Hi! thank you again ChouRan for the review! I'll do my best to open some of the mysteries. I have some ideas on how to work on things, but I won't go much deeper into ashura-situation. Fai can handle it with Kurogane by his side. sorry that this one is a bit shorter and not so plottish, but they needed to have a calm morning after everything.

Chapter 12

He had just some toast for breakfast. He was not into the sweet stuff, so he just watched how Fai made himself some pancakes. He wondered how many of their age would be that comfortable with making food. Or snack to be more precise. He couldn't understand why so many thought waffles and pancakes to be a good start for the day.

"you are rather good at that" he stated from his seat on the table. Fai glanced him over his shoulder

"I have been doing these for ages. Ashura is so bad at cooking."

he lifted his eyebrow.

"Why do you call him by his name? Shouldn't you call him dad or something?"

Fai shrugged without bothering to turn to him and fuzzed with the batter

"I do when I am talking to him. But I find it a bit false. Not like we are a real family." he didn't need the blond to say anything more. He understood well what Fai meant. It must feel fake if you aren't you to begin with.

"Have you tried talking him about it?"

the blond locks swung around when Fai shook his head

"I don't want to. It makes him happier. And not like I want to be taken away from here and start over again. It could be a lot worse, you know"

he nodded even though Fai couldn't see. He had heard stories about the fall out kids who have just been tossed from one place to another.

"But it's not healthy. He is a bit..."

Fai turned to him and glared him angrily

"No he is not. And think about it, what good would it get if I told someone about it? I would be dragged away and he would loose his job. You think the hospital would keep him employed if he would be mentally unstable. No one would gain from it."

he swallowed and looked down on his plate. He couldn't take the defiance voice with such a sad eyes. He knew Fai was hurting a lot about the situation, that he wanted to be himself but that it would ruin the one he considered family. Fai sighed and turned back to the stove.

"You don't need to worry" Fai said flatly. He snorted

"Right" he said sarcastically "But I do. But I understand its a tricky situation. But you have to learn to be you, despite the way you are being addressed"

Fai chuckled

"You mean like you do when you are being called with nicknames and insulted?"

he play-growled

"Yeah, that's me. Kicking everyone's ass who dares to disrespect me" he said and this time Fai looked at him with the joyfully sparkling blue eyes.

"Good to know I respect you" the blond said jokingly. He lifted an eyebrow.

"You didn't know that already?" he answered plainly. Fai grinned at him and produced the just finished pancakes.

"How could I? You don't even like pancakes" Fai said, eyes wide in pretended horror. He rolled his eyes

"Idiot"

Fai sat next to him, leaning his head on his hand, shoulder on the table and looking at him, head slightly tilted. He was mesmerized by it. He just stared back at the blond, unable to even think that he should look away. The blue eyes looked so honest right now, like Fai would have finally managed to drop all his masks. And he was breathtaken by it. He couldn't help but feel so contempt and happy to be sitting just there with Fai right beside him, looking relaxed and freed. There wasn't that haunted loneliness and hidden sadness in the blue eyes.

"You are amazing" he mumbled. Fai looked surprised, mouth opening a a bit, straightening up and the hand collapsed to the table. Then a slow blush formed to the pale cheeks and Fai turned his face forward, shielding it with hair from his gaze. When the connection was cut, he realized what he had said and he coughed a bit. Fai started eating his pancakes and he continued his toast.

The silence was a bit awkward, he didn't know what to say so that he wouldn't make it worse. He was himself a bit embarrassed but since it was out there he wasn't going to back out on his words. Not like they were false anyway. After thinking it a moment he slowly smirked. The blush had made Fai look so innocent. And he was pleased to know he had the ability to baffle the blond. Things would get more even between them now that he could tease Fai right back. Albeit he didn't mind the blond's constant teasing so much anymore. Most of the time he didn't even get a headache and he knew the blond didn't mean harm with his words, sharp as they might be.

He leaned back his chair and stretched.

"I don't think I ever answered you." Fai peaked at him when he spoke up. Having the blond's attention he continued. "But no, I don't like Tomoyo. She is just like a cousin or little sister or something. I could never be interested in her"

Fai gasped a bit. The blond squirmed in his seat, still not looking at him.

"Why are you telling me that?"

he shrugged

"Because you asked it. Have you actually already asked it twice? I'm not sure, it's rather foggy"

there was a small silence

"Ahaa, so you admit you were drunk!" Fai said triumphantly. He turned his head so he was facing the blond

"I haven't denied it. But so were you."

Fai hmp-ed and munched his pancakes. He kept on looking.

"You mind to stop?" Fai finally asked.

"Why should I?"

"Because it's rather disturbing"

"So? Aren't you all up to a little teasing?"

the blond head shook

"No, I am not. Just most of the time"

he was already about to let it go for now, he didn't really want to pressure Fai. He just had to ask one more thing

"Why did you ask if I was into Tomoyo?"

Fai turned his head to the other side so he was now looking at the back of Fai's head. The blond was all tense and fidgety. He felt sad for making situation that stressful to Fai. He scratched his neck,

"Sorry" he said "It's not really my business"

"I think it is if you are being asked something" Fai mumbled barely comprehensibly. He sighed and shook his head.

"Maybe, but it's not my business to know why you want to know." he stopped to gather his thoughts and Fai's head turned a bit back towards him. "It's up to you to tell me when you feel like it. If you feel like it. I shouldn't pry on your every secret". Fai's posture melted a bit and the blond was facing forward again.

"But why do you want to know why I wanted to know?" Fai asked, quiet but clear. His eyebrows lifted

"I am trying to let it go, and you keep bringing it up?"

Fai shrugged

"We have already talked so much and told so much. You know more about me than anyone else. Sometimes I feel you know me even better than I know myself."

he thought about it a while.

"I want to know, because I want to trust you. I don't know if I yet really do, but I trust you more than other people"

Fai looked at him again, blue eyes calm.

"Thanks. I know that means a lot"

he nodded in acknowledge. Fai smiled at him softly and he found himself smiling back. At first Fai looked astonished, but then the blond smiled even more softly and beaming.

Life could get good. Maybe the move had been a really good thing.

so, until next time. I'll write when I can and feel like it. bye!