Hey, guys! Another instalment~ We wanted to get Nezumi out of his shell a little, so we took that liberty best we could :3
Thanks so much for the reviews 3 We really appreciate them! Really~ They make us very very happy! And the amount of favourites/alerts I've been getting is insane. I'm so happy ;-; you guys are awesome.
Ahem

Nezumi is played by myself and Sion is played by Selene Soulwar.

Enjoy!


The weeks passed by without much happening out of the ordinary.
The theatre began showing its productions of Twelfth Night, and as Sion expected, it was a huge success.
And despite the fact Nezumi still refused to relent and allow him into the theatre, he managed to somewhat appease the albino with more practice back at home, often enriched with ridiculous scenes that just happened when Sion got his lines wrong and improvised.
The chilly nights and the stormy evenings gave their way to a much milder air, which brought about an interesting conversation one evening.

"Nezumi, I was just wondering the other day..." Sion began, flicking the clean potato from his hand into the bowl next to him, reaching for another to clean. "What's on the other side of the West District? I mean, there's No. 6, and there's the place where most of the people live...what's on the other side? Mountains? Valleys?"
Plot points living in caves just waiting for us to appear so they can reveal the secrets of your past and give us top-secret microchips?

Nezumi had his suspicions that Sion was eventually going to find his way into the theatre to watch the play. Even though he'd told the various members of staff to strictly not sell a ticket to a white haired kid with a scar under his left eye. Not many happened to be wandering around the west district, so hopefully if it came down to it, the staff would know to turn the right guy down.
And should that fail...there were always understudies and ways to feign sick. But with that came the constant fretting and fussing. Honestly, Sion often seemed more like a mother to him at times.

Picking one of the potatoes out of the bowl, the young actor began to peel it, the strips of skin dropping into a bowl by his feet.
'I've got a map knocking around somewhere,' he replied casually, concentrating on not slicing his fingers open. 'If you head south a few kilometres, you get to the sea. All of the water No.6 uses comes from there. They treat it and so on, so the inhabitants can use it.'
He shifted in his seat slightly, one leg bent on the chair, hands resting on his knee to make the peeling just a bit easier. 'But a bit further north you have the mountains, but there's further away. It'd probably take half a day to walk there, plus it's dangerous to go by vehicle. The roads are all upturned.'

Silly Nezumi. Did he not think a little mischief and streetwise logic would have not rubbed off on him?
Rikiga-san could always get him a ticket, and all it needed was a quick tour of the market or the nearby coal mine to cover both his signature features that could have given him away.
Still, for the time being, the albino thought it best not to push that particular boundary.
"Oh...oh yes, of course." he muttered, hands pausing as he flicked through long-memorised passages about the water-supply system. He remembered being completely fascinated by the then-revolutionary desalinising technology, as well as taken aback by the pictures of the seaside itself.
Full of rocks and vegetation considered to be aesthetically unattractive, the beach remained untouched as no one wanted to invest in tourism revolving around such an unconventional place.
Sion had personally always found it really interesting.
So lost he was in his reminiscence that the actual implications only dawned on him a few minutes later.
"Only a few kilometres? You mean, the sea and the beach are really that close to us?"

Placing the peeled potato in a third bowl, Nezumi began to think back to the first time he'd seen the sea.
It had been just after escaping from No.6. The West District hadn't treated him kindly, and he was forced to learn the hard way that in this place, no one was going to help him. He'd wandered for miles until he reached the sea, the wind and spray from the water lashing against his cheeks bringing a small bit of calm amongst all the turmoil and hurt he'd been feeling. It had been a great place to think, to say the least.
'Mhmm...Once you get on the road, it's pretty much a straight line until you get there,' he replied, picking up another potato. 'The water's really clear, so on sunny days you can see the bottom and all the fish.'

That was pretty much the only push Sion needed to allow his excitement loose.
"Can we go down there then?" he asked with a grin, glancing at his companion hopefully, eyes big and pleading. "I mean, the weather's been beautiful, and tomorrow's the last showing of your play, isn't it? I'm sure Inukashi can lend me a few days off, the nights aren't that cold anymore, and I've always really wanted to go and see it, it looked so beautiful in the books...could we? Please?"

Glancing up at the other male, Nezumi could tell just how enthusiastic he was about this notion. Though, his go-to answer was along the lines of "No, we don't have time for fun," it just seemed like a waste. Here was something he could do to make Sion happy...and it didn't involve him risking his life.
He paused before giving a slight shrug, seemingly apathetic about the idea. 'If you want to waste your savings on buying us beach towels and swimming trunks, then be my guest,' he stated, continuing to peel the potato. '...But sure...I don't mind going.'
If it'll make you happy, I don't really mind doing anything.

