Chapter 4
Warm days
Nezumi had to wake up only two times that night. He could call that number lucky after all Karan said to him about Shion's sleeping problems . At last only those two times when Shion's body tensed and white haired boy had clearly a nightmare, woke up Nezumi too. He shook albino's until he almost woke him up, but enough gently so Shion could fall asleep once more. It would be too good if nightmares could just stop in one day. Nezumi's return could help, but it wasn't magical medicine that could magically heal all problems.
Dark haired boy knew it too well, some scars might stay forever. Ones will be always viewable like their body scars. The other ones, maybe even deeper, would stick around inside their souls, hunting them like cursing ghosts.
Will they ever heal completely?
In any case, in the end, both of them managed to sleep enough. Nezumi looked at Shion's face. It looked a lot better. Dark circles under albino's eyes almost disappeared, he looked calm and peaceful.
Silver eyed boy stood up without waking up other one. It will be better if Shion get some more rest.
Nezumi changed his clothes and walked towards first floor.
"Good morning, you have breakfast in kitchen already prepared. Shion's still asleep?"
"Yes Ma'am. Sorry, we over slept today."
"I hope that won't happen tomorrow" she chuckled "It will be your first day at work. Be sure to go to sleep early today."
"Yes, I will."
"Alright, I'm counting on you. " she said and disappeared into corridor.
Shion woke up. He felt really well, he didn't remember when he last time managed to sleep that much. He turned around and he froze. Panic climbed to his face when he didn't saw Nezumi beside him.
'Maybe he has gone away, or perhaps it was all dream.'
Shion was scared. He stood up and took a look around room. He calmed down after he noticed Nezumi's T-shirt thrown on his chair and travel bag near sofa.
Shion's heart still didn't yet calmed down when Nezumi walked into room. However, he jumped to doors to help, since the other boy's hands were busy.
"What is with your face?" Nezumi asked him with a smirk.
"I don't know what you mean, but I guess I'm glad that you are here."
"Of course, I promised you."
After they ate breakfast Shion asked.
"So you said you didn't see much of city yet? West Block too?"
"Yes, I just gone straight to your grounds, your majesty. "
"Would you like to see it today?"
"That would be a nice idea, tomorrow I'll begin working with your mom, so free day might not happen fast, still, would you be able to walk around for so long? "
Shion looked down, mad at himself. He wanted to be equal to Nezumi, yet he couldn't even manage something as simple as a walk around the city.
"Damn it. " he only managed to say with his tooth grinded.
"Don't worry, you will show me your work when you will feel better. " said Nezumi with real smile, but still Shion felt angry. He hated feeling like this.
Nezumi sighted.
"Even so, it's a little disappointing. " Dark haired boy said, looking around the room and Shion wished to vanish. Right, he was useless, so no surprise that Nezumi thought about him like that.
But then he heard rest.
"You don't read anymore? Well, you were probably busy with repairing the city, but still I hoped you will keep reading the actual books."
Shion looked at him with surprise, he understood Nezumi's point but wasn't sure what made other one think like that.
"I was reading, why you think..." then he paused and looked around. Right, it hurt so much and then he...
Shion stood up and got a key from desk drawer. He walked toward the door and room behind them that wasn't there until four years ago. Nezumi, with curiosity, followed after him.
"It simply hurt too much when I looked at them so I closed it."
Shion opened door and let Nezumi walk inside first.
Older boy stood almost in doors and looked with surprise around.
"I hope you don't mind I took them all here. Ones I keep here are mostly poetry and literature books. Rest like encyclopedias and magazines are in basement. " he said but Nezumi didn't moved.
"Shion." Dark haired moved around and looked at albino. Shion thought that maybe it's dream or he just got into different dimension because he saw most beautiful smile that Nezumi ever gave him. Silver eyed boy was clearly moved and he walked towards the shelves filled with old volumes. He touched few of them, stopped a while near place where Shion put Shakespeare collection, then got back to their boy, he lift albino's hands and kissed both of them.
"Thank you for saving them, I was sure they all were lost."
"Don't thank me. I just took them here mostly because of my own selfish reasons. " Shion said and looked at books " I wanted to have at last one piece of you."
"You're still too honest." Nezumi said.
'We always tried to hold something that reminded us about another, I had your sweater and first-aid box and you got my books for last four years.' Nezumi thought.
"Still Shion, thank you for saving them." They walked deeper into little library.
"But, I couldn't save the underground room. It started to fall apart around two years ago. I couldn't be selfish and repair it when city has so much more important buildings to fix like schools and hospitals."
