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Title: Earth Story, pt. I

Pairings: Yuda/Shin, Luca/Rei, Yuda/Rei-friendship!

Warnings: AU, human-universe, boyxboy, Shiva-appearance, OC, still horribly unbetaed

A/N: This AU really wanted to be written. Gah! So loooong! And as you see, I've named it '… pt. I' which means that it will be continued. More one-shots in this universe will be posted, like a continuation of it, but I might skip around in the time-line. We'll see :)

Thank you, KuroNekoShoujo-sama, for helping me thinking out human-professions for our favourite angst-angels and for answering all my random questions! This baby is dedicated to you! I hope you're not too disappointed.

Yuda remembered Luca telling him that the city was bombed nearly a decade ago, back when the war as at its highest and most extreme. To see that parts of the buildings were still in ruins proved that most of the money was gone now, Yuda mused, as he heaved up his heavy shoulder-gear and exited the train.

The air was hot and humid outside and it only added to the cold Yuda had caught during his long journey. Nearly a month by train and boat had him thanking the God he didn't believe in that he was finally there, Antenora City, where he was to stay. And wait.

He ignored the mosquitoes and the tried to focus on the crowded station, tried to locate this 'Rei' Luca had told him about and asked him to stay with while hiding and being alone in the city.

"Excuse me," Yuda tried with a young man that fitted the description Luca had given him. "Rei?"

"Oh, are you Yuda?" a nod.

The young man held out his hand in welcome, smiled. Yuda found it strange that he was shaking the hand of a local, whose home had been nearly destroyed by Yuda's allies. Whose country was still being oppressed and ruled by the young red-haired soldier's government.

"Luca told me so much about you! I'm really excited about meeting you," Rei smiled, swatted away the mosquito on his arm. "Hmm, you do look very tired and pale… how do you feel?"

Yuda could only shrug in exhaustion. Rei pulled Yuda along with him, down towards the dusty road.

"… Let me take you home, soldier."

Yuda didn't see much on their way back to Rei's apartment, only some children running along with them, cheering at Yuda and his 'weird uniform'. Rei huffed and scolded them, before he pushed the red-haired soldier into a bright, yellow-coloured stone-building, ushered him up the stairs to the third and highest floor.

"You need to get some sleep, right away. Here, I prepared this for you!"

Yuda's new room was small. It had a window, a small, wooden chair and a single-bed. The fabric and the springs of the mattress old, but it was clean. A Spartan room.

It was more than sufficient, so Yuda thanked Rei before he went to sleep. He succeeded in ignoring the cross hanging above him, Christ cried and mourned in silence.

Antenora City, Yuda observed in the morning, stretched all over the valley in which it was build; from the beaches of the opalescent ocean, to the forests of the mountains surrounding the secluded area that was Antenora. Most of the buildings were old-fashioned apartment blocks, paint nearly gone due to heat and age, the gothic, metal fences on the small balconies rusted.

The houses and apartments were built close to each other and all the space was used to its fullest. And with reason. Antenora City was the home of nearly two-hundred and still growing, and a sixth of the city still in inhabitable ruins from the multiple bombings. People had to share their space.

The number of schools and churches were many. Yuda had awoken to the sound of hundreds of bells chiming the villagers to church, and he had laid there on the old mattress of his new room, imagined people walking in shared excitement down the dust of the narrow roads, talking and laughing together.

Yuda was alone.

Now he was standing at his window, looking at the infinity of the azure sky. Rei was out buying groceries, the marketplace buzzing with life at the local plaza. Rei had been everything Luca had told him to be. Very pretty, as multiple letters from his childhood friend and subordinate had suggested. Long, lavender hair tied in a thick braid framed a young, sweet face with brown-golden eyes.

He was a genius in the kitchen, too. Yuda had not had anything decent to eat for nearly a month and a half, and to be served breakfast on bed consisting of Eggs Benedict, bread, melon wrapped with ham, freshly squeezed orange juice and a cup of good coffee had left him speechless.

