"This is not my idea of a date," Fai sighed and pulled his coat on tighter, "Did we have to do this at night?"

"You wanted to do this and requested we do it at night because of the security vans," Kurogane said in front of Fai.

They were currently exploring an abandoned asylum as Fai's first exploration. It probably wasn't the best idea, but that's what Fai had asked for. After he was scared by security earlier in the day, Kurogane promised to take him back at night. Of course, the security was still roaming around, but he managed to get them both into a ward easily enough.

Now the two were sloshing through the flooded tunnels trying to find their way to the children's ward. Supposedly it was the most put together building on the site as it still hade chairs and toys scattered about.

"It's freezing!" Fai whispered.

"No shit. Just stay close and don't get lost… Why did you even want to come here?"

Fai bit his lip. He knew Kurogane wasn't a very spiritual man, so Fai had yet to even try to explain his sixth sense. He wanted to visit places like this to test out his abilities. While he thought that seeing children's spirits would be sad, he also knew they were unlikely to be tainted.

"W-well, it's something you enjoy, right? Shouldn't we do things together?"

Kurogane rolled his eyes, "Right, sure. Let me know when you want to tell me the truth."

The two stopped walking for a bit to check their map. It was crudely drawn by some of Kurogane's friends who had been there before.

"Mm… did you see this sign yet?" Kurogane pointed at the drawing.

"I don't think so? We're not lost, right?"

Kurogane growled, "No, not yet. If we haven't seen it then we haven't gotten to the turn yet."

Fai nodded slowly and looked back from where they came. There were no signs anywhere that he could see. "Nothing," he confirmed and turned forwards again.

It was just a glimpse, but Fai thought he saw something as he turned. Without thinking, he turned off the light and looked carefully. A child stood, looking very confused. They couldn't have been any older than 7. They almost looked alive, if only the light had made them disappear.

"Fai?!" Kurogane tried to keep his voice down, "Turn that back on!"

Fai blinked a few times and watched the child turn and run from them. "Oh?"

He turned on the light and walked to where the child had disappeared. He ignored Kurogane's questions and simply walk forward. He figured the child was running towards the ward where he died.

"A door…" Fai mumbled.

"Yeah, the map says it's locked. It also says we went too far," Kurogane leaned against the wall.

Fai hummed and looked at it. He was sure the child ran through here. If it was locked now, then he guessed it never used to be while the asylum was in use. Still, Fai decided to try anyway. He pushed hard on the door only to find it easily opened. He fell on the stairs behind it with a loud thud.

Kurogane looked at him wide eyed before stifling his laughter.

"Hey! Don't laugh! You said it was locked!"

"It was. Fuuma said they couldn't get it open no matter what they tried," he smirked, "Guess you got lucky."

Fai stood up and groaned, "My pants are soaked. I wouldn't call this luck."

Kurogane moved past him, "Come on, let's check it out."

Looking unamused, Fai followed him up the stairs. They found an office at the top that led out into the children's ward. Fai couldn't help but be glad his instincts worked out in some capacity.

"Look at all these files. Hard to believe they just left them all here," Fai commented before leaving the nurse's office.

"Not really. I've seen stuff like this plenty of times. It is a little surprising how intact everything is," he jerked his chin to the pictures and plaques on the wall, "It's also weird that this room has no graffiti while the rest of the ward does."

"Well, your friends said that the door was locked previously. Maybe no one could get in?"

"And then it just opens magically for you."

Fai assumed the child opened it for them, but he laughed to cover his thoughts, "I'd assume that someone picked it at some point."

Kurogane looked back dully, "Duh."

Fai's brow twitched, "No need to be rude, Kuro-meanie."

They looked through the ward, taking pictures and keeping away from the windows. Fai started to look into the darkness more and more as he heard giggling and running around them.

"Do you… hear something?"

"Nothing besides you," Kurogane looked back in question, "You okay?"

Fai nodded, not looking at his partner, "Just nerves."

Kurogane scoffed, "We met in a cemetery at night. How are nerves affecting you now?"

Fai didn't have a good answer. He was talking to his brother when Kurogane had shown up. The only problem was that Yuui had passed a few years prior in an accident. That night, Fai was digging up the grave to get a piece of his brother's hair, or anything at all. If he carried it, they assumed Yuui would be able to stay with Fai no matter what. That's when Kurogane snapped his first picture of Fai, the assumed grave robber. He played it off well, at least, but Kurogane had a point. He shouldn't be afraid now if he wasn't then.

"Want to head out?"

"Not yet," Fai said quickly and walked over to a rocking horse. "It's really sad in here. I wonder why they just left all these toys and cots behind."

Fai heard the snap of a camera shutter closing and jerked up. Kurogane had taken one of him rocking the toy. He couldn't help but smile a bit, "Did it turn out good?"

Kurogane shrugged and turned to photograph other thins in the ward. When Fai turned back to the toy, he was face to face with the child he saw before.

"Push me!" they echoed lightly.

Fai obliged the child before standing up. He glanced around and saw about 5 or 6 different children peeking out from behind the cots and door frames. They emitted an innocence that put Fai at ease. Still he was careful not to get too close or pay them too much attention as he caught up with Kurogane.

The tall man was walking away from whatever room he had just explored, "Nothing to see over there."

"Really?" Fai asked, "Isn't that the kid's theatre?"

"Yeah, but nothings left."

Fai could barely make out the curtains behind them, "You're a terrible liar."

Kurogane huffed angrily as Fai ran his flashlight over the area.

"Wait-"

Fai's eyes widened, and his hand stopped dead on a pile of small bones. "O-oh…"

They were very old and looked brittle. Fai was drawn to them despite Kurogane's protests. He knelt just before them and all other noises seem to disappear. He through caution to the wind as he reached out and touch the remaining part of the skull. He caught a flash of life from the bone and nearly ripped his hand away.

At this point, Kurogane forcibly pulled him away from the remains, "We shouldn't disturb… Hey! Are you okay?!"

Fai felt his cheek. Sure enough, he was crying regardless of what he wanted, "Um, yes I… I'm just… shocked."

He wiped his eyes cleaned and let Kurogane help him up. "The poor thing… she was choked to death," Fai said before he could stop himself, "Ah, I think anyway… who knows with how little there is left."

Kurogane let the topic drop as the found their way back out of the asylum. He gave Fai a blanket once they were back at the car. His legs were still wet from his fall and it wasn't a warm night.

"How'd you know how the kid died?"

"Hmm? Well, how else would a child in an asylum die. They were known for ignoring patients and even beating them."

Kurogane gave a frustrated sigh, "You didn't say she was ignored or beaten. You said choked. Plus, you said 'she.' That's pretty damn specific."

Fai remained silent as they drove down the highway. He didn't have any good excuses this time, but something eventually came to him, "I don't know… Maybe I was thinking about my cousin."

Kurogane's jaw ticked, "You are the most frustrating person I have ever been with."

Fai smiled lazily, "At least I'm fun!"

"You are?"

"Hey! You know I am!" Fai sat up straight and leaned over the arm rest, "I'm the funnest person you know and your life is boring without me!"

Kurogane seemed to relax after the outburst, "Yeah, whatever."

Fai giggled and sat back down.

"Do you think you'll ever explore with me again?"

Fai hummed, "I think so! Maybe not someplace so scary, though. There's that Sears that just closed by my house. Have you broken in yet?"

"Not yet," Kurogane answered.

"It's a date then!"