Forever SK (02)

[kanu_x]

Edited: 2014.10.24

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Prologue
chap01

* * TWO * *

One divides into Two but share a core.
The day that Five Stars are born, the Storm will brew:

He who swallowed darkness keeps his silence,
and the World cracks slowly.

When Five reaches Three of Two pairs and One,
the silence becomes complete.
This World will Sleep.
Only Rebirth can break this eternal slumber.

SATOSHI:
When he came into being, I felt him and I cried. He was the first light in my dark world. I coveted him. I promised to protect his little light in my darkness.

When Kazunari was only nine, I was already over three-hundred years old. He was so young, I did not tell him that first time I lost breath. When he turned one hundred, I could no longer say the truth.

The first time I fainted without awareness, I finally knew something was wrong.

Even then it was already too late. Kazunari has to keep his life.

I must keep my silence.

[ Core ]

The Barrier closed, but the Mutants who had broken through during its moment of vulnerability continued to rampage throughout the Land.

He was not deaf to the screams of fear and loss from his people. He was not unfeeling every time their blood soaked into the soil. He felt it all.

Satoshi had run away from his Caretaker, but not because he wanted to hide. He stood on the shore of the Blue Lake and heard the screams of terror echo all around him. It was his fault the Barrier had weakened. It was he who had created an opening between this world and another. Satoshi would do anything to restore Core, to save the people, to help Kazunari, wherever he was in whichever world Satoshi had unintentionally sent him.

Satoshi stepped into the deep blue water. Its damp coldness seeped into his skin, through the design of his white trousers and robes. He waded further in.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his eyes closing as the water rose up to his chest. I'm sorry. He shivered. Kazunari's voice echoed in his ears. "I'm sorry," Kazunari had said to Satoshi as they slept underground.

"I'm sorry," the Guardian repeated, apologizing to his brother, to Core, to the World and all his people. He was sorry for his selfishness. Even if tomorrow he would return to coveting that selfishness, at that moment it didn't matter how much energy it took him to restore order. This was his Land, his Home, himself.

The lake engulfed him.

"Breathe!" Kazunari told him right before Satoshi had pushed him away. Breathe.

Under the quiet stillness of the deep blue water, Satoshi took a breath and dissolved into liquid. He joined himself and the lake, locking their forms together; became one with the shimmering blue substance. Only he could do this. Only he, the True Overseer, could use such strength to protect his people.

Slowly, the Blue Lake, he, dissolved and turned into mist.

[ In the direction of the Rising Star ]

The Holder of Heat and Wrath knew he could not hesitate. To pause, to rest, meant death. But even when he knew, his body refused to move. His limbs had grown heavy with fatigue and overexertion. His head throbbed each time he strained to draw more energy. He was not even Mage, did not have their full power. The Holder did not want to give up, but his body had reached its limit. He faced too many Mutants. Too many to kill. Too many to save. Too many people to protect.

When his knees gave out, the Mage of Detachment at his side screamed at him to stand and continue. She yelled and cursed as she killed, but he could not obey. He was unbearably tired. The last time the Barrier had gone down was only days ago. This was too soon. He was too exhausted.

"Fuck you! Stand up!" the Mage shouted as a Mutant turned to attack his slumping figure defeated on the ground.

"I can't," he whispered, his eyes closed, even as the monster advanced triumphantly and raised its razor claws for a death blow.

"STAND UUUUPPP!!!" she screeched.

The dark skies opened and blue rain showered down.

[ In the direction of the First Point ]

The Mage of Air and Breath hovered in midair, out of the Mutants' reach. He observed them from above, panting heavily and nursing a face wound; he felt exhausted, but planned his next move. His partner, the Mage of Creation, was hidden somewhere to attack from the shadows. She excelled at long-range combat so he could not blame her for leaving him alone in the open.

He was still reviewing his options when he felt the first few droplets of rain. They seeped into his skin, his clothes, and hair. He knew this was not regular rain. This was their Guardian. The droplets slipped off the hard scales of the Mutants, but clung to the Mage's body. Immediately, he felt it. The strength of their Overseer flowed into him, giving him much needed energy. Surely, his partner felt their Guardian's power too because her monstrous creations strengthened. He knew the common people would now dance in the storm, bathing in the love and protection of their Guardian.

The blue rain continued to fall steadily.

While the Mutants shrieked in their rage, the Mage of Air and Breath drew air into his lungs. His senses sharpened.

One by one, he destroyed them.

[ Outside the Palace ]

Who are you?

To Masaki's question, Sho would not answer. He could not. He was much too afraid and lost to find his voice.

