they had ever admitted that they liked each other, or were they just dating because they were both lonely and had nobody else? He honestly couldn't remember anymore.

'I, uh."

"That's what I thought."

"But-"

"Is that Syo?" Nagi interrupted him. His pink head inclined toward the window.

Kaoru's blue eyes followed his friend's head. It was indeed Syo. But not only Syo, it was his younger brother with that, that bastard!

"I'm going to get him!" Kaoru stood suddenly, pushing his chair back forcefully.

"Don't." Nagi put and hand on the blonde's arm. "Take the first step."

"But I..."

"Let him make this mistake. It's time he lived for himself."