Wow…  I haven't written in ages.  My life has been really hectic.  I barely had time to write this and look at how short it is.  I'll try and keep this up.  Just know that I haven't abandoned it.  Oh, reviews always encourage me to write more…  ::hint hint::    

A Masterpiece is Forever

By: Meg-chan

Genrou was sitting on the couch looking around at his friends.  Kouji and Hikou were cuddled up in a very large chair, looking happy and almost oblivious to the world.  They were listening to Houjun tell a story from his seat on the floor about a crazed executive in his advertising firm who had thrown his desk chair out of the window.  The redhead sighed and pulled his knees to his chest.  With his eyes focused on the stunning man seated on the floor his mind wandered back to their last year of high school, easily the best year of his life.  From there on, after Houjun had left him, he got on but he always felt as though a hole had taken up residence in his heart.  Now sitting here, knowing Houjun was in a seemingly serious relationship, the hole seemed to be growing bigger with every moment. 

            Kouji looked over at his uncharacteristically quite friend.  He saw the emotions running across his face, even if he wouldn't have admitted to them.  He carefully untangled himself from Hikou's arm and approached Genrou.  "Hey man, come with me fer a minute."  He grabbed hold of Genrou's wrist and pulled him along behind him.  As the dark haired man reached the back door of the house, he pulled it open and walked into the backyard, Genrou in tow. 

            Kouji pushed his friend down into a chair that was situated around a nice table on the patio.  A warm breeze blew through the trees who in turn added the rustling of their leaves to the soothing music of the night.  Kouji sat down in a chair opposite Genrou and looked his friend in the eye.  "Gen, what's up?  You haven't said a word all night?  You feelin' alright?" 

            Genrou looked up at Kouji.  The guy was his best friend, and even though they hadn't seen each other as much as they would have liked to recently, he knew he could still tell him anything.  "Kouji, I-I…  It's Houjun.  But I bet that you already figured that out."

            "Well, let's just say that I had a hunch."

            Genrou grinned at his friend, thanking god that he had such a wonderful friend.  "Well, he's got his boyfriend, and here I am still stuck on 'im.  I'm pathetic.  I've been in love with the same guy for over ten years now, and this is the first time that I've seen him in seven years.  We used to be inseparable, and now I can't even talk to him."

            Kouji saw the pain that was etched in the lines of Genrou's face.  Pushing his chair back, he stood up from the table.  He made his may around the table to stand behind Genrou, who now had his head buried in his arms and down on the table.  The navy haired soccer coach stood behind his best friends and tentatively placed his hands on Genrou's shoulders.  "I know how you feel Gen. But-"

            Before he could finish Genrou cut him off.  "How the hell would you know how I feel?  You and Hikou have been together fer almost as long as I can remember.  You couldn't possibly understand."

            Sighing, Kouji shook his head and walked back around the table.  He sat down in front of his friend and picked his head up off the table.  "Hey, Gen.  Look at me."  Genrou shook loose and plopped his head back down on the table.  This was starting to get annoying.  "No matter what you think about Hikou an' me I can guarantee you that it's not all you think it is.  During our sophomore year of college we broke up."

            At this Genrou's head popped up, a look of shock on his face.  "Yeah, I know, I know.  I never told you about it.  It was kinda a tough time.  We were havin' issues and it was sorta tough fer me.  Hikou decided that he needed a chance to see other people and fer about 3 months he did.  I don't have to tell ya what that did to me.  I think you've been feelin' that fer a while now.  So don't tell me that I couldn't understand.  There may be a lot of things that I don't understand but this ain't one of 'em.  An' I'll tell you this.  While it may not be the best thing fer ya, ya sure as hell aren't pathetic fer bein' in love."

            Quite claimed the night again.  Both men sat in silence.  Kouji was looking at Genrou while the redhead looked at his hands.  He didn't know what to say to his friend.  Slowly, he looked up and smiled.  "I'm not sure what I'd do without you Kouji."

            "I'm not sure what you'd do either.  Probably curl up in a ditch and die."

            "Gee, thanks fer all the encouragement…"

            Kouji grinned and walked around Genrou once again.  As he made his way back into the house he ruffled Genrou's hair and added, "And on a side note, Houjun and this guy he's with aren't half as cute as you guys were."  Genrou smiled once again and followed Kouji inside. 

            Once they reached the living room, it became apparent, especially to Kouji that someone was missing.  "Where's Hikou?" he asked, not thinking of much else. 

            Houjun looked up from the magazine he had been reading to look at them.  "Oh, I was wondering what had happened to you guys.  Hikou said he was tired and he went to bed."  Kouji grinned a little, said goodnight, and made his way to their room, a mischievous glint in his eye.  Houjun called after him, "You do it in my bed and you will do the laundry and then you will die!"

            Genrou couldn't help but laugh at this.  Houjun hadn't changed much, but he had become more outgoing.  If someone had said that even near him when they were in high school he would have had a bloody nose and the probably passed out.  Now here he was saying it himself.  It was then that Genrou realized that he really didn't know Houjun anymore.  It worried him, the fact that he was in love with a man he didn't know.

            At the sound of laughter Houjun had turned around just in time to catch the worried look on Genrou's face.  This situation would be awkward enough as it was so Houjun ignored it.  The thin man motioned toward the other to sit with him. 

* * *

            Three hours later Houjun and Genrou were still sitting there, but now talking animatedly.  They had caught up on the last ten years, to some extent.  Both left out anything that to do with their personal lives.  But all in all things felt almost like they were normal. 

            If they had taken a step back to look at the scene objectively they would have noticed the tension in the air.  Each not wanting to upset or remind the other of things that had happened in the past between them.  Another thing that both of them had failed to notice was the distance between them now.  When the night began Houjun was on one end of the couch with Genrou on the other.  Now, they had met halfway and were practically on top of each other. 

            A pause in the conversation allowed Houjun some time to breath and look at just what was going on.  Genrou had leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes, an almost serene smile on his face.  Houjun then realized just how much he had missed this.  Before he could voice that Genrou stated, "I've missed you Houjun."  The fair man grinned at their identical thought patterns "It's been too long.  We used to be so close… and then we just stopped talking.  After looking at it know it all seems kinda stupid, ya know?"

            Houjun nodded, knowing just what he meant.  He looked up from his hands, which he had silently been studying.  Genrou was looking at him, an expression on his face that Houjun hadn't seen for a long time.  He wasn't even sure of what it meant anymore.

            After their long talk, Genrou remembered the man he loved.  "He really hasn't changed all that much.  He really is the same guy I fell in love with ten years ago.  But he's not mine now…"  When this thought crossed his mind, a pain shot through his heart, his emotions manifesting themselves physically. 

            Houjun saw the look of discomfort cross his friend's features.  "Are you alright?  You don't look well?"  Unconsciously he had raised a hand and placed it on the redhead's cheek.  By the time he noticed, it was too late.  He had leaned into kiss Genrou, who was too surprised to do anything.  Both men froze for a second before continuing, leaning into the embrace. 

            At the first touch of Houjun's lips to his own Genrou had started, but then remembered just how good and right this felt.  Apparently Houjun had come to the same conclusion, for the pale, thin man moved closer to deepen their kiss.  As Houjun traced his tongue over Genrou's lips, he felt them part willingly.  He paused before penetrating the redhead's mouth, thinking, "I hope I know what I'm doing…"