OHMAIGAWDUH YOU GUYS! I know, I know. I haven't put this up for a LONG time and I said I'd try to put it up soon. That was like...a month or so ago. I'm sorry! We're working on studying for our mid-terms and such now so I'm swamped. Gomen! Anyways, here's the next chapter!
Sion's thoughts are Italic.
And Nezumi's are Bold.

Sion opened the door to his house. He stilled lived with his mother in their home at always doubled as a bakery.
"I'm home!"
he called out, taking note of the light coming from the turned to look at Nezumi, whose eyes were scanning the room. Karan appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her sleek apron.
"Sion, you're late-"Karan stopped, her voice drifting into a whisper and her eyes landed on Nezumi.
"Mom... This is-"
"Nezumi."
Karan finished her sons sentence with a small smile.
She held her hand out, and Nezumi took it gently.
"I never got to tell you thank you for taking care of Sion before.."
"I was only repaying him.." was Nezumi's answer, as always. He made it sound like the most natural thing in the world.

'Same old Nezumi...'Sion thought with a smile.

"You two must be hungry. I'll heat up dinner."
Karan said as she turned to go back into the kitchen.
"Thanks, Mom." Sion called after her before looking at Nezumi. He was taller still... Was he always that thin?
Nezumi cocked his head to the side questionably, but Sion just shook his head and took his sleeve, walking towards his room. Sion knew that Nezumi hated holding hands with him, so he didn't try. Nezumi tensed slightly, but let Sion lead him. If anyone else had dared to grab his sleeve, he'd have surely made them regret it.

'You still have this much of an influence on me...'he thought, looking down.

Sion looked at him, his red eyes gleaming with happiness. Nezumi glanced up at him before looking away quickly. Sions gaze always made him feel restless, like he couldn't sit still. Sion smiled softly and opened the door to his room.
It was smaller than his old house inside the city, but still much bigger than Nezumi's. He sat down on his bed and watched Nezumi look around the room. He took quick note of the bookshelf, which was crammed with books Sion had bought over the past four years.
"I got all of the classics I could find in the stores... I didn't want to take any of the ones you left."

'I couldn't take those books out of the house...'

"You could have taken what you wanted."
Sion looked down. He knew that. He knew Nezumi wouldn't have cared if he had taken the books, because he hadn't planned on going back there. Maybe he hadn't planned on going back to the Western District at all...
"Sion." Nezumi's voice brought Sion back to his surroundings.
Nezumi had moved to stand in front of him, his face close. Sion blinked and leaned back a bit.
"So how've you been?" he blurted out, somewhat loudly compared to the moments of silence before.
Nezumi blinked a few times before shrugging.
"Fine."
"W-" Sion stopped himself.

'Where did you go...?'

he'd almost asked.
Now wasn't the time for that, though, because Nezumi was pulling away. Sion reached for him but Nezumi swatted his hand, looking over to the door as Karan walked in with a tray of warm food. Spaghetti and cherry tensed slightly as his stomach rumbled. Karan just smiled and set the plates down on the table in the middle of Sions room before leaving again.
Sion's eyes trailed over Nezumi's profile. He did look little thinner, Sion noted. His hair was slightly longer, but still short enough that it stuck out of his ponytail. The dark circles under his eyes showed exhaustion. Sion just shook his head and got up, walking towards the table. Nezumi followed and they sat down to eat.-
"Nezumi." Sion whispered softly. They had been reminiscing for the past hour, and it was already dark outside. The taller turned to him.
"Where did you go...? After you left here..."

'After you left me...'

Nezumi, who was laying on his back on the floor, raised his arms above his head.
"A lot of places... None very far."

'It was too painful to try to get far away from you...'

Sion smiled slightly, getting up from his chair. He laid on the floor by Nezumi, their heads slightly touching, their hair mingling together. Nezumi tilted his head slightly, looking at Sions face, but Sion was looking at the ceiling.
"I never asked.. How you've been since that day..." Sion smiled.
"I've been busy. I still read to Karan and her brother... I read all of the classics you always told me to read. I read some of them twice."
The ones that Nezumi always quoted... He read those books twice. Nezumi's voice in his head always read the lines. Sion felt something warm on his head, and looked to see that Nezumi's face wasn't as close, and his callused hand was playing with his hair.
"Did you always do what I told you to do?"

'Even if I wasn't with you...'

"Of course I did."

'And still do...'

Nezumi closed his eyes, his nose twitched slightly. A smile and frown were chasing each other on his face. He finally settled on a small, graceful smile as his hand continued ruffling the shorters hair. Sion continued to stare at the ceiling, his eyes feeling heavy.

'So much...has happened today... His hand is still so warm...'

His eyes drooped. Nezumi watched as Sions breathing slowed and his eyes closed, knowing he was drifting into sleep.
"Nezumi..." Sion said quietly. His voice barely louder than a whisper, his voice dripping with exhaustion.
"I won't...let you leave...this time."And with that he fell asleep.
Nezumi just watched the boy sleep, patting his head every once in a while. Sion's hand held onto his sleeve loosely.
"Your Majesty is still so compassionate towards a rat like myself..."

'I'll never be able to repay you.'

Nezumi picked up the sleeping boy and laid him on the bed, slipping him under the covers. Hesitantly, he slipped in next to him and closed his eyes as Sion cuddled into his chest.

'Just like all those years ago...'

And with that, sleep overtook him.

Phew! I'm done! Editing these things is so hard... *Writes it on Ipad, emails to laptop, edits on Word, edits again on *

R&R

Hope you enjoyed it. 3