Ummm… I know it has been a while… well maybe a couple of months… or half a year… but-! Okay… I'm sorry guys! I'm sorry I haven't updated for HALF A FREAKIN' YEAR! I don't want to say my excuses this time… (I actually have a lot) You probably already forgot my story but… I still hope you'll enjoy this!

No need to do the disclaimer right?

I stood there awkwardly and contemplated whether I should talk to Dio or just barge in my room. But I didn't need to do that since Dio decided for me…

"Jin, was it? I assume you do know about the three cliques? Well then," He stood up and neared me, giving me the most terrifying smirk, "care to join us?"

Chapter 10: Resonance

Dio's words rang deep into my skull. Normally I would have been the one to start a conversation with him, which is why it is very rare for him to actually speak with me. Still… I couldn't understand what he said first, all I got was 'I assume… right?' That doesn't make any sense either. Though I clearly heard what he said next, asking me if I would like to join him. 'In what?'

Looking past his shoulder, I saw the television currently on. From the sound, I think it's some kind of action movie. I could even hear the 'rat-tat-tat' of the machine guns. 'That means… that he wants me to join him in watching, right?'

Even so, deep in my mind I could tell that that was the dumbest thing I could think of. And… why would he be so demanding as to look at me with bloodcurdling eyes just to freakin' watch the stupid movie?!

'Wait… hold on Jin. You're thinking this too much. Maybe he just wants a companion. Maybe he's one of those 'I'm so cool' types who's really cold to every people he knows but in the end is just lonely. If we consider that Dio is like that, then… Hey! I can't let my imagination run wild because even a muscle-head – courtesy of Kyle –like me could get that he's too angry at humankind or something that he even calls them 'mortal' or 'human' –like he really hates them so much as not to even speak their name…!'

Normal POV

Dio looked at the contemplating red-head whose brows were furrowed and arms were folded close to his chest. He observed him closely, seeing that he will sometimes nod to himself and then whip his head around frantically like a child. 'Is it really that hard to decide to go into a clique? Tch, it's not like he has to do anything,' the purple-headed genius thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Jin was still thinking about the reason why Dio would ask him –more like demand- him to join him in watching – or so he thought. 'Is this a trick? Or does he just simply want me to be his friend? Maybe he's – or not…' All sorts of things circled around the poor fighter. 'W-wait… it's not like he's planning to trick me… It's not like this is a movie wherein the villain tricks the hero into watching television with him so that he could kill him when his guard is down… Wait! What did I just think? What if it's really that? What if he's trying to kill me? What if I did something that offended him? … Okay… Maybe that was too much. I don't remember anything in particular that might have hurt him or something… T-then… does that mean he just wants to be friendly?'

'O…kay, that wasn't a wise thought… Maybe I'm thinking too much... again.'

Jin became more engrossed into discerning the reason of his roommate's weird behavior… or whatever he was thinking.

Dio was a pretty patient person… when it comes to it. But now, he's starting to get irritated at how long the red-head plans to make his decision. He started tapping his foot as a sign of getting impatient.

The latter still didn't show any signs of responding to what he just asked. 'Hmmm… should I or shouldn't I? Oh men… this is hard…'

Dio tapped his foot harder to the ground so that the boy would at least hear it and just get on with it.

'Ummm… ummm… what should I do? This is like the time when Amy-!' Just then, Jin blinked his eyes a couple of times at his now just registered thought. 'Amy… Amy what? Huh? Now this is weird. I'm suddenly feeling a sense of déjà vu… but why? I don't remember… crap, all this thinking is kind'a giving me a headache.'

Dio tried to control himself so he folded his arms close to his chest, unable to hold his irritated lips.

'Ahhh… I feel like I'm getting somewhere here… There's this image trying to flow in my mind but it's all blurry and I can't see it well. Oh, wait… I think there are voices too…'

'Ugh. I need to stop thinking about unnecessary things. I need to focus. Focus, Jin, focus.'

'rry…'A light voice was ringing in his head.

'What?'

'Sorry…!'

'Huh? Did that voice just apologize?' He can hear it clearly; the voice of a wrecked person. Curiously, Jin looked around the room using only his eyes, only to see Dio standing in front looking irritated. 'Oh yeah… still haven't answered his question yet.'

