Story Title: All the Ways to Say I Love You

Disclaimer: Still don't own YYH.

Author's Notes: Thank you to the handful of you that faved on the last chapter. I know this story has faults, and there are things I would've done differently in retrospect, but I hope there is some entertainment to be had. After this, there should only be one more chapter. Depends on how long that chapter goes on. As always, thanks for reading.

-o-

Chapter Seven: The Impossible is Possible

-o-

Touya sat curled up in a chair with his legs over the left arm texting with Jin. The tv was on for background noise, but occasionally he paid attention to what was going on. Of lately, he was happier reading to the bubbly splash of his aquarium's water pump and filter. He looked up to see that his fish had come out of hiding and were playfully darting around.

His fish seemed happy in their new tank and with each other. Fish weren't the most expressive pets but, according to the book on goldfish care he had bought at work, all signs pointed to him earning a gold star. Happy and healthy was all he hoped for. Their new surroundings had to be better than the plastic bins they had been swimming in at the festival.

Scrolling through his album, Touya wished that he had taken more pictures of the two of them together. Or at least more pictures of Jin. Nearly two weeks had passed, and the festival was still on his mind. He had enjoyed himself immensely, yes, but there was something new about him after the festival. Sort of. It was a feeling that Touya had felt fleetingly before, but now had settled itself inside him, and he was permanently changed for it. And change concerned Touya. Change could be wonderful. Change could be painful, agonizing, crushing.

Touya didn't really know independence. So many years of his life had been spent under literal lock and key as he tried to follow his father's plans for him, and he had relied so heavily on Kurama's knowledge and advice in those first years of leaving home that he was still learning and relearning how to be his own person. He wasn't sure he was ready to bring someone into his life without a stronger sense of self. He didn't want to find himself slipping into another relationship under the thumb of someone else's command.

But that really wasn't Jin. He didn't like being controlled anymore than Touya did. Decisions were collaborative and agreed upon. Feelings and concerns were discussed. Jin made suggestions, but he never pushed Touya to have his way. If anything, he needed Touya to be the decision maker. Jin often had too many ideas and was split between his whims. It had felt strange at first, however Touya had grown more comfortable with making decisions, even if he went with what Jin wanted most of the time. Really it was just nice to have his opinion solicited and heard, and not just assumed and made for him.

And Touya liked the person he was when he was around Jin. He was more relaxed and less focused on the opinions of others. His smiles were natural and plentiful. He was actually trying to believe in his hopes, instead of wishing for the best but expecting the worst. It wasn't easy to do all of the time, but thinking how Jin might see matters helped. The world was more interesting and welcoming than he had been raised to believe. He still had progress to make, but Jin wasn't going to rush him.

Beach party on Friday, wanna go? Jin texted.

Yes and no. While he wanted to spend time with Jin, he wondered who else was going to be at the party. He hoped it was people he knew and wasn't a large crowd. He wasn't too keen on the prospect of being surrounded by a bunch of strangers and only knowing Jin there. Especially if Jin got pulled away from him.

Will I know anyone else there?

Ah sure, you will, Jin assured him. It's me, Yusuke, Kuwabara, our little group. It's not no huge deal. Just something we like to do at least once before summer ends.

That didn't sound too bad. A party of co-workers and acquaintances. Folks he had a somewhat friendly standing with. Perhaps it was a chance for him to start off on a new footing with everyone and apologize for his cold behavior. He might even have a chance to really open up his social circle. There was just one problem...

I close Friday, and it's too late to ask for time-off.

Kurama might let ya, Jin replied.

Which was very true. Kurama was supportive of him socializing more, and Touya rarely asked for time off or schedule changes. Still he didn't feel right asking him with only two days notice.

I hate to impose on him.

The three dots lingered on his screen for longer than Touya felt comfortable. Did he sound too much like he didn't want to go? Because he did. He truly did. But he had to close that night, and he had so many debts and obligations to Kurama. It was a small favor, yes, but surely he had asked enough of him already.

Well, if you can't go, they'll be other times, Jin wrote. Think on asking though.

Touya replied that he would.

-o-

He probably should have asked on his way to clock in, just to get it over and done with. He could have asked him all morning, but he didn't. Instead, Touya dithered and procrastinated, and every minute that passed made him consider not asking at all.

