Part 2.5 (Intermission)

Stanzas to a Hindoo Air

Where is my lover? Where is my lover?

Is it his bark which my dreary dreams discover?

Far-far away and alone among the billow?

Why must my head ache where his gentle brow lay?

How the long night flags lovelessly and slowly,

And my head droops over thee like the willow!

Send me kind dreams to keep my heart from breaking,

In return for the tears I shed upon thee waking;

Let me not die till he comes back o'er the billow.

In one embrace let these arms once again enfold him,

And then to expire of joy- but to behold him!

Oh! My lonely bosom!- oh! My lonely Pillow!

Lord Byron

It was winter. The hills were covered with pleasant white snow, the trees had shed their leaves and taken on a mantle clear icicles. What better place to spend this pleasant weather but in a…

"I want to go home," Hiei muttered silently to himself. He was bored, and the long car ride to the hot springs wasn't helping any. He rested his chin on his palms and watched the endless parade of scenery passing by.

"C'mon, it couldn't be that bad," laughed Kurama beside him. The redhead was wearing a couple of thick woolen jackets and a scarf. Strange that he could still drive with those bulky things on. "You'd like the hotsprings, promise Hiei."

"I doubt it."

"Look, there's the place I was telling you about," Kurama pointed to a little house sticking out the edge of a cliff. The koorime eyed it suspiciously, a little 'hunh' escaping from his lips. If only he wasn't driving, he'd like to see his tomodachi's cute frown. Unfortunately… The road ahead steeped to a dangerous curve. He buckled up his seatbelt. It was too late to warn Hiei, however, as the little fire demon tumbled out of his seat.

It was a traditional Japanese Inn. Everything looked authentic, from the lanterns which greeted them outside, down to the sliding doors of their room. the only thing western here was the fire place in the middle. A nice compromise however, since it added a comfortable warmth to their quarters.

Beside him, Hiei threw down his bags and lay down on the floor.

Poor koorime, Kurama thought as Hiei hid his aching forehead in his hands. He knew that the fire demon wasn't used to cars, and earlier, he even hit his head on the window. But back then, he's got to admit that it was a little comical.

"Do you want me to get you something? Some tea?"

"Hunh. The faster we can finish this, the better," muttered Hiei, now rolling to his side and going to sleep.

"Wait, you can't sleep like that, you'd get a cold."

"I don't get cold," Hiei retorted.

Still, Kurama didn't like the notion of Hiei lying down on the cold wooden floor. Expertly, he unrolled a futon near the fire place, putting on it all the pillows and blankets he found in the cabinet.

"Here, you sleep here."

But Hiei didn't move, nor gave any indication that he heard. That little imp could be so stubborn. Without any warning, Kurama scooped him into his arms. The koorime was so light, like a little kid in fact. The red head didn't have any trouble lifting him up at all.

"What the? What'reyoudoing?PutmedownkitsuneorI'll…," he struggled like a cat about to be drowned in icy water. Kurama only grinned naughtily. Hiei tried to stare him down, but he knew it was all a bluff.

He let him drop on the soft futon.

"Youstupidfox,I'llgetyou,justyouwait,you…," but he was already sinking his head on the delightfully warm pillows, and covering himself with the woolen blankets. His warnings became muffled as he buried his face on the fat pillow he was embracing. Before long, Hiei was asleep.

The fire demon looked so innocent sleeping so peacefully like that. gone was his pretense of toughness, replaced by a vulnerability which shows at the way he he hugs the pillow. A stray thought brushed Kurama's mind. How would it feel if…

Dame! Dame! What was he thinking? Hiei's his bestfriend, for god's sake! Still blushing, the guilty kitsune hastily grabbed his jacket and stormed out of the room lest more dirty thoughts assail him.

"Is everything all right, sir?" a servant asked when he rushed to the inn's reception. He must've looked so harried, he hasn't even combed! To preserve what little dignity he had left, he gathered all his charm and smiled to the girl.

"Why, yes. I'm sorry I was much in a hurry. Where are the hot springs?"

The girl's cheeks reddened because of Kurama's flirty tone. In a small voice, she answered, "Down that corridor, and turn to the left. We have a- a separate bath house for males and females…"

"Shucks, what a pity," Kurama joked, still eyeing the blushing girl. Flirting came so easily for him, no it was almost second nature, having spent most of his life as a carefree youko. "Well, thank you very much. I'd best be going now."

He swiftly walked away before the girl asks him out.