Ignoring the bored tone, the albino got out of his seat to throw his arms around the young actor, all appreciative grins and cheerful laughter, even through splutters and shouting telling him to get off and get a only looked at him strangely before granting him his days off, trying to somewhat hide the smile that was threatening to make itself known at Sion's enthusiasm.

Supplies were bought (under Nezumi's watchful eye and grudging approval), maps were checked, the mice were fed and bags were packed.

Even with all the thoughts constantly plaguing Sion's thoughts as the seasons changed, he had to admit to himself that he desperately needed a brief change in scenery - as well as a break. And as far as he was concerned, Nezumi needed these even more.

It actually astounded Nezumi how excited Sion could get over the simplest of things. Honestly, he was worse than a five year old. But that aside, it was rather heartwarming...and they really /really/ did need a break.
Pulling the door to and locking it tightly, the dark haired male slung his backpack over his shoulder before nodding at his companion. 'You sure you have enough stuff in there? We're only staying the night, not for a whole week.'
Honestly, he'd packed so much food. Where did he think they were going? The desert?

The walk didn't take too long, and the mindless chatter from the albino made the time pass a lot quicker. The grass and dirt on the ground were slowly beginning to transform into tiny grains of sand as they approached.
Oh God, why did he get the feeling Sion was just going to zoom off ahead and dive into the sea?
Inhaling the salty air, Nezumi smiled to himself, nostalgia welling up inside of him. 'Good to see it hasn't changed.'

Well, you couldn't blame Sion too much. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been on a field trip. And what if something happened and they got stuck somewhere without much food?
And even if he just miscalculated, it was still good exercise.
Reasons were shared, earning an exasperated grunt from the young actor, and off they went.
After being stuck in the middle of the slums for so long, it was refreshing to see a change in scenery, even if it was just alternating between rocky slopes and grassy fields.
However, contrary to Nezumi's prediction, Sion stopped dead in his tracks once the sea was in their field of vision, eyes widening as his face lit up with bewilderment and wonder.
Something akin to 'uwaaaaah' escaped him as he took the whole scene in, suddenly itching to just sprint down towards the glittering water.
He managed to compose himself until they were halfway down the slope that was leading to the water, and the temptation just got a bit too much.
"I'm just gonna go ahead!" he called out to his companion before taking off, running the rest of way down to the shoreline.

Okay, so he wasn't going to just blindly run off to-
Nope, he was.
Nezumi let out a soft chuckle, continuing down the slope, calling out to his companion for him to be careful not to fall.
Might as well take the opportunity to get set up, huh? Setting his bag down on the sand, the dark haired boy pulled out the towels, carefully lying them down, pinning the corners with a few pebbles.
With the sun beating down from the sky, it left a slight shimmer on the surface of the water. And there was no wind either, to blow sand in their faces. Really, it was the perfect day to go to the beach.
Plus, no one was around. It looked like they had the whole place to themselves, safe for a few crabs scuttling along the shore.
Once he was out of his clothes and sat on his towel, Nezumi remembered one vital item missing from his bag. 'Sion! You have the cream don't you?'
Not that he wanted to get a tan or anything. He just didn't want to burn to a crisp in the sun.

The Gods were gracious and Sion didn't go tripping on stones and imperfections along the ground, arriving face-first on the beach.?
That would have been painful.
By the time Nezumi caught up with him, the albino had already discarded his bag and his shoes in the sand, and was standing ankle deep in the water, rolling the legs of his trousers up to his knees so they wouldn't get wet.
Okay, so the water was still a bit cold. But surely if he immersed himself in it, he could get used to it after some time.
...And you really could see the fishes a little further in. Oh, there were so many of them too~

"It's in the front pocket of my bag!" he called back, clambering out of the water and making his way back towards the taller male - whom, he noticed with a pleased start - was wearing a /lot/ less clothes then the last time he saw him.
"Well, you certainly don't waste any time, do you?" the albino giggled, hopping down beside him on the towel and digging the bottle out of his bag.

Sion just...looked so happy. It was almost as if all of his worries about No.6, his mother and Safu had just melted away. And through that, the larger male just couldn't help but give a slight smile.
Good...I like seeing you happy.
He pried the bottle out of his hand, pouring some of the suncream into his palm before proceeding to coat himself in it. 'How many people do you know that go to the beach fully dressed?' he asked. Come on, it was like, an unwritten rule. Beaches were like, one of the only places where getting into your underwear was perfectly acceptable. That along with swimming pools, public baths,and anything that involved water, really. 'And besides, it's warm. You'd be wise to do the same, now try not to get sand on the towels.'