Like what Luca's letters had given him the impression of, Rei acted like a seasoned housewife, despite his gender and young age of 21. Yuda smirked a little. Rei had almost been speaking non-stop about Luca during the walk home from the station yesterday. He was clearly very infatuated with the white-haired Air Pilot.

Yuda sighed softly, for the first time in months fully rested and sated with food. This place was… nice. His friend had been right about it. But wasn't he always?

Luca and Yuda had grown up together, had gone to the academy together, and joined the forces together at the mere age of 16. Young and ambitious they had been, Luca with his passion for flying the skies and Yuda's for changing the world they walked on.

They remained friends even when status and military rank divided them. Yuda's talent for leadership and his strong sense of justice had him teaching and motivating young soldiers early in his young life. Everybody liked him.

Luca's flying abilities had him travel all over the world, representing their country's youngest and most talented generation of fighters. His ice-cool precision in flight had spectators gasping in awe when he pierced the air, looped and descended in triumph.

The horrors of the Great War were long over, years before Yuda and Luca grew in ranks. All that was left in the defeated nations were the weakened, uprising resistance armies. But also these were underground now, silent. The government of Yuda's people was in control now. Their promises of just leadership and a functioning inner structure for the countries that had been corrupted and badly treated had been what had drawn Yuda in all that time ago.

Now Yuda was 24, young. But he felt so old and bitter for so many reasons.

He had learned the true nature of his government, had seen how the money meant for the reconstruction of cities like Antenora had mysteriously disappeared, while his superiors had come driving to work in newly-purchased cars. It had made him angry, but he still hadn't lost faith in the true purpose of the war. Things could still come around for the better.

He had travelled away just to prove his point to his own superiors, proved how he felt about their ways; he had threatened not to return before they had rethought and changed their attitude towards the already poor and struggling countries they had conquered.

Now Luca had made him come to Antenora, seek seclusion and peace there. Why?

There was a knock on his door.

"Are you dressed yet, Yuda?" Rei called from outside his door.

"Yes, come in."

Rei opened the door, nodded in greeting and gestured towards the window.

"It is such a nice weather today. Warm, but surprisingly dry," Rei smiled and took the tray with breakfast from the bed.

"I can take that," Yuda protested softly. Rei shook his head.

"No, you are my guest. And I am about to be a very horrible host, I'm afraid," Rei bit his lip and shifted on his graceful legs. "You see, I work at a local restaurant and we have a wedding coming up this Friday. I have to go to work and work on some recipes."

"But, of course…"

"I'm very sorry. I promised Luca that I would be an exceptional host to his childhood friend, but-"

"But nothing, Rei. It's quite alright. A wedding is very important, and I would feel terrible for being the reason that the couple's first supper as husband and wife wouldn't do them the honour that it should," Yuda offered a warm smile. "Besides… I'm not a child. I promise to behave in your absence."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Yuda followed Rei into the small kitchen. Spices and plants covered every shelf, and a pleasant smell oozed from something brewing on the stove. Rei turned the stove off, huffed and threw a handful of garlic into the dish that was cooking.

"I promise that I will cook you a feast, beyond everything you have ever tasted before, tonight!" Rei declared suddenly, triumphantly. "But for lunch, why don't you visit the small bistro at the plaza?"

"Is it a nice place?"

"Very nice. Me and Luca went there often," he flushed at the mention of the young pilot. "J-just tell Jacob to put it on my tab, won't you?"

"I do not wish to be a burde-"

"You're not. I promise you that," Rei smiled, gathering a few things for work. "If anything it's an honour to have you here, childhood friend of Luca…"

"He hopes to return soon," Yuda said softly. He could tell that Rei missed him.

"I hope so, too. And he told me he hoped you would come and stay with us. After everything that happened in the past, everybody prays that we can start over. Start anew."

