A/N: I already had this written, so I uploaded it! So, how bad did the prologue daunt you guys? Remember, my prologues tend to lean towards the endings of the stories. So you'll have a little happiness before the sadness. Lyrics are from Switchfoot's "Living is Simple". Not much to this chapter, just an introduction, really...

Chapter One: Like Butterflies

'Living is simple

It's entropy

Entropy, falling apart

I'm falling apart

Again.'

Fai swayed slightly, but quickly caught his balance. "Just a bit more!" he mumbled, stretching out further to put the tack in the wall.

Finally, his luck ran out and he fell from his precarious perch on top of the wobbly computer chair. He closed his eyes tightly, waiting for the jarring collision with the floor.

It never came. Instead, he found himself blinking up at an angry, but handsome, tanned face.

"Hello there!" Fai cried, plastering on a smile. "Are you my roommate?"

The man dropped Fai upon seeing that he was okay. "I guess," the man grunted.

Fai grinned up at him from the floor. "I'm Fai D. Flowright! I'm a freshman here, and I'm studying magic!"

"Kurogane," the man said shortly. "Swordsmanship."

Fai blinked blankly, then grinned. "I think Kuro-chan's in the wrong dorm!"

"Kurogane!" the other student snapped. "And no. I got put here."

"Is such a big swordsman like Kuro-chichi upset about being put in a dorm called the Butterfly Wing?" Fai asked innocently, grinning childishly.

"That's not my name!" The black-haired man snapped, dropping his bags onto the floor.

The blonde shrugged. "Kuro-pinpon's bed is over there," he said, pointing to the door nearest to the closet. "I've chosen this one." He then, as testament to this, plopped face-first onto the unmade bed, sighing happily. "It's next to the window."

"So?"

"Weeeeell, I like windows because you can stare out them, and…"

Kurogane sighed; he shouldn't have asked at all. He dumped his things on the empty bed, his roommate still rambling on.

This was going to be a very long year.

"KURO-TAAAN!" Fai shouted. "COME HERE! I NEED YOU!"

Kurogane raced into the cramped kitchen, toothbrush clamped between his teeth. "Wha' is it?! Did 'ou set the toaster on fire 'gain?" he muttered, looking around.

Fai gave a sweet grin. "Heavens no! Do you want eggs this morning?"

"WHY YOU!" Kurogane took a swing at Fai's head, and the blonde man ducked, laughing joyously.

"What? It was important!" The blonde whined, smiling.

"I thought you were hurt or something, dammit," the swordsman-in-training hissed.

Fai cocked an eyebrow, smirking. "Kuro-myaan cares!"

Kurogane took this moment to throw a plate at the lithe blonde, who promptly ducked, showering the counter with ceramic shards.

"Ooooh! That could have hurt, Kuro-kuro!" Fai giggled, wagging a finger. "Good thing I dodged, huh?"

Kurogane bit back an angry comment, and stomped off.

Fai sighed softly, and resigned himself to cleaning up the mess.

"Butterfly, huh?" he murmured, tracing a finger against the badge he wore on his uniform, marking his dorm. "Does that mean I'm supposed to change?"