It was a little funny seeing Nezumi paint his skin into a pale shade reminiscent of Sion's own.
Or rather, now he was as white as his hair.
"I don't know, I haven't been to the beach before." the albino answered truthfully, burrowing his toes into the warm sand with a thoughtful look.
Well, it made sense though, so he obeyed, wriggling out of the warm, heavy clothes and folding them carefully at the end of the towel.
"It's a bit strange to be wearing this little clothes." he laughed as he stretched his legs out, wriggling his toes in the sand once again.
It was also a little strange seeing the full extent of his long, strange scar - the 'tail' and the body of the 'snake' that curled around his body was now on full display, almost red against all the pale skin.
How long will it take for them to fade? he briefly wondered.
Would they ever fade?

Of course he hadn't...he'd been behind those walls all his life, missing out on the beauty and terrors of the real world. It was refreshing knowing that he was able to share this first experience with Sion. That said...he'd shared a lot of first experiences...his first kiss, his first sexual act, his first view of the world behind the walls, his first time reading proper classical literature. The list went on...hopefully there'd be more additions in the future.
'Well it's how things are done at the beach,' he sniggered. 'I'm not just making this up so I get to see that lovely scar of yours.' He carefully got to his feet, stretching a little. 'So what do you wanna do first? Dig a hole? Go swimming? Take a look in the rock pools?'
He really shouldn't be this eager, but who cares? They were here to have fun. He wasn't about to bring down the mood with his cynicism.

It would probably be a good idea to follow Nezumi's example with the sunscreen too. He doubted sunburns were very pleasant.
It was a bit of a messy affair - and the taller male's remarks were not helping the slightest.
"...honestly, you and this stupid scar." he murmured as he rubbed some of the cream along his cheekbones, willing for his flush to go away.

A gentle breeze stirred up the water, making the waves lap against the shore. It was as if they were cut off from the whole world - as if in one little corner of the Earth, none of the destruction and danger could reach them.
Even the ever-alert Nezumi's posture was relaxed, the unfamiliar softness on his eyes making Sion's heart clench.
"Those all in that order sound great!" he laughed, climbing to his feet. "...Although I'm a bit confused as to why we'd dig a hole in the beach."

It's not stupid, Sion...it's beautiful...why can't you see that?
Hm...maybe it would just take a few more intimate moments' worth of whispering to make him realise...
Nezumi glanced at the other before laughing, hands on his hips. 'I was joking about the digging a hole thing!' he sniggered. 'Little kids like playing in the sand, building sandcastles and digging holes and burying themselves in it. I just took your enthusiasm as that of a child's is all.'

That said...burying Sion in the sand did sound like it would be a lot of fun...
Maybe later.
The taller male took a few strides towards the shore, letting the water splash over his feet, the coolness a much appreciated contrast to the warm air. 'If you throw water at me you'll regret it.'

Oh...of course! Sandcastles and holes and such.
From what he gathered from the books he had read that had taken place at the seaside, building sandcastles were long, tiring battles against the destructive powers of the rising tide.
"Oi!" he chuckled, batting the other's upper arm lightly in retaliation, falling behind Nezumi crouching down to observe what seemed like a crawling rock on first glance - turned out to be a little crab.
Chuckling, Sion amused himself for a while, only glancing up when the dark-haired male warned him not to splash him.
His smile turned into a smirk.
And when Nezumi ventured deeper into the water, the albino straightened up - quickly calculated the distance - and ran towards the water, landing right next to the aspiring actor.
And splashing him thoroughly in the process.
"You just looked like you were gonna go into hysterics again!" he felt inclined to explain as the other slowly turned towards him, making Sion start taking steps backwards. "I was just taking precautions!"

The tiny little fish swimming just under the surface began to retreat as Nezumi approached, obviously scared by the big bad rat. The braver ones were tentatively beginning to nibble on his toes, only being chased away as he wriggled his foot to keep them away.
And by the time he realised what Sion was doing, it was too late. The dark haired male raised his arms to protect himself from the projectile water before stomping as quickly as he could over to his companion. 'Hysterics? I'll show you hysterics!' he cried before leaping on the albino and pulling him under the water.
See how you like it...stupid...idiot...moron...gaaah~
Just when they'd been under the water for a few moments, Nezumi pulled the other in, briefly pressing their lips together before swimming back up to the surface.

