A/N1: Firstly, thousand thank you's to general zargon who dropped a review! I was too sure if I was going to continue publishing, but looks like I am. So thank you once more!

Warnings: Shounen-ai. Very light, and will stay as light. (If someone dislikes, then my only explanation is that those two brought it upon them.)

A/N2: If you drop me a review, you make my world shine. Whether it's good or bad or somewhere between, I still love and treasure it.

A/N3: Chapter 2/3. Last one comes next week.

A child was looking the other, serpent eyes wide. Then the boy lowered his gaze to his hand, staring at the item the other had just put there. Very surprised red eyes met apologizing blue ones. When the serpent couldn't find any words, dragon smiled a bit.

"I found it on the bottom of the lake. It was partly under a rock, no wonder we didn't find it earlier." There was a pause before the wet dragon continued. Water was dripping from his clothes since he had come straight to see his best friend. Soryuu lowered his gaze to ground, not wanting to see the other boy's eyes. Using his leg, the child was drawing circles on the ground. Just to have something to do when talking, so that he didn't have to meet the eyes. "The cord is broken but the wooden symbol isn't. But the cord can be replaced, you know?" A pause. In his young mind, Soryuu knew there was still something he needed to say. "Sorry", me mumbled, still not raising his head.

The silence took control. Neither of the boys spoke. They hadn't said a word to each other for days. Soryuu turned away, ready to leave. Even though he was still a young boy, still far from adolescent, he understood that maybe Touda wouldn't forgive him. Even if he had found the necklace.

Much to child's surprise, Touda grabbed his hand and turned the boy around. For a second he didn't say a word, and then: "These days… You've been diving there, trying to find this?"

"Yeah", came the blunt reply.

Touda's eyes wandered from the item to Soryuu and then back. "Thanks", he said, closing his hand around the necklace. A pause and then a question, asked in so quiet tone the other barely heard it: "We… We're still friends, right?"

Blue eyes stared the other in disbelief. He was the one whose fault it was that Touda had lost the necklace and now Touda was the one asking if they were friends. It didn't somehow seem right but the blue dragon was too happy to process the odd thing any further. "Sure", he answered, smiling. Then he started to pull the serpent towards the woods, never letting go of his hand. There was one of the best places to play hide and seek. Grinning, Soryuu turned and noted: "You're a weirdo."

"Same back at you", Touda answered, smiling as well. His other hand was in Soryuu's and the other was holding the wooden amulet. At that moment, those two things were the most important ones in his life.

The boys didn't know that they were watched from the palace's window. "You could've dived in the lake yourself and tried to find the necklace yourself. It would've been faster", another of the two watchers noted. Although his tone was serious, there was a smile playing on his face. The Guardian of the North had watched the man next to him to grow from a teenager to a father, so he knew the man probably better than he knew himself. And this just wasn't his usual act. "Why not?"

The taller man, Protector of the East laughed. It was one of those rare moments he had no need to keep his mask on. Mask of a leader, mask that showed no feelings. "There are things we need to do ourselves", he explained. "Besides, Soryuu never asked me to."

Genbu's face revealed nothing. "If he had, would you have?"

If this wasn't the time the dragon was driven in corner, there was no such time. Older shikigami's question made him wonder. What would've been his answer to his son? After all, the boy was his weak spot. The dragon shrugged. "Well, I don't know. Maybe, maybe not. But it's good things went this way", he answered, looking out the window to woods where the boys had ran. They were nowhere to be seen but the dragon knew they'd be back when the sun would go down. The kids had learned their lesson; rules weren't there to restrict them but to protect them.

The priest's turned to see what the other was looking at. When he realized, a smile rose to his face. "Those two are growing up fast, aren't they?"

"They are", blue dragon answered. On one hand, he was happy. The boys didn't need a babysitter all day long, they were fine by themselves. But on the other hand, it had been just a moment ago when he had to go read a story to boys before they fell asleep. Of course, they still needed to be looked after and Soryuu refused to go to bed without saying good night to his father. But still… Dragon smiled, but his smile was sad. So this was what it meant to be a parent. "Faster than I would've liked", he whispered.

