Shu woke up with a start. He exhaled shakily, grounding himself.

A dream from the past. Great. It had been four years, hadn't it?

The airplane was quiet. No wonder there, a night-flight was never that loud. Usually, people that took this flight were businesspeople. None of them would make loud noises. Shu was just glad he hadn't screamed, this time.

A flight attendant walked past him. She leaned in a little, hoping to not wake the passenger next to Shu, probably.

"Are you alright?" she asked. Shu gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine," he told her.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

Shu thought for a second. "Water, please."

"Right away." She gave him a smile. He smiled back, and watched her walk down the corridor.

He leaned back against his seat, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he looked out of the window. Even above the clouds, it was as dark as could be, but with the soft moonlight it was more soothing than petrifying.

The flight attendant came back. She handed him a glass of water and some chocolate. He stared at her.

"Sweets usually help me calm my nerves," she explained. "I thought it might help you, too."

"Thank you," Shu said sincerely, still a little taken aback by her kindness. She smiled and left again.

Shu drank the water but kept the chocolate for later. It was just good to know that people still looked out for others, still cared about others. Shu felt better now, having been reminded of everyday kindness.

For now, this was enough.

At the airport, Shu quickly picked up his luggage and then looked around. James was supposed to come pick him up here in New York City, though Shu couldn't see him anywhere. Maybe he was running late?

"Shu-san!"

Shu turned around, only to be met with bright scarlet eyes and wild blond hair. His protégé smiled at him, bright and happy. Shu couldn't help but smile back.

"Fubuki," he greeted gently. "I didn't know you would come."

"Surprise," Fubuki teased. Then, he looked serious again. "It's been almost three months, Shu-san. We were getting worried."

Shu's eyes softened. It had been a while, that was true. Shu hated that he had to worry his protégé and his other students so much.

"Sorry about that. I'll try to stay longer this time."

"You'd better." Fubuki was teasing, though there was a bit of seriousness thrown in there. Shu knew.

They walked out of the airport where James was waiting in front of his car. The big old man went forward and hugged Shu gently. Shu hugged back.

"Glad to have you home, kid," James said, separating them, but keeping his hands on Shu's shoulders, looking him over.

"I'm glad to be home."

James grinned.

They put Shu's suitcase in the car and left. At night, the streets were a little less full than in the day. Shu was grateful for it. It meant that he would soon be home.

Shu was half-asleep by the time they arrived. Fubuki assured James that they could handle themselves and the man left, not before bidding them both good night.

Walking inside his apartment, he took a deep breath. The moonlight shone in from the balcony windows. Fubuki turned on the light.

"There is still some food in the fridge," Fubuki said. "If you're hungry?"

"Yeah, a little. I think I'll take a shower first, though."

Fubuki nodded.

Shu was quick to shower and get changed in some black night clothes. He was careful to choose something with long sleeves. Fubuki didn't need to see the bandages on his arms. Fubuki would fuss and tonight, Shu couldn't really handle it. Maybe later.

The table was already set. Fubuki sat down, only a cup of tea in front of him.

"I already ate," Fubuki said, and Shu wasn't surprised. Of course, Fubuki had eaten. It was well past 2 AM. It wasn't unusual.

They stayed silent, comfortable in sitting together. Shu finished his meal quickly and then helped Fubuki put everything away. Shu felt exhausted.

"We'll go to the team the day after tomorrow," Fubuki said quietly. "You need to sleep."

"So do you."

Fubuki snorted. "I'm not the one who has a five-hour flight behind him."

Shu laughed softly. "Good night."

"Good night."

Shu went to bed, looking around his room first. He had missed this. He had missed his home. He hoped that this time, he could spend more time here than the last time.

He hoped that he would be able to forget his little game for a while.

---

Shu was up earlier than he had expected. It was only shortly after nine, much later than Shu usually slept, but not bad for having barely slept the night before.

Shu decided to go through his bag and take out what he needed. He didn't have much with him, as he lived here in New York City and had therefore a lot of things here already.

Whilst going through his stuff, he found a note. It was from Norman.

