The rain tapped against the window like someone outside who desperately wanted attention but also wanted to remain as quiet as possible as not to wake another. The drops ran down like competitive tears to those running and falling to the floor from Shiro's cheeks. The cafe was closed. It had been for some time, so long now Shiro wasn't sure what time it may actually be. Shiro fell back onto the cushions of one of the cafe's many resting areas. Staring at the ceiling, the corner of his mouth turned up slightly. Memories were better than the present, so why not find solace in the past and hide from the present and pray the future will be different? "Curl-kun..." Shiro said aloud, although those words fell on no one's ears. The overhead speakers could still faintly be heard playing Pachelbel's 'Canon in D'. "You never did remember to cut the sound with the lights." Shiro continued as the tears now rolled more to the sides of his face in his current relaxed position. The music's quiet and calming melody allowed Shiro to close his salty, burning eyes. The rain continued and it now demanded attention as the drops fell even harder, contrary to what the rain wanted, Shiro's eyes remained closed and slumber would garner all of his attention for the coming hours. Shiro had cried himself to sleep.
Where Shiro awoke was not where he left himself. His eyes burning, eyelids nearly adhered to one another light began to turn into blurred images and blurred images became faces. "Nor, Scotch..." Shiro yawned. "How?" Nor leaned down and placed his paw on Shiro's head "Relax, we found you in the cafe, we brought you to bed." Reality began to take hold again. "Curl-kun..." mewed Shiro. Tears began to form and flow. Nor leaned down further and embraced Shiro. "He'll be okay, he will." assured Nor. Nor always so cool, calm, and collected. Sometimes so self-assured it bordered on arrogance. However, the staff all looked up to him, he was the big brother. Shiro lifted his arms and held onto Nor and began to wail uncontrallably. "Shhh..." calmy said Scotch "You will lose your voice." Both Nor and Scotch meant well, they know how badly Shiro hurt. They know what Curl meant to Shiro. Although Nor and Scotch still couldn't believe it themselves and Shiro often pinched himself on accasion to make sure he wasn't having some wonderful daydream; Curl and Shiro were together, an item, a couple. Shiro began to calm, the wailing became a wimper, and he let go of Nor. Gently Nor guided Shiro back down and pulled the sheet over him. "Today, you rest." stated Nor. "But, there are only two..." Interuptting, Scotch replied "The two best." Winking and trying to pry a smile from Shiro. With that Nor and Scotch headed into their respective areas to prepare for an afternoon and evening of flirting with the clientele of the cafe. Shiro closed his eyes but the noise of the outside world would demand he get up and face the day.
Shiro peeked through the door leading out to the floor of the cafe. He could see Nor and Scotch up to their usual routine: smiling, flirting, and telling the same tired stories and jokes which always somehow managed to captivate their wide-eyed clientele. Shiro turned away, walking slowly back into the common room. A wide open space where they they could talk, play, practice new moves and tricks. A place where memories that were as sweet as catnip were made. Shiro knelt down and picked up a yellow ball of yarn. Shiro recalled fighting with Curl over this very ball of yarn just before their first kiss. The kiss, if Curl could tell the story, was a mere accident. A frustrating accident. If Shiro recounted the tale it would be told as through the eyes of starry-eyed hopeless romantic. The result was a kiss that would seal a relationship between the two. Shrio took the ball and gently placed it under the pillow of the futon where he woke a few hours earlier.