A/N: Wow, I can't believe it's taken me this long to post something this summer! Let me tell you, though, it's not for lack of trying. I've seriously started like four or five different chapters. It's not for lack of ideas that I haven't written anything; for some reason, I just can't get anything I write to come out recently. Plus I'm stuck in this super suck summer job, and going through KuroFai withdrawal. Seriously, we haven't seen those two in the manga in like three months.
I guess I'll get this party started, even though I'm totally not confident about how this came out (mostly, I just didn't want people to think I'd given up on this story). Oh and just so you know, this chapter picks up sometime after the events of chapter eight: taboo. Enjoy?
Yard
"Hyuu! You made it again, Kurowanko! That's the seventh time in a row!" Fai cheered, clapping exuberantly. "You're definitely getting better!"
Kurogane sighed and rolled his eyes. "Like I care. Why do I play this retarded game? It's not even fun, 'specially by yourself."
He chucked the basketball at Fai half-heartedly and the smaller boy caught it. The two of them were out at recess, and Fai was watching Kurogane shoot baskets as usual. Kurogane didn't especially like basketball but he had to occupy himself somehow during all these recesses that he spent with Fai. Otherwise the two of them would just be sitting around all the time, staring dreamily into each other's eyes. His tough-guy rep had already been seriously crippled by his constantly hanging out with and protecting Fai.
"I'd play with you if I could, Kurotan, but I'm just no match for you," he grinned. "I'm nowhere near tall enough to make a basket."
"Why do I have to suffer just because you're such a shrimp?" Kurogane heaved a sigh and folded his arms. "Anyway, what gives? Kids are supposed to look forward to recess. This is just lame."
"Maybe if all the other kids weren't so scared of you, you'd have someone decent to play with," he suggested.
"Tch! And whose fault do you think it is that I have to kick their asses all the time?" Kurogane snarled.
Fai shot the ball at the basket. It hit the wall a good two feet below, bounced off and hit him on the head.
"Ouchy!" the blond whined, clutching his throbbing cranium.
"Are you serious?" Kurogane growled. "Did you just hurt yourself again?"
He threaded his fingers gently through Fai's hair, checking to see what the damage was. His fingers were met by a small bump.
"Kiss it better…" the little blond requested, his eyes full of crocodile tears.
"Don't be an idiot," Kurogane snorted, though his cheeks flushed a bit at the thought. "Anyway, what's your deal? This is like the third time you've hurt yourself today."
"Yeah, first I fell down at the bus stop and scraped my knee, then someone tripped me and I hurt my knee again, and then during our art project I got a paper cut," Fai said, ticking his injuries of on his fingers. "And that's just what happened today! I've been having extra bad luck for the last two weeks!"
Kurogane couldn't pretend he hadn't noticed it too. Fai seemed to be getting hurt every five minutes, and not just by the usual bullying. There was a whole bunch of stuff that just kept happening by chance. He wanted to write it off on Fai's natural clumsiness but it had never been this bad before: burns, bug bites, doors closing on his fingers, things hitting him in the face, tripping and falling in the mud… Maybe Fai was right; maybe his luck was getting worse somehow. But Kurogane knew better than to allow him to see his doubt on the subject. Doing that would just throw the blond into a panic. Instead he put on a brave face for him, as usual. He had never believed in Fai being a supposed jinx before, so why should that change now just because he had been having a rough couple of days?
"Jeez, not that again!" Kurogane huffed. "I told you to quit being such a moron! All that stuff was just coincidence!"
"Bad coincidence!" Fai pointed out.
The dark-haired boy was silent. Fai had him there.
"So far, I've been the only one to get hurt…" the blond said slowly, looking carefully at the ground. "But what if something happens and Kurochuu gets hurt, too? …If Kuromin got hurt because of me… because I'm a jinx… I don't know what I would do."
Kurogane clicked his tongue in exasperation, but couldn't help blushing slightly. It never ceased to amaze (and embarrass) him how much Fai cared about him. He opted to change the subject.