Just a little reminder since you seem so keen on ignoring every friendly advice; Don't be stupid. Stay quiet, and don't draw attention to yourself. It'd be a waste if you were gone.

Shu smiled, softly and bitterly. It was like Norman alright. It was like him to warn Shu. Norman had warmed up to him over the years, they had mutual respect for one another. And while Norman didn't know the full truth of Shu's actions, he certainly suspected something. Yet, he hadn't told a soul.

It reminded Shu of the short conversation they had had before Shu left the Snake Pit this time. Or rather, before Shu could finally flee, with Ashram's permission.

It was the conversation where Shu had understood that Norman knew more than he had let on until that moment.

"You're going?" Norman asked him. He had walked up to Shu in the corridor, and was now comfortably falling in pace beside Shu.

"Yeah. Ashram thought it'd been nice for me to show my face again. You know, as the owner of the New York Bulls?"

Norman shook his head. He seemed exasperated, though he usually had an air like that.

"I still don't know what Ashram was thinking."

Shu shrugged. "It's not on us to understand him."

"You're probably right."

They walked in silence. Shu had thrown his red bag over his shoulders. It was large, but not so large so that Shu couldn't easily carry it. He didn't need any more stuff.

The corridors in the Snake Pit were dark, and ominous. It all had the same kind of despairing air. Shu was glad to be able to get out, even if just for a little while.

"He hurt you," Norman suddenly said. Shu stopped in his tracks.

"What are you talking about?"

Norman sighed, stopped walking, and turned towards Shu. His golden eyes weren't soft by any means but pitying instead. Shu clicked his tongue when he saw that.

"Red Eye," Norman started, sounding incredibly tired, "I know that Ashram has hurt you. I know he is testing your loyalty. Don't do anything that might indicate him that you're playing a double game."

"And why would I ever do that?"

Norman smiled softly. In that moment, Shu knew that Norman knew. Norman knew everything. It sent a chill down Shu's spine, though he didn't let it show. He hadn't come this far in this game to fail now. He hadn't come this far by being easy to read.

"I don't particularly care," Norman said, "after all, you gone means only Brown Eye remains in my way to get back my rightful place. But that wouldn't be satisfying. I won't have beaten you; I will only have profited from your stupidity. That's not how I want to win."

Shu took a breath. He smiled at Norman. "I assure you, I'm not that easy to get rid of."

I won't be found out.

Norman smiled back, understanding Shu's hidden message.

"Have fun in New York."

"I will," Shu answered, then walked past Norman, towards the door. Norman didn't follow him. Yet, Shu knew that he was watching Shu, making sure no one had been there to listen in on their conversation.

Making sure that, at least right now, Shu was still okay.

---

By the time Fubuki woke up, it was ten. They ate a little bit of toast and then went for a run together. It was their routine. Before training with the rest of the team, the two of them went running through the city. Sometimes, they chased each other. Other times, they did a bit of parkours, something which they had learned from one of the older casual Bladers of the team who also did parkours.

Today, they ran side by side through the park. They didn't speak, they usually ran in silence. It was nice to be able to run through a park again, to meet people on his way, to hear dogs bark and children laugh all with the background of the city.

This was what Shu usually missed the most. The Snake Pit's silence was suffocating.

At home, after taking a shower, they found themselves in the kitchen.

"Any particular thing you want to make?" Fubuki asked.

Shu hummed in thought. He wasn't sure yet. In the Snake Pit, he never cooked. Every meal was accounted for, the Bladers never had to do anything but train. Train, eat, sleep, repeat. Every day. It got dull fairly quickly. Shu's time in New York was the only thing keeping him sane.

"Let's make the classic; Carbonara."

Fubuki laughed and Shu joined in. It wasn't a secret that this was one of Shu's favourite dishes. He had others, of course, but that was also the first dish he'd taught Fubuki how to make. It had a special value to them both.

The worked comfortably with each other, a rhythm they had practiced for years making it as easy as breathing. The last tension left Shu. This last fear that this had just been a dream. He was home.

At least for now.

They sat at the table together.

"How have the Bulls been?" Shu asked. "I noticed some more pictures on the wall. Did I miss another tournament?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Fubuki replied. "The juniors went in the regional tournament. Aiden got second place."