Sho could feel the hard ground against his back and smell the fresh scent of nature around him. He was somewhere outside when he remembered he'd been home before the darkness swallowed everything. Before that sudden explosion. He couldn't be here where screams echoed all around, where a stranger pressed down on him and refused to move. This person was not the assistant who had tried to force Sho. But where was the assistant?

Sho closed his eyes and groaned from physical pain and misery as his full memory returned.

Misaki's hurry was forgotten as he stared at the face of the breathtakingly beautiful man underneath him.

"Can you get off me?" Sho whispered.

Masaki realized his body was still pressed firmly against this other person. He pulled back and sat up, openly staring.

"It's you!" the Caretaker exclaimed, remembering their previous encounter. It was suddenly more important that he had seen this person in the other world Satoshi had opened a few days ago. This human and he had even locked eyes then. Masaki had forced himself to turn away because he knew, or thought, that he'd never meet this person ever again.

He was wrong. But, he shouldn't be. The Key shouldn't have been turned.

While he kept silent, surprised, awed by his discovery, forgetting their situation, Sho continued to lay on his back glaring into the darkness of the sky.

Sho wanted to wake up. Whatever game his mind was playing on him, let it end. His whole body ached. He was sore and his leg hurt, too much for this dream to be funny. He wanted to wake up at home, in his bed, before the incident at the mall and that attack in his apartment.

Sho laid still, surrounded by chaos he didn't understand, wouldn't even if he tried, and he felt so alone. He was terrified. This place was no where near his home, might not even Japan. He was, he felt... Something he couldn't name. A mixture of everything overwhelming him in one instant. Sho suddenly hated his life and the situations he encountered. He had somehow, somehow, escaped that assistant to land here after that horrifying darkness. Hateful staff. Hateful life. Hateful him.

While he glared up into the silent night and forgot about that person who had woken him, surrounded by strange chilling screams, Sho felt exasperated tears slide down the corners of his eyes. They made their slow way down.

Hateful tears too, he thought angrily. If he cried, what good would it do? Where was he? How could he wake from his prolonged nightmare? And fuck, his leg still hurt so fucking damn much. The frustrated, angry tears continued to spill down the sides of his face until a gentle hand touched his forehead. Sho broke out of his black and white world.

Masaki crouched over the silent and sad Sho and forgot about the chaotic Core around him, about the people that had need of him. All he could think of was this person whose soul was breaking. This man Masaki had refused to let his eyes linger on back in their world.

How had he gotten here? Suddenly, Masaki wondered, Where is Kazunari? Where was his friend? This stranger here in their world meant that Kazunari might no longer be in Core. Had their Guardian accidentally turned the Key again?

Masaki leaned down so Sho could hear his soothing whisper. "Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid of me. I'm here with you."

This was a dream, Sho decided with finality at that moment. Where he met a kind stranger. A mixture of confusion and relief filled him as he met Masaki's kind eyes.

Blue rain poured from the dark sky.

"Ah!" Masaki remembered his duty. The Mutants! He remembered that Mutants were wreaking havoc in Core. He was outrageous for forgetting such an important thing. Blue droplets seeped into his skin, giving him strength. The Guardian was aiding them.

The Mage of Life and Nature pressed his palm against the ground. Shoots of wood sprang from the earth to encase Sho in a solid wooden cage. Protection.

Sho gaped at the blatant display of magic.

"Wait for me!" Masaki shouted and without even turning back, he pushed off and ran towards his original destination.

It was not as if he could go anywhere anyway, Sho thought glumly as he watched the receding stranger's back from the solid bars of his prison. Now that the kind stranger was gone, Sho thought about how silly everything was. There was no logic to his current situtation, except if this was a dream. It definitely was a dream.

[ Earth ]

Who are you? Jun had demanded of Kazunari.

Kazunari turned his head away because he couldn't withstand that piercing gaze. He decided he'd worry about other things. He felt sore all over because of his awful crash into this cramped space. Dammit, Satoshi, he thought. This was the world they had come to before. He knew because he recognized the stranger. What had his brother done?

Jun kept staring and Kazunari wished the human would avert his gaze. He tried to stand from the rubble and unsuccessfully. His lightweight body had been stripped of its strength. His limbs wobbled when he tried to move and Kazunari gave up because the stranger still refused to turn away and very reasonably, the Prince didn't want to lose his pride by stumbling in front of him.

"Where's Sho?" Jun asked even though his previous question went unanswered. He knew anyway because the memory had returned during that accident with his car. This intruder in his friend's apartment was not normal. Something had happened to his friend.

"Fuck like I know," Kazunari replied when he realized he had no where else to go. He couldn't move much less just up and leave.