There were only a few people in the inn, most were old people who didn't even notice him passing. When he arrived at the bath house, no one was even there, which was better for him.

The cold winter wind stung his skin as he slipped out of his jacket and clothes. And being the sensualist that he is, he considered the icy wind as a prelude to a very long delectable hot bath. A smile crept into his face and he hummed a little ditty. He folded his shed clothes in a bundle and placed it on a stool. No one would take those anyway. Grabbing the towels hanging conveniently in an open cabinet, he slung it carelessly on his shoulders, mussing his long red hair even more.

With the thought of warm, soothing water on his skin, he rushed to the hotsprings outside.

As he expected, no one was using the springs.

They were situated in between two gigantic rocks. There were three springs, and he couldn't wait to try them all. Like goldilocks, he dipped his foot in the biggest spring. He regretted it painfully. It was too hot. He next tried the middle-sized spring. It was too cold. Having no choices left, he eyed the smallest spring. It was less than ten feet in diameter, but it would do. He'd take a bath or he'd take a bath, for all the world may care! Slowly, as if his foot was remembering his early blunders, he tested the water. Perfect.

With a soft sigh, he contentedly slipped into the water. All thoughts of the fire demon sleeping in his room was blown away as the hot spring water enveloped his body. He slipped deeper and deeper into the pool, stretching his limbs languidly.

"What the?"

His foot hit a snag so he kicked it as a reflex. Perplexed, Kurama looked at the rising stream of bubbles in front of him. A huffing koorime suddenly appeared coupled with the spray of agitated boiling water.

Too surprised, Kurama let out a humiliating scream. He jumped out of the pool before he cooked.

Hiei was looking at him angrily. He didn't mind even if the water around him was evaporating into steam. When the fire demon calmed down, the water did also.

It was only then that Kurama realized that he was naked and freezing.

"W-what're you doing here?" he asked nervously as he went back to the now several degrees hotter water. Hiei had on his serious face.

"I almost broke my record when you kicked me in the face!" Hiei shouted.

"?"

"I-was-training!" Hiei clarified angrily before ducking below surface again.

The youko's heart was still pumping strongly, but as the situation sank, he couldn't help but be amused at everything. Closing his eyes, he laughed as his mind reviewed everything which happened since they began this trip.

"Why're you laughing?" by the sound of the splashing, Hiei came out of the surface again. Kurama didn't even bother opening his eyes as he answered softly. "What!" the fire demon demanded.

"Nothing," Kurama muttered.

"I didn't hear you!" Hiei shouted.

Kurama sighed and pushed himself out of the comfortable backrest he found on his little perch. He was about to say something when he his lips bumped unto something soft.

His eyes fluttered open, but his body wouldn't move.

Hiei moved closer to him to hear him, and he didn't even know it because he was drowsing away, Kurama realized. And now, he stared at his tomodachi, so close to him that he couldn't see his expression. He could only feel Hiei's lips as they quivered, as if the fire demon was also at a loss in what to do. Guiltily, his body ordered him to get on with it but he pounded that instinct away.

(Amazing how anime characters always hit the mark! author)

Tentatively, he was the one who backed away.

Wow… you're one stupid youko. Let me see you sleep tonight. He chided himself. Hiei was still staring numbly at him, before finding himself and brushing his lips with his bandaged right hand. He knew he shouldn't mind, but Kurama felt hurt that Hiei was acting so abhorred at him.

"Well, didn't know you like me like that," Kurama quipped as he daintily wiped his lips. No way he would let Hiei act so superior.

Still, Hiei didn't stop, even gurgled with the spring water and spatting it unceremoniously outside.

Inspite of himself, Kurama's mood darkened and no amount of hot water could relieve his anger. With a shrug, he went out of the pool, but not before secretly scattering itchy seeds which rapidly dissolved in the pool.

Yusuke finally understood why Kurama did all this.

The hospital morgue looked like a hurricane passed through it. Only now did the dust cleared, but replaced rafters and pieces of paper still littered the marble floor. Some ceiling lights also flickered.

"Kuwabara, let's go home," he said silently. He tore up the page with Hiei's record and shoved it in his pockets, the page with Karasu's record though, he set aflame with his youki.

Kuwabara only nodded and followed him. Wordlessly, they went out of the hospital. Yusuke knew that Kurama wouldn't come back there, he already got what he wanted.

"Ano, Yusuke, where are we going?"

"Kurama's house."

