~ Six Months Later ~

The Amaryllis Theatre- In a Town East of the Border ~

The applause was loud, even as Nezumi left the stage and headed towards his dressing room he could still hear the cheers swell behind him.

He knew that he was supposed to go out and visit with the crowd, especially on closing night– of all nights– but he had no interest. He was just interested in getting out of this make up and these heels.

Nezumi stumbled quickly into his dressing room, raising waves and nods to the crew who congratulated him as he passed by. He had just shut the door behind him and sat down at his dressing table when there was a light knock at the door.

"I'm not going out there, Hiro, you can forget it." Nezumi said firmly as he reached for the washbasin so he could scrub the make-up off his face. "I'm exhausted and I'm sick of getting groped."

The door clicked open.

"No groping? Awe man, there goes my plans for the evening."

Nezumi raised his head.

He could see him in the mirror, the white haired boy smiling at him with his hands behind his back. That charming red scar bright on his cheek as he blushed.

"Shion?" Nezumi smiled, turning around to look at him. "What are you doing here? I thought you were packing. Haven't you seen the show four times, this week alone?"

Shion shrugged, "It's closing night. I'm not going to miss your final show." he smiled. "I have a surprise for you."

"Oh?" Nezumi raised his eyebrows and stood up moving toward Shion. "Is this the kind of surprise that I should lock the door for?"

Shion flushed down his neck, "I– well… no.. I mean.. If after, you want to–,"

Nezumi laughed, leaning in to kiss Shion lightly on the cheek, leaving a smear of lip coloring. "I'm teasing. I just like watching you squirm."

Shion ducked his head in embarrassment and Nezumi mussed his hair.

"So what's your surprise then?"

Shion's face lit up and he pulled a package from behind his back, wrapped in brown paper and tied with yarn. Nezumi took it, eyeing it curiously. It yielded softly under his fingers.

"Hmm…" Nezumi raised his eyebrows. "A present, huh? You know… I prefer flowers."

Shion's face paled, with real, innocent horror, "I–,"

Nezumi grinned and pecked him on the lips. "Oh don't worry, my favorite flowers are Shion." he winked.

Shion's eyes widened in surprise, and he blushed again.

Nezumi chuckled. He took the package and began tearing at the paper. When he had pulled it open he found inside, a dark gray wool. And when he pulled it out it unfurled, thick, wide, and soft.

"It's a scarf," Shion explained, "I know you were sad about the last one falling apart. So, I thought…"

"I love it," Nezumi smiled, "It's perfect."

Nezumi folded it thiner and smoothly looped it around the back of Shion's neck, using it to pull Shion closer and plant a firm kiss against his cheek. He wrapped the scarf around himself as well so the two of them were twined together.

Shion flushed but he was smiling, so bright he was practically glowing."I'm glad you like it,"

"Are you kidding?" Nezumi leaned his forehead against Shion's, "I love it. It's perfect for me. But you didn't have to–,"

"I wanted to," Shion interrupted, "It's closing night, and you've been working so hard for months, you deserve a reward."

"Really?" Nezumi grinned, "Then with that in mind…"

Nezumi dragged Shion onto the sofa that was shoved into the corner of the room. Pushing him down, Nezumi climbed on top of Shion until they were folded together and he had his hands on Shion's waist.

Shion's hands started massaging gentle circles into Nezumi's shoulder and neck as they kissed. "You're shoulders are stiff," he murmured, "Are do you want me to give you a massage? You're neck must be killing you."

"I definitely want you rubbing me, Shion," Nezumi murmured between kisses. "In more ways than one."

Shion flushed, but his fingers slid along the low drape of Nezumi's costume dress. It was low enough that he could trace the sharp curve of Nezumi's collarbone, and feel the smooth, pale skin stretched over the bone. Nezumi shivered.

"Are you sure we should be doing this with you in costume?" Shion panted, "Don't you have to give it back tonight?"

"You're right," Nezumi pulled back, grinning. "I should take it off." and with that Nezumi fingers moved to immediately lift it over his head.

Shion turned red again.

"You're impossible," he chuckled, as Nezumi settled back on to him in nothing but his underclothes. He was still wearing the makeup and the wing. "You realize we have all night to do this?"

"Who says this is the only time we'll be doing this tonight?" Nezumi teased, and began slowly kissing down Shion's neck.

Shion let out a needy breath.

Then there was a knock at the door.

Nezumi tensed like he was going to punch something.

Shion tried to smother his laughing. "Hey, at least we don't have to put up with the castle maids anymore." Shion teased, raising his eyebrow. Nezumi looked down at him with a rueful smirk.

"Eve? are you in there? Hey, I told you, you have a commitment to–,"

Nezumi sighed and stood up, starting to gather his costume and hang it back on it's hanger. He carefully removed the long dark wig and placed it on the wiry wig stand, smoothing it out before pulling the cap off his head and letting his own dark hair fall around his shoulders.

He quickly changed into his own dark clothes while his director yelled and pounded outside the door.

When he was completely dressed, He yanked open the door and threw the garment bag at the director before turning back towards the mirror and grabbing a wet rag to start scrubbing off the make up.

"Sorry, Hiro. I'm done for the night." Nezumi said, "But thanks for everything."

Hiro frowned, "You're already changed?" He complained, walking into the room. Then his eyes fell on Shion.

"Shion!" Hiro said with enthusiasm, "Can't you reason with him? I thought he only tried to duck out early so he could get home to you!"

Shion laughed, "Sorry, Hiro, we have plans tonight. I don't think anyone could reason with him."

"Always the diplomat," Hiro complained. "You're too nice Shion. You know you're the only person who can get through to him! Why do you always refuse to help me!"