I need some real answers, Jun thought as he glared at the intruder. "What happened?" he asked. "What did you do to Sho?" If his memory proved him right (and if he was possibly not crazy) this man had something to do with the mess in Sho's apartment.

Kazunari grew exasperated with Jun. Again, he refused to answer because he knew it would get him nowhere. He tried to disappear within the rubble by edging into the debris.

Jun knew only this stranger, this person who was different and somehow frightening, invoking memories of screaming and lightning, had the answers he wanted. He stormed over, frustrated and angry with himself and with everyone around him. "Get up!" he ordered. "Where is Sho!"

"Leave me alone!" Kazunari screamed, tired and irritated. He wanted time to think and plan.

Having had enough of being ignored, Jun bent down and yanked him up by the arm.

"Ouch!" the Prince screamed. Infuriated sparks zapped along his arm reflexively.

Jun dropped him. He pulled back in alarm, understanding that his memory proved right.

The Mage was powerless to stop his fall and landed hard on the wooden mess. He cried out and Jun realized he had never intended to hurt this boy-like creature. Never.

Kazunari's eyes watered, but he refused to let himself go. He glared up at Jun with a mixture of pain and anger. That instant, Jun knew that these were the eyes that haunted him. This man. Of course, it was this man.

"Who are you?" Jun asked again, softly, standing and staring. He was afraid, awed, and full of disbelief. The familiar want to protect those vulnerable eyes returned.

The Prince knew he was alone in this world. Utterly alone and not in the way he wanted. He desperately searched for that link that tied him and Satoshi together and found it weak, almost impossible to hold.

He was lost. He was powerless. That knowledge left him completely empty. He would not answer Jun.

Sirens rang in the distance. A worker from the building cautiously peered from around the open doorway. The two occupants froze. The newcomer's eyes took in everything. The crumbling walls. The shattered windows. The caved ceiling. Ruined. He gaped at what he saw.

"What...happened here?" the attendant whispered, moving in so he finally saw the extent of the damage. He had called the police before coming because of the loud explosion. He just never imagined what a noise that loud entailed. No, he never thought this could be real. Had there truly been an explosion in this very building? His gaze traveled to one of the two people in the room.

Kazunari saw that look of shock and disbelief. His heart sunk. Only one thing mattered to him. That this was yet another human of this world. Another enemy. Would he start demanding answers too?

The man locked eyes with Kazunari and, true to the Prince's fear, asked with his voice barely audible, "Who're you?" He knew Sakurai Sho lived here and he'd never seen Kazunari before.

Kazunari wanted to hide. They, the humans here, were all the same.

Jun slowly turned to that new voice, his heart pounding in his ears. He faced the employee. His mind raced to come up with an answer. Anything. To establish order, that was everything. He had to establish some sense of logic here to not be overwhelmed. He wanted to be in control once more; to control what was happening. To panic was the worst.

The sounds of the sirens only loomed closer. The worker's eyes fixed on Jun this time.

Jun's priority was Sho, but his feelings stood in the way. He answered and somehow his voice came out steady, "He's my cousin."

The worker frowned doubtfully. Kazunari, who had been curled into a miserable ball, watched him in surprise.

Jun's resolve strengthened. He straightened and squared his shoulders. He met the employee's eyes with ease, determined. "Sakurai-san went on a rehabilitation trip for his injury and had called us to check his apartment."

Within a moment the fabricated story poured forth from Jun's mouth, so fluidly and easily that the worker was left dumbfounded until police officers entered. Jun continued his story with as much grace as before, undeterred by his lie. He had no idea why he protected this other person, but he did.

All the while, Kazunari watched him and felt a mixture of fascination and confusion, extreme confusion. He couldn't believe what this stranger was telling them. Who did he say Kazunari was?

The officers helped Kazunari out of the rubble, but the Prince did not pay them the slightest attention. His eyes were still glued to Matsumoto Jun who had moved to a far corner of the room to call for assistance in retrieving his stranded car.

Who are you and what are you doing? Kazunari thought as he watched Jun's back. What are you planning? Kazunari knew he was alone and this one person especially he couldn't trust.

[ Core ]

The aftermath. The battles were over; the Mutants defeated and incinerated.

Mages and Holders from all over the world gathered at the edge of the empty Blue Lake. All were tired, wet, and freezing. Some of their comrades had fallen, very few, but a significant number nonetheless. They stood as one, looking over the gaping hole where the lake used to be, none willing to break the silence.

Masaki stood among them and he noticed the Caretakers standing in the back, afraid to approach the line of exhausted Mages who were currently busy watching the lake. He ignored them and slowly made his way to the front to assess the damage. There was nothing there to see, but damp ground in a crater.

From behind, the Mage of Strength and Mass asked, "How long?" The question was directed at Masaki, personal Caretaker of their Guardian.

