Title: The Blossoming of Betrayal

Author: Gothatheartholo

Genre: Tragedy, Angst, Romance, H/C, suspense

Part: 5/5

Warnings: Everything about high school, and life.

Rating: Haha, it’s M

Pairings: Both het and yaoi pairings. (Mostly Yaoi! XD! Long live yaoi!)

Summary: “I go on living in my darkness…That dark depth, that depth…
I decide in my life to take that path.” Shinta made one bad mistake in his life. Now he must deal with the consequences.

Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics that I put here, they belong to aheeyadotcom

AN: I own this story, and my characters. If you steal them away from me, I will hunt you down and demand them back. I was as usual, listening to Korean and Japanese music to fit the moods here.

Part V: The Blossoming of Betrayal

----

The traces of you around me makes it harder, I cannot fall asleep.
I shed our memories along with tears. Be happy, I pray for you.
Just say goodbye, I won't see you again, will I?
I want to hold you back, but it will be no use, will it? Say goodbye.

The things I didn't have chance to tell you. I cannot let it end this way.

----

Many months came and went.

To Shinta, it had been stressful. The Orchestra was preparing for the Graduation Ceremony in June, so he had to practice harder and harder as Mr. Nazuli continued to push him. Speaking of Mr. Nazuli, their relationship was actually normal if one ignored the fact that they were teacher and student. They have been extremely discreet with each other, hiding their relationship cleverly in school. Only a few people noticed their relationship, also known as Shinta’s friends.

Now, there was Shinta, hanging out with Yatrina and Yuki in his bedroom. Yuki was sitting on the floor, staring at Yatrina in wonder. Shinta was lying on his stomach on his bed, smiling at the blond as she started her rant about her “adventures” with her model of a mother. She was the only one standing, one hand on her curvy hip, and her other hand waving to emphasize her point.

“So anyway, my mom’s assistants are so stupid,” Yatrina said, scoffing and fluttering her eyelashes. “I mean, there are the boys, you know, and all they do is just stare at you for the rest of the day, sometimes not even doing their work. The women are just sooo vain! And I thought I was vain, but these people, they value their looks more than their life!” She took a deep breath and then released it, her chest heaving. “I got really nervous when they were finally taking my shots; I was standing there, making ridiculous and even seductive poses….”

“Wow, that sounds real tough,” Shinta remarked, grinning at her. He earned a small smile and his eyes shined with mirth.

“It was, but at least I finally showed up my parents. They KNOW I’m better than them, because I’ve recently learned from you that I must be beautiful on the inside, and the outside.” She let out a small laugh. “The whole staring stuff got even worse when somebody called my phone. I was trying to mix my make-up when that happened, and as usual, nobody answers it, except me….” Yatrina trailed off, panic in her voice.

How did it come to this?

Should she tell him that Katsu had called her? Was it her place to tell him about Katsu, when Katsu should have just visited Shinta himself?

“Who was it?” Shinta asked, gazing at Yatrina in suspicion.

Did Shinta know what she knew?

“Err,” Yatrina stuttered, lowering her hands as a sign reluctance. Shinta had noticed that immediately and narrowed his eyes at her, looking for answers within the bright emerald depths of Yatrina’s eyes. “Well, the thing is, it was a stranger, and he was creepy.” She didn’t know how much she could lie; it broke her heart slowly, knowing that she was in her own way, betraying Shinta.

“It was Katsu, wasn’t it?” he asked, his tone had gone from gentle to grave, and his blue eyes darkened in malice. Yatrina had to admit she feared that look; it was so….not Shinta, to hate someone so passionately, but she could understand that completely, because she had hated anyone who had Mr. Nazuli’s attention. “I’m not really surprised that he called you,” he said with a laugh. “It’s to be expected.”

“But Shinta, you two really have to talk sometime!” Yuki intervened, turning around to face him. “It’s just… so disheartening to see best friends fight like this; you guys may never be best friends again.” She sighed and hung her head in sadness. “Please….”

“I won’t talk to a person who doesn’t listen to me,” the black-haired boy nearly snapped. His voice radiated authority, something Yatrina and Yuki haven’t seen before. “What the hell is the point, anyway? IF he wanted to talk to me face-to-face, he could have just done that in school, but what did he do? He just ignored me, disregarded me.”

“I don’t blame you,” Yatrina said, shrugging her shoulders. “but you were bullshitting him as well, since you told us about how he encountered you after Yuki and I left.”

