Okay, I'm gonna do my best to get chapters out on a more regular basis, so here this is.  I'm trying, I really am.  So stick with me!  Please???  And reviews are nice…

A Masterpiece is Forever

By: Meg-chan

"Oh gods… he's here…"

            Houjun followed his ex-boyfriend across the room with his eyes.  Time had been easy on Genrou.  He was as gorgeous as ever, but more mature and refined.  Houjun excused himself from the conversation he had been having and crept quietly into the bathroom, hoping that no one, particularly Genrou, had seen him.

            As Houjun opened the door to the bathroom he inwardly cursed himself.  "What the hell am I doing in here?  I'm acting like a little kid…" He turned, entered a stall, and sat himself down on top of the toilet.  He pulled his knees up and held them close to his chest.  With a sigh Houjun let his head fall onto his knees.  "Why is this so damn complicated?"  Houjun was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't even notice when another man entered.

            The other man was walking towards a stall when Houjun finally noticed that someone else was in the bathroom.  As the door of his stall began to open, he realized in horror that he had forgotten to lock the door.  All of a sudden, Houjun was face to face with Genrou.  "Oh, Jeeze, I'm sor- Houjun?"

            Houjun had his face buried in his lap with the hopes that maybe Genrou wouldn't recognize him.  When he realized that Genrou had indeed seen and recognized him, he pulled his head out of his lap enough to peek over his arms.  "Oh, Genrou… Hi."  Only he still had his arms covering his face so it sounded more like, "Oh dinner role… Thai." 

            Genrou looked at Houjun with a puzzled expression on his face.  "Ummmm, Houjun?  Are you okay?  Do you want me to leave?"

            Houjun sat up.  "No, please.  Well, actually.  Maybe we can at least get out of the bathroom…"

            "Oh, heh, yeah…"

            Houjun got up off the toilet and exited the stall.  The two men left the bathroom in an awkward silence.  Upon reaching the reunion again, they looked around for their friends.  Out of the blue, a pretty women, about 5'8" with shoulder length brown hair walked up to them  "Houjun!  Genrou!  How are you guys?"

            Genrou wracked his brain for her name but finally gave in and looked at her nametag.  "Janice Elroy…  Oh!  I remember her."  Janice used to be short and sort of pudgy so it wasn't much of a surprise that he didn't recognize her.  "Hey Janice!  Not too bad here, how 'bout you?"

            "Oh I'm great, I married Billy Carmichael, you remember him right?  We went to college together.  So, are you two together still?"

            At that, both Houjun and Genrou stood up a little straighter and felt very uncomfortable.  Neither was quite sure what to say.  "Uhhh, well…"  Houjun began but was soon cut off.  "No, we're not.  We broke up a long time ago."  With that, Genrou walked away.

~*~

            "Damnit, what the hell was I thinking?  Why am I just walking away?  Why don't I just go talk to him?  ARGHHHHH!"  Genrou stormed out of the hotel and went around to the side where the pool was located.  The downtrodden red head slouched down into a chair at the poolside.  He sighed into his hands and rubbed his forehead.  He could feel a headache coming on, just like it always did when he thought too seriously.  Genrou leaned back and closed his eyes. 

When Genrou opened his eyes there was another person sitting alongside the pool with him.  He lifted his head and looked over to see Houjun looking out at the water.  "Why'd you walk off like that?  I wanted a chance to talk with you…"

"Yeah, well, I wasn't so sure you really wanted me around and I prefer to be around people who want me there."

Houjun was silent for a moment before responding.  "I'm sorry…  I… I didn't mean anything…"

"Yeah, I know you didn't.  So.  I haven't seen you in a long time.  How are ya doin'?"

Houjun paused.  Why was Genrou just letting this go by?  He always had been to nice for his own good…  "I'm doing well.  My job's going well and overall I'm happy.  How about you?"

"I love my job, workin' with the kids is great.  A few of them remind me of us and our friend when we were in high school…  but it's good."

"So…  Are you seeing anyone?"  Houjun had hesitated before asking this, but he needed to know.  He needed to know that he was secure in his relationship, and that Genrou was happy and secure. 

"Actually, no.  If you really want to know, I haven't seen anyone seriously since we broke up.  I never quite got over you I think.  I'm sorry, you probably don't wanna here that do ya?  Yer probably happy and settled by now, aren't ya?"

A car drove by and disturbed the silence that had settled over the two men.  What was Houjun supposed to say to that?  The last thing that he wanted to hear was that Genrou still loved him.  Even if he didn't now, knowing that he had for so long was not helping his situation.  "I have Tom!  I love Tom!  Tom cares about me, supports me, and loves me!  What more could I ever ask for?  Well, Genrou did all those things too…and I felt so comfortable with him…  Wait!  Stop it!  I feel that way with Tom too.  Houjun, get your act together, Genrou is the past, Tom is the present and the future."

"Yes, actually I am.  Well, we're not really settled, but we've been living together for about a year now.  His name's Tom, and he's amazing.  He's an artist and he owns his own gallery.  I've never met anyone quite like him.  We're very happy…"

Looking over the pool, a forlorn look came across Genrou's face.  Part of him wanted Houjun to be happy.  He really did, yet at the same time the cold bitter side of him, wanted Houjun to be alone and miserable.  He sighed, "Well, I'm glad you're happy."  He stood up.  "I think I'd better get back to the reunion, I still haven't seen Kouji ya know."

