Disclaimer: I only own my sanctuary, and that's the upstairs to my house.

WOW! I read over my last chapter and MAN it was full of randomness. It is indeed the Comma Squid, and yes, it's staying capitalized. Maybe the Comma Squid Time Bender, eh? I mean, every now and then we would skip further ahead in time. I'm sorry!

ANYWAY, the part where Haganemaru was thinking about Sakura hitting someone over the head with a baseball bat is from Pinkbinder-chan's "Highschool Hell." One of the best stories I've read. I hope you don't mind me using it for my story…

Oh! Also, Sakura said her brother was going on the annual trip to Japan. It's actually the United States her brother is going to since they're in Japan. Again, sorry!

This chapter title is called the Naracat knosp, which means the orange-red budding flower. I was intending it to symbolize Kurogane's eyes and how he transforms in this chapter. Thank you. I did try my hardest. I have come up with a game about naming my chapters. I would find the letter that each story began with and used it to find the words for the next chapter. yeah, look at the chapter titles and you'll see I used T, N, and K in all my titles. cool isn't it? try it!

Hyuuu…now its time to feed your brains with my lousy writing!

-9-1-1-

Fai couldn't believe it. Last night, Haganemaru and he were sharing a meal together, this morning they were happily chatting, and now, Haganemaru's greatest fear was shooting people in the office. The blonde and the redhead were currently occupying an empty room for meetings on the opposite hallway of the office. They had heard the gunshots over the intercom and from outside their door. Haganemaru was standing next to Fai, his face painted with fear and realization. Fai had snaked his arms around Haganemaru's stomach, willing him not to go. He didn't want to lose someone he just found.

"The police will take care of her. No one's going to get hurt, I promise." He whispered franticly, hoping that his words were right. They heard more shooting and people crying out. None were female voices. A voice, chilling and full of sarcastic care, came over the intercom.

"Kurogane, my baby… Come out from hiding, sweetie… Mommy just wants to play…"

Then they heard high heels run down the hall, more shooting, and then more high heels. Haganemaru looked down at Fai, a look of loss filling his red orbs.

"She's looking for me. The police haven't got her yet." That's when the door opened. A teacher that had been in the meeting room stumbled in, his clothing awry and his arm bloody.

"She's going to the cafeteria…" He said before he fell over onto the carpet. Fai rushed to his side, trying to aid the now unconscious man. They could see people running from the open door. Maybe she had shot a lot more people. He looked back at Haganemaru, fear in his blue orbs.

"What are you going to do?" Haganemaru looked down at him, defeat and resolve written on his face.

"I'm going after her." He said, before striding over to the door. Fai caught onto his jacket, making him stop.

"Hagane-san…" He said, hopelessness brimming his eyes. Haganemaru looked down at him forlornly. "No, my name is Kurogane." And with that, he left the room.

-9-1-1-

Kurogane ran down the hall, looking at locked classroom doors and broken windows. There were police knocked out here and there, making Kurogane doubt she was alone. He picked up one of the police guns and ran to the hallway leading to the cafeteria. He hid his gun in his jacket and then opened the door. The redhead stopped dead in his tracks, looking at the devil herself. She was standing in the isle between the long tables, smiling coldly at the boy who just entered. She had a gun in her right hand, holding it out to the side slightly. Kurogane clenched his teeth, feeling her red eyes searing over his face.

"My sweet child… You dyed your hair… It suits you…" Kurogane let her walk up to him, her steps slow and agonizing. She stood a few feet away from him, watching his eyes move with her every step.

"Mother…"

-9-1-1-

His feet couldn't carry him fast enough. Running down the corridor was Fai, panting and panicking. He was very worried about his childhood friend, so worried he had actually stopped to pick up a police officer's gun and carry it with him. He looked at the shattered windows in dismay, feeling worry flooding his veins. He stopped about a corridor away from the cafeteria, silence overcoming it for a moment. Then, from the cracked door, Fai heard a familiar voice…

"Mother…"

Fai stepped closer, wincing at the soft sound it made.

