By the time senior year began, rumors began to spread. Delic was no longer taken. He was single and ready to be shared with the rest of the graduating class. People began to hear that Delic was a good lay and was willing to have sex with pretty much anyone. With the way he flirted with the ladies, and sometimes fooled around with the guys, it seemed plausible.

Only Psyche and Delic knew the truth: Delic hadn't had a one night stand with anyone else in a long time. He hadn't even been with Psyche. After coming to him late that one night, they had decided Delic needed time to get over her before trying to find another relationship.

However, Delic was becoming more popular with the ladies. They would come up to him, wearing skin tight clothes and drenched in sickly sweet perfume that made anyone's head dizzy. How Delic managed to breathe near them was a mystery.

He eventually crumbled, giving into the temptation. Besides, the best way to erase her image and touch from his mind was to replace it with another beautiful woman.

From then on, Delic was "booked" every weekend. Psyche hardly saw Delic anymore. He was constantly surrounded by women. He was becoming more of a player.

Sometimes, Psyche would try and call him to hang out, but he'd be off on a one-night stand, finding release and safety in others.

It didn't take long before the anxiety starts gnawing away at the young raven. He couldn't be alone. Without Delic…he didn't know what to do with himself. For the first time in a long time, he didn't have his life vest to save him. He was drowning in solitude.

He became desperate for affection.

This lonely world was suffocating him. He needed to breathe. He needed something fresh and new to spark his life just enough to keep him feeling alive.

He was still afraid of his reputation of being gay. Although he personally was ok with it, he was afraid of how others would look at him. So in the beginning, he tried to ask the girls out. The few that agreed weren't that good in his opinion. No one was really better than Delic. And he was often confused on how to even fuck a girl.

As one would expect, it didn't take long before the word spread that he was bad in bed. No girl wanted him. He had no where to go. He often wondered if Delic knew of the rumor. He couldn't contact him - his phone constantly busy or his inbox full.

The raven felt utterly alone.

The first time a guy came up to Psyche, he was taken by surprise. A guy wanted to…service him? He was wary…unsure of what this meant. But he had nothing to lose at this point.

It was different. Rough, uncaring, and slightly painful. It wasn't anything like Delic at all. It wasn't at all like that kind man who had kept him company when Delic was dating. It didn't give him the same comfort and ease he needed to get by.

However, it was all that he was offered. Beggars can't be choosers.

Psyche became no better than the whores in school. He wasn't suave enough to brush it off or act like the rumors and accusations weren't true. He became well known around the school as "an easy lay". Horny teens went to him for the same reason he first started.

Everyone needed some way to let loose.

New Years came around the corner, and Psyche received a call from his best friend. He was free for the weekend - the first time in a long time it seemed - and he wanted to hang out.

That day Psyche walked up to the familiar apartment anxiously. Despite how long he had visited Delic and spent time in this building, he still felt like he was walking into a strangers home. It had been so long…what would he say?

He tentatively knocked on the door, waiting quietly for Delic to answer. Surprisingly, his father opened the door.

Mr. Heiwajima was somewhat of a military man. He hadn't fought in any wars, but his disposition would make one think otherwise. He had dull brown eyes and peppered hair that was cut short. Crows feet tugged at the corners of his eyes, and he brows were almost always knit together.

The look on his face was nothing but skeptical as he stared at the young raven on his doorstep. He looked at Psyche as if expecting someone completely different. Though his features softened slightly upon recognizing him.

"Psyche, long time no see."

"It's a pleasure to see you again Mr. Heiwajima," he said with a slight bow. "Is Delic home?"

"Yeah, he's home."

Psyche shifted on his feet slightly, "Um…can I see him?"

"No."

"What? Why not? Is he ill?"

"He's forbidden to have any company over." Mr. Heiwajima said stiffly. It shocked Psyche slightly. Why would Delic call if…

"Now you're not trusting Psyche either?" Delic said bitterly as he walked down the stairs to greet his best friend. He shrugged nonchalantly, "I would have thought you'd let me at least see my best friend." His father turned, narrowing his eyes.

"I've told you to stay in your room."

"I'm eighteen, I can leave my room whenever I want."

Mr. Heiwajima's face turned redder, "You will obey my rules!"

"Once again, eighteen. I'm an adult and don't need to follow your rules."

"You do when you live under my roof!"

Psyche's gaze flickered back and forth between Delic and his father. They glared daggers at each other, obviously having a silent battle between themselves. Delic pushed past his father, grabbing Psyche's wrist and pulling him inside.

"Where do you think you're going?" his father barked as Delic lead Psyche up to his room.

