"Nii-san, I'm going to go buy eye-dye." Tsuki called, grabbing his bag.

"I thought you said you had plenty?"

"I know. I was sure I did but it's gone. Guess I must have used it all?"

"Did you search everywhere?"

"Course I did."

"…Alright. Your hair dying appointment is in a half-an-hour."

That made Tsuki pause. "You're not going to do it?"

"No, I have to see my manager again. So I set up an appointment for you."

"…O-okay."

Delic sighed. "I know I said I'd do it. Sorry. My manager is really pushing me to find a damn partner. I know I wanted one, but all the people he introduces me to are assholes or try-hards. And he said he found a new person today so I gotta go meet the bastard."

"You-you don't need to explain. I understand, Nii-san."

Delic looked over at him and smiled apologetically. "I'll drive you there so no one see's you."

"Okay. Then I'll buy the eye-dye afterwards."

Delic came around to stare at Tsuki's eyes. There were noticeable red flecks in his green iris's. His roots were fully in now, showing the bright white strands against the darker blond.

"We got careless this time around."

Tsuki nodded. "Lots of stuff happened this month."

"True that." Delic ruffled Tsuki's hair. "Alright, let me get dressed and I'll take you over."

"Okay. Thank you, Nii-san."

"Ha~chi~kun~!" Naomi grinned.

"What?" Roppi wasn't sure if he should be nervous or not.

"So~ your debt is currently paid off for your kittens treatment~ but you need to now pay for their poddy training and day care~."

"…Um…"

"So, doing day to day work at the shop isn't enough. Thus," she pointed at Roppi. "I want you to teach Yukeru photography."

Roppi sighed as he remembered that scene from this morning, the little black-haired boy trailing after him with a red version of Roppi's Easyshare Kodak.

"Thank you for taking me out, Hachi-san." Yukeru said. "I'm sure you have better things to—"

"It's fine. If I really didn't like it, I'd just walk out."

Yukeru smiled up at him. "But your leg must hurt—"

"Nah. I got used to this a long time ago. Don't worry about it."

Yukeru fell silent after that as Roppi led the middle schooler away from the shop to the park, at a brisker pace than he would have considering the raven's injury.

"Alright, so your mom wants you back at the shop in an hour." Roppi pivoted on his uninjured leg to face him. "I'm not a good teacher, so I don't think I'll be able to show you much today. But we'll start with the basics."

"Okay. What are the basics?"

Roppi looked up in thought for a moment. Then said. "Rule of Thirds."

"Um, hello." Tsuki said to the receptionist at the front desk. "I'm the two o'clock appointment."

"Hi. It'll be just a moment. They're finishing up with their 1:30's."

"Okay."

"Go ahead and take a seat."

Tsuki did just that, pulling out his sketch book to draw.

While he drew, the receptionist picked up the ringing telephone, talking giddily into the receiver. Tsuki drowned out her voice, paying attention to the drawing before him of the raven-haired, red-eyed man he loved so much.

The receptionist scribbled something down then hung up the phone.

"Tsuki?" A hairdresser called, sticking her head through the curtain.

"Ah, here." Tsuki said, putting his sketchbook away as the receptionist went up to the hairdresser and relayed the message from the phone call.

"Come on back."

Tsuki obeyed.

"Alright, almost done." She said, drying Tsuki's hair with a towel before pulling out a blow dryer. Tsuki had his back to the mirror but he also had his glasses off so he wouldn't be able to see his reflection anyway.

*Ping* Tsuki's phone vibrated in his pocket.

He didn't answer it though. It'd be rude to answer it, besides he couldn't pull it out with her ruffling his head anyway.

"Alright, all done." She said, pulling the blow dryer away and reaching for a hand-held mirror.

Tsuki reached up and ruffled his hair with his hand. "Thank you."

"No problem. Your hair is really pretty."

"Um…thanks?"

She nodded and held the mirror out to Tsuki as he grabbed his cell phone.

"It's fine. I can't see without my glasses anyway." He stated, grabbing his bag from the far side of the room and grabbing his glasses case.

"You sure you don't want to look at it?"

"Nah, its fine. Thank you though."

She smiled. "Okay."

Tsuki pulled out his bifocals. Then he flipped his phone open.

(2) New messages

He opened the first one.

