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Chapter 21: Masquerade

'Uh hm...good, he's already starting to trust others it seems,' was the thought of a certain petite girl; until the number one Devil Bats shot his own members down. 'Well, At least the seed is already planted….' She sweat-dropped, her trail of thought was disrupted when the elfish homeboy casually conversing with Devil Bats' rather cute manager and the whole crew of its hot cheerleaders. However, the twitch was dismissed as quickly as it first appeared.

"Sango, where did you put Kohaku's spare uniform?"

The attractive young woman in question groaned at her inquiry. "Ugh...your last trouble cost me two-months worth wages, Kags. So spare me, maybe?" She grumbled all the way, yet still inclined at her disposition. "Inside your changing suitcase as usual." Sango left to retrieve her partner, Kōga, to take his role as a hawk eye for their little lady, since she couldn't left her post attending the other cheerleaders.

"Seeing all the youngsters compete all over again really brings back memories." Naraku eyed the teenager in a black gakuran uniform. "On top of that, you dress as a freshman from my former school."

"Eh? How so, Naraku-san?" Superficially green eyes looked enticingly.

"Yep! It's all about my good deed, reaching for your haughty brother, to make the most badass partner of Amefuto!" Winking gleefully, Naraku reminisced his teenage life. A gasp was heard from the 'male' looking teen.

"Wow... Just how long have you two been together?"

Naraku choked on air upon hearing the easily misleading remark.

"You've made it sound like we are dating, Kagome," He deadpanned.

"Eh...? Then how about how'd you guys meet?"

'Not helping...' Naraku sweat dropped. "Uh... while I don't mind such insinuation, Snow Lord would be hell-bent to fix you for sure." Naraku was grinning at the passing shudder on the 'boy', no doubt from getting image of being slaved to death by 'his' adopted brother. "Nonetheless, I've known him since our freshman year together, since he had gone to America before."

"Oh, I get it! Just like the boys here, you got to meet the best mates and having all the fun with them!" \

The bunny-eared handsome looking man couldn't help but chuckled.

"Well, yes. You can say that... On top of that, Toga-sama was the coach for the duration."

"Eeeh? R-really?"

"Sure! His iron hand was what made our team kicking ass in every match. Although the way he trained us was the least agreeable things, the devastating result was beyond doubt." He remembered how things almost always went in Toga's favor. "You already know how socially challenged your brother is around people, and as a team, we ought to work together. I was the first one bold enough to reach him and left with no bruise..." Smiling, Naraku wistfully recounted the following event. "But later, I gotta crack his thick skull with several punches, though he beat the shit out of me in return..." He cringed at the memory of resting in hospital for five days afterward.

"I'm glad you guys end up as best buddy. I bet you guys were the aces of the team!"

"Well, Lil' Bird, it's obvious. So... in answer to your question, I guess we've been together for over a decade?"

The masquerading idol laughed heartily, oblivious to some on-watchers curious glance upon hearing a pleasant laugh, coming from such a short bishōnen.

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AN: I'm really sorry, but I have to edit this chapter and reupload the new one. My humble apology for causing any inconvenience, and I much appreciate your perseverance for keeping up my selfish way.