Disclaimer: I do not own these boys or their universe; that belongs to Asano Atsuko.
Reviewers: All 15 of you, thank you very much!
Author's Note:Well…::sighs:: this took a little longer than I had intended, but heck…I think it's worth it ::grins::. I hope so, anyway. I do like this chapter—we discover a little bit more about what Shion's been up to, both the good…and the bad. We even get to see a little bit more of Inukashi. I hope you enjoy it!
Rating: T/M (language)
Summary:Almost exactly three years after No. 6's downfall, the wandering star returns home…(Post-Series. Reunion-fic. Multi-chapter.)
"Speech"
Personal Thoughts/Memories (Italics)
.:No More Farewells:.
By Sentimental Star
Chapter Four: Brave New World (Part II)
As the two young men slowly make their way to Karan Bakery, gray clouds start to scuttle across the horizon, occasionally obscuring the gradually setting sun. Shion knows enough about weather to reasonably predict that they will most likely have a storm in a few hours. Whether it will involve thunder and lightning or just rain, he doesn't yet know.
"How's your ankle?"
Nezumi's voice is soft, and the touch of his fingers against Shion's skin is warm. They are still holding hands.
Shion pauses to catch his breath, and Nezumi takes the opportunity to kneel beside him, carefully probing for any bruises or swelling with the fingers of his free hand.
Shion's heart throbs at the tenderness inherent in his examination, and he concludes ruefully that he will most likely be on the verge of tears for the rest of the week—his throat has almost completely closed up. Again. "It's fine," his voice is a croak.
Nezumi glances up in concern. Shion can only shake his head, fingertips brushing softly against Nezumi's arm in a wordless plea to stand.
Frowning, he does so. Shion chuckles thickly, "Really, I'm all right. You did a good job."
Nezumi regards him dubiously. "If you say so."
"I do. See?"
As soon as he states as much, a startled Nezumi finds himself pulled through the first few steps of a waltz.
Wha…?
It is very apparent that Shion has been practicing, and it is only Nezumi's kinesthetic memory that prevents him from tripping face first into the concrete.
Much to his embarrassment, he is panting and puffing—nearly huffing—by the time Shion dances them to the entrance of the next walkway.
His white-haired dancing partner chuckles and Nezumi glares up at him, wearing a prominent blush on his cheeks despite his scowl, "Any other surprises?"
Shion smiles, "Just this," and he brushes his lips over Nezumi's left eye.
The taller man's cheeks flame and he realizes, with some annoyance, that he can't even stay properly mad at him. "What was that for, then?" he mutters at last.
Shion shrugs gently, "A thank you."
The response is simple, very much in keeping with the Shion from three years ago. Any annoyance on Nezumi's part immediately vanishes.
"…Tch. You're welcome, idiot."
A hard squeeze around and about Shion's shoulders and waist accompanies Nezumi's response, startling its recipient. Nezumi moves away so quickly, however, that Shion is left to wonder if he simply imagined it.
He has enough presence of mind to keep his grip on Nezumi's hand, at least, and he chuckles again when he realizes the telltale burning of his friend's cheeks has yet to let up.
"Any other questions?" he asks as their walk resumes, his voice colored with amusement.
Nezumi ignores the tone, rubbing at the back of his neck as his blush subsides, "Well, yeah…"
So many, you can't even imagine. It's been three fucking years—why did you wait for me, when you never knew for certain when, or even if I was coming back? Why did you hold yourself back? I wouldn't have minded…not really, at least. Three years…is such a long time. What happened to you? What gave you so much authority…that even someone like me was drawn in? But then…it's always been that way with us, hasn't it?
The question he actually asks is somewhat less philosophical: "What the hell happened back there? Or does it have some sort of top secret classification that I need special clearance for?"
His response startles a laugh out of Shion, "No, nothing like that." He sobers, and Nezumi instantly regrets his question because now Shion's eyes have gone so dark…"We don't have anything like that," he repeats softly, "…because of the Correctional Facility, you know?"
He did know, all too well.
Shion shakes his head, "No, and even if we did, I'd still tell you. I made that promise to you three years ago, if I recall correctly."
Nezumi's arm lifts to curl around Shion's shoulders, and his nose bumps against the side of the other nineteen-year-old's head. His sigh wafts through strands of white hair: "…I promised you the same."
Shion finally cracks a faint smile, shutting his eyes as he relishes the contact, "Where should I start?"
Nezumi nuzzles his nose into Shion's hair, "The beginning usually works best."
Shion smiles, opening his eyes…but it quickly turns into a grimace, "They were Cleaners."
Nezumi sucks in a sharp breath, his arm automatically tightening around Shion's shoulders.
Shit. How many times have they-?
"I didn't recognize any of them," Shion continues quietly. "I only knew who they were because of their tattoos."
"Their tattoos…?"
Nezumi's memory flashes back to the darkly inked, intricately connected geometric pattern he'd seen on their faces, "On the right cheek?"
