Fai POV

Disclaimer: Manga, anime, characters, any of it mine? Of course not. Just this spin.

Chapter 21: Tactic

Ashura plucked a keychain from his pocket and leafed through the small metal objects until he found the one he wanted. He walked straight to his office door, eyes still glued menacingly to Kurogane.

As soon as he noticed that it was already open however, he stopped dead in his tracks.

“Did you go in there?” he asked in surprise, eyes darting to me. “How did you get the door open?”

I lowered my head.

“How? He repeated.

“I–I don’t––”

“How did you get inside!?” he roared.

“We didn’t do anything.” I cried back “The door was already open. Kurogane and I came down here to––”

“To get boxes.” Kurogane finished for me.

I shut my mouth and glanced confusedly at him, then snuck a look at the pile of empty boxes three feet away. They, of all things down here in the basement seemed as good an excuse as any – though admittedly unorthodox.

Ashura frowned. “Excuse me?” he said.

“I’m moving some of my parents’ things to the attic, and I wanted to borrow some boxes.

Fai took me straight down here, and we saw that the door was open.” He met Ashura’s gaze. “That’s all.”

Ashura looked ready to explode at him, fists shaking at his sides, teeth bared in a snarl.

But he stifled his apparent urges and instead just sneered and walked briskly into his study, aiming for the desk.

He snatched up a fat brown envelope atop a cluster of other papers, whirled, and exited.

I inched closer to Kurogane.

Ashura slammed the door shut, locked it, then stuffed the keys back into his pocket.

“Get upstairs.” He snarled at the two of us, then looked directly at Kurogane. “And you. Go ask another neighbor.”

Kuro insisted on staying between me and Ashura as we ascended up the squeaking stairway.

“Go home.” Ashura snapped at Kurogane when we reached the upper level, then grasped my wrist. Kuro tensed and stayed put, but I mouthed for him to go, begging him with my eyes not to make things worse. He took a long look at me, then rolled his shoulders and turned away to leave.

“You’re staying right here. I’ll be two hours.” Ashura whispered to my ear and tucked the envelope securely under his arm, then walked out after Kurogane.

My heart tripped when I thought that he might be following my neighbor to personally make sure he didn’t come back, then realized he was heading back to his car.

He must have just come back for that envelope, for whatever was inside – but still had to return to that meeting at school.

Ashura shot one look my way, then pulled the car door open, sat in, slammed it again, and started up the engine. By the time he was at the end of the road, Kurogane was long gone.

I immediately spun on my heel and darted up to the bedroom.

Kurogane was already crouched at my window, chest heaving slightly from the hurried ascent.

He jumped from the sill and rushed toward me, catching me up in a bone-crushing embrace.

“Shit.” He breathed.

“Precisely.” I replied quietly against his chest.

He exhaled heavily and pulled away to look at my eyes.

“I’m not too thrilled with the idea of leaving you now.” he said, voice strained.

“Well, you’ll have to.” I replied reluctantly. “As a matter of fact, you should go. Now.”

Kuro’s eyes widened. I wriggled out of his grasp but kept close.

“He’s suspicious of anything I do now, and he might even come back in half an hour, let alone two. And we don’t want you here when that happens.”

Kuro’s gaze dropped, obviously wanting to protest, but knowing that there was truth in my words he couldn’t argue with.

Eventually he sighed and nodded in understanding, he slipped his hand behind my neck and leaned his forehead against mine.

I laughed at his uncharacteristic affection. “Calm down. You’ll give yourself gray hair.”

He huffed in annoyance. My smile widened, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes.

“He’s pissed, Fai. I don’t want him going out on you because of me.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t know that. You can’t.”

“I’ll be fine, Kurogane.” I said firmly.

He blinked in surprise, but doused it before I could comment, then folded his arms and heaved a sigh.

I leaned up and captured his lips in a quick but sweet kiss, then pushed on his chest, causing him to back up toward the window again.

“I’ll text you later if you like. Just to let you know I’m alright.”

Kurogane nodded and hopped onto the window ledge.

Then he was gone.

I swallowed a lump in my throat and shut the window.

As soon as wood hit wood, I thought twice and re-opened it, just to be safe, then went downstairs to think.