As expected, Nezumi didn't appreciate the fact he now looked like a...
Well. A drowned rat.
And looking amusing as hell, if he rather said so.

His escape cut short, the albino barely had time to take a breath and close his eyes before he was pushed underwater, senses suddenly dulled and confused by the cool water and Nezumi's warm skin against his unclad upper torso...
The aspiring actor's next move, however, made his eyes snap open and splutter - consequently swallowing a mouthful of seawater in the process.
Smooth.
Flailing a little, Sion managed to find his footing and push himself upright again, coughing as he tried to get the water out of his lungs.
"Gah - you really can't take a - oh, wow. This really stings." he croaked once he could breathe properly again, torn between moaning in pain and laughing as he tried to rub the salt out of his eyes.

Oh, Sion, you don't know how much fun it is to watch you flail around all flustered like this.
And even though he would usually rush forward to comfort the albino, making sure he was alright, promptly apologising, Nezumi burst out laughing.
'Y-your face. Under the water. Oh God,' he laughed, clutching his sides. He was most likely going to get another face-full of water, but it didn't really matter now he was soaked.
He stepped closer to Sion, dipping his head slightly to kiss his eyelids gently, before weaving their fingers together. 'Come on. Let's go further out. Be careful not to stand on anything.'

For once, Sion was promptly torn between feeling elated that he had made Nezumi laugh in such a carefree manner - or feeling just a little annoyed that he was laughing so happily at his expense.
And he was still flushed, goddamit.
"You suck." the albino stated with all the eloquence he could muster in the end, sending another wave in the other's direction when his vision began to clear up.
Only to find Nezumi in a close proximity once more, gentle touches and playful words making his heart skip a few beats.
"...there are things I can stand on out here?" he questioned after a pause, hesitating for a moment before obeying the taller male's suggestion, wading deeper into the water. "Like?"
Haunted shipwrecks?

The water was just about deep enough for them to start swimming, feet just skimming across the bottom.
Nezumi twisted himself around in the water, reaching out to grasp Sion's free hand, grinning darkly. 'Things like poisonous sea urchins and fish with spikes that can rip right through your toes,' he warned, his voice tinged with something spooky. 'I've heard there's this kind of coral that if you step on it, it can kill you before you even have a chance to swim to the surface.'
Oooh, this was going to be fun.
'And if you cut your foot on something, the sharks'll be able to smell your blood in the water and come looking for you to eat you up!'
Ah, why was trying to scare Sion so much fun~?

At first, the plan seemed to work.
Treading the water with his feet, Sion stared at the dark-haired male with an expression that was part disbelief and part dread, paling a little as his crimson eyes went wide and a little fearful.
However, by the time Nezumi got to the shark, the albino's expression was something very similar to the aspiring actor's usual deadpan.
"...You're doing this on purpose aren't you?" he asked, swimming closer so he could lightly knock their foreheads together. "It's the Macbeth soup all over again!"
Honestly...
Then again...at that very moment, Nezumi very much reminded him of the Nezumi from four years ago - still aware of childish pleasures and pranks, imitating his screams to make fun of him.
...he wondered how the other's personality would have differed if things hadn't turned out so tragically.
Would he make jokes like this more often? Would his smile not have that cruel edge to it, elegant eyes hard as steel?
Well, Sion mused silently as he dipped his head below the water once more to cool his head off.
It's not like Nezumi was completely broken. The evidence was right here, threatening the albino with death by shark.

Daaamn, and he looked like he was believing it as well!
Nezumi couldn't help but snigger at that deadpan, giving one hand a gentle squeeze.
'I am serious though. Be careful what you step on,' he chose to remind him before taking a glance down.
About a metre of water separated them from the bottom, and all was visible. There were a few pieces of coral decorating the sand, schools of fish swimming around underneath them, several venturing to the to boys to nibble at their feet.
'They're confident,' he murmured, surprised that they weren't put off by their water treading before looking up at Sion and grinning at him. 'You know, I'm glad we came here. It's nice to get away from that little box room of ours.'
..."Ours"...yeah...that was pretty accurate...they shared that little home, both coming back to it after work, sitting around in the evenings with a book, back to back, reading out random exerts to each other...It bothered Nezumi that he was getting so domestic...but...was there really a problem with it if he was enjoying himself? He enjoyed Sion's company, yes, but surely the fact that it wasn't going to last forever should overshadow that and prevent him from enjoying it to the full.
...Hm...maybe that was the problem.