'I-I'm sorry! P-please…'

'Ughh… that voice sounds familiar… that broken voice…' He shook his head desperately like before, making the latter think that he must be going crazy. 'What the h*ll is this? Whose voice was that? Ahh… thinking about it makes my head spin or something…' Jin wanted to go back to deciding about his answer of Dio's question.

'I'm sorry… forgive me… please…'

'W-why is it apologizing… from its tone it sounds like she's done something bad… or did she?' Jin's head ached more and more until he couldn't take the pain and he had to hold his head with his free hand. He started to breathe oddly, and his other hand was clutching his chest as if he wanted to tear it off.

'W-what is this- ugh!'

When Dio looked at Jin, he was a bit taken aback at how his eyes were suddenly blank and unnerving. He also looked as if he was in deep pain. 'What's with him?' But, what caught the demon's attention were his eyes. Those eyes instantly reminded him of something; an incident he didn't want to remember. That's right. Those eyes looked just like the former Jin.

XxXxXx

Jin's POV

'I didn't mean to hide it…'

'Hide it? Hide what?'

'Please d-don't b…lame them…' Her voice was shaking, as if she was crying.

"-y..."

'We couldn't help it!' She desperately tried to reason out something, but what? 'If we didn't do that… then you… you-!' Her voice broke until she was already speaking alongside hiccups. 'I don't want you to…'

'What is she saying?'

Her voice sounded like she didn't want to continue what she ought to say. That's when I saw it: a girl. The picture was kind of fuzzy –only a tint of indistinct black and white- , and I couldn't clearly see the face of the girl; at least not her eyes. She was gritting her teeth hard, and her small hands were gripped firm, so much that her body was shaking.

"-ey."

I could feel my mouth moving and saying something, but I can't exactly point out what it is. The girl seemed almost surprised because her mouth formed into a small 'o'.

"Hey."

Ah, I think I got what I just said that time. I think it was… '…What are you talking about?' in a tone that seemed like he didn't want to believe the newly caught information, and yet surprised at the same time.

The image of the girl was slowly getting further away, slightly pausing, and then going further again. At that moment, I knew that whoever heard that was unsteadily backing away. The depiction of the lady was going side to side sluggishly.

Then, a small hand appeared below my view, its index finger pointed accusingly at the girl.

'Could that be… my hand?'

I could feel my mouth moving, saying sentences I couldn't decipher.

The girl hung her head remorsefully, her bangs hiding her emotions concealed deep behind her unknown eyes. Biting her lip, she fell down to her knees, muttering sorry all over again, more tears spilling and dropping onto the cold and hard wooden floor.

"Forgive me… I-I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…!"

Seeing her cry herself to sorrow, her fragile and delicate body was no longer. It was like watching a broken girl in a soap opera. Her petite hands moving to wipe the dews forming at her eyes, but a useless action as only more of them will show up and fall to the ground.

I wanted to tell her to stop. Whatever she had done, seeing a girl crying in front of me was unbearable. I moved my body to close the gap between me and her- or at least tried to. I couldn't move my arms and legs. My body was as stiff as a rock. Whoever I was in this moment, it seemed like I no longer cared. I was only watching from a distance. I never even moved to dry her tears. I felt useless. If only I could move then, I wouldn't let a girl cry in before my eyes. Just what is this person doing? Why isn't he moving? From the looks of it, it's like I'm in his body… or her. I still don't know the gender, but how can this person just stand and do nothing? Could the thing the girl had done really be such a horrible sin?

She was still muttering a bunch of 'sorry' and 'forgive me', but beneath that was another word, something I know of. 'I'm so sorry…'

If that were me at the moment, my eyes would have widened like saucers at her next mention of that word.

'…Jin.'

.

.

.

"…freakin' idiot." 'BONK' I felt an incredible jolt of pain run up on my poor skull. Because of that, my eyes went wide open and I clearly saw the figure of purple looking at me with intense eyes.

