Chapter 24
(A.N: Gomen nasai! This chapter is shorter in comparison to most of the other chapters that I've written. GAH. I'm sorry. Sadface. But I needed to update this...And ANGST. Kind of drifting away from Fai's problems – sort of. Sorry guys. I'm just so out of it lately. TT means time passing, or scene changes. This & "This," refer to video footage – it'll make sense as you read. 'These are thoughts.' R&R?)
TT
Fai was in the student parking lot – sitting on the hood of his car. He was facing the schools entrance, and smoking. Kurogane was leaning against the stone wall that lined the schools entrance, and trying not to look at the blonde. Syaoran and Sakura were perched on said wall, as was Kamui – though he was a little further away. Fuuma was standing in front of him.
The two quickly became the center of attention.
"I told you already...Even when I told him to stay – he left. I couldn't have stopped him, Kamui."
"You didn't even try! You told him not to leave...But you didn't follow him, or even wake someone up! You just came up to bed and went to sleep! How come you never bothered with telling me?"
"Because I knew how you'd react," the taller of the ravens said it calmly, and sighed when his fiancée scowled,
"Come on Kamui...You know he wouldn't have listened to me..."
"You knew how I'd react? What are you implying?" The shorter raven was glaring viciously.
"...Did you skip out on coffee again this morning?"
"As a matter of fact – yes I did. You know why? Because I can't be bothered with cheering myself up in the morning, only to be met with frustration, confusion, sadness, and anger again later. All of which comes from not having Fai in the gang anymore. Yeah – he talks to us – but he ignores the one person that means more to him than life itself! And you just admitted to the fact that you didn't even bother with chasing him down. And now, you're implying the fact that you know everything about me – which you don't."
Kurogane glanced at the blonde while listening to Kamui's rant, and then turned his attention back to focusing on nothing in particular. He kept his ears open.
"Listen Kamui, I understand why you're mad at me...I get it. Fai's our friend – our best friend – and he left...And I didn't chase him down...But how you're reacting right now? This is exactly why I never told you. Because I know you...And I knew how you'd-"
He was cut off rather abruptly.
Everyone turned to stare.
Fuuma was knocked down shortly afterwards, and he landed on the ground with a thud.
"Stop talking like you know everything there is to know about me! YOU DON'T!" Kamui hopped down from his place on the wall, and stepped over to Fuuma – standing before him,
"I am so sick, and so tired of all of this bullshit! I hate how everyone assumes that they know me! I hate how you assume that you know everything there is to know about me! You don't! No one does! And you-!" He shook as he tried to control himself,
"You let our friend go! You didn't chase him down! You told him to stay, he left, and you didn't tell me a damned thing!"
Fuuma didn't reply. He knew better.
"And you know what? I'm tired! I'm tired of how people talk to me, and how you act with me! I'm sick and tired of everything! And if Fai isn't going to stay with Kurogane...Then..." There was a moment of silence as Kamui shifted.
His ring hit the ground with a clink.
He didn't speak. He grabbed his bag, turned on his heel, and walked away – heading away from the entrance.
TT
Fai could see them perfectly from his position on the hood of the car.
He was trying not to look at Kurogane, and the raven appeared to be doing the same. Which was good. It was their second week of the new school year, and it had started off...Horribly. Kurogane had tried to talk to him...And he'd avoided him like the plague.
He should have known that it wouldn't be enough.
He rubbed at his arm subconsciously – this time, it was the upper half of his arm. His Father was relentless...First he was bruised for having a boyfriend...Then for having gay friends...And of course his Father was blissfully unaware of Raiko and Shooter's relationship...
He tried to stop his thoughts, and instead focused on Fuuma and Kamui – who appeared to be arguing.
He didn't have to wonder what their argument was about for long though – when his boyfriend...Ex-boyfriend...Glanced his way.
And then he watched as Kamui slapped Fuuma across the face, before kicking him down. The short male hopped down off of the wall, and seemed to be yelling at his fiancée...
And then Fai watched in silent horror as Kamui threw down his ring.
TT
He wasn't surprised in the slightest to hear them arguing – again. There was a lot of that going on lately. But when Kamui threw down his ring...
He felt bad for Fuuma – who was just sitting on the ground, staring at the ring. He wasn't smiling, or brushing it off...He wasn't even moving...
But Kurogane was more concerned about Fai.
