Fragile Dreams: chapter 2

It had been a long day as Seto and Ren made their way through the quiet empty city in search of a fire pit in order to set up camp to rest their tired bodies. Once they had found one, they lit it up, laid down their weapons and sat next to flames to keep themselves warm.

"So, what happens now?"

The new voice in their small group spoke up. Seto and Ren looked at themselves and then at Kurou as he took another bite from a squashed burger. When it was just the two of them, they had been traveling together for a long time that they didn't really need words to communicate anymore. They could predict each other's actions and could complete each other's sentences. It was as if they were twins.

Sensing her partner's natural shyness, Ren moved to sit down next to Kurou and explain a few things to him. "We've been walking a lot so we're all very tired. It's time to just rest and to regain our energy and strength. You should rest too; I mean that was a pretty nasty fall you took out that window. Are you sure you're not hurt?"

Ren lifted her hand to touch the bandage on Kurou's forehead. The boy in fact did hit his head on the wooden crates. He was lucky to only to get bruises on his chest and arms, which were already healing well, however, there was still cut just above the boy's right temple. It was still bleeding profusely through the bandage. It would have to be changed soon. Ren hoped they could find more cloth around so they wouldn't have to tear off pieces of their own clothes.

Kurou flinched as he felt her hand get close. "I told you. I'll be fine." He huffed, crossing his arms defiantly. "That fall was nothing compared to pain I went through with all those experiments the stupid scientists put me under!" Kurou involuntarily shivered as he could still remember. Men and women leered over him as he was tied helpless to a long, cold metal table. He could still feel the pricks of numerous needles puncturing his skin. All the tubes and wires confining him where he lay was like a level of hell no kid should ever have to experience.

Ren watched Kurou's face begin to shift and contort from defiance to pain. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I know what you must be going through. I too had many experiments done on me to prepare me to be the catalyst for Glass Cage." Kurou glanced at her, with a curious eye. He knew those words. He had heard the doctors talking about it a lot. "I heard about that. The doctors kept talking about it. They kept saying it was their dream to see it succeed no matter what." Ren's eyes widened. Her body inched closer, curiosity overcoming her mind. "You were a part of Glass Cage as well?"

Kurou noticed her movement, and like a magnet, his body inched away, repelling instinctually. "Not that I know of," the boy replied, "Maybe, the scientists were copying my structure and body type and my DNA, as if they were trying to clone me. I don't know if it actually worked though."

As the two exchanged words and stories of their confinement periods, dark eyes watched them in between glances at the flickering flames of their camp set up. Seto wanted to join their conversations, but what could he contribute? He hadn't had any experiments performed on him, not that he could remember. The young boy sighed. He felt lonely. It was at times like these, his mind went back to times with his best friend, Crow. Seto wished he were here. Seto glanced up and in an instant, rich chocolate eyes locked on with intense, yet familiar, green eyes. Feeling a strong heat flood his face, Seto looked back down toward the fire. He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head. Kurou was not his best friend. Him and Crow were nothing alike!

Lying down, Seto let his body relax next to the fire. Slowly his eyes closed as sleep soon found him. Involuntarily he shivered as a brisk cool breeze swept over him. However, a comforting warmth engulfing him soon stopped it. Thinking that the flames somehow had gotten bigger and warmer without becoming dangerous and out of control, Seto curled closer towards the warmth.

The next morning Seto opened his eyes, blinking away his sleep to see Ren with her Spear laying next to her and a stack of old instant lunches. She currently was sharing one of her meals with a stray gray tabby cat, which looked half dead, so skinny one could see its bones through its skin and fur. It's fur was messy and dirty.

She looked up and smiled. "Good morning Seto. I hope you slept well. Do you want something to eat before we start out again?"

Seto could only nod. He was very hungry. However, as he tried to get up, something was holding him down, wrapped around his waist, holding him securely to the ground. Ren bit back a giggle as she watched Seto try and untangle himself. Seto glared at her. She was his friend. He was in trouble. Why wasn't she trying to help him? He would do the same for her.

Finally, Seto pulled himself away from his entrapment, and turned to see what was holding him only to have profuse blush rise in his cheeks. Kurou had been sleeping next to him with his arms wrapped around Seto's waist. Seto blushed and quickly stumbled backward, tripping over Ren's weapon and fell down next to the girl. "Ren! Why didn't you tell me Kurou was behind me like that?" Seto whined, an embarrassed blush still on his face. Ren couldn't help but giggle again. "I'm sorry Seto, but you looked cute sleeping like that. Kurou thought you looked cold, so he tried to warm you up." Seto pulled his legs to his chest and buried his face in his knees. He was trying to hide his inflamed face. Ren set down the cat and wrapped her lithe arms around Seto's hunched shoulders. "I'm sorry Seto-kun. I didn't know you were uncomfortable. Kurou-kun told me not to say anything." Seto couldn't stay mad at his friend. She was one of the only friends he had. Seto also could not help but shiver as she hugged him. He remembered the warmth of Kurou's touch and secretly wanted it again. It felt so familiar. Unbeknownst to the pair, green eyes watched them closely.