"Really?!" Shu eyes were bright and proud. He had been the one to first train Aiden. He regretted not having been there for his first important tournament.

Fubuki smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. It was true that Shu often missed events like that. Recently, Shu had thought that Ashram must have been doing it on purpose. To test Shu's loyalty, to make sure Shu wouldn't have any other meaningful connections but the Snake Pit. Shu had to play this game a little longer. Only a little longer.

"You're going to be cooking every day?" Fubuki asked, steering the conversation a bit away from the darker topic. Well, all topics would hold a little bitterness. Shu had gotten used to.

"Yeah. I'd love to."

"Does he never let you eat anything expect cafeteria food? Doesn't that get terrible monotonous?"

Shu sighed. "It does. But, sometimes, the higher masked Bladers like me and some others are allowed to go into the small city close to the Snake Pit for a weekend. We're allowed to do anything there, to eat what we want and so on. It has been a while though, since we've had such a weekend."

Fubuki hummed a little. Shu knew that Fubuki didn't understand, and Shu was so, so grateful for this. The last thing he wanted was for Fubuki to go through the same nightmare Shu was living in. Fubuki and the Bulls were Shu's light. He didn't want to see any of them go through the same pain.

Fubuki's head suddenly snapped up. Shu flinched at the sudden move.

"I just remembered," Fubuki said, excitement in his eyes. "There is going to be a regional tournament at our arena starting on Thursday! I'm sure you would like to see it!"

Shu smiled. A tournament? He hadn't seen one of those in person for a while.

"I'd be happy to. Do we know any of the Bladers?"

"No." Fubuki was all giddy. "You know what that means, right?"

"New recruits?" Shu guessed; his smile just as bright as his protégé's. Finding new recruits for the Bulls was always a highlight. So was showing them the training centre for the first time. Most didn't realize how big the facilities actually were.

"Yes! It'll be so much fun!"

Shu laughed along. Yes, that was nice. This was a nice way to spend his time at the Bulls. This was the best way to forget about the Snake Pit, even if just for a moment.

"And what are we doing until then?" Shu asked playfully. Fubuki's smile was bright and mischievous.

"Well, the team doesn't know you're home. So, I guess we give them a surprise."

Shu looked forward to it more than he could express.

---

Fubuki sighed. Shu was finally home. Fubuki had worried, when his mentor hadn't shown himself in three months. When he hadn't made any sign of coming home. Questions had gone through his mind: Was Shu okay? Did something happen? Had he been found out?

Those were the type of questions Fubuki constantly asked himself. Every time Shu left, there was a chance he wouldn't come home. Every time, Fubuki feared something had happened, that the monster who led the Snake Pit had found out and 'dealt' with it. When Shu did come home, he usually had a haunted look in his eyes. Fubuki had learned not to ask. If Shu didn't want to talk, Fubuki wouldn't force him.

Knowing now that he way okay, Fubuki was more than glad. It could have been so much worse. He could have been hurt, sick, or even... No, Fubuki couldn't think like that. Everything was fine, nothing had happened. This time.

But the memories, memories of times that it had been worse, wouldn't leave him alone.

Shu was coming home today. It had only been a month, shorter than last time, but that didn't mean anything. Shu might not be able to stay for very long this time either.

James was sick today, so Shu had to call a cab to come home. Fubuki had been busy with the Bulls and couldn't come to meet Shu at the airport. So, now, he waited. Hoped that everything was okay.

He sat at the kitchen table, occasionally working, other times just staring at the clock. Hours ticked by, and Fubuki was starting to get worried. What if something had happened? Should he call Shu, see if he was okay?

It was past midnight when Fubuki heard a sound at the door. Fubuki ran over, almost tripping over his own feet in his haste. He opened the door, finding to his relief his mentor standing there.

However, something was wrong.

Shu looked terrible. He was pale, his hair was dishevelled, his clothes slightly roughed up, as if he'd been clumsy and hasty in getting dressed. Underneath his right sleeve, Fubuki thought he had gotten a glimpse of white fabric. Shu's eyes, normally such a vibrant crimson, looked dull. Tired.