"That's right, you did right thing, there is no use for that room anymore anyway."
Shion grabbed Nezumi's hand.
"But it was your home, you spend your childhood there and... That was place where we were both living together..." Shion looked at floor but Nezumi lift his chin so he looked again at silver eyes.
"It's alright, didn't you said something to me about home yesterday, right?"
Right, he said to Nezumi that he wished to create home for him, Shion flushed at this memory.
"Come on, let's take this day easy your majesty." Nezumi took few books and walked outside, he moved the sofa closer to open balcony doors so summer sunlight warmed that spot pretty well.
Both boys spend rest of day on reading and talking. Mice curled and listened their voices on their shoulders.
Nezumi told a little about his journey, mostly about his jobs and places he stayed. Evening came faster than both of them liked. They ate dinner with Karan and headed to sleep. Maybe it wasn't some exciting summer day but for them both it was unforgettable day. Their first peaceful day after their reunion.
Alarm clock was lucky that it survived next morning. Nezumi pushed it away angrily after 4A.M. and got himself off bed. Shion just rolled around and fell asleep once more. For a while envy feeling filled Nezumi and he wanted to do anything that would wake up other boy, so he had to share Nezumi's pain of waking up so early. Maybe tickles wasn't bad idea?
"Damn" he said and touched Shion's white hair, next his cheek and he smiled. After he got a shower and got dressed up, then he walked into the bakery.
Karan just warmed up furnace.
"Good morning. " she said with smile. If she wasn't Shion's mother Nezumi would probably said with angry growl that this crazy hour can't be considered as a morning, but he only nodded and yawned.
Karan chucked. She walked to him and gave Nezumi a white apron and bandanna.
"At first we will make breads and buns. It will take them a while to grow up before we will be able to place them into the stove. I will show you how I prepare each one. If you forgot something I made you notes there." She showed Nezumi his place on table and he saw little colorful pieces of paper on wall just above his working space. She had to prepare it yesterday.
"I often use only two stoves. Shion brought me third one year ago for my birthday, but I couldn't manage prepare so much pastry alone. With your help I think we can finely make use of it."
For next hour both of them worked in warm from hot stoves room. Only sound in cozy room were Karan instructions and very quiet sound of radio hidden in some forgotten corner of the bakery. After they put in stoves all kinds of breads, buns and croissants, she showed Nezumi her recipes for muffins and cupcakes. Just when they done with placing all ingredients in big mixer most of the pastry in stoves were ready. The boy took out breads and put them on big desk, then he began to put away the rest of their baked goods.
He was quite surprised. It wasn't easy job, there was so hot from stoves, crazy hours to wake up and no time to take a break. How that woman managed to do it alone every day? She was strong and Nezumi had to admit that his admiration for that small woman was bigger with every minute of their work. He put form with muffins and cupcakes to the stove when he heard woman calling for him. He turned round and saw Karan with a piece of bread with butter in her hand.
"Try it." She said with smile and gave piece to Nezumi. After moment of hesitation boy took a bite. It was good, fresh and warm.
"And how it taste?"
"It's really great." Nezumi said quietly.
"It's your work." She said, hugging him a little and Nezumi froze. This was something that he created? With his hands that hurt others so much? But this slice of bread was warm and felt like home. He done many jobs for last four years. He worked at liberty, he helped some fishermen, worked at building houses in some forgotten village and many others. None of those were fully Nezumi creation and they didn't turn into something so tender. It was like Shion's body eight years ago, warming up his soul. He finished his piece and turn around to check out muffins. He felt lost and look that Karan gave to him didn't help also. She was also like that bread. Tender, sweet and warm. If this was how mother felt like? It felt strange to Nezumi and for a moment he simply wished to run away far away from that place. He learned how to survive without anyone. Bonds and his memories about family only hurt him so he pushed them away. He didn't want to feel like this.
'Damn, why everything in this place turn out to be so warm, first Shion, then this woman and that bread. '
"Nezumi, you can take out muffins." Karan voice bring him back to reality.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Shion woke up around 9A.M. He looked at right side of his bed and decided that he will not like that part of Nezumi's work at bakery. That feeling of afraid wouldn't happen if he only could see other boy sleeping beside him. Well, you can't have everything you want.
Shion got up and changed. He greeted three mice that were slept on pet bed. He wondered what to do next. He found out a plate with breakfast on a table near the bed.