"Whaat?" Kuwabara asked so loud, Yusuke felt his ears ringing, "How'd you know he's home?"

"He's not in the hospital, is he?"

"Demo… what if he's attacked, or hurt, or…"

"Believe me, he's hurt," Yusuke answered mysteriously. Luckily, Kurama's house wasn't so far away. His patience was stretched and he didn't know if he could stand Kuwabara's nagging. "Ano, Kuwabara-kun, I think you're right…"

"I-I'm right?" the carrot top guffawed boastfully, "Of course I'm right, I'm a genius, Hahaha!"

Yusuke wanted to kick him then and there. He'd have to play his cards just right.

I've got to get him out of here. If he asks those stupid questions of his around Kurama, there's no telling what Kurama might do to him.

Images of killer plants slowly strangling Kuwabara…

Not a very big loss…

But they've both gone a long way and he'd feel guilty if Kurama hurts Kuwabara or worse. Let time do its job, maybe their giant friend would learn some finesse then.

"Kuwabara, could you go to Yukina's house and tell her to come here? I think Kurama might need her."

"Sweet Yukina-kun, coming right up!"

A sweat mark formed on Yusuke's temple as he watched Kuwabara gaily running towards the wrong direction.

I'll phone Yukina-kun in Kurama's house later.

His chest hurt from all the running, and his head's numb from all the snow that pounded his temples. To top it all, he had to sneak into the inn as a fox because he forgot his clothes in the bathroom and the bathroom's locked! He couldn't possibly walk up to the manager in all his natural glory and ask for the keys could he?

He jumped from branch to branch of the tree just outside their room. Foxes don't really climb trees, but he really had no choice now. He could just imagine the cozy warmth of the fireplace…

Then the koorime's image flashed. How he wiped his lips as if he just kissed a rotting imp's…

Speaking of the demon.

Hiei was practicing his moves in front of the crackling fire. He didn't turn on the lights, so the dancing fire made a play of his shadow, sending it high up to the ceiling, giving the koorime an atmosphere of seriousness. Kurama noticed Hiei's determination, how he showed his fangs as he thrust into the heart of an invisible enemy.

So that's all that's important to you is it? Strength? Well I don't care.

He tapped his paws on the window glass. Hiei stopped his training.

Hiei didn't say a word as he opened the window, which was of no consequence to Kurama.

Wordlessly, he changed back to his human form in front of Hiei. It was dark anyway, and with only this statue, no Hiei's worse than cold concrete! he'd just as well be alone.

"Where'd you go?" Hiei asked without any inflection in his voice. "You disappeared so suddenly."

Kurama shrugged in answer, opening his suitcase and picking up his own robe.

"I'm tired, I'm going to bed," he muttered as he slipped into the periwinkle robe. He lied down on the futon where Hiei slept in earlier. After all, he unrolled this futon and prepared it, so he should be the one to sleep on it.

"O-yasumi, then," Hiei said.

Kurama didn't hear him practice after that. If he did, he might've lashed out at him and ordered him to stop. But even as angry thoughts paraded in his mind, his body lulled him into sleep.

At last, Yusuke arrived in Kurama's house. Nothing was changed. He wondered if he was right.

He rang the doorbell, waited for an answer, but none came. Not immediately, anyway. He thumped his heels on the welcome mat and rang again. No answer.

Damn.

Angrily, he turned the door knob, intending to dislodge it. He was surprised when it easily rotated. The door was unlocked.

"Hello?" he called out. Yusuke's been to Kurama's house many times before and he was familiar with most of it. He felt for the light switch he knew was beside the door.

White fluorescent lamp flooded the room. The sala looked almost as worse as the morgue. But here, it looked like everything was deliberately, and maliciously done. He clenched his fists.

Karasu, you son-of-a-gun.

He carefully tried to avoid the pieces of furniture lying around and went up to Kurama's room.

Light flooded his eyes, waking him up from his deep dreamless sleep. Kurama yawned and stretched his arms, wondering where he was. Ah, he remembered. He was in an inn, enjoying the most comfortable futon with his heartless tomodachi. He closed his eyes again.

Nani?