It was late in the morning on a rainy, dreary day. It had been a slow day so far, but it was sure to pick up after the rain passed. Touya was returning with his and Kurama's coffee and Kuwabara's orange juice. Jin didn't ask him if he had asked yet. Probably the look on his face told him that he hadn't yet. He felt bad for having to ask and bad for not asking. Did it hurt more to ask, or to let down Jin and not go? The answer was whichever made him feel worse, he supposed.

Kurama was watching the register for him while he went over to the coffee shop. This morning, he had looked as fresh-faced as ever, despite spending several hours last night draining a wine bottle with Yuu Kaitou after the shop had closed. Kaitou had brought Kurama an advance copy of his latest book, a venture into poetry. Apparently, Kaitou had dedicated the book to Kurama. Turned out to be in a middle-finger sort of way, Touya had realized upon skimming through Kaitou's verses before they opened. Kurama was amused by the passive-aggressive commendation. He always was.

Okay, if he just came out and said it, it would be out there, and the worst of it would be over. "I know this is short notice," Touya said, "but would it possible for me to open on Friday and leave around one-thirty?"

Kurama accepted his coffee. "Jin invited you to the beach party."

Touya was surprised and yet not that Kurama already knew. At least he could cut to the chase. "I know it's not an emergency, but I would like to—"

"Go. I'll mind the shop that evening," Kurama said.

Touya blinked. Really? It was that easy? Jin had said that he would probably let him go, but Touya had expected some pause for consideration. "Friday is a busy day. It's okay if I go?"

"I wouldn't have said so otherwise," Kurama said matter-of-factly. "I'm glad that you want to go."

"It feels strange to me." Touya wrapped his hands around his coffee and enjoyed the comforting warmth. He had never really been one for parties and large gatherings. Never really been invited to one either. "I hope Yusuke doesn't mind that Jin invited me. We don't know each other well."

"Any friend of Jin's is a friend of Yusuke," Kurama assured.

Touya hoped so. No, if Kurama said so, then it had to be true. If he thought letting him go would cause him more harm than good, he would have declined his request. Still it was only going to be Kurama manning the shop after he left...

"Are you sure?" Touya asked.

Kurama smiled gently. "Ask me that again, and I'll revoke my permission."

No one could get their point across so sharply in such a polite tone like Kurama. Touya tilted his head down and smiled shyly. "...Thank you."

Kurama simply hummed in acknowledgment.

Heavy rain streaked across the storefront windows. The shop was empty. Touya understood why—he wouldn't want a brand new book to get wet out in this weather either. Still it was odd that more folks weren't ducking inside just to avoid the rain for a spell.

"How are things going?" Kurama asked.

"Fine." He and Jin were friends. Could be more than friends. Maybe. Touya didn't know. He could just be reading Jin's friendliness as a sign of something more, but what did he know about romance? He just had a hope that maybe...

"The months have really flown by," Kurama said. "Seems like other day you were still ducking into my office to avoid him."

Touya wanted to forget how rude he had been to Jin at first. Walking away from him, ignoring him, not talking to him for weeks, it was a wonder that Jin had stuck around. "I behaved so silly in retrospect. He's a great guy."

"You were cautious in a new experience. There's no shame in that."

That was a nice way of putting it, he supposed. Kurama always seemed to be reassuring him that his odd and sometimes rude behavior was perfectly acceptable. Touya often wondered if it really was okay, or if he glossed over his social spikes because of their friendship. He certainly had had enough practice apologizing to customers on his behalf.

"I told him about how I grew up," Touya said.

"You started telling him about how you grew up," Kurama corrected, his tone without criticism.

"Yeah..." Touya sighed. It was a start, yes, but he was not quite ready to go into detail about the kind of man his father was.

Touya looked down at his coffee cup. The 'o' in Toy on his cup was heart-shaped, but Touya was certain it was accidental. Jin just wrote his name too quickly, and that was what came of it. It could have been a fudge of the pen for all he knew. Not really something to dwell on. Or stare at. Even if it brought him comfort.

"I know I've told you this a thousand times, but thank you. For everything."

"I've been told that I have a habit of taking in strays," Kurama said, looking over at Touya with warmth and a measure of pride.

Touya didn't know how much of that was true, but it was certainly true for him. He tried not to dwell on the alternate outcome of his life if Kurama hadn't decided to let him come to his bookshop every day and persistently coaxed him out of his shell. He would be miserable, that he was certain. Merely an android following his father's commands hiding its human heart.

There were rough days with rough people, but overall Touya enjoyed his job. There was a simple magic to the place. There were folks who came by regularly to converse with one another that only saw each other at the shop. He had watched excited children pick out their first books to read all by themselves. Their staff was friendly with so many people that regularly shopped and came by.