"I'm sick of basketball," Kurogane grumbled.
"Yeah, maybe we should do something a little safer," Fai agreed. "I know!"
He grabbed Kurogane's hand and led him over to the grass and plunked down in it.
"We can make crowns out of flowers!"
Kurogane blinked. "Are you freaking serious? There's no way I'm gonna do something retarded like that!"
"Don't you know how, Kurorin?" Fai asked innocently, plucking several flowers from the grass.
"Of course I don't freaking know how!" he snapped. "Like I would waste my time on something so girly!"
"I'll make some for you, then!" the smaller boy chirped. His nimble fingers began weaving the stems into a wreath.
"I don't need 'em!" Kurogane insisted, though when it became clear that Fai had no intention of stopping, he simply fell silent and watched Fai work.
"My birthday is next week," Fai said quietly after a moment, not meeting his friend's eyes.
Kurogane started and jerked his head up to look at Fai's face. "Hah?! You never told me that!"
Fai shrugged as he finished off his first crown and set it delicately on top of Kurogane's head. Kurogane didn't even notice.
"Are you going to get me a present?" he asked sweetly.
Kurogane flushed again. "I have no idea what I would even give."
"Draw me a picture," Fai suggested, beginning a new flower crown. "A kitty and a doggy…"
"What are you talking about?" the taller boy growled. "I can't draw."
"Make them in love with each other," he added, grinning. "Just like we are."
"H-hold on!" Kurogane sputtered. "I don't—! I-I mean, we—! Wh-what do you even—!"
Fai laughed. "I love it when you act all shy about your feelings, Kuropyon! It's so cute!"
Kurogane fell silent again, hanging his head as he blushed furiously. "What'll happen if the other guys find out it's your birthday?" he mumbled. "You think they'll try something?"
Fai shrugged as he set another crown on top of Kurogane's head. "I'm not worried," he breathed, smiling softly as he caressed his friend's cheek. "Kurowanta is always around to protect me."
"Darn right," Kurogane agreed gruffly.
Kurogane's heart pounded wildly in his chest as he raced toward the tree. Already he could see Fai strung up in its branches by his belt and a group of other kids gathered around it, several of them holding long sticks. A cheap paper happy birthday sign was wrapped around the trunk of the tree. One of the boys drew back his stick and smacked Fai over the head with it with it as hard as he possibly could. The other kids jeered loudly. Kurogane felt sick with rage as he pushed himself to run faster.
"HEY!!" he roared, shaking his fist over his head threateningly. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, YOU STUPID BASTARDS?!"
Even though they outnumbered Kurogane five to one, the boys knew that they didn't stand a chance against Fai's self-appointed bodyguard. They dropped their sticks and started running as fast as they could. Kurogane threw a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure that his mother wouldn't be able to see him beating the shit out of them before putting on a final burst of speed and tackling two of them to the ground at once.
Regardless of the fact that they had just given him a severe pummeling, Fai closed his eyes and turned away so that he wouldn't have to watch Kurogane dish out the retribution on his behalf. His hands were tied securely to his sides, preventing him from covering his ears, so he still had to listen to their shouts of pain. He busied himself with wiping his tears on his shoulder. Fai knew it shouldn't matter. Kurogane had seen him cry before and he never mocked him for it, he just held and rocked him until he was able to stop. Still, he knew that Kurogane didn't like people who were weak, and he didn't want to make Kurogane unhappy.
"I ever hear about you doing shit like this to him again and I swear I'll kill you!" Kurogane snarled dangerously at them. "Don't think I won't!"
Fai looked down at him tiredly as he appeared at the bottom of the tree. Kurogane's teeth clenched angrily as he surveyed the damage that had been done before hoisting himself up into the branches alongside of him.
"Thanks, Kurosama," the little blond said gratefully, looping his arms around his friend's shoulders as he loosened the belt and carefully helped him down from the tree.