He rubbed his eyes before turning around. Hiei's back was turned on him, but he was sleeping beside him. Kurama felt his cheeks burn, with what? Embarrassment? No, his cheeks reddened as he suddenly realized what it really was. Inspite of the cold, Hiei didn't have a shirt, he used his shirt as a pillow since Kurama took all of theirs. Kurama looked at the koorime's back, his mind providing all the details the blanket was hiding…

Stupid! I thought you were mad at him? He berated himself. He started to get up, but Hiei's foot was entangled with his own, not to mention that the fire demon was lying on half of his robe. With a sigh, he tried moving Hiei away, but it seems like he was trying to move a log. The koorime was exhausted from his training, and was sleeping so deeply. He was even snoring.

But Kurama wasn't so easily put off. Again, he tried to roll Hiei over with his two hands, one on each of the koorime's shoulders.

One, two…he counted as he gathered his strength. That's when Hiei decided he wanted to roll over himself. Kurama lost his balance, his mind going blank as he realized the inevitable.

He hit his head first, then his shoulders. It didn't hurt much, Hiei's body softening the landing, but his position, what would Hiei think?

Kurama slowly opened his eyes, only to find Hiei's ruby eyes looking at him with an unreadable expression on his face. They were locked like that for some time before Kurama had the presence of mind to remove himself. With an uncharacteristic lack of grace, he stumbled off Hiei's torso and unto his side of the futon. His cheeks were flushed, and his face was covered with a thin layer of sweat. The koorime surveyed him, his face now reflecting confusion.

"What was that all about?"

Kurama couldn't answer, it seems like his heart and mind had changed places. He was so nervous that he could feel his pulse right up to his temples.

"Hunh. I can't believe you're such a goofball. Can't you let me sleep?"

Me, a goofball?

Kurama's mood darkened again.

"You're the one who slept beside me," he countered.

Hiei gave him an evil glare.

"You took all the blankets. How am I going to sleep with my back all wet from training? It's bad for the lungs," he explained. Kurama would have let it go at that if only he didn't add the following, "stupid kitsune…"

What?

Even Kurama's ears reddened. He tightened his fists, trying to control his temper, but he was only trying to stop the inevitable.

"You JERK!" He screamed.

Hiei was so taken aback that he hid half of his face in the blanket he was holding. He eyed the flustered ningen cautiously.

"If you don't like my company, just SAY SO! And if you can't appreciate your vacation, at least be civil and let me enjoy mine!"

Carefully, Kurama got up. He needed to straighten up his confused thoughts, not to mention his heart. He went to the bathroom to wash his face. When he finished, he noticed his clothes neatly stacked in the corner. Strange, he didn't remember putting them there. He straightened them up, and discovered that they were the same clothes he left in the bath house 1. How nice for the staff to bring them here. To his surprise, it was cleaned too! He was about to put them on when he had a change of heart. Hiei, you heartless jerk!

He changed into a silver fox and ran to the mountains. He wanted to bite that stupid koorime in the ass and give him rabies! Then he'd drown him in a sulfuric acid plant bath… His fur stood on end as if he was about to get into a fight.

Kurama ran up, and up the white capped hills, so high that even he was having difficulty breathing, and his fur was becoming covered with icicles. Finally, even he realized that he had to rest and find shelter before he freeze to death.

Hunh. As if he would look for you. Most likely, he'd just skip the bill and go back to Makai.

His heart had stilled somewhat though, and he concentrated his attention on finding a warm burrow. He sniffed the snow covering the mountain side, looking for the familiar odor of moist sod, a sign of a cave or a hole.

There. He smelled the familiar scent and began burrowing, using his front paws to dig like crazy. Kurama was faintly amused that he retained his fox instincts even as he became human, even more amusing that he was using those instincts now! He inspected the little cave he found. It wasn't big, nor was it too small. He could turn around with room to spare, and if he curled into a ball, it provided a comfortable burrow for him to rest in.

He sank to the ground and rested his muzzle on his paws. His last thoughts before he fell asleep were, Stupid koorime.

He must've slept for some time because the cave was very dark when he woke up. He shook his fur loose of some fallen fluff and snow. He should really be going back. No sense sleeping out here in the open.

He only walked a few distance when he bumped unto a hard frozen wall. He tried breaking it up, but with his fox form, it was useless.

Heart thumping in his chest, he backed up a few steps and tried again, ramming the wall with all his might. He only succeeded in shaking up the cave. Loose dirt rained on him, falling on his eyes, and nose…

Hatchoo!

Sighing, he sank to the ground, willfully calming himself.

He reviewed all his options.

He couldn't change into his human form since the cave was too small, so he couldn't use his plants.

