Hi hi hi hi there. make yourself a good cup of tea and enjoy your Majesty.

Chapter 3. What had been missing.

The next morning, Shion awoke to an empty bed, and instantly his heart sunk, and began to shatter. Had he left in the middle of the night, or was he never here in the first place? Was it nothing but a dream? Was it just a dream that he would only allow himself to have when he was Nezumi never here in the first place?

He ran his fingers through his hair, then he noticed something. There was a purple WildFlower tucked behind his ear. His heart soared, it wasn't a dream, it just couldn't have been, the smell, how it felt when Nezumi held him close in his arms, it was all too real to be a dream.

Just then, the door opened, and Nezumi walked in carrying several bags of groceries in his arms. When Nezumi noticed that he was awake he gave him a bright smile. With just one smile the color came back into Shion's world, with that smile alone he no longer felt cold. "It wasn't a dream". He mumbled to himself.

"Mumm? sorry, did you say something my prince?". Asked Nezumi, with a smirk.

Shion felt his cheeks grow hot. Nezumi's smirk turned into a grin.

"Oh my my, you can rival a tomato"

"Shut up!"

They ate breakfast in a comfortable silence. This is all Shion had ever wanted, was Nezumi right here, just right beside him.

Shion knew he was still in love with Nezumi, knew it on that stormy night when they first met, and from that day on, he had known what this feeling was all along, but does Nezumi feel the same? They had never said anything out loud, though, at times Shion wanted to, but the timing never felt right to do so. Should he tell him now, should he tell Nezumi his in love with him, and had been since the first time they met? But what if Nezumi doesn't feel the same way? But there had to be a reason why he returned after six years right? Had Nezumi returned for him, or was there another reason why he had come back?

After breakfast Shion showed Nezumi around. They talked about the school and the hospital, and how West Block was now a safer and better place, and how the old NO.6. was no longer, and how residents from both sides can go and leave as they please.

Nezumi looked a little weary about what all that Shion had told, and showed him. Shion completely understood Nezumi's concern, after everything he's been through, it's completely understandable why he would feel weary. Shion tried to put his mind at ease, and at the moment, had seemed to do his job.

"I never thought that this day would come that NO. 6 and West Block would ever be united as one". Said Nezumi. "It's still so hard to believe"

"Well, people can surprise you".

Nezumi looked at him. "Yes, they can". He took Shion's hand.

Shion and Nezumi's gaze's met, and he found himself drowning and the sea of Nezumi's eyes. The steel grey, almost like smoke was taking over his senses.

His heart started to beat faster when Nezumi leaned Forward slightly. "Shion". He closed his eyes. He could feel Nezumi's warm breath on his lips. Their lips was centimeters away, when he heard his name being called. He opened his eyes, and saw the disappointment, and a little bit of anger in Nezumi's eyes. He turned to Rai, who was running a towards them.

"Hey Shi". Said Rai, slightly out of breath. "What's up, was just curious who this guy your with?"

"Oh..um..this is Rat, Nezumi is his real name"

Rai was a guy he went out with a few times, but he knew he was still in love with Nezumi, so he had broken It Off with Rai, it wasn't fair to him, Shion had forgotten about Rai, until now.

He looked at Nezumi, who was looking incredibly irritated. Then he looked back to Rai. "Nezumi, this is-"

"Rain, but you can call me Rai. I heard a lot about you". He said, interrupting Shion. "So, you're the one Shion has been waiting for all this time?"

"Yes, I do apologize, but I'm back now, and I'm here to stay, for good". Nezumi's eyes narrowed. "So you can go run along now"

"Rat!"

"We're see about that, and I don't have to. Hell, if you cared about him at all why did you leave for six years?! Did you love him at all? Do you have any idea how long he has been waiting for you? No, because you wasn't here! Do you love him?!"

"That's no concern of yours". Nezumi hissed glaring at Rai, his eyes like daggers. "Now if you would excuse us"

He went to walk passed, Rai reached out to grab his elbow, but Nezumi was too fast. Grabbing Rai by the wrist he twisted it behind his back. Rai let out a gas of pain. After a moment, Nezumi released him, turned, took Shion's hand, and began lead him away from the outraged Rai.

Shion could almost feel the anger eliminating from him. Was he jealous?

Nezumi was pissed off for the rest of the time they walked. Who the hell did that guy thank who he was? He was the one who has loved Shion for 14 years, his the one who knows sides of him that he can't imagine. So who the hell does he think he is?

Had Shion already moved on from him? Was that his boyfriend? Was he just messing it all up by returning? What should he do?

As day slowly shift it in tonight, Nezumi started to relax a bit, but still had troubling thoughts rolling in his head.

"I'm sorry". Came Shion's attentive voice. He stopped, and looked at him.

"Why the hell are you apologizing? It's fine, I'm okay with it. You did what someone would normally do in your position?"

"What?"

"With you and Rai, you love him, right?"

"No, Nezumi I don't love him, I do care about him. We did go out once or twice, but his not you, i-". His face turned completely red. He looked at their still connected hands. "I-i like being with you, I couldn't be with Rai, because i-" Nezumi's heart was beating so fast he was afraid he could hear it. He wanted him to continue, he wanted to hear.

"Yes? Shion, go on". He pressed gently. Shion's grip tightened on his hand.

"I lov-"

"Shion!". The door of the bakery flew open. A woman with long brown hair stood in the doorway, giving them both a disapproval look. Then she gave Nezumi a disgusted look as if he was something on the bottom of her shoe.

"Oh, my, look at you, you look like such a lady, Dogkeeper". He said with a smirk.

She scoffed. "It's Inukashi! And i thought that I smelled something foul, but it just turned out it was a sewer rat"

"Always charming. But if you want to compare stinks, I do believe that you would take the gold, since you always smell like dog"

"You should watch who you talk to, somebody's going to whip out that pretty tongue out of your head one day"

"It hasn't happened yet".

