Yeah...so, uh...hey, I updated. Yay?

*gets bricked*

Okay, here's the deal. What kept me busy lately was I have officially rewritten about thirteen/fifteen chapters of UTCOU, NLUTCOU. I won't replace the original chapters yet until maybe I revise up to chapter 24 or so. BIG CHANGE about it is that the main OC's name will be changed and EXO's names may be replaced with their real names. Not to mention I had some trouble with the spotted internet connection in my house and my phone screen completely shut down.

Another important thing! There's a likely possibility I might make a new story about EXO! It's a OT12 vampire!au thing. You see, I randomly daydreamed about one scene, then suddenly I'm drafting out the plot and writing out the first chapter. So, yeah. Look out for that. I won't post the foreword until I request for a poster.

I hope you won't kill me for this chapter, it's mostly full of cuteness and OC angst. Please comment! I miss them so much, readers! <3

(Third Person POV)

“Man, I wish Suho hyung was here!” Baekhyun said brightly, smiling down at the bundled up baby he cradled in his arms. He was helping the baby boy drink his bottle of milk. God permit, this baby was just was so cute! With his wide eyes and alert expression, Baekhyun wondered why the babe hadn’t been adopted yet. Baekhyun would—if he had the opportunity. “He’d loved to take care of these adorable babies.” He cooed at his little charge, “Isn’t that right, Sou-chan? You’re such a cutie, cutie pie!” Sou-chan gurgled happily, beady eyes twinkling.

“Ugh, stop with the baby talk, hyung,” Sehun deadpanned, holding back gags. “It’s revolting.”

Baekhyun shot the maknae a peeved look. “Says you, Senshine. How else have you been communicating with them? Hm?”

Sehun bristled defensively, pink-cheeked. “Well, not like that!” His outburst made the baby girl he’d been monitoring over in her crib whimper, ready to cry. “Oh no, no, no, no! Don’t cry, Ai-chan! Please, don’t cry! Uncle Sehunnie is sorry!”

Ai-chan’s whimpering subsided when Sehun her chubby cheek soothingly. She blinked up at him with those round eyes. That won over the wind guardian, and he gushed, “You’re such a precious little honey bun, aren’t you? Aren’t you? Aigoo.”

“Ahem.” Baekhyun raised a pointed bow at the maknae and smirked.

Sehun coughed self-consciously and harrumphed. “That doesn’t prove anything.”

“Will you two shut it?” Key sniped at them, rocking a baby to sleep. The diva was bouncing as he walked around, coaxing the sleep-eyed boy to dreamland. “Let’s all agree it’s a natural thing to baby talk to babies.” He rolled his eyes. “Like those idiots over there.” He jerked his chin over towards Minho and Tao who were fawning over and amusing the babies whose cribs were lined up against the wall.

“Peek-a-boo!” sang Tao, hiding and showing his face behind his hands.

“Bleh.” Minho made a funny face, sticking out his tongue. The entertained one-year-olds giggled madly.

“...”

“That’s oddly creepy.”

“I know, right?”                                                                                  

“I wonder where Alaina is,” Kai murmured, glancing out the window, the glass smudged and blurred. It was mid-evening, about time for the older orphans to eat in the dining hall. Alaina had long since disappeared to help the caretakers wash up the tykes. After Yuki had showed the guardians the ropes, he left, too. Only a caretaker was in the infant’s room to monitor them, talking to Taemin as he fed a baby with a bottle, held in the crook of his arm.

Key looked his way idly. “You know, you can help babysitting to pass time.”

Kai shook his head, hands tucked in the pockets of his jeans as he leaned against the plaster-chipped wall. “No, thanks. They only baby I’ll ever hold is mine and Alaina’s.”

Taemin’s head snapped up to glare at him. “Over my dead body, Jongin.”

“If I can’t have a kid with her, neither can you,” he argued, pining his hyung down with a fierce look.

“...Fine.” Taemin pouted defeatedly but let the subject go.

Everyone glanced up when they heard a vague ringing echoing through the hallways. The room’s door was propped open, so they could hear it fairly well.

“Ah, that would be the dinner bell. They’re calling everyone to the dining hall,” explained the orphanage worker. “Thank you for your assistance. You can go eat now.”