He could stay as a fox and wish that someone would find the cave and let him out, which was very improbable since only a snow storm could freeze an ice wall in so short a time.

Damn. Maybe Hiei was right, maybe he was just a stupid kitsune.

The cold made him drowsy again, lulling him into another soothing sleep.

His dream was so strange.

Someone was calling his name, and trying to wake him up. But he didn't want to wake up, he was so tired. In fact, he knew he tried to bite the stranger's hand off when the other tried to drag him out. He couldn't understand why this makai-jin wanted to disturb him. After all, he didn't do anything to him so why can't he just let him hibernate in peace?

"Stupid kitsune, you're not a fox anymore," he heard the other grumble as he was scooped into strong arms and cradled so gently. Nice. He didn't mind this at all. Whoever this person was, he felt he could trust him, he felt himself slipping into sleep again.

When he woke up again, he felt so warm and secure. In fact, he didn't feel like going back to sleep anymore.

He looked around. He was in a cozy inn, with a fireplace roaring in front of him.

Someone was absentmindedly stroking his head. He turned around. What did he think he was, a dog?

He was surprised to find that it was Hiei. The koorime was wet, from melted snow, he guessed.

He was resting on the fire demon's chest, and inside the fire demon's warm embrace… and only now did he realize that it was Hiei who was providing him with warmth, and not the fire place.

Oh Hiei… All his anger, his early misgivings about his tomodachi were swept away as he realized the trouble Hiei went through just to find him. I'm so sorry. I was so engrossed in all your little faults that I totally forgot why I liked you in the first place.

If foxes could smile, then he was definitely smiling.

How you're so loyal, and caring in your cute little way…and most of all, that you're my best best friend in all the worlds and dimensions.

He snickered and licked the koorime in the face. Tomorrow, he'd say sorry. And if he gathered up his courage, then he might just confess why he was acting so strange in the first place.

"Good morning!"

The fire demon squinted his eyes, turning his back on the sudden sunlight which was streaming on his eyes. Kurama laughed and pulled away his blankets. Hiei groaned.

Kurama went down on all fours and pinched the fire demon's button nose. Hiei instantly got up and hid his aching nose with both hands.

"Time to get up, Hiei, our stay's over."

Hiei was one of those heavy sleepers. In fact, he had to dress him up because he wouldn't wake up. A small part of him was guilty since it was his fault that the fire demon had to barge into the storm. A little smile crept into his lips as he gazed on the sleeping koorime. He looked so cute in his kid's jacket and woolen hat. Not very scary and intimidating at all.

"Keep your eyes on the road, kitsune," the fire demon muttered, eyes still closed. But he was beginning to stir and stretch his limbs.

Kurama thought that it would be best if he do what he said. Sceneries passed by with neither of them talking. Strange enough, it was Hiei who broke their silence.

"Kurama?" his voice was strangely gentle, as if he was unsure of what he would say. Kurama waited intently. "Why did you run away last night?"

Hnh?

At first, Kurama thought that Hiei was mad. He glanced at the fire demon beside him, but all he could see was bewilderment. He could sense the undertone of hurt in Hiei's voice.

"I-I'm sorry if I ruined your vacation. I wasn't thinking… I was a little uncomfortable if I'm not slashing something," Hiei apologized meekly, not looking at him, but instead, staring on his clenched hands like a boy caught in mischief.

Kurama's heart went out to his tomodachi. It was unfair keeping him in the dark like this. All his mood swings, all his tantrums… Hiei was on the receiving end of it and the koorime didn't even complain. It was all Kurama's fault, he was the one with all these conflicting emotions. He pondered, whether to come clean, or leave it still a secret.

But Hiei looked so lost. It was only then that Kurama realized that besides himself, Hiei never had someone else, ever. He was his only friend, and he was acting like a selfish youko, expecting Hiei to attend to his every whim… Hiei looked at him, and Kurama believed that whatever he said, the koorime would delve very much into it…

But, should he? Or would he only make another mistake? He sighed.

"Hiei, whatever happens, promise me you won't get mad…," Kurama began, not taking his eyes off the road. Not much for safety's sake, but much more because he was afraid of what the koorime's reaction would be. "But I don't think I can continue being your friend anymore."

Hiei's reaction was explosive, literally. His side of the car exploded and it was only due to luck that their car caught the railing and didn't fall off a cliff. When he came to, Kurama found himself flat on the road side, a little dazed, but otherwise unhurt.

"Why? What do you mean?" Hiei's voice quivered.