The albino welcomed the fishes' approach with a soft giggle, their ministrations tickling his feet.
"Confident and hungry." he observed, wriggling his feet experimentally. "Maybe they only get a chance to eat when someone wonders here onto the beach by accident. How come the man-eating fish weren't on your list of potential dangers, Nezumi?"
What sloppy research you have.
Well-delivered and presented, but sloppy.
Sion returned the smile, nodding enthusiastically when he was done laughing at the name the taller male had chosen to give their home.
"I'm glad too. Not that there's anything wrong with the 'box room', but I think we both needed a bit of a change in scenery."
'And a chance to relax', he added silently, not necessarily wanting the conversation to take a turn towards the realistic.
Not just now.
Not for a little bit more.
It was so nice to see that smile fixed onto Nezumi's features.
Somewhere deep in his heart, it pained him that he wasn't going to see it again anytime soon.

Nezumi let out a fake gasp, pulling Sion closer. 'Oh, no! Not the scary fish! They're going to eat our feet!'
Nah, but seriously, they were only eating the dead skin off their soles. Nothing deadly about that. Actually, it was pretty good for them. Their feet would be really soft once dry.
He smiled at the other's words, nodding a little. 'Yeah...you're right...that's just what I was thinking. We might as well make the most of the time we have here.'
It's not like they had a curfew or anything. They could stay up all night if they wanted to, admiring the way the place looked in the dead of night.
Actually...where were they going to sleep? The beach itself did sound good, but he wasn't too sure how far the tide came in. Didn't really want to get rudely awoken by the water brushing against their feet, did they? Some shelter for the night would probably be something else on their list of things to do.

He had to be careful and keep his mouth shut. He had a feeling he would get his head dunked under the water if he dared to call Nezumi adorable aloud.
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Sion teased, allowing the dark-haired male to cling onto him, wrapping an arm loosely around his waist, the contrast between the cool water and the other's warm body sending a pleasant tinge down his spine.
The sky was clear above them, with only a few wispy clouds. If it stayed like this until the sun went down, the night sky should look incredible.
"I think I saw some caves a little further away, by the place where you said the rock pools were. We could go check them out later." the albino remarked after a while as he remembered, pointing towards the shore. "You know, once the fish are done chewing the meat off our bones and such."

This was...really nice. Just the two of them, in the sea. It really did feel like they'd entered this whole other world and they were the only two there. He could say and do whatever he wanted with Sion and no one would be there to bother them. There were no prostitutes grabbing at them, there was no Inukashi barking at them, there was no Rikiga creeping on them...it was just Nezumi and Sion in their own little world.
Following the other's hand with his eyes, he spotted the cave. Ah...well, it looked like they'd found their bed for the night. 'Sounds good,' he replied. 'Come on, I'm getting cold. Let's head back for now.'
The dark haired male began to swim back to the shore, tugging the albino along with him until his feet could touch the bottom, letting go of the other's hand and stepping out of the water. 'Well that's one way to cool yourself down on a hot day,' he commented, reaching up to ring the water out of his ponytail.
Ugh, there was no place to shower. The salt was gonna make his hair all matted...ah, he could wait until tomorrow.

You really don't realise how little privacy you have until you move out of your surroundings a little, do you...?
It was going to take a while to get used to all the noise and commotion once they returned back.
Once they were on the shore, Sion paused to shake the water out of his hair (a little reminiscent to the dogs he usually washed), shivering a little as the wind picked up again, causing goosebumps to break out along his arms.
And by the looks of it, Nezumi was in the same boat.
Something that had to be remedied immediately.
"Brrr." he murmured, moving to wrap his arms around the taller male's waist, curling himself against that lean body, head resting in the crook of his neck.
Much better.
"...maybe we could come back for a quick swim before we go again." he suggested once his limbs felt warm enough again, lifting his head to smile up at the other. "Maybe when it's dark?"
...that sounded pretty exciting.
A little romantic too.

And from that movement, Nezumi came to the conclusion Sion had been spending too much time around Inukashi, treating him like a living radiator and all.
Still...it was pretty cute. And of course he wasn't going to complain about the albino being this close to him.
'I don't see why not. But you'd have to watch out for the scary fishes that come out at night,' he replied, his eyes clouding over, smile twisted into a smirk. 'They've got teeth the size of your head...and they like to eat cute boys like you.'
Honestly, he just couldn't resist. He was having far too much fun...and it had been a long time since he'd had this much fun without taking his clothes off- Wait...he was only wearing swimming trunks...uh...the most fun he'd had without being naked, there we go!