He felt good and it wouldn't hurt if he check some documentation for educational programs for work, right? He took electronic paper, plate with his breakfast and walked to the doorway. There is no need to spend that day alone in his room if he can spend it with his mother and Nezumi.
When he walked into shop part he saw Nezumi selling pastry to some old pair. Shion approached little table in corner, near window, hidden behind big tree in flower pot. He wouldn't disturb anyone sitting there but still he had a good view at almost whole shop. Few customers came in and Shion, while eating, could look at Nezumi. He never has much chances to see other one at his work in West Block. Now Shion couldn't admit to anyone how much he liked picture of Nezumi in that white apron and white bandanna. He hoped no one could see him because he was sure that his face was covered by blush. After while he heard his mother voice.
"Shion, my dear, you could have said that you will be here."
"Sorry, I just thought it would be boring just to sit alone in my room. "
Karan smiled and kissed her son on forehead.
"I'm glad you are here. Wait here, I will be right back." She added and hurried back to bakery room. She got back with a plate of cheese muffins.
Shion felt full, but he took a bite of the muffin.
"Do you like it?" She asked somehow loudly.
"Yes, they are astonishing as always."
Karan chuckled and said.
"Nezumi was one who baked them." Shion looked at his mother with shocked face and turn his head to see Nezumi.
"Really?"
Dark haired must have heard them since he turned around to hide flush on his face.
Shion smiled. However, something in Nezumi face felt strange. Karan has gone away and he heard her talk with one of her usual clients.
She praised other boy and Shion saw feeling of the lost in Nezumi eyes when woman was smiling to silver eyed boy.
'Oh, mom. You over did it.' Shion thought. He understood that she tried to make Nezumi felt like part of their family, but too much of it could only frighten him away.
Shion knew it too well and he remembered that look on Nezumi's face. It was the same as when he said how much he don't want to lose silver eyed boy. Albino hoped that if Nezumi would come back from his journey he wouldn't longer be so frightened off of feelings other will give to him. It seems like old habits die hard. Dark haired boy changed, last two days were proof of that.
Still, Shion knew that Nezumi was orphan and Gran who took care of him died before boy's eyes. Karan's actions were to new and must bring back bad memories to the last child of Forest People.
He got up and called his mother.
"Mom can you come with me to the kitchen?"
"Of course dear, Nezumi you will be alright here?"
"Yes, don't worry Ma'am. "
Shion told Karan his worries.
"I didn't know he could get scared of it, I'm sorry." She said after awhile.
"Don't apologize mom. Just slow down a little bit. I'm glad that you care about Nezumi so much."
Karan looked at Shion and nodded. It was he who knew nearly all about the new member of their family. It was no surprise for the woman, since she recognized how much her son loved that other boy. She wanted to help and protect them both.
"I will. Shion, you can always tell me everything, you know it. When you will have problem don't hesitate to tell me."
Shion looked at his mother, how he was lucky to have her.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, I shouldn't act like that towards you for last years. "
'Still, there are things you better don't know about, mom…' Shion added in his mind.
"Shion, don't worry about it. I'm happy that you feel better now." she looked at his face and after that she hugged him.
"You really look better. I'm so glad."
After a little talk both of them came back to the shop. Shion sat on his table and started to read documents, sometimes taking break to look at Nezumi. The few customers that came to bakery talked to him as well. They were asking if he feels alright, that they wish him fast recovery and that they are grateful for his work for city.
He was checking the numbers on the budget and he tried to get some savings over and over. It was irritating and he felt tired. He took deep breath and put away his digital paper. Shion saw his mother and Nezumi talking about daily special cakes. He leaned his head over a wall. He hasn't even known when his eyes closed while watching two most important people in his life.
It was amazing day for Karan. Weather was good, everything was going smooth and when she saw how much Shion was happy she couldn't stop to smile. Last years were awful, but now future was bright. It was amusing to see how Shion flushed when he was looking at Nezumi. She couldn't stop chuckling when she found out that the dark haired boy was hiding the fact that he was too observed Shion.
She feed little mice with some of their master's pastry and around 1P.M. when there were always less customers, she decided to explain her new employee about her daily specials.
She wanted for Nezumi to feel himself as part of their family, but after talk with Shion she understood that she shouldn't push so fast.
"So in the Thursdays I bake Cravats, Fridays we have Apple Pie, Saturdays I go with Brownie. " she said to other boy.
"I will demonstrate you how to bake them in next week."
"Yes, Ma'am."
She almost left shop to get next portion of sweet buns when she heard quiet and little angry "Airhead" from Nezumi's mouth. She looked over the same place that boy looked and she saw Shion asleep on cafe chair.
