Disclaimer: We don't own OHSHC, TRC, FMA, the Rangers, or anything like that. They all belong to their respective owners. Guardian and I only own the plot and our original characters.
The two songs are Everything by Lifehouse and Stand in the Rain by Superchick. Go check them out; there really good. ^^
Chapter Two
A Crack in the Mage's Mask
At the opening of the club, Tamaki stood and called for everyone's attention. "Now princesses, I'd like to introduce you to some new hosts of ours. They're in training, and most of them have a partner." He began explaining. "This is Syaoran, and he'll be working with Haruhi. Kurogane here will be working with Mori-senpai, and Fai here will be working with me." The girls' eyes grew wide in anticipation, and Sakura was blending in perfectly with them, acting as if she didn't know any of them. Fallin smirked. What a great actress.
Fallin, Guardian, and Bekah-chan worked the room, refilling teacups and snack platters. Today, Sakura sat with Hikaru and Kaoru, since they had no hosts-in-training. Despite their casual demeanor, all the hosts had sharp eyes out for anyone suspicious that could be in possession of the feather. Mokona had told them earlier that it definitely felt a feather and it was somewhere in the school.
It turned out to be an uneventful day at the Host Club. When the group returned to the Ranger room, they found a girl with long, glossy blond ringlets lounging on one of the couches, wearing a boy's uniform as well. She turned her moss-green eyes to them, and when they landed on Fallin, the two screeched and flew towards each other, tacking each other. "Ohmigosh! Maru-dashi, when did you get to Ouran?" Fallin asked the newcomer.
"I just got here, like an hour ago. The question should be why did you leave Amestris before I got back?" she questioned her. Guardian and Bekah-chan threw her confused looks. Fallin stepped back. "Oh! Gosh, guys, I thought you knew her. This is Yami. And she's a Ranger and alchemist from Amestris like us although she's assigned to a ton more missions than us because we are assigned to a single team and she has to perform one-time missions in several different dimensions. In Amestris, she's known as the Plant Alchemist." Then the others nodded.
"Okay, so she's like you guys, but she's not assigned to us," Fai clarified. Yami nodded. "I've been brought here for an investigation into a suspicious character. Apparently, they've got an extremely powerful object in their possession." Syaoran and the others all stared at her in surprise, even Kurogane, although his was more of a surprised scowl. "A feather, perhaps?" Fai whispered. The others nodded. "I think so, at least," Yami said.
"Well, I think we should be relaxing for a while. We have another day of hosting in front of us. Can you play some of your music for us, Guardian? That always relaxes us after a hectic day, please?" Bekah-chan asked. Guardian nodded. "Sure, Bekah-chan." Then she got up to go find her guitar. Fallin stood as well.
"If y'all want to change, go ahead. We'll reassemble here when everyone's done," she said, strolling off with Yami. The others got up, eager to get out of their uncomfortable uniforms into some more comfortable clothing.
xXx
When they all reassembled, they found the hosts lounging with Guardian as she tuned her acoustic guitar. Syaoran, Sakura, Fai, Kurogane, and Mokona gazed in wonder as she continued playing, strumming her pick up and down on the strings of her instrument, sometimes tuning the strings again until it was perfectly in tune with her pocket tuner, completely unaware of their presence. The seven hosts, Fallin, and Bekah-chan just smiled at the sight as they watched Guardian play. It had been a long time since they had seen her like this: at peace, not having worrying about keeping her friends safe as she entranced them with her music.
Then Guardian started to sing in her contralto voice as she kept strumming the instrumental part of the song she was singing on her guitar.
Find me here and speak to me.
I want to feel you. I need to hear you.
You are the light that's leading me
To the place where I find peace...again.
You are the strength that keeps me walking.
You are the hope that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose.
You're everything.
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Yeah.
You calm the storms and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands. You won't let me fall.
You steal my heart and you take my breath away.
Won't you take me in? Take me deeper now.
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Then Guardian paused for a moment, halting her strumming on her guitar, before she started to sing and play with more passion, tapping the marble floor with the heel of her foot to the faster tempo, as she sang the chorus.