:Roppi's at the park for the next hour. Hurry up.:

'Hm?' He looked at the nametag. 'He named himself 'Great Informant Izaya'?'

He scowled a bit.

'…I got this feeling the first time I met him but…is he really full of himself?—wait this was forty minutes ago? It didn't go off that long ago!'

He cancelled out and checked his Inbox.

'Oh, Nii-san texted. Wait, when did Orihara-san text? I didn't feel it go off.'

He opened Delic's message. :I'll be at my manager's for the next two hours. You can wait for me at the park or just go home. Let me know.:

'So either or way I should go to the park, huh?'

Tsuki smiled as he bolted out the door.

'I hope I haven't missed Roppi-san. I need to apologize for what happened. And I really wanna see him.'

Being ever eager to see the raven, he ran down the sidewalk, making sure not to bump into anyone as he did so.

And as he ran, he noticed something.

People were staring at him.

They were giving him a double glance as he ran by. At first, he thought it was because he was running but then he noted that the glances were more in confusion than irritation.

He slowed to a walk and kept his eyes open.

Yup, people were still staring at him.

He ducked down an alleyway.

'My eyes aren't that noticeable, are they?'

He looked around for a mirror of some sort but he couldn't find one.

So with a sigh he returned to the streets.

'Maybe I should just go home. So many people are staring.'

Suddenly a hand grabbed his wrist and yanked him out of the crowd to cross the road.

"Eh-eh? Ori-Orihara-san—"

"You're going the wrong way, Tsuki-chan."

"Um, than-thanks, I guess."

'Guess going home's not a option…'

With Izaya in the lead, Tsuki was led to the park, the trees billowing in the small breeze.

"Just stay here. Roppi'll show up soon."

"Um, th-thank you."

'Oh, I should text Nii-san.'

"By the way." Izaya said.

Tsuki looked up.

"You look nice with white hair, Albino-chan."

Tsuki's blood turned to ice.

"Wh-wh-what…did you…"

Izaya chuckled and held out a collapsible hand-held mirror. Tsuki snatched it from him and looked at himself.

Izaya wasn't lying. His hair was pure white and the red of his eyes was absolutely noticeable. Although the green was still there and still prominent,, the red flecks were domination.

Tsuki began to tremble. 'H-H-how did this—"

"I called the hair dresser earlier and asked them to put in hair-dye removal instead of hair dye. And I just so happened to snatch this," he held up a little bottle.

Tsuki recognized it automatically.

'My eye dye!'

"From your bag when I spent the night a while back."

"Wh-wh-why-why—"

"Punishment for letting Roppi get hurt. Have fun now."

Izaya turned and waved.

Tsuki clenched his teeth, his whole form trembling.

But not in anxiety. Not in betrayal or hurt.

But in rage.

"Izaya, you BASTARD!"

"Tsuki?"

The little albino was certain his heart had stopped. He whirled around quickly to see his raven-haired lover staring at him wide-eyed.

"What's wron—"

Tsuki turned and ran.

"Ah! Hey, Tsuki!"

'Shit, shit, shit! Fuck!' Tsuki clenched his teeth tight. 'It's bad enough so many people saw me! But Roppi-san, WHY DID ROPPI-SAN HAVE TO SEE?!'

Tsuki felt like he was going to cry. All his efforts and hard work. Keeping his albinism a secret from everyone so he wouldn't be bullied anymore. So he wouldn't' be picked on.

So he wouldn't be pushed and kicked and called a freak.

All of it, up in smoke in a mere hour. If Izaya had wanted to get him back for something that was out of his control why'd it have to be this? Why couldn't he have just…just punched him? Or stabbed him! Anything, ANYTHING other than THIS!

Tsuki had no clue how far or how long he ran for. All he knew was that he was in an unfamiliar part of town. He was surrounded by warehouses and he couldn't see any street signs but even though he was obviously lost, he didn't mind.

At least he knew he had lost Roppi, as well.

He sighed heavily and pulled out his cell phone.

:Hey, Nii-san. Sorry I took so long to answer. Something happened and I got lost so I don't know when I'll be home.:

He didn't expect Delic to reply back. If his manager was introducing him to a new partner, then he wouldn't be able to look at his phone without being rude. So he wouldn't be able to see the text till the introduction was over.

He closed his phone and looked around himself again. There really were no street signs so he chose a random direction and walked.