"Kurogane, my dear boy…I missed you so…"

Another step and he would be outside the door.

"I missed you too…" Fai peeked into the cafeteria, eyes widening as what he saw. Kurogane and his mother were in an embrace, his mother's gun clanking as it hit the ground. Kurogane had his eyes open, staring at the wall in front of him whilst his mother's eyes were closed.

"I'm sorry that I didn't come visit…" His mother laughed softly, stroking his back.

"It's alright. You always failed me, so I wasn't surprised…" Fai held his breath as he saw Kurogane's hand reach inside his jacket slowly.

"I won't fail you again…"

Slow motion took hold of Fai's vision. He saw Kurogane point the gun into his mother's gut, not hesitating on squeezing the trigger. He heard his mother let out a sickening cry as blood splattered on Kurogane's jacket. She released her son, eyes wide with shock. He was staring down at her, his face filled with regret and sorrow. She dropped to the floor, her hands clawing at his pants.

"…You… You always were a murderer… you always had disappointed me… my sweet…sweet child…" She mumbled, her eyes glossing over. Fai watched as Kurogane looked down at her, his features expressionless. Then he turned to look at Fai, eyes wide in shock.

"Fai…" Said blonde looked at Kurogane, staring in disbelief for a second. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move behind him. A man with brown hair suddenly came out from behind the trash can wielding another gun.

"Kurogane!" His vision betrayed him again as Kurogane turned to see who Fai was staring at, but didn't turn fast enough to evade the bullet. Fai observed in horror as blood shot from his left shoulder, his face contorted with alarm and pain. Fai brought his gun up, letting his bullet fly. He closed his eyes as the bullet embedded itself in the man's temple, sending him crashing to the floor. Fai dropped the gun and ran to his staggering friend. Kurogane was holding his wound, staring down at the floor with wide eyes.

"Kurogane…Kurogane look at me…" The redhead slowly turned to Fai, tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

"Fai…" He whispered, letting his knees give way. Fai dropped with him, letting Kurogane ease his way down. He then turned his head to the door and screamed at the top of his lungs.

"SOMEONE! HELP! CALL 911!"

-9-1-1-

"Coffee sir?" Asked the nurse. Fai nodded sullenly, a fake smile plastered on his features. He was sitting in the waiting room, a blanket covering his shoulders with fear of losing his friend. He had waited for almost an hour with the unconscious Kurogane until the ambulance arrived at their school. They took Kurogane, his mother, the brown haired man, and the teacher with them and Fai begged to be taken along. They allowed him, his hand never leaving Kurogane's right one. They had asked him to stay in the waiting room whilst they treated Kurogane, giving him a blanket and hopeful words before they left. Now he sat alone in the waiting room after thirty minutes of chilling and horrible thoughts of what was to come. The nurse came back, a mug in her hand. He thanked her and took it with another fake smile. He really wished that she would bring him more than just a mug of caffeine.

About ten minutes after he received the coffee, he was confronted by a doctor. Fai sat up in his chair.

"Is he alright?" The doctor sighed as Fai stood up.

"He'll be fine, though the amount of blood he lost might keep him here tonight, he'll be walking and talking by tomorrow. He's awake now if you wish to see him." Fai nodded and was led to Kurogane's room. The redhead had a bandage on his left shoulder and a sling holding his arm. He turned to look at Fai slowly, and then he smiled weakly. Fai went to his side and grabbed his right hand after the doctor left.

"How are you?" The blonde asked, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. The red eyed boy blinked slowly and laughed softly.

"I'll be ok… what about you? Did you get hurt?" Fai smiled down at his wounded friend.

"No, though I did shoot the guy who tried to kill you… I wasn't quick enough to stop him from hurting you though…" Fai felt Kurogane squeeze his hand gently.

"You tried your hardest and that's all that matters…" Fai sighed lightly, watching his friend close his eyes. The doctor came back in and tapped Fai on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry to say that its time for him to rest…" Fai nodded, but Kurogane wouldn't let go of his hand.

"Let him stay here…" He said quietly, looking at the doctor with weary eyes. The doctor paused for a moment, and then smiled.

