Well, it has been a long time. How is everyone's day? I decided to stop watching One Piece ONLY because my network seems to be experiencing difficulties. So now I am back to writing. So here's the chapter I prepared because I honestly have no idea what else to put in it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Cardfight! Vanguard.

A Living Lie

Chapter 2: Fake belief

"Kai?" Miwa had already said his name three times and no answer. It got the attention of the others as well. They stopped what they were doing and glanced at the two friends, one of which had not stopped staring at his phone.

"Kai-kun?" Aichi saw the brunet had not reacted to being called.

"Hey, what's the problem?" Misaki asked, noticing Miwa's concerned expression and Kai's unmoving eyes.

Miwa was about to call his friend again but was sent speechless along with everyone else once his friend turned.

"Oh, my parents just want me home."

Kai smiled...

He literally closed his eyes with a cheerful smile and laughed! Everyone at Card Capital was left with their eyes wide and mouths open as the brunet ran out of the shop.

Kai finally stopped running once he was far away from the shop. He did not know what to feel. If it wasn't surprising, then why did it hurt so much?

Cold droplets of rain pelted the ground. The brown-haired boy was quickly soaked. It was as if the world was feeling the same way he was: empty.

He let out a dry laugh. What was he supposed to do now? He did not feel like seeing his parents at all. However, that was the only thing he could do.

So he began his walk home, the last walk he'd ever take there.

Many things here did not sit well with Kai. One was that when he saw his parents, they regarded him with a cold stare before they silently walked away. Two was that his parents were not even saying anything except that he has to pack and leave. Three was that his room still looked stupid. And he would actually miss it.

Sighing, he placed his clothes in the suitcase before closing it. He would only take the necessities. That did not include food.

Kai took one last look at his room before closing the door. He walked downstairs, put on his shoes, and left the house that was once his.

The fact that his parents did not say anything to him was not that bothered him. The fact that they had cold looks did not bother him.

It was his own smile he wore as he left his former house that bothered him.

Kai did not bother answering the phone. He probably had to delete some massages when he checked. It made sense. He had not left his apartment in two days. Once the night ended it would be the three.

His apartment was not like his room. It did not have any childish posters or messy drawings. It was neat, clean, and somewhat empty. It only had the necessities.

Kai's stomach growled. The only reaction was a shake of the head, but he otherwise stayed put, laying flat on the bed and staring at the ceiling. He could hardly remember the last time he moved. The brunet had not bothered eating the past few days. He knew it was dangerous since he was already under weight, but it did not matter to him. Nothing seemed to matter anymore.

The brown-haired boy wondered, placing a hand over his face, what do people do when their family throws them out? Live on the streets? Luckily, that was one thing Kai did not have to worry about. The trips he went on were because of his parents. He supposed he should be grateful that his parents thought money would make him quiet about never having a real family. Not to mention he had a job. Still, it felt...cold.

Slowly placing a hand over his face, Kai pushed that thought aside.

He never bought out of whims, whatever rare whims would make themselves known (except Vanguard cards). Although, every now and then, a certain blond would declare quite nonchalantly that the brunet would buy both of them a drink or small snack whenever the blond noticed his best friend's thin frame.

"Now what?" Kai murmured, finding his voice very low, even though he had not heard anything except his breathing for hours. He would have to go out soon. Miwa would normally not think much of it since he usually disappears. However, judging from his persistent calls and texts, Kai did not hold onto hope. The fact that he showed his fake smile to him did not help the situation.

He sighed, finally moving off his bed and under the blankets. Everything about him was fake. A fake smile, fake determination, fake emotions. Closing his eyes, Kai tried hard not to think it, but it managed to enter his mind before he fell asleep, the lack of food making it easy to slumber.

A fake family.

Kai rolled off his side and onto his back. The sunlight coming through his window had stirred him from his sleep. He gave a silent sigh, closing his eyes before opening them again. Hunger and exhaustion clung to him stubbornly. It was expected since the only thing had for days was water and sometimes fruit but rarely. Still, he did not feel like seeing anyone.