"You're…"

Normal POV

Dio patiently stood in front of the red-haired companion, his eyes blank of any emotion. Placing his hands in his pockets, he sighed. He slightly burrowed his eyebrows at his comrade, seeing that he was suddenly silent and… motionless. Last time Dio checked, Jin was like a child trying to distinguish his friend's motive from his actions, but now, his arms were dropped to his side and his head was hung low. His rubicund, gleaming eyes no longer reflected fiery passion, but instead mysterious grief, regret, and melancholy.

'Looks like it's time…'

The demon knew exactly what was happening: Jin was regaining a fragment of his memories. He knew it would happen sooner or later, as the medicine was starting to wear off. It was surprising that it would actually last for years, because that never happened before.

'He wanted to forget.'

Dio concluded that it probably was still in effect because of two possible reasons: one, the drug was improved to a more lasting input on the user, and two, the boy wanted to forget the occurrence deep inside his heart, which is why the medicine has developed tremendously in his system.

Dio only kept on watching him because no matter how many times he called out, the boy wouldn't respond, as if he was in another world, another dimension.

'It would be better if he remembered. It's for his own good.' Dio kept on telling that to himself inwardly. He has to learn the truth. He has to remember.

-Even if that means hurting him.

Then again, it's not like his memories will all return in five minutes. Dio sighed exasperatedly. In his entire life, this was the first – no the second time he has encountered a problem hard to deal with.

'No choice.'

Deciding that it would be best for him to wake up, he curled his fists and hit the boy's head, hard – although for Dio it was more like a smack of a feather.

Jin's eyes went wide, and his eyes were now back to their usual radiant glow. He blinked a couple of times, and then glanced over to Dio, who wore an intimidating stare.

"You're… oh."

Jin scratched the back of his head sheepishly as if he forgot the whole ordeal and said, "Good morning? Err… Dio?" His eyes scanned the room, trying to see if he really was awake and not dreaming… or daydreaming.

He laughed nervously and closed his eyes. "So… what were we talking about again?"

'TWITCH.'

"Uhh… oh yeah! It had something to do with the… TV right?"

'ANOTHER TWITCH.'

"Well… I don't know… I don't mean any harm but I think I'm not feeling well so… I'm gonna' hit the sack tonight… err…"

Jin peeked at Dio's expression at first, but then after seeing his irritated form, his eyes widened and unconsciously backed away a little bit. 'Is he that angry at me declining his invitation?`

"Watch TV…?" Dio's words were low; much like a growl and it looked like it was emanating a dark aura.

"Y-yeah." Jin couldn't help but stutter. He has only been with him for a few days but something tells him he shouldn't mess with this guy.

"You want me to watch TV…? With you?" An irked smile was playing on the demon's face.

"Woah woah. Hold on there." Jin's fear vanished and he waved his hands as if suggesting the latter was wrong. "You-" he pointed at Dio, "-were the one who invited me," he pointed to himself with his thumb, "so don't go saying that I wanted to watch it with you or something… well not like I wanted to… but I'm not saying I didn't want to… gaaaah nevermind." Jin wore a flustered look on his face as if the topic was serious.

"I invited you… to watch TV?"

"Yup."

"…And when did I do such a stupid thing?

"Hey don't call it stupid. I mean, it's like your calling yourself stupid, you know?"

"…"

"Did you forget? Oooh… never would have thought you were such a forgetful person. Well, seeing your ummm... attitude…" Jin was nodding to himself.

"…"

"Oh well. If you want to know that badly…"

"…"

"I guess I'll tell you."

Because Jin was enjoying himself, he couldn't feel the aura Dio was giving off, considering he was silent all this time.

"When your… uh- butler or something left, didn't you ask that to me?"

Dio slightly tilted his head to the side, knowing fully well that he doesn't remember asking such things.

"Come on, playing hard huh? You were watching this movie and that's when you decided to invite me right?" He tapped Dio's back again and again playfully.

'What is this idiot talking about?'

"I could even hear the rat-tat-tat-" Jin posed like he was actually firing a machine gun, "-of those things!"

'The… what?'

"So you like that stuff too, huh? You really are a man!" Jin's tapping on Dio's back became slightly stronger and heavier.

'He's… annoying… but…was he this playful?' Dio remembered the time when he met Jin, who was 6 years old that time.

FLASHBACK

Rain poured down and penetrated the paved roads. The hovering sky was dressed in a shade of gray, a white light shining every now and then.

