Chapter 3

Mahiro had left before his friends in a rush thinking they would be right behind him. When he turned around, however, he realized this wasn't the case. Where could they be? A sudden wave of emotion came over gun when he realized they had never left the rooftop.

Driven by fear and anger, Mahiro headed back up to the roof. His blood was boiling. They were alone on the roof. This was something he could not allow.

When he reached the door, he peaked through the window to confirm his fears. He was right. He couldn't believe just how right he had been. There they were.

"No! I must be hallucinating," he thought, shaking his head. There was no way Takuma could possibly be holding Yuuichi like that. And what's with that expression? Mahiro had never seen Takuma make a face like that before.

He couldn't stand it anymore. He cracked open the door, ready to confront them when he heard Takuma say the one word to Yuuichi that he had hoped to hear Takuma say to him.

"Suki, ka? Takuma loves Yuuichi?" Mahiro thought his heart would be ripped into pieces. His whole body was shaking from both the anger and the sadness he could now no longer control. He couldn't function; he could feel his mind going blank and his feet begin to move on their own. The next thing he knew, he was running away. He ran straight out of the school with tears rolling down his cheeks.

Oomi, the fifth and oldest of the guardians, spent most of his time at home, reading, tending the garden and practicing oil paintings and writing Kanji.

"It's so peaceful when everyone is at school; no arguing or drama. Then again, they are all teenage boys," he said to himself with a chuckle. He looked up at the sky and pulled a stray lock of hair from his face and tucked it behind his ear. His long hair shone beautifully in the sunlight.

Looking pensively at the clouds, he started thinking to himself, "I hope this thing with Takuma, Yuuichi, and Mahiro resolves itself soon. It's tiring for all of us. Even if Takuma were interested in guys, at least one of them is going to end up with his heart broken." He sighed lightly. "Well what can you do? I'll just blame it on the folly of youth."
"Well, I think I'll go inside and make some tea," he said aloud as he turned to walk inside.

The moment he took a step to go in, he heard sounds of passage. His senses heightened at the sound of someone approaching; his guardian side taking over almost completely until he saw who it was that was running toward him. It was Mahiro.

Oomi relaxed a bit until he realized something was wrong. Mahiro was running with his head down and his face hidden. Oomi walked to the gate of the garden and tried to call out to him.

"Mahir-," he started, but was unable to finish as Mahiro launched himself into Oomi's arms. Mahiro's arms wrapped tighter and tighter around Oomi's waist and Oomi was in total shock. Mahiro had never been the type to hug anyone; not even his closest friends. Oomi slowly placed his hand on the top of Mahiro's head.

"Mahiro?" He asked in a calm voice. "Why aren't you in school? Are you not feeling well? Mahiro?

Mahiro didn't move; he didn't lift his head up, either. He just kept hugging Oomi harder and it was really starting to worry him.

"Mahiro, look at me, please. Did you hurt yourself? Is that why you don't want to show me your face? I can't help you unless you look me in the eyes and tell me what's wrong," he said, his voice full of anguish. He couldn't stand to see anyone in his "family" in such pain.

Finally, Mahiro slowly raised his head as one tear fell from his cheek and landed on Oomi's hand. He felt the moisture and it made him feel a mix of worry and confusion.

Mahiro looked up at the tall, green haired guardian and finally spoke.

"T- Taku… ma," was all he could get out between broken sobs.

Oomi knew enough of their situation to understand exactly what had happened.

He took Mahiro by the hand and led him inside to his bedroom. Once Mahiro was seated on the bed, Oomi left the room to get him some tea.

"Here, drink up," Oomi said. He tried to hand him a cup when he returned, but Mahiro wouldn't take it. He didn't even raise his eyes. Mahiro did nothing but stare at the floor.

Oomi rubbed his temples to help calm himself. He was starting to get really frustrated over the fact that nothing he could do would help Mahiro's pained heart.

"This is even worse than I thought it would be. I knew someone would be hurt, but not like this. Mahiro is totally broken," Oomi thought, spacing out a bit. "He must have loved Takuma with all his heart and soul." He let out a small sigh and frowned in his frustration.

"How can I fix this? How can I help him?" he wondered to himself. He was getting desperate, lost in his reverie, until he heard a small sound. What was that? He looked around for the source and stopped when his eyes came to rest on Mahiro's face.

"Is… is he crying?" He thought helplessly. Oomi's began to feel a real pain in his heart. He knew that no matter what he did, nothing would help Mahiro.

As Oomi sat there thinking, Mahiro stood up to leave. He didn't want Oomi to see his tears again.

Oomi caught his sleeve before he could get farther than the bedroom wall. Mahiro leaned against it, with his head down, trying to hide his tears.

Oomi placed a hand gently on Mahiro's wet cheek and spoke in a sweet voice, "Mahiro, please. Why are you holding back? I understand that this pain is huge." He placed his other hand over his own pained heart and continued. "Please, tell me. Isn't there anything I can do for you? Just let it all out." He said taking the hand from his heart and placing it on Mahiro's shoulder.

Mahiro just stood there with his head down and Oomi was getting frustrated again. He squeezed his shoulder a little harder than he meant to.

"Look me in the eye, Mahiro. Mahiro?"

He didn't move. It took everything he had not to cry out from the agony that he felt would end his life at any moment. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't speak; couldn't move. He didn't want to worry Oomi, but he couldn't do anything in his current state.

Mahiro was brought back to reality when Oomi slammed his hands against the wall, one on either side of Mahiro's head. He was leaning over Mahiro and had a deadly serious look on his face.

"Listen! I want to help you, Mahiro, and in order for me to do that, I need you to talk to me."

Mahiro finally lifted his head and said, "I just… want… to forget."

As Mahiro finished speaking, he tried to walk away when Oomi suddenly grabbed both his wrists and held them high above Mahiro's head, keeping them secure against the wall.

"O-Oomi?" Mahiro couldn't hide the confusion and worry in his voice.

All he answered in a gentle voice was." I will make you forget."

The next thing Mahiro knew, Oomi had place his mouth on Mahiro's and was kissing him.

"Mmm- Ommm-!" Mahiro tried to call out Oomi's name, but he was starting to melt from the gentle feeling of Oomi's tongue dancing inside his mouth.

Oomi paused for only a short second.

"Please, you don't have to hold anything back."

Finally, Mahiro could no longer hold it in. He let the tears fall as they would and the true degree of his pain showed on his face. Oomi smiled gently and started kissing Mahiro in earnest; a little rough, but with warm and loving feelings.

As Mahiro place his arms around Oomi's neck, Oomi brought his arms around Mahiro's back and wrapped one around each of his thighs. He lifted him up and wrapped each leg around his own waist, using the wall for support. Oomi didn't even miss a beat.

As he continued the passionate kiss, Oomi carried Mahiro to his bed. He laid Mahiro down and straddled him, on his hands and knees, continuing the seemingly never ending kiss. Mahiro didn't resist at all; the only thing he wanted was to forget his sadness and make the tears stop.

As Oomi started to take off Mahiro's clothes, starting with his pants, Mahiro reached for the obi on Oomi's yukata and pulled it off.

Oomi's hand then curved around Mahiro's elbow, moving slowly down his arm, across his ribs and over his waist, tracing along his hip and down his leg, around his knee. Oomi paused there, his hand curling around Mahiro's calf. Then he pulled Mahiro's leg up suddenly hitching it around his hip.

"I told you, didn't I? Don't hold anything back, Mahiro," Oomi whispered in a low, sexy voice. His smile was warm and gentle, and it nearly made Mahiro faint.