'That bastard Izaya-san. I'll get him back for this. This is going too far. I swear, I'll…'

Tsuki clenched his fists and his teeth.

'Bastard, Bastard, bastard! He's a fucking bastard!'

He closed his eyes tight shut as tears of frustration threatened to spill out.

'Dammit, this is so fucked!'

A clattering of metal made Tsuki jolt and he looked around. He couldn't see anyone but he hid behind a warehouse nonetheless. He squatted down and brought one loop of his scarf over his head into a hoodie. At least his hair would be hidden, although he couldn't do anything about his eyes. He looked around himself again then stood and continued on.

But not for very long as someone's hand slipped into his own.

"Ca~ught you~!"

Tsuki jolted and turned around, staring at someone he wasn't expecting but shouldn't be surprised to see.

"Hee hee, you know, its pretty fun chasing you for once. Maybe role-reversing isn't so bad after all."

"Ro…" Tsuki stared at him wide-eyed.

Then he went to yank his hand away.

"Hey, hey, what's up?" Roppi's grip tightened.

'What do you mean what's up?!' Tsuki wanted to scream, tugging his wrist again as he clenched his teeth.

"Hey, calm—"

"Let go!"

"What's wrong—"

Tsuki tugged his wrist near violently.

Roppi growled and slammed Tsuki against the wall, slamming his hands onto the wall on either side of the blond.

Tsuki held the scarf-hood tightly so Roppi didn't dislodge it.

"Calm down, alright? I don't know what you're so hysterical about but don't take it out on me."

Tsuki clenched his teeth. "What do you mean you don't know? Can't you see me?"

"I can see you just fine."

"Then don't ask stupid questions!"

"The fuck was stupid about it?" Roppi tried to hold back the growl in his voice.

"Can't you figure out what's wrong by looking?! Let me go, dammit!"

Tsuki shoved against Roppi's shoulder.

Roppi growled and grabbed both of Tsuki's wrist. His cast scraped against the blonds skin and made him wince but Roppi refused to show he cared. He held Tsuki's wrist together in one hand above his head.

With the other, he pulled the scarf hood down.

"No! Don't look!" Tsuki closed his eyes tight shut and waited.

Waited for the jeers and calls of horror. Waited for Roppi to tell him he wasn't going to date a freak.

Waited for all the hatred to come pouring his way.

"So, what's wrong? Why are you trying to hide your hair?"

Tsuki's eyes widened.

"You know, I always wondered why your eyes were green when your hair was white. Cuz albinism is generally white with pink eyes, or in extreme cased red like mine. Actually, it's very rare to see red-eyed albino humans. Usually it's blue eyes. Animals are the ones with red—"

"Wait, you're not…you're not freaked out?"

"Why would I be freaked out?" Roppi let Tsuki's wrists go. "I'm an albino too."

"You're not…shocked?"

Roppi cocked a brow. "No~. I already knew, stupid."

Tsuki jolted. "H-h-how?!"

Roppi gave him an 'are you kidding me' look. "OMG, it was, like, totally not obvious. I mean, I only have my face in your crotch everyday. Ofcourse I wouldn't notice your pubes were white."

Tsuki blushed. "Ssh—shoosh!"

The blond put his hands over Roppi's mouth.

Roppi chuckled. Then he reached up and intertwined his fingers with Tsuki's to free his mouth.

"I didn't know you wee so insecure about it."

"I…do-do you really… are you really okay…with it?"

"Of course I am. You think my love is so shallow that physical appearance would make me reject you? Come on, I thought you knew me better."

Tsuki just stared at Roppi, looking for a trace of a lie behind the raven's words.

When he couldn't find one…

He began to cry.

"Hm? What's with the water works all of a sudden?"

"I-I…I re-really, I really love you, *hic*."

"Eh?"

"I love you so much, Roppi-san! *hic* *hic* I love…I love…"

"Jeez." Roppi chuckled and kissed Tsuki on the forehead while tussling that bright whitish-blond hair. "Sometimes, I just can't understand what you're thinking."

"I used to get bullied a lot when I was a kid. That's why Delic-Nii-san brought us to Ikebukuro. He suggested that during our school years, we should dye our hair so we don't get bullied again. Delic's hair isn't as bright as mine so he dyed it a dark brown, but when I tried brown, the roots would turn white in less than an a week so we went with blond."

