Uweeeehhhhhh I had finals and then LIFE HAPPENED so I am almost two months late updating ;A; Forgive meee~
Chapter Two
"Aya? You're here too?"
She glanced over, surprised to see Kengo approaching. "Yeah… Akira called you?"
"Yeah. He asked me to buy something for him."
"Same here."
"What did you get?"
"Contacts. You?"
"Hair dye."
They looked at each other quizzically for a few moments before they pushed through the front gate, ascended the few steps to the front door, and Aya knocked. The windows were dark, but they heard Akira's footsteps trace to the door. It opened slowly, and the youngest of the three of them glanced out. He had a hood pulled low over his face, so they could hardly see his eyes.
"Akira…?"
"Did you bring them?"
"Y-yes, we did."
"Thank you."
A hand emerged from the door, open to receive their favours. Again, the two looked at each other, but it was Kengo who spoke this time.
"Akira, what's going on?"
"It doesn't matter. Give me them. I'll pay you back."
"What are these for, Akira?"
"It doesn't matter."
"This hair dye is your natural colour!" Aya exclaimed.
"And these contacts are coloured grey!" Kengo added.
"Shut up! Just give them to me!"
"Not without an explanation!"
Aya and Kengo glared at him, and he glared right back with his mostly-hidden eyes. He was angry, they could tell, but after a long, tense silence, Akira muttered, "You won't tell a soul."
"Of course not."
"Not a single soul!"
"Promise," both Aya and Kengo said solemnly at the same time.
A dubious pause, but then the door opened, allowing them in. They slipped off their shoes and hurried down the hallway to the living room. Akira followed them, and as they turned, he slid his hood back. There it was… they were staring. He wanted to turn his head… he didn't want to look at them… but he made himself gaze back.
"A-Akira…"
"Your hair is turning black…"
"And your eyes… they have red specks in them…"
"Are you fully turning into a Shin?" Aya asked carefully. He saw her grip on the bag tighten.
"No," he said, trying to keep his voice calm. "I'm reverting to Rei."
"To Ryuuko?" Kengo tried tentatively.
Akira tried to strangle the feelings that assaulted him at mention of the Rei King – it took him awhile to shove them back, and when he didn't respond, Kengo's gaze dropped. There was a long silence.
"Shouldn't you let Shirogane-san know?" Aya whispered.
"No!" Akira barked, and when they jumped, again tried to calm himself. "No. Don't tell anyone."
"Kou-nii?"
"Do you know what 'don't tell anyone' means? It means don't say a word to another living soul!"
"So you want to hide it, Akira?"
"Yes! I do!"
"Why is that? Is it because you're being a coward?" Aya demanded, now regaining her steam.
"Why are you hiding?"
"Because I don't want to be him!"
The words came out before Akira could think of them, but he didn't want to try and take them back. It hurt, keeping it all inside… it had to get out. He turned his head, struggling to keep himself under control. Aya was staring… Kengo looked confused, but worried. He hated it… he hated feeling their pity. He hated how this had to happen to him.
"I don't want to be him," Akira whispered again. "I don't want to have to live up to his name." He had to try hard to hold back, I don't want to be the subject of Shirogane's love for him. I don't want to be his replacement.
A long, tense silence. Then, Aya spoke again. "Do you want some help? With… dying your hair, that is. It can be difficult to do on your own."
He swallowed back the lump in his throat. "Yeah… sure," he replied hoarsely.
"I'll help too," Kengo offered. "I've done my own hair."
"All right." He managed a weak, watery smile. "Thank you."
~.oOOo.~
"Akira-kun?"
He looked over his shoulder at Shirogane, who was standing in the doorway. "Shirogane, welcome back."
"Are you feeling better, Akira-kun?"
"Much. Sleep works wonders." He turned back to the stove, stirring the curry bubbling brightly in the pot. "Though I should probably get to bed early again tonight."
"That's a good idea. Here." Shirogane put a bag on the counter. "Master sent that for you, to help you feel better."
"I'll have to thank him next time I see him."
A long pause – he felt Shirogane's eyes piercing the back of his neck. A bit of panic rose in him… did the king sense it? Did he know? Had he seen last night? Or had he seen them already, and Akira had just barely noticed? He tried his best to keep relaxed, trying to blank his mind.
Shirogane's strong arms were suddenly around him, holding him close. He tensed up again as he felt the Shin's face press into his neck. Shirogane's breath tickled him, and he squirmed a bit, letting out a surprised, sharp sigh.
"Shirogane…"
"You need to rest more," was the low murmur. "That's why you're sick, you know. You overwork yourself."
"I know." He closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax… not too much, though. He still had the itching feeling Shirogane knew. "But –"
"You are keeping too much inside."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Frustration… fear… sadness… I haven't seen you cry, or get angry in the last three years. Your expression changes, but that's it. You don't yell or fight or anything. That affects you too."
"Oh."
"I'm worried about you, Akira-kun."
"You don't need to be." He squirmed a bit now. "Please let go."
"You've been holding back on me," was the other dangerously low whisper. Akira froze at that, heart beating in his throat. "That's not good for you, either."
"Shirogane…"
"Hm." A light kiss against his neck. Akira shivered and moaned as the kisses traced slowly down to his shoulder. "You need some more energy."
"Shirogane, stop…"
"How long have you resisted me?" was the warm reply. "Four years? You are a tough one… but…"
He was scared… very scared. Akira roughly whirled, throwing Shirogane off. He was breathing hard, trying to fight back those feelings. Shirogane looked at him, and for a moment Akira faltered. That light in those blue eyes wasn't angry, but rather… almost disappointed.
"Shi-Shirogane…" There were so many reasons to hold back right now… did he tell Shirogane why? Or was now a good time?
But then the king smiled. "I'm getting closer."
Akira let out a long sigh before he half-turned back. "So you think."
"You can't resist forever Akira… not when I know you want it too."
Akira bit his tongue. Shirogane stepped closer again, kissing the top of Akira's head now.
"It's okay. We have forever."
No, Akira thought to himself. No we don't.