Yuda nodded, followed Rei out the door and down the stairs.

"Here, take this key," Rei said. "And promise me that you take care of yourself. Be home by 7, alright?"

Yuda chuckled softly, about to say something.

"-And DON'T call me 'mom'!" Rei flushed. "I just want you to be safe!"

"I'll see you later, then. Rei."

The plaza was a nice place. A small, old-looking fountain decorated the centre of the area, chest-nut trees had been planted centuries ago around it, and they were now nearly 20 metres high, in full bloom and a perfect source of shade in the heat.

The bistro was an indoor place, though. But the temperature inside was pleasant, and despite the few visitors in the early afternoon, the soft chatter was louder than Yuda would have expected. It was a nice place, dark-wooden furniture, a single black-and-white photo of a bridge decorating the wall behind the small bar. Everything had a welcoming mood about it.

"Yo! Welcome, stranger," a voice suddenly called. Yuda realized that he had been standing in the doorway, gazing around in what might have resembled uncertainty.

A large man, about his age, approached whilst wiping his hands in the apron tied around his narrow hips. Dark-green eyes, dark-brown hair and strong, rough hands, one of which suddenly gripped his shoulder and led him towards a table in the middle of the small bistro.

"The name's Jacob and I own the place," the voice rumbled cheerfully.

"Yuda," he sat down, a bit overwhelmed.

"Heeh, alright Yuda. 'You here to get drunk or to eat?"

"… eat."

"Then you're in luck," Jacob smiled. "Today's special is a very well-cooked salmon-dish. Interested?"

Yuda nodded, gazing around the small place. Only three tables were occupied; one table by a pair of drunken-looking old men, one of them growling at the other, not really saying anything coherent. The other table housed a small family of an absent-minded father and a mother who was talking to him, while cutting out meat for their toddler. The toddler herself was more interested in dropping the meat down from the table… and into the mouth of their dog, which stared up at the child in wordless adoration.

The last table, in the corner, only housed a single person. A young man, sipping on a glass of water, while reading fiercely in a thick, leather-covered book. He wore his long, blue hair loose. And he was very pretty. Beautiful, Yuda had to correct himself. Very beautiful, in fact.

Yuda's train of thoughts was interrupted when a plateful of fish was placed in front of him with a soft thud.

"There. Enjoy," Jacob grinned at him, leaning back against the counter as if to study him eat. Yuda took a bite.

"… and?"

"It's very good," Yuda praised softly.

"No, no – not the food! But, thanks, anyway," Jacob laughed merrily. "Where are you staying, I meant to ask. The Golden Nest? Pandora's Hotel?"

"Mmm, no. I'm sleeping with-.. I mean, I'm staying with a friend." Yuda felt his face heat up a little at his own blunder.

"Alright. Who?"

"Rei… you know him well?"

The man in the corner with the book coughed softly. Jacob smirked.

"Oh, Rei! Darling Rei, yes, I know him." He seemed thoughtful for a moment. "You a soldier?"

Yuda nodded, suddenly feeling tense. Was he about to be kicked out?

Jacob merely looked at him with teasing, playful eyes.

"Huh, wow… A new soldier already? Didn't Rei have one of you guys living with him only a few weeks ago?"

"He did. That was my friend, Luca…" Yuda fell silent again.

"Well, there is no doubting about his taste then," Jacob grinned and patted Yuda's shoulder warmly. "The strong, silent type. How cliché, really!"

"Jacob…" a voice warned from the corner; the man with the book had been listening in.

"I'm just saying that it's quite impressive, Shin," Jacob protested, hands lifted in surrender, a mischievous glint in his dark-green eyes. "… two in one month."

"Jacob, please stop. I won't have you teasing Rei…"

Jacob walked over and sat in the chair opposite the young man, Shin. He rested his chin in his hands, smiled widely. The other pretended to be absorbed in his book again, but his cheeks were slightly flushed.

