sorry about the pause. but I am trying to get a job. and yes, once (if) I get one I won't be able to update quite this often. lucky you there is so many reviewers in this one that I will surely update this first when I get the chance to to write. but these are still worries of the future. here is the new chap and thanks for reviewing ChouRan and great to have you back Guest8! hope you enjoy this one too!

Chapter &

A week had passed since he started at the new school. He was starting to get used to the blond's antics and he didn't mind that the girl sometimes came to eat with them. Yes, he indeed ate with the blond most of the days. Few times he had been in the same table as Fai and his friends, but that had been a bit too much to him. They were way to carefree for his liking.

This was one of the days when they ate in separate tables. He glanced the blond swinging his hands around while telling some out-of-this-world story. They had avoided talking or asking about their pasts and they hadn't really fought after the first time. Of course he still occasionally grew furious to the blond about the constant nicknames and poking and the fact that Fai did not know how to whistle. That itself wasn't a good reason to get pissed but it was that the blond anyway tried to make whistling sounds. Wheet-whoo just happened to sound extremely stupid and annoying. Especially when it came right next to his ear in purposefully high-pitched voice. He wondered that the blond must have some sort of death wish. Or then making him pissed was just so funny. Which he doubted. It must be because of the blond.

"Who are you staring?" the girl's voice asked. He hurriedly looked up to the girl that had come to stand next to him.

"You"

the girl rolled her eyes.

"For real. You know you can be pretty smart ass too?"

"whattaya mean too?" he asked frowning. The girl shrugged

"Never mind"

"probably yourself..." he muttered to himself.

"Hey, don't be rude!" the girl reproached him. He just continued eating like she wasn't there. He heard her gave a very audible sigh "Poor me. After I took all the trouble to come and invite you to my party next Friday and this is the thanks I get."

"And what makes you think I would want to come to your party?" he asked, half curious. Indeed, why would he want to go to a girl's party? When the girl wore all kind of frilly and girly clothing, it was only natural to assume the party would be frilly and boring.

"because it's not a girl party but a real party. There is alcohol included" the girl added with a sly smile. He just stared the girl nonchalantly. "My parent's are away for the weekend and they said I could throw a party. And in case something breaks I have to pay it back to them."

he lifted an eyebrow.

"Sounds like this isn't the first time you throw a party."

the girl smiled

"Nope. So you are coming?" he already opened his mouth to say no. if the blond had taught him anything, it was that with every question considering doing something or going somewhere had to be verbally turned down. Otherwise you'll be dragged to somewhere or forced to do something. He had been in a movie with the blond due to this. The guy had just come to his house, rung the doorbell and told his mother who had opened the door that they had agreed to go see a movie and that he had now come to show the way. Of course once his mother heard this she had been thrilled and there had been no way he had been able to decline. But the girl just swirled around and started skidding to someone else to make them come too. He sighed. Why was he surrounded by morons?

Usually they weren't much in contact in normal breaks but he was by himself doing something and Fai fooling with his friends. But this time the blond came to him

"Hi."

"Hn" he answered and put his Nintendo away.

"Tomoyo said you would be coming to the party?"

he shook his head.

"I didn't agree to it. Are you going?"

the blond looked away

"Dunno. I don't usually go to those, since Ashura doesn't really like 'kids drinking' as he calls it."

"Ashura?" he asked. Fai looked at him.

"My guardian. Father if you will"

he nodded, he recalled what Tomoyo had told him about Fai. But this was the first time the blond had mentioned his home or family.

"But you think of going this time?"

the blond grinned like a Cheshire cat

"Well, once in a while is not bad. And I figured it would be nice seeing you wasted."

he rolled his eyes

"Idiot. I don't get wasted easily. And I have no plans doing it with a bunch of strangers."

Fai sighed exaggeratedly and shook the blond mob of his

"You know, they wouldn't be strangers if you made any effort to get to know them. You know, you are getting rather famous. Girls think you look hot and you just are too mysterious."

he lifted an eyebrow

"How do you know?"

the blond winked

"I can see it". He frowned and Fai continued "that you are hot"

he felt his cheeks burn up and jumped to his feet, glaring down at the slightly shorter male.

