It took what seemed centuries for Ayame to reach his home. He didn't even realize it was still afternoon.

"What about Mine?" he said to himself. Ayame took another coat out of his closet and went back outside, he didn't bother eating, not after what happened that morning. The shop wasn't anywhere he wanted to be but he needed to, for Mine. The snake reached the store doors and saw it was still locked from last night. Where ever could she be? The doors pushed open from his key and took off his coat,

"Tea I desperately need tea..." walking by the counter he noticed a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it with care it read;

"Dear Ayame,
I know how horrible you feel right now and I wish i could comfort you, but i cannot, For my mother has be diagnosed with cancer. I haven't told you until now, and I'm truly sorry...I request that I leave my shop keeping duties to aid her, I don't want to lose her too...

Love,
Mine

Thats all she wrote, he genlty folded the note and slipped it snug in his poket. The tea was forgotten as he closed and locked the door behind him, he wanted to visit Mine, but couldn't find the strength to.

"Company, I want someone to keep me company...but who?"
A idea struck his mind.
"Haru! Surely he will welcome me! But it's too far..." he shivered as the cold wind embraced his face.

"I'll get there..." he said determined for someone's sweet words and kindness.

The weather was horrible, the wind was numbing his skin, but he kept on marching,

Hoping Haru would let him stay. A crack on horrid thunder came from the dark clouds

Above, if he didn't hurry he might not make it to Haru's doorstep. He sprinted for as long as he legs could bare, trying his best not to collapse, another clap of thunder rung in his ears.

A sign was planted before him.

"I'm almost there!" he gave a hope-filled smile to the sky. Droplets of rain hit Ayame at a

slow rate but became faster the more he marched on. The house could be seen within he

distance, the rain poured harder soaking silently through Ayame's coat. Sprinting to the door he knocked on it franticly, the door remained still for five minutes, he thought he was going to die if nobody answered. The door came to life and swung open suddenly, the figure Ayame was hoping for, Haru.

"Wha-What are you doing here?"

"Haru please keep me warm... just for tonight..." his hair dripped. Haru lead him into the den and offered him a towel and a warn shower. He happily accepted and even sang while taking his shower. He had loved Haru's hospitality toward him, by the time he got out of the shower Haru had made a simple dinner for him, for he wasn't much of a cook.

"Haru im so glad I came!" he flashed a smile at Haru.

"Well what was I supposed to do?" he blushed at Aya's smile "Why'd you cut your hair Aya?"

"Oh it wasn't suiting me very well"

"Oh" Haru replied "Umm Aya?"

"Yes Haru-ru?" Aya often called him this

"I feel the same way you do now that Yuki is...gone...you don't have to hide it" Haru stared at Ayame with affection

"I'm sorry Haru, i just don't want you to see the condition I'm in..."

"It's alright I can take it" he smiled "And I love your hair now."Haru gazed at Aya with more of a passion than affection.

"Haru? I thought...you liked girls"

"Not anymore" Haru smirked at him. Ayame needed company, he didn't expect this much

"Kindness" from him, but he took the opportunity anyway.

"We both need...a replacement" Ayame stared back at Haru with equal lust.

"But I'm going to be the master, my pet."Ayame got up from his seat and strolled over to

Haru. Ayame's new sadistic smile formed at his lips as he grabbed Haru by the hair pulling his head back into a fiery kiss of desire. Ayame realized something,

"Haru? Where are your parents tonight?"

"They're gone for 3 weeks, a vacation in Alaska" Ayame glanced at the clock, 2:00am...

"It's 2 in the morning what were you doing so early?" Ayame questioned forgetting the kiss from before.

"Dreaming of you." Haru smiled innocently. Ayame smirked and dragged him to Haru's room.