The shop wasn't the biggest bookshop in the city, but their selection was never lacking. Books for escape. Books for learning new skills. Books for understanding who you are. Books for finding oneself. Books for people to see themselves reflected on the page. Books for all communities to share and teach others. Nine Tales was a safe haven for many people. Including himself.

Sometimes Touya forgot the simple magic of his job, and that the shop was precious to more people than himself. He swore to make an effort not to forget so often. He wanted to continue his efforts to be better at his job, so that the shop thrived and was loved by its customers as much as he loved it.

-o-

Touya and Jin were the last two in a queue walking up the hundreds of stone steps that he had been told led to a private beach. Well, after the stairs, there was a little walk across a temple Touya had never heard of and that the people in town adamantly claimed didn't exist, and then it was just a tiny bit farther down a side path that reached the shore. Touya was positive this area was haunted. This beach party was starting to feel like the start of a horror novel, and they weren't going to be the group that solved the mystery and broke the vengeful wraith's curse.

He had thought he knew where they were going, but Yusuke and Kuwabara had been coming here for years, had no idea if the property belonged to anyone, and no one had arrested them for trespassing yet. Touya didn't think they were joking.

Jin read the doubting expression on his face. "It's a bit of a pain in the ass to get there, but getting there makes it all worth it," he said, carrying their cooler of drinks all by himself. Touya had picked up one end as they were getting stuff out of the rented van, but Jin had assured him he could take care of it. It was heavy, really two people needed to carry it, but Jin turned down his offer again and again. The weight didn't seem to bother Jin though.

As the beach came into view, Touya admired the clear blue water, and the waves playfully rolling with the tide. He found it hard to believe that the nearby townsfolk weren't flocking to this secluded beach all summer. Was it really that hidden? Everyone else was already busy choosing a spot and setting up and not paying attention to the scenery.

"So, first impressions?" Jin asked over his shoulder.

"It's wonderful," Touya replied, taking out his phone and snapping a quick picture.

Their group was fairly small, and he already knew Kuwabara, Keiko, and Yusuke. He was introduced to Botan and Yukina, Kuwabara's girlfriend. Touya knew of Yukina already, having heard quite a bit about her from Kuwabara. He vaguely remembered Kurama's husband's younger sister was also named Yukina, but he doubted they were the same person. Hiei never talked about his family. Actually, he didn't say much around the shop at all.

The girls stepped off to the side to strip down to their swimsuits with a little privacy. The guys decided to do the same and removed their shirts. Except for Touya. While his regular workouts and nearly daily runs kept him in shape, Touya felt more comfortable keeping his blue and white-striped sleeveless shirt on. Jin stretched toward the sky and took in a deep breath of the salty air. Touya couldn't help but watch his chest rise and his abs tighten. He certainly hadn't needed any help carrying the heavy cooler all the way here. Yusuke and Kuwabara were nicely toned and fit as well. Why did Jin's friends have to be hot too? He was going to get caught staring, he was sure of it. He quickly tossed his gaze out toward the shore.

The girls raced off into the surf and called for the boys to come join them. Jin called back to Touya to follow, but Touya remained behind. He had read thousands of descriptions of the sea in stories but had never experienced it for himself before.

He walked out into the ocean, stopping when the water was level with his stomach. He felt the force of the waves pushing and pulling him, leaving him feeling unsteady even when he was standing still. Stories of large ships tossed around in violent, churning seas and mermaids grabbing sailors to their demise came to mind. It was easy to imagine how someone might be overwhelmed and dragged under a larger wave—luckily the waves seemed relatively mild today.

Not far off, the others screeched and splashed one another. It looked fun.

"Everything all right?" Jin said, appearing beside him.

"Just having a moment to take it all in," Touya said.

Touya wandered on out. The water reached his shoulders before he stopped. It was getting more and more difficult for him to touch the sand below. Of all the subjects that his father insisted he learn, how to swim was not a skill he had deemed necessary. Touya wondered if his father had ever seen the ocean. Probably deemed it too disorganized and insignificant if he had.

Jin idly floated on his back in the water. Touya was not watching the water lap at his sides and wash over his chest and feeling any sort of jealousy. "Sometimes I think about what it would be like to float far on out where the sea and sky are one in the same. An eternity of blue, then an ocean of stars," he said, with yearning in his voice. "...Wouldn't it be nice?"

Touya hummed in agreement.

"I know myself, three days or so, I'd get lonely and want to come back. Seagulls don't make for good conversation."