That afternoon when Ashura returned – a little later than he said he would – I made sure to have lunch ready.

Apologies can usually take the form of prepared food. Although I didn’t have much to apologize for in my own eyes, to Ashura, I’d gone against a direct order.

The thought of the word order caused rage to run through me, but after a few deep breaths, the anger slowed to a simmer. No point getting worked up over something I had no control over.

After laying a platter of freshly made sandwiches onto the countertop, I took a seat across from Ashura.

He picked up a triangle slowly and placed it on a small plate in front of him. I cautiously did the same.

He looked at it for a moment, then picked the sandwich up between delicate fingers. Suddenly his hands stopped, food only halfway to his mouth, and paused to look at me.

I gulped.

His eyes bore into mine, brows furrowed slightly, jaw working.

I could barely take the anticipation. I wanted him to just yell at me and get it over with. But he did nothing, just raised the sandwich the rest of the way and took a tentative bite.

I sighed and put mine down. I’d lost my appetite.

“Why did you come home today?” I asked him quietly.

He didn’t answer for a minute. I was beginning to believe that Ashura had resorted to giving me the silent treatment when he finally spoke.

“I left three corrected exams on my desk downstairs. Had to pick them up.”

That explains the envelope. Although it didn’t look the right shape at all to be exam papers.

He paused “What were you doing with Kurogane?”

“He asked for a simple favor. What did you expect me to do, turn him away?”

I asked and pushed my plate away. “We weren’t on the best terms anyway.”

Ashura’s eyes soften at that and returned to his sandwich. Of course. He must like the idea that Kuro and I haven’t stopped fighting. Still, a little part of me didn’t believe that it would be that easy for him to get over this.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Ashura asked me, tone lightening considerably.

“Nothing.”

“I have to go into town. Want to come along?”

I shook my head. “No thanks.”

Ashura’s gaze hardened. “Why?”

“I just don’t want to.” I took a sip of my drink. “Is that a crime?”

“Don’t get smart with me.”

“Then don’t be unreasonable.” I shot back.

Ashura narrowed his eyes and rose from his seat.

I shrank back. “I just have no reason to go.” I added quietly.

He leaned across the counter, bracing both hands on either side.

“You’re coming with me.”

I heaved a deep breath and stood myself. My clipped huff was agreement enough. I couldn’t refuse him. I’d be going with him tomorrow and that was that.

No further words were exchanged.

I finished my glass of water and cleared the table.

That night, after quickly texting Kurogane to give him a promised update, I showered and got ready to hit the hay without any intention of undergoing anything more strenuous than pulling on a pair of pajama bottoms.

After throwing myself onto my bed, a loud groan escaped my lips.

My head rolled to one side.

On my desk, something peeked over the corner of the wood.

Frowning, I sat up straight and peered over. Placed neatly beside my bedside clock was a small blue folded piece of paper.

I reached over and grabbed it.

“Huh.” I mumbled to myself. When my fingers carefully unfolded the paper to reveal a note, I almost wasn’t surprised.

Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier, but I parked the car at the end of the street. Didn’t want to wake you with the engine last night.

Thanks again for letting me borrow it. Chi and I had a great time.

F

It was the note Ashura thought I had left behind for him in the morning.

I grinned goofily and rolled my eyes. I really did have a little helper on my side.

I muttered a thanks into the night air and placed the paper into my drawer for safe keeping. It even got my handwriting pretty close – save for a couple of minute differences my own penmanship didn’t hold dear.

I curled up into bed and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Ashura entered my room that night, just as he had done the previous night – intoxicated.

I was beginning to see a very unwelcome pattern. Sure, I’d seen him drink before, but never to this extent, never every night. It was becoming tiresome.

I was awoken to the sound of glass scraping off of wood.

My eyes peeled open and I let out a groggy moan, muffled against the duvet tucked under my nose.

Ashura was standing at my shelf with his back to me, turning the small glass cat over in his hand, observing it from all angles. I couldn’t see the expression on his face, which made me more uneasy.

“What are you––?” I started. Ashura flinched and spun, as if he didn’t even realize where he was.

His face was cast in shadow, but I could see his shoulders slump. He tore away from whatever trance the cat held over him.