"Was it really that bad?" Roppi asked.

"…Yeah, it was. Nii-san and Shinra were my only friend but then Shinra moved and Nii-san went to middle school so I was alone in preliminary school."

Tsuki leaned against Roppi. The two sat in the park, shrouded by bushes and trees so no one could see them.

"I'd come home with scratched and bruises everywhere, usually on my hands and knees because I'd usually get pushed down or kicked. The final straw was when one of Nii-san's friends' started in on the teasing too.

"We waited till the end of the school year then we came here to live with Shinra and Shingen-oji."

"Did your parents even try to do anything?" Roppi asked. "Sounds like Delic was the only one who cared."

"…My parents, well, they work really hard and long so they…never really had time to…well, you know."

Roppi didn't answer, leaning his head against Tsuki's.

"Dying my hair and eyes really helped. I don't have friends still but people don't shy away from me when I walk up."

"'Don't have friends', what about Masaomi and Mikado?"

Tsuki fell silent for a moment. "I'm only their friend when they want to hang out."

"Shallow, huh?"

"No, I just…I'm not good at making friends so I stopped trying. So, when Kida-san and them want to hang out, I will, but I'm going to go out of my way to try and make myself apart of their group."

"Haha, 'it's not you, it's me', huh?"

Tsuki chuckled. "Guess so."

"Hm." Roppi intertwined their fingers. "You know, you were cute as a delinquent blond with green eyes but I honestly think you look adorable with white hair and red eyes. Hee hee, we match." Roppi straddled Tsuki's lap and pushed him down so the raven was lying on top of him. The used-to-be blond blushed. "Watch, Kida's going to say you're trying to copy me."

Tsuki's eyes narrowed. "I hope not."

Roppi chuckled and nuzzled his head against Tsuki's chest, very girly.

"Roppi-san's...a little clingy today?" 'Unnaturally clingy? Actually, Roppi-san's never clingy. Should I be worried?'

"Hee, I haven't seen you in almost a week and last time I saw you, it didn't end well. So it's been nineteen days since I've been able to hold and talk to you." Then he looked up and glowered at Tsuki. "So, sue me for want to touch ya."

Tsuki chuckled and ran his hand through Roppi's hair. He could faintly see some white in the raven's roots.

"Pretty weird coincidence." Tsuki voiced. "That we're both albino's."

"Heh, yeah, it is."

"Maybe it's fate."

Roppi looked up at him. "You actually believe that?"

Tsuki blushed a little. "We-well…"

Roppi just chuckled. "It is pretty strange. But maybe it isn't. People who have experienced the same trauma or discrimination tend to band together for healing."

"But neither of us knew we shared the same issues."

Roppi shrugged. "Well, whatever. I don't see why it matters. But, hey," Roppi propped himself on his arms to look down at Tsuki. "Think it'll be alright with Delic if you hang out with me for a while?"

"Could I spend the night?"

Roppi cocked a brow. "It's Tuesday. You have school."

"It's Spring Break. We have the whole week off."

Roppi glared at that.

Tsuki chuckled.

"I'll text Nii-san, then."

Roppi sat on his hands and knees before plopping over like a cat on his side. Tsuki chuckled then pulled out his phone.

Delic's message flashed across his screen as soon as he opened it so he quickly accessed it.

:Where are you at? Street signs? And what happened?:

:Sorry I took so long again.: He typed, Roppi leaning over to rest his head on Tsuki's shoulder—thus seeing what Tsuki typed. It made the old-blond grin. :I'm not lost anymore. I'm at the park right now. I'll tell you what happened when you get here.:

Roppi chuckled. "When he gets here, you want me to bring him over here?"

"…Would you, please?"

Roppi smiled a little. "Sure."

*PING*

:I'm already at the park. Where are you?:

"Hm?" Roppi sat up. Then propped up on his arms and brought his feet under his body before standing. "Be right back."

Roppi dashed off through the bushes.

Tsuki sat up and ruffled his white hair, adjusting his scarf, and fixing his glasses. He felt his hands begin to get clammy as he started to get nervous.

'Nii-san won't be mad, will he?'

He pursed his lips and gripped his pant legs tightly.

Roppi returned momentarily, an angry blond sauntering behind him.