Shinta snarled, baring his teeth. “He deserved it. I may be acting extremely immature and irrational about him, but he did more bad things in my life than good… I think you guys already know that I have a ‘secret’ relationship with him?” He cocked his head to the side, staring at the girls, who nodded their heads. “Yeah. In detail, the relationship started in eight grade I think, he just asked me one day ‘Can you be mine?’ and I totally took it wrong…”

“How?” Yatrina asked, curious as ever.

“I really thought, that meant we were together you know, as best friends, always there for each other, even for relief. That’s how close we were, but as I already told you, he confessed to me many months ago, and I…loving my teacher, didn’t know how to respond.” He hung his head, for the first time feeling guilty for the shit that Katsu had went through.

“I hate to say this, but hopefully, all the stuff he’s going through should justify his actions,” Yatrina remarked, pursing her lips in thought. “I mean, look at all the times he’s been jealous and did the most stupidest thing ever. He threw food at Mr. Nazuli on purpose, he beat you up, etc…” she trailed off, Yuki nodded in agreement. “I’m not saying that you’re the bad guy in his scenario, even though I don’t really believe there is a good and a bad guy in your case. I’m saying that you should hear him out, for once.”

Shinta growled quietly, hating this conclusion. Yuki nodded her head in agreement.

“Huh, I’m not going to face him; he should face me,” Shinta said stubbornly, crossing his arms. “I should have broken up with him, I should have never taken his little…offer thing. I…” he trailed off. “How can I be so foolish?”

Yuki stood up and patted him on the head. “You’re only human, Shinta. It’s ok to make mistakes.”

Yatrina had to laugh. “Yeah, even if it is the biggest mistake of your life.” She winked. “I mean, look at me, you already know why I act the way I am in school. I’m a different person there, but here, with you, and others that I’m comfortable with, I’m different. I don’t feel the need to cover myself up with one of my “masks” or whatever cliché terms they call those nowadays.”

“Yeah…I guess you’re right.” Shinta agreed. He sighed sadly. “I’m not afraid of him, I never was, it’s just, I don’t know who he is anymore.”

“Then find out for yourself!” Yuki beamed. “Face him, face your lover…or, ex-lover! Whatever!” She hugged her male friend and beamed again.

“I can see why you don’t trust him,” Yatrina muttered. “We’re his best friends, I suppose, but then he hangs out so much with his own gang that we don’t really know what he is doing anymore.”

“Even so, we’re bound to find it soon, if he is hiding something from us,” Yuki commented. “Because karma works that way.” She giggled.

“We’ll see,” Shinta muttered. “We’ll see.”

----

This is it, Katsu mused, walking up to his best friend’s house confidently. All the work my gang and I did— everything, will finally pay off. He would not confront his best friend like others believed him so; instead, he would talk to Trisha and finally expose Mr. Nazuli once and for all. His gang members had asked why he didn’t do that sooner, and he had explained to them that with the final batch of FoC being delivered, it was the perfect opportunity to put his plan into play.

He had to admit it was very sneaky of him to do that, but he had no choice. He believed that Mr. Nazuli was manipulating his best friend; he couldn’t let that happen to him, because Shinta had been hurt enough by him and Yatrina. Also, he couldn’t stand those marks on Shinta’s fingers that Shinta had tried to cover up, because in his point of view, it represented marks…. Kami’s marks…

He growled deep in his throat and gripped the violin case harder. FoC was there inside, and he would show that to Trisha. He would also reveal that he and his gang had been used as delivery boys, but he wouldn’t tell her about the organization; she could find that out for herself from Mr. Nazuli. He snapped out of his thoughts, and knocked on the door, putting on a miserable face. His gang members behind him did the same, and they tried to make themselves look innocent.

Technically, they really were innocent, because they had been forced and had been blackmailed by Heaven’s drive into doing the delivery, so it wasn’t like he was lying. He was just going to exaggerate a bit…

He knocked on the door of the Mayuza household once, and waited patiently. He could hear footsteps coming closer, soft and tentative. He figured that was Sae, and he smirked at that. Sae was such a naïve woman at times, totally unaware of the things happening to her son.

“Mrs. Mayuza,” Katsu whispered, bowing his head. “I…I have to talk to Trisha, it’s important, and it’s about Shinta as well.”

Sae gazed at the crimson-eyed boy in wonder. She had a gut feeling in her stomach that this was the person who had beat up Shinta. Her conjecture was well supported; Katsu was a part of a gang, just like Yatrina hinted, Katsu and Shinta were currently “fighting” because of one problem or another, and Katsu and his gang were known to cause trouble.