“Why did you break it?” Ashura asked me. His voice was quiet and raspy. I had to strain to even hear the words. But I did catch them, and they confused me even more.

I sat upright, duvet bunching at my stomach.

“I’m sorry.” I replied. It was broken, and it had been a gift. Naturally he wouldn’t be thrilled. There was no reason to get angry, although explaining such logic to him may have been a tad difficult at this point. I didn’t want to get into the complicated discussion of what really happened – That I returned to my room one day to find it beheaded by a ghost. No. I’d tell him it was me, grit my teeth, and bare the verbal lecture and guilt trip he was ready to dish out.

“It was…” Ashura began, but stumbled as he took a step toward my bed. He caught the wooden bed knob and righted himself.

“It was a birthday gift. One that I never got to give you.” He lowered his head. His shoulders jerked once and his chest heaved. It looked like he was going to be sick. I spoke evenly.

“You should go to bed. You’ll feel better in the morning.”

“No!” he roared and shot forward until he was standing directly in front of me. His breath came out in deep, sharp pants. I could smell the sweet stench of whisky on his breath from where I was.

He loomed over me. His hand rose and reached out as if to touch me, but he pulled it back and clenched it tight at his side.

“I never got to give it to you. And you still broke it. do you hate me that much?”

I took in an unsteady breath and looked down at my fingers as they played with the lining of my covers.

“You gave me the cat. It was months before my birthday, but you gave it to me. I’m sorry I broke it. Please don’t be upset.”

“Upset?” He spat the word.

I shrank back as he smiled coldly at me. His head was lowered so I still couldn’t see his eyes, but I’d have bet money on them holding no warmth whatsoever. He wasn’t of sound mind anymore, and I knew I had to get out of there.

Prepared to make a break for it, I inched away to the other side of the bed, hoping he wouldn’t notice me slipping my feet to the left, readying myself for flight.

Before I could even look over, scouting my small room for the quickest escape route without bumping into him or any of my belongings, he shot forward and pinned me down. I barely had time to register what had just happened before my brain kick started again and screamed at me that I was in serious trouble.

His hands held both my wrists. He was leaning down so close to me now that I had to hold my breath to keep from sputtering a cough at the smell of him.

My wrists began to hurt while my fingers started to lose feeling altogether.

“I wanted the best for him. Back then…” he shook his head from side to side quickly, as though he was shaking the thought away.

“I wanted the best for him. And I thought he… shared my feelings…but I found out later that it wasn’t me he cared about at all. It wasn’t me he was thinking of when I took him away from there every week. I gave him everything he needed, everything he wanted…”

He reached down into my pajama pants. “… But now…”

Fingers brushed along the tie at my pelvis. I flinched and strained against his hold.

“Fai, don’t struggle. It’s better if you–”

With a strangled cry, I wrenched my wrists free, smacked his hands to the side then backed away until my back hit the wooden head of the bed.

Ashura’s mouth fell open, hand still outstretched.

“Fai…” he tried to reach out to me again, so much more gently now, but I shot out of bed and planted myself by the window.

“I think you should leave.” I snarled unintentionally. He wasn’t himself… but that didn’t excuse what those clouded intentions may have been. My body began to shake with anger, and I had to bite my lip to keep from yelling my lungs out at him.

Ashura stood slowly. I pulled myself up as tall as I could, but he still had at least ten inches on me.

He swallowed and winced, hesitated, then turned and left the room, muttering slurred words of apology as he closed the door behind him.

My eyes were wide, water stinging the corners from not blinking.

I let out a heavy breath and slumped back onto the cool sheets. A hand came up to rake through my hair, only noticing then that the messy fringe had been lightly dampened with sweat.

“…God…” I whispered to myself.

Opening my bedroom window and making my way over to Kurogane’s house was looking like an attractive idea. But I purged the fleeting thought just as quickly as it had come. There was no way I would bring more trouble to him. Not now.

I pulled my legs up to my chin and sat back on the bed. With Ashura the way he was, and a certain spirit interested in sabotaging me, I didn’t feel much like sleeping.

Sure enough, the next morning came equipped with the agreement I’d made with my foster father the previous night. I still wasn’t happy about it, but I faced the bright side and convinced myself that I would be otherwise bored by myself alone in the house.