Delic's eyes widened when they fell on Tsuki.

"What the hell...?"

Tsuki chuckled nervously, his hands tightening as he looked at the ground. "Hair dye and hair dye removal got swapped."

Delic scowled. "Those dumb ass little—"

"It wasn't their fault. Ori—someone told them to swap it."

Delic's scowl deepened. He growled and his fists clenched. Then he huffed and sat down by his little brother.

"Well, the car's over that way. We'll get you home and redye it. Did you buy eye dye?"

"Um, a-actually..."

Delic stared down at him. "You wanna keep it?"

Tsuki tossed his eyes to the ground. "I...was thinking about it..."

Delic's eyes widened. He glanced up at Roppi, who just shrugged.

"What's with the sudden change? You were pretty adamant about this..."

"I just. I don't know. It's more of a hassle to dye my hair, and it doesn't exactly feel good to stain my iris's once every two to three months. I just...think it'll be easier if I stop dying it..."

Delic stared at him. "...Well, be sure about it. You'll probably get bullied and asked questions a lot."

"...I know..."

"I won't be there to protect you."

Tsuki nodded.

Delic stared at him and sighed. "Did Roppi put you up to it?"

"No, not at all." Tsuki said before thinking, said raven remaining expressionless to the accusation. "I just feel as if...I should stop hiding. Besides, everyone that sees you will know something is up since you don't hide it anymore."

"...True...Well, I don't mind if you wanna stop hiding it, but just be prepared, okay?"

"Okay."

Delic sighed and ruffed Tsuki's hair before standing.

"By the way, Roppi." Delic said.

"Hm?" Roppi cocked a brow, not expecting the older blond to talk to him for any reason whatsoever.

"Isn't your leg broken?"

Tsuki's eyes widened, then they flashed to Roppi's leg and widened even more. 'That's right! His leg snapped at the hot pot!'

Roppi shrugged. "It's just a fracture."

'He was chasing me through Ikebukuro with a broken leg?!'

"What, do you got nerve damage in your leg too?" Delic glowered at him.

"No. There hasn't been a year in my life when I haven't had a broken something. So, I'm used to the pain."

That caused Delic to glower at him and Tsuki's eyes to widen.

"You should get a cast on it. It won't heal right."

"I have a supportive cast boot thing." he pointed a thumb to his backpack. "I took it off so I could run."

"Why the hell would you run with a broken leg?"

"It's not broken. It's a fracture. And there are many reasons as to why."

"Well, your not running anymore so put it on."

Roppi glowered at him. "I don't think people who hate me have any right to tell me what to do."

Delic growled back but didn't say anything.

"Well, I think it's about time for me to leave. Bye, Tsu—"

"Don't run away."

"Eh?"

Roppi looked back at Delic, who grabbed his wrist.

"What do you mean, run away? I have things to do—"

"With a broken leg and hand? Bullshit."

Roppi turned away with a sigh, feeling his legs start to shake. "What's it matter to you? If I leave then you don't have to be around someone you don't like—"

"And why do you have to be the one to leave."

Roppi stared at him with a look of distaste. "Are you going to leave?"

"No."

"Then I'll leave. Now let go—"

"Is Izaya the one who taught you that?"

Roppi's eyes widened in confusion. "The fuck? Where did that come from all of a sudden? Honestly. At least I know where Tsuki gets his scatterbrain issue from."

That earned him a glare.

Roppi gave a tug to his wrist. "I hope you remember that both my wrists are injured. That hurts, you know."

Delic quickly released only to grab Roppi by his bicep.

Roppi bit his bottom lip enough to make it throb but not break the skin. He really didn't like this. Delic was way too close and holding him in a possessive manor. He glanced over at Tsuki, who was staring at Delic in confusion.

"Look," Roppi turned away and tugged his arm, keeping his eyes on the ground. "I get you don't like Izaya, and the fact that I look like him pisses you off. And along with that fact, I'm dating your little brother. So—"

"Shut up. That's not it."

"Then what—"

"Go to lunch with me."

"Eh?"

"EH?" Tsuki jolted. 'Nii-san wants to go on a date with my boyfriend?!'

"It's obvious you're going to be around Tsuki for a while and I got questions for you. So, you and me, lunch. Kay?"

"...Okay, but only-only if we go to Russian Sushi. Deal?"

"...Deal."