'Cause you're all I want! You're all I need!
You're everything! Everything!
You're all I want! You're all I need!
You're everything! Everything!
You're all I want! You're all I need!
You're everything! Everything!
You're all I want! You're all I need!
You're everything! Everything!
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better...any better than this?
Whoa! Yeah!
Then the music slowed down to the slower tempo Guardian was playing at the beginning of the song and was gentler as the song came to its end.
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
Guardian strummed the ending sequence of the song then let her guitar rest in her lap, her right arm draping over the body of the guitar and her left hand still holding the neck. She sighed contentedly then looked out the window, gazing at the Sakura trees lining the pathways crisscrossing Ouran's courtyard, taking in the warm, golden sunlight streaming into Music Room 3 through the window. The sound of applause and cheers startled the little alchemist and she looked around at her friends. Guardian giggled a little bit before bowing her head in thanks with a big smile on her face. Once the others stopped clapping, they walked over to Guardian.
"That was beautiful, Guardian-san!" Sakura exclaimed, making Guardian blush a little bit and swing her free leg back and forth. "Thank you, Sakura. I'm glad that you enjoyed it," Guardian replied with a smile.
"What's that song called, Guardian? I haven't heard you play that one before," Tamaki asked her, curious about the song she had just played, being the very musical person that he was. Guardian looked up at him and said, "It's called 'Everything' by a Christian band called Lifehouse. It's one of my favorite songs."
Tamaki nodded before Mokona asked, "Can you play something else for us, Guardian-san? Mokona would like that very much!"
Guardian laughed then said, "Sure, Mokona. Now, let's see. What should I play?" Guardian closed her eyes for a moment before they opened once more. Then she started to play a different melody from the first, but this one was a slightly bit darker in tone.
She never slows down.
She doesn't know why but she knows that when she's all alone, feels like it's all coming down.
She won't turn around.
The shadows are long and she fears if she cries that first tear, the tears will not stop raining down.
So stand in the rain. Stand your ground.
Stand up when it's all crashing down.
You stand through the pain. You won't drown.
And one day, what's lost can be found.
You stand in the rain.
She won't make a sound.
Alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands she'll fall down.
She wants to be found.
The only way out is through everything she's running from wants to give up and lie down.
So stand in the rain. Stand your ground .
Stand up when it's all crashing down.
You stand through the pain. You won't drown.
And one day, what's lost can be found.
You stand in the rain.
Then Guardian stopped singing as she passionately played the musical interlude before she stopped playing entirely for a moment as sang the next part of the song gently strumming chords before picking the music back up to where it was.
So stand in the rain. Stand your ground.
Stand up when it's all crashing down.
Stand through the pain. You won't drown.
And one day, what's lost can be found.
So stand in the rain. Stand your ground.
Stand up when it's all crashing down.
Stand through the pain. You won't drown.
And one day, what's lost can be found.
You stand in the rain.
Guardian played the ending music with much fervor as it built up then bottomed out as she gently played the melody until the song ended. Then she bowed her head again with a smile as the others applauded. But then Guardian noticed that Fai had left the group and sat down in a chair near the window, resting his elbows on his knees and his head on his folded hands. But...Fai never acted this way in front of others. The magician had always hid behind a mask and a flippant demeanor, pretending that everything was okay with his life. Guardian had noticed this ever since she had first met Fai: a distance between himself and the people around him. Now it felt like his mask had slipped for a brief moment...as if her song had struck a chord within Fai that was making him act this way now.
Guardian stood up and placed her guitar on the windowsill before walking over to Fai. She stopped in front of him before she said with a very concerned look in her brown eyes, "Fai? Fai, are you all right? If something is bothering you, you can tell me. I'll listen and not judge you. You can trust me."
"Have you ever felt like that, Guardian? Like you want to give up when your entire world comes crumbling down around you?" Fai asked her in almost a whisper, his blue eyes hidden behind his pale blonde bangs. Guardian looked at her friend with a sad expression as her eyes started to fill with tears as she gazed sadly at Fai, sensing that he had been through some very hard times in his life that no one should have to go through. She did know the feeling: a feeling of helplessness and the weight of what had happened in the past weighing down on her... witnessing and experiencing things that no one should have to face. It was feeling she would never want anyone else to have to go through.