How long? Masaki thought, watching the empty space where water used to be.

The Mage of Creation sighed as she turned to look up at the sky. It was still pitch black though undeniably morning. She didn't have to look to know that the grass beneath her feet was brown instead of a lush green.

It was her partner, Mage of Air and Breath that said slowly due to the injury on his face, "The Barrier will be intact, but we're locked down. The Star won't be rising any time soon."

Yes, Masaki inwardly answered, hating the fact that he had to lead them now when Satoshi or Kazunari usually did. But if not him, no one then. So he turned to face all of the Mages and Holders and told what he knew.

"Yes," he repeated. "You all know what the Guardian did required enormous strength. Right now, he's unconscious, reforming. The Star won't rise until all the water has returned to this lake, until our Guardian is whole again. The Land will be at minimum power. It'll take..."

They held their breaths.

Masaki was almost regretful to announce, "A few weeks."

"You're his Caretaker!" one of them burst out in frustration. "We all know something is wrong with him! What's been making the Barrier fall!? Will it happen again!? If it's at this level, we can't take it!"

"Don't yell at him!" the Mage of Creation snapped. "He's trying the best that he can. You know he's dealing with our Guardian's condition with everything he's got."

Masaki fell silent and downhearted anyway. His expression dropped and his head lowered in shame. Because he knew part of this was his fault. His fault for not knowing what was wrong. His fault for not being able to make Satoshi say anything. Because the truth was, only Satoshi knew what was wrong with himself and kept his silence.

"Don't be bothered, Masaki," the Mage of Creation comforted him then, reaching out an arm to clap him on the shoulder. "It doesn't suit you. We need your care and laughter now most of all when our Guardian's not here. Everyone needs to work together."

The sullen accuser turned away as the Caretakers finally stepped up to tend to the Mages. Masaki nodded to her, grateful for the support.

[ outside the Palace ]

Too many bad things taking place all at once. To Sho anyway.

After the kind stranger had left, all warmth and ease left. Sho's leg became numb with pain. With all he'd been through, he wasn't surprised. The dreadful sounds echoing throughout this place frightened him. Rain soaked him to the bone. He was cold and he curled on the muddy ground, clutching himself. He was trapped in the stupid cage and couldn't even run for cover. This was definitely a nightmare. Why couldn't he wake up?

His teeth clattered as he lay on the ground, wet and uncomfortable. He wanted relief. This was the worst dream ever. How could something feel this realistic? How could a dream be this painful? As he waited in the rain, freezing, a voice came to him.

(( You are from another world. ))

Sho's head shot up. Who? His teeth clattered, too loud, and the rain drowned out all other little sounds. However, the man's voice had been so clear.

(( Kazunari must have gone to your world instead. ))

Who are you? Sho thought desperately, wishing to reach out. The words wouldn't come out of his mouth. He observed his surroundings again and in the eerie darkness found nothing.

(( I am the Guardian of Core. Do you want my protection? ))

This was a dream. Sho realized he might as well stop trying to make sense out of a dream. Yes, he thought. Yes, I want your protection.

The rain that fell down became as light as feathers. It drenched him, but did not weigh him down. It gave him warmth. The pain in his leg eased. Sho felt mystified. Maybe coming here was better than facing that assistant after all. Ease settled into his stiff body and he was able to relax completely. The events of that day caught up to Sho. Exhaustion took over and he fell into an easy sleep.

The rain stopped a few hours later.

Masaki found him as he was, resting peacefully in the cage. He crouched down and stared at that familiar face a moment longer. The person who was all of sudden in his charge. As if fate had shown Masaki this man that day just to tell him that.

He cleared the wooden cage away.

"Until the Guardian wakes and turn the Key, you're stuck here," he told the sleeping man. "I'll take care of you in that time. Before you go back." As he scooped the person of another world into his arms, Masaki hoped Kazunari, wherever he had gone, was fine. He hoped that there was also someone to take care of his best friend like he was taking care of this man.

He took Sho to his Green Gardens and laid Sho next to himself on a bed of vines. There would be no mornings, no daylight, for the next few weeks, but he had to rest before dealing with that problem. Masaki also fell asleep to rest his body from the battles and worries of that early morning.

[ Earth ]

The sun shone bright and strong; just another day with pale blue skies studded with lazy clouds.

As normally as ever despite all the crazy stuff happening to him, Jun went to work. As normally as he could. He couldn't even believe that at home, at that very moment, a certain creature was sleeping. Something he had gotten used to, though he shouldn't have.