“Why don’t you tell me? I’m their mother, I should know what’s going on,” she said indignantly. “Oh, I’m sorry, where are my manners? Why don’t you come in and make yourselves at home?”

Katsu grinned maliciously and entered, his gang trailing behind him. They sat on the couch and Sae called for Trisha. Katsu waited, lost in his musings, and he could practically taste the victory on his lips, because his plan was so flawless… Nobody could question it, because all of them were true! Lies could be twisted and twisted until one could no longer see the truth, but the truth were cold facts of the reality.

Reality hurts more than fantasy.

Trisha finally came into the living room, adorned in her police outfit. Her cold gaze met his, and she flicked her index finger at him to come with her. He shrugged mentally and followed her; his gang did the same. They passed by Shinta’s room and Sae’s room, and finally stopped in front of a door. Katsu blinked, wondering what lay beyond that closed door.

Trisha opened it and bowed slightly, inviting the Scorpion gang in her sanctuary.

This…is not her bedroom… This…is an office…

“Allow me to explain all of this before you explain yourselves,” Trisha said, taking a deep breath. “I think it was kind of obvious, but the first few months of school, your teacher Mrs. Chism, is me.” She put her hair in a bun and smirked, shocking Katsu and his gang. “Another thing I have to tell you, that was my cover. I was sent here on a mission, not just to visit my family. Someone was messing with FoC also known as Fruits of Chaos. I was looking around in that school, and I came up with a conclusion that you and your gang were involved in it somehow.” She smirked again and pointed at the pictures and the evidence.

“I….you….” Katsu trailed off, surprised. How could he miss that little detail? Then that means….if she’s the one doing the investigation and such, then it was she who shot the FoC boxes during Halloween! “It was you!” he shouted, unable to control his temper again. “You….you caused….” He shook his head, his friends wearing the same expression of utter shock. “Manali could have been hurt, you bitch! FoC’s chemicals spilled on her leg!”

Trisha smiled darkly. “I was only doing what I thought was right. So anyway, knowing that you and your gang were responsible for this, I will have to arrest you. And don’t even think about trying to get away, this house is surrounded by the police.” She cocked her head to the side, pointing at the window, where Katsu could see men in police uniform.

Katsu tried not to appear nervous. He was really nervous for the first time. He was right though; Trisha was the one…. He could hardly believe it at first, but it made so much sense….

“Resistance is futile; you cannot escape,” she said gravely, raising her gun. He hadn’t even seen her take that out; how could she be so fast?

Katsu dropped to the ground and attempted to put an act. “It’s not our fault… We didn’t really know what we were doing! Mr. Nazuli was threatening us and blackmailing us! And you do know his eccentric reputation, right? He hates stupid kids! He hates us! And he’s behind of this FoC operation! It’s all his fault….Oh god, I’m not even sure if he threatened Shinta or not, and that’s what I’m worried about. Shinta and I were—”

Trisha put a hand up, silencing him. “Calm down and sit somewhere.” She pushed a chair for Katsu and the broken boy practically slumped on the chair from exhaustion and stress. “Now, I was correct, right? That you and your gang were ‘delivery boys‘? How much of FoC do you know and been exposed of?”

Katsu told the truth. “We’re not THAT stupid to mess with a drug. We don’t know much of it except its effects lest it spills or something like Halloween.” His body shook, but even he couldn’t tell if that was a real reaction or not. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, but we didn’t really have a choice! I’ve been trying to protect Shinta from that asshole of a teacher,” Katsu said, and he knew that was also the truth as well.

Maybe he was wrong about fantasy and reality.

He couldn’t differentiate the two concepts.

“So…are we still going to be punished?” he asked meekly.

Trisha dragged out a long sigh and put a hand on her forehead. “Well, technically, you and your friends broke the law by smuggling drugs. Even so, like you said, there was no choice. I will still investigate this case, but what I know for sure is that I can’t send you kids to prison, you guys will just have to do community service.”

The gang sighed in relief.

“However, you will all have to do it everyday of the summer, just to make up for all those times you didn’t tell anyone about your current situation. I was right after all that you didn’t know any better.” She smirked and Katsu felt the old surge of anger flaring up again.

“The last batch of FoC is in Mr. Nazuli’s music room. Nobody goes there, even janitors, so it’s a good hiding spot there. From his house, I managed to grab one of his violin cases, where he also hid them. In his house, there are more in the attic.”

