Chapter Three

He stared, unfocused, at the picture a little longer, remembering. They had shared a good time together that day, a good time free of the secrecy and hush. And up till now, a month later, despite everything in his mind telling him that it was a dream, he didn't want to wake up.

*Flashback

They sat in the pizza parlor, Genrou sniffing suspiciously at the air, before his eyes slid over to the quiet man opposite him. "Hey," he called, waving a hand in front of the other and snapping his fingers. "You okay?"

Houjun smiled. I'm more than okay, you silly git. To change the subject and hopefully distract his thoughts from heading into uncharted territory, he leant forward slightly and began talking about something else.

"You work as a doctor now?"

Genrou nodded. Houjun was secretly surprised no end over that latest development. "A surgeon, actually. I chose medicine as my major when I got sent to the university. I just got home a few days ago, but the letter for my posting came this morning. Guess I'll have to go back and look at it later."

"Ah."

"What about you?"

"Me?" he replied, leaning back and folding his arms over his chest. "I've got a business going…public relations." Genrou blinked and raised his eyebrow. Houjun laughed genuinely this time.

"I know, I know, I don't seem the type to talk, do I? But I write speeches very well, apparently."

The pizza came, and they looked at each other for a moment as the waitress set it down and walked off, each hesitating to do something, and yet there was a very real urge present in the air, that if neither did anything, this would be the end chapter in a book, the closure of what had never had a chance to be finished four years ago.

"Hey—"

"Genrou—"

@@@

Aw shucks. Now I know what they mean by déjà vu…

Genrou gulped. "You go first."

"No it's all right, you go first."

Genrou cringed inwardly. What should I say? What can I say? If time before he had been frightened and shy, this time he was righteously so. He knew the words that had to be spoken, words of regret and every other emotion he had felt since that day he had left Houjun, unheeding his calls and the clear hurt in his eyes. Yet they wouldn't come. He sighed, counted to ten silently in his head, and then threw all caution to the wind.

"I want you back, Houjun."

I did it. I did it. His eyes squeezed shut as he began a litany of silent prayers. Please don't let him laugh…please make him feel the same w—

A hand on his arm made him start, and as he looked up, warm lips tasting of cool mint captured his in a kiss. It wasn't an innocent kiss, not like the kind they had shared long ago. It was a kiss of reality, of hidden emotions, of—of love. And he could scarcely believe it was happening.

Not that he minded.

*End of Flashback

"Stop daydreaming, Houjun!" Myou Jyuan hollered into his business partner's eye, and the other man gave a guilty jump and flushed so red that the other had to laugh.

"You've been off all day. What's the matter?"

"Ah—" he began. A sly look came over his friend's face.

"Right. I forgot. Birthday and anniversary."

Houjun stared at Myou Jyuan narrowly. How –did– the man come by these bits of information anyway?

"Go home," Myou Jyuan moved forward and unceremoniously grabbed the papers he had been working on. "You're useless here today."