Kazunari had come home with Jun that afternoon many days ago after the officers had been through with questioning them and Kazunari had went straight to bed. He was still there at Jun's house now. Sleeping. Jun certainly had no control of his life at the moment. I'm Matsumoto Jun, he thought as his bizarre circumstances threatened to overwhelm again. And still, he had no idea where his friend was. Where the heck was Sho? All trouble for him.

"Matsujun, where is your Yama?" The question came out of nowhere.

Jun who had been silently reading his script, or pretending to as he contemplated, turned cold when he heard that familiar voice. There could be only one person that disgusting voice belonged to.

Fuji Tohru invaded his space in the studio where he had some filming that morning. Jun could never go a week without meeting the annoying musician. Some kind of fate was definitely working hard to make Jun lose his self-control. Damn if he would let it work.

Sitting comfortably in his chair, he concluded that he would ignore Tohru for the sake of his sanity. He already had so much to worry about. Too much.

Their manager had been terribly angry when Jun had told his lie about Sho's hasty rehabilitation trip. To boot, they had to work extra hard to keep Sho's ruined apartment a secret while Jun paid for the damages (which Sho was definitely going to pay him back for). And again Kazunari was at his home right now away from the police's eyes. Worst of all, Kazunari had been unable to answer Jun's question about Sho's disappearance because for the last three days he had been sleeping. Sleeping. For three days. No one normal slept for three days straight. But then normal could not be applied because that creature was not normal. Jun still couldn't figure out if he was insane.

As his thoughts wandered from his enemy, focused on his own troubles, Tohru grew impatient. "Oy, Matsujun, did you hear me?" the musician demanded.

Jun came out of his reverie. He blinked up, lost for a moment. "What?" Still, there was that edge in his voice showing he was irritated. What did Tohru want? He wanted to be left alone for once.

"Hey, it's Kaze-kun!" another voice chimed in. As luck would have it, Mine appeared from behind her boyfriend.

Jun closed his eyes wearily, sighing to himself. Damn luck. The girl who began it all had come. Tohru positioned himself in front of her protectively, making Jun mad. As if he would take her. Even if the musician was not there, Jun would have never made a move on her.

Mine touched a finger to her lower lip and frowned at her lover's action. "What are you doing, Tohru? I want to look at Kaze-kun. Isn't he especially gorgeous today?"

When the brows of Tohru knitted together, Jun wanted to shout at her to fucking shut up. Damn, he already had too much to take care of. He was seriously relieved when a second later, the staff called him over to begin the filming of the show. Without another word, Jun hurried away.

"Mine, why do you always make me angry?" Tohru asked his girlfriend when the idol left. She went around him to get a good view of Jun on set. "I know you don't do it on purpose. What's the reason?"

"It's your problem," she answered with some irritation. "I keep on telling you that I'm just a fan, Tohru. But you think it's much more."

"It is!" he exclaimed, though not loud enough that all within the vicinity could hear. His girlfriend wouldn't even look at him as they conversed. Her eyes were focused on the very object of his problem. "You're possessive over the guy. Going as far as to be jealous. You don't even feel that way in my case!"

Mine pouted. "You just don't understand, Tohru. I love you and we'll always be together." She grabbed his arm. "But Jun-kun is a different matter. I'll never let anyone have him. Ever."

Right, he did not understand. Tohru grumbled and fed up with her reasoning, he pulled off her hands and stomped away in bitterness. Just you wait until you get a girlfriend, Matsumoto Jun, he thought angrily. I'll make sure she falls hard for me too. Fucking promise.

*

Much later, hours later when Jun's filming finished, he looked and was glad to see that the two band mates had gone. Good riddance. He knew nothing about Tohru's silent declaration. Just a little happier, he thanked the staff for another hard day of work and departed.

Jun rode the subway home (his car was still at the auto shop) and arrived at his apartment by evening. As had been his routine for the last few days, the first thing he did was check on his sleeping prisoner. He had tried to wake the creature up the other days but the smaller man never budged. Nothing could stir him. Jun had been forced to check on him daily just to see if the thing was still breathing. Kazunari vexed him. Confused him. Exasperated him.

Now as he entered the bedroom, he wished once more that Kazunari would wake. He desperately needed to know his colleague's whereabouts, but only this creature had the answer and Jun was forced to impatiently wait. He crossed the doorway and his eyes wandered to the bed to find that object of his frustration. Nothing. Jun stopped, no words forming in his mind or lips. He watched in disbelief, left speechless yet again for the second time that week.

Empty. Gone. That man from the other world was no longer there.

He rushed out of his apartment because there could only be one reason: the man had run away after suddenly becoming conscious.

[ Core, the Green Gardens ]

The first time Sho woke up, it was dark so he thought it was night and he had tried to go back to sleep. He hadn't looked at his surroundings much, didn't even notice Masaki next to him.