"Stop trying to use my weaknesses, against me Hiro. Fight your own battles." Nezumi teased, his face finally washed as he turned around. He was now in the process of gathering up his hair so he could pull it back.

"Yeah, like that will work." Hiro rolled his eyes. "Well fine. Will you at least try out for our next show? Auditions are next week."

"Didn't you know?" Nezumi asked, "Shion and I are leaving town."

"What?" Hiro asked in surprise, "But you just moved here four months ago."

"Then you should count yourself lucky we stayed this long." Nezumi grinned. "See you later, Hiro. Take care of yourself."

Hiro looked red faced and furious as he stormed off into the hall.

Nezumi chuckled.

"Are you sure you're okay with leaving?" Shion asked. "You like this town."

"I'm sure." Said Nezumi. "The only home I need is you."

Shion smiled.

"All right," said Shion, standing up and straightening his clothes. "Then lets get going."

Shion unwrapped Nezumi's new scarf from around his own neck and offered it to the dark haired boy. Nezumi took it and coiled it around his throat, flipping the ends of it back over his shoulders. Shion watched him with affection.

Nezumi grabbed his hand and started tugging him.

"Come on," he said, "I have some ideas for a good way to say goodbye to our room at the inn."

Shion rolled his eyes, "That's not a new idea. We always do that before we leave."

"Then I'm keeping up tradition." Nezumi lowered his eyes. "Unless you want to start here."

Shion laughed, shaking his head. "Let's go, before Hiro really wants to kill you." he said tugging Nezumi's hand, and they ran laughing into the streets.

"AH! Nezumi!" Shion panted as Nezumi sunk his teeth into Shion's throat. "Faster! Please!"

"You know, I love that you've learned how to talk dirty to me." Nezumi breathed against Shion's skin, and Shion let out a shaky breath as his cheeks turned abruptly red. Nezumi chuckled, "but I love even more that it's still that easy to make you blush."

Shion tried to duck his head but was stopped by Nezumi who dove back in to start sucking on his neck over his scar, making Shion shout.

Nezumi's hips started moving faster and Shion moaned, long and loud as he started coming undone beneath the Nezumi's movements, screaming his name as the two of them came together and fell against each other on the bed.

"That was…" Shion panted, trailing off with exhaustion. Nezumi chuckled,

"You weren't half bad yourself." he replied, kissing rather passionately against the edge of Shion's jaw. "God I've missed you the past few weeks. Rehearsals were torture without you there."

Shion giggled shyly, "I missed you too. Next time I'll see if I can take a job on the crew."

"Only if you're my costume fitter," Nezumi replied, tugging on Shion's earlobe with his teeth. "I want you all to myself behind closed doors."

Shion rolled his eyes. "All right, needy. I forget how one track minded you get when you get pent up."

Nezumi pulled back, raising a suggestive eyebrow. "Oh, yeah? And you clearly don't care at all." Nezumi said palming Shion under the sheets. Shion's eyes rolled back in his head and Nezumi laughed.

"Come on," Nezumi said, pulling back and holding out a hand. "We still have a tub for a few more hours. Take a bath with me?"

Shion smiled and let himself get dragged eagerly into the bath.

The following morning, after Shion and Nezumi had packed their things and strapped them to their back, the two boys were walking down the road in muted violet light.

Nezumi was being dramatic, reciting poetry while striking ridiculous poses to make Shion laugh, their breaths puffing out white around them like clouds.

When Nezumi had finished his forth poem, and Shion had finally stopped laughing he bumped his shoulder against Nezumi's. "Hey, will you sing for me? It's gonna be a long walk."

Nezumi smiled, "I suppose I could…" he trailed off with mock hesitance.

Shion grinned, and leaned into him, "Please,"

Nezumi looked sideways and him and pressed his lips together. "I don't know… I might need some convincing."

Shion chuckled and leaned in to place warm, soft kisses to the side of Nezumi's throat, moving upward to brush his lips against Nezumi's ear.

"Pleeeeease?" He breathed. Nezumi chuckled,

"All right," he agreed, grinning at Shion as the light-haired boy pulled back. They twined their hands together as they walked.

Nezumi started singing, and Shion smiled warmly as he listened and they continued to walk, hand in hand, down the road.

It was only about a minute later that a cart came rattling down the road.

"Was that you singing, boy?" the cart driver asked as he pulled up beside them. Nezumi raised his eyes.

"It was."

"Where are you two headed?" The man asked, "Cause I got a long ride ahead of me, and I could use some music like that."

Nezumi looked at Shion.

"We'll go where ever you're headed." Nezumi agreed, and the man nodded for them to jump up on the back of the cart.

Nezumi threw his bag on first, before jumping up and reaching back to help Shion. Shion let Nezumi lift him and the two of them settled next to each other among the hey, their legs dangling off the back.

Nezumi reached out and wrapped an arm around Shion, pulling him against his side and warming him. Shion smiled and wrapped his arm around Nezumi in return.

"You can sleep," Nezumi offered, "I know you're tired, and I'll wake you when we get there."

Shion smiled, "I'll listen to you sing for awhile." He said.

Nezumi smiled, "Don't you ever get sick of it? I sing for you all the time."

"I'll never get sick of it," Shion replied. "It's a reminder that you're really here. Because even in my dreams I your voice is never as beautiful as it is in real life."

Nezumi's expression soften. "I'm always going to be here, Shion. You don't have to worry. We'll always be together."

Shion smiled. "I'll hold you to that."

Nezumi chuckled. "So will I."

Shion fell asleep to the sound of Nezumi's voice.