OOOOOOOh god I'm dying. I apologize for the super long wait but College is hell! I'm going to have to try to figure out where I was going with this story so please be patient with me. I have some idea but I really don't know. So I'm going to write for all of my readers.

Chapter 10: Welcome Home

Nezumi and Shion were just walking around the marketplace when Nezumi suddenly got another idea.

"Wait a minute; Shion's birthday is in a few days…" A light bulb went off in his head.

Shion seemed a little curious and tapped Nezumi's shoulder.

"Uhhh Nezumi?"

"Hmm?" Nezumi looked at his companion with a soft expression.

"You looked distracted, is something wrong?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." Nezumi smirked then ruffled Shion's white hair.

"What? C'mon!" Shion pouted.

"Nope."

"Seriously now?!" Shion just gave in and sighed.

"Hey Shion."

"Yeah?" Shion looked up

"I just noticed that your hair is longer." Nezumi playfully flicked the hair draped on Shion's neck.

"Really? I haven't noticed." Shion pulled some of his hair towards him. He seemed genuinely oblivious to it. It made Nezumi wonder if maybe the so-called current mayor of New No.6 was kept so busy that even he had failed to realize that he was growing up.

"Why don't you try putting it up?"

"I dunno, maybe I'll cut it later." The white haired man continued to play with his hair.

"I think you should let it grow." Nezumi stated putting his hands into his pocket.

"But ponytails are your thing."

"So, I think it suits you."

Shion looked at Nezumi with a bright expression. "Really?"

"Yeah, makes you look like a girl, it suits your personality."

"Wha- Nezumi!" Shion blushed and Nezumi chuckled.

"Pfft! Shion he got you there."

"Shut up Mamoru!"

Nezumi stopped for a second and then burst into laughter.

"Oh my god, even your so-called protector agrees." He was in a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

"I hate you both…" Shion muttered. He was so embarrassed yet at the same time happy.

Nezumi had to admit it was going to take some getting used to having found out that his best friend has two personalities but Shion was still Shion no matter what.

As they were walking Shion stopped suddenly. Nezumi also halted.

"What's up?"

"There's a place I want to show you." Shion smiled softly. Nezumi almost lost his breath for a second. Was Shion really capable of producing such a beautiful and serene smile?

"Nezumi?" Shion tapped Nezumi's shoulder and broke him out of his trance.

"I-Im fine."

"C'mon." Shion held onto Nezumi's hand and they walked opposite the marketplace into a more secluded forest type area. Shion ran around happily while they walked down a dirt road. Somehow, this place seems familiar.

When they finally got to their destination, Nezumi was in awe.

"Holy hell…"

Shion laughed as he heard Nezumi's response.

"Am I dead?"

Shion laughed again.

"No, you're home."

"Wha-

Nezumi looked around for a second then realized why it looked familiar.

"This was my cozy little hole in west block. It was all barren wasteland before."

"Yep! I just modified it a bit."

"A bit?!" Nezumi was at a loss for words "is it even possible to make something like this in four years?"

"Well, if you are the Mayor with a little political influence, then yes."

Nezumi looked at the scenery before him, just lush greenery and flowers, wind blowing and fresh air. It reminded Nezumi of the past where he grew up in the forest. He felt at peace. He tilted his head back and felt the wind rush by him.

"Nezumi!"

He heard Shion call him. The other boy motioned to him and Nezumi jogged on over.

"Look Nezumi! Shion bounced joyfully. Apparently Shion had made a small deck just by the entrance to Nezumi's house with a fire pit and places to sit.

"You know I'm not one for luxuries." Nezumi shrugged his shoulders.

"I know. I tried to keep it as simple as possible. Besides how else are we supposed to have BBQs?"

"Huh?" Nezumi then thought back to that piece of paper he "accidently" saw which was Shion's to do list when Nezumi returned home. He couldn't help but smile. "You thought of me this much?" Nezumi internally smiled.

"Nezumi! I still got things to show you!"

"Oh boy what did you do to my house while I was gone?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

"Touché" Nezumi chuckled. He didn't say another word just followed the other boy's lead into Nezumi's once dilapidated house when he opened the door his mouth dropped. The books had been tied up, the shelves dusted, the future looked almost new and he had new appliances.

"I'm going to ask again, what did you do to my house?"

"Sorry Nezumi." Shion scratched his head. "In the years you were gone a lot was happening out here and I did what I had to to preserve what was left of your home."