The second time he woke, it was still dark. He was starting to feel cold and uncomfortable. Plus, his head hurt from too much sleep. Then he saw Masaki at his side and remembered everything. When Sho moved, he fell off the hammock of vines and plopped onto the dirt ground. He hurt his injured leg. Great. He had no idea where he was, but it was then that Sho decided he'd rather return to that hammock with the stranger at his side. He tried to go back to sleep with his throbbing leg. It was better to wait until there was light anyway.

The third time, Sho woke due to hunger and he realized that it was still dark. At that moment, he finally came to the conclusion that this place must have no mornings. He'd better stay awake.

But I'm still dreaming right? he thought, though Sho was pretty smart enough to know at this point no dream could ever be this real.

So, this time he successfully hopped off that hammock without much trouble, not bad for Sakurai Sho anyway, and sat next to the swinging bed as his mind churned. Gratefully, he was finally calm. He could think things over without panicking. Well, not necessarily going berserk. He shivered, feeling hungry and weak. His mind was foggy from too much sleep, but just being in control of his own thoughts was bliss. No more panic attacks. He was still frightened though. He disliked feeling lost and not knowing anything.

Sho's eyes adjusted to the dimness around him. Stars, but no moon in this place. Wasn't that interesting? And what's more incredible, the fact that he accepted the uncanny difference so easily. I'm pretty strong when I have to be, Sho thought. He wasn't proud of himself. More like surprised. Now he wondered what to do and how to make sense of all that's been happening. Had his world been real after all? It couldn't have been fake. Earth was a lie? Jun and his whole family was a lie? Another idea came to him then, something else that actually made more sense. He froze at the thought, drawing a deep breath.

His eyes widened. What if... he had died? Couldn't it have been because of the explosion? He had died from the explosion?

Unbelievable! Sho jumped to his feet, panicked, and scowled once his injured foot smashed against the ground. "Ouch!" He clutched his injury, falling back down. It hurt. Could dead people still feel pain? Reflexively, his eyes watered, blurring his vision. Dammit, dammit. It hurt so freaking much. His teeth gritted together as the iron coldness invaded his senses. Stupid, broken leg. Damn, he wanted to scream, would've if Sho wasn't afraid that something would come in this darkness. But something did come.

A body dropped to the ground beside him and as Sho jumped back with a horrendous shout, the person took his leg between gentle hands.

Masaki berated himself and he was the one who panicked, adding fuel to the fire. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry I didn't look at you! Were you hurt!?" He lifted the broken leg.

"Ouch! Ouch! Let go!" Sho pushed the Caretaker from him forcefully. "It hurts! Don't touch me!"

Masaki came back anyway. He touched his forehead to the ground in a low bow. "Please let me help you! Let me help!"

"No! Leave me alone!" Sho shouted, backing away. What could this man do? More importantly, who was he?

Masaki hastily wiped at his sleepy eyes and sat up determinedly. "Let me help you," he repeated, this time not daring to raise his voice. And his other hand went up to wipe across his sleepy eyes again.

Sho stared, his heart pounding in his ears while the other man faced him, and he couldn't help thinking this other person had looked a little cute doing that. His face heat up at the random thought. He had more important things to worry about. Embarrassed, he furiously demanded, "Are you even awake?"

Masaki rubbed at his eyes one last time. "I am. I'm sorry I didn't know you were hurt. Let me help you."

"What can you do?" Sho voiced out this time. "My leg's broken."

Masaki stared, his heart sinking. "Oh. It'll hurt then." Extremely painful if he were to heal it. If he could anyway. His thoughts raced for another solution. Nothing. Would the soil help this time?

"I know it does!" Sho exclaimed, not realizing what the other truly meant. Then he threw his arms into the air, waving at the darkness around him. "Where am I? Am I dead? Who are you? What's going on? There's no sun? What am I DOING HERE!?" The recently familiar confusion and frustration returned.

At his multiple questions, the Caretaker stretched out his arms, palms faced out. "One at a time!"

Sho glared and huffed through his nose, but he did keep quiet and tried to stop his stupid heart from beating so loud. "All right," he finally muttered. "One question first. Am I dead?"

Masaki grinned at the amusing question. "I don't get where you got that idea from, but you're in Core."

"That sounds so simple," Sho muttered sort of bitterly. "I don't even know what Core is."

Masaki spread his arms wide with a large smile that showed how much he loved the place. "Core is this World, the pathway to all other worlds. All who wish to travel must pass through this place first." He didn't add that no one would be able to come anyway without the Key and with the Barrier up.

