This chappie is dedicated to the one and only Deathspell, whose birthday has just passed! Happy birthday Deathspell!

Oh, and Fai might be a little… OOC in the chapter, in the fighting scenes. I rarely find any fics around with Fai fighting and I don't want to make him into a (seemingly in some people's opinions) useless wimp around here. So, well, yeah.

… meow?

Fai froze, unable to comprehend everything that was happening before his eyes. He refused to believe that he was back into his past, back into his own nightmare. He refused to believe that the man standing before him with a gun pointed to Subaru's head was Kyle. His brain refused to register and acknowledge anything and everything before him, the path back into his nightmare that leaves him sweating and sobbing at night. He didn't even realize that his face went completely pale and that his knees were shaking under him. The reaction only made Kyle smile wider.

"So how was life, Fai? Did you enjoy your limited time of freedom?" he asked, though his gaze towards Subaru remained alert and cautious. "You know, Fei Wong was pretty pissed off to have lost you to Ashura. That's why he sent us all over the world to search for you. A waste of time, in my opinion, but I guess it's all worth of the trouble, ne?" his smile grew into a smirk. "Now we can just get back to the old days of blood and screams and-"

"Fai," growled Subaru, interrupting the other's rambling. "Get out of here. Now." His face was absent of all kindness, replaced by a steel mask and a voice that was cold and commanding, nothing like it should have been.

"I don't think so, Subaru. Guys," he ordered and instantly, the men around him starting walking forward towards the wounded blonde. Fai quickly backed away, glancing around as he tried to find any form of weapon. Unfortunately, he found none. Guess he had to fight with both skills and luck. The pale man stood against the blowing wind, darkness creeping from all corners around him, but he didn't care. He needed to get Subaru out of here. The man who helped him. The man who was almost a father to him, after Ashura.

"You came here to get me, but I'm afraid I'll leave you heading back home empty-handed," he said, a firm resolution unconsciously weaving its way into his heart.

"We'll see about that."

Suddenly, one of the men rushed forward, a deadly blade glistening in the darkness. Fai avoided the knife, darting and weaving his way around the place, careful not to get himself cornered. The other men rushed forward as well, a few trying to attack him from other corners as they drew their gun and started shooting.

Loud gunshots erupted throughout the place and the alley was soon thrown into chaos. Fai didn't know what was happening around him. All he could feel was the rushing wind beating against his skin, the sun almost blinding him as pain shot through his body from the movements. Gunshots were heard everywhere but with his trained ears, Fai managed to dodge and dart around the place without getting shot. The man before him lashed forward the knife, trying to wound the blonde. Fai bent down and rammed forward, slamming into the other's chest, sending him tumbling backwards before the blonde reached out to grab the knife and stabbed the man's shoulder. The man cried out in pain before falling back to the floor, unconscious.

"Behind you!"

Fai turned around and was greeted with the sight of two other men rushing forward, guns pointing at him. Quickly yet calmly, the pale man dodged the flying bullets as a sudden strength erupted inside him, causing him to rush forward with a tremendous amount of speed despite the pain. He drew his knife and sliced one of the men's gun-holding arm before kicking him, driving the other against the wall. Heaving, he caught the other man's arm and drove the knife through his wrist as he screamed and fall back on the floor, currently dazed. Fai fell forward as well, clutching his chest in pain. The sudden burst of adrenalin was exhausting him greatly and Fai was growing extremely tired, not to mention in pain due to his wounded state, and the blood… Fai was never the one to hurt anyone. He lifted his head and, all of a sudden, time stopped. In a second, it was as if he could see through the haze, the chaos, as if he was looking through a manual with everything important written in it.

The whole world became quiet.

Kyle raised his gun.

Subaru closed his eyes.

The trigger was pulled.

The resolution managed weaved itself firmly and completely into his heart.

Protect.

His body moved on its own accord, rushing forward towards the one important to him. Instinctively, he curled around the other, protecting him from the blow.

Subaru was important to him. Almost as important as Kurogane and Ashura. He needed to protect him. It didn't matter whether it was a pointless effort. It didn't matter if it was a vain attempt. He had to protect the person important to him at all costs.

Protect him. Protect Ashura. He had to protect them all, after what they have did for him in the past. He had to protect.

Fai had a difficult time knowing what happened afterwards. He closed his eyes and held Subaru firmly. A bang. A rush of wind and…

"FAI!"

He thought it would hurt, but was surprised at the lack of pain. Soon, he realized something was amiss.

At that moment, time sped up again.

Gingerly, the blonde opened his eyes and looked at Subaru's, whose gaze was focused on something behind him. Confused and slowly, he turned around.

xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Kurogane panted heavily, both in panic and relief as his sword, thankfully, blocked the blow of the bullet. The force had made Kurogane stumble backwards a little but he regained his composure in no time, thankful of the short distance between them or the bullet might have broke its way through the sword. What the heck was Fai doing anyway, waiting for death like that? He made a quick mental note to yell at him later before his trained eyes registered the area.

There was one man before him and at least 4 or 5 others around him. The gym teacher's eyes widened as he finally registered who the man was before him. Kyle was equally confused as well. Kurogane knew what would come next and he didn't want that to happen. If Fai knew… The tall man quickly turned and ran towards the both, grabbing them and dragging them along, cursing loudly. Thank goodness he was a quick runner, because when the men started shooting, they were out of the alley.

The main road was surprisingly still full of people despite the loud gunshots in the alley, though it was much more deserted than before. He quickly dragged them both through the crowd, ignoring the annoyed cries and angry comments hurled towards him. Kyle and his men were not far behind, pushing their way through the crowd as well.

Kurogane didn't know how long they ran, how far they ran, but he didn't know how they ended up losing Kyle and the others. He saw a few men cornering them in a circle and some yells and gunshots and that was all. He didn't really spare a glance behind them for he was too busy running. He examined the other two. The somehow familiar stranger was tired and panting heavily, but Fai was the worst of them all. The moment they stopped running the blonde collapsed and Kurogane caught him just in time before his body hit the hard pavement.

"You better thank me for getting you all out of that situation."

Both Kurogane and Subaru turned around to see Yuuko standing before them, smirking. "I had a few… friends of mine surround and distract them for a moment, and apparently, they are currently in police custody for the riot they caused moments ago," she said, her eyes darting between the three of them. Kurogane's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What the hell is going on here?"

Yuuko's smirk grew wider and looked at Subaru. "I'll tell you as soon as we reach our house. Your house is not safe for you stay in for the moment, Kurogane-sensei," she said, turning around and walking. "Hurry, my car isn't far from here, and Fai-sensei needs some rest."

Kurogane and Subaru looked at each other before hurrying to follow the headmistress, Fai cradled in the stronger man's arms, asleep. Darkness was approaching and Kurogane couldn't help but feel uneasy. Something was wrong. Something was really, really wrong, and he didn't like that.

"Oh, and Kurogane?" said Yuuko airily from ahead.

"What?" he replied gruffly.

"You'll have to pay the price to me for saving your butts there!"

"WHAT?!"

Okay, I admit. This chapter was totally random. I didn't really know what I was writing half the time and was going with the flow. I'm sorry, but this is the outcome, and I know you are all confused right now, but the next chapter will give you half the answers to explain what the hell is going on around here.

Oh, and I have good news here! Finally! KuroFai-ness in the next chapter! And (hopefully) quite a lot too!

NOTICE (!!): There will NOT be any chapters this week! Due to busy schedule and homework, I've so far written only half of the next chapter, so therefore there will be no updates this week! But I guarantee I'll update it next week (a longer chapter and with much KuroFai-ness too! I promise!)