"Ma'am would you mind if I left our workplace for a moment?" She chuckled and nodded for a "yes". She liked to tell Nezumi that he doesn't need to be so polite, but she will wait until boy will feel a little more safe around her.
Nezumi came back two minutes later with a blanket that she lent him two days earlier. Silver eyed boy came to the Shion's chair and he put blanket over albino. After that Nezumi quietly returned to cash register.
Karan couldn't stop her smile until end of that day.
****
Shion woke up three hours later. He saw silver eyes over him and Nezumi put plate of cakes before him.
"Your Majesty finely got back to us?"
Shion yawned and he felt blanket over his shoulders.
"Idiot, didn't I said something about not working for a week?"
"It wasn't real work, I simply took a look at the documentation. Still, I have not found a solution, so tomorrow I will need to call to work so someone could send me more data. "
He heard angry sigh.
"Nezumi, thank you. " Shion said with smile.
"For what?" Asked Nezumi who didn't know reason with so sudden change of subject.
"For, blanket, you bring it, right?"
Nezumi didn't answer. He turned away with his usual smirk and disappear in corridor with words.
"You better eat that before dinner."
After half hour later Karan got out to Renka's place and boys were left alone in shop.
Nezumi almost started to organize things to close bakery when they heard a loud voice.
"Beautiful Karan, are you here?"
Rikiga almost run through the door, but he froze after he saw Nezumi behind cash place.
"E... Eve? What are you doing here?"
"Working, did you came buy something, old man? If yes, you will have to pay double price." Dark haired said with his usual smirk.
Rikiga stood at the same place until he heard Shion's voice behind them.
"Mom gone to Renka."
"Shion, dear angel, I heard you feel better from your dear mother."
"Yes, thank you."
"Shion, that guy still didn't give up on your mom? Watch out, he might truly become your father."
Shion tried to smile but it broke in halfway.
"Hey, Eve, don't forget who drove you half dead body to hospital four years ago!"
"Yes, yes, thank you very much." Nezumi made theatrical bow.
"Curse you, you didn't change for last four years. "
"Don't worry Nezumi, mom declined his proposals at last five times." Shion said honestly and Rikiga turned around to albino with tears in his eyes.
"Shion, how could you! Please, don't remind me about that!
"Then, what are you doing here, old man?"
"Nothing to do with you, you filthy rat."
"Rikiga, please." Shion quietly said.
"Shion, that guy abandoned you after you saved his ass." Rikiga waved his hands.
"He promised to back and he's back and that's all I need now." Nezumi's felt his heart squeeze on Shion's words.
"Our newspaper funds cooking contest and I wanted to ask your mother if she likes to be in jury. "
"I see, I will tell her, she might come home late, so she probably call to you tomorrow. "
"Thank you, Shion."
"Will you stay for a coffee? " white haired asked and smiled at annoyed face of Nezumi.
"No, thank you my boy, I need to check out today's prints for tomorrow release. "
Rikiga walked to door but before he left bakery he turned around.
"Shion, watch out for that guy, he will run away and hurt you again." Then he was gone.
Nezumi looked at albino and saw pain in those crimson eyes.
'Don't believe in those words ' dark haired thought and walked closer to other boy.
"Shion..."
"Yes?"
"I won't. "
'I won't hurt you, I won't go away again, believe me.' Nezumi thought looking deep in Shion's eyes.
Somehow Shion was able to understood words that Nezumi didn't say loud, because he smiled and said:
"I believe you." Shion moved his hand and grabbed older boy's hand. Nezumi smiled and took a deep breath, feeling that his body relaxed as well.
"Hard day?" Shion asked him with concern.
"Maybe a little, I will need to get used to the such guileless and cheezy atmosphere."
Shion laughed a little.
"Is really that bad?"
"Well, for a full picture you only need unicorns, rainbow and even more sugar. Ideal teenager dream." Nezumi smirked and raised his free hand in dramatic way.
"Let's close bakery before more guests rush through the door. You can go back to your room, I will call you for a dinner. "
"Hey, don't treat me like kid, I'm going to help you." Shion said little annoyed.
"Alright your majesty, you can cut vegetables. I'm going to push into you two or three plates of fries."
Shion frowned, he already felt full after all pastry he ate that afternoon. Still, little fight with dinner was worth that look in Nezumi's eyes, gentle and with spark of tease.
With smile on his face, Shion followed Nezumi, as he often used to do.