Perhaps Inukashi wasn't the best influence.
But it could have been a lot worse.
Sion only smiled as the dark-haired male expanded upon their list of threats from the sea, tilting his head a little, moving his arms to loop around Nezumi's shoulders instead.
"Well then, oh fair maiden Viola, you're just going to have to protect me from them." he crooned quietly, eyes fixed on a droplet of water that slid over the curve of the other's cheek. "After all, it'd be a shame if these monstrous fishes ate your suitor now that you have him all alone to yourself."
And with that, he leaned forwards to catch that little droplet with his tongue and pressing their lips together - before Nezumi could get a word edgeways and criticise his literary inaccuracies.

That cave was probably well out of the way of the rising tide. It was most likely the driest place th-
Hello, Sion, your voice is sounding extremely appealing right now, do carry on.
He wrapped his arm around the other's waist, pulling him closer, quite liking where this was going. And it also seemed like they were back in character. Oh, and Sion had portrayed Orsino so well during their mini rehearsals...
Nezumi could definitely think up a few fitting replies but chose to keep quiet, his tongue otherwise occupied with trying to pry open the other's mouth, fingers digging into his sides. He swiftly took control of the kiss, weaving his fingers into the albino's white hair to keep him close as he sank his teeth into the other's bottom lip, chewing on it slowly. 'My Duke, I would love nothing more than to destroy those wretched creatures,' he murmured against his mouth, promptly stealing another kiss. 'For if they hindered my being able to be close to you like this...they must pay.'

Instead of a literature lecture, he got Nezumi's tongue entwining with his own, hot and demanding, followed by those pinpricks of pain he was beginning to find pleasant, in its own strange way.
A refreshing and pleasant change to the norm.
Even if it did make him strangely weak in the knees once he was allowed to breathe, cheeks now dusted with a light flush.
That look was back again in the taller male's eyes, making the albino's chest clench.
Yeah, trust Nezumi to interpret the somewhat gender-confused female with such overwhelming charisma when the two of them were alone.
"...looks like I got Cesario again, did I not?" he chuckled, letting out something akin to a purr as talented fingers kept brushing through his hair, making him arch his back lightly and curl further into him. "Nonetheless, there will be no need for violence, my lady. I am positive one fierce look from you will send any who might mean us harm cowering in fear."

Sion really, /really/ needed to stop moving his body like that. It was terribly distracting.
The taller male reminded the albino in a very poetic way that if he continued, he may be promptly thrown against something hard with something just as hard being shoved inside him.
The reaction he'd got had been just priceless, but Nezumi didn't stick around for too long to tease his companion. The day was still young and they had plenty of things left to do.

They'd moved their belongings just outside of the cave making it far easier to keep an eye on everything if they went exploring the cave or back into the water. A few pieces of driftwood had been collected during the day and was now being used as a small campfire, hardly any of the food they'd brought with them being left over. In the excitement of the day they'd forgotten about lunch completely, so a large dinner was the only way to make up for it.
Nezumi sat back, staring up at the starry sky. '...I honestly didn't think coming out here with you would be this fun,' he admitted, a light smile plastered on his lips.

It's not like he was doing this on purpose!
Still, he preferred Nezumi being his blunt and crass self. At least he was telling Sion things how they were.
Now if only rational thought was an actual factor in his actions every time the taller male looked at him or touched him like that.
He didn't remember ever having such a good field trip before.
He supposed this was the unclouded excitement and joy children shared with their best friends as they explored foreign places, no find too silly or insignificant.
Not to mention he found the fact he calculated the amount of food that would be consumed during this trip accurately was reassuring.

Sion, sprawled out in a position that was no doubt another indication that he was spending too much time in the company of Inukashi and the dogs, glanced up at the taller male as he spoke, slightly dazed expression sharpening into one of satisfaction.
"Well, in that case, I'm glad to have proven you wrong." he chuckled, one hand rhythmically rubbing his full stomach.

The sky was so beautiful. Despite the West District only being a few kilometres away, the amount of stars shining across the vast blanket of night seemed to be double...no, triple that of what he usually saw when coming home late from work.
The dark haired boy chucked another piece of wood into the fire, amber sparks floating up as the flames began to devour it.
Hm...there was still something he wanted to do.
Nezumi got to his feet, tugging his shirt off and letting it fall on the ground next to him. 'Come on. Take your clothes off. We're going skinny dipping,' he declared, already working on removing his trousers.
I mean, they had the place to themselves, so why not? Plus, it'd be a good laugh. And Sion did say he'd wanted to go swimming again when it got dark.

