" Minato-kun~ what are you doing up here? "

The one in question did not answer immediately, continuing to stare up at the late evening sky as it faded from its last remnants of the afternoon sun into the vast ocean of stars. It was when Ryoji got closer and now sat beside him, that Minato turned his head to pay the scarfed-boy mind.

" Looking at the sky. "

He answered, candidly brief as always. Ryoji simply smiled,

" May I join you? "

Minato merely looked into those sharp blue eyes, then turned back to face the stars. This was taken as a silent invitation, and one Ryoji happily took, now lying down by the side of his friend. There was only silence between the two, though it wasn't held for very long.

" They're very beautiful, aren't they? And to think, hundreds of years ago they may have already perished, but it's only now we see them... "

There was a certain melancholy in his typically cheerful tone.

" The stars must have liked us. "

Ryoji blinked, turning to the one he lied beside with a look of wonderment. Before he could ask, Minato continued.

" They decided to shine as bright and as long as they could, so we can look at them for thousands of years. "

It was a surprisingly optimistic thought, and one Ryoji could not help admire. Even when knowing-in some vague meaning of the word-what awaited him ahead, and aware there were hardships to be endured, Minato was here looking at the stars and thinking they had feelings for humanity. He was positive about the worth of a human life, and deep inside himself, Ryoji wished more humans were like this. It was people like Minato, that suffered but could still carry a certain mature naivety, that he truly admired.

It was deeper than even that, however, when it came to his strange passion for the blue haired boy. Although he seemed so emotionless, so passive yet of strong will, there was a quality about the S.E.E.S leader that always drew the harbinger to him in a way he couldn't quite explain. It was a feeling similar, perhaps, to what he's seen countless swooning girls achieve only at a more refined level.

" Minato... "

The boy didn't even flinch at the missing honorific-in fact, Ryoji could have swore he saw an inkling of a smile turn the corner of lips he was nearest to.

" You look so peaceful... "

" Of course, " Minato chuckled, for what reason the scarfed-boy could not fathom. That is, until the next words were spoken.

" I want to shine my brightest, for as long as I can. "

These were words that brought a powerful sorrow and overwhelming love forth from the deepest, most unknown wells of Ryoji and pooled at his beautiful blue eyes. He clenched at his chest with one hand, unable to even consider holding back this flood of emotion whether or not he could understand it, and it seemed the appropriate reaction because as the first wave washed down his cheek he felt a warmth new, and yet old. In his hand, was Minato's, and looking into his blurred eyes were the clear and peaceful eyes of Minato. Somehow, a smile didn't fail to grace Ryoji's lips.

" You will always be my star, Minato Arisato... "

A binding-a confession that he understood, within himself but at a superficial level knew nothing about.

Minato smiled, shifting onto his side with Ryoji's hand still in his, and reached over to gently clean the messy translucent stains upon his friend's cheek. In hearing Minato's words, Ryoji's smile expanded immensely as the tears continued to fall, the boy pulling the other into an embrace that held no regards to limits of proximity. As Minato's lips traced over mole, down cheek to then softly connect with the lips of the other's, he said with a caring confidence something of great worth beyond the letters themselves.

" You will always be my humanity. "