A familiar buzzing told him someone wanted to see him. As always he ignored his phone. However, lately calls and texts have been coming more and more. When Kai had checked, it was from Miwa. He wondered why his friend was so persistent. Kai would always disappear for weeks without a word. Except this time...

The brunet sighed out loud this time and decided to finally answer. The constant beeping was aggravating anyway. Acting even more secretive, he simply sent a text saying he was fine. And that his friend shouldn't look for him.

As Kai went back to his position, he began to regret answering. Miwa would definitely try harder. It would not be long before he discovered where Kai lived. Green eyes widened. Or worse, Miwa meets his parents. As soon as the thought came, Kai rolled his eyes out of irritation and rolled on his side. It didn't matter. They were not his parents anyway. He never had any parents.

This put a grim smile on his face. It was ironic. People are supposed to smile when they are happy. But Kai was different; he always smiled when he was sad. The feeling of true happiness was long forgotten, had it ever been there.

Frowning, Kai got off his bed. He took some clothes and went to the bathroom. After he finished brushing his teeth, he took off his clothes. He stepped into the shower without waiting for the water to warm.

Cold. The water feels cold.

Just like him. He always felt cold. Especially now.

After a cold shower, he dried himself and changed into some clothes before coming back into his room. What now? Food was definitely out of the question. Walking up to his window, he pulled back the curtains and winced at the brightness of the sun. It had been so long since he stepped outside.

Some fresh air may be nice after all.

Luckily, Kai made it to the park without running into anyone he knew. The weather made it perfect for him to nap on his bench. But it wasn't long before he found himself staring up at the sky, thinking back to his parents.

He was thinking too much. He needed to occupy himself somehow. But there was nothing to do. So the brunet fell deep into his dark thoughts.

Why did I smile at the time? Was I happy that my parents told me to leave?

Kai scoffed at his own question. He should be happy. It's not like he still thought of them as his parents.

But, the brunet questioned again as he placed his hands behind his head, is it normal to stop caring about your parents? Again, Kai scoffed, this time with an empty smile. If that was the case than he definitely was not feelings they had were mutual. Kai liked to believe that was all true, but he knew that no matter what those adults did, he still wished they could have been true parents.

Except they aren't, so none of that matters, Kai thought as he stood up and dusted himself off. He began to walk wherever his body took him.

The brunet used to deny it as a child. However, as he grew older, he willed himself to believe he wanted to believe it. Now he can actually say it.

"Those adults aren't my parents anymore."

It's time I stopped hoping they were.

Drowning out the voices of the people walking about, Kai wandered down an unfamiliar street. He was unsure if he was lost or not due to his mind being absent and uncaring. It didn't matter that night was coming and that he may make it to his apartment late. It was not like there was anyone to tell him otherwise. With these thoughts in mind, Kai continued to move forward with no destination.

He did not pay attention to the time and did not know how long it was before he finally allowed himself to absorb his surroundings. But the noise that snapped him out of it made his go numb. Down the street, he could see two cars crashed, the fire put out by the firemen. The red lights of an ambulance flashed where a crowd had gathered slightly far away.

An uneasy feeling settled inside Kai's stomach as he found himself walking towards the scene. Something about that car looked... familiar. Kai's eyes widened when he saw the injured people carried out of the car and onto stretchers. His entire body shook with the shock of who the people were.

Before he knew it, he was already besides the stretcher and completely ignored the question one of the paramedics was giving him. His entire attention was on the two people on the stretchers. A man and a woman.

"Th-they're..."

"Kid, do you know them?"

Kai barely heard the question. His legs were shaking violently. There was a horrified look on his usual calm face. He felt the world around him fade. Kai started gasping. He could not believe this happened. They looked so dead.

"They're my..."

Blood. There was so much blood. He couldn't believe what he just saw. He couldn't think. His mind was absolutely blank. Kai clutched his shirt as dark spots flooded his vision, and his legs buckled under him.

...Parents.

Param-pa-pam! Ending this with a cliffhanger. Ah, it feels good being on this side. (Don't hate me. I'm feeling particularly good today. ;))

Anyway, please Review!

Enjoy your day! (I'm enjoying mine!) :)