Chapter 78: Tense Supper

Mio sat in a room filled with family and friends…but the air was so tense that no one spoke. He ate his supper slowly and thoughtfully as he kept remembering the first day back to school.

Of course, everyone asked him about the Noawz incident. He told them, honestly, but he asked about Cassiro. Everyone admitted that Cassiro was not back in school. The rumor he was leaving for America was still fresh, but no one could verify the fact…

Mio was very worried about Cassiro. He could not help but wonder if Cassiro wanted to leave Japan…this could be all his mother's idea. Mio wanted to ask Akihiko or Benedict to take Cassiro in…

The table was surrounded by Hiroki, Nowaki, their two children, Takahiro, his wife and son, Benedict, Haruhiko, Akihiko, Misaki, Fuyuhiko and Willow. Everyone seemed very interested in their soups than speaking. Mio groaned and said, "Can we just—"

Ding, dong, ding, dong went the doorbell as everyone turned to the door. Akihiko groaned with his dark aura causing the children to cringe, "who would bother me now?"

Mio snarled and stood. He said, "I will check who it is, snot." He walked quickly before the empty soup bowl hit him. Mio gave Akihiko a loud raspberry and opened the door.

The visitor kept the door partial closed and whispered, "can you come out…I am glad you answered…"

Mio gasped and went out. He looked at Cassiro… Mio sighed and said, "thank god you are okay. Why did you ignore my texts and phone calls? What is-what?"

Cassiro looked at Mio with a determined face and said, "can I ask you seriously something?"

Mio stiffened at Cassiro's blazing face and wide eyes. He said, "sure, what?"

Cassiro softened as he blushed crimson. His hands twisted into each other as he turned downcast. Cassiro gulped as he slowly said, "Mio…why did you save me at the mountains?"

Mio chuckled and said, "I would always save a friend."

Cassiro looked up and said, "One more question…"

Mio blinked and said, "Why are you so red? Relax, we are—"

Without thinking or saving a moment to say anything…Cassiro's mouth covered Mio's.

Mio instantly stiffened as he felt Cassiro's tongue enter his mouth… He stood there as Cassiro wrapped his arms around Mio's shoulders and kept rubbing his mouth. He did not have a clue what to do…Cassiro, his friend, was kissing him… Mio slowly felt his own mouth work chemically against Cassiro's. They rubbed deeply as they wrapped their arms tightly around each other. Cassiro moaned gently as Mio resumed their kiss…

Mio gasped and backed Cassiro away. He looked at Cassiro as he breathed, "what…about…Totio?"

Cassiro slowly opened his eyes and said slowly, "of all the people I have been around…I am the most comfortable around you…"

Mio shook his head side to side and said, "well yeah, we are both gay. We can be gay friends, you know."

Cassiro leaned close and whispered, "you kissed me back…doesn't that mean something?"

Mio shoved him back and growled, "Do not mock me or my pain!"

Cassiro rubbed his arms and said gently, "I would never mock you…but…I never explained the entire reason why I have been so spacey lately…" His face was still very red, but his face…was very determined to be heard.

Mio crossed his arms and said, "Well, speak."

Cassiro crossed his arms in defense and said, "I did enjoy kissing Totio…I cannot lie about that. Also, I did mean saying that I would like to know more about him…but…" He held his head and yelled, "The entire time I had that head concussion I…only thought of you." Cassiro looked deeply at Mio as his eyes started to leak fresh tears. He finished, "I…thought a lot about you and I…the past couple of weeks…"

Mio sighed and said, "what if I refuse to be anything but a friend?"

Cassiro sniffed and said with a cracked voice, "I cannot change your mind…but I hope someday…" He wiped his tears and smiled weakly. Cassiro finished, "that you can see that you had my heart since the Ryhiro confession…"

Mio flushed as he stared at Cassiro. Their memories flashed before Mio like first meeting Cassiro and Ryhiro…their dancing…trying to hook Cassiro and Ryhiro together…Cassiro's worry for Ryhiro's safety…then the mountain… Did the head concussion really jar Cassiro's mind to the worse? He opened his mouth but Cassiro yelled, "Do not MOCK me!"