Guardian sat down on her knees in front of Fai and put her hand under his chin before gently lifting up to make him look at her. Fai didn't shrug her off like Guardian thought that he would and looked into her eyes, his own blue ones filled up with tears. Guardian's expression turned sad as she looked into his face. She had never seen Fai with tears in his eyes...never.
"I do know the feeling, Fai," Guardian told him. "I know. Your world feels like it's crumbling and there's no way to escape. All you can do is try to run away from what scares you...from your problems, memories that continue to haunt you in your dreams. But I've learned over the years to face my problems and not let them control me. It doesn't do me, or the people around me, any good to live in the past when I should be living my life to the fullest in the present. And don't be afraid to rely on others, Fai. Despite what you think, you don't cause the people around you to get hurt. That is from the choices of others, not you, so don't think that. Believe me, Fai. If you just let others into your life, you won't have to hide behind a mask. You can be free to just be yourself."
"Guardian, I..." Fai started before Guardian put a finger to his lips, silencing him as she shook her head 'no'.
"Don't you dare say 'I can't' because you can, Fai," she told him sternly but gently as she continued. "You can start with me and don't be afraid to share your heart with me either. I won't judge you on the things you've done in the past. You're my friend, Fai, and I want you to know that you have a clean slate when you talk to me. Just try to trust me and take me at my word."
Tears started to fall down Fai's face as he flung himself into Guardian's open embrace, surprising the little alchemist. She almost fell over, but kept her balance as Fai buried his face in her shoulder.
"Thank you, Guardian. Thank you," Fai said into her ear as her kind and loving arms enveloped him. And for the first time in a long time, Fai felt safe, loved, and...accepted for who he was. That was a feeling he had not felt for a long time. As he cried until he couldn't anymore, Guardian just held Fai close, whispering words of comfort and safety to him as he did.
The others looked on with a breathless look on their face, all except for Fallin and Bekah-chan, who just smiled. "There you go," Bekah-chan whispered. "There's Guardian for you. Always the miracle worker," Fallin finished. Kurogane simply walked out of the room, closing it softly so no one heard him leave.
xXx
That night, Guardian, now clad in a t-shirt and a pair of soft black sweats, situated bedding arrangements for everyone in the Ranger room while the others got ready for bed. She stayed up late sitting in one of the armchairs reading her Message Bible in the light of the moon as the others fell asleep one by one. It was almost midnight when Guardian closed her Bible and put it next to her things. She then stood up, stretching as her stiff joints popped wonderfully, and looked around the room at her sleeping friends.
Sakura was curled up in her thick blankets and comforter on the floor and Syaoran slept next to the Princess, unconsciously holding her hand in his own. Bekah-chan was sleeping soundly on one of the couches and Fallin slept on the ground next to Bekah-chan, breathing gently as she dreamed, with Mokona cuddling next to her face on her pillow. Fai was sleeping next to where Guardian's and Kurogane's neglected sleeping areas were next to the two other Rangers, Syaoran, and the Princess with his covers half off his body as he slept peacefully with no dreams to haunt his sleep.
Guardian shook her head with a grin before she walked over to Fai and pulled the mage's covers back over his lanky body. She smiled slightly when Fai unconsciously curled into the covers then relaxed back to his original position on his side. Then Guardian quietly slipped out of the Ranger room into the large expanse of Music Room 3.
Guardian wandered the enormous room before she finally found Kurogane sitting on a windowsill gazing up at the pale moon with a frown on his face. The little Light Alchemist walked up to him and asked, "Aren't you going to bed, Kurogane? It's pretty late."
The warrior turned to her and said, "I would ask the same of you, Guardian. You've had a pretty busy day, so you must be tired."
Guardian shook her head tiredly then sat down on the windowsill next to Kurogane. "I couldn't sleep. So I tried reading my Bible to help me go to sleep when I noticed that you hadn't come into the Ranger room to go to bed. Is there something troubling you? If you don't mind me asking."
