A/N: I've always liked this song... and I realized that it plus an insane-ish Fai could make a good story... but it kinda lost it's flare near the end, because I realized I was rambling, and I was trying to write a World History essay at the same time... Augh. I think I may turn the idea into a full-fledged story at one point... I don't know. I just don't particularly care much for this one; but that's why I made this little story-thing, so you all could read my random drabbles... But please review. It means a lot to me when you do. :grins like a maniac:

The song used is "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones. Lyrics are included for literary purposes.

Chapter Two: Paint It Black

Fai lie on the floor, letting the liquid that spattered the ceiling drip down and slide down his face, coloring him black as night, black as coal. An old paintbrush lay in his limp hand, and the evidence of an unbolted tantrum covered the room.

Black paint dripped from the walls, tarring against itself, gummy and matted to the touch. Broad strokes covered the room, pathetic strips of white peeking out where the mage had missed spots.

The ceiling resembled an inkblot pattern, where Fai had thrown the rest of the paint up onto it, trying to banish the white that so mocked him.

Black, black, black! Everything must be black! He gave a choked sob, seeing the uneven whiteness on the walls. He struggled upward, only to fall back, his body rebelling against his mind. He closed his eyes, seeking inner darkness.

It must match, must match!

So there he lay in the dark, the damp drip drip drip of paint from the ceiling lulling the half-crazed wizard into the fatigue he should have felt hours before.

A black tear rolled down from a sightless eye and Fai finally fell asleep for the first time since Celes.

"Look, witch, he's half-crazy! You must help him!" Kurogane growled, glaring down at the seated woman.

Yuuko sipped her sake, unbothered by the ninja's gruffness. "He must help himself," she said. "You may help as well. I can do nothing more for him."

"You've not done anything! All you've done is lock him up in that room!"

"To keep him from harming himself."

Kurogane seethed as he turned on his heel and stomped off.

A look of tenderness entered onto Yuuko's face. "I do hope you can bring that child happiness. Such suffering should not be allowed in life." She sighed and shook her head, remembering the state that they had all arrived back at her shop; bloody and bruised, unconscious, and then there was Fai…

There was a noise. In his shallow sleep Fai frowned. Who was in his room? Was it the witch…? It must be because she was the only one to come see him after they came back to her shop. He had a wish, she must know.

"I want to die; I wish for you to kill me," he rasped, his voice dry and dusty from misuse.

"Shut up."

Fai opened his eye, shocked. "K-K… Kurogane…"

He watched in horrified anguish as the ninja sat next to him. "What the hell did you do to the room?" he grumbled, surveying the messily painted walls and ceiling. His red eyes flicked to the light bulb shattered in the socket, then finally fixed on the black-spattered magician.

"…it's… black…"

"Why?"

Fai scowled, sitting up blearily. He leaned against the wall, the fabric of his clothing sticking to the tacky paint. Why was he talking to him? Why wasn't he mad?

The blonde man brought his knees up to his chin, biting his lip. He just wouldn't answer, and then Kurogane would get mad, and then leave. It would be like the game… that game to see who could be quiet the longest, and Fai was sure he'd win.

Kurogane scowled and reached out. He pulled Fai towards him. "Answer me, mage," he growled.

"Because it matches," Fai answered, smiling in a demented sereneness.

The ninja stared in horror at the emptiness of Fai's face. The man was limp like a doll, and his face, all for the smile, was devoid of emotion.

"It matches how utterly black my heart is…"

Kurogane let go of the man, and he fell back into the position he was in before. He stood and paced angrily around the room.

Everything was black, no light, no white… Fai kept his empty smile on his face. Now that everything was black, maybe he could fade into the darkness… and no one would ever notice him again. No one would ever care enough to come near, and he wouldn't hurt any one else. He could forget about everything…

"What kind of shit are you spouting?" A crack resounded through the room, and a searing light blasted into the darkness.

Fai looked up, eye watering. Kurogane had found the window he had painted over days ago. He winced, not at the light, but at the sight of his companion's bruised and bandaged body. "Go away," he whispered.

How could he have done that? Why? Why did he let himself be used as a vessel of death?!

"Surely you hate me."

He curled against the wall, retreating back to a child, scared and hurt; loveless and uncared for.

Kurogane gave a noise of disapproval. "Quit imagining things, idiot."

Upon being ignored Kurogane rolled his eyes. "I don't hate you. You're annoying as hell, but…"

Fai felt a warm hand against his cheek, and he leaned into the touch.

"But I wish that you'd actually be happy." Kurogane carefully wiped away some of the black paint from Fai's cheek, then withdrew his hand. "I'm going to let you think."

And then he left, leaving Fai alone in his black-painted prison, the light he introduced filling the room and the wizard's heart.

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens ev'ry day

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facin' up when your whole world is black

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you

If I look hard enough into the settin' sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin' comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

Hmm, hmm, hmm...

I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!