As expected, Ashura mentioned nothing of the previous night’s events. But what I didn’t expect was for him to appear completely oblivious. Before, after he’d hit me, there was definite guilt and remorse in his features when I saw him the following day. He knew he’d done something wrong, and looked to be torturing himself internally for it. Now though, there seemed to be nothing of the sort. He acted ordinary. Quick and busy, yet happy. No sadness buried deep behind those golden eyes.

I frowned, standing in one spot as Ashura circled the kitchen to grab his keys and gulp back the remainder of his cold coffee.

He smiled at me briefly as he swept by and headed for the front door, waving for me to follow.

I twisted and complied.

Did he truly forget?

The car journey was tiresome. I held a firm air of taciturnity about me, just to show him that even if he couldn’t remember the night’s events, I certainly could. Although, if push came to shove, I’m not sure I could have come right out and explained it to him word for word.

Ashura never explained to me what his business was in town that morning, and I didn’t ask. When we parked and emerged from the car, I stretched my arms over my head and sighed heavily, making sure not to make eye contact with him.

Gravel crunched as Ashura walked toward me.

“I’ll be finished in an hour. Meet me back at the car.”

I didn’t say anything, just offered a soft grunt and shrugged a shoulder.

“Alright? See you later?”

I nodded, shoved my hands deep into my jean pockets, and strode away from him, out of the car park, and headed up the street without looking back.

I checked my wrist. Ten o’clock. That gives me about fifty minutes to convince Chi to come home with me.

“What, you mean now?” Chi asked meekly as she set a glass of juice down in front of me on the TeaRoll counter.

“Whenever you can.” I replied with a smile. Bringing Chi home with me might replenish Ashura’s belief in our relationship. It was doubtful, very doubtful, but there was a chance that he actually believed Kurogane when he said boxes were his sole reason for visiting me yesterday. If Ashura thought we were still fighting, and that Chi and I were progressing smoothly, he’d be prone to simmer down again, and not be compelled to keep such a watchful eye on me.

An added bonus of Chi visiting the Flourite manner, would be her ability to see and sense ghosts. Better than me anyway. She may be able to give me a little insight as to what they want and what it would take to get rid of them.

Well, not both of them. To be perfectly honest with myself, I actually liked having the younger ghost around. Even if it did mess up my things from time to time.

“Well, I have to work until late tonight, so–”

“Chi?” A friendly voice called.

We both looked up to see a handsome man with black hair and a soft smile leaning out of the kitchen door, both hands occupied with whisking the pink contents of a mixing bowl.

“Yes, manager Ueda?”

“I have to close TeaRoll today for a few hours in the afternoon. We have an order for a wedding that needs to be filled, and I need your help with it.”

His eyes shifted to the cake mix and placed it back inside before reappearing again at the open doorway.

“But there are a few things I can do by myself, you’d just be bored, so if you want you can go with your friend for a little while today.”

Chi’s big amber eyes widened and sparkled. A barely contained gasp of happiness escaped her lips and her hands clasped together excitedly.

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Of course.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Just make sure you come back. I’ll definitely need your help with the decorating, Chi. You’re better at it than me.”

I smiled unconsciously and sipped at my orange juice.

“When can Chi go?” she asked. Her voice had softened now, as if still unsure if this was alright with her boss.

Ueda craned his neck to look at the time on the cash register.

“How about you head out now, and be back in an hour and a half.” He paused and looked at me. “Assuming you don’t live too far away, Fai?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. Ten minute walk, five minute drive.”

“Alright then. Chi?”

The petite girl straightened at the call of her name, ready to take orders.

“The last customer is on his way out. Will you close up for me?”

Chi nodded vigorously and headed for the door. Ueda laughed and dipped back into the kitchen.

I called Ashura on his cell, asked if it would be alright if I walked home. He seemed reluctant, naturally. But as soon as I told him I was bringing Chi over for lunch and that she only had so much time before she had to return to work, he perked up, even offered to give us a ride. I declined. Told him that he should finish what he was doing and that we’d see him at the house.

After a quick burst of friendly small talk, Ashura hung up.

I sighed and looked at the girl who stood beside me, fastening the hooks on her jacket.

“Ready to go?” I asked.

