A/N: Ragi here. The inspiration for this piece came to me quite randomly. I'm sure the idea has been used too many times before but I just feel the insatiable urge to write it! Please bear with me. This came to me when I was walking my dogs in a storm. We've had a drought for several months so it just seems so refreshing and amazing! It has spurred me into a writing frenzy! (To Teru: Gomen! I know we talk about fic ideas together but this just came to me!)

Disclaimer: I do not own No. 6… not even a little bit.

Shion opens his eyes as a harsh crashing sound breaks into his comfortable sleep. The musty smell of books calms his beating heart almost immediately as his eyes adjust to the dark room that he's shared with Nezumi for many months. Nothing seems out of place. Nezumi is still sleeping soundly next to him. At the sight of his friend, Shion smiles. A stray strand of wavy raven hair crosses Nezumi's face, only to be brushed back by Shion.

For a moment, Shion is confused as to why Nezumi is still asleep. He has always been a light sleeper, awake at the slightest disturbance but for some reason, he's still calmly breathing with his eyes closed. Shion sinks back down to try and fall asleep once again. If Nezumi is still comfortable, then there is no need to be worried about crashes in the night.

Just when Shion closes his red eyes once more, there is another loud crash. This one doesn't startle Shion, however. In fact, it sets all of his nerve endings into an excited frenzy as if his soul has been set on fire. He knows that sound all too well. With a giant smile across his child-like features, Shion jumps out of bed and throws his tan jacket on before bolting out the door. The crashing noises are joined by the fevered sound of rain hitting against the ground. A gust of icy wind greets Shion as he finally steps outside.

The world appears to be a painting fit to be called a masterpiece. The ruins of buildings and rubble set a sad backdrop to the lively sky. Bolts of white-hot lightning streak across the sky like the roots of some magnificent oak tree. They spread across the grey/black clouds as if knowing their brilliance would only be made more extravagant from the contrast. The rain itself is so thick that everything seems to be lost in a pale haze. Even the ruins seem to gain a surreal quality about them.

Shion captures the entire moment with arms raised high. The pellets of water strike his face as if they were shards of ice but it didn't hurt. In fact, Shion loved the feeling. Bitter coldness worked its way into his bones but he only walked further into the storm. His teeth chatter but it seems only to create more of a fantastic atmosphere. Shion spins with the wind whirling around him as if their combined power could lift him into the stormy sky. His skin has gained a deathly pallor but Shion ignores the fact that he's lost all feeling in his extremities. All that matters is the power he feels from the raging storm.

Back in the room, Nezumi turns over in his sleep only to find emptiness. His eyes shoot open as soon as the fact that Shion is missing registers. He jumps out of bed, dressed only in his boxers. There appears to be no signs of struggle as if someone came in to kidnap Shion. It only takes another second for Nezumi to see that Shion's favorite coat is gone. A chill creeps down his spine as thunder shakes the room. Outright fear envelops Nezumi's thoughts. Nothing else matters but for the fact that Shion is gone and storm is going on outside. He rushes to put on his boots and a jacket before bursting out of the room to find Shion. He gets into the dark hallway only to feel a cold breeze work its way towards him. Nezumi rushes to the open door that leads outside. What he sees leaves him speechless.

The entire world seems to be alive. The rain, the lightning, the wind, and the harsh thunder cause a strange artificial life to everything around him. What truly catches his eyes, however, is a silhouette spinning in the center of it all. He can't make out a single feature of the person but there's not a single doubt in his mind that he's gazing upon the form of Shion standing in the rain.

A smile breaks Nezumi of his fear. The memory of seeing Shion for the first time resurfaces. There was a massive storm and he was drawn to the second story of a lone house where the unknowing Shion screamed into the storm. At that time he was still ignorant of what life in No. 6 was actually like. He had brown hair and eyes, still free of the wasp that changed him forever. Nezumi's smile fades suddenly as his hearts swells at the other memory. Shion begged to be killed while he tried to extract the killer bee and then afterwards when he noticed that his appearance has changed.

Nezumi closes his eyes as he imagines Shion as his now. Though he can't see it through the fog of the rain, he knows a pink scar wraps all around Shion's body, ending on his left cheek. Nezumi can't count how many times he's wanted to trace that scar over and over again. It is a constant reminder to Shion that things will never be the same as it was before. The world is revealing itself to be a vile reflection of human's greed.

Shion can't help as a bubble of laughter escapes from between his now blue lips. The whole situation seems too amazing to be real. Why hadn't he realized how beautiful storms were before? Still at the entrance to their home, Nezumi hears Shion and breaks out of his reverie. There is no telling how long Shion has been out in this freezing weather.

Nezumi hurries across the muddy ground, seeming to hardly make any progress as more and more features become clear on Shion. His skin is paler than normal and just by looking at Shion's fingers Nezumi can tell they are as cold as ice. He finally makes it to Shion after what seems like an eternity and holds the soaking boy in his arms.