Nezumi didn't say a word at first which was cause for concern in Shion's mind.

Nezumi walked around looking at everything. He had to admit it was a bit sad that some of the things he cherished were gone but nothing too bad.

"It's not too bad, still feels the same, Shion what's wrong? Why are you hanging out there in the doorway?"

"Oh, that's because um…"

"Shion?"

"He's scared because of what happened here."

Nezumi noticed it wasn't Shion's gentle voice speaking anymore.

"Mamoru?" The fact that Mamoru was speaking concerned Nezumi.

"Shion's asleep, so if you want to talk about this particular subject you'll have to speak to me."

"Fine. Let's talk outside." Nezumi demanded. Mamoru just shook his head in agreement.

Mamoru led Nezumi to the deck outside where they sat and began to talk.

"So tell me what happened."

"You waste no time demanding answers from me. Before I tell you I believe I deserve an answer to a question first."

"Huh?"

"Just answer this one question and I'll tell you what you want to know."

"Why do I feel like I'm selling my soul to the devil by doing this? I have to though, for Shion's sake.

Nezumi sighed. "What's the question?"

Mamoru wearing Shion's skin straightened himself up and stood just inches from Nezumi glaring at him with sharp eyes.

"What are your plans with Shion?"

"Huh?"

"It's true you were close in the past, but when you left he fell apart. Then you show up again after four years and act like nothing ever happened. So what business do you have coming back into Shion's life?"

Nezumi sat quietly for awhile not saying a word then finally he spoke again.

"You know I asked myself that question several times but could never come up with a reasonable answer."

"Then why?-

"I can't be away from him. I find myself several times a day thinking only about him. I fear that I'll lose him so I try to keep him close to me. He's so reckless yet compassionate and that's what I love about him. I wish he'd try to protect himself more but I know that's asking too much."

"I see. You really do care for him. I can tell just by looking at you that what you say is the truth. Very well Nezumi, I will answer your question."

Nezumi hunkered down to listen and Mamoru did the same.

"It was about a year after you left."

(Four Years Ago)

Shion went back to West Block to check on the construction work going on there.

"Good morning everyone! Nice job." Shion complimented the construction workers on their progress of the new buildings in the former West Block.

"Well good morning to you too sir! Guys look the Mayor came to greet us."

"G'Morning sir!"

"G'Morning! What you have there son?"

Shion looked down at the basket he was carrying.

"I had mom cook up an assortment of muffins and whatnot feel free to take some."

"Don't mind if I do!" a couple of workers came down off of scaffoldings to splurge on some homemade muffins

"My compliments to the chef!" they said in unison.

Shion just smiled brightly then turned his focus elsewhere.

"Still looking for that old friend of yours Shion?" One worker who was close with Shion stated.

"Yeah, sort of."

"Well don't give up hope. You'll find him."

Shion just nodded in agreement.

"Shion!"

"Hey clueless!"

It was Rikiga and Inukashi.

"Rikiga! Inukashi!"

"Well who the hell else would it be? Nezumi?" At that statement Rikiga jabbed Inukashi with his arm.

Shion's eyes sagged a bit at the mention of their friend's name.

"Right too soon, sorry." Inukashi apologized.

"So how is construction going on in the city?" Rikiga asked.

"Not too bad. I think to be honest the damage was worse here." Shion stated.

"Yeah, no shit! We got bulldozed out here." Inukashi stated matter-of –factly.

"Haha…"

"So where you headed to Shion? The usual place?" Inukashi inquired.

"I was thinking about it."

"You know he's not going to be there." Inukashi said in almost a whisper.

"I-I know." Shion smiled weakly.

"Well, be seeing ya then." Inukashi waved and scurried off.

Rikiga walked up to Shion and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"If you need a place to wind down be sure to come to my place ok?"

Shion smiled at Rikiga. "Ok."

After a short goodbye the two departed heading their separate ways. Shion took a road that diverged a bit from the marketplace. It was still quite a barren wasteland nothing seemed to be really growing. The sun was starting to sink lower in the sky casting the world in brilliant hues of oranges and yellows. As Shion made his way further he spotted his home away from home. Well actually it was Nezumi's home but it kind of grew on Shion after all that time he spent down there.

Shion was about to turn the other way but he noticed something kind of odd. The door to Nezumi's house was open and there was a light inside. Shion's heart started pounding as he ran down the stairs and yanked open the door but there was no one there.