She nodded and skipped ahead of me happily, leaving me to catch up with her.

I’d already explained to Chi before the phone call exactly why I invited her over.

She seemed flattered that I wanted her to help out with the spirit problem. Probably even considered it only practical, given her gift. I also mentioned that, while we mutually had always known that our relationship was strictly mundane, we would have to pretend like a budding young couple in front of my father. Only when the explanation left my mouth did I mentally slap myself and began stumbling for further assurance that this wasn’t the only reason I wanted to spend time with her. But she just laughed it off and told me she knew we were friends, and that I didn’t need to prove it in such ways.

That relieved me somewhat, but I still felt bad that the one and only time I invited her over was for ulterior motives besides social, quality time.

I made a point to do so in the future.

Right now though, there were much different things on my mind.

The walk home was pleasant. Though we both required jackets to keep out the late winter cold, wind didn’t beat at us and rain didn’t pelt. It was a fresh crisp afternoon, and we spent the trek joking, laughing and talking about anything and everything.

Of course, the destination really did take a few minutes to arrive at, so the fun was short lived. When we made it to the front of the cul-de-sac, I stopped and grasped her coat sleeve to have her do the same.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Do you mind if we make a pit stop?” I asked.

She tilted her head to one side, not in confusion of the request itself, but more curious as to why I thought it would bother her to do otherwise.

Considering it took me half my allotted time to get Chi to come with me, and our brisk walking took us back here quicker than I had initially thought, there was – theoretically – a few minutes to spare before Ashura made it back home. And those few minutes would have to be put to good use.

I tugged her along with me until we reached Kurogane’s lawn.

Surprisingly enough, Chi was the one who silently volunteered to knock.

And before I could comment on her bravery, Kurogane was standing before us.

First he looked shocked to see me on his porch, then his red eyes darted to the shorter blond beside me, then to our still interlinked fingers. His lips tightened.

Raw hostility may have been what most people would call what Kurogane had toward most others, but I’m not sure that was completely true. I believe the boy was guarded, and always wanted to be kept fully up to date with situations that involved him. The object of a complicated romantic relationship and a semi-befriended young waitress who can easily find spirits standing outside his front door would qualify as a situation that involved him.

“Hey there, Kuro-pu!” I said happily.

Chi shyly waved and took a step backward, just so I was the one closer to the other teen.

“What are you doing here?” Kuro asked

“That’s a nice hello.” I commented with mock hurt in my voice “I wanted to bring Chi to my house for lunch. Thought we’d pop by for a visit.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked again and folded his arms.

I shook my head and laughed to myself. “Nothing gets by you.”

“Wouldn’t take a genius to figure out you were lying. Given the circumstances.” He replied and looked down at Chi. She shrunk further behind me, but I put my hand on the small of her back and prodded her forward. Kuro sidestepped so I could push her through the front door, then followed after her with a small bow to Kuro as we swept by.

When I heard the light click of the door closing, I turned to see Kurogane standing there, just as he had been outside. Tense, arms folded across his chest, eyes stern and directly on me.

“You’re in trouble if he finds out you–”

“I know.” I interrupted. “That’s why we need to be quick.” I looked away from him.

“Chi?”

Chi nodded at me and smiled at Kurogane sweetly, then, ever so hesitantly, walked away to explore the house herself.

Kurogane held up a hand to halt her actions, but I grasped his wrist gently and met his gaze, telling him to let her go.

“What the hell is going on here?” he hissed at me. I waited until Chi was out of earshot before I spoke.

“Just helping you out.”

“By volunteering my home as a hang out spot to your friends?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“She’s your friend too.” I said. Kuro just snorted and averted his eyes. He knew my words were true, though he wasn’t about to agree with me freely.

“Where’s the old man?” he asked me.

Ah, Ashura. The conversation I wanted to have with Kurogane, the story from last night I wanted to get off my chest about my father… would definitely have to wait.

“Out.”

“Figured.”

I smiled and sauntered over to him until he was within kissing distance. Not that I had that on my mind of course.

“Chi is just checking your house to see what she can make out of this ghost situation. Maybe she can help with our problems.” I said.

“And you let her go alone?” Kuro said and took a step forward again, this time to follow Chi for her protection. But once again, I stopped him.