Kurogane's stomach churned with guilt as his fingers gently grazed a nasty- looking bruise on Fai's pale cheek. Why did his mother have to schedule that stupid dental appointment during school hours? If he had just been around to protect Fai as usual, this never would have happened. He felt even worse because today was Fai's birthday. If ever there was a day that he should have been around to defend him, it should have been today. Kurogane started to feel sick with anger and guilt again.
"Come on," he mumbled. "My mom's waiting for us."
Kurogane's appointment had caused him to miss his last class of the day, but he had suspected that something like this might happen and had insisted that his mother bring him back to school afterwards so that they could give Fai a ride home. He couldn't help feel a little bitterness towards Fai's parents for not doing anything to prevent their son from being bullied so viciously. Then again, Fai's father had to work constantly just so that his small family could afford their modest home and Fai's mother had been in and out of the hospital recently because of her poor health. There wasn't a whole lot they could do. Kurogane knew this, but still… His mother turned around to watch Kurogane help his battered friend into the back seat of the car.
"Oh dear! Fai kun! What happened?!" she gasped. "You're bleeding!"
"Some stupid jerks from school got him," Kurogane growled, sliding into the seat next to Fai. He took the trembling blond into his arms and held him close, running his fingers through his hair soothingly. "Let's just get home as fast as we can."
Kurogane's mother gave Fai a final sorrowful glance before pulling away from the school.
"It's your birthday today, isn't it Fai kun?" she asked kindly. "That's what Kurogane told me."
"Yes," Fai replied distantly.
"Happy birthday!" she said. "Are you and your parents going to have a birthday party tonight?"
"We might have some cake… My dad doesn't get home until late, though." He smiled weakly at her. "I don't know if I'll be able to stay up long enough."
"What did they put you in that tree for?" Kurogane demanded.
Fai's slender fingers clutched the dark-haired boy's shirt. "They said… since it was my birthday, we should celebrate… They tied me up and put candy in my clothes… I was the piñata…"
Kurogane started and look down at him in horror. Fai was smiling, but tears were rolling down his cheeks at the same time.
"That's terrible!" Kurogane's mother shrieked. "Why don't the teachers do anything?! If you're being treated that badly, Fai kun, you should let the police know!"
"You think he hasn't tried?" Kurogane snorted bitterly. "They don't give a crap. None of them do."
"B-because I'm a jinx," Fai stammered, burying his face in his best friend's chest so that they couldn't see his tears.
Kurogane ground his teeth and gently massaged Fai's shoulders. He waited until he was sure that his mother wasn't watching them in the rearview mirror to touch a few shy kisses to the top of Fai's head.
"We'll have a birthday party for you at our house, Fai kun," Kurogane's mother promised. "We can pick up your mother, too, so she can celebrate with us."
Fai lifted his head, looking startled. "Oh! You don't have to do that! My mother is in the hospital right now, anyway, so I don't think the doctors would let her come…"
"I'm sorry, I didn't know…" Kurogane's mom said.
"Besides, you shouldn't have to do something as big as that just for me."
"I don't want to hear another word about it, Fai kun!" Kurogane's mother interrupted stubbornly. "You deserve to have a birthday party as much as anyone. Besides, it's the least we can do for you, with you being Kurogane's best friend and all!"
Fai blinked, stunned, and looked hesitantly up at Kurogane, trying to see what his opinion of this suggestion was. Kurogane's cheeks reddened slightly under his crystal-blue gaze but he nodded resolutely.
Fai smiled slightly and nuzzled against Kurogane's chest. "…Thank you."
Kurogane helped Fai into the house, sat him down in one of the kitchen chairs and rushed off to get the first-aid kit from the bathroom. Since his mother had just dropped them off at home so she could pick up a few things for Fai's impromptu party, the two of them were safely alone now. Fai tried to take a few bandages from Kurogane so that he could help patch himself up, but Kurogane wouldn't let him. The blond sighed resignedly and watched as Kurogane washed and treated his wounds with surprising care. He slowly removed Fai's t-shirt and cringed as he took in the angry red welts that stood out against the blond's snowy white skin.