Fubuki didn't have time to get a word out before, all of a sudden, Shu collapsed. Fubuki barely had time to catch him, and to sink to the ground. Shu's head had fallen against Fubuki's shoulder, and fever-hot skin made Fubuki flinch.

"Shu-san!" he exclaimed in shock. Fubuki adjusted his position to get a better look at Shu.

In this light, he could see that Shu was really, really pale. Beads of sweat were on his forehead. His breathing seemed laboured; his brows were pinched in pain. Still, his eyes opened, and he looked at Fubuki.

"Sorry..." he mumbled, making Fubuki want to say all sorts of things. List all the reasons Shu didn't have any reason to be sorry.

"Come on," Fubuki said instead, trying to sound gentle and to not let his worry take over. "We need to get you into bed."

Fubuki couldn't actually remember how he'd gotten Shu into bed that night. What he remembered was the aftermath. The days following Shu's collapse. The days he'd spent by Shu's bedside, worried out of his mind and simultaneously cursing out the Snake Pit with every word he had.

Fubuki sat by Shu's side as his mentor thrashed in his bed. Sometimes, he would mutter things that Fubuki couldn't understand. Other times, Shu whimpered, or cried. Fubuki cringed every time. He could barely listen to those sounds; it was too horrific. Yet, Fubuki knew Shu needed him.

Shu had no one. No one, except Fubuki. There was no one who knew the true game Shu was playing. There was no family for him to go back to. Fubuki was his family, his brother, the person that Shu trusted.

And Fubuki wouldn't let his brother suffer alone.

Fubuki wrung out the wet cloth again. Then, he carefully wiped away the sweat from Shu's brows before wringing the cloth out once more. Shu threw his head to the side, trapped in a nightmare created by his feverish mind. Fubuki didn't want to risk waking him up, knowing how disorienting it could be. Knowing that Shu could be dangerous when he felt threatened.

He put the cloth on Shu's forehead, leaving it there.

Shu stilled. His breathing evened out and he seemed to fall into a deeper sleep. Fubuki sighed in relief.

Fubuki had stepped out to make some soup, and he was sure he had only been gone for about half an hour, when a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the whole apartment.

Fubuki ran to the room, almost running into the half-closed door, and then froze in shock as he saw the state his mentor was in.

He had completely thrown the blanket off, and the pillows too. There was red on his right arm, the bandages that Fubuki had redone having been completely soaked in blood. He had tear-tracks on his cheeks, and was gripping the bedsheets underneath him so hard, his knuckles were white. Now, he seemed to be mumbling something.

Fubuki, after telling himself to stop being a coward, stepped closer, only to hear what Shu was muttering.

"Please... No... Not again..."

Fubuki saw red. He knew what Shu was talking about. He knew what Shu's dream was about. He knew that Shu was reliving the moments he had gotten 'punished' by Ashram. Fubuki knew that Shu was feeling the pain of those punishments even in unconsciousness. Fubuki balled his fists, then let go, exhaling at the same time. Shu first. Fubuki could rage later.

"Shu-san," Fubuki whispered gently. "Shu-san, you're safe. You're not there anymore, you're home."

For how long, though? Fubuki asked himself, though he didn't say it out loud. This wasn't important right now.

After a few tense minutes, Shu opened his eyes. He looked around, trying to recognize his surroundings. When he did, he smiled a little at Fubuki.

"Hey," he croaked. Fubuki let out a half-sob and threw himself at Shu. Shu hugged him back, unsure of what exactly had upset him, but never hesitant to comfort his protégé.

They stayed like this for a while. By the time Fubuki had calmed down, Shu looked exhausted enough to go back to sleep.

"It's okay," Fubuki assured, "just rest. I'll take care of everything."

Shu mumbled a bit in protest but exhaustion soon took over and he fell back asleep. This time, there were no screams.

Fubuki hadn't forgotten. And he swore that if anyone threatened to hurt Shu while Fubuki was present... Well, safe to say the person would regret it for the rest of their life. Fubuki knew how to deliver a lesson, after all.

And he wasn't hesitant in the slightest to make his threats come true.