Aoi ended up studying until 5 a.m. the next morning. He had felt pretty satisfied when he’d completed everything he’d wanted to do and crawled into bed with a deep sigh.

The next morning his alarm clock woke him up at 10.

Totally rejuvenated, Aoi got out of his bed and into his living room. He had totally forgotten about Uruha and it was almost too late when he noticed the sleeping form on his couch. Aoi immediately stopped, waiting to see if he’d woken up his guest.

Uruha didn’t seem to budge and so Aoi softly went into his kitchen barefoot.

Aoi started making breakfast and he couldn’t help but to make some noise. He was a little sad when Uruha woke up with a start though; the boy was really…pretty when he was sleeping.

Uruha sat up and scratched his head a little, yawning slightly still.

“Good morning.” Aoi said, turning the corner of his kitchen so Uruha could see him.

“Oh hey.” Uruha yawned. “What time is it?”

“A little passed ten. I’m making some breakfast, do you want something? I never did give you something to eat yesterday evening.”

“Oh yeah, if it’s not too much trouble.”

Aoi just smiled, grabbing stuff for two omelettes instead of one. He didn’t mind.

Aoi was busy cooking and getting everything ready, so he didn’t notice when Uruha came into the kitchen and sat down on one of the chairs.

“You seem like you can really cook.” Uruha said after a while, scaring Aoi half to death.

“Oh fuck.” Aoi swore, his breath quickening as he turned around to see Uruha sitting there.

“Oh, I’m really sorry.” Uruha said, a terrified look on his face for a second.

“Don’t be! I-You just scared me… I must have a bad conscience or something like that.” Aoi muttered, “Uhm yeah… I used to cook for all my brothers and sisters so I’m used to cooking big meals and stuff.”

“Is it okay for me to sit here?” Uruha asked suddenly, “Where do you usually sit?”

“It’s okay.” Aoi frowned, “I usually sit there.” He smiled, pointing at the other chair.

Why had Uruha’s behaviour changed so drastically ever since he… came into the kitchen? Aoi frowned, not liking any of that change. Uruha was much prettier when he smiled.

Aoi didn’t say anything of it though and quickly cut the omelette in two and gave Uruha the biggest piece. They ate silently and Uruha seemed to be smiling a lot more when he’d finished his breakfast.

“Do you want me to take you to see Tokyo a little?” Aoi asked suddenly, remembering how Uruha had looked while talking about their capital.

“Oh yeah.” Uruha lightened up, smiling brightly, before he remembered something. “But don’t you have to study?”

“I’m taking a little break.” Aoi reassured him, getting up to take care of the dishes. “And I’m going to see my best friend for lunch so you should definitely come.”

“Oh wow, thanks so much.” Uruha smiled brightly, getting up to get back to the living room.

Aoi used the bathroom first, taking the time when it was Uruha’s turn to clean up the place a little and to start getting everything he needed: keys, money, smokes.

Uruha came out of the bathroom with his hair looking much better and a new outfit on. He was wearing low, very green pants and a fluffy looking blue sweater and on his head the same red hat. Aoi had to smile at how totally youthful the kid looked. He was pretty too.

… okay, he had to stop thinking that.

“Ready to leave?” Aoi asked softly.

“Yeah, uhm, but what about my things?” Uruha asked, his eyes secured on his stuff.

“It can stay here. You don’t have to drag it along okay?”

“Uhm… okay.” Aoi saw how reluctant Uruha seemed to leave his stuff though.

“Nothing will happen, it’ll still be here when we get back this afternoon.”

Uruha nodded and quickly skipped over to the door, patiently waiting for Aoi to open it, ducking out as soon as he had the chance. Aoi didn’t think he’d ever seen anybody with as much energy as the young kid ever before.

They took the subway downtown and Aoi went ahead with showing Uruha all the cool places. They also visited the local library, Aoi still needed some books for his studies after all. Uruha insisted on carrying them, because Aoi had paid for his subway ticket, so it seemed only fair to the kid.

Aoi let him as he saw that it made Uruha smile.

Their next stop was something Aoi hoped that Uruha would like more than a boring old library, the shopping mall. They strolled by all the stores, but there was one that caught Uruha’s attention the most. The record store. Uruha listened to at least fifteen different albums and seemed to enjoy each and every one of them. As soon as those headphones hit his head his eyes would close and he’d start mouthing the lyrics, a blissful smile on his face.

Aoi just stood there and looked at the blonde with pure fascination in his eyes. A tight emotion gripped his chest and Aoi couldn’t think anymore. He could only see, see that smile, see that mouth, see him move. He was sad it had to end.

Uruha thanked the store owner, an apologetic smile on his face because he didn’t have any money to buy anything. The guy didn’t seem to mind, and who could when such a pretty face said sorry to you? Aoi wondered if he had any good CD’s at home. He’d definitely let Uruha hear some of them when they get back.

A strange worry flew over Aoi then. Get back? Was Uruha going to stay then? He couldn’t… he couldn’t just take in someone like that. His place was too small and he didn’t have enough money to support both of them. It was impossible, plus he needed his peace for studying. Plus, he had ran away from all that taking care of someone else bullshit already, he shouldn’t just take in somebody now that everything was on track, right? No, that was silly, he couldn’t. Aoi shook his head sadly as they exited the shopping mall.