"This is all my fault," Kurogane grumbled as he dabbed on some antiseptic. "If I hadn't had that stupid dentist appointment, I would've been there to protect you and none of this would have happened."
Fai lifted Kurogane's chin with a finger so that he could look into Kurogane's captivating scarlet eyes.
"No, Kurochii. Before I met you, I had to deal with this kind of thing every day," he cooed, smiling sweetly. "It's thanks to you that I'm safe most of the time. No one's ever been as kind to me as you and your parents are... I guess that's why it makes me so happy to be with you, huh?"
Kurogane's face turned crimson and he hurriedly looked away, focusing his attention on treating Fai's wounds again and trying to ignore the way his heart had started pounding so vigorously at Fai's beautiful smile.
They grilled out that night, at Fai's request, and ate outdoors, since it was a very nice spring day. Kurogane couldn't help watching Fai as he ate his grilled chicken. He looked pained, even though he kept insisting that he was enjoying himself every time he was asked.
"Are you sure everything's alright, Fai kun?" Kurogane's mother asked with a frown. "You don't seem very happy. Did I forget something?"
"Oh, no!" Fai insisted, forcing a smile. "Everything's perfect! I couldn't ask for a better party!"
Kurogane and his mother looked at each other, unconvinced.
"If there's something missing that you really wanted, Fai kun, please don't be afraid to ask," Kurogane's mother urged. "We can even take some cake over to your mother at the hospital afterwards, if you'd like."
"You've already done so much…" Fai said sadly. "I don't want to put you to so much trouble."
Kurogane was beginning to lose his patience. "Look, idiot, if you don't tell me what's wrong, I'm not giving you your present."
Fai blinked at him. "Kuropipi got me a present?"
Kurogane's mother stifled a giggle. "He must really be serious about wanting to know what's wrong, threatening you with that after he spent so much time working on it!"
Fai looked at Kurogane, stunned, as the other boy blushed all the way to the roots of his raven hair. "Kurorinta made me something?"
"Quit acting like it's such a big deal!" Kurogane snapped at his mother. "He probably won't even like it anyway!"
"If you made it for me, Kuropon, I know I'll love it," Fai assured him, his own cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Yeah, well… you're not even gonna get it if you don't tell us why you're all depressed," Kurogane threatened.
Fai's smile faded and the pained look came to his face again. "…I just… I feel bad, always making you guys do all this stuff for me… just because I'm a…"
"Shut up!" Kurogane growled, pounding the table and startling Fai into silence. "If you say you're a jinx again, I'll punch your face in! I keep telling you not to believe that crap! There's no such thing as a jinx!"
Fai hung his head, his lush blond bangs obscuring his eyes from view.
"Kurogane's right, Fai kun," Kurogane's mother said gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. "No matter what other people say, you're not bad luck, and don't you ever let them tell you that you are. And as for letting us do these sorts of things for you, we're doing them because we want to."
"But…!" Fai began.
"Does it bother you to do things for the people that you love?" she cut in.
"No, but…"
"It's the same for us, Fai kun," she said. "Kurogane and I love you and there's nothing we wouldn't do for you."
All Fai could do was stare at her stupidly. Very few people outside of his family had ever even treated him civilly, let alone told him that they loved him. He looked numbly at the taller boy.
"I…Is that true, Kurochan?" he squeaked.
Kurogane's face was so red it looked as though he was about to combust. "…Hn," he grunted.
Fai didn't know what to say. He could feel a lump rising in his throat and tears coming to his eyes again.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" Kurogane yelped. "Y-you'd better not cry!"
"Sorry," Fai said quickly, swallowing hard and wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
"So, now that you understand how we feel, I think it's time we had some cake," Kurogane's mother said cheerfully, setting the plates down in front of the boys.
