CHAPTER 1

Rhongomiant stretched lazily, reaching out his hand to feel for Canopus. When he realized the Divina's side of the bed was empty, he propped himself up on his elbows and searched the room. He found Canopus sitting in one of the high-backed chairs, his vacant gaze staring out the window. It was pouring outside; the water coming down in sheets of rain. Canopus enjoyed these downpours, explaining to Rhongomiant that the sound often gave him comfort when nothing else would.

"Canopus." Rhongomiant called his name softly.

When he didn't answer, Rhongomiant slipped from under the covers and waked over to where the Divina sat.

"Canopus, are you alright?"

The Divina blinked several times, looking up as if just realizing he wasn't alone in the room. He smiled up at Rhongomiant, but the expression didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I'm sorry." Canopus replied, reaching out to pull him into his lap. "I was lost in thought. How did you sleep?"

"Wonderfully." Rhongomiant sighed dreamily, snuggling close and lacing their hands together.

His body was still humming with the remnants of their love-making the night before. Canopus had been uncharacteristically rough, but Rhongomiant wasn't complaining. They sat in silence for several minutes, holding hands and watching the morning sun fight to break through the could-filled sky. It was pleasant and comfortable, and it reminded Rhongomiant why he loved the Divina so much. Canopus was his source of peace. The calm in the midst of whatever life storm he might be going through. The Divina was his heart and soul, and Rhongomiant loved him more than life itself.

"Are you happy?" Canopus asked suddenly.

"Of course." Rhongomiant chuckled softly, turning to face him. "I should think that's pretty obvious."

"And do you love me?"

"Yes." Rhongomiant replied, placing a kiss on his lover's lips. "Now and forever."

"Say it. Say you love me."

There was an intensity in Canopus' gaze that Rhongomiant didn't recognize. The Divina's hands wrapped tightly around Rhongomiant's upper arms; holding him as if he was about to shake the words from his lips.

"You're scaring me, Canopus." Rhongomiant said carefully. "Tell me what's wrong. Why are you suddenly asking me questions you already know the answers to?"

"Why are you hesitating? Why won't you say it?!"

"I'm not hesitating! I love you! You know that! But I'd rather show you my love than tell you about it." Rhongomiant took the Divina's face in his hands, looking straight into his beautiful hazel-green gaze. "I love you, Canopus. I love you. I love you. I love you! If it's the words you need to hear, then I'll say them to you a thousand times a day!"

Canopus placed his hands atop Rhongomiant's, removing them from his face. There was a pain in his eyes that Rhongomiant had seen once before. It was a look he prayed he would never see again.

"I saw you with him." Canopus said quietly. "Yesterday afternoon. We haven't even been home for a month and you're already sneaking around with him."

"What are you talking about? Who?"

"Barbatos." Canopus replied calmly. "I saw you having lunch with him in town. You told me you were going to see Odairi, but clearly that was just a cover."

"You followed me?"

Canopus laughed humorlessly. "Don't be ridiculous. Unfortunately for you, I had to pick something up in town. The restaurant you two chose happened to be on my way. You know, I stood there… watching you… waiting for the moment you'd look up and realize I was there." He snickered viciously. "But you were so enraptured with him, you didn't even fucking notice."

"It's not what you think, I swear! We were just two friends having lunch!"

"If that's all it was, then why did you lie about it?"

Rhongomiant fumbled for an answer, realizing too late that he didn't have one. There was no explanation in the world that would justify lying to the man he loved…

The last thing Rhongomiant wanted to do was hurt Canopus, and considering how new and delicate their relationship was, he was terrified that any mention of the Phantom would ruin everything. But the truth was Barbatos was still his friend. Someone he needed in his life to confide in; ask advice of. Yes, they'd met for a secret lunch, but when they weren't talking about how happy Rhongomiant was with Canopus, they were talking about how much Barbatos loved Ikutachi.

"Listen to me." Rhongomiant pleaded. "I love you! I want to be with you! Barbatos will always be my friend, but he is not the person I want to spend the rest of my life with!"

"How can you expect me to believe anything you say?"

"How can you not?!" Rhongomiant pressed Canopus' knuckles to his lips; tears streaming down his face. "Look at me! Can't you see how much I love you? And what about last night?! Couldn't you feel my desire for you?!"

Canopus pulled his hands away, rubbing his tired eyes. The dark circles underneath them were even more prominent now, and Rhongomiant wished for nothing more than to kiss them away.

"Why am I not enough for you?" Canopus asked. "What makes him so much better than me?"

"Don't do that!" Rhongomiant begged, sliding off Canopus' lap and kneeling before him. "Don't make this a you versus him situation! He is my friend. You are my lover. There is no comparing the two!"

Canopus leaned forward, taking Rhongomiant's chin in his hand. "What if I said the only way I'll stay is if you give him up? Would you?"

Rhongomiant choked back a sob. "That's not fair and you know it."

"Not fair?" Canopus shoved him away, standing up from the chair. He was practically shaking with rage, but to his credit he kept himself in check. "You want to know what's not fair? The fact that I have to share your heart with him! Even now, you'd pick him over me!"

"That's not true!"

"Then tell me you'll never see him again! Swear to me right now!"

Rhongomiant ran a hand through his hair, trying to find a way to calm Canopus down. He'd happily give up everyone and everything if it meant staying by the Divina's side, but that wouldn't fix the underlying problem.

"Canopus, you're upset right now, and you have every right to be, but this isn't the answer. We need to talk about this after you've had a chance to calm down. I think then you'll see that you're making a big deal out of nothing."

"So your lying to me is nothing? Your seeing him behind my back is NOTHING?!"

'That's not what I…"

"That's your answer then? You won't give him up?"

"Canopus, please…"

Canopus looked up at the ceiling, running his hands down his face. "I never should've come back here."

"Don't say that!" Rhongomiant reached for Canopus, but the Divina stepped out of his grasp.

"You and me… We're done."

Canopus turned his back on Rhongomiant, walking over to the foot of the bed. He paused for a moment, taking something from his pocket and setting it on top of the wooden footboard. When the Divina finally reached the door, Rhongomiant thought he might turn around and come back; admit he was over-reacting and ask if they could pretend none of this had ever happened. But he didn't… He never even looked back.

Rhongomiant walked towards the bed, his eyes focusing on the small item Canopus had placed there. His chest tightened as the last piece of his heart crumbled into tiny, insignificant pieces. There, sitting quietly on the footboard, was a ring. It was a simple golden band; no fancy designs or gaudy jewels, but it was, by far, the most beautiful thing Rhongomiant had ever seen. He picked it up, examining it with the utmost care. He was about to slip it on his left finger when he noticed the delicate script engraved on the inside of the band.

"My First. My Only. Until Forever Ends…"

NOTE FROM THE WRITER: I actually wrote this a loooooong time ago, but I got distracted with other stories. It picks up shortly after these two return from Costa Rica. I found it and thought I'd share. I know it's short, but it will be finished, so no worries. If this was one of your favorite pairings, I hope you enjoy! Feedback is appreciated!

As always, thanks for reading!

3 Aka