For a while, Kurama was afraid that the fire demon might really hurt him for he looked so mad, but instead, Hiei sank to the ground and rested his back on the car, not looking at him. Kurama sighed and sat beside him. he took the koorime's left hand and solemnly kissed it… a chaste kiss, but it was worth more than a thousand words.

Slowly, Hiei turned around, eyes wide and unbelieving. He didn't take his hand away.

"Don't lie to me, Kurama," he warned seriously. He paused, then looked away before he met Kurama's gaze again.

"Its just," he searched for an answer, but only found it looking back at him, Hiei was the reason, and he didn't need another explanation, "everything about you. I can't help it anymore, the more I ignore it, the more I find myself pushing you away. I know it's wrong, we're both boys and that makes it even harder to admit to myself… but I love you. There. I said it."

From where he got the courage to say those words, he didn't know. Suddenly, he felt Hiei's pain, confusion, grief… the koorime's shoulder began to shake. Kurama grew afraid, that he just ruined their friendship…

He was stammering out an apology when Hiei cut him off.

Again he said, "Don't lie to me, Kurama."

Hiei's ruby eyes pierced him like daggers.

"How could you love me?"

It unsettled him to see the fire demon so upset, that hiruiseki was threatening to fall from the edges of his eyes. Without the koorime's permission, he embraced him, enfolding his lithe body in his arms, and resting his head on the small but sturdy shoulders.

"I don't care if you're a forbidden child, a pariah or whatever," he whispered directly in the koorime's ears. That was when Hiei finally broke down and cried on his shoulders.

"I thought you were really mad at me! When you ran away, I thought you left me like they always did," he cried, hiruiseki now falling freely into the ground, "damn you youko, I thought you only stayed with me because I amused you…"

"No, no, how could you say that?" he ran his hands on Hiei's back, giving him some sort of comfort. "I want to be with you always."

He pulled away and lifted the fire demon's chin lightly, forcing him to look at him. what beautiful eyes he had, so innocent and true to the soul. He kissed him lightly on the lips, enjoying the short brush of softness on his skin.

He pulled away, much to Hiei's confusion. He took a white rose from his hair and magically transformed it into red in front of the koorime.

He gave it a light kiss before giving it to Hiei. His heart almost burst with happiness as Hiei took it in his hands and kissed it too before slipping it gently near his heart.

Yusuke finally reached Kurama's room, and as he expected, Kurama was there, sleeping. He was sure it was him because it was very hard to simulate that rich fiery red hair of his. Quietly, he walked near the sleeping kitsune. He was puzzled when he noticed that he seemed to be too fat underneath those blankets. Carefully, he pulled off the sheets from his friend's fingers.

There was a hole on the bed, but otherwise, it was fine. Dozens of pictures were strewn beside Kurama, sunny pictures, happy snapshots of memories. The team was on some of them, but mostly, it was only of Hiei. He looked at the dried rose on Kurama's hand. There was a necklace strewn around it, with a jet black hiruiseki.

He pulled the blankets, revealing more of Kurama's profile. Slowly, another body emerged, in between the kitsune's protective arms.

Yusuke's feet buckled as a storm of feelings weakened him. He couldn't help but bury his face in his hands as his tears began to fall unashamedly. Why did this have to happen? He didn't know that Kurama and Hiei were together, didn't even notice it. but he could imagine what Keiko would feel if he died so suddenly in one of their battles, and seeing Kurama so sad like this, he prayed that that would never be.

Can the lips sing of love in the desert alone,

Of kisses and smiles which they now must resign?

Or dwell with delight on the hours that are flown?

Ah no! for those hours can no longer be mine.

Can they speak of the friends that I lived but to love?

Ah, surely affection ennobles the strain!

But how can my numbers in sympathy move,

When I scarcely can hope to behold him again?

Lord Byron

To Be Continued

A note on the poet by Turin: Oh, Lord Byron, you shonen ai bishonen author, who loved a bishonen choir boy who only thought of his deformity… oh! Shucks… he's the only poet I've read. Maybe if he's still alive, he'll be a fixture in or other similar communities. Sometimes he writes with no theme in mind (no offense), but sometimes he writes and his story/ poem strikes a chord in you, and it stays with you for a long time. Sometimes, you feel a huge sweat drop on your head as you read his ridiculous rhymes and puns, but then he surprises you with a heart warming lyric… damn you, Lord Byron! Why are you sooo good!