Sho frowned at his explanation full of lacking details. "What do you mean other worlds?" This person was saying something and nothing at all! Then he snorted. "You're joking with me, right? It's so fairy tale."

It was Masaki's turn to huff. "You are so dumb." Of course, he did not understand the differences of people who had not been born in Core and those who knew nothing of other worlds beyond their own. Some worlds did not believe in magic and some worlds did not believe that other worlds existed.

Sho took his careless remark as an insult and glowered. Without a word, he tried to move further back, away from this heartless fool. Masaki reached out and grabbed hold of his leg again.

A strangled cry burst from Sho's lips as pain wracked through him. "Don't touch me!" he cried again, his eyes smarting. It fucking, fucking hurts! he cursed. He couldn't stand it. He almost couldn't breathe from the intense pain. Sho wished he could just cry all the misery away. But he couldn't even do that which was so simple.

"I'm sorry!" the Caretaker replied hastily, truly repentant, but he did not let go. His touch became gentle.

Sho opened his mouth to tell him off again then froze when Masaki got rid of the ruined cast over his broken limb. He winced when Masaki touched his bruised flesh with tender fingers and still he couldn't shout. Not anymore.

"I'm sorry it hurts so much," Masaki whispered, meaning exactly what he said.

The sorrowful expression on his face coincided with his words and Sho's mind refused to supply him with the right thing to say. He felt a complicated mixture of anger, confusion, pride, and loneliness.

Masaki turned to him. "If I heal you, if I can, it'll hurt a lot, but only for a while. Is that okay?"

Sho gulped. He stared at this other person, for the first time realizing how beautiful that face was, and he couldn't find his voice yet again. Those had been the eyes that came to him in his apartment, invading his vision. The eyes he somehow could and couldn't remember. This person was the one who had comforted him when he first came here. And this person had been the one who had somehow caged Sho in with wood. Magic?

No. Sho shook his head vehemently. No. No, he did not want to take the pain. No more. He had no idea. He definitely did not want to see any more of what this man was capable of doing. He knew nothing of this Core and he did not want to risk it. Sho just wanted to go back. Back to his world where he knew how the system worked. Back in Sho's world, back on Earth, there was no such thing as magic. No noises in the darkness, no voices in your head offering protection, no raindrops feeling like feathers. There was a sun, a moon, people who did not somehow imprison you in with wood that magically sprouted from the ground. Back then, Sho was rational and he was not insane.

If this was not a dream and not Earth, not the place you go when you die, then this place was Core. And in Core nothing made sense. He was a man of sense and security. Sho covered his face with his hands, wishing it would all disappear. All of this. Maybe he did wish that assistant would come back after all.

After a long moment of silence while the thoughts ran through him, the stranger finally broke the tension.

"You won't let anyone help you," Sho heard the other man said through the darkness of his own hands. "Life's easier if you just let everything go and not think too much. That is how this world is. That's Core."

Sho did not move. He was listening, even if he didn't want to.

Masaki went on, "If you just take in everything and don't question, it'll all work out in the end. I can help you and I will help you if only you make sacrifices."

Sacrifices? That word rang like a bell in Sho's mind. Back at a time when Storm was still unknown, when they were still slaving their way through the entertainment world, his manager had said the same thing.

The memory gushed forth on its own. "You're too stiff, Sakurai. Why don't you loosen up? Life's easier if you don't think too much, don't calculate all the time. Can't you see why Matsumoto always succeed? It's because he's spontaneous. Why can't you just let loose?" the manager had said. "Make sacrifices. Don't be afraid to lose control of your world." By world, Sho's manager had meant that creation in the idol's own mind. He found it hilarious that those exact words matched perfectly with his circumstances now. And hilarious that it was this person of another world who was saying almost the exact same thing.

Finally, Sho's hands came down. He refused to lift his gaze as he asked, "Exactly how painful will it be?"

Masaki beamed happily. He opened his mouth to speak. A familiar voice broke through his consciousness and interrupted.

(( Masaki... )) The sound in his mind was no more than a whisper.

The Caretaker's head shot up, forgetting all else or what he had been planning to say. It was Satoshi! He had no idea the Guardian had been strong enough to communicate.

"SATOSHI!??" he shouted, surprised and excited. He ignored Sho who now gaped at him, apparently seeing that he was reacting to nothing visible or audible.

(( Masaki... )) Satoshi began again, his voice almost inaudible even in the Caretaker's mind. (( There's an intruder in Core. ))

Five thousand miles away, the assistant who had been with Sakurai Sho eagerly listened to an old farmer.

[ Earth, Matsumoto Jun's apartment ]

He stood in the doorway of his apartment, gasping for breath and bent over, his eyes staring straight at one person: that creature. The Prince stared back expressionlessly. Behind him, the television ran on freely, the voices drowning the tense silence between them.

