Chapter 1

It was 5:00 AM when Takashi read the note:

Meet me under the tree on top of the hill outside Ouran Academy at 6:00.

There was no name. Takashi knew who it was from.

Takashi silently got dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans. He looked at the clock. 5:10. He left his bedroom and started to head outside, fully aware that by leaving so soon he would arrive at the tree thirty minutes early. He knew that Mitsukuni was already there, waiting for him.

As he approached the hill, Takashi spotted the small, blond figure anxiously pacing at the top. Once he saw Takashi climbing the hill, Mitsukuni sprinted down to meet him.

"Takash-," Mitsukuni began to exclaim when he tripped and started to roll down the hill. Takashi laughed to himself as he caught the smaller boy and placed him on his shoulders. As he felt the arms wrap themselves tightly around his neck, Takashi smiled.

When the two cousins reached the tree at the top, Mitsukuni slid gracefully down to the ground, his face looking as though he was beaming with happiness. Mitsukuni may have been trying his best to hide it, but Takashi knew something important was bothering him. Mitsukuni plopped down and relaxed against the tree, tilting his head up to look at his cousin sitting down to his left.

Takashi looked into Mitsukuni's eyes as if to ask why he wanted to meet here.

"I wanted to watch the sunrise with you," Mitsukuni said sweetly, his large brown eyes gleaming.

Takashi couldn't help but let the corners of his lips curve upward into a slight smile for a second before turning forward to watch the sun inch out from the horizon. The two boys watched in silence as the world around them became illuminated. Mitsukuni let his head rest on the taller boy's shoulder. This time, Takashi did not try to suppress his smile.

It was no wonder Mitsukuni wanted to watch the sunrise from here—the view was breathtaking. The side of the hill was covered in hundreds of flowers, petals shining in the light. A breeze came through, sending ripples down the sea of flowers, causing the petals to shimmer.

Takashi glanced down to his left to see two roses, one pink, one dark blue. He carefully pulled out the pink one and gently twirled the stem between his thumb and index finger.

"Takashi?" Mitsukuni asked hesitantly.

"Hm?"

"Can you believe we start at the university tomorrow?"

"Mm."

"Me neither." Mitsukuni paused for a moment before continuing. "It's gonna be so weird not being in the same department as you."

"Mm." Takashi stopped twirling the rose, but kept his eyes locked on it.

"We've always been together. It'll be hard to get used to being alone."

Takashi looked back at the ground for the dark blue rose, plucking it from the ground, and spoke. "You won't be alone."

"Huh?"

"Well, we won't see each other during the day while we have classes, but afterwards, I'll always be with you."

Mitsukuni just sighed and lifted his head from Takashi's shoulder, turning away from the taller boy. Takashi stared at the two flowers in his hands, and put down the blue one. He stroked the delicate petals of the pink rose, taking care not to hurt it. Mitsukuni obviously needed to ask something, but Takashi wasn't going to rush him. He waited patiently until the short boy turned back towards him.

Takashi stopped gazing at the flower to look at his cousin.

"Why?" Mitsukuni asked bluntly.

"..."

"You said you'll always be with me. Why?"

Takashi was taken aback. He was not expecting that, nor was he expecting the hint of anger he detected in Mitsukuni's voice. He turned away to pick up the blue rose—and to prevent Mitsukuni from seeing the faint hint of red that had spread across his cheeks. Still avoiding his cousin's eyes, he fiddled with the roses, winding the stems tightly around each other while trying to formulate an answer. There were two answers flying through Takashi's mind, the one he desperately wanted to say, and the one he knew he had to say.

He took a deep breath. "Although the master-servant relationship of our families is over, the loyalty still runs deep in my blood."

Mitsukuni stared straight ahead. "I see."

Takashi never knew his cousin's voice could be that cold.

Mitsukuni spoke again. "So that's all I am to you. You don't really want to spend time with me. I'm just an obligation."

Takashi was horrified. No! he wanted to scream, That's not what you are to me at all! But he couldn't. Even if he had been able to breathe he knew he couldn't speak his feelings. He instinctively clenched his fist, trying to contain himself.

Then he remembered the roses.

He opened his hand and looked down to see the petals of the dark blue rose crushed and broken. He couldn't understand why a simple flower mattered so much to him, but he couldn't take it. He tore the two roses apart and threw them on the ground. He lowered his head into his hands, trying to hide the tears that had begun falling from his eyes.

He heard Mitsukuni stand up and begin walking away.

Please review and tell me what you think! Chapter 2 should be coming soon.