“She said she wouldn’t even come inside if she felt she was in danger. She knows what she’s doing.”

“Let’s hope so.” He mumbled back to me.

My hand fell from his shirt sleeve. He looked down at it, as if disappointed at the loss of contact between us. Then his frown deepened even more.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Why…” he stopped and cleared his throat. “Why were you two holding hands?”

I blinked and crinkled my nose in confusion.

“When?”

“At the door.” His voice was calm, as if he wanted to prove that it didn’t matter in the slightest to him. The fact that he asked about it showed that he may have, but then again, I didn’t want to make any assumptions.

“I thought it would make us look cute.”

Kuro rolled his eyes. After a long pause, he asked me another more serious question.

“You said Chi reminded you of your mother.”

I took a deep breath and backed up slowly until I was leaning casually against the closest wall.

“I did say that, yes.”

“Were you lying?”

The words didn’t sting. They had no reason to. I lied quite a bit. Not to an extent that I should be hated for it, especially by Kurogane. I didn’t like being caught out on them though.

“Why do you ask?”

“Chi’s nice.” He answered simply. “And your mother sounded like a bitch when you described her.” he shrugged a shoulder and moved toward me. He braced both hands on either side of the wall by my head and leaned down until I could feel his hot breath on my nose.

“So it doesn’t add up.”

I dipped my head down, but Kuro’s fingers snatched my chin and pulled it up, so I could look him in the eye.

I squirmed and fidgeted in his grasp, not necessarily trying to break free, but simply uncomfortably under the close proximity as well as the seriousness of the subject.

After a moment though, with Kurogane deftly stroking a thumb across my cheek, I calmed down and answered.

“I remember only bits and pieces of my mother, and not all of them were unpleasant. We did share a few nice memories though. They were scarce, but they were definitely there. And those memories are the ones that Chi seems to embody.” I smiled meekly. “So I wasn’t really lying to you before.”

Kurogane blinked his eyes slowly, cupped my chin gently in his hand and bent down –

The light patter of footsteps made me straighten up and slip out from under the taller teen to greet Chi as she re-entered the hallway.

She didn’t look scared or worried, so that was a plus.

As she opened her mouth to give me the verdict she did manage to obtain, I held up a finger to politely pause her verbal intentions and looked at my watch.

“We’d better head off before Ashura gets back.”

“Right. Yeah.” Chi said, obviously understanding the urgency of my intentions. When I had mentioned the importance of Ashura not knowing that Kurogane and I were not only still friends, but had developed into something a bit more, Chi clenched her fists and nodded vigorously with the determination of a child having been given an exciting task by their parent.

Chi grabbed my hand and swung it beside her a little on her way out, completely unaware of Kurogane’s brow twitching from irritation.

I laughed and turned to say goodbye to Kuro, when I was suddenly swept off my feet into a tight embrace. Chi’s hand slipped from mine as soon as I was in the air.

Lips crashed into mine with a kiss that was both passionate, and urgent.

I knew he wasn’t doing it to prove a point to Chi, but rather offering me a firm reminder just how he felt about me.

And of course I drank in the intoxicating kiss, allowing my head to feel light as I swam in the bliss of this unknown emotion that swelled in my heart.

Only when I remembered that we had a spectator, did I reluctantly pull away. Kuro let me down to the floor again. I’d forgotten he’d been holding me up for the entirety of the kiss.

I grinned broadly at him before spinning to face Chi, offering an apologetic look that was no doubt mingled with a pink tint to my pale cheeks.

She lowered her head, grinning slyly as well, and turned away to open the front door.

When we were sure there was no car in my own driveway and that the street was clear of any oncoming vehicles, we rushed across to my house.

I glanced over my shoulder. Kurogane was staring after us from the half open doorway, the barest hint of a crooked smile on his face, then stepped back inside.

A/N:

Sorry it took so long for me to get that chappy out. Had other stuff going on. In any case, Hail Valley is up and running again. Now, I must apologize for the chapter itself. It wasn’t the best of quality as far as suspense and storytelling is concerned. Essentially I would consider it a drifter. Not a filler though. Things did happen, I’m just not sure it was ‘edge of your seat’ material. Next one should be better.

Even so, I hope you enjoyed this one.

Laters!