"Might be better than what I was," Touya said.

"Yeah, but seagulls aren't half as pleasant as you to look at."

"That's probably true," Touya said, feeling the heat on his face. The sun could only take partial credit. Jin was just joking around, like he always does. It was best not to assume anything.

"I'm going to go drown Yusuke. Wanna come watch?" Jin said.

"Sure."

-o-

It was late in the day, the sun was beginning to set, and the group was hanging out around the fire pit. Today had been a more enjoyable experience than Touya had expected. He had saw himself standing off to the side most of the time until Jin awkwardly included him, but the others had welcomed him in their fun.

He had played volleyball for the first time since high school and had actually played pretty well. Even got a few nice return hits. Jin, Touya, and Botan had been on one team, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Keiko were on the other. Touya couldn't believe how Jin missed a serve coming straight at him, but he had been distracted looking over at him. He had spent most of the game looking over at him. Making sure he was doing all right, he supposed. A kind gesture, but not a necessary one.

They were all kind folks. Folks he could see himself becoming friends with. And yet Touya had expected some tension from his co-workers. While they had never had any quarrels at the shop, he wouldn't blame them for harboring some unspoken resentment toward his failures. Maybe this wasn't the time or the place, but they were getting along so well. Touya wanted to clear the air.

"Yukimura, Kuwabara, I'm sorry for pushing so much of the customer service onto your shoulders and causing trouble. I don't mean to behave coldly. There are times I can't process what you or customers are asking of me because I'm spiraling—"

Kuwabara raised his hands up at chest-level. "Hey, man, no need to apologize."

"We know you're trying your best," Keiko added.

"I know I can be a burden—"

"You're not!" Kuwabara and Keiko shouted in unison, causing Touya to jump in his seat.

"You have a social anxiety. There's no shame in that," Keiko said, her gaze sympathetic.

"Yea, what kind of jerk co-workers gets mad at the guy with a social anxiety?" Kuwabara said. "When you need to step aside, do it." A thought dawned on him. "...Hey, I can show you my hiding spot. You can decompress there."

"It's the small storage space behind the rolling bookcase," Keiko explained. "There's drinks and a portable tv."

Kuwabara's eyes widened. "Wait, you know about it?"

"I didn't know about it," Touya said. And he worked in the back just as much as Kuwabara.

"Kurama knows," Keiko said.

"Duh, Kurama knows," Kuwabara said and then realized that he might be in trouble.

"We call it your office."

"Has he ever said anything about it?" Kuwabara asked.

"I most certainly would've said something if I wanted your office gone," Kurama said from behind Kuwabara, who jumped nearly three feet in shock. Touya sympathized—Kurama did seem to have the remarkable ability to just appear beside people.

Kurama had arrived with his husband, Hiei. Touya was so used to seeing Kurama in dress shirts and slacks, sweaters, or silk shirts and Hiei in what was possibly the same black outfit every time that it caught him off-guard to see them in beachwear.

"But who is watching the shop?" Touya asked.

"We're closed," Kurama said. "My shop, my hours."

"Remarkable how irate some people get when Kurama chooses to have a half-day for the first time in what two, three years?" Hiei said.

"Been that long since you've had a day off?" Kuwabara said.

"Spend less time in your office and maybe he could close the shop one day a week," Hiei said brusquely.

Kuwabara leaned toward Hiei and raised a clenched fist at him. "I get all my work done and then some!" he insisted. He then peered up at Kurama and asked in a much milder tone, "That's not the reason, is it?"

"Not at all," Kurama replied.

Finances, whether it was his personal or the bookshop's, was something Touya had never discussed with Kurama. However, over time, he had pieced together that Kurama didn't actually need the money the shop generated, and that the shop might merely be a venture to fritter away the hours. Sometimes he wondered if he only stayed open for the benefit of his employees.

Kurama and Hiei joined the others around the fire. Touya looked around at their small group of friends and realized how many of them he was acquainted with and at how connected they were in one way or another to each other. He had always thought his social circle was quite small, but perhaps he had been blind to his potential.

Kuwabara turned toward Touya. "We like you. We just don't know you well."

"When you're ready, tell us more about yourself," Keiko added.

"We can hang out after work, meet up with Yusuke and Jin for some drinks. Whatever you feel up to."

"Otherwise Kuwabara will just hang out with his cat," Yusuke said with a teasing grin. Kuwabara shot him a sharp glare.

Touya perked up. "You have a cat?"

