Shion was lying in the grass, leaning against a sapling. The little park had sprouted up only a year after the wall had fallen, and had become a center for people of the community to enjoy growth and healing. Without planning, people came from all over the area, planting trees, grass, and a small garden. Children congregated there to play, and in the distance Little Shion giggled wildly as he chased his friends in a game of tag. It was one of Shion's favorite places in the West Block, different from the stone buildings and dusty pathways; it was quiet and pleasant to look at, a place where one could sit and think.
"Look, a mouse!" Little Shion squealed in the distance.
"There's three of them!" another child proclaimed. Shion raised his eyebrows.
"That's him then. The baby you insisted on saving." a voice said beside him. Shion gasped, startled, and turned. Nezumi was standing there, looking off into the distance instead of at Shion, hands in his pockets. He looked different. His hair was pulled back into a short ponytail, but the sides of his head were shaved, leaving little hair left to hang around the side of his face like it used to. He didn't exactly look older, but less childish, his face sharper somehow. He wore a brown leather jacket and a dark purple scarf. He glared down at Shion, eyes narrowed in anger.
"Y-yes," Shion said, "it's him. We took him in after…" he felt his eyes begin to well up with tears. He looked away, shutting them tightly.
"Shion, we need to talk." Nezumi grunted.
"About what?" Shion asked, hugging his knees nervously.
"About you. About how you're refusing treatment." Shion scoffed.
"What do you care?" Shion asked indignantly. "Until today, I was under the impression that you were through with me." Nezumi gritted his teeth.
"Damn it, Shion!" he hissed. "Think about your mother. Do you think she wants to lose you?"
"I am thinking about her," Shion retorted. "She'll destroy her life, sell whatever she has just to pay for this. And what will it get her? Maybe a year. Probably less. And then she would lose me, right after she's lost everything else." He looked at Nezumi, letting the hot tears escape his eyes. "That cannot happen! I will not let it happen." Nezumi grabbed Shion's collar with both of his hands and pulled him up to eye level threateningly. His face was inches away from Shion's. Nezumi's teeth were showing. Shion watched him.
"Are you going to hit me? Then hit me. That always makes you feel better." Shion said bitterly. Nezumi's eyes narrowed. Then he did something that Shion would never have imagined. Nezumi closed his eyes, pulled Shion closer, and kissed him.
At first, Shion was so taken aback that he squealed slightly. His eyes widened and hands flew up near his shoulders. After a few seconds, he too closed his eyes, letting his hands rest on top of Nezumi's, which were still clutching his shirt and shoulders tightly. Although Nezumi's demeanor was rigid and furious, his lips were tender and soft on Shion's. When Nezumi finally pulled away, Shion gazed at him in wonder. They were both breathing heavily. Shion was shaking.
"I need you to live, Shion." Nezumi said firmly. Shion felt the guilt build inside him, making his heart heavy.
"Where were you?" he whispered to Nezumi. "Where were you yesterday? Last month? The past few years? When I needed you. You can't just show up... You don't understand..."
"You're blabbering." Nezumi criticized him softly as he caressed Shion's cheek.
"So what?" Shion choked. "You don't understand, it's never been like this for you. You see what you want and you go and take it. For me, there's no other options! It's either die soon or die sooner. You don't understand Nezumi. It's never been like this for you." Shion sobbed. Nezumi touched his chin and directed his head to face his.
"You really think I've never been on the brink of death, Shion?" Nezumi said. "We've both been here before. You just have to keep fighting. You can't afford to be weak now."
Shion leaned forward and pressed himself into Nezumi's chest. Nezumi seemed reluctant at first, but then he wrapped his arms around him, holding him tightly. Little Shion approached them, and they pulled away awkwardly. Nezumi scratched his head.
"Hello, doctor." Little Shion said nonchalantly. Shion looked at Nezumi curiously, only to be shrugged at. Little Shion grabbed on to Shion's hand. "Can we go home soon?"
"Yes, it's nearly dinner time." Shion responded, attempting to sound cheerful as he wiped the last of his tears away. Little Shion looked at him worriedly.
"Okay. Can I have a piggyback there?" he asked. Shion smiled and tried scooping up the child, but he couldn't bring himself to hold him on his back. Nezumi wordlessly grabbed Little Shion and hoisted him onto his shoulders. Little Shion held onto Nezumi's ponytail and yelled with delight.
"Nezumi, are you sure-" Shion asked.
"I can walk you home." He said solemnly.
Nezumi paced himself slowly to allow Shion to keep up. There was a slight level of discomfort hanging in the air between them, and Nezumi knew that he shouldn't have kissed him. Shion had gone through so much already; the added stress of Nezumi's constantly fluctuating affections was just added cruelty. He couldn't tell what had gotten into to him, only that he had been filled with the overwhelming need to keep Shion from slipping away, from accepting death. Nezumi would drag Shion through any hardship if it meant it would push him to try and survive.
They neared the bakery, and Little Shion was growing antsy on top of Nezumi. He set the child down on his feet, letting him run around the back of the house.
"Can you stay for dinner?" Shion asked. Nezumi gritted his teeth and looked away, panic filling his chest.
"I can't do things like that, Shion." he muttered. Shion calmly gazed down at Nezumi's hand and slowly took it into his own, interlacing their fingers delicately. He could have sworn he saw Nezumi blush.
"Please? I won't tell anyone that you stopped being dark and mysterious for a few hours to sit down and enjoy a meal." Shion teased. Nezumi sighed. Perhaps Shion would drag him through any hardship if it meant Shion would try to survive, too. Nezumi nodded coolly and he and Shion made there way around the building and into the house. Nezumi was confronted with the delicious aroma of dinner being prepared. It was the first time he had seen the place in adequate lighting, and he was surprised by how comfortable it seemed. The kitchen, dining table, and living room were all one space, creating the false sense of roominess. Shion's mom was in the kitchen, observing a pot that was steaming on the stove. She turned when she heard them come inside.
"Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw them.
"It's Nezumi, mom." Shion said nonchalantly. Nezumi let go of Shion's hand quickly, blood rushing to his face. Karan smiled at him weakly.
"Of course! We've got enough to go around. Sit down and I'll bring this right over. Make that little boy wash his hands first!" she chimed, returning to her cooking.
"I did wash them!" Little Shion yelled as he entered the room. He jumped up into one of the chairs around the dining table. Shion pulled out Nezumi's chair for him. He sat with an air of uncertainty. Shion sat beside him.
"Here, Nezumi," Shion whispered, "you can let your guard down." Nezumi looked into Shion's eyes, then down at his mouth. He nodded weakly. There was no escaping it. To keep Shion alive, he would do anything.