Wind was blowing outside an old, traditional shrine. It's roof was beautifully decorated and there was scent of large amount of incenses. Their smell wasn't too strong, at least not for the priest standing there. The shrine was the place to relax; around it one felt at ease and strangely calm. The atmosphere of the shrine was serene, stealing away every worry, anxiety and any negative feeling, leaving only peace inside one's soul.

Guardian of the North was standing there, his head bowed for a silent prayer. People often tended to forget that he was a priest, one who dedicated his life for this. He had fought in wars, yes, and if one would come, he'd fight again. But that didn't stop him from praying for peace.

Peace was a fragile thing. Once destroyed, it was hard to build again. But those living it where so used to it that they closed their eyes from it's beauty. The importance of peace was often forgotten; people remembered it only when the land was in the crisp of war.

Genbu wanted children to learn this; how important peace really was. The young gods, only children for the time being, were the ones he was teaching.

Talking about the future rulers… Genbu turned his back to the shrine and watched the kid approaching him. With a warm smile, he took a couple of steps closer. "Soryuu? What are you doing here?"

The child's answer was immediate. "I need to ask about things."

Genbu blinked in surprise. It surprised him that Soryuu had come all this way to talk to him instead of his father or new teacher, young astrologer Rikugo. After all, the shrine was quite far from the palace and it wasn't too warm outside. The wind was blowing hard, so that it wasn't freezing but rather chilly outside. "Oh?" the priest said, still smiling behind his white beard. "What is so important that you've come all this way?"

The blue-haired kid lowered his head, not wanting to meet Genbu's eyes. Genbu saw the child's internal struggle. He didn't want to show he didn't know something, but he still wanted to know the answer. So frustrating! To get the answer, he should admit that he knew so very little. But still… Soryuu groaned, frustrated. He hadn't come all this way to back down now! "Why can't boys kiss?" he bluntly asked.

The small god stared at Soryuu. Now that caught him off-guard. Probably this had something to do with the lesson Rikugo had given him and Touda about growing up, becoming a teenager, girls and sex. Genbu tried not to laugh when he remembered the priceless look of Rikugo's face when Protector of the East had given him that task. He had been somewhat shocked and above all, unwilling. Rikugo wasn't too old himself and was far too young to give that lecture to a child but he was given no choice. But back to Soryuu's question… "Why are you asking this?"

Soryuu winced, unsure if he had mouthed his question to the right person. Oh how interesting little rocks on the ground could be, laying on the ground like that... "I'm asking this from you because… I just couldn't go to dad, you know? And Rikugo… He wouldn't answer me, anyway. At least not in the way I'd understand anything."

Genbu silently laughed to his beard. How true was that. "I didn't mean that, my child. I meant why you're asking this in the first place. Is there someone you like?"

Oh, if he was right. Soryuu was blushing, still not lifting his head. He couldn't find the words to answer but he managed to nod.

"And this someone is a boy?"

Another nod.

Genbu sighed and walked to Soryuu. The boy was nearly shaking, afraid of what the god's answer would be. Soryuu wasn't stupid; there seemed to be something wrong with two boys kissing, but he still wanted to know what that was. But he was still scared that Genbu would tell his dad. Or to Rikugo, which meant his dad would know as well.

"Boys can kiss."

Soryuu lifted his head, big blue eyes meeting the old. There was a flicker of hope but more than that, there was curiosity. Genbu inwardly sighed, serious now. He wasn't sure if Soryuu was mature enough to understand the problems of relationship between two men.

But he had to try, right? "It's just complicated. You see, not everyone thinks it's alright. Some people think that relationship between man and woman is the only right thing."

Soryuu took a moment to process Genbu's words. The answer wasn't clear enough, it was still a little too cloudy. "Is it?" he asked, eyeing the ground, ashamed that he had suggested something like that.

"That's another complicated thing", Genbu explained. He resisted the urge to say 'you'll understand when you're older', since the child hated it. Besides, it would do no good. Not in this situation. "Depends about your way to look at the world, I think."