The blonde had been rubbing at his arm when he set his gaze on him for those few brief seconds. And this time, it was the upper half of his arm.
His Father, he guessed.
It was irritating beyond all belief that – even though Fai had broken up with him – the blonde was still being abused. Why? What was the point? He'd already taken his life apart...What more could he possibly want?
A flash of pale beauty flashed before his eyes, and he stiffened his natural reaction of reaching out. If he put out an arm now – things would turn ugly.
Fai was crouching beside Fuuma – who was finally sitting himself up properly, and pocketing Kamui's engagement ring. The raven haired male chuckled slightly, and made a joke about how maybe he should have gotten the male a better ring. Fai only offered him a sad smile, because – although Fuuma was trying to hide it – he could see him falling apart inside.
"Fuuma..."
"I think...I think I might go home for the day...Not feeling too well right now..."
"...Do you want me to go with you?"
"...Nah, I'll be fine. I'm used to him being angry with me, remember?" He grinned for emphasis.
But Fai knew that he was just putting on a strong front.
Even as the raven got to his feet, his eyes looked far away. He was lost, and the blonde was concerned for him. That gaze was so familiar to him...
He had seen it on Kamui.
TT
He'd gone back to their apartment, and had rifled through his stuff – packing things absently. When he'd packed up his clothes, he grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste, and put them in a Ziploc bag. And then, he opened one of the bedside drawers, and pulled out another Ziploc bag – a bigger one. This one was loaded with pictures – from their summer vacation. He knew what he was looking for as he pulled out the stack, so it didn't take him long to find it.
As he stared at the photo, he smiled. In it, Kamui was sitting next to him. He had leaned over to kiss the shorter raven on the side of his forehead, and had reached out with his left hand, to take hold of Kamui's left hand. The shorter raven was smiling, and blushing – slightly. Their rings were both clear in the picture.
He put the rest of the pictures away, and stuffed the one he'd snuck out – into his pocket. Then, he grabbed his bags and took off.
Kamui would be back soon enough.
TT
Even as he stepped into the apartment, he could tell that it was empty.
He removed his shoes, and wandered over to the bedroom – setting down his bag slowly, just inside of the door. He could see it from where he was standing. Fuuma's half of the closet.
It was empty.
He stumbled over to it, as if it were some crazy illusion. As if Fuuma were going to jump out at any given moment and startle him...
But it wasn't some messed up dream.
A few of Fuuma's shirts still hung there, forgotten. He'd been blinded by his emotions then...He probably couldn't see straight...
He was shaking as he unbuttoned one of the males dress shirts, before sliding it off of its hanger. He tugged it on, buttoning it up as much as he could before the tears took over. Wobbly legs carried him to the bed – which was where he collapsed.
"...Fuuma..." He turned on his television, and the DVD player – forgetting that in it, there was a disc with video footage of the two of them and some of their friends, on summer vacation.
He watched Fai taking the video camera from Tomoyo, and then the blonde disappeared behind said camera. The video showed Kamui himself sitting in front of Fuuma – who kissed his shoulder. On screen, the shorter raven leaned back against the taller males chest – and long arms wrapped around him.
The video showed the two speaking to one another – too softly for the recording device to pick up the sound...And then Fai wandered closer to the two, and Fuuma looked up into the camera, grinning.
"What're you two talking about?" The familiar voice of the blonde questioned.
"Plotting against you, of course," Fuuma answered the question as though it were obvious. And – on screen – Kamui chuckled.
"Oh really?" And here Fai kneeled,
"It looks to me like the two of you were discussing wedding plans..."
Neither answered at first, and Kamui's face lit up – as did his ears. Fuuma chuckled, kissed his fiancées shoulder, then his neck,
"We were," the taller of the two murmured softly.
Fai giggled behind the camera, as the shorter raven blushed furiously.
"We were thinking sometime in the spring...Maybe next summer..." Fuuma continued, kissing Kamui's neck again.
"We were planning on asking you and Kurogane to be our best men...Kurogane with Fuuma, and you with me..."
"Really? Wow...I feel so honoured..."
There was more talk of the wedding plans, in Fuuma's gentle voice. And as Kamui watched in silence, the tears increased and sobs racked through his body.
What had he done?
TT
He was on his way over to their apartment. He hadn't been able to sleep, and he hadn't bothered with unpacking...And he was worried about him.
Even though Kamui had been the one to call it off, he still knew that he should check on him...Make sure he was alright.