"… Mmm, I'm sorry Shin. How can I make it up to you?"

"How about doing you job, then?"

"How about a glass of wine on the house, then? To go with that awfully clever yet boring-looking book of yours."

Shin's lips nearly slipped into a smile.

"Deal. But serve it to your new guest instead. As an apology." Jacob huffed, but grinned and got up.

"… Aye, aye, Sir... 'Can't believe I always end up getting told off by a librarian…"

Yuda smiled as the glass was served to him, wanted to nod and smile at Shin, but he was already picking up his books and heading out. The only proof that he had been sitting there in the corner a moment ago was the empty glass of water and a still snickering Jacob beside him.

"Thank you," Yuda said to the dark-haired owner.

"Eh? No problem," he smiled. Yuda was about to finish his plate of fish when Jacob sat down opposite him, like he had done with the other, blue-haired male. He leaned in, as if he wanted to share a secret.

"That was Shin there, clever and easy on the eyes – the whole package," he confided, cheeky grin in place. "He owns the local book-store, right down the Rambla (1). He and his 'brother' are collecting money so that they can rebuild the orphanage."

"… was it destroyed during..?"

"The bombings? Yeah." Yuda didn't understand how the locals could talk so openly and un-depressed about that, when he, allied to the bombers and the 'evil master-minds', felt so uneasy and horrible just thinking about it.

And why were no one judging him or shunning him off? They knew he was a soldier from those far away countries. Why was he welcomed so openly?

Maybe, Yuda thought, this was also one of the reasons that Luca was so fond of this place, had insisted that he came here.

"Your roommate and him are like this," Jacob continued, crossing his fingers in front of Yuda's eyes. "Childhood friends, the whole shebang. But, anyway, Shin's young, single, sweet as honey'n sugar, clever-"

"What are you trying to do, here?" Yuda asked, his lips involuntarily breaking into a smile.

"Me?" Jacob asked innocently. "Oh, nothing, nothing. It's not like you guys stared longingly after each other or anything…"

"Uh-huh," Yuda finished his plate. "I'm certain you have nothing but pure intentions, then. Thank you very much for this, it was delicious. Rei asked me to ask you to put it in his tab?"

"No can do, soldier-boy," Jacob sighed, getting up from his comfortable position in the chair. He returned to his task of polishing glasses by the bar. Yuda frowned.

"Sir, I do not carry any money with me at the moment. I haven't even changed my savings into your currency, yet."

"That's a shame. But I never let anyone but those who bought a 'building-tab' in the first place use'em." Suddenly a wicked smile cracked on Jacob's face.

What are you planning? Yuda wondered, frowning deeper.

"Tell you what, though. I always treat my friends nicely, making certain that their needs are covered. Heeh, even if their 'needs' are to make strange soldiers from the outside countries feel welcome in my shop," Jacob rested his hands on his hips. "I like you, soldier, and I think I can trust you. So this meal is on the house. But you'll just have to endure the heat outside and go down to the book-store and thank Shin for standing up for you."

"He was standing up for his friend, Rei. Not me," Yuda tried to reason.

"Oh, whatever," Jacob waved it off. "He made sure you got a glass of free wine! That's got to count for something! Now, shoo! Get going! Run like the wind! His break ends in 5 minutes!"

"Alright, then,"

"Tell him I said 'don't do anything I wouldn't do'…"

"… Sure."

"Oh! And look out for his so-called 'brother'. He's very protective of his beloved Shin, and he used to be a boxer! Heeh, take care!"

Yuda ended up smirking all the way down the busy Rambla. People rushed in and out of stores, carrying clothes, wines and fruits with them, pulling their screaming children along. It was the kind of chaos that any soldier could enjoy – no blood, but lots of drama.

The bookstore came into view. He had asked a couple of stressed-out mothers about it, uncertain if he would ever find it, but apparently it was the only one in Antenora City. And all the elderly women flushed and snickered at the mention of Shin.

