When Mink didn't return that night Aoba felt all the colour from his world was gone. It had been slowly draining away as the days turned into weeks, and still Mink would not talk to him, but tonight he felt truly devoid of it all. Instead of feeling lifeless in Mink's absence, however, Aoba felt compelled to act, to move in a desperate flurry across the woods and onto the streets, searching every bar and place known to him. Mink vanished from him once without a trace and Aoba would not – could not – let it happen again. He wanted to know Mink was at least safe, to see him one last time, to confirm it was Aoba's presence in the house that made him stay away. Aoba felt like a ghost, unwanted and unseen, but felt enough to disturb those around him. He was but a shadow, chasing after the light that was Mink, forever following in his footsteps and never yet catching up to him.
It was futile.
Everything Aoba had done was useless.
These thoughts plagued him as he returned to the wooden house, closing the door quietly behind him with a sigh. He was exhausted, his arms and legs like jelly beneath him. He swayed with the fatigue, stumbling into the living room like a drunk.
He collapsed lifelessly onto the couch, the old worn out springs creaking beneath his weight. He was cold, tired and worried. Where was Mink? Why did he not come home? Was he hurt? Or was it really because of Aoba? Would he not come home because of him?
If that was the case, then Aoba felt he wouldn't mind, he could at least begin to accept the outcome. But not knowing if Mink was safe was causing him the greatest sense of grief.
'Aoba...' Ren's familiar voice, the sound of home - faraway home - broke the silence of the darkened living room. 'Are you alright?' His sparkling black eyes gazed earnestly up at Aoba.
'...Tired.' Aoba mumbled as he lay his head down on a cushion, his body curling up. His bones rattled with violent shivers, his teeth chattering together noisily. Wrapping his arms around himself he began to drift into an exhausted sleep. He would search for Mink again in a few minutes, he promised himself. Just a few minutes.
'...Aoba...' Ren sighed quietly, though Aoba was already sleeping.
When Aoba opened his eyes again he felt a gentle warmth radiating throughout his chest. Slowly the blurry haze began to clear, the fog of his mind cleared away and he realised where - or rather who - the warmth came from. Curled up in a ball was Ren, his furry body as close to Aoba's chest as possible.
'Good morning,' Ren said. 'It is good that you are awake.'
'Ren... did you... get this for me?' Aoba asked, gesturing to the blanket that was now covering him. He was sure it was not there last night.
'Yes. I have also been monitoring your health levels all night to ensure there were no drastic changes.'
'Ren...' Aoba's smile was genuine. Ren was always, always so considerate of him. 'You know, Ren. It's strange; sometimes I wonder if what I have been searching for all this time is actually right in front of me.' Aoba chuckled, 'Wouldn't that be something, huh, Ren? If you were... Ah, I said something strange.'
'...Aoba...' Ren's voice was unusually heavy, and after a moment's hesitation he added, 'I am concerned the fatigue from last night has made you unwell. Aoba, please remember to take care of yourself.'
'That's my Ren.' Aoba picked him up, feeling the softness of Ren's fur against his palms was comforting, and he gently pressed their foreheads together. 'Thank you. Thank you for always being there when I need you.'
'The pleasure is all mine.'