Uruha asked him if everything was okay and Aoi just nodded, taking Uruha to the next stop.

They walked over the square and Uruha was impressed by everything he saw. Even the pigeons made him go ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’. Aoi suspected that Uruha was the last innocent and naïve person in whole of Tokyo. He was something precious and rare.

Aoi sat down on a bench on the market place and just watched Uruha running over to the fountain, putting his hands in the ice cold water. He didn’t seem to mind the cold though.

“There you are.”

Aoi looked up to see Kai grinning down at him.

“Hey,” Aoi grinned happily, “sit down.”

Kai looked annoyed as he sat down. “I’m freezing.”

“We’re gonna eat in a minute.” Aoi chuckled.

“We better cause…” Kai stopped talking as Uruha appeared in front of them all of a sudden.

“Kai, this is Uruha, Uruha this is my best friend Kai.”

“Nice to meet you!”

“Uhm hi,” Kai said a little surprised, shaking Uruha’s hand for a moment.

“Now we’re ready to go and eat.” Aoi grinned, sitting up and starting to go in the general direction of all the diners.

“Where did you meet him?” Kai asked curiously as Uruha went to the bathroom.

Aoi sighed. “He was going to sleep outside so I took him in for a short while, I couldn’t let him sleep out, right?”

“He looks weird.” Kai scrunched his nose.

“Weird?”

“Yeah, his clothes and stuff, he’s always smiling, like he’s high or something.”

Oh, Aoi had actually gotten used to that already. “He’s not weird.” Aoi muttered, “He’s sweet and he’s not on drugs.” Or at least Aoi hoped so.

“How old is he?” Kai asked sceptically.

“Fifteen.” Aoi shrugged.

“Fifteen? Come on Aoi, what’s he doing here without his family?”

Aoi bit his lip, when he was alone with Uruha all of that didn’t seem to matter. When other people were around, it seemed very important.

“I don’t know.” Aoi muttered before Uruha got back down, sheepish smile on his face.

In the end Uruha put up one hell of a fight. He didn’t feel comfortable eating if Aoi was going to pay. Kai even offered to pay for him but Uruha didn’t want to bother anyone. In the end Aoi promised Uruha that he’d be able to pay him back with some chores or something back at home. Uruha reluctantly gave in and got the cheapest thing they served.

They said their goodbyes to Kai way too soon and Aoi reluctantly took Uruha home with him. It was getting close to 3 P.M. when they got to Aoi’s apartment, just in time too, because it started snowing like crazy again.

They ran the last hundredth meters, laughing and sliding and just being silly until they practically slammed into the front door. Aoi opened it up quickly and they spurted up the stairs of the apartment building before collapsing on the couch.

“So, what do you think of Kai?” Aoi asked.

“I like him, he’s really sweet.”

“That’s good, he really likes you too.”

Uruha gave Aoi a small smile. “No he doesn’t.”

“What? Why would you say that?”

“I heard you guys talk. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“He didn’t say that he doesn’t like you now did he?” Aoi bit his lip, stupid Kai he thought for a second, even though he didn’t mean it… not really. It’s just… Kai didn’t know Uruha, he’d love Uruha if he knew the boy, Aoi was certain of that.

Uruha shrugged, “I’m really glad you took me though. I had a lot of fun out.”

“That’s okay.” Uruha didn’t seem to be too upset about it… that was good.

“Are you gonna get some more studying done?”

“Yeah, I’m gonna start soon.” Aoi said with a sigh.

“I’ll make sure I’m gone before you start then.” Uruha said as he got up.

Aoi stared at his hands for a second. Yeah, just one night. I’ll help you out for one night. He shook his head and his thoughts kept running through him. He felt panicked and sad and he wanted to scream.

Uruha got his hat back on and started to collect his luggage.

“Where are you going then?” Aoi asked.

“I don’t know yet.”

“You’re not going to go sit at that exact same spot you did yesterday, right?”

Uruha’s smile faltered again and he started blushing. “No, I’ll try to get a little further this time.”

Uruha smiled up at Aoi before grabbing his bags and making his way to the door.

Everything inside of Aoi started screaming. This is not what he wanted. He wanted to get to know that guy better, he wanted to be sure that Uruha wouldn’t get cold or hungry or taken advantage of.

“Why don’t you stay?” Aoi asked before he could properly think about it. Who was he kidding? He’d been thinking about it ever since he met the guy.

“You don’t mean that, do you?” Uruha asked suspiciously.

“I do, you can sleep on the couch and I’m sure you won’t be a bother. You can stay as long as you want to.”

Uruha immediately dropped his bags and all but jumped Aoi, hugging him tightly. “Are you serious?”

I think so…

“Yes.” Aoi grinned, hugging the boy back.

“I can’t believe it.” Uruha mumbled in Aoi’s ear, gripping Uruha even tighter.

“Well… I can’t either.” Aoi said softly, enjoying the way Uruha felt against him.

 
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so... what do you think? For some reason I don't like it as much as I liked the first chapter... but I promise you, with the third chapter I'm back on the right track XD