Chapter 3, all. I don't think there are any spelling mistakes.

Disclaimer: Do not own.

And, yes, I got 2 reviews, so guess what's going to happen? Hyuu! I'm excited too! Oh yeah, Tomoyo and Chii aren't coming in, so non-fans of them don't have to worry. And everyone, I named this chapter!

Saki Ikumi-chan

After It All

Chapter Three: The Scars Would Stay Forever

Kurogane was looking down at Fai not like he usually did. He was looking down at him with pure affection. And Fai was looking up at Kurogane with fright.

He can't. He shouldn't. He won't.

Will he?

Kurogane shifted a hand to the back of Fai's head and leaned forward. Fai was unable to move, stiff in Kurogane's arms. Why was he so warm while Fai was so terribly cold? Why was he so alive when Fai was dying? Why was he so dreadfully gentle to a person such as Fai? Why did he press his lips so softly to Fai's when Fai himself had taken his blood?

I don't know. Thought Fai as he felt Kurogane's lips pry apart from his. Fai looked up at Kurogane, still dazed from their short kiss. And then he looked down at their knees, which were pressed lightly together. They didn't speak for a while.

"I guess I better tell you," said Fai quietly, pulling apart from Kurogane, but only a bit so he could speak.

"Tell me what?" Kurogane was still short of breath, so the words came out rasped.

He wrapped an arm around Fai's waist protectively, so Fai wouldn't run away, like he tended to do.

"About Ashura," said Fai, his voice shaking when he mentioned the name. "And… me." He paused for a bit, placing his hands lightly on Kurogane's knees. "Please don't hate me after I tell you."

"What could you have done to make me hate you?" Asked Kurogane.

"I can imagine a lot of things," said Fai, looking up at Kurogane darkly. "Well, a long time ago, Ashura and I were very close. After Yuui died. I… I had convinced myself that I had hated him, but… I…"

He trailed off as his memory came back to him.

It was raining. Fai sat cross legged in his room, staring out the window at the dead scenery. It really was dead. All of the beautiful trees and flowers Yuui and Fai used to play in, all just ruins now, just as the castle was. What Fai lived in was just something conjured up by Ashura, whose magic was far stronger than Fai's. There were no people in this kingdom. Yuui was the last to die and Fai had been alone for three years now.

A terribly long time to be alone.

Fai's room was almost bare except for a large white bed, a mirror, and the small pillow he sat on to stare out the window, what he did every day now. And any time now Ashura would come. He would come and then…

There was a rapping on the door. There he was. Fai forced himself to smile. So Ashura wouldn't hurt him. Ashura entered without saying anything and stared down at Fai in a way that was purposefully meant to make Fai feel inferior. Fai felt Ashura's long nails on his face and prepared for the pain he knew was coming.

The scars would stay forever.

"You look beautiful," said Ashura, kneeling down so he was looking Fai in the eyes.

"Thank you," said Fai in response immediately.

He knew what was going on. He knew it from the look in Ashura's eyes when he entered the room. God, Fai didn't know how many more bruises his body could sustain. Ashura didn't need to speak anymore. He let his fingers glide over Fai's face as he pressed his lips to Fai's.

Fai felt the warm blood trickle down his cheeks as some fell between their lips. Ashura pulled away, tasting the blood. Fai wiped his mouth free of the blood as Ashura licked his lips and leaned in for yet another kiss. Fai knew what to do, what to say and what to pretend to make Ashura happy.

But by morning there would be bruises everywhere.

"Are you alright?"

Fai snapped back into reality as he heard Kurogane's voice. Fai nodded slowly and tried to go on, slowly remembering where he was in his story.

"I have to show you something," said Fai. "But don't do anything rash."

Kurogane knew what he was talking about once Fai slipped off his shirt. There were bruises everywhere; and harsh scars that seemed years old but still haven't healed. Kurogane looked upon Fai's skin in horror. The milky clarity of the skin that covered his face was nowhere to be found. There was what looked like nail marks everywhere and a particularly nasty scar upon his side. But there were no scars in shape of the markings he once held on his back.

"Who the hell did this to you?" Asked Kurogane, grabbing Fai's arms violently in anger. "I'll kill them. I'll murder the bastard."

"They're already dead," said Fai, pulling away from Kurogane. "And that hurts."

"Who was it?" Asked Kurogane, not bothering to grab Fai again as he slid his shirt back on, ashamed of the scars and bruises and oh, those terrible, terrible scars!

It was caused by someone he loved. Someone he trusted. That's why he didn't want to trust anyone, especially not Kurogane. And who could blame him? After all he's been through, after all of the… pain. Fai looked up at Kurogane and told him the truth.

"Ashura-ô," said Fai. "My king."

"H-How did he die?" Asked Kurogane, his voice shaking for the first time in his life.

The scars. Oh god, the scars. They were horrid and ugly and they made Kurogane cringe. Fai, who was always smiling. Fai, who had stayed by Kurogane through it all. Was this really the same Fai? The Fai who was always joking, always smiling, always laughing, always acting as if nothing was wrong, but there was something wrong. There was something very, very wrong.

"I killed him myself," said Fai.

And this time the smile was not fake.

Please tell me… Did you like it? Hate it? Love it? Want me to throw myself off a cliff? Whatever you think, please review! If you want any particular character in, tell me, okay? I'll try to take any requests! Sorry this one's so short, but I thought it was a good place to stop it.