Epilogue
[A week later]
The sun was setting overhead, casting surreal orange glows on the beach. Below, under the expanse of the rose-tinted sky, shouts and laughter filled the air.
"Myou Jyuan!" Ryuuen screeched as the taller man raced away from where he had dumped the latter, holding his sides and laughing so hard that tears spilled from his eyes. Glowering, Ryuuen clambered out of the shallow hole as surf lapped at his feet. "I'll get you for that!"
It was Ryuuen's birthday party. As Houjun dug his heels into the soft brown sand and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of the cool wind on his face, a smile curved involuntarily on his face.
I won't mourn you, Hikou. I'll celebrate your memory with my life. Are you watching this, Hikou?
The sharp cries of the seagulls overhead made him open his eyes, and he turned and focused on Genrou, who stood about a hundred yards away across the beach, laughing as he spiked the ball over the net where it landed at Saihitei's feet, who proceeded to run off with the ball. Watching the auburn-haired man, Houjun lifted his hand slightly, to touch the cool band of silver that hung around his neck from a slim chain.
*Flashback
Genrou's eyes softened as he bent down and pulled Houjun into a hug, but when he moved back, Houjun knew what his lover's answer was.
"I don't want to marry you." There was a lingering smile on his face even as he reached out and gently tucked the loose strands of dark hair behind Houjun's ear, before drawing close to the older man again.
"I don't ever want to take you for granted," he whispered quietly. "I want us to be like this forever, feeling new, feeling free. Free to choose, and free to love, Houjun. No obligations, never tied down."
And all I want is to make you happy, Genrou.
He reached out and embraced the younger man fiercely, enveloping him in his arms as the ring clattered to the floor.
*End of Flashback
If my loving you
Could change the river's flow
I would not let you drift away from me
I'd never let you go
Small waves crashed onto the shore, the foamy white edge of the water circling around his ankles as he let his hand fall.
In another life
In another place
I'd have held you close
I'd have known your grace
"I can wait, Genrou," he said aloud, softly. I can wait.
Feeling the laughter bubble up inside of him, he took one last look out to the sea, marveling in how the dappling rays of the setting sun reflected in the dark green water. Then he began to run, back towards the barbecue pits where the people milled around, tossing Frisbees, and where the music from the radio wafted in the breeze.
In another world
In another time
You'd be mine
You'd be mine
The End