The women helped them situate the babies in their correct cribs, tuck them in, and they bade farewell.

“The lady said the dining hall should be this way,” Taemin said, directing his friends down the cramp hall and taking a right. They saw opened double doors, children piling in hastily. “There it is.”

The dining hall resembled an old-fashioned canteen, rectangular in shape and organized with overly-long tables and benches. There were about five tables in all, and all already set with utensils and napkins. The kitchen counter was located in the far back with the kitchen’s swinging double doors in the corner. Like everything else in the orphanage building, the painted walls were faded and stained, the wooden planks creaking when pressed with weight, and lighting an ugly yellow.

“Guys!” The guardians perked up at the sound of their Peacemaker’s soft voice. Alaina was darting over to them, trying to avoid collision with little kids as she did. Kai took her outstretched hand when she reached them, smiling. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“We had fun taking care of one-year-olds!” Tao pipped up, beaming.

“Really?” She sounded amused and delighted. “I’m glad you did.” She tugged on Kai’s hand and inclined her head at the rest of them. “Come over here. I saved you guys some seats.”

The seven guardians and their Peacemaker were spilt between two tables near the end, the thin aisle separating them. Bowls of rice and miso soup were passed out. Additional side dishes consisted of a small baked fish, assorted pieces of fried vegetables, and some grilled slices of meat. Older people got cups of green tea while the younger charges received plastic cups of juice. Later on for desert, everyone would get a red bean bun, decorated as a cute animal.

“Where’s your friend, Yuki?” Baekhyun asked Alaina after he swallowed some rice. It tasted sweet, which was cooked from mochigome.

“Hm?” She glanced up distractedly from where she was helping a kid use chopsticks, his short, stubby fingers making the job difficult. “Yuki? He’s over there.” She pointed two tables over, near the end, where her friend was burdened with the same chore: helping kids eat. Ayano was sitting on the left side of the hazel-eyed man, smiling fondly. The old women caught Alaina’s gaze and waved. Her granddaughter returned the gesture. “I miss rowdy dinners like these. Full of noise and chaos.”

“You’re kidding me right?” Kai asked her skeptically. “Our school cafeteria isn’t as loud as this and we have ten times the amount of students than orphans.”

His soulmate jabbed her chopsticks his way. “Do high school students play with their food, eat like slobs, always complain for desert, don’t know how to use chopsticks, and live to wreak havoc?”

Baekhyun and Kai exchanged contemplative looks, then shook their heads. “Unless the high school student is Chanyeol or Xiumin hyung, then no,” conceded Baekhyun.

Alaina lowered her chopsticks, wearing a smug smile. “Didn’t think so, and I agree with you on Chanyeol and Xiumin.”

The three of them laughed.

“Oh, my God, Alaina, we have to buy more red bean buns after this!” Tao exclaimed, munching on his share happily, savoring the taste.

She chuckled behind her hand. “Okay, but nothing taste better than homecooked food.”

“Everyone clean up and get ready for bed!” ordered Ayano, clapping her hands.

“Hai!” screamed the children.

Bowls, plates, cups, and silverware were collected to be washed, the tables were wiped down and the floor swept. The hoard of children rushed out the dining hall, eager to get dressed so they could still have time to play.

Alaina took Taemin’s hand. “Come on, I want to show you my old room.”

“Okay,” he agreed. The guardians followed after her as she led the way down the halls and up the second floor. Her old room was near the very end of the second story hall, located on the left by a window.

“Here,” she said, and opened the door with a familiar twist and yank on the brass doorknob.

“You still have some stuff in here,” Key noted, roaming around in the small shared bedroom.

“Just some pictures and toys,” she clarified, sitting down on her twin bed and fondly holding a handmade doll in her hands. The stitching and fabric was worn, but it was still intact.

“You look adorable,” Minho remarked, holding up a picture frame. It was a picture of her and Yuki when they were six and nine respectively. She was wearing a sleeveless yellow shirt under frayed denim overalls, her short black hair (from back then) clipped away from her heart-shaped face, cradling a bouquet of sunflowers close to her chest. Yuki had his skinny arm linked through hers, donning a simple tank top and khaki shorts, smiling brightly. Dirt and grass stains smudged their faces and clothes.