Young shikigami was trying to understand what the older one meant. He didn't quite get it. Maybe it was one of the things that you'd understand when you'd grow up. But! Soryuu's lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to know and understand now! "What do you think, then?" he asked, talking before thinking, again. The question had just popped into his mind.

Genbu smiled. He had his own point of view, of course. Some shared it, some didn't. "I think it's alright. I think the gender doesn't matter when you like someone."

Soryuu nodded. Some people thought two boys kissing it was a bad thing, some people thought it was okay. What did he think of it and what his crush thought of it? He would just need to find out. He looked Genbu in the eye and bowed before him. "Thanks for explaining me."

Genbu only smiled in return. So adult.

"But… please don't tell dad?"

Yet still so child.

"No, I will not."

There was a happy smile playing on child's features. "Thanks!" he shouted before running away from the shrine, towards home.

Genbu watched the small figure to disappear. There ran their future leader. A sigh escaped from the god. He tried so hard to teach all to potential, fast powerful growing children about war and peace. It was important but… Soryuu, Touda, Taimo, Kochin, new-born Suzaku and soon-to-born child of the Protector of the West. They were still kids. They should have no need to worry about the future. Yet… It's pressure were already on their shoulders, especially on Soryuu's. And Touda's. Of course, Rikugo had a considerable share as well, but he was no child. Young, yes, but no child anymore.

Genbu sighed again. This was a never-ending cycle, and he didn't like that at all. Sometimes he wondered whether they were taking care of their world by sacrificing their children's childhood. It had started to look like that. But was it the right way or were they, adults, just selfish? He lifted his eyes up to the blue-grey sky and send a silent prayer, hoping to be heard. He had no answer, no one had. All they could do was to wait and see what the future would bring.

Two youngsters were laying on the ground. It was a warm, warm day, with only a mild breeze playing with the trees' leaves and grass. Both shikigamis ought to be on their lessons but on a beautiful day as this, who could resist the call of the freedom? When you had to choose between laying on the ground and sitting in a room filled with books with you teacher, the choice was clear.

Besides, this was one of the first warm days. Finally the winter was releasing it's hold. Usually the snow didn't reach the main palace, so you barely noticed the variety of seasons, but this winter had proved that old belief wrong.

There was silence between youngsters. It was extraordinary for them, usually they were chatting about this and that, anything that happened to pass by. But now both of them were looking up the clear blue sky, enjoying the golden sun.

Touda was the one to shatter the silence. A memory had popped up and it just was too delicious to let go. So the black haired shikigami eyed his friend and casually asked: "You remember when you kissed me years ago?"

Soryuu groaned. Yes, he did remember. It had been one of the first warm days, a lot like today. But it was years ago. At the time, Soryuu hadn't even known what kissing meant. Not for real. Besides, the water shikigami wasn't sure if one could call that a kiss. It had been a brief touch, nothing more. He scowled his friend, only getting a grin as answer. Groaning again, eyes back to the sky, the dragon answered: "We were just kids. I just thought it was a way to show someone that you like him."

Other of the boys burst out a laughter. "Oh, you don't like me anymore?"

Soryuu reacted faster than Touda had expected. But the serpent still managed to dodge the small stone thrown at him. Though, in order of doing that, he had ended up half-sitting in front of his friend, who was definitely still thinking whether he should strangle him or not.

"You know, I didn't mind it back then", Touda said, more serious than before. He paused, but continued fast, not really giving the other chance to process the words. "I still wouldn't."

Blue-haired dragon was staring his friend in disbelief, pondering the words, slowly understanding the true meaning behind them. He didn't even need to look the other in the eye to know he wasn't lying. And it wasn't so hard to find the answer. Disturbingly easy, to tell the truth.

Briefly he touched the others lips with his own. Just like many years ago, back when they had been kids.

Few seconds passed as the two looked each other. As golden sunrays played on the field, giving the two figures shades of light, their lips met again. It was different from other times. This time, it wasn't just a brief touch. This time, it was a real kiss.

And even if neither of them admitted at the time, it was their first.