Shion looks up at him, red eyes glowing. "Do you remember when we danced here while the sun set? You have no idea how much I wanted to stay in your arms forever like that." Shion leans his head against the taller boy's chest. "Even so, I think I like this moment even more. I love you."

Nezumi barely hears this because of his shock at Shion's condition. The poor boy seems to be hypothermic. He wraps his arms tightly around Shion. "Let's hurry and go inside, ok?"

Feeling Nezumi's warmth, Shion finally realizes how cold he actually is. Unable to feel his feet, Shion latches onto Nezumi, quietly hoping that he wouldn't drop him, telling him to walk on his own. To his pleasant surprise, however, Nezumi carries Shion back inside. He wastes no time stripping Shion of all of his drenched clothing. The smaller boy blushes but Nezumi doesn't seem to care. All he's worried about is making sure that Shion doesn't get hurt. He uses a towel to help dry Shion and dresses him in a fresh set of clothes. Shion merely lets Nezumi do all of this to him. The impact of how cold he actually is seems to only make him colder. His muscles are so frozen he can't even shiver. Finally, Nezumi places a thick blanket around Shion.

The white-haired boy pulls the blanket closer but he warms up no faster. Nezumi looks to him with concern. "You still cold?" Shion can only nod in reply. His teeth are chattering too much to form a sentence. Suddenly, Nezumi sits down on the bed, pulling Shion onto him. Shion's heart begins to beat rapidly as Nezumi's hands snake around him and latch together.

Nezumi lies down, taking Shion with him, holding him as close as possible. Finally, heat begins to return to Shion's skin as he steals it from Nezumi. It isn't long before feeling makes its way back into his fingers and toes. The storm outside rumbles to a stop and peace washes over Shion as he falls asleep in Nezumi's arms.

Nezumi, however, is unable to sleep. He is still worried about the boy. "You're such an idiot sometimes." The sleeping white-head makes no reply. "I wonder how I'm able to put up with you. You may have grown older since we first met but you are no more mature. No. 6 has trained you to be an ignorant little puppy." Nezumi nuzzles his face into the junction of Shion's shoulder and neck. "That being so, why can't I let you go? You're so helpless and childish but I can't help but to worry about you." He tries holding Shion even closer. His heart goes into a flurry when Shion grunts in discomfort. "What is it about you that causes me feel this way?" His cheek grows numb from resting against Shion's still cold skin. "You're such an idiot sometimes."

Shion opens his eyes when a new smell overshadows that of age-old tomes. He can't define any single scent but it causes his mouth to water. Finally, he sees Nezumi cooking a pot of stew near the entrance. Shion laughs openly at the absurdness of the situation. "What?" Nezumi hisses.

"I've never really seen you cook. I'm scared to find out what it tastes like!"

Oddly enough, red color begins to rise on Nezumi's cheeks. "I'm sure it'll be fine! You don't have to eat it if you don't want to."

Shion wraps the blanket closer to himself. "Well, seeing as you've took the effort to try something new, I suppose I won't pass it up."

For some unknown reason, this makes Nezumi smile. He pours a little into two bowls and walks over to Shion, who is still sitting on the edge of the bed. When Nezumi hands one to Shion, Shion lets the warmth flow into his fingers as the thick scent wafts up to his nose. Even without eating any of it, it begins to warm him on the inside as well. After drawing in the heat from the bowl, Shion finally takes his first bite.

"This… this is really good, Nezumi!"

The raven haired boy doesn't answer. Instead he stares into his stew as if trying to find the answer to life. "Was it true?"

Startled, Shion looks to his friend. "Was what true?"

Taking his spoon, Nezumi stirs the food in his bowl. "In the rain… I don't think you were in your right mind though. But you said you… you said that you loved me."

All the muscles in Shion's body go rigid. "I said that?"

Hearing the disbelieving tone in Shion's voice, Nezumi's heart begins to break. Nezumi mentally hits himself. How could I be so stupid? How could Shion possibly love me? I'm a man after all and so is he. He's probably in love with his good friend. What was her name again? Safu… yes. He's probably in love with Safu and last night's confession was caused by the cold addling his brain. How could I be so stupid? He would hate me if he knew how I felt for him.

Nezumi stands up, face expressionless. "I understand." For a moment he glances at Shion, blue eyes aflame with sadness at a one-sided passion. Shion, however, doesn't catch this and watches as Nezumi leaves the room, slamming the door behind him. A small rat scampers up to Shion, looking up at him with emotionless robotic eyes.

With a tear in his eye, Shion runs a finger down the rat's soft body. "I guess Nezumi doesn't love me back after all…"

Moonlight secretly records this before leaving Shion all alone once again. He disappears beneath the door after his creator. Shion, however, holds the bowl of stew until it grows cold and inedible. A feeling of emptiness pervades the room but Shion doesn't mind. He's gotten used to being alone.

A/N: So as I wrote this, I decided I wouldn't make it a lemon. However, if I get enough reviews from you amazing readers I may just add a second chapter! ;) So… please review! I do love hearing your thoughts! Constructive criticism is appreciated! Thank you, my loves!