"You..." Jun swallowed, his eyes never leaving that other man. He ignored the voice of the newscaster currently on air, his only one concern being that man who had caused him to run around and waste his time. "You're still... here." Sweat ran down the side of his face. He had done all that running for nothing. And the latter continued to look as unperturbed as ever.

Jun had searched the neighborhood, thinking that the creature must not have gotten far. Maybe. That fear that he had lost this one link had overwhelmed all else. He had looked desperately, afraid. And yet, somehow also afraid for this one smaller creature. When he had found no trace of Kazunari, Jun had rushed back to the apartment to grab his wallet. Where he actually found the person he had been looking for anyway. Standing there waiting for him with the television turned on, looking quite whole.

Now at the open doorway, Jun stepped in and slammed the door shut behind him. "You're still here." There was an edge of irritation in his tone. How foolish he seemed now. He hated feeling like a fool.

Kazunari said nothing, only watched him as before.

Unnerved, Jun tugged at the collar of his shirt, also hating that his whole body was wet with perspiration, hating those eyes of the Prince that stared straight at him. "Good," he said, trying to exert some control. "You need to finally answer my questions."

At that, Kazunari broke in before Jun could continue, "What is your name?"

Distracted, Jun raised an eyebrow. "What?" He had not been expecting that they would be on speaking terms. Quite so normally too. His name? Slowly, his anger dissolved to be replaced by surprise.

"Yes, what is your name?" Kazunari repeated.

"Matsumoto Jun," Jun answered. He straightened immediately because he would not be outdone. "And what is yours?"

"Kazunari."

It was so normal, Jun could've been fooled. "Surname?"

This time, it was the latter's turn to be confused. Kazunari's brows drew together.

"What is your family name?" Jun repeated slowly, wondering if something was wrong with this creature.

"Why should I have one?" the Prince asked instead. "Why would I need a surname?" And then he replayed Matsumoto Jun in his head. "Ah. So Jun is your surname. Why do you need surnames in this world?"

How frustrating. Jun decided to let it go. He had other things on his mind at the moment, more important things. He sat down on a chair and took a deep breath. "First of all, let me get this straight before we go on. It can't be true. The mall. The explosion. Screaming. Your lightning. It's real, isn't it?"

Kazunari extended one arm, demonstrating without speaking first. On his palm, a spark of light sparked into life. But just like that, it went out. "It's real." He did not dare tell Jun the truth though. The truth that he couldn't hold his powers for long. Not without Satoshi there. Without the Guardian, on Earth Kazunari was not at full strength. "Now you see," he stated, carefully placing the threat.

Jun clenched his teeth and covered his face with one hand. Enough. Why had he even asked? He had decided to accept everything. Even though the idea of magic was still too ridiculous for him to wrap his head around.

"You know..." he started, hating to feel that he was losing his grasp at control once more. But before he could convince himself to believe, Kazunari's voice cut into his thoughts.

"I don't trust you, but I need your help. I'm willing to compromise."

Immediately, Jun's eyes shot up.

Kazunari held his gaze and continued, "That 'Sho' you were talking about. I might know where he is."

"Where!?" Jun perked up, standing up at once and forgetting his most recent concern.

But Kazunari shook his head. Unconsciously, his hand traveled up to his chest to clutch the cloth there. So weak, that link between him and his brother. They had never been separated before. Kazunari never thought that special bond could ever be this small. He couldn't live without it. "Compromise," he repeated.

"What do you want?" Jun demanded, definitely angry that his control was slipping so far out of his reach. This creature was trying to take it from his grasp.

Kazunari held his gaze. "I need to get back to Core. I need to contact Satoshi. I'm going to find a way and in that time, you will teach me about the Laws of this world."

Jun glared at him and seethed. His hands balled into fists as he stared the smaller man down. If only he weren't so afraid of that lightning, he would've grabbed the creature by the shoulders and shook the man until he broke. Probably. But now. Now...

"Agreed," Jun stated, drawing in a deep breath and forcing a smile on his face. His heart pounded in his chest, his blood boiling. "I'll teach you about Tokyo, but first you'll have to tell me where Sho is."

"No. Only after I have learned enough," Kazunari said. "After all, you'll need me to get to your friend. Without my knowledge, you won't be able to do anything anyway."

Jun glared and he vowed to himself silently that he wouldn't lose to this creature. Again. Just this time only. No more. He felt foolish for even worrying, for even feeling just once that he wanted to protect this kid.

Across from him, Kazunari smiled smugly just to rub in the point that he had won the better end of the deal.

* *

Forever SK 03