"Oh, he's such a sweetheart!" And then Yuda was pointed in the right direction.

The door chimed when he closed it after him. He inhaled deeply, loving the smell of thousands and thousands sheets of old and cherished paper. The books were mostly on shelves, but obviously they had run out of space, so small mountains of books were randomly erected on the floor.

"Can I help you, si-…" A voice asked, but stopped. Yuda turned around and looked at the smaller man behind him. A bit shorter than Rei and Shin, with dark-purple hair and wide, purple eyes. Eyes that stared into his in awe.

"Hello. My name is Yuda," he started, and the other immediately blushed to a bright-red. "Can I speak with Shin? If he's… ahh, available?"

"I'm Shiva," the dark-purple-haired man said instead, offering his hand. Yuda shook it politely, waited. But Shiva didn't take any notion as to call out for the blue-haired man.

"You're from the outer countries, aren't you?" Shiva blurted. "So am I! I grew up far from here and came here to live and find peace. It has to be destiny that you-"

"Shiva? Who are you talking to?" a soft voice interrupted, and Shin appeared from a door leading to a back-room. Yuda nearly gasped in relief, while Shiva flushed even more, shooting daggers at the gentle-mannered male with his eyes.

"…Oh!" Shin looked taken aback when his eyes fell on Yuda. "I'm sorry Sir, can I be of any assistance?"

Yuda nodded and smiled politely at Shiva, who retreated sulkily to the far away shelves, glancing back at him every once in a while. He was definitely listening in. It seemed to be a bad habit of these librarian-types.

"My name is Yuda," Yuda decided to introduce himself either way. "I'm living with your friend Rei, as you might know."

Shin flushed.

"I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop back there…"

"It's not a problem. And thank you for the wine... Shin, was it?"

"Yes," Shin shook his hand, nimble fingers strong. His amber eyes looked into Yuda's blue ones.

"How long are you staying with Rei?" Shin asked politely, obviously still embarrassed.

"Of that, I am not certain. But when my friend Luca returns in a week's time, I'll definitely have to find another place."

Shin suddenly smiled shyly, hand resting on a dark-red book on a table. Two lovers embraced each other on its cover.

"… You don't want to get in their way, no?" he snickered softly. Yuda chuckled.

"So you knew Luca?"

"I met him on several occasions, yes. And even if I never met him face to face I am certain Rei could write a splendid biography on him; I mean, with all the facts he has already provided me with…"

"I am happy for them," Yuda smiled.

"So am I."

They stood in silence, smiling. Yuda found that in close proximity of the amber-eyed beauty, he was very much able to shut out the anxious looks being shot his way by Shiva. But Shin must have been very self-conscious of their spectator, because he cleared his throat and turned to his side, looked away at nothing.

"What can I help you with, though, Yuda? If you are interested in a 'thank-you'-gift for Rei then I just received an excellent cook-book I know he's been talking about for ages."

"That's… Wonderful and very thoughtful of you. But I have no money on me. I haven't been to the bank yet." Shin turned around and met his seeking eyes.

"That's not a problem, Yuda." He smiled when he spoke the name.

"He's right!" Shiva suddenly reappeared, walking towards Yuda with dazed eyes. "I can create you an account here, and no matter how many purchases you make here, you can simply pay me back later!"

"Shiva," Shin spoke softly. "I can handle this, please don't speak so loud in the shop."

Shiva glared at his 'boss', huffed and turned around. When he walked into the back-room he slammed the door.

"I'm sorry," Shin sighed, sadly and worriedly. "But, uhm, yes. You may pay me whenever you get the money. You get 'friend-discount'," Shin grinned lightly at this. "- and just take your time with the payment. Settle in first, no rush…"

Yuda smiled and followed Shin towards the shop's counter, where Shin found the book 'Fabulous Foods – Never Chicken' and wrapped it in gift-paper and put an elegant bow on it.

