Swept upon the sea so high,

Flown across the rising waves,

Sail smoothly through the currents I,

While singing praise be praise,

And when I thought,

I'll never stop,

A torrent shunt my branded calls,

It sent my wings to droop by far,

Whence came tumbling down the heated falls,

Where I land upon the hardened ground,

So there I lay with nigh a sound,

There I sat to ponder my lost,

And there I stay perhaps forgot.

By Amaniblue

-Izumi's POV-

The drumming of the engine died down to a low clatter when Konno pulled the motorcycle to a stop at the same spot beside the sidewalk where he last picked Izumi up several hours ago. Only this time unlike the boisterous boy that was reluctant to mount the bike earlier, the now taciturn Izumi was hesitant to leave the comforting warmth of his friend.

After a full two minutes later and he had yet to release his tight hold around Konno's midsection, Izumi felt more than heard his friend release a sigh and promptly turned the engine off. Calm silence encloses the surrounding. The man then efficiently unties the chin straps and took his helmet off before he turns his head slightly to look over his shoulder, instantly reinstating the bevel of tension between them.

Knowing he can't avoid this moment any longer, Izumi dips his head to briefly lean against Konno's back before he releases his own sigh and reluctantly unfolds his arms around his friend. He then dismounted the vehicle onto the sidewalk and stood a foot away from Konno. Next, he slowly took off his gloves and helmet and hand it over to his friend who promptly stuffed the gloves beneath the passenger seat and locked the headgear in place, where it hang on the side.

Izumi found himself absently biting his already passion-bruised lips in agitation by the time Konno turned his attention back towards him. His friend had raised a hand to tilt Izumi's chin back up to face him, then rubbed a gloved thumb over the smaller man's lips to stop any further abuse. Heat returned to Izumi's cheeks upon recognizing the now familiar look Konno sported whenever he looked at him. That serious demeanor with the set jaw and intense, focused eyes was a deadly combination to be reckoned with. Though it thrilled him to no end, guilt immediately squashed the blossoming feelings before he allowed any further development to continue. He quickly diverted his eyes.

It wasn't that he weren't aware of his actions back at the club and later on behind the warehouse or for that matter— the past couple of days, it was more along the line that he genuinely enjoyed the moments spent with Konno that had his heart torn. He knew there would come a day when he would eventually move on and date another person, but never would it ever occur to him that it would be today. Also, he had never thought the person would again be another man and a close friend at that. Frankly it was these revelations that Izumi belatedly recognized for what it was and what it meant, that he felt even worse for allowing things between them to go this far.

He really had meant, in recalling his thoughts earlier on this afternoon at work, that he needed a friend more. But now, although Konno had yet to voice it, Izumi knew what the man wanted from him. Yet, he wasn't ready to give an answer. He didn't want to give an answer, not if it meant losing this much needed friendship and ruining a budding relationship.

His eyes began to cloud with tears when he felt the familiar ache in his heart.

"Hey, stop that now."

Those stern words startled Izumi enough that his tears subsided before they even started.

"If you don't want to be alone, just say so. Since I've already loan you my shirt, might as well loan you my body too. I'll be more than happy to be your bed warmer. But I'll have to warn you, I sleep naked."

All this was said in that foreign but soft, but serious tone Konno had used earlier behind the warehouse. It was heartwarming then in hearing that declaration of his; now though, it wasn't the tone but the words that brought Izumi's hackles back up. Even though it took him almost a full minute to figure it out, since Konno did threw him for a loop, Izumi immediately fall into the role of his former self.

His fists clenched taut beside him as he leaned forward to berate his friend with typical irate gusto. "Just because we made out doesn't give you the right to—"

"Doesn't it?"

Konno cut in with that serious tone of his again, this time spoken without humor. Izumi found himself at a lost for words. In fact, his head reeled from the sudden changes from the man. He shook his head just to clear it.

Izumi had to remind himself that the Konno he knew with the wise-cracking sense of humor has another side to him. This was the side of Konno he never knew existed before: the authoritative, take-no-prisoners side. He knew the man was forceful when it came down to things he wanted, but again Izumi never thought it would be directed at him. It would take some getting use to. But for now, Izumi rather take some time to figure out what his heart wanted before he let his mind wander to a possible future with Konno if the man was honestly serious about him.

With all the gathered bluster gone, Izumi stared at Konno for a long time before he replied with equanimity. "I— I'll need some time… to figure things out……"

Unsure of what to say to convey his thoughts across to Konno, Izumi hoped that what he had just said would be sufficient.

Apparently it was, for the man nodded once before the familiar smirk with contagious dimples reappeared. This brought a relief smile on Izumi's own lips that is, until Konno made the following remark.

"Take all the time you need as long as you allow me some privileges…"

The smile now wiped off of Izumi's lips was replaced with a gaping mouth. Dumbfounded by what the man meant by privileges, his brow rose up in silent question that said, huh?

In a blink of an eye, Konno drew Izumi's head in with his gloved hand for his answer. Izumi lost his balance and had to brace both hands beside his friend's shoulders until he felt soft warm lips enveloped his and wrestled his tongue into submission. Absently, his hands soon slid around Konno's neck for support instead.

Several heated minutes later, when he was cognizant again, Izumi stood dazed and breathless on the sidewalk as he saw Konno rode off at increasing speed.

After taking several deep breaths to calm his heart rate, Izumi refused to acknowledge his reaction as he mumbled a few choice words for his perverted friend, his ability to attract perverts, and all perverts in general as he entered the apartment compound and began climbing the stairs.

He couldn't believe that over a course of several hours, his long time friendship with Konno could change so irrevocably. There were so many questions he wanted his friend to provide the answer to and yet, Izumi decided against doing so tonight. Exhausted from feeling so many varying emotions in one night, Izumi concluded it would be best for his state of mind to avoid any further thoughts altogether.

He intended to take a warm shower and sunk into his nice cozy bed afterwards, but the shock in recognizing the familiar figure leaning against his apartment door suggested that his night was far from over.