Once Upon a Time

Ayame Asuka sat nonchalantly in a Detention Cell – with his freshly broken nose – and carried on a polite chat with the person in the cell across from him. The raven haired beauty listened to the other's words intently as he spoke, and he felt compelled to help him in any way he could. He would speak to him, showing off the years of wisdom he seemed to have since he was a young child. He felt compelled to be there for the other, even though they had never spoken much before now. In fact; Ayame should still be livid towards this certain person for fracturing his nose and almost committing a double-homicide … But he wasn't.

"Because most people believe I'll always be like this …" The other male said, replying to a question Ayame had asked moments earlier. The redhead closed his eyes for a brief moment, and when he opened them once more, his eyes were glassy; as if hiding a begrudging sadness. "Because nobody else had confidence in me before. Hell – I don't even have confidence in me." His voice was melancholy but strong. At that, Ayame's features fell slightly, a frown playing at his lips. He had heard those exact words somewhere once before – but where, however, he wasn't positive. However; he had a vague recollection … It made his heart pound.

A young child with long black hair stood – attempting to be stoic; attempting to be strong. His attempts however, were in vain, for tears bubbled over his lower eyelids and carved a silent path down his cheeks. The boy appeared to be of mixed heritage – his eyes were almond shaped; showing an Asian bloodline, yet his complexion proved to be of European culture. "Ryu …" He whispered, his voice shaky through his tears. "Don't talk like that, Ryu. You can change. I know you can." The boy – possibly no older than eight – said with a strong conviction though his voice was still feeble.

The person he was speaking to – Ryu – eye's flashed; the bedazzling teal orbs glimmering with sudden emotion – sadness and anger rolled into one. He shook his head angrily, looking away. "No, no I can't, Ayame. It's impossible." The boy appeared to be no older than the black-haired beauty who was speaking to him. He was a rather unruly looking child, with messy platinum blonde hair and wild teal eyes. He appeared to be the kind of person you would typically stay away from - the kind of person a mother warns her daughter about. However – that was not the case. Yes, Ryu tended to have a strong, brash, harsh temper when angry; but he was actually very sweet at heart.

"It's not impossible, though." Ayame said firmly as a short gust of wind flittered by, sending stands of his long beautiful hair into the wind; fluttering and twirling around his face. "You can doubt yourself all you want, Kaine –" he used the boy's last name to emphasize his irritation "-but I KNOW you can change if you really want to. I know it!" Ryu appeared to doubt his words, so Ayame continued, "Doubt yourself all you want, but I think that, in time, you'll be able to overcome everything ..." Ryu was bipolar – and his emotions seemed to be his weak-point. He would give anything to change – to start over. But he doubted himself far too much to make that dream a reality.

"You shouldn't have so much confidence in me, Ayaa. It's pointless."

"But … Why wouldn't I!? I don't see why I shouldn't!" Ayame's anger rose with every word, and he found the tears had stopped coming forth. "You're my best friend, Ryu, and I love you! Of course I'll have confidence in you! You're practically my brother!"

Ryu looked away as anger flared in his eyes, which were previously filled with grief only a few moments ago. "Because most people believe that I'll always be like this, Ayame! Because nobody else had confidence in me before - Hell, I don't even have confidence in me! That's why! Because I'll always be a threat to people!" Ayame was about to speak, when Ryu cut him off. "My own parents are terrified of me! You should hear them talk about me …" At that, the dam seemed to break, and he fell to his knees, sobbing. "They hate me …" The boy with hair darker than the night sky hurried over to his friend, flinging his arms around him. "I'm a monster with a bad temper … I go rampaging when I'm angry, and it's hard to stop me …" He was going to commit suicide only moments ago, when the boy found him.

Ayame shook his head vigorously, tightening his grip, only to have it fervently returned. "But you're sweet, too." He said; voice soft. "You're so kind around me, and you're gentle … I've seen you grow furious with me before. But your anger … It never seemed to last long around me – because you know how to control yourself. You have such a pure, tender heart, Ryu … You're not a monster … A monster isn't like that … You're … You're a wonderful, wonderful person …" The child's heart was pounding erratically against the cage of his chest, and he felt a strong emotion sweep gently over him, even more so at the blonde's next words-

That was as much as he could remember at the moment – actually, he could remember more, but the rest of the memories were a bit fuzzy to him … It was as If something was holding him back, trying to keep him from remembering. However, that single memory seemed to seep through … He knew that memory … That conversation – though he couldn't remember all of it, he knew it had occurred the night before he was taken away. Taken by the Scientists at Kurabayashi to be experimented on … Unlike everyone else, he was the only one who was not required to wear a collar to suppress his powers. What was he going to do? Heal someone to death? Yeah. That's what he was going to do. Because that's totally possible.

That aside, when he next spoke, his words were careful and soft. "Maybe you should have a bit more confidence in yourself ..." He said slowly. "Having a bit of confidence can make all the difference, you know."

The redhead gave a small, unbelieving shake of his head. "Sure..... To some people confidence helps - not to me. I'm a monster..... What right do I have to think I can change?" You're not a monster though … Ayame thought nostalgically, You're so sweet and you're like a brother to me. I lo– what am I thinking? He's … He's not Ryu … The similarities between the two were simply astounding, however. "That I can think confidence can help..... It's something worthless for me." When the other spoke once more, his voice was hoarse – trembling slightly.

At that, Ayame felt compelled to wrap the other in his arms and pull him into a warm, comforting embrace. He wanted to coo soothing terms into his ear and tell him it would be alright. Either that, or reach over there and slap some sense into him … He found the former option dominated just a bit more, though. He looked at him for a long while, pursing his lips in frustration. "Despite what you think, I believe it's possible." Because I love you. Though he was still thinking of Ryu when that thought popped into his head, the nostalgic similarities between the two sent his heart fluttering in his chest whenever he looked at the other. They weren't similar in appearance – not by a long shot. But it was their personalities …

They both seemed to be unruly, but they also seemed to have a sweet side. He's noticed – though he doesn't pay attention to him often – that when he appears to be sad or overcome by anguish, he because frustrated with himself and thinks irrationally. He seems to be the kind of person who's very sweet; very kind towards people, even with that fiery temper of his. It's that very tenderness that draws people near to him, but it's the deadliness of his stare that sends them away … When he was in a friendly mood, he would become sarcastic and would tease. When angered, he would rampage. When saddened, he would become furious. He was cocky and malicious; yet caring and kind … He seemed to be like a child at heart; a lost, alone, terrified child who just wants someone to be there for him – to break through his shell …

Just like Ryu …

It seemed as if basically everything about Tatsuo – Ayame's red-haired companion – was exactly the mirror of his childhood friend; Ryu. The only person that could ever make his heart race; the only person that could ever dry his tears without even trying; the only person that could ever make him smile and actually mean it – until now, that is …

However, there was a difference between them. Not just in names. Not just in appearance … The only actual difference between them, Ayame noticed was that Ryu was in the past – he was then. But Tatsuo … Tatsuo is now … Just like he always would be. Ayame smirked slightly. Once Upon a Time … He thought as he listened to Tatsuo's next reply – his heart lifting when he saw him smile.