Author note: I always wondered how Shirogane coped at a certain time of year. REvyaB360, I'm really sorry - I know you were looking forward to a new lemon, but... OTL
Warning: Sex (eventually), tiny bit of bondage, more OOC than I'd have really liked.
Pair: Shirogane and Akira Nikaido
Disclaimer: Monochrome factor is not, however much I'd like it to be, mine. Kaili Sorano owns the characters and the universe they live in. :D

"Hmm..." Akira woke curled on his side, Shirogane spooning him protectively. One arm was draped over the younger man's waist and the other was curled under his head, offering both comfort and security. Akira could hear his parents clattering about downstairs, already awake.

"Another five minute." Shirogane pleaded. Akira rolled over in his arms, and pressed a brief kiss to rosy lips.

"Sorry. Need to save some things from downstairs before we traumatise the parents even more." He slid from between the sheets, comfortable in his nudity in front of his lover. Shirogane's cobalt eyes watched from the bed as he dressed, and the older Shin pouted until he got a kiss before Akira left the room.

"Good morning, Aki." Mrs Nikaido was flipping pancakes at the stove. "Sleep well?" Akira smiled softly as he recognised her usual contrition routine. Every time they'd argued or she'd upset him when he was younger, she'd make pancakes, strawberries, and whipped cream for breakfast.

"Morning, mom." He collected a few items around the room – the belts from the night before, a video game he'd borrowed from Kengo, cake recipes Shirogane had borrowed from Master, handcuffs, a pack of Kou's cigarettes, Shirogane's cane – and dumped them on the table. "I gotta swing by a friend's place to return some stuff." The domesticity of it all made Akira wince, but his mother smiled slightly.

"Will... um... your friend be going too?"

"Shirogane? Yeah, half of this junk is his problem." he clarified. She nodded.

"How about we come with you?" she smiled sweetly, honesty trying to make amends. Akira shrugged.

"Be my guest. Where's dad?"

"Taking out the trash, I think, sweetie. He'll be coming too, if you don't mind." Akira shrugged again. "Aki, you know we have no problem with anything you choose to do. Last night... it was more surprise than anything else."

"I know." He agreed. "We both understand. It's just, you come in out of nowhere, with no warning, and I'm supposed to be the same as before?" he shook his head. "Mom, since you and dad left, I've been fending for myself. I'm doing fine in school, I have great friends, and I have a boyfriend who'll do anything for me. I'm genuinely happy." Mrs Nikaido smiled.

"That's all I ask, Aki." Akira nodded, and started organising the piles: belts and handcuffs were slid behind the sofa out of sight; cigarettes, original copies of recipes, and games on the table; their handwritten copies of the recipes into the relevant kitchen drawer; Shirogane's cane propped against the wall.

"How long are you in town for?"

"A few months at least." She peeked across the piles of stuff, gaze settling warily on the sofa for a second before fixing on the table. "So... who does all this go to?" Akira smiled at her trying to take an interest.

"Kou, Kengo, and this lot are for Ma- uh... Shuichi-san." He indicated each item in turn. "The cane is Shirogane's."

"Isn't he a bit... old for you?" Mr Nikaido shut the door behind him on his way in. "He's got to be in his twenties..." Akira shrugged.

"Doesn't matter. He loves me." He watched his father pace the kitchen. "Dad, really. Sit down, have a cup of coffee. We're off out soon anyway." Grey eyes fell on the calendar. "March 11th." He frowned. "Exactly nine months until my birthday." His parents blushed as he pulled a face, then blinked as Akira paled. "Nine- shit! I left him alone!" Akira was up and scrambling up the stairs before his parents could ask.

He kicked the door open, and dived onto the bed with his lover. Shirogane yelped in shock, and hurriedly tried to wipe away tears.

"A-Akira, what's-"

"I'm sorry." The brunet kissed him. "I didn't remember the date. I'm sorry." Shirogane allowed Akira to pull him into a tight embrace, and bit his lip as he failed to stop the tears. Exactly nine months before Akira's birth, all those years before, Ryuko had been murdered. Akira had seen Shirogane go through this before – he always shed a tear for his love, and would be even more vicious with the Kokuchi than usual. "My parent's just had to choose now of all times to come home."

TBC