"What do you think you're doing?" A blond said as his partner rose as silently as possible from bed.

"Erm.. well, you see, I have to… eh the practice morning.." he stammered through his half assed excuse.

"You have morning practice," The blond suggested. His partner seemed to relax at this. "Ok, just one question. Why are you sneaking? Can't you just get up and leave?" The blond continued as he sat up, turning in order to face him.

A nervous laugh was the only answer he got.

"Shu." The blond said, motioning the other away.

My name is Tai. I've been living with a guy for a few months an ex gang leader now, you could say that it's a complicated situation. Funny how everything got to be this way. It all started back in, well you could say that it started a long, long time ago. We used to be neighbors back in elementary but we never really got along. Our siblings were actually good friends but we never even tried to be friends. Funny how that works, now that I'm in collage, years later we … developed a new type of relationship. One I never dreamed of, I mean how could I ever imagine that he of all people would become my lover, if that is what we are. I'm not even sure what to call us, it's all too complicated yet not enough to merit a straight out conversation about it. Or it might be that I have never build up enough courage to ask him about it, but I do wonder what he thinks about me.

He is very, extremely possessive, that is hard to miss. I'm hardly someone who can be easily frightened, but sometimes I really fear his anger. Even if he no longer part takes in criminal activities as before, he gets recognition for who he became, that sure gets me worried. I don't really know what he was before I met him, and even during the first few times we erm.. met, I hardly knew anything about his life. He never talks about what happened between the time we stopped seeing each other when we were kids and when we met again in Tokyo a few months ago. Sometimes he gets looks that could kill someone from the mere intensity of it, from people as he walks around the city. I mean it seems every lowlife here knows who he is and yet never have the guts to stand up to him, not that I wish for them to gang up on him. It's just too confusing for me. It's like he is some sort of demon everyone was warned about except me, I see gangs stop their deeps as he walks by and they just look at him almost ready to pounce when he isn't looking, yet they never do, the fear is evident in their hesitation. And every time it happens it makes me wonder, why do they fear him? Tokyo is one of the most populated cities in Asia and to be known by most teens, lawyers, judges, and mostly all police force, well let's say you just got to be big shit. He's barely of age! I mean how can he be so well known if …. How much shit did he do in this short period of time I didn't see him.

"Look out!" Someone called. By the time I turned to look I was already being crashed by a bicycle.

"Aw,"

"I'm so sorry. I tried to warn you, but ne.. eh.. Are you ok?" The assaulting bicycle rider asked.

"I'm fine. Just get you bike off me, will you?" Tai answered. 'Great, just what I get for thinking about him so much. Must pay attention where I'm heading.'

"I … I'm sorry." The dude said bowing in apology.

"Yeah sure, no prob." Tai said dusting off, as he received a text message.

It was from him and it just proved how predictable he was to his blond lover. It said: "You should start jogging, you're going to be late. :P And stop daydreaming! ;D "

And start jogging he did. There were almost no people around at five thirty in the morning even during the nice warm days, now it was January and it was freezing! It was the only day he could get some more sleep if it weren't for Tai's early training. Maybe he went to sleep after I left? No, he won't, he's probably up and about getting ready to go out himself, that is if he isn't out already.

"Ah! I made it!" Tai said as he arrived at the faculty soccer field.

"jajaja, you barely made it too." One of his teammates said.

"But I did, didn't I?"

After a few hours of training, everyone was getting ready to leave.

"Hey, how about it, Tai, are you coming with?" Kento asked him. At Tai's perplexed face he specified. "To the sushi stand haha weren't you listening, the couch is treating us, you know before the big game."

"ah yes, erm sorry I wasn't listening." Tai said.

"We noticed," Tyre said "you're awfully distracted all the time, I wonder how that never seems to affect your performance."

Everyone just laughed.

They all got rides from those few lucky souls who owned a car, joking all the way to their destination.

"Hey guys, you're finally here. Took you long enough, you're the lasts ones to arrive." A few girls said as they entered the shop.

"Are we celebrating something?" Tai asked, obviously he had missed the part where they said who else was coming with.

His comment was met with a few giggling girls and rolling eyes from his teammates. "What planet do you live on? We did mention that the girls would be joining us, what kind of party would it be without them, eh?"

That earned a lot more of laughter from the group. "It's been a while since you came to the parties Tai. Has your girl kept you too occupied?" Sassha said as she sat beside him.

"What? Tai has a girl? No wonder he's barely making it to morning practice, he must have late dates." Tyre said laughing.

"Nah, I say he's just lazy. He's almost late everyday after all." Kyo said.

"What are you talking about Kyo, I bet Tai gets it every night that's why he can bare get up the next day."

"Tyre, that's…" Tai began.

"It's not very proper to speak such things from a lady, much less someone you don't know." A blond man appeared behind Tyre. "May I take your order?"

"We weren't.. I mean, no.. I wasn't. eh" Tyre was at loss at what to say. "I wasn't saying anything bad about it! I was just saying."

"It's hardly a proper subject to be discussed in the presence of ladies." The blond said motioning to the girls in the group. Who blushed at been treated as such by some cute guy.

Tai laughed. He couldn't help it, it was priceless to see Tyre a respectful young man being lectured by someone who had lived breaking almost every standard possible. Everyone was looking at him as if he'd gone crazy.

"Do you find it amusing?" The blond said.

"Yes, I find it extremely funny." Tai answered between laughter. "Sorry, just ig…" He couldn't even finish as he was laughing again.

Sassha tried to apologize for Tai's obvious lack of tact but the blond merely smiled at the situation and left to tend to another table.