"That's odd.." Shion muttered to himself.

"Close the door now!"

"Wha-

Shion turned around to find someone blocking the door.

"This isn't good.." Shion muttered under his breath.

"Damn right this isn't good! Thanks to all your little construction workers all our hideouts have been demolished."

Shion saw what he thought was the gang leader just inches from him. In tattered clothing but quite muscular Shion was at a bit of a disadvantage.

"I'm only going to say this once, get out of our hideout and you might live."

"This is Nezumi's house! You have no business here!"

"I don't care if this is god's house, we found it so we keep it."

Shion saw a bonfire inside the small room where the thugs were throwing books and whatnot into it to keep it going. Shion was furious.

"You Goddamn thugs get the hell out of Nezumi's house now!"

That was all it took and it was an all out brawl fest with the thugs. At one point one of the thugs pinned Shion down to the ground.

"What should we do with him now?" One thug asked.

"Hmmm, I knew you looked familiar. You're that scum mayor that rules over that scum city." The thug leader stated.

"What? Seriously?" one thug asked.

"He's right! Look he's got those weird scars and everything."

"Should we kill him?" another thug asked.

"No, I got a better idea let's make him suffer. Bring me a knife."

One thug handed him a small dagger.

"For the people, Ha! You're nothing but a traitor!" The thug lifted Shion's shirt and brutally started carving into his back.

Shion froze. He couldn't budge an inch and he'd be damned if he let them have the satisfaction of hearing him scream. He closed his eyes tightly while internally screaming in pain.

"Nezumi, help me! Anyone! Please help!"

"Man you're a stubborn kid make it more interesting let me hear you cry in agony."

"Fuck you!"

That pissed the ringleader off even more as he attempted to bring his knife towards Shion's back Mamoru sprung into action. He kicked the ringleader in the gut as hard as he could causing him to crash into a nearby bookshelf then picked off the others one after the other after the other. Finally they ran off with their tails between their legs but that wasn't until after Mamoru killed the ring leader by accident. He had attempted one last attack on Shion and landed on the knife that Mamoru had managed to steal away from one of the thugs. Mamoru threw the body at the thugs outside the door.

"Take this piece of crap with you!"

The frightened members picked up their "corpse" boss and fled.

"Shit that hurts!" Mamoru barely touched the carved wounds on his back. "This is bad! If Shion bleeds much more we'll die."

Mamoru despite being weak and tired dragged their body miles into town leaving a blood trail as they went.

"Just hold on a little longer Shion I'm trying to get us some help." Mamoru pleaded. It was getting more and more difficult to move. Their vision was starting to get blurry.

"Where is that old drunkard's place? Shion I really need your help right now."

Shion switched places with Mamoru.

"Shion, that's not what I meant!"

Shion continued to hobble down the street it was close to night now and the darkness was making it hard to see.

"I don't know if I can make it." Shion collapsed on the ground. Thankfully that one construction worker that Shion is close to, Yamato was on his way home when he found the bloody and broken Shion on the road. Shion with the last of his strength instructed Yamato to take him to Rikiga's.

Somehow Shion was able to make it but that was when Rikiga and Inukashi had the misfortune of finding out about Mamoru.

After Mamoru finished his story, Nezumi was silent. Weeks ago Nezumi wouldn't have believed a single word of what he heard but right now it was kind of hard not to believe it. He was a bit overwhelmed. He just held his head in his hands. Again, again Shion had gotten hurt because of him. Would it always be like that? Was there no way to protect him? Nezumi just wanted to curl up into a ball and die.

Shion finally woke up.

"Nezumi?" Shion whispered.

Nezumi looked up at the other boy with a frown on his pale face.

"Shion, welcome back."

"Was I gone for very long? I don't remember."

"Just long enough."

"Sorry, it was kind of a surprise for me too."

"It's fine. Glad you're back." Nezumi suddenly hugged Shion tightly.

"Uh- Nezumi…"

"I'm sorry I didn't realize that you were going through so much while I was gone. I was a fool" Nezumi hugged Shion tightly and nestled his head into his shoulder. "Welcome home."

Shion just smiled and hugged Nezumi back.

"Welcome home, Nezumi."

Oh god im going to murder myself for this but screw it I spent the whole day writing this. I am not going back for spell checks or whatnot you all get the gist of the story. I'm sorry if this story is weird and all over the place but oh well. Anyway hope you enjoyed and I will try to get another chapter up when I have free time. Thank you!