Trisha’s eyes widened in shock. “So… he’s holding all the goodies, eh?”

“Yes… Right now, he’s in school, performing for the Graduation Ceremony with Shinta. You should catch him as soon as possible before he gets away.” Katsu said, trying not to let his hatred for Mr. Nazuli show in his voice. He then showed the violin case he was holding. “Here, some of FoC are here, to tell you that what I’m saying is the full truth.”

Trisha hmm’ed and blinked her eyes. He really sounds desperate. Maybe that’s why he and Shinta have been fighting. Katsu knew a lot of things about Shinta’s favorite teacher, so it’s obvious that Shinta didn’t want to know about the truth. She called the other officers outside of the house and ordered them to get the drugs from school and Mr. Nazuli’s house. She put the phone away and rushed to the door, Katsu and his companions running after her.

“A normal person would just tell you to ‘stay here’ for safety, but I think you’re old enough to handle this kind of stuff.” Trisha smiled. “I will only take Katsu though, the others will be taken care of by the police, do you understand?”

The Scorpion gang nodded their heads in affirmative. “Yes.”

Trisha and Katsu made their way over to the police car, and climbed in; then she started it, and drove off, leaving the others behind them. It took her five minutes to get to Katsu’s school; they burst out of the car, and rushed into the building, looking for Mr. Nazuli and his student. In the halls of the school, they bumped into Yatrina, and Yuki.

“Where are they?” Trisha demanded.

Yatrina narrowed her eyes at Trisha and scoffed. “Why?”

“He has to be arrested,” Katsu said gravely. “He’s responsible for the FoC drugs.”

“What are you talking about?” Yuki asked, glaring at Katsu. “What are you—”

Yatrina suddenly pulled her away, and they ran the other way around, avoiding Trisha and Katsu.

“I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but one thing’s for sure, Mr. Nazuli is going to be taken away by the police.” Yatrina said, leaning against the wall, and sighing. She had her serious face on; the other pretty facades had already fallen. “We have to warn Shinta and Mr. Nazuli, and then maybe, Mr. Nazuli could explain this.”

“Ok,” Yuki nodded and grinned. “Let’s go! I know a short-cut!”

Yatrina stood up on her feet and followed the black-haired girl. She realized that many things were going on, some which couldn’t be explained, and this would be one of those things, that they would have to figure out. They raced to the gym, using the short-cut that Yuki had suggested, and they made it there on time. The two girls stopped and sighed in relief; Mr. Nazuli and Shinta were still there, playing for the graduates and the Graduation Ceremony.

Suddenly, from the opposite of the gym, Katsu appeared, with a victorious smile on his face.

Yatrina and Yuki gasped in shock.

----

Everything was going well in the Graduation Ceremony. Some parents were crying as their children finally reached the stage and get the high school degree paper. It was a glorious moment, watching these children grow up, and Kami smiled slightly, knowing that someday, Shinta would graduate with the same honor. Shinta would probably go to a nice college after that and by that time, he hoped he would be able to deal with Heaven’s drive somehow.

He needed to get out of there for the sake of Shinta.

“Kami Nazuli, you are under arrest for the possession of--!”

No!

Kami snapped out of his musings, gazing at the police officers bursting into the room in shock. And then people started to scream, running out of the place. Some even tripped and fell from the stage, hurting the other students. The audience tried their best to get out of the police’s way and in the midst of this confusion, Kami bolted from his position, dropping his baton, and then he managed to grab Shinta, the two of them heading straight to the exit.

There were so many things he had to tell Shinta, to finally expose the truth to him.

“Enough!” Trisha shouted, pointing her gun at Kami’s direction. “You can’t escape! Put your hands up and let go of my brother!” But he didn’t listen; he wanted to escape and so he took his chance, heading to the exit again with Shinta. The member of the police tried to block them, but he took out his own gun and started firing, killing some of the police people. Trisha was shouting behind him and he knew she was running after him.

They were in the hallways now and there was another gunfire. And then an ear-piercing scream that sounded like Yatrina’s. Shinta screamed for her and he looked back, seeing Shinta’s fallen friend on the ground, bleeding from the gunshots on her chest. Her eyes were wide in shock and Yuki was holding her in her arms, She started to sob. Katsu and Trisha seemed to ignore the two and they chased after Kami and Shinta.