She looked more like a girl now, but her fashion sense hadn't changed much, She still dressed like a tomboy, she wore blue jeans and an t-shirt. But her attitude hasn't changed one bit.

"So are you going to let us in, or would you prefer to watch us freeze to death?"

"Thanking about it, but if only Shion wasn't with you" She said, before disappearing inside.

He looked back to Shion, who was still looking down. He would much prefer to finish their conversation, but instead he led him inside.

Karen greeted them both immediately with a warm hug only a mother could give. Nezumi hesitated a moment before returning the gesture.

"Hi". He felt a tug on his pant leg, looking down he discovered it was a young boy. His wide brown eyes looked up at him expectedly.

"Can I help you?". He asked, squatting down so he could be eye-to-eye with the young child.

"Are you Rat that Shion has been waiting to come home?". Asked the boy with no sign of hesitation.

He gave a warm Smile as he answered. "Yes, my name's Nezumi, and you are?"

"Shion, but everyone around here calls me Sai"

"I see"

"I'm going to go play now". With that the young boy ran off.

"Don't run and fall!". Inukashi called after him.

"OK mama"

"Mama?". Nezumi Rose to his feet.

"It appears that motherhood Suits You"

She rolled her eyes. "Shut up! And since when is your name Nezumi Rat?"

"I remembered it last year, the name just came to me"

For the last few years he had been remembering his past little by little, but he still doesn't remember his parents faces, just bits and pieces, a song that he believes his mother used to sing to him, but that's all, but it was enough.

Rikiga came down the stairs to see what all the commotion was about, and froze when he saw Nezumi.

"Ann, what are you doing here?". He asked.

"I have come back specifically just to say that you're a dirty old man".

"Are you here for Shion?"

"Wow, I suppose you're not as dumb as you look"

After an hour or two of catching up, and Shion trying to stop Nezumi and Rikiga from fighting, which he was failing at the task of miserably, Karen came out and announce dinner was ready.

This whole thing was a little overwhelming for Nezumi, he had never had a home-cooked meal sitting at a table surrounded by people before, but he was starting to feel more comfortable. 'So this is what it's like to have a family' he thought.

When dinner was done, he and Shion cleaned up. Inukashi Sai, and Rikiga went home, Karen had retired early for the evening. Now it was just the two of them alone in the kitchen.

There was a few moments of uncomfortable silence. Nezumi was trying to find the right words to say, but for some reason he's coming up blank. Maybe he should just kiss him, maybe then he wouldn't have to say a word, actions are better than words right? Shion was the first to break the silence.

"Nezumi, i-"

He was cut off by Nezumi pulling him into a passionate kiss. After a moment, Shion started to respond. Nezumi wrapped his arms around Shion's waste, pulling him against him, and eliminating any space between them. The solid warmth in front of him felt like heaven. Shion wrapped his arms around his neck, his fingers running through his hair. Shion's lips were soft and warm.

This is what he had been missing, this right here, he was missing the other part of his soul, the flame that makes his life worthwhile, the love that he had denied for so long, but now it's time to give up the fight, he had decided since he came back he was going to give into it.

Nezumi pulled back slightly, resting his forehead against Shion's. He could hear Shion's ragged heavy breathing.

Shion's heart was beating so fast he wondered if Nezumi was able to hear it. 'What does this kiss mean? Was it a promise or a goodbye kiss? Should I ask him'. He was going to say something, when Nezumi kissed him again, softer but a little more urgent this time. Nezumi's fingers found his hair.

'I love you' he thought to himself over and over. Shion was the one who pulled away this time. He opened his eyes that he didn't realize he had shut, and met Nezumi's stormy gaze.

Nezumi was looking at him, his eyes filled with yearning and want. "Rat, I love-" but he was interrupted by a knock at the door. Nezumi went to answer it.

Shion placed his hand over his lips, he could still feel Nezumi's lingering touch, he could still feel his body pressed up against his. His heart was still pounding like it was going to burst out of his chest and run away. But then he quickly came back to his senses when he heard the voice at the door.

When Nezumi opened the door he found Rai standing on the doorstep purple flowers. His smile quickly faded when he was met with Nezumi's scowl.

"I'm here for Shion"

Nezumi's anger was about to Bubble over, he was right past the point of caring what happens. He slammed the door on Rai, and went back to the kitchen, where the love of his life was waiting with faded breath.

He tried to control his anger, he tried to let Shion explain himself, but he just had to know, no, he needed to know.

"Nezumi, let me-"

"If you love him, then go! If you love him more then me!"

"No i-"

"I don't care what you do! Go! Did you FUCK him?! Did you let him kiss you the way I just did?! Did you let him hold you!? Do you love him or me?! OR DID YOU JUST PLAY ME FOR A FOOL?!"

Shion was silent a moment. "Do you love me, Nezumi?"

He couldn't answer that, though he knows how he feels, for some reason saying the words was a struggle, he was hoping that his feelings would come across with that one kiss. He was sure that Shion was the only one that could understand him, but maybe he was wrong.

"No". He lied. If Shion was torn between the two, he certainly didn't want to be second place.

Shion had tears running down his face. Nezumi's world shattered into millions of pieces. But before he could take it back, Shion ran past him out the door, leaving Nezumi standing in the middle of the kitchen dumbfounded of what just happened.

Why did he say no? That was his chance, and he just blew it, what the fuck is wrong with him? Shion was the reason for him returning, he was the only one for him.

"FUCK I'M A FUCKING IDIOT!" Said Nezumi, finally coming to his senses, turning, and going after him.

Well, fuck. Sorry this took a little while. Thank you for all of the reviews, they make my day. With love to all.