So, I just realized this chapter has been written for a loooong time, and my dumb self just now realized that I hadn't posted it. Wow.

Anyways, I'm quickly losing my inspiration for this story, since now CLAMP has revealed to us Fai's actual past in the latest chapters. I don't want to just leave it off, but I'm thinking of sort of redirecting this one to another story I'm wanting to write, tying the two together somehow? Let me know what you think. Another thing about this one is ... I'm looking at it and going, "Man, these chapters are SHORT! OO" I assure you, even within the couple of months, yes months, since this was written, I've improved. A LOT.

So please let me know what you think I should do as far as this story goes. As always, thanks to everyone for the reviews. They always make me happy.

Also, I still don't own Tsubasa. Duh.

Chapter 7: Revealed

A deep breath. In, and out. Slowly. Clearing everything, attempting to make everything flow out better. Or maybe he was just stalling for time.

"Fai?"

The ninja's voice brought him back to the here and the now. Yes, that's right. He was supposed to be talking now. Telling Kurogane everything … and Fai had quickly learned that everything meant everything. This man wasn't going to take any lies.

"Yes, I know."

The blonde's voice was soft and somewhat quiet. They didn't have too much time, but they had enough time that Fai should be able to at least get everything out. He was going over everything in his mind, trying to figure out how he was going to put everything into words.

Suddenly he was brought out of this thoughts by the feeling of a hand on his head, and he looked up towards the other man. Kurogane was looking down at him, a gentle gaze in those red eyes. "I won't push you," he said.

"I know," Fai said, his gaze going downward once again. "But … I want to talk. I do."

The ninja nodded once, pulling his hand back after the blonde's hair a gentle ruffle. "Then talk."

Fai nodded as well, took in a deep breath, and then he began …

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Fai was imprisoned for over one hundred years. Trapped in a dark, cold room, unable to see the light of day. At first he wished for freedom. He wished for someone to come and take him away, to help him and let him out. After years of hopeless dreams, he simply wished for the will to survive from day to day. And then … he wished for death.

He never got his final wish, but his first was granted. For reasons unknown to him, they opened the door. They opened the door, and they reached in and grabbed him. For one, hopeful second, he prayed that they were going to execute him. They were going to take his meaningless life and put it to an end. Finally. But no, they didn't. Instead, they led him to a tall man with long, flowing dark hair.

"Fai D. Flowright," he said, opening his arms with a warm smile. "Come."

And he was happy. He was happy that someone was taking him away. Even if he couldn't die yet, he was free, and maybe life would look up.

He was happy. But then, that happiness came to an end …

Fai took a deep, shuddering breath, pausing in his story when the memories came flooding back into his mind. He closed his eyes, his head tilted down, and tried to compose himself. He had to tell Kurogane this, but he couldn't… Suddenly he felt like this wasn't a good idea … He was getting ready to shake his head, to tell the ninja that he couldn't continue, but then something urged him to go on. The larger man's arms went around him in a comforting embrace and pulled him closer, and that reminded Fai why he had wanted to talk in the first place. He had been broken, finally. He had let someone into his heart, and now he had to share everything. With another deep breath, the story continued …

Fai's happiness ended when he realized what Ashura's true intentions were. Once Fai knew the full reason why he had been locked away for so many years.

He was danger. He was nothing but a weapon, horrible, something that caused the most disaster wherever he went. It was his magic, the marking left on his back … And he couldn't control it.

He didn't know why he was hurting people… He was as confused as the family members who were left after the countless times that he lost control, having no idea of what had happened, why, or how. Eventually, they had simply thrown him away and locked him up.

But Ashura saw something else in him. Or at least, that's what he led Fai to believe. He told Fai that he wasn't horrible, that he wasn't worthless and that he could be loved. He convinced Fai that he was loved, and he used him…

Ashura used Fai for his own selfish purposes.

He taught Fai to control his magic, but he didn't teach him that causing these horrible things was bad. If Fai did as he was told, he was rewarded. And all that Fai wanted was to be loved.

It took years. Years of being used, lied to, betrayed, before something inside of Fai's mind and he realized that this was not love. What Ashura was giving to him was not and could never be anything close to love. It was something else… a lust, a desire for power. A desire for destruction. And the only way that he could achieve that destruction was through Fai.

Fai was nothing more than a tool. Nothing.

There was another pause in the conversation, it was obvious that this was hurting Fai immensely, which was completely understandable. He was gripping onto Kurogane's robes again, and the ninja held him tighter. After a few minutes of silence, the larger man was growing impatient despite himself. He knew that this story was coming to an end, but he found it in himself to ask a question.

"The girl … where did she come from?"

Chi. Of course he was talking about Chi.

Fai had created her. He was lonely. At the times when Ashura wasn't using him for destruction or his other needs, he was simply locked away in a room. Sometimes only for a few minutes, maybe hours, but sometimes days.

Fai had created Chi because he needed someone, anyone to be with him. He had created her in an image of himself… She even had blonde hair and blue eyes.

She had helped him when he had finally realized what was happening. When he made the decision to run away. To lock Ashura up. She had aided him in his plans, and when it had all been said and done, he was sad to leave her.

But after Ashura was locked up, he had to leave. He had to travel to as many worlds as possible so that Ashura could never find him. Because if Ashura found him, he could return to that life of misery and destruction. But Ashura could make it worse. Much worse.

Fai was in tears. He couldn't believe that he had just revealed so much, every little detail of his life to Kurogane. He didn't even have to fully explain the reason why he still wanted so badly to die … it was obvious. If he died, Ashura couldn't find him. He wouldn't have to worry about being used again…

"I don't want to be a tool anymore." Fai's voice was barely over a whisper, and Kurogane's eyes widened slightly when he heard those words. "I don't want to be worthless, I don't want to be nothing …"

The ninja cut him off with a soft 'shh.' "Don't say that, Fai. You're not a tool. You're not worthless, you're not nothing… I love you, and you're everything."

Kurogane wasn't one to say such things, and he was surprised that these things had come out of his own mouth. But he was pleased when he saw a small smile take over the vampire's face, and felt the smaller man's body snuggle farther into his own.

"No, Kuro-tan … you are …"