She blushed at the picture, memories flooding back. “Y-yeah, I looked like a dork.”

“A cute dork,” corrected Key.

“I’m guessing this is your friend’s side of the room,” Sehun surmised, flicking his finger to the other bed, pillow patted down and blankets neatly made. Nothing out of place.

When she nodded, Taemin spoke up, “I was wondering...how it is that you and your friend were still roommates when you grew up?” Disapproval shone in his eyes.

Alaina blinked. “Yuki and I are honorable people, Taemin. He didn’t overstep his bounds, and I didn’t overstep mine. Besides...” She paused, tracing her fingers on the surface of her bed. “Yuki moved out when he was seventeen. I was only fourteen, then. When I moved out, I was sixteen.”

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Yuki poked his head in. A slight frown etched his lips when he saw the guardians overcrowd (invade) his and Alaina’s old room. He dropped his gaze to his friend who blanched. “Alaina...the kids are asking for you downstairs.”

Alaina jolted to her feet, patting down her clothes nervously. “Hahaha! Right! I’ll be down there in a sec!”

Yuki nodded curtly, shot her guardians a suspicious glance and promptly closed the door with an audible clink.

They all breathed.

“Geez, something is up with that guy,” Minho sighed. “He’s too edgy.”

“Maybe because we’re in his room,” Baekhyun put in.

Alaina waved her hands at them in a shooing motion. “Then let’s get out. The kids are looking for me.”

...

(Alaina’s POV)

Let’s just say I was content falling back to my old routine in the orphanage. The clock read 8:37. Just enough time to play with the younger kids before curfew.

Sitting crisscrossed on the carpet next to a low table, I helped a girl color cartoon animals in her coloring book, whilst brushing another girl’s long hair—yes, I made that possible. My guardians were spread about in the playroom. I heard Minho and Baekhyun help the middle school kids with their summer homework, Tao and Sehun were stuck as guests in a game of tea party with a group of giggling girls, Key was teaching two older girls about fashion, Kai was playing card games with about four boys, and Taemin was coaching the other set of boys how to be a boss at video games. I smiled tenderly, enjoying the picture perfect scene.

In the corner of my vision, I saw Ayano pass by the opened door of the playroom and I quickly excused myself from my fellow playmates. I stood up and darted out the room after my grandmother.

“Aya-baa-chan!”

The old women immediately turned around. “Alaina? What is it, my child?”

I bounced to a stop in front of her and smiled sheepishly. “What? I can’t have a normal conversation with my grandma?”

She laughed at that. “Right, dearie. Now, what do you want to talk about?”

I looped my arm through hers. “Well, about some things that have been bugging me in the past few days—no, weeks.” I swallowed and continued carefully, “So, uh, did you receive a generous donation lately?”

The gray-haired women seemed taken back. “Yes—yes, I have.” She peered at me like I was some fortune teller. “How do you know about that?”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I might have had part in that. You see, my friends from Seoul chipped in a pool of money and sent it here. I guess they wanted to make me happy.”

“Did your friends from Seoul include the ones you brought here?” she asked, stunned.

Lips clamped, I nodded. Her face was frozen in shock, but then it mellowed out into a heartwarming smile. She enveloped me in a tight hug. “Oh, my child. Thank you—to you and your kindhearted friends. The donation gave us more than enough money. It helped with school finances and the new arrivals—especially the infants. We were able to buy new clothes and more food for them.”

The uneasy clench of my heart relaxed. “I’m glad. I’ve been worried for weeks.” I scratched my cheek skittishly. “Um...that wasn’t the only thing on my mind.”

She studied me curiously. “Well, go on. I’m all ears.”

Overcome with hesitation, I swiveled around to see if anyone was eavesdropping. Ayano picked up on my indecision, and touched my arm imploringly. “How about we talk in your room, hm?”

I nodded and we both traveled upstairs and down the dim hall. Opening the door, I saw that the room was empty. Of course it was—Yuki and I rarely came in here anymore. We seated ourselves on my bed. Ayano held my hands comfortingly.