Cassiro curled his fists and looked down. He quickly said, "I never…I never felt like this! Ryhiro…was so comfortable, but that little desire was always there! Totio…was a flashy lust… But you…you make me feel good and safe…wonderful and calm…you…are just Mio." He looked up and said, "I love you…Mio."

Mio stopped breathing as his heart skipped a few beats. He did not know why, but he allowed Cassiro close again. Mio stared at the sobbing Cassiro as Cassiro said, "Please…tell me how you feel…I need to know…"

Cassiro looked deeply into Mio's eyes. His eyes searched for any hope of love in Mio…

Mio said, "I am still mad at you."

Cassiro backed away and moaned, "I told you the truth!"

Mio snarled, "why did you work for Settori in the first place?"

Cassiro cringed and said, "I…can't tell you."

Mio snarled, "I refuse to believe that you would join Settori unless…Ryhiro was involved."

Cassiro turned purple and stared at Mio with enlarged eyes. He mouthed, "how…did…you know?"

Mio rolled his eyes and said, "It is obvious. You are not that stupid, so you would fall into the same idiotic traps that Ryhiro places for you… Can you get it? Ryhiro is heterosexual! Move on!"

Cassiro took a few deep breaths and yelled, "If I did not join…I would lose Ryhiro to that idiot! I had to protect him!"

Mio snarled, "then what do you want from me?"

Cassiro opened and closed his mouth. He stared at Mio and said simply, "I know…it's weird but…I feel inside my heart and soul that we are meant to be a couple—"

"What a load of shit!" Mio snarled as he finished, "Go to America! I hope you…find another gay guy to mess up! Destroy his heart and rape his mouth for your vague sexuality issues!"

Cassiro roared, "why can't you accept my confession?" Tears kept falling as his face roared with rage.

Mio clenched his fists and roared deeply, "Because you are being stupid! I have other love interests than you."

Cassiro gasped as his face turned to complete shock. He sniffed as he sobbed openly; he yelled, "Fine! Be that way! I hope you do live your life but…I will miss you!" Cassiro turned and ran away.

Mio stood there as he felt his body yearn to run after Cassiro. He touched his lips and remembered the motions in his mouth…the sweet taste and the yearning of Cassiro's mouth near his. Mio moaned as he reentered the room.

Everyone was still eating as they turned to him. Mio stared at Hiroki and Nowaki then to Haruhiko and Benedict and last to Misaki and Akihiko. He just looked at them as he felt the tears slip down his face…

Mio crumbled to the floor as he heard Hiroki, Akihiko, Haruhiko, and Nowaki come to him. He growled in frustration and ran from their embraces. Mio raced to the stairs and to his room. He slammed the door and screamed. Mio kept screaming as the tears kept falling. He locked the door and slammed onto his bed. His face rubbed into the sheets as he groaned and clutched the sheets desperately.

He never…thought of Cassiro as nothing more than a friend… But was his rescue confused Cassiro into this crazed love? Mio moaned again as he curled into a ball. He held his legs close to his chest and stared at his dresser…

The third drawer held Adam's picture… Mio gulped and rolled the other way. He could not stop the feelings, words or the scene replaying in his head. The only question he came up with was…what did he feel for Cassiro?

Mio shivered at the question and another question came to him…he had feelings for both Juss and Razz…but who was his partner? Was he destined to want men, but could not find a man to cover the gaping hole that Adam created?

He could hear his brothers and Hiroki's voice outside his door. Mio yelled, "GO AWAY!"

Mio turned away from the door as he just laid there. Their voices could still be heard, but they slowly walked away. He closed his eyes as he imagined the three men on his mind…

Juss and his dogs, Razz and his cool stare, and Cassiro and his gentle demeanor as all three men stood in this order. Mio stared at them as he said, "Why…why did fate bring me three men?"

The three other men said nothing as Mio remembered meeting Juss, having sex with Razz, and being kissed by Cassiro… Mio held his head and screamed, "I WANT A PARTNER! WHO DO I CHOOSE?"

The three men kept standing there as Mio sobbed in his dream. He could not decide…which man he would give his heart to…