So he drove to their building, and entered the main entrance quietly. He took the elevator up, snuck into their apartment unit as silently as he could...
He went to the bedroom, and wasn't surprised in the slightest to find Kamui sleeping. He went to the television and turned it off – as well as the DVD player – which he noted was still playing footage from their summer vacation. He started turning hydro off in the bedroom as well – leaving only one lamp – beside the bed - on.
He crept over to the bedside, and brushed Kamui's bangs out of his eyes. The males cheeks were tear stained, and there were still tear droplets in his eyelashes.
"Oh Kamui, baby..." Fuuma murmured gently, and watched as the shorter raven shifted in his sleep,
"...I love you...More than anything...And you should know that I'll never really give up on you..." He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the males forehead.
When he pulled away again, he pulled the blankets up over the ravens shoulders, and turned off the lamp, before letting himself out of the apartment.
TT
He didn't stir until noon, and when he did, it took him a few minutes to understand what was wrong with his surroundings.
When he understood it, he shot up – quickly.
Fuuma's half of the closet was still empty. But the lamps were off – and he'd left them on the previous night...The television and DVD player were off as well.
And only one other person had access to the apartment.
"...Fuuma?"
Maybe he was sleeping in the living room...Maybe he'd come home...
"...Fuuma?" He tried calling out a little bit louder this time – but he was met with silence. He wrapped his arms around his knees, and scoffed at himself. Who was he kidding? He expected to see Fuuma here? After breaking their engagement?
He'd be lucky if the male continued with speaking to him at all.
But then again, why should he? It wasn't like he had anything special to offer, right? He was just Kamui, plain and simple. He woke up grouchy and unstable in the mornings, he loved to read, and he sometimes let his emotions get the better of him. He was quiet, but perceptive. He had no family...And he'd thrown away the opportunity of having one because he couldn't just...Grow up and deal with his issues...
The tears came back heavily as he began to shake.
TT
"You two should really talk things out..." Fai murmured.
Kamui didn't answer, but he scoffed lightly. He was clearly indicating that the blonde was a hypocrite.
"It was different between Kurogane and I...We were dating...You two were engaged..."
Kamui ducked his head.
"Talking about me this early in the morning?" Fuuma's voice teased, as the male hopped up on to the wall – on the opposite side of Fai.
"Of course we are," the blonde agreed, laughing,
"We're plotting against you."
It was Friday, and Fuuma and Kamui hadn't spoken at all over the week. Instead, they locked themselves up in their own forms of silence, and longing.
But today was different.
When Fai locked his gaze with that of Fuuma – the raven haired male nodded in the direction of the school's main entrance.
"Right. So, I'm going to go and find Sakura-chan...I'll catch you guys later!" He didn't wait for Kamui. He just hopped down and took off.
Kamui shifted slightly, feeling edgy.
He'd been left alone with Fuuma.
Neither of the males spoke a word. Fuuma didn't know how to start a conversation...And Kamui was equally as lost. Though he was plotting against Fai in his silence.
"...Whatever master plan you're coming up with for revenge...Can I help?"
The shorter of the two ravens, laughed. He hadn't been expecting Fuuma to read his expression...And he hadn't been expecting for him to speak to him so jokingly...
Especially after he'd...
He looked away again, down to his feet.
"...I'm not mad."
The words were so sudden, and so earnest, that Kamui turned his head – eyes wide.
Fuuma wasn't mad at him? But he'd slapped him, and kicked him over – in front of the school. He'd thrown his engagement ring down in front of him...He'd...He'd cried over him all damn night – waking up with tears in his eye lashes, every night that week...He'd been missing him, and regretting what he'd done all day, every day - until he'd passed out...He'd woken up that first day without him - hoping that he was in the living room...
"Kamui?"
He blinked, then nodded.
"I'm really not mad at you."
The shorter raven looked away again.
"...I've got to get to class...So...I'll talk to you later?"
Kamui nodded absently.
Fai was a dead man.
TT
(A.N: Sorry this is so short...GAH. I'm so...I don't even know what's wrong with me. I'm just totally zoned out. Dammit. Sorry guys, I'll try to update again soon, okay? And don't give up on this because of the angst! There's happiness on the way...Eventually...Somewhere...Over the rainbow...DOUBLE RAINBOW...Sorry, had to. XD Ahh, okay, right, back to my thingy. R&R? Appreciate it you guys!)