“Now,” she urged gently. “Tell me what’s troubling you, my dear.”

“It’s about Yuki,” I admitted sheepishly, my stomach churning uneasily. “I’m worried about him. I fear that...he’s shunning the world again.”

“Again?” she repeated. “Like from when he first came here?”

“Yeah,” I replied faintly. “Remember how he was? That lifeless gleam in his eyes? The way he wouldn’t respond to anyone or anything? He was just like a...a...stringless puppet without someone to control him.”

“He did lose his parents a few years apart,” the old lady reminded me in a soft voice. “And he didn’t have a happy life as a young child. The social workers had told me his family lived in a run-down apartment, with barely any food or decent clothing. You saw his body when he arrived, sickly pale and starved to the bones.”

“Because his mother went into a depression the years after her husband died,” I murmured in recollection. “So, he was basically helpless as he stood by and watched his mother sink into an abyss while he became skin and bones.” Tears rimmed my eyes in agony for my friend in the past. “He was just a child. He couldn’t do much. But then, why? What about now? Why is he like this now?” My voice rose in frustration.

Ayano rubbed her bony thumb over my taut knuckles. “A-chan...may I put in my two cents?” When I silently nodded, she said, “I think Yuki’s...relapse had something to do with your transfer. ”

I stiffened reflexively. Not that again, I thought, chagrin. “What about it?” I prompted dryly. “I thought Yuki was fine with the transfer? I was—” would have, I corrected in my head—“going to return if all went well.”

Ayano’s steely, prying gaze penetrated through my defenses. I shuddered. “You don’t sound so sure, Alaina. And I don’t think those boys wouldn’t have let you go anyways.”

I blushed. “W-what? What made you think that? They’re my friends, baa-chan. And that’s not what we were talking about! Don’t change the subject!”

She dismissed my cries. “Yes, yes. I know. Like I was saying, I think Yuki was depressed that you left him. Maybe because, to him, it seemed like he was losing something precious to him again—just like his parents. I assume that’s why he threw himself to work—to get his mind off of you.”

More like his future, I thought morosely, the memories of his dreams flooding back to me nostalgically. The vision of his future I ruined with a few words.

“Did...something happen between you two?” my grandmother queried. “There’s this tense air when you two are together.”

“No,” I immediately denied, but Ayano was already shaking her head.

“Don’t lie to me, Akiyama Alaina. I’ve raised you since you were a mere four-year-old. I know when you’re lying.”

“I’m sorry, baa-chan. I can’t tell you. It’s between me and Yuki. And no one else.”

“Then I hope you solve it quickly. I don’t like seeing my children drift apart.” She patted down my hair, which had grown out since I last saw her. “My dear child and my snow flower,” she crooned. “The two of you grew up so fast.”

My body relaxed under her touch. I leaned forward, resting my head on her shoulder. Her scent of sunflowers and tea reminded me of the good old days when I didn’t have to worry about the world. I was young; I was sheltered; I would burrow my face in Ayano’s skirts and hide there because I wanted to and never wanted to grow up.

“I miss the old Yuki... My Yuki...”

Silence...

Then...a low murmur.

“Talking behind my back, I see.”

I bolted upright and gasped, “Yuki!”

He was leaning against the battered doorframe, looking like a young, imposing demigod, arms crossed and face expressionless. I had failed to sense his presence because of my gloomy daze.

Ayano flickered her concerned gaze between her granddaughter and the hazel-eyed boy she considered her grandson. “I’ll leave you two alone.” She got up, dusted off her skirt, and left the room.

My nerves were on a fritz. “I, uh, didn’t mean to—well, I did! But not like ‘talking behind your back’ like—”

“You still stutter too much when you’re nervous,” he remarked calmly and closed the door. I sank back into my bed, weak-kneed, my heart pounding ruthlessly against my chest—I bet Yuki could hear its frantic beat.

He also plopped down onto his bed—just across from me—the thin strip of carpet separating us. I avoided his placid gaze, head ducked, cheeks aflame.

“...I’m glad you came to visit,” he finally said.

“M-me, too,” I replied. “I’ll keep visiting until I return to Seoul—I promise.”

“I know you will.”

We fell silent again.