Fai picked up his fork and dug in, still looking a little tearful but quite a bit happier than he had before. When he saw Kurogane take a bite of cake as well, surprise registered on his fair features.
"I thought you didn't like sweet stuff, Kurowanwan," he said.
"I don't," Kurogane replied, pulling a face. "But I thought you'd probably complain if I said I wouldn't eat it."
Fai grinned at him. "You know me well, Kurorun!"
Kurogane rolled his eyes and reluctantly took another bite of cake.
"Now, how about that present?" the blond prompted.
Kurogane froze, blushing. "Actually… I don't think I'm gonna give it to you."
"What? How come?" Fai pouted. "I told you what was bothering me, so now you have to give me my present!"
"It's too stupid," the dark-haired boy mumbled.
"Nothing that Kuropipi makes is stupid!" Fai argued.
"Here it is, Fai kun!" Kurogane's mother sang, producing a clumsily wrapped gift from inside the house.
"Mom!" Kurogane snarled, making a snatch for the present and missing. "I don't wanna give it to him! It's dumb!"
His mother just laughed and pulled her struggling son into a tight hug so that Fai could unwrap his gift. Inside was a framed child-like drawing of a black cat and dog in a field. The dog had a bundle of yellow flowers in its mouth which it was presenting to the very pleased-looking cat. Above the cat's head was Fai's name and Fai could see where Kurogane had started to write his own name above the dog's head but had tried to erase it. Fai looked over at a mortified Kurogane, grinning manically. Kurogane was so red that he looked like he had terrible sunburn that covered his entire face. His mother released him so that Fai could hug him instead.
"It's just what I wanted, Kurochuu," he whispered, kissing his ear softly. "Thank you."
Kurogane's mother giggled as she watched her son return the embrace shyly. As much as Kurogane grumbled about Fai's affectionate nature, all three of them knew how much the dark-haired boy appreciated it.
Fai rolled over on his side in the grass to check on Kurogane. The two of them had been lounging in his backyard, watching the sunset on Fai's birthday and the dark-haired boy had been silent for quite some time now, his back to the little blond. Fai wondered if perhaps he was asleep. He peered curiously over Kurogane's shoulder to find him wide awake but busily working on something. It was starting to get dark, so Fai couldn't quite make out what it was.
"What are you doing, Kurokuro?" he asked.
"Just hold on. Almost done," Kurogane muttered distractedly.
Fai lay back in the grass again, watching his friend's back curiously. It wasn't until about five minutes later that Kurogane turned around, holding his creation delicately in his tanned hands. He slipped it over Fai's head and Fai lifted it off his chest a little so that he could examine it.
"Are these…" he began in surprise.
"Yeah, four-leaf clovers," Kurogane answered. "I figured maybe if I gave you a good luck charm, you'd shut up about all that stupid jinx crap."
Fai giggled and nuzzled up against him lovingly. "I thought you said you didn't know how to make these."
"I didn't until I watched you doing it at recess last week," the taller boy said defensively.
"Hmm," the blond replied fondly. "But I just thought of something… I guess what you said about jinxes not existing was true. It must be, because if I was really a jinx I wouldn't be lying here next to Kurosama in the grass right now, feeling so happy."
Fai propped himself up on one elbow and brought his lips so close to Kurogane's that they nearly touched.
"Someone who was unlucky wouldn't have been able to find someone they loved so much or be able to spend time with that person. I get to do both. Maybe I'm not so unlucky after all."
Kurogane grinned and closed the distance between their mouths.
"Yeah," he whispered. "Lucky you."
A/N: …It occurs to me now that this didn't follow the prompt that well. When I was trying to come up with something for this challenge, what I envisioned was the clover necklace scene and yet it only turned out to be a very small portion of the story. I had it set in the universe where Kurogane and Fai were kings together but it just didn't work out… Anyway, hopefully I'll have something more satisfactory up soon. Until then, ciao!