What way to end an equally great day.
Lying under a star-splattered sky, warmed by the fire, stomachs full from a plentiful dinner, Nezumi taking his clothes off next to-
...Nezumi was taking his clothes off.
Again.
"What are yo - wait -W-we're doing what?" Sion managed to stutter in an incredibly intelligent manner, to which the taller male responded to by simply grabbing his hand and tugging him along on the trail back to the beach.
...was this another 'I want to try something' things...?
Judging by the fact there were hands tugging his shirt to the side, probably.

Spluttering in surprise. It was to be expected. Still, Nezumi wasn't going to let Sion get out of this one anytime soon.
Instead he just focused on peeling off the other's clothes, because, honestly, the albino was just taking too long.
Once they were both completely naked, the budding actor dragged his companion over to the water, shivering a little as the wet sand met his feet.
'Skinny dipping. You've probably never done it before, have you?' he smirked, keeping the other close as they stepped into the water. 'It's only swimming naked.'
Plus, it was too dark for anyone to see them, should they be walking past at like, one o'clock in the morning.
Nezumi wrapped one arm around the other's waist, nudging his cheek playfully. 'Let's finish today with a bit of fun.'
Indecent fun that they would never breath a word about to anyone.
Yeah...this...all of this...was going to be their little secret. No one was special enough to get insight into their precious little world.

Sion didn't really get much of a choice to stand around in confusion. As soon as he was stripped of his clothes, he was promptly pulled into the water, eliciting a yelp from him, arms wrapping around his torso automatically.
"It's gotten...colder..." he remarked, straining his eyes in order to see something coherent amidst the dark sky and the black waves. The moon, in its final phase, did not help matters much.
Nezumi's voice, accompanied by the reassuring warmth of his body, was his single guiding beacon in the darkness.
Shivering, the albino leaned against the taller male, cheek finding familiar smooth skin to press against, a familiar heartbeat to listen to.
"I can't see..."'
So don't you dare let go of me.
He was about to ask, once again, for elaboration on his plans - but settled to simply hum and wait for the other to make the next move.

Well of course it was colder. It was night time. Nezumi decided not to remind his companion of this, instead pulling him closer as they went deeper into the water.
'It's only because there are clouds in front of the moon, just wait a moment or two,' he murmured, feet leaving the seabed as he cradled Sion in his arms.
And just like that, a faint blue glow began illuminating the dark surface of the water, also allowing the albino to see the taller male just a little more.
Despite it being really fucking cold...this was kinda nice...he really like the way the albino was holding onto him, seemingly scared that if he were to let go, he'd be swept away by the current.
'You alright?' Nezumi felt inclined to ask.

He probably should have mentioned the fact he wasn't such a fantastic swimmer to his companion before allowing himself to be dragged into the deep water - in a city surrounded by walls, one didn't exactly need the skill very much.
Still...he didn't feel like ruining the moment with the trivia. It could be mentioned on the way back home.
Slowly, crimson eyes got used to the surroundings, aided by the pale moonlight, allowing him to make out some details - not all, just some.
Like the small ripples of waves on the surface of the water - or the curve of Nezumi's shoulders as he pulled the albino closer, muscles flexing under his skin.
"Yes..." he replied quietly, rearranging his grip on the dark-haired male before chuckling."...the sea, a night sky full of stars...moonlight...possible monsters underneath us...possibilities of hypothermia...sounds like one of your books, Nezumi."

Should Sion bring that little titbit now instead of waiting until heading home, he probably would've saved himself a lot of teasing. In a situation such as this one, Nezumi found himself hanging on every word that fell from his companion's lips, letting each syllable sink into his heart.
Things like this were happening too often...but the dark haired male simply couldn't find a way to prevent it. In a way...he really did like it. But it still scared the fuck out of him how much Sion affected him.
'What a book that'd be,' he murmured gently, reaching up to cup the albino's cheek, his thumb rubbing gently over the scar under his eye. 'Two friends...bound by fate, unable to escape the embrace of the other...knowing that they can't live without each other, as a life without one of them, would be a meaningless life.'

...was Nezumi talking about what he thought he was talking about...?
Blinking slowly, Sion only stared at the other for a few moments before smiling softly. "...there'd be a lot of conflict though." he murmured quietly, leaning into the other's hand, sliding his fingers along the taller male's arm and covering the hand that was cupping the albino's cheek with his own. "...if those two friends were human, there would be a lot of conflict and confusion. Denial and fear at the inevitable changes."
His eyes fluttered shut for a moment as his chest gave a painful lurch.
"But...pain is necessary to survive, is it not?" he continued, not quite sure as to whom he was speaking to anymore. "...And surely, no amount of pain could justify any reason to cut the bond between two people like that."
Because...because...
And suddenly, he snapped out of his thoughts - Nezumi's grey eyes, particularly sharp in the moonlight, staring into his own.
"On second thought, that would probably take more than one book." he laughed a little nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "Things...bonds like that don't happen overnight, after all."
But they stay forever.
Reciprocated or not, they are branded into one's soul until the day they die.