"Arg, we're going to get kicked out because of you two!" the manager said.

"Don't exaggerate." Tai said. Let's just order and …"

"Order? But you scared the waiter away from us!"

"Hey Matt!" Tai said a bit loudly motioning the blond over.

"You know him?" Sassha said.

"Of course, do you think I would laugh at some stranger?" Tai asked faking shock at the realization.

"Are you ready to order?" the blond, Matt, asked them.

"Not really," Tai said, "but when is your shift over? I'm going home for Kari's birthday this weekend and I think I was supposed to invite you as well."

Matt smiled "and you're telling me this, now because?"

"You're to be ready to leave this afternoon." Tai said. "Besides it gives you an excuse to miss two days of work and you get to see you family."

"Will it?" Matt said.

"Excuse me," a woman said from the other table "we need wasabi."

"Right away," Matt said walking away once more. He went and retrieved the sauce and gave it to the woman. Turning back to their table, "you go ahead, I can't make it my shift ends at 10."

"You just began?" Tai said.

"No, I began at 8. But I get double shifts. So are you ready to order or should I just take a seat?"

Everyone laughed.

"Man you're funny, " Tyre said "but why did you get so worked up over our conversation, do you know Tai's girl?"

"You don't know?" Matt said looking at everyone at the table, his gaze meeting Tai's. "He doesn't have a girl."

"What!" Sassha said. "But he told me, he couldn't go out with me because he was with someone already!"

"Then maybe he doesn't want you, you're too annoying and dense to get a hint." Matt said, smiling he said as he walked away "have you considered that maybe, just maybe he was dumped recently?"

"Matt, Joshua just called he will be able to make it, you don't need to double today." Another waiter told him.

Matt merely gave him a nod as recognition as he went to the kitchen. He emerged wearing a long sleeve shirt and jeans. "Then I'll see you there, must go get a present." He said as he passed their table.

"Ok then, remember she's now …erm how old is she now?" Tai asked.

"Same age as T.K." Matt said as he stopped by the door. "Eleven, I think."

"You don't know how old you brother is?" Tai asked.

"I do, you don't," matt said as he walked out.

"ah yes!" The manager said. Everyone turned to him surprised. "He's your neighbor, the one who always gets the elevator before you and never waits for you to reach it, right?"

"Ah, yeah. That's him."

"You're inviting your neighbor to go to your little sister birthday party?" Kyo asked.

"Man that's just sick, what is he a pedophile?" Tyre asked. "Dude there's something seriously wrong with you."

"What? What on earth are you guys saying? How did you get to those conclusions? He was my neighbor back in Okinawa, so his family knows mine since back then. So if his family is going to be there then he might as well."

"Still it's weird to invite him, it's not like he's friends with you sister that'd be very weird and if it's a family matter then it's still weird."

"Is it?" The manager asked, "I mean Tai comes from a small place where they have much more traditional habits. Maybe they're used to inviting over all the family friends."

"Yeah right, look at that dude, he's not even Japanese, is he?" Tyre said.

"And he definitely doesn't come from a very traditional family, did you guys see his tattoo?"

Tai laughed at this. "You have no idea. Well I have to leave now. I still don't buy Kari's present either. Maybe if I catch up to him he lends me some money, man I'm broke."

Tai left his soccer team laughing at him as he ran up to catch Matt. Said blond didn't even seem to notice his follower or just plain out ignored him. Is he, could it be that he is upset about the sushi shop? Oh god, I never told him that we are practically a secret to everyone I know. I should've realized it sooner, he obviously felt bad about been hidden. Well just because I allow him to be very open about our relationship to his friends doesn't mean I have to be…erm the same with mine, does it? Arg what a jerk, that sounds so wrong. I feel so …

"Don't overdo it, your head wasn't made for thinking too much. Keep that in mind." Matt said still not turning to look at him. "You've know those people for a while haven't you?"

"Eh, yes I have known them since I entered the university. I..Hey you just called me dumb didn't you?"

"You just realized it? Yet you dare to argue, too late to prove me wrong."

I could hear his smirk in his voice. Oh I just knew it, he must be laughing at me this very moment. "Hahaha very funny well guess what I don't care what you say."

"I'm aware." This time his voice was so detached and it hurt me more than anything he has ever done. "When is the train leaving?"

"Matt…" I try to grab your arm but you brush it off as nothing, have I hurt you too? "Matt wait!"

"What?" as he turns I see anger, this is the first time he looks at me like this, never had I experienced something more terrifying, I can't speak. I can't control myself, what's this? Why are you… I can't … don't look at me like that.

"Are you afraid of me, Tai?"

I feel his hands caressing my check but I can't help but tremble at his cool touch. Am I really afraid of him?

"Don't, please don't. I would never harm you. Open your eyes Tai, look at me."

His voice was so soft and gentle, but I hesitated why, I trust him. He could never hurt me…he wouldn't. Ha I can' even convince myself of it. I opened my eyes and saw him, his eyes speak much more than his voice ever would. You do care don't you.

"Tai…" A feminine voice called from behind me.

No, who could it be, why do you have to show up right now? Couldn't you wait, he was, no he is already closing up. Don't leave Matt please stay. He doesn't seem to read my eyes too well, he just turns and continues further away from me, probably walking out on me. Why do you care if others know about us, can't it be enough the two of us?

"Tai? What was that?" She repeats as she walks closer. "What was that guy trying to do? It looked soo wrong."

Matt

"Well I thought that I could help you out with your sister's gift. I know guys have such a lousy taste, that if you choose it yourself…."

Why couldn't I stop him, I just let you walk out on me, I'm such an idiot. Why do you always end up being right?