It was awkward. Usually Yuki and I handled long periods of silence very comfortably—because we were very quiet, introspective people. But now, a type of emptiness and uncertainty billowed between us. I couldn’t see it—couldn’t see my Yuki. The one who opened up and changed all because I stayed by his side.

Well, that made me feel like garbage. I deserted his side a few months ago even though he (indirectly) asked me to stay.

“Yuki, I have something for you,” I finally spoke up, breaking the chilly silence, and reached into my jean pocket. I fished out something round and smooth. Standing up, I crossed over the boundary that divided us and sat beside him, pressing our arms together. I presented my gift. “Here, I bought it not long ago and kept it in my pocket until I saw you again.”

His eyes widened at the jade bracelet, admiring the silver dragon stencils. “Wha—? Why would you buy me this?”

“Because you gave me this.” From underneath my collar, I took out the sapphire necklace he gave to me long ago and showed him. I smiled lopsidedly. “I may have bought the bangle from the same jewelry store where you bought my necklace.”

“How did you find that out?” he asked, stupefied.

I shrugged. “Coincidence, mostly. You know, I wear the necklace almost every day. It reminds me who I really am.” Or who I was, I corrected. “So, it would make me reeeeeally happy if you accepted my gift,” I prodded.

His hand hovered over the jade bracelet hesitantly, unsure whether or not to accept such expensive accessory. With gentle movements, I grasped his wrist and slid the bangle on for him. It dangled on his wrist perfectly, like it was meant for him. I beamed. “There—it fits.”

“I-I—” He inhaled deeply. “Thank you.”

I laughed sweetly. “No problem, Yuki. Jades are meant for good luck and protection—that’s why I bought it. Not only that, it’s said to help attract a lov—”

Yuki wrapped his arms around my torso and drew me to his side, hugging me close, my head tucked under his chin. My ear laid against his throat where I heard the thrum of his pulse. My powers fluctuated marginally, sending me his emotions. His fickle of happiness, his outstanding gratitude, his magnitude of love...and his undercurrent of regret.

I closed my eyes and nuzzled my nose against his collar, murmuring, “I get it. You’re welcome, Yuki.”

...

(Third Person POV)

“Should we interrupt them?”

“No way. Alaina will throw a fit if we do.”

“But they’re hugging.” That word came out in a resentful hiss.

“Calm down, Kai. They just reunited. Give them some space.”

“...I know you want to barge in, Taemin.”

A scoff. “How?”

“You’re clutching the doorknob too tight.”

“...Oops.”

Taemin uncurled his fingers from crushing the brass doorknob, battered and scraped from years of use. He inched away from the door, hauling a reluctant Kai with him.

“Let’s go downstairs,” the auburn-haired guardian suggested. “She’ll come down eventually. We have to leave sooner or later.”

Kai huffed, teeth gritted. “Ten minutes. I’ll give her ten minutes.”

“...Possessive jerk.”

“Paranoid wimp.”

They both stuck their tongues at each other childishly and harrumphed, descending the narrow stairs without looking at each other.

...

“So, this is where those guardians live?” asked a person in amazement. He let out a low, appreciative whistle. “Not a bad place, I’d say.”

“Yup. I think B.A.P referred it to as the SHINee house,” someone else replied mildly.

“Yeah,” grunted a loathing person, “now those backstabbing traitors are living inside the damn house.”

“Language,” someone barked authoritatively. The grouchy male scoffed.

The same authoritative person lightly clapped his hands to gain attention from his fellow members. “Okay, listen up. Our plan shall commence near the end of the week. Be prepared and don’t mess up. I don’t want those y BEG girls breathing down our necks again.”

“And you ed me for my language,” grumbled the same grouch.

...

Disclaimer: I don't own pics or EXO spam.

(^When I wrote a new fic, but realized I hadn't updated my old ones in a long time.)

(I love ing's hairstyles here. <3)

(Hehehehe~)

(My baby~)

(Cuteness.)

(Kawaii~)

(Gasp! The Men in Black erased Hunnie's mind!)

(LOL! Kris just pops out for a handshake.)

(Just recently found this. Xiulay swinging hands like a couple.)

(Now we need to find Light and L!)