Kurogane looked back out the window again with a scowl. Guardian drew her knees to her chest, ready for when he would burst, and looked down at the Sakura trees in the courtyard. But to her surprise...he didn't get angry with her for asking. All Kurogane did was sigh and said, "Why was he able to drop his mask when you talked to him today, Guardian?"
He was talking about Fai. Guardian kept looking out the window and said, "I don't know. You really can't predict what Fai will do next, but I am glad that he was able to just be himself with me today. And I know that he won't be able to accept that everything that happened to the people around him in his past wasn't his fault and be able to tell us what happened to him before we all met Fai overnight. It will take time before Fai will truly be comfortable telling us about his past and what his fears really are, but it warms my heart that he's decided to try. I'm very thankful for that."
Kurogane nodded then turned to look at Guardian. Guardian looked up at him and noticed that his red eyes were warmer towards her, not the cold fire like they usually were, and there was a small rare grin on his face. "Thank you," he told her. "Thank you for everything you've done for us so far, especially for the Princess and Fai."
Guardian returned his grin with a small smile, her chocolate eyes twinkling. "You're welcome, Kurogane."
Fallin padded toward them, stretching her arms over her head, wearing a baggy black shirt with a red Flamel symbol on it with basketball shorts. "Hey, guys. Couldn't sleep either?" she asked, her voice sleepy. "Hey, Fallin," Kurogane murmured. Fallin stopped dead in her tracks. "Hey…" she said warily. "What?" he snapped. She shook her head. "Nothing… it's just… you've never called me by my name before, Kurogane." He looked toward the window and Fallin swore she saw a little bit of a blush on his face before it faded. "Well, a lot of stuff has changed today. I decided that you guys are pretty much part of our group now and I trust that. Plus, Guardian cracked a small part of Fai's soul. And for that, I'd give her the world."
Fallin smiled and placed her hand on Kurogane's arm. "It'll all be alright. It's just gonna take some time for Fai's soul to heal completely after all the damage it's been dealt." Kurogane smiled, a real smile for once. "Thanks, you two." Fallin and Guardian grinned, and then both burst into a yawn at the same time. Then they looked at each other and burst into quiet hysterics so they wouldn't wake the rest of the building. Kurogane chuckled along with them, enjoying himself for once.
"Alright, well, I couldn't sleep, so I'm gonna talk to Ed. Wanna come, Guardian?" Fallin asked. Guardian nodded and they walked down the hall until Fallin found a window seat. She laid back on it, her blue-black hair splayed on the cushion. Guardian sat cross-legged on the floor beside her. Fallin once again activated the snowflake inside her pendant and Ed popped up on the projection. Only this time…. he wasn't alone. A small blond haired girl was fixing his automail and Fallin assumed it was Winry.
Winry. Fallin narrowed her eyes. Wasn't this the girl Ed has said wasn't his girlfriend? Ed got a nervous look on his face.
"Oh, hey, Fallin. Need something?" he asked, voice shaking. Winry looked at him. "Who's that, Ed?" He looked at the sheets. "Oh, just a Ranger friend. She's reporting in from another dimension." Winry smiled and waved at Fallin, who just clenched her fists. 'Just a Ranger friend'? After all that had happened in Amestris? Then she understood. Ed was still hung up on Winry, still liked her, even after he insisted to Fallin he didn't.
"I guess not anymore. I just wanted to talk before I went to sleep, but you look a little busy," she said, not bothering to hide the anger that was forming in her voice.
"Wait, Fallin, I-" Ed started, but Fallin shut off the transmission. Guardian just sat there with a look of pure shock on her face. Then Fallin sighed a deep sigh, her breath trembling at the end. Silent tears rolled off her face and she flipped over on the bench, her sobs muffled by the cushion. "Why," she whispered, lifting her head off the cushion, "am I just his 'friend'?" Then she wiped the tears away from her face.
"I should've known," she said, rising off the window seat and walking back to the Ranger room. Guardian rose and followed her, slinging her arm over Fallin's shoulder. "He'll come around. He knows what's good for him," Guardian told Fallin with a small grin.
We hope that you all enjoyed this chapter. ^^