A/N: Hey everybody! Due to the support of the fans, here's the next chapter! ; A ; Seriously, thank you to everyone who read the first chapter, and to you, for reading the second! So much love and I'm loving the reviews! A shout out for icedragonpeach for being a fantabulous beta and amazing friend. On an unrelated note, did anyone notice what I did last chapter? If not, I'll tell you at the end. For now, here's Chapter Two!
Hiroomi panted lightly when he got to the doors of his massive home and doubled over, putting a hand on the door to steady himself. He was actually feeling a little warm, which was a rare feeling, and he pulled off his scarf. He straightened up and breathed lightly, his breath making puffs of mist in the night air. It had been a particularly cold night for summer, and he shivered lightly. Hiroomi opened the big traditional doors, the wood creaking quietly.
"I'm home." The words echoed in the empty house, and Hiroomi sighed. What did he expect? Izumi nee-san was never at home, and Mitsuki was out. He shut the door softly and shook off his shoes, before padding to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, eyes scanning the shelves, before pursing his lips and closed the fridge. Nothing to eat. Great.
"I have to go out again…" Hiroomi tutted in annoyance, and headed upstairs to his room. His school uniform was quite uncomfortable so he opted for a pair of jeans, a graphic tee, sneakers and of course, his scarf.
Out of all the scarves he owned, Hiroomi loved this striped red and black one the best, for the sole reason that Akkey and Mitsuki had bought it for him on his 14th birthday. He smiled fondly at the memory of cute little Mitsuki and Akihito, smiling so brightly. Well, Akihito was anyway.
Hiroomi sighed. That was three years ago, and in those three years, so many things had happened. They weren't like how they were before, but he didn't resent it, nor did he welcome it. He took it in stride, just like he did with everything else.
He jogged down to the front door and out to the nearest supermarket, which was a bit of a ways away since the Nase home was a little secluded from everything else, feeling the need for a little bit of exercise to get his mind off of things.
"Welcome!" The store clerk greeted him cheerfully and Hiroomi wondered how she could stay so cheerful even though it was already so late out. He bowed slightly to her and went into the store, searching for some simple ingredients so he could throw together a makeshift dinner. He scanned the shelves, mindlessly walking, occasionally grabbing a thing or two and chucked them carelessly into his basket.
"Hiroomi?" The raven-haired male turned around, and his eyebrows shot up.
"Akkey?" His heart ground to a halt, and the world seemed to slow down a little. He swallowed thickly. "What are you doing here?"
Akihito lifted his shopping basket. "Shopping for dinner." Hiroomi blanked for a minute, his nervousness and hesitation gone.
"Akkey." He said lowly, his eyes fixed on the blond's cup ramen filled basket. "You. Are. Not. Eating. That."
"Huh?" Akihito looked at his basket then back up, to meet Hiroomi's determined eyes. "Oh my god, no, Hiroomi."
"You're not eating that." Hiroomi slowly started shaking his head, before suddenly snapping into full drive, running around the store frantically, grabbing various things off the shelf, before grabbing a shocked Akihito over to the counter, slamming a 10 000 yen bill on the table and sprinted out of the store and into the night, heading for his house.
"H-Hiroomi!" Akihito panted slightly. The raven haired boy had been running at full speed, and it was hard for the blond to keep up.
"Mm?" The raven haired male finally stopped, face slightly flushed and panting lightly. "What's wrong Akkey?"
Akihito was panting like crazy, his breath forming a storm of white puffs in front of his face. He continued this for a few minutes, before finally straightening out, and managed to say, "Slow down you crazy person." Hiroomi laughed.
"Sorry," he teased. "I forgot you were so pitifully unfit."
Akihito shot him a glare, before smirking.
"Oh it's on."
Hiroomi and Akihito collapsed in front of the Nase family home, both panting and laughing with groceries strewn everywhere. Hiroomi's stiffness and strangeness had long taken flight, and they were once again how they always were. And Akihito was glad for that. He didn't like Hiroomi being so distant from him. It just didn't sit right with him.
"So," Akihito started, propping himself up on his elbows. "Are we going to eat or are we going to look at megane beauties, because if we're not doing either, I'm going home."
"Don't worry I have my secret Mitsuki-in-megane collection." Hiroomi deadpanned, before breaking out into a grin. "But we're going to eat as well. Tonight's your favourite. Curry."
Akihito drooled slightly just from thinking about it. Hiroomi didn't look like it but he could cook like a pro. "Well then, let's hurry!" Akihito brightened and got up, picking up the groceries. Hiroomi helped him and opened the door.
"You just wait in the living room. I'll be done in a sec. Thanks for your help though." Hiroomi smiled and took the groceries from Akihito's hands, and headed towards the kitchen. He started unpacking bags and getting cooking utensils out. Akihito followed him into the kitchen.
"I'm not a kid anymore you know. I can help too!" Akihito pouted. Hiroomi chuckled.
"Yes, you are. So just sit tight and wait like a good boy hmm?" Akihito looked irritated but sat in the kitchen, watching Hiroomi cook.
By now, Hiroomi's initial nerves had settled down. He didn't know why nor did he know how, but there was something about Akihito that was just so calming.
I like him. He thought numbly to himself, as he cooked, his body in auto pilot. This is the man I like…
No.
The thought struck him like thunder.
I love him. I love Akihito.
He blushed, and snuck a look at Akihito.
This time, when he had come to the realisation, there was no panic or confusion. Just the simple truth that this was how his heart felt and that he could do nothing to change it. He didn't want to change it. He was happy with his feelings for the blond, and he was content with how they were now.
Hiroomi felt as though his whole body had become a little lighter and involuntarily smiled. He felt so full of happiness; he could probably die right then and there with no regrets.
No.
No he couldn't do that. He needed to protect Akihito. As long as he needed him to and as long as he wanted him to. Hiroomi needed to protect Akihito. But for now, he would just enjoy the moment. Enjoy all the times he could be with Akihito, as freely as he wanted. Enjoy the memories and the memories that would soon come and th-
"Ow." Hiroomi let out a low hiss. A sliver of blood trickled down his finger. "Eugh."
"Hiroomi, are you okay?" In an instant, Akihito appeared, hovering next to the raven-haired male, looking concernedly up at him. "You should concentrate on what you're doing, baka." Akihito gently took Hiroomi's hand, and his heart sped up, beating frantically at his ribcage. God I liked it better when I wasn't having a heart attack.
Hiroomi gave a nervous laugh. "I'm fine. It's just a small cut. No big deal."He looked down at Akihito, whose eyes were cast down, looking thoughtful. "Seriously Akkey, it's fin-"
Akihito put Hiroomi's finger in his mouth; sucking gently and Hiroomi near fainted. He froze and felt a jolt of desire run involuntarily through his body. Akihito doing something like this was kind of…hot. His eyes glazed over as indecent images assaulted his mind, before he mentally slapped himself.
Akihito doesn't think of you like that. He's not even gay. He's just doing this out of concern. Get your mind out of the gutter Hiroomi!
He composed himself and returned to his normal stoic self.
"Akkey….what are you doing?"
A/N: Oops, sorry, cliffhanger. Kufufu. Stay tuned for the next one, which may or may not be this Friday. Don't know, I'll figure something out. Also, for the last chapter, when Akihito looks at the moon and says, "How pretty…" it's a reference to Mitsuki's name, which means beautiful moon in Japanese. So no, I didn't put that in there just for dramatic effect. Jks yes I did.
Please read, favourite and review! Thank you!
EDIT: The next chapter gets a little more serious and, well, deeper, so please look forward to it!