AN: You'll find out later what Belle Tragedie mean. Of course you could just cheat and look it up, but that would ruin the fun now wouldn't it?

Chapter 2

"Sorry if the place is such a mess."

Ryo said softly as he unlocked the door to his small apartment. Dee just gave a small nod. This guy named Ryo sure was a strange fellow. He was trusting. Dee thought a little too trusting. For all Ryo knew, Dee could have been a killer or something.

"Not much of a talker I see."

Ryo commented as he and Dee walked through the door.

"No. Not really."

Dee replied.

"I see."

Ryo took off his scarf, coat and shoes by the door. He looked at Dee who was still in his coat and shoes.

"Well, are you going to take them off or what?"

Dee shook his head.

"Could you at least please take the shoes off? I don't like shoes on my carpeting."

Dee nodded and took off his shoes. This man was really odd. He had never quite met someone who was so kind to a stranger. Normally the kind of people he met were those that weren't all too kind to strangers.

"Come on then, lets get you some food."

Ryo led Dee to his small kitchen table. After pulling a chair out for Dee to sit down, he went about making some coffee.

"How do you take your coffee?"

"Black."

Ryo nodded. As he stood in the kitchen waiting for the coffee to finish, he let his eyes flicker over the man who was seated at his table. A tall lanky frame, but with just the slightest hint of muscle tone. Black hair that fell to his shoulders with just a few strands of it hung down in front of dull emerald green eyes. Green eyes that had probably once held so much life, now held so much sadness. Ryo wondered what could have possibly happened to this man to make him the way he was.

"Do you plan to stare at me all day long?"

Ryo was shaken out of his thoughts by the mans harsh reply.

"Sorry."

Ryo turned back to the coffee maker. He made himself, and Dee a cup of the hot liquid.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Ryo took a sip of his coffee before setting it on a counter. He began to pull things out of his cupboard.

"How do you like your eggs?"

Ryo paused what he was doing for a second to look at Dee.

"Scrambled is fine. No cheese or anything on them, please."

Ryo turned back around and continued in what he was doing.

'How should I make him come out of his shell? I know he's watching me, I can feel his eyes on me, but I just don't know how to make him talk to me.'

Ryo thought to himself as he continued to make food. He was soon done, and set a plate down in front of Dee.

"Would you like anything on your toast Dee?"

Dee shook his head and began to eat the food. He ate politely, which was surprising to Ryo.

'I wonder why he's eating with such manners. I've worked with homeless people before, and none of them ate their food with such manners.'

Dee caught Ryo starring at him again. Ryo dropped his eyes to his own food and began to eat.

"Thank you. This is really quite good, but I'm afraid I can't stay."

Dee took his dish and brought it to the sink, which was another thing Ryo was surprised at.

"But Dee…you can't leave. It's cold outside and you're going to catch a cold if you go back out there. Please stay."

Dee walked out of the kitchen and back into the entryway where his shoes were.

"I can't. I must leave now. I've taken up enough of your time, and I'm grateful for you hospitality, but I really can't stay."

Ryo was running out of ways to get Dee to stay. He really didn't want Dee to leave. He couldn't explain it, but there was just something there. There was an invisible bond forming between the two of them, and Ryo wanted to make this bond stronger. Dee was finished with his shoes and was about to walk out the door when Ryo had an idea.

"Wait!"

Ryo opened the closet door, and pulled out a long yellow fleece scarf.

"At least just take this. It's cold outside."

Dee took the warm material from Ryo.

"Thanks."

He wrapped it around his neck, and walked out the door. Ryo watched him leave. He wasn't certain if he would ever see Dee again. But something deep down inside of him told him that he and Dee would cross paths again one day.