"Yea, you like cats?" Kuwabara asked.

"Yes."

"Ooh, you gotta see Eikichi!" Kuwabara said, scrambling to find his phone.

"You've done it now," Yusuke said as the others smiled and laughed knowingly.

Kuwabara crouched beside him and showed him picture after picture of his adorable Japanese bobtail from when she was a kitten to now. His face beamed with such love and joy. His voice rang with excitement. Kuwabara had mentioned Eikichi before, but Touya hadn't known she was a cat. Touya wondered if he should show him the picture he had taken of Our Landlord. He wasn't really his cat though, despite his attempts to bond with him and be included in the cat's rotation of apartments he visited.

"She looks like such a sweetheart," Touya said, trying his best to hide how cute he thought she was. He wasn't certain he wanted everyone to know how much he had an affinity for cats and cute things yet. It was embarrassing enough that Jin knew.

"Hey, you're welcome to come over and meet her," Kuwabara said. "I swear my sis's cooking is way better than her attitude."

"O-Okay," Touya replied, surprised by the offer. He supposed that they had worked together long enough that inviting him over wasn't an odd request, but it still felt so sudden. His coworkers' perception of him was shifting so fast for him. Even Yusuke's opinion of him seemed to be changing for the better.

Touya had always felt like he was staring from the outside at a world that did not wish to include him amongst their company. Perhaps at one time that was true, but time had a way of moving along with and without him. A childhood of isolation and studying had left him cold and ill-equipped to navigate the free-flowing social waters. However, his own perception of his coworkers' perception of him might have been colored through his gray-blue lens of self-doubt.

"Legs need a bit of a walk," Jin said as he stood up from his seat. "Toy, wanna come with me?"

"Okay," he said, not sure why he was needed but didn't mind to go with Jin.

As Touya headed off with Jin, Yusuke tossed them, well, Jin in particular, a knowing look. Touya didn't know what for. Could have been a silent stay safe, he supposed. If he stuck to the beach, Jin probably wouldn't get lost. The forest was another matter, however. In any case, Touya was going to make sure they came back together.

They walked in the wet sand, neither saying anything. A peachy orange-pink sunset, the color reflecting on the water, shone through the thin, unraveled ribbons of clouds. It was a pleasant evening, not too cool and the wind not too blustery. Touya was not too partial to the silence, not when he was around Jin. He was used to him chatting, about anything, everything, but at the moment Jin seemed content to take in the scenery.

On down the shore, rocky cliffs claimed the beach. Seafoam fizzled out over the large rocks. Jin stopped, hands casually resting on his hips. He took in a deep breath and breathed out a joyful sigh. A tiny crab scuttled across the sand.

"Nice, innit?" Jin said, peering over at Touya before looking back out at the sea.

Touya agreed.

He wondered if he should say anything or reach out for Jin's hand. Seemed like the kind of place and time that was right for that sort of thing. Jin probably knew better than him the difference between romantic and just friends feelings.

"I've been wanting to ask you, every day I've thought about it, but I've had to tell myself, 'Now, Jin, you gotta take things slow. If you come in crashin' like a big ocean wave, you'll drown the lad. But if you just see where this goes, one day, maybe months away, it'll be a better time, and you can ask. Now just you wait...' And I did just what I said I did."

Sometimes Touya didn't know where Jin was going when he went on and on like this. However, he was fairly certain what might be on his mind this time. At least, he hoped so. After all, the only person he had ever wanted to notice him was Jin.

Jin turned toward Touya. His expression was as gentle and steady as the ocean waves nearby.

"What's your thoughts on us going out on a date?"

In times like these, Touya was glad Jin just came out and said whatever was in his head and in his heart. Better than him floundering over what he should do and what to say over the next few weeks or months.

"I wouldn't mind," he replied.

"Knew it, knew it, knew it!" Jin snatched him up by the waist and twirled them around, much to Touya's shock and protest. "I knew you liked me!"

It eventually came to Jin's mind that picking up his smaller friend might not be the best idea. And thank heavens, he figured it out when he did—the spinning was making Touya nauseous.

"Oops, sorry, Toy. Got swept away in all my excitement. Yusuke hates it when I pick him up, says no one likes it."

"It's fine," Touya said, definitely needing a moment to get his bearings. "You couldn't help yourself."

Jin apologized again as he set him down. All his twirling had gotten his heart racing. Which out of all the ways Jin had made his heartbeat tick up, this was a new one.

