046. BIRTHDAY
For the past three years, Eiri had spent the 20th of November with Kitazawa. This year was different; there no longer was a Kitazawa to spend it with. Eiri no longer had an excuse to spend mornings, afternoons, and early evenings away from Tohma. Even so, watching Eiri silently mourn the death of the person he supposedly loved so dearly broke his heart.
Tohma never thought that turning twenty-seven would be such a sad event. Eiri spent it with him, but there was no cake or celebrations. There were no smiles and the warmth in the house was completely absent.
047. CHRISTMAS
It had been five months since Eiri shot Kitazawa and the two thugs Kitazawa had hired. Five months of misery and depression, five months without smiles—and now, on what was one of the most romantic days of the year, Tohma sat across from Eiri in the kitchen in complete silence, drinking hot chocolate and eating strawberry shortcake.
"The New Year will be coming soon. Do you want to make plans?"
"No," was Eiri's immediate response. The younger blond took his shortcake and trotted off to his bedroom with an angry expression on his face.
Tohma glanced at the refrigerator.
048. THANKSGIVING
They were leaving and, much to Tohma's surprise, they were both thankful. New York served as a wretched memory he and Eiri wanted to purge from their minds. Despite the incident that occurred last summer, Tohma was grateful for the time he was able to spend with Eiri. He had grown close to the teenager—developed a sort of brotherly bond. The final thing packed was the poem Eiri had written him once upon a time.
Tohma rested his hand on Eiri's shoulder as they boarded the plane. "Everything will be all right, Eiri-kun. I'll make sure of it."
"Whatever."
049. INDEPENDENCE DAY
The day they had arrived in Tokyo on that frigid January day would be the last Tohma would see of Eiri for quite some time. He knew he had made a mistake by hiring Kitazawa despite all of his instincts screaming no, but he could not change the past and he acknowledged that.
Tohma greeted Mika, Tatsuha and Uesugi senior with a deep, regretful bow and lightly pushed Eiri toward them. He watched them—a family he had broken up and destroyed with his own two hands—take Eiri and hug him.
He wanted to be a part of that.
050. NEW YEAR
Nearly eight years had passed since that sad time in New York when Eiri killed the person he loved most. Yet, here they were again, waiting for the ball to drop to bring in the new millennium.
They stood in silence, Tohma glancing up at Eiri—he'd grown so tall!—with a small smile on his face. Both of them were quiet all through the celebration; it wasn't until they were inside their hotel room that Tohma spoke.
"Happy New Year, Eiri-san." Tohma's hand clutched the poem Eiri had written him long ago.
Eiri shrugged. Then: "Happy New Year, Seguchi."