More gunshots were fired and Shinta tried to speak to his teacher, dodging the bullets heading straight to them. “What’s going on?!”

“Shinta!” Kami shouted, shaking his head. “I have to tell you something important! I don’t expect you to believe me, but I’m--” he couldn’t finish; one of the bullets struck him on his arm and he nearly tripped, but Shinta supported him and he continued to speak, “During Halloween, you felt the effects of FoC, also known as Fruit of Chaos, this strange drug-- or whatever chemical that is-- and I’m associated in that in terms of smuggling the drugs from one place to another!”

“What?!” Shinta shouted, a look of betrayal on his face. “Why didn’t you tell me?” They were near the exit of the school now and if they manage to get out of there alive, they would be able to use Kami’s car and run-- just run because they didn’t know what else to do. “So I was right-- I was in your house during Halloween! When I fell to the ground from FoC’s effects, you saw me and took me in! I think I know the other FoC carriers now from the evidence that my sister gathered.”

“Yes, it’s your friend Katsu and his Scorpion gang!” Kami answered, ignoring the pain in his arm. They were outside now and they sprinted to Kami’s car. They suddenly stopped, knowing that this was the end for the both of them. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before-- I wanted to deal with this problem myself. Your friend and I knew each other-- we’ve been coerced into doing this smuggling business by a larger organization called Heaven’s drive. Your friend probably convinced your sister that it was all my fault.”

“Kami…” Shinta trailed off, pulling him into an embrace. “About my injuries before… it was Katsu and his gang who did it to me…” He let his forehead rest on his teacher’s chest, sighing deeply. “I don’t want you to get mad at him or do anything because this is probably all my fault. Katsu probably figured it by now that we have a relationship, especially with you and him knowing each other last year. He’s probably jealous, explaining this whole ordeal.”

Kami pulled Shinta closer, playing with the black locks of Shinta’s hair. “I see. I won’t hurt him.” He leaned down, pressing their lips together for a moment. “I have to go. You stay here and tell the truth to your sister.” He broke away from Shinta’s embrace, opened the car and climbed in. “This won’t be the last time we’ll see each other, I’m sure of it.”

“Why are you running away?” Shinta asked, “what’s going to happen to us?”

“I have to take care of something, Shinta,” Kami said, staring at him from the window and starting the car. “But I promise you, I won’t die or do anything stupid-- at least, not anymore. I should have taken care of Heaven’s drive from the very beginning, but I didn’t know what to do until now.”

“Nazuli! Shinta!” someone shouted and Shinta turned around. There was Katsu and Trisha, along with other police officers standing a few feet away from him. Shinta held out his hands, blocking them from Kami who by this time, had already left the school grounds with his car. Some of the police officers got in their cars and followed Kami. Another chase had already began, and he knew that Kami was going to win this round, because he promised.

His hands balled into fists, his body shaking and this time, he didn’t know if that was from anger and hatred for his sister and Katsu who had tried to arrest and kill his teacher and had hurt Yatrina who had tried to protect them, or from sadness since one of his best friends was hurt and his teacher had left him without even saying goodbye.

“Why did you let him get away?” Trisha asked, lowering her gun. “You’re going to spend some time doing community service for associating with the criminal.”

“I don’t care,” Shinta said calmly, pointing at Katsu. “He’s not telling the whole truth. He’s trying to blame this all on my teacher.” His eyes became slits; he was somebody else again and he couldn’t tell who he was anymore. “So the gig is up. I know everything-- Kami told me and I know he didn’t lie because from all the things I knew regarding you and Katsu, it makes sense.”

Katsu tried to say something, but Trisha interrupted him, “You two have a lot of explaining to do.” The policemen suddenly surrounded Katsu and forced him on his back. They did the same to Shinta and Trisha watched as the policemen drag the two boys into the police cars. They weren’t thrown into the same car though, seeing that Shinta was seething silently at Katsu’s direction and Katsu himself, would glare at his best friend, a look of betrayal in his eyes.

It didn’t make sense.

Who was betraying who?

----

Two weeks later…

It took a while for everything to settle down. Katsu and Shinta had done their part, explaining their side with honesty, since they didn’t want to confuse anybody and didn’t want to hide secrets from one another anymore. Katsu had explained the existence of Heaven’s drive and the consequences of him telling anybody about that and he seemed completely reckless and careless about it, as though he didn’t give a damn about himself. The only thing they hid from Trisha was their secret relationships with one another, because they both knew the greater consequences of that.