Probably going to find out a lot of new ways he'll make my heart race, Touya thought. The two of them, boyfriends, he still couldn't believe it. Couldn't believe his luck.

"I've never dated anyone before," Touya admitted.

"Makes sense and makes no sense," Jin said.

"How so?" Touya asked.

"I can't believe that I'm the first fella that's ever asked you out," Jin said. "Attractive as you are, and no one's flirted with you?"

Attractive? Touya had never dressed to be attractive. People usually said he dressed to look uninviting.

"If they had, I didn't pick up on it." No one came to memory. Except for Jin. How long had he been flirting with him and he hadn't noticed?

"Now, that I believe," Jin said, with a nod. "'Course if somebody had, you and I wouldn't have met, and that's a travesty. I'd be mooning after the lad next door knowing full well I'd be a better for him than the man he's got."

"Saved you some time then."

"I'd wait how ever long it took for you," Jin said.

Touya knew that to be the wholehearted truth.

"What's different about dating than what we have been doing?" In Touya's mind, he didn't see much difference, which was why he was struggling to understand the line between the two.

Jin shrugged. "Not much. You talk, hang out, hold hands, cuddle, kiss, make promises to each other, argue when a promise gets broke, make up—it's—"

"Life," Touya said.

Jin briefly looked surprised and then nodded lightly in agreement. He put his hands on his hips and idly swayed back and forth. "So you want me in your life? I swear I won't muck it up. Only occasionally and only on the little things."

"Yea, if you don't mind if I'm a bit boring," Touya said.

Jin stopped swaying. "I've never thought you were boring at all," he said. "There's a lot to you, Toy. Things you haven't come to love about yourself. Things you haven't realized yet. I'll show you what I can, but the rest is up to you."

Touya didn't know what other things Jin saw in him, but realizing things about himself was an exciting prospect. "I promise."

And then an idea hit Jin like a bolt of lightning. He swore he could see the moment of impact in the way his face lit up suddenly. "We can go to CreaLand!"

"CreaLand?" Touya repeated.

"It's a local amusement park. You have to know Crea's song!" He curled his hands into paws, held them up at chest-height, and started to hum a jaunty, upbeat tune, as he hopped from side to side on the sand. Anyone else dancing in the sand would have looked silly—well, Jin did look silly but it was also normal for him. Try as he might, he was unable to remember the words and gave up. Touya didn't know Crea's song or anything about CreaLand or its mascot anyway.

"We gotta go before it closes for the season," Jin insisted. "Next next Saturday? It'll be our first date."

"But won't we hang out together before then?"

"Ah course, we will."

"So those won't be dates?"

"Ah course, they'll be. CreaLand is just our first date. They'll be lots before and after, Toy, don't you worry."

Touya didn't quite understand Jin's excited logic on what counted as a date or not, but he wasn't going to make a fuss about it. It didn't matter to him what they called it as long as they were together.

As Jin was telling him about the CreaLand mascot—a cream-colored puppy that dreamed of being a painter so his paw pads were always different colors, they headed back to rejoin the others. They had been gone a while, and who knew what kind of rumors were told in the meantime.

"So are you two dating yet?" Yusuke asked as soon as they were back.

"What?" Touya said.

"We are!" Jin answered at the same time as Touya.

Touya hunched his shoulders and peered down sheepishly to hide the heat rising to his face. He was not positive if he wanted everyone to know about them already. None of them seemed surprised—in fact, the vibe was more "It's about time" than anything else. They congratulated them and raised their drinks in support. Touya wondered how long everyone had known that the two of them liked each other before he had even realized his own feelings for Jin. No doubt he had been the last to know.

-o-

It was nearly eleven-thirty at night by the time Touya arrived home. It was always quiet around his apartment complex at this hour. Our Landlord wasn't even roaming around—he had his pick of apartments to stay in for the night, so he was always taken care of.

Nearly home, Touya stopped suddenly. The lights were on in his apartment. Touya didn't recall leaving any lights on.

The door was locked. There was no sign of a forced break-in, but things were not as they should be either. Touya cautiously entered his apartment. He closed the door softly. A pair of Italian leather shoes rested in the shoe rack by the door. Touya swallowed his air harshly and proceeded slowly onward into his apartment.

He surveyed his home. Every cabinet door and drawer was open, and things had clearly been rummaged through. Pantry items were left out on the countertop. A small stack of books remained on the floor. All signs pointed not to a burglar but to something equally devastating.

"Where have you been?" his father demanded to know from the threshold of the short hallway leading to the bathroom and his bedroom.