Pairing: Jou x Ryou
Genre: romance
Rating: PG
Words: 760
Summary: Of sand fights, sunsets, and warm smiles.

Memory Album
Installment Eleven: Sunset

Ryou always did love the sunset.

That's why he often took the other boy down to the beach nearby, sitting with the windows down in his old car and letting the wind whip their hair around their faces. The ride would be spent in the same manner each and every time: Ryou would be talking quietly, with him laughing and interjecting in the midst of the boy's sentences as they cruised down the road. Ryou would pout and tell him that he should let him finish what he was saying, but he would merely turn and smile charmingly at the other boy.

That usually quieted Ryou, as he would avert his eyes and stare out of his open window at the passing scenery instead, a faint blush tainting his cheeks.

By the time they reached the beach, the blue sky was already turning a soft, rose color, the dying sunbeams leaving golden streaks across heaven's canvas and casting a warm glow upon them. They kicked off their sandals and stepped into the cool sand, feeling it shift between their toes as they strolled along the shore, shoulders bumping into each other on occasion due to their close proximity.

After a few moments spent in silence, he trailed back a bit before kicking up some sand at Ryou with his foot, laughing without restraint as the other let out a shocked noise and turned to glare back at him.

"What was that for?" the boy demanded sourly, pursing his lips at him, and he couldn't help but think that he was incredibly adorable.

"Nothing," he replied with a cheeky grin before unearthing some more sand and sending it flying at the other boy. Then with a cackle, he proceeded to run down the beach, ignoring Ryou's angry protests as the sand sunk beneath his feet.

"Oi!" Ryou yelled as he chased after him, laughing in spite of himself, the sound bright and soothing against his ears. And although he was an athlete, the younger boy still managed to catch up with him (that slender figure was awfully fast) in time, and suddenly he found a heavy weight propelling into him with full force.

"Ahh!" The cry left his mouth as he was tackled, falling face first down in the sand and barely catching himself in time before he ended up with a mouthful of it. Ryou was giggling above him as he straddled his waist and all but sat on his back, showing absolutely no signs of moving at all.

He groaned as he squirmed beneath the other. "Let me go!" he whined as he tried to push Ryou off of him, but the other pressed down firmly—and he could practically see the wide, complacent grin that was most likely plastered upon that soft, rounded face.

"Not a chance," Ryou cooed back. And then before he even knew what was going on, he found a clump of sand being dropped into his hair.

"Gah! Ryou!" All that he received in reply was amused giggling as the other rubbed the sand into the blond strands gleefully.

"Serves you right. You started it."

"Mou... you're so cruel," he mock pouted as he gave in to his fate and lay still on his stomach, wondering absently whether he'd be able to get all the sand out of his hair or not. But in the midst of his pondering, suddenly he found the weight lifted off his back. He blinked a bit and rolled over, now lying on his back as he stared up at the shorter boy, a slight look of curiosity twisting his features.

"Hmm?"

Ryou just smiled as he settled his weight down upon him once more, wind chilled hands cupping his cheeks and leaving a few grains of sand upon the skin. Looking up into the other's deep, warm eyes, all he did was raise an eyebrow as a thumb stroked against his cheekbone absently.

"And just what are you doing?" he asked as his own arms lifted and pulled the other boy down, hands sliding around his back and holding him close. Their faces were mere inches apart and he could feel Ryou's breath ghosting across his face, his hair draping down over them.

"Nothing." And with that nonchalant reply, the other pressed his lips against his own, sharing warmth and breath. As they kissed upon the sand, the sun dipped down beneath the horizon, turning the sky a rich, fiery hue.

Though Jou loved the sunset as well, he'd have to say that he loved Ryou considerably more.