With that finished, the two best friends were at a funeral for Yatrina, watching their best friend’s casket be buried with dirt. Shinta couldn’t describe the feelings he had for his best friend; she was one of the most important people in his life. They had been through a lot of things; she had saved him from Katsu’s gang from time to time; he had saved her from those stupid boys by pretending to be her boyfriend. They technically had a relationship that never was a relationship in the first place, and even if that was all fake, just illusions, they both knew that and they played their roles perfectly.

It was all his sister’s fault and Katsu’s. If Katsu hadn’t told his sister, then Yatrina would still be alive. She had her dreams to be a better model, she had goals to be better than her parents, and now, she was dead because she had protected him and his teacher. It was one of the most unselfish acts she had done; he just wished that she didn’t have to lose her life. His eyes were beginning to sting and he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Goodbye, Yatrina,” he murmured, turning around.

“Wait, Shinta,” Yuki said, coming over to him. She looked cute in a black dress, though that was awfully depressing. “Don’t you have anything else to say to her? I don’t have much to say-- I feel like I don’t know her yet I think I do, because I’ve seen her in a way that others didn’t, like you guys.”

“Then you say that to her,” Shinta said, stuffing his hands in his pants pocket. Yuki shook her head and grabbed his wrist, holding onto him tightly. They stood together, just watching at the burial ground of Yatrina, both lost in their musings. Katsu was standing a few feet away from them, staring at them solemnly. And then Yuki began her speech, looking up.

“I always thought you were vain, stuck-up, bitchy and so on forth,” she stopped, taking a breath. “And you were, because you used people and did a lot of bad things, but at the same time, with Shinta, you act different, a little grown up, a little more mature, yet all and all you’re still the same person. Not really bad, not really good, just you,” she paused; there were tears brimming in her eyes. “I barely knew you, yet because of the fact that we’re both friends with Shinta, I hang out with you from time to time anyway. I just wish I knew you more.”

“Don’t we all?” Shinta said hollowly. “Everyone’s leaving me and betraying me. Yatrina left us; it’s never going to be the same.” I’m always going to be in danger now without her around. “And my teacher left; I don’t know where he is right now.” His heart ached at those words and he wanted to break down, but he couldn’t because he had things to do and stuff to take care of and many new goals. “I’m going home. I’m done.”

“Shinta,” Yuki said pulling him into a hug. “You need to mourn or else it’s going to eat you on the inside.” She took out a letter from her new purse that she had gotten from Yatrina last year. “I’ve found this in my mail; it’s supposed to be for you. I don’t get why the sender would send this to me.” She let go, handing him the letter. “Maybe we should watch movies or something. That should make you feel better, right?”

“I don’t want to talk to anybody. I don’t want to associate with anybody, especially after this. People will just stare and think and gossip. I’ve had enough,” Shinta said, his eyes stinging. He looked at the darkening sky; it was all so stupid because it was beginning to rain. Rain meant sadness; rain meant the return of memories because like rain, it always came back, never really leaving him. “I just want people to leave me alone.”

“Shinta…” Yuki trailed off, watching him leave the area. He was gone, but in more ways than one. The happy yet sometimes pissy Shinta no longer existed, replaced by this dark and angry man. He probably grew up too fast because of the things he went through like Yatrina. Would he end up like her? Doing reckless things like saving another person’s life for redemption? He sometimes wondered if that was her reason for doing all of that, but now he would never know because--

“We have to do something about this,” Yuki said, facing Katsu. “And I don’t care what your feelings are for him, this is about him and you caused him all this trouble.” Katsu glared at her, but she was immune to it by now. “I remember the things that Yatrina told me about you and you’re such a horrible person to him. Why can’t you do something to cheer him up? Why do you always have to satisfy your needs first before him?”

“You don’t know shit about me,” Katsu spat, narrowing his eyes. “Bitch, why don’t you back the fuck off before this place turns into a battleground? You already know from my rep that I won’t hesitate to hurt anybody who tries to piss me off.” He stalked her, a smirk on his face. “Like you said, I’m a horrible, horrible man who did horrible things. Keep in mind though, Shinta probably told you about us-- he could have denied me, but he didn’t.”

“You coerced him. He took it the wrong way and that’s what he told us,” Yuki explained, her body trembling. “He thought that you and him are just best friends with certain… benefits,” she blushed at that. “Being there for one another even for something stupid like that. He didn’t know that you liked him more than a friend until you finally told him.” She paused, looking at him for any reactions. He seemed absolutely shocked with his widening crimson eyes.