"Yeah," Shion affirms softly. His next words nearly stop Nezumi's heart cold, "They've tried before, on occasion, but never so many and never all at once. I think they're becoming desperate."
"Before…?" Does he mean this has happened before? That he…Fuck.
"I can't blame them, really," and Nezumi frowns when he realizes that there is sadness in Shion's voice…pain, even though his own heart feels like it is being wrenched apart in a vise. "We have disbanded most of the gang, after all."
Shion…what the hell…? You…I can't believe you just fucking said that! They would have quite happily killed you, you moronic, airheaded idiot!
Shion's fingertips brush his chin, causing Nezumi to snap his glare down to a pair of unrepentant red eyes. A smile twitches the corner of Shion's lips as he gazes up at him, "I know you don't want to hear me say that," his fingers curl gently around the swath of raven hair that has fallen between them, shifting it to the side as he continues speaking, "but you told me once…that you wanted 'Shion to stay Shion,' so I've done my damnedest to try."
Nezumi's jaw clenches at the unwelcome reminder of their conversation as they were marched relentlessly through the gates of the Correctional Facility—and at all of the other memories that go with it.
Shion smiles weakly, standing on tiptoe to press a small, apologetic kiss to Nezumi's mouth, before they continue walking towards the bakery.
"It's not been easy, though," his admittance is a sigh that comes a few minutes later, and it hitches on the end, just slightly. "You were right…"
"Was I?" Nezumi manages, swallowing around the lump in his throat.
When you say it like that…I'm not sure I want to be.
Shion's fingers tighten fractionally where they have closed against his hip. "Just because the wall came down doesn't mean this is heaven. We're working towards lower crime rates—and believe me, they're much lower than they were that first year—but we still have groups like the Cleaners, pockets of old gangs that haven't been dissolved, yet. We also have people—like you and Inukashi—from the former West Block, who have managed to survive this long because of their weapons and fighting skills. There's a clause written into the rules that allows for it, but in-depth investigations are run, sometimes daily, if things like what just happened occur."
"So, what…am I going to be psychoanalyzed or something?"
He means it as a joke (sort of), because Shion's red gaze has grown unbearably heavy and solemn, but he realizes a little too late that it is more off-color than he would like.
Shion's eyes flash, "Absolutely not!"
Nezumi jerks at his sharp voice. Shion feels him tense, and blows out a harsh breath, "Sorry, Nezumi. I'm a little sensitive about that because of…"
"Safu?" Nezumi completes knowingly, his quiet voice a distinct contrast to Shion's.
Another breath; Shion leans into his side and nods, "Yeah," he acknowledges softly. He swallows, "Those…brains and…people…too."
Nezumi pales, gulping back nausea as he fights against the images clamoring at the forefront of his mind, "Thanks for the reminder, Shion."
A faint smile flickers across Shion's lips, "Sorry."
Nezumi huffs out an irritated breath, lightly pressing his fingertips to them in response, "Stop apologizing, idiot. Seriously."
Shion blinks. "Sorry…?"
Nezumi groans, dropping his fingers. They end up falling to Shion's chest. "How do you know so much about it, anyway?"
He's talking about the investigations. Shion raises an eyebrow, "Why is that such a shock? You know I'm a member of the Reconstruction Committee, right? We were all assigned specific duties, departments we would be in charge of overhauling. I was given the Bureau of Public Security and several others. Not that it really matters…we help each other out…"
Somewhere in Nezumi's chest, his heart constricts, aching with something that feels a lot like pride:
I feel somewhat like a mama bird whose chicks have all grown and flown away, he notes wryly.
"You've done a fine job, I see," he murmurs.
Shion's eyes fly up to his. Nezumi is hard-pressed not to laugh when he sees how red the other boy's cheeks have turned.
Shion looks completely bewildered and utterly startled, but a moment later, a beautiful smile breaks out on his lips, "Thank you," he whispers. "Coming from you, that means a lot."
Nezumi snorts fondly when he notices the tears that have collected in the corners of Shion's eyes. "Airhead," he murmurs, voice so tender that Shion shyly breaks their gaze.
Reaching out, Nezumi brushes gently at the moisture beginning to track down Shion's cheeks. "Don't you dare start crying again," he mutters.
It wins him a rather garbled laugh.
IOIOIOIOIOI
As they make their way up the pedestrian street where Karan Bakery sits, Nezumi nudges Shion gently in the side, "Hey…so what happens now?"
Shion blinks at him, very clearly confused. "About what?"
I'd like to say…"With us," but…
"Those Cleaners…they were taken in to custody, right? So what happens to them?"
Yes, Nezumi knows it is a strange question—even stranger because he doesn't usually ask a question without a purpose in mind, but…
If I'm going to stay, I'd at least like to know what to expect with matters like this, because if they try for you again…and I'm sure they will…there's no way in hell I am going stand back and let it happen.
Shion sighs and Nezumi notices it catches on the end with exhaustion. He suddenly wonders how often Shion is able to take a break from his duties, and thinks it is far more likely that he hasn't allowed himself to take a break from said duties until today.