Beneath it was a boy, about six or seven years-old, running to find shelter from the rain. He held his bag atop his head to prevent himself from getting drizzled, but the effort was futile as the rain was heavy.

'Ugh. Why did it have to rain at this time of the day? Father is going to kill me for getting my clothes wet…'

The boy was still running, turning in every intersection wanting to find a place where he can rest and wait for his clothes to dry. At the distance, he saw an area where he could stop; the waiting shed.

'Finally!' The boy slightly grinned and sprinted in hopes of reaching it sooner. When the area was just a few distances away, someone suddenly appeared in the intersection beside the boy. The person looked like he was running too. Time slipped and the both of them ran to each other, hard.

"Tch!"

"Ack!"

The boy plopped on the ground and fell on his butt, dropping the bag he was holding.

'What was that?'

He grabbed his belongings and glared at whoever bumped into him, ready to yell, but something made him stop. The person's face or body, only the boy knows the answer, but the person in front of him was unmoving. He was still sitting on the ground like he fell. His face couldn't be seen as it was hidden. The boy's hair was a mix of red and a darker shade of maroon.

His age is probably close to the boy's.

'What's with this guy?'

The boy wanted to scold him, but felt a strange aura from the boy, so he decided to just leave him be.

He walked only normally now, knowing fully well that even if he stayed there his clothes wouldn't dry that easily. Is there a need for him to waste his energy?

When he was beside the fallen boy, he looked at him from his eyes. For some reason, seeing him like that made the boy want to pity him. The boy looked lonely in that position.

He shrugged the thought off and walked another step.

"Kill or be killed…"

'Huh?'

The boy looked back, thinking that it was him that said those. He was still in the same position as before so he thought that he was just imagining things because the voice he heard was barely above a whisper.

When he was going to proceed again, he heard another.

"That's the only two choices we have…"

He was sure now that it was that red-headed boy who said those words, so he walked back to him. Before he could reply,

"…in this world, full of lonely things…"

The boy looked at the red-head like he was going senseless. "What are you talking about?"

Silence passed until the boy replied, "What, I wonder?"

"Huh?"

"I've said that sentence a number of times… letting my curiosity get the best of me… but was that the right choice? Looking back, I wish that I had never known…"

He still wanted to ask him why he was saying that, but the boy stood up and looked like he was going to leave.

He reached for him but stopped when the boy looked back at him and said, "You should be careful too… in this world, you don't know who's really good or bad… In the end, the only one you can trust is you yourself…" With that, he went on and disappeared in the cold and distant rain.

"That was…"

"Do you know him, young master?"

The rain that penetrated him stopped. He thought that something was strange because the rain looked like it was encircling him. He looked up and soon found an umbrella that shielded him.

"Al? No… I don't" He glanced at the place where the boy disappeared and suddenly felt depressed.

"That boy-" he looked up, "-was probably going through a nightmare."

The boy looked down. "A nightmare…?" The boy thought it was idiotic to think that. How can he say those things if he was only going through a nightmare?

But he didn't know anything at that time. He didn't know what it meant to be alone, nor did he know what it meant to lose the person you love.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Heeeeeeeeey." Dio blinked. A hand was waving in front of his face and he could see Jin's face in between the fingers.

"You're finally back! Sheesh, no wonder you were so silent. You were spacing out all this time!" Jin made weird faces as he said those.

Jin sighed. "And I thought you were listening to me… the action movie I was talking about was awesome, you know? You should have listened…- ugh!"

Jin's eyes suddenly went wide as if he was just stabbed in his heart. He clutched his chest and started to breathe heavily. He gritted his teeth and wanted the pain to disappear, but his body couldn't take it anymore, and he fell forwards.

Dio was just in time to catch him. He glanced at his roommate and saw that he was sweating heavily.

"Why do you always have to make me work?" Dio didn't show it, but he was slightly worried for him. He was after all, the first person he wanted to reach out to.

And that ends Jin's first week of school.

Well, this chapter is… ummm… after the incident – you'll know what it's about sooner or later. So… Did you enjoy it? When I was reading it… I actually don't know if it's good. But if you think it is then… that'll make me happy!

-LoveBuildsHate