There you go again...rambling...your voice speaking volumes in my eardrums, your words piercing through my skin, making my heart beat so fast.
Conflict...confusion...denial...fear...
Could you get anymore right? Honestly, how can you just effortlessly understand all I feel when I'm alone with you, holding you close.
I love you. I don't love you. I hate you. I love you. I can't love you.
I'm too scared to give you my all...because how do I know you'll be here with me tomorrow? Or the day after? I live for the day, Sion, never quite knowing or caring what'll happen to me next.
But if anything were to happen to you...I don't want to even think about that.

'You'd be surprised, Sion,' Nezumi murmured. 'I remember two little kids forming a bond overnight...a very strong bond that's kept them together even now.'
He bumped their foreheads together gently. 'How about we write this story one day? It'd be a masterpiece,' he suggested before leaning down and gently pressing their lips together, greyish eyes slipping shut.

The reason as to why I can understand is because we're in the same boat, Nezumi.
Well.
Almost.
Whilst the thought of losing you terrifies me more than anything else - I can come to no other conclusion then to love you with all my heart and hope that - slowly, maybe - you will open your heart to me too.
The albino couldn't help grinning at the example, nuzzling the other blindly when he felt him lean closer. "The circumstances were hardly normal in that case." he felt inclined to point out. "Neither were the children involved in it."
Nezumi's voice rang through his mind, younger and honestly surprised, calling him 'messed up'.
He found himself agreeing with the taller male. Not that he'd voice that aloud.
"...only if it has a happy ending." he whispered in response before he happily allowed himself to be silenced, wrapping his arms around Nezumi's neck tightly as he returned the kiss. After some contemplation, he closed his eyes and rendered himself blind as well.

A happy ending...You'd like that wouldn't you, Sion? Because you come from an idealistic world that prevents anything but happy endings. All these books you've read with me...they're probably your first experiences of sad, unfortunate endings.
What do you expect us to do? Carry on living together like this, even after you've accomplished your goals? What about when you won't need my help anymore? You'll be fine, yes, you'll have your mother and your friend back...but I don't want to get to the point where living without you is impossible.
I'm scared I've already reached that point...I'm scared there's no turning back.

The kiss was deep, longing, desperate, and Nezumi didn't want to pull back.
But it was cold, and even with Sion this close to him, he was beginning to shiver.
He slowly pulled away from the kiss, letting it linger before wordlessly leading his companion back to the shore.

Nezumi...
I know I still don't know anything about the real world. I'm still an 'airhead', as you put it so eloquently.
But you're wrong if you think I would have considered the ending that No. 6 could have given me to be a happy one.
Perhaps it could be classified as an exceptional, uneventful, successful one.
But it would be have been empty.
It would have been a straightforward, empty existence.

Nezumi.
I know you say you don't believe in happy endings - or random acts of charity, or that there's good in most people.
But - could you not believe in me?
Could you not believe my words - which you dismiss as products of my poor linguistic comprehension?
Even with the world drowning in the filth of its corruption, and our lives having been separated by a wall -
...We could work out a happy ending, could we not?

A hand entangling in dark locks, slippery and heavy with moisture, Sion returned the kiss with equal intensity, eyes clouded and heart pounding by the time the other pulled away.
I wonder what you would say if I selfishly claimed I would always need you.
Would you pull that same expression the night I told you my decision to stay with you because I find myself drawn to you?
I wonder.

Shivering as they stepped out of the water, Sion gathered his clothes before reaching to take the taller male's hand, fingers gingerly squeezing the clammy digits.
"...should we go back to the cave?"

Feeling Sion hold his hand that tightly...it made his chest ache.
This...whole situation was so...it was just too much.
The two of them simply couldn't live this way; in an idealistic world where there was no No.6 and nothing dividing them.
Deep down, there was a part of Nezumi that wanted to just pull his hand away and say "I'm leaving now, Sion," before packing up his stuff and leaving, running as far away from the albino as he could.
But it was impossible. It was impossible for him to do that. The bond between them was too strong. Even if they were separated, it wouldn't take long for the two of them to find their way back to each other. Even if Nezumi tried to escape, Sion would find him. That was for sure.


Terrible things are coming.
Stay tuned.

Please feel free to leave a review or give us feedback :3
Until next tiiimeee~