"Am not" he snarled to Fai, forcing his blood to go somewhere else than his face. Fai just giggled and petted his cheeks.

"Aww, Kuro-pin is so shy!" the blond said and pranced away from him "so cute!"

the blond didn't quite manage to avoid his grab and he took a secure hold of the blond's upper arm.

"Ouch, Kuro-pui that hurts!" the blond claimed squirming in his hold. He just snorted.

"Yeah, right." he leaned closer so they were face to face with only a little air between them "This had better be the last time you call me cute, okay" he stared at the wide blue orbs and watched how Fai slowly and silently nodded. "Good" he said and let the go of the arm. Immediately Fai took a step back and hid his face behind a curtain of soft hair. He was already worried that he had gone too far and that now the blond would steer away from him from now on. For some reason the idea was hurtful even though he couldn't say why. He was just about to say whatever to make the blond cheer up when the head rose and the blue eyes were visible again- with a glint of mischief in them. He swallowed. He was sure that somehow going to regret telling the blond to behave like a normal human. And right he was

"Good thing I can still write that you are cute" the smile was 100% real. Out of the two of them, he was not the one who was cute."And thinking better of it, I can sing it too!"

and then the blond started to sing as loud as he could

"Kuro-puu is cuute~"

he face palmed

"Stop" he said through his hand. Fai ignored him and continued to sing it. Or rather shout it. People around them were looking perplexed and confused but some just shrugged. He figured those were the ones who knew Fai better. That this was his normal behavior. Fai didn't react to his plea and just chanted louder. "Fai!" he finally snapped and scowled to the blond who was silenced by the yell. The blond's mouth was still open and the blue eyes just stared him in amazement. He run a hand through his hair and sighed. Finally quiet.

"You actually do know my name" Fai muttered still staring at him. He looked back into the deep blue eyes

"Of course. Not everyone is as scatterbrain as you are"

Fai shook his head so the blond locks swung around.

"But you don't use it. I think that was the second time you have called me by my name"

he snorted

"You are the one who doesn't use real names"

the blond huffed and crossed his arms. So not threatening.

"but you have just called me an idiot. Or fool. Or moron. Along that line"

"Well, that's just because you are"

"As much as you are Kuro-pun"

"Am not"

the blond rolled his eyes and changed the subject

"So, are you coming?"

"Don't think so" he wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Even though if he wouldn't have been so withdrawn with everyone. Fai pouted

"you should come. Please come" the blond pleaded with eyes wide. The guy had no idea that he wasn't into puppy faces.

"Nope"

the blond was silent a while, biting his lips and thinking hard. Then there came the scheming glint into the blue eyes. The blond gave out an exaggerated sad sigh

"Too bad. I was so sure it could have been fun. But don't worry, I understand that you are afraid that everyone would laugh at you once I drink you under the table."

"You couldn't do that. No worries there"

the blond looked down on him

"Yeah, sure. Don't worry, I will keep your secret. "

the blond's smile was infuriating. Not because it was fake but because it was so sneering and pretending to know it all. He knew he shouldn't fall for this trap but he realized that if he would let the blond go to the party alone, he could tell all kind of ridiculous and false reasons why he wasn't there. And he would not let that happen. So he straightened his back and looked Fai straight in the eyes

"Fine. I'll come." he was so close to saying 'just so you won't embarrass me with your stories' but managed to bite his tongue before they slipped out. That would have just given the blond ideas how to make the party 'funnier'.

Fai kyaaed and clapped his hands together

"Great! Let's go there together, so you won't get lost, okay"

he nodded silently and the blond smiled and skidded away, probably to tell Tomoyo that they both would be coming. He sighed and rubbed his temples. It would be a long evening. But hopefully the booze would be good enough. He would love to see Fai the next day with a horrible hangover. The idea made him grin and he decided not to think more about it. It would be as bad as it would be.

I think the next chap will be about the party. and unless things take totally unforeseen turn, Kurogane will finally talk about his past. we'll have to wait and see if it really happens... reviews are valued and appreciated. thanks for reading :)