“So that’s…” he trailed off, turning around. He laughed bitterly. “I never knew.”

“You never asked, you just took and took,” Yuki retorted, frowning at him.

“Fuck off,” he spat. “I need to talk to him.”

----

One day passed.

Shinta lay on the couch, leaning against it. He was watching the T.V. with his best friend, Katsu, though he wasn’t talking to him. Katsu had just come in, asking Shinta’s mother if he could spend some time with Shinta and with Shinta not really giving a damn, she had allowed it, hence the reason he was with him now. It was silent between them, not the comfortable kind, not the awkward kind, it was just… there and the only noise between them was actually the T.V. and Shinta’s mother from the kitchen.

Trisha was no where to be seen, probably dealing with so-and-so cases. Shinta wouldn’t be surprised if she left their family again; her work here was done. She had captured the smugglers of FoC save for Kami Nazuli and she had punished them, making them do community service during the summer. Shinta didn’t mind the punishment; he welcomed it because he was used to punishments. His mother had punished him too; she had taken his teacher’s violin away from him and he wasn’t allowed to go out save for the community services.

Life was life for him-- bad or good.

His hand gripped on the letter that Yuki had given to him, watching the news on the T.V. wearingly.

“He’s finally caught,” a tough yet feminine voice said behind him and he froze, recognizing that voice. Trisha. “That’s right, your teacher’s finally caught and that news over there, is the proof. Watch it closely, Shinta, and learn from it. Maybe this will teach you not to associate with bad people like him and bad people like your best friend.”

“Then why don’t you arrest Katsu right now?” Shinta asked, squinting his eyes. There was his teacher, getting out of the car and there were police officers around him. He looked ragged and restless; he was probably going around and around the other cities besides Laila for days. A female officer approached him, smirking faintly. She was an attractive redhead with aqua eyes. There was something strange about her, and he got off from his couch, nearing the T.V. to get a closer look.

His teacher gazed at her as though he had seen a ghost from his past. Shinta blinked at that and finally opened the letter, revealing a long note. He didn’t bother reading the note itself; he needed to know who it was from first and as he expected, it was from Kami Nazuli. He looked around for a moment and exited the room. That redhead’s aqua eyes from the T.V. seemed to haunt his mind; not many people had those kinds of traits. In fact, how many people had aqua eyes? Hers looked slightly mutated especially with that strange glow.

He made it to his room and read the note out loud. It said:

Dear Shinta,

If you received this letter from Yuki Mana, this means I’ve been captured by Heaven’s drive.

I’m truly sorry.

I wish I could explain the situation more clearly to you, but I’m in a lot of distress right now. All I can do to you to help the both of us is to talk to my other associates that I’ve met. Usually, I do things alone, but I was lucky enough to be approached by some people who knew Heaven’s drive more than I and your friend. They’re willing to help us, but only if we cooperate.

That’s all I have to say; I cannot reveal too much in this letter. I’ve already revealed enough. Take care of yourself and remember that I love you.

-Kami Nazuli

PS. Do not be alarmed by Lucifel’s advances; it’s all show to him. I’m sure you’re familiar with that.

“’Remember that I love you’,” Shinta said out loud, sitting on his bed. He smiled; the ache in his heart was lessening because of those words. It wasn’t just an ‘I love you’ or some other romantic crap, it had ‘Remember’ before it, which made it all special. To Shinta, it meant that he would always have to keep that in mind, regarding the people he met, regarding the people who might possibly love him and so on forth.

It gave him hope that he was going to truly see his teacher again.

But who was Lucifel? Was he one of Kami’s new associates? One of the ones who would help them deal with Heaven’s drive?

“Hey,” Katsu said, causing Shinta to turn around. Katsu was leaning against the door, staring at Shinta thoughtfully. Shinta ripped the note to shreds; he trusted no one about it. He would never tell anybody about the possibility of meeting his teacher because Katsu would just try to take Kami away from him. He had already done it once; Shinta wouldn’t allow that to happen again. “Do you want to go to the playground near our elementary school?”

“The one where we met as kids?” Shinta asked, smiling at the sickening irony.

“Yeah…” Katsu said slowly. “Let’s go.”

Shinta nodded his head and threw the pieces of the note to the trashcan near him. He followed Katsu out of the room and the two not-friends walked out of the house. They entered the streets, looking around for anybody else who might be wandering out there. So far, there was no one, not even Katsu’s gang lingered in the streets, waiting in the shadows for his orders to jump on any other unsuspecting victim.

