{10}

/Here is an angsty "rain on utopia" inspired one shot./

"N-Noya?" Asahi stammers, shocked by the sight... Shocked by the bloody and bruised mess that is Noya. The mess that is barely recognizable as being Noya... "Nishinoya! Are you awake?" Ever so gently, Asahi shakes his small body... His small frame that is fragile... That is fragile yet beautiful.

"Asahi," Noya whispers, waves of pain washing over him with every sound he utters, and every move he makes (or attempts to) make. "I tired to stop him."

"Him?" Asahi squeaks, all the while finding himself growing scared by the idea... Growing scared by the idea of the short Noya fighting the tall, strong, and wild Kyotani. Kyotani, who will do any dirty work as long he gets paid. Hell, the Kyotani who, occasionally does dirty work even if he doesn't get paid. After all, he seems to enjoy inflicting pain. He seems to enjoy watch bruises blossom upon skin, and blood pour out of wounds...

"I tried to stop him from setting more traps..." Noya says, not really answering Asahi's question. "But I failed. And now more animals could get hurt... Now more crow-people could get hurt! It's my fault..."

"It's not your fault," Asahi says, all the while pressing leaves against Noya's wounds in an attempt to stop the bleeding. In an attempt to help him, to save him... "Why did you confront him directly? It's dangerous..."

"I had to... For our people!" Noya responds in a harsh tone Even though he doesn't say it, Asahi nows what Noya is saying. What have you done to help? What have you done, you human lover?

"Kiyoko-san said she was investigating him... That is, I assume that we're talking about Kyotani.... I'm helping too! I'm helping because I care about our people, and you! I really like you." Asahi, who was trying to defend himself, doesn't mean to say the last part out loud. Oh no.

"Are you sure you like me? You talk about Kiyoko a lot... Are you sure you don't like her?" Noya who is usually kind and happy is glaring at him... Looking at him with hatred in his eyes. Before Asahi can respond, Noya says more, "You and the others that wear human clothes... What are you doing? Are you trying to pretend that you're human? Just because you are in human form, and wear human clothes, doesn't mean that you're human. You've still got some crow in you. You've still got to change into crow form once in a while... You could still mess up when transforming. Just look at Suga, he always has some feathers left after transforming."

"Noya... Why are you being so mean?" Asahi asks in a whisper, due to the fact that he is on the verge of tears. "I though we were friends..."

"You're wrong," Noya hisses, "I'm no friend of a human lover! I'm no friend of someone that is trying to pretend to be human! After all, it is a human that did this to me... After all, it is humans that are doing this to other animals, to other crow people..." Normally Asahi admires Noya for his determination and passion for whatever he sets his mind to... But he can't admire him for this. He can't admire him for generalizing a species... He can't admire him for hating. "Did you forget that humans killed the king and queen?"

"I didn't... And I won't forget this either... I can't believe I was friends with you... Someone that is so mean, someone that is so consumed with hatred... I can't believe that I loved you. I can't believe, that, for some reason, I still do..." Placing a few more leaves on Noya's wounds, Asahi rises.

He rises, turns and walks away....

He leaves his love behind.

He leaves his home behind.

All he can hope is that the world before him will be more open minded, and more excepting.