"My bedroom! And no, we're not going to fuck or anything like that so you can just calm down!" Delic growled back, taking Psyche into his room and slamming the door loudly.

Psyche was frozen, face bright red with embarrassment and nervousness. He looked Delic who began to pace his room, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth.

"Delic…what's…."

"He found out about my affairs," he grumbled bitterly. He shoved his hands in his pockets and kicked the wall, leaving a small dent in the plaster. "Found me on top of some chick and practically threw her out of the house and locked me in my room. Tch…asshole."

Psyche frowned, sitting on the edge of the bed to watch Delic pace. "So…you're grounded?"

"Hah. More like on prison lock down. I haven't had a free moment to myself without him breathing down my neck."

Delic sat heavily on the bed next to Psyche, falling back onto the bed with a sigh. Psyche ran his thin fingers through Delic's soft blond bangs. The soothing gesture was just what Delic needed to cool his jets and relax.

Footsteps passed by the door, pausing as if listening in on what was happening behind closed doors. Two pairs of pink eyes flickered to peer under the crack of the door. The shadow lingered there for a moment before walking away again. Psyche let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Delic also seemed to relax a bit when his father left.

"I don't know what to do…" he murmured quietly, his voice sounding strained and exhausted. Psyche had no idea how long this had been going on.

A small idea formed in Psyche's mind. He lay down beside Delic, resting his head against the blond's shoulder as he thought harder.

His plan was insane. Yet…they had no real other choice. And maybe, just maybe, they would get lucky and pull it off.

No. Psyche was certain they could do it.

"Delic…"

"Hmm?"

"Let's run away."

Delic blinked, turning to look over at Psyche who stared back up at him quietly. "Run away?"

"Yeah…" Psyche said in a hushed tone, "Lets just…run far away from here. The two of us. We could do it."

Delic laughed shortly, "You're crazy."

"I'm not crazy!" Psyche said a bit louder, sitting up to look down on his friend, "We don't have any purpose here!"

"Your mom-"

"Too sick to stay home."

Delic sat up, his brow furrowing with worry, "Too sick? What's wrong? Last time I saw her she was doing better…"

Psyche's zealous gaze clouded over, losing their cheerful luster. "She had a relapse…"

The young host wrapped his arm around his friend, holding him close, "How bad was it this time?"

"She forgot where she was again…she started…" Psyche broke off, unable to speak. Delic understood however. Psyche didn't need to speak for him to develop the image himself- the young mother rapidly forgetting a part of her past; screaming and yelling that she needed to get back to her "baby boy", fighting her co-workers as they tried to tell her that Psyche wasn't a baby anymore. But in her mind, in those frightening moments, she was a mother out of high school again, struggling to survive and raise a young boy who could barely tie his shoes.

"…She's going into a nursing home now."

"That's probably best for her. They can take care of her there." Delic cooed softly, seeing the pain flickering on Psyche's face.

"That's why we need to run, Delic." Psyche said stiffly, his voice filled with determination, "I can't afford to live in that apartment by myself. Even with mom and I working part time jobs, we could barely keep up with bills." The raven's face seemed to darken slightly, "And if that happens, I'll be forced to move in with my aunt and cousin in Kabukicho."

Delic couldn't help but smile slightly, "Can't stand him, huh?" Psyche nodded curtly. It was no surprise that Psyche didn't get along well with his older cousin.

Psyche grabbed Delic's hands, holding them tightly as he stared into his eyes intensely, "But together, we could do it! You can't possibly want to keep living in this place."

"What about school? We can't just drop out you know. We'll have no future."

Psyche knew that Delic was right…but… "We've gotta try…We can find part time jobs to support ourselves."

Delic narrowed his eyes warily, "And what will our parents think? Sure, my dad wouldn't care if I just disappeared without a trace. But my mom will hear, and she'll flip her lid." Delic took hold of Psyche's shoulders firmly, trying to force some sense into him. "What about your mom? She'll miss you if you're gone."

"I know mom will be safe at the nursing home. She won't need me…and she'll eventually forget about me anyways."

Delic hated the way Psyche's voice sounded so broken. It was an inevitable fate - Psyche's mother would eventually forget every detail of her life before forgetting how to even eat or breathe. Delic knew Psyche couldn't live with that - his only chance of living was to get away.

And it wasn't like Delic had a perfect life that would keep him tied down.

"Alright."

Shock spread on Psyche's features, "Yeah?" Delic nodded, causing a big grin to form on Psyche's face.

"Yeah, we can do it."

The raven threw his arms around Delic's shoulders, hugging him tightly. Delic chuckled and fell back onto the bed, holding the smaller man close to him.