When he accepted the book from Shin's hands, he let his fingers linger on Shin's for a little while longer than normally appropriate.

"Thank you, Shin."

"Y-you're welcome," Shin's eyes looked both delighted and nervous.

"And please know this: I will do anything I can to help you rebuild the orphanage. Just come to me with whatever questions or requests you may have."

"Thank you…" He sounded breathless.

"…I'll see you soon, Shin." A farewell smile.

"Yuda!" Rei's eyes were wide when he noticed the gift-wrapped book on their small table.

"Thank you so much for having me. I mean that, Rei," Yuda said seriously. Rei sat down across the table, putting the steaming pan down between them.

"I… You're welcome, but…" He bit his lip, again. "Oh, but you shouldn't have..!"

"Enough about that. Please, open it."

Rei's fingers shook in excitement as he unwrapped the book, his eyes went impossibly wider as he read the title.

"How did..!"

"Let's just say that I spoke with an expert…" Yuda trailed off, smiling into his food. Delicious.

Rei was quiet for a long time, while Yuda ate silently.

"You have met Shin, haven't you?"

That question could be interpreted on so many levels, Yuda mused. But he found that it didn't make him feel uncomfortable. Instead a nice tingling feeling spread in his chest, pleasant, warm and promising. It spoke of his future, he hoped. And he would definitely work hard to make that future happen.

"Yes, I did."

Rei looked at him, understood. An uncharacteristic sadness settled over him suddenly. Yuda looked at him, wanting to understand, too. And he found that it wasn't difficult.

"I… I received another letter from Luca today," Rei started softly. "He writes to both of us, saying that it'll probably be more difficult for him to end his final mission before he can join us here. He expected to be here next week. But he says that his superiors are uncertain about letting him travel away…"

Yuda was angry.

"But my rank trumps his superiors'. I'll write them first thing tomorrow, and I'll order them to let Luca meet you here as soon as possible!" Rei looked close to tears.

"Rei… I promise you that he'll come. He has worked very hard to be with you. He won't give up. Not now, not ever…"

"… I think I love him, Yuda." Rei whispered. "B-but I hardly know him, a-and-"

"Shush, Rei. It's alright," Yuda smiled.

Antenora City. What had been war and destruction was now peace, normalcy, and the ground-shaking realization of the possibility of love. For Rei, Luca… and himself.

"I know he loves you, too, Rei."

~ ~ ~ FIN? ~ ~ ~

*Dies from long-ness of One-Shot*

(1) Rambla: Spanish word for main road. Ehh, kinda.

Sorry, Neko-Chan, for stealing what might be your idea :3 but I also used Dante's Inferno in this. The city's name, Antenora, is the second zone of the tenth circle of Hell. The tenth circle is the place traitors go to. And Antenora is the place traitors of party or country end up. On a symbolical level it just works for what I might have in mind for the future of this baby.

I think what inspired me to the looks of the city is southern Europe citied, kind of. Small cities in the mountains of Spain, France, Italy, etc. I like the looks of those! Wish I had the money to make a small trip there soon xD Even if just for a weekend! I miss doing that a lot.

Heeh, sorry about bringing my OC Jacob into this as well. Hopefully no one is too bothered by him :S I kinda like him (even if he did mess with Yuda's head in the Sweetest Gift..), and I promise that he will have NO major role in this at all, Lulz!

This AU will be continued on the whims of my imagination and inspiration. Unless, of course, you guys hate it already… I hope you don't cuz this could get really funny and smexy (M-rating-ish…) And plot-wise? Errr, I dunno. The whole war-thing is kind of not important – I just made up something to make it seem real. I hope I didn't fail too much. Also I'm not gonna turn this into a great, epic war-story, where Yuda and Luca must choose sides and all that jazz. Sorry, but these AU stories will be about building relationships and such. Romantic stuff, yayz! And LUCA would be part of next chapter x'D does bribe like that help?

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