"Well…they can't press charges because they instigated the attack. And because you were defending me, and I paid for their medical treatment, I don't think we need to worry about any fallout. They'll go into counseling for a year while under the Bureau's custody, and we'll see what happens after that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't…I'm fully aware of that now."
Nezumi's stomach twists with an odd mix of regret and relief. Smiling sadly, he reaches down with his free hand to brush Shion's fingers where they are intertwined with his own, "I never wanted you to learn that, you know," he murmurs. From Shion's hand, his fingertips drift up to tenderly trace the edge of the other young man's scar as he manages a genuine smile, "I'm glad to see, at least, that you still believe in life over all. Shion is still Shion, and…" He leans down, all fluid elegance, and captures Shion's lips, sliding his hand gently around the base of Shion's head. He parts with the other's lips only long enough and far enough to murmur against them, "I'm glad…to still be able to say that."
Then his lips are on Shion's again, this time pressing down much harder as he seeks to convey the utter relief he feels at that statement.
Perhaps it is unfortunate that the place he has chosen to do so happens to be in full view of Karan Bakery, where Shion's mother and Inukashi are still waiting.
Nezumi and Shion startle apart as a wolf whistle from Inukashi interrupts them, "About damn time!"
She isn't just talking about their arrival, either.
Karan sniffles, and when Nezumi realizes where they are, he drops his burning face into his hands with a groan.
Shion's own face is swathed with color, but he manages a soft, somewhat embarrassed chuckle that does nothing to wipe the look of pure joy off his face, "Erm…we're back?"
IOIOIOIOIOI
The moment they step through the door into the bakery, Karan has her arms around both of them. She is crying, more happily and in sheer relief than with any other emotion. Inukashi stands right behind her, and blows out a breath, "Geez…you two idiots really did a number this time."
Nezumi's eyes are steely as they glare at her—she's expected that much. What she doesn't expect is his fierce blush and the softly murmured, "Sorry," he presses to Karan's hair.
Heh. So even rats can change.
She smirks, rather enjoying this new side of Nezumi, but before she can voice her thought, Shion's long-absent smile flashes her way over Karan's shoulder. "Thanks for worrying about us."
Unfortunately, that smile has the same impact it always has: Inukashi's cheeks flame. "…C-Che! I wasn't worried about you, y-you clueless-!"
Something wet slips down Inukashi's cheek; she freezes, tasting salt on her lips.
D-Damn, why am I crying?
She knows the answer, though: Nezumi's leaving…had thrown such a veil over Shion's smile. A year after that idiotic Rat had left, Shion's smile…had disappeared altogether. His "smile" could hardly even be considered a shadow of its former self, and Inukashi had been shaken to realize that she missed it. Shion had seemed almost as much of a stranger without his smile as he had when he'd confronted her about Safu's coat three years ago.
Now, though…
Bright, glowing, filled with general-airheaded-bliss-and-delight, it blazes at her. Fiercely.
She claps a startled hand to her mouth when she chokes on a sob.
Immediately noticing her difficulty, Shion slips out of Karan's arms after dropping a kiss to her cheek and makes his way over to younger girl. When his arms wind gently around her, Inukashi is hardly in any state to refuse his comfort. It isn't as if this is something new, either—numerous times over the past couple of years she has had to comfort him, when the ache of losing Nezumi has grown too much to bear. It is about damn time he returned the favor.
Stupid feminine emotions—why did I have to be born a girl?
Shion's soft chuckle alerts her that she has spoken her thought out loud. Inukashi buries her blazing face in his shoulder. "Hey, now," his voice is warm, happy (has she ever heard it so joyful in the past three years?), "don't say that. Who would have become Sion's mama if you weren't?"
"Mmph, I suppose it has to be good for something," her voice is a disgruntled mutter, but the ache in her chest is easing. At last, she is able to pull back with a sniffle and, as she does so, she just catches sight of Nezumi turning away from them, his face twisting into an expression a lot like jealousy.
The madcap grin that abruptly lights up Inukashi's face has Shion instantly on guard. "What?" he asks with an appropriate sense of wariness.
Ha…no longer in denial, are you, Nezumi?
Inukashi places her hand firmly in the center of Shion's back and gives him a light shove in Nezumi's direction. "OI! Lover boy! Catch!"
Her call is directed at Nezumi. Shion stumbles, staggers, and immediately crumples into Nezumi's chest, squeezing his eyes shut as his head abruptly decides to begin a nauseating spin.
Even Inukashi realizes something is wrong when Shion is unable to gain his feet. She doesn't need to take in Nezumi's widened eyes or the sudden paling of his skin to see that.
"Shit!"
She immediately bounds to Shion's side, Karan on her heels, to see what the damage is.
Not this again! Tch. The airheaded idiot!
Shion faints as Nezumi lowers them both to the ground, still curled up in the taller boy's lap.
End Chapter