Without thinking, Houjun stood up and called out, "Wait!  Ummm…  Hikou and Kouji are staying at my house, do you want to stop by after the reunion, just to talk for a little while?  But, only if you want to…"

The red head looked at the other man with a small smile on his face, "Sure, I'd love ta."

With a big grin on his face Houjun replied, "Great, we'll look forward to it.  You remember how to get there right?"

An almost bitter smile fell into place on Genrou's features.  "Yeah, I remember how to get there.  I spent quite a bit of time there if you recall…"

"Heh, yeah.  I suppose you did.  Well…  I guess we'll see you later then."

"Yeah, I'll be there, have a good night."

"You too…"  Houjun watched as Genrou walked away and then turned back to the pool, the lights from the hotel windows were darting across the surface of the water.  He sat for a few moments more, lost in his own thoughts, before standing and walking back in the direction of the reunion.

~*~

            Later that same night, after the festivities were over Genrou was on his way back to the hotel.  "Jeeze, that was almost as bad as being back in high school.  People haven't changed at all.  When they said they were gonna acknowledge people's achievements I thought they were gonna acknowledge the people that had actually done something.  They just kept talkin' about the same people, and it was the same people that had been in the 'popular' group when we were in school.  I guess some things will never change."

            During the ceremonies, they never once mentioned Houjun's huge success in the advertising business, Megumi's breakthrough in the fashion world, or any of the other actually amazing accomplishment by their classmates.  Instead, they chose to mention Danny Jones' weekly column in his local newspaper, Sarah Larson's career as a short order cook.  Funny how these people used to be so popular and wonderful.  Now they were just members of the faceless masses.  Genrou shook his head as he entered his hotel room.  Life was so strange sometimes.

            The young guidance counselor flopped back onto his bed.  He was thoroughly disappointed with the reunion.  It had been nice to see everyone, but the reunion itself was ridiculous.  Except for seeing Houjun…  That had been interesting.  The moment he saw Houjun, he fell in love all over again.  He had tried to prepare himself for seeing Houjun again, but he didn't expect the emotions he felt to be so powerful.  Genrou placed his hands over his face and groaned.  Actually, it was a bit louder than a groan, more like a low loud scream.  Well, it was a loud sound of frustration. 

            Houjun was settled and happy.  He didn't have a place in his life for Genrou anymore.  Going to Houjun's house within the hour was going to be awkward.  He didn't need to cause Houjun any more problems with his attraction.  Houjun deserved to be happy.  "And I can't make him happy.  That's over now…"

~*~

            Sitting in the living room with the television on, Houjun, Hikou, and Kouji were discussing the reunion.  Their opinion was very similar to that of Genrou, only they were being more vocal about it, especially Kouji.  Suddenly, the doorbell rang.  Houjun jumped, and then wondered who it could be.  Then it hit him, "Genrou!" 

            "Oh guys, I forgot to tell you, Genrou's coming over.  That's probably him." Houjun made a motion to answer the door, but Kouji beat him to it.  "Gen's here?  Yay!!  I'll get it!"

            Kouji jumped up and ran to the front door.  With a sweep of his arm he opened the door, and there stood the red head.  "Gen!"  Kouji leapt at his friend and tackled him.  They both fell to the ground with Kouji wrapped possessively around Genrou's waist.  Houjun and Hikou had just walked to the front door to find the two men in this position.  "Kouji, are you cheating on me?" Hikou asked playfully.

"You know I'd never do that!  Yer the only one fer me!"  With that said, Kouji let go of Genrou and ran to Hikou.

            Hikou replied with a smile and placed a kiss on Kouji's nose.  "Same goes for me."

            While this exchange was taking place, Genrou had stood up and was now brushing the loose gravel off of his clothing.  He looked at his friends, and smiled fondly.  Gods how he had missed them.  His eyes wandered to Houjun only to find the blue haired man's one focused on him.  Both looked away rather suddenly, a blush on both faces.  Hikou noticed this and silently pointed it out to Kouji.  The lovers smiled at their friends.  The smiles were knowing and sad at the same time.  They knew how Genrou and Houjun felt about each other after all these years, and they knew how they were torturing themselves by not admitting it to anyone. 

            "Hey, let's all go back inside.  I don't think standing out on the front step is exactly how I want to catch up, not that it isn't a lovely front step."  Hikou smiled as he said this and lead the way back inside. 

            The last one to enter the house was Genrou.  He stood outside and watched Houjun's back as he entered.  Even then, Genrou stood there, waiting.  For what, he didn't know.  Maybe he was waiting for someone to tell him to go inside.  Or maybe he was waiting to see if he couldn't figure out the look Houjun had been giving him.  Or perhaps he was waiting for this one-sided love to end.   But he was probably just waiting for his shaking knees to regain some composure, and his heart to find some courage so that he could make his way inside.        

            With painstakingly slow steps, Genrou walked in the door.