They made it to the playground in five minutes; it wasn’t that far from Shinta’s place if they took the short-cut. Shinta could remember the times he had walked with Yatrina, talking to her about the stupid redemption things. It was going to take a while for him to get over her and also forgive his sister and Katsu for causing her death.

“Why hello there.” A new figure approached them.

Shinta gasped slightly; he had never seen anyone like that person before, except maybe that female police officer with red hair. The new figure had the most entrancing aqua eyes, sharp and inquisitive. His hair was gold like Yatrina’s and they spiked in all direction. He wore a black suit and he was smiling mysteriously. Maybe he and Yatrina were related? Possible cousins?

“Hello,” Shinta said softly. “What’s your name?”

“Lucifel,” the youth answered. He looked around Shinta’s age.

----

Katsu eyed the new man suspiciously. He stood out of the playground like a sore thumb, but the playground was still the same. It had its swings and seesaws and others of the ilk. He made his way over to the swings, watching Shinta and the man who called himself Lucifel from afar. Katsu didn’t bother eavesdropping on them; those two were just strangers anyway, though he couldn’t help, but be suspicious because in Shinta’s eyes, there was a sudden spark as though…

Lucifel bowed at Shinta and left him. Shinta then joined Katsu and the two not-friends sat on the swings, looking at the afternoon sky thoughtfully. The silence settled between them again and Shinta began to move in the swing, sighing deeply. Katsu stared at him, trying to figure out what to say. Everything he said nowadays was offending. He was supposed to be the joker in their trio of friends: Shinta, Yatrina and himself. Now… who were they? Katsu was some ganster person; Yatrina’s… he didn’t even want to think about her right now, because every time he did, it felt as though his shoulders were heavy and his heart just dropped. Was it guilt? Probably.

“Shinta…” he trailed off, getting out of the swing. Shinta did the same, staring at his companion solemnly. “I’m sorry… for everything.”

“I forgive you,” Shinta said calmly, surprising Katsu.

“Do you?” he inquired, placing a hand on Shinta’s arm.

“Let go of me,” Shinta said quietly. “Don’t touch me.”

“Shinta…”

“That’s what you wanted, right?” he asked, turning around and gazing at the sky again. “That’s why you came to me, so you can be forgiven. And then you can stop feeling so bad about sending a lot of people who I care about away.”

“I didn’t mean that to--”

“Shut up,” Shinta clipped, putting a finger on his lips. “Don’t talk.”

Katsu sighed and backed up a bit. “I really mean what I meant to say. I thought about the things I did for the last two weeks. I knew I went too far, but things happened anyway. I was just so worried about you.” He paused there, looking for Shinta’s reaction; all he received was a small smile. That was good, right? “How can I show you that I’m truly sorry? I was just…”

Shinta shrugged.

“Can we start over?” Katsu asked, staring at the ground. There was a flower there, and he picked it up, recalling Yatrina’s words. “You know, like a flower in spring. It blossoms into this…”

“Katsu…?”

“But we’ll take care of it, not let it get corrupted again…”

“Who told you this?”

“Yatrina,” Katsu answered solemnly. “I called her when she was doing her model stuff. I was looking for you.” He really wanted to fix all the bad things he done; he didn’t think he could handle Shinta being mad and vicious to him all the time. They were supposed to be best friends, always there for one another, and if they did start over, somewhere along the line, he was going to make Shinta love him again.

“So it was you…” Shinta trailed off.

“Mr. Mayuza,” a friendly voice spoke.

“Lucifel,” Shinta said, smiling at the approaching man. “Is it time to go?”

Katsu looked at Shinta and the blond in confusion. “Shinta…? Where are you going?”

Shinta just smiled at him again. “I’m taking back what you took away from me.”

Katsu blinked. “What do you mean?”

Lucifel chuckled. “Never mind your friend, Shinta. I’ve much to tell you.” He slipped an arm around Shinta’s waist, causing Katsu’s brows to rise in surprise. “So you say that you play the violin? I like the violin too; in fact, I play it.”

“Oh really?” Shinta grinned. It seemed that he didn’t mind Lucifel’s… sudden closeness. The two of them were beginning to leave the playground and Katsu just stared, wondering what the hell was going on between those two.

“Oh no you don’t,” Katsu said, growling softly. “Hey! You idiots! Wait up!”

And he ran after them; everything was beginning again.

Fin.