"You may stay the night, normally family only stays, but since he's requested it, I'll allow it." He patted Fai lightly on the shoulder before taking his leave. The blonde turned back to Kurogane, who was now breathing calmly. Fai smiled down at him, leaning back in his chair before unintentionally falling to sleep himself.

-9-1-1-

Kurogane and Fai learned that school was cancelled the next day due to the havoc reeked the previous day. They released Kurogane that afternoon with warning not to overexert himself or strain his arm. Fai drove Kurogane home in the black camaro and helped him inside. Kurogane sat down on one of the couches, sinking in it as much as he could.

"Kuro-tan, can I get you anything? Soup? Water? A blanket?"

"All three of those would be lovely, Blondie." The redhead said, smiling up at his friend. Fai smiled back down at him and went into the kitchen. When he returned, he saw that Kurogane had made a fire in the hearth in front of the couches and was poking at it with the iron stoke.

"Kuro-fee, your food is ready." Fai called in a singsong voice from the couch. He set down the tray of soup and water on the coffee table. Kurogane sat back down on the couch and began to eat while Fai went upstairs to get a blanket off of one of the beds. When he walked into the room Kurogane said he was sleeping in, he had to avoid from stepping on any papers. There were paintings and sketches all around the room. Fai felt his heart stop when he saw what those pictures contained.

Each and every picture had him in it. Some just his face, others his whole body, then some had scribbled words and arrows on them. Some of them were half colored while others had been crumbled up and thrown haphazardly across the room. He looked at the nightstand that had a piece of paper and a colored pencil on it. He picked it up, noticing it was the most recent. It had both Kurogane and him in it, Kurogane staring up at Fai who had his arms encircling his neck. Fai was smiling brightly and looking at the painter while Kurogane was smirking and blushing at Fai. They had on sweaters and scarves and Fai had a blue hat on. At the bottom contained the date and time it was completed and "K. Suwa" down in the corner. Fai read the date and realized it had been drawn yesterday. He felt himself blush and put down the picture. He then went into the opposite bedroom, thinking it would be embarrassing if Kurogane knew he had been in his room, and grabbed the white blanket off the bed. He scurried downstairs and found Kurogane staring at the fire.

"You done with your soup?" Asked Fai, sitting down next to Kurogane with the blanket thrown over them both.

"Yeah… you do know that we're both…"

"Killers? It was self defense…"

"Does it matter? Will we still go to jail?"

"It was kill or be killed. We'll just have to convince the jury it wasn't intentional killing but two students trying to protect themselves and the school." Kurogane turned his head to Fai, smiling bitterly.

"I wish I had your outlook on life, Blondie." Fai laughed, remembering that the redhead had said that the other day.

"Stick around me for a long time and it will rub off." The pale teen then felt Kurogane's arm snake around his waist, pulling him closer. Fai smiled and leaned against him.

"Thank you…" Said the gruff teen while Fai hugged him back.

"For what?" Kurogane smiled down at him.

"For being there when I needed you… For always being the light to my shadow…"

"And thank you…" the redhead gave him an odd look, and Fai smiled warmly, inching his face closer until their noses touched.

"For needing me…"

Fai had never felt a kiss so passionately. It wasn't brute or sloppy as he imagined one would be with the older teen, but soft and loving. Fai blushed and leaned into the kiss, letting it strengthen until they had to pull away for air. Kurogane was blushing a deep shade of red just like Fai, and he was staring at the blonde. Fai stared back, a smile tickling his lips. Kurogane, for once, had never felt so accepted.

-9-1-1-

Nyah! Short chapter! –Gets shot- sorry! I didn't intend on it being this short, but its how it ended. I think this is the end chapter, but I will make a sequel if it is wished. Like the dance that's coming up in their school or the karate night interview Sakura was talking about. I will write it if you review and tell me to do so! Nyah, I think I made their relationship move too fast –gets shot again- and the one in the story of white dove and Black Panther is moving too slow X.X. I promise that I will try to even things out!

Mirika-puppy-san