Of bratty demons and mushroom heads

Author’s Note: This chapter will forever be known as the fluffy monster that just would not end. ^^; You have been warned.

CHAPTER 43

How had he been talked into this? Hiyoshi Wakashi was currently with his boyfriend, Kirihara Akaya, walking hand in hand down the street where Akaya’s family lived. Hiyoshi told himself that was the only reason he was letting Akaya get away with holding is hand in public. Everyone who lived around there was probably well aware of the curly-haired menace and would have already been terrorized by him at one time or another.

Akaya had been called home for the weekend by his parents in order to take their yearly family photos. Hiyoshi had felt no need to go and had tried almost every excuse he could think of to get out of this “family visit” but Akaya wouldn’t hear any of it. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Akaya’s family, he did, a lot, it had just been a rough couple of weeks and it would have been nice to relax over the weekend.

“Are you sure it's okay for me to come with you? And don't say yes just because YOU want me there.”

“Of course it is. Mom and Dad want you in the picture. I talked to 'em last night.”

Hiyoshi stopped mid-step in the middle of street and glared. “You never said anything about being in any pictures... “

Akaya just continued on as if it were no big deal. “I just found out last night, like I said. Besides, it's not gonna kill ya.”

“Aren't you supposed to be taking “family” pictures? The last I checked, I wasn't a Kirihara.”

The damn brat just smiled at him. “You're close enough. Just come on, it'll be funny. If nothing else, my sister always bitches cause they make her cover up and wear itchy sweaters.”

He raised an eyebrow at the answer, wanting to know what “close enough” meant, but in the end kept silent and allowed his feet to continue forward towards the house.

Once they arrived, Akaya dragged him into the house with a loud cry of “We're home!!”

Which was quickly followed by…

“NO ONE CARES!” his sister.

“GO TO HELL!” That was Akaya again.

“Welcome home, boys!” Finally, someone relatively sane. Relatively. Truth be told, he rather liked Akaya’s mother. Though their first encounter over spring vacation a couple months back had left him with mental scars, since their Anniversary when he’d called to ask about foods Akaya liked, he’d somehow ended up talking to her on the phone on a regular basis. She liked calling him. He wondered vaguely if by now he’d talked to this woman more in the last few months than his own mother his whole life.

Coming around the corner she enveloped them both in a big welcoming hug. He allowed a small smile to form at the motherly embrace. That was another thing he’d have to get used to.

“Thank you for inviting me to your home again, Kirihara-san. Sorry to intrude on a family event.”

“Oh stop, you're part of the family, too. Haven’t I told you to call me “Momma”? or "Yuzuka-chan" if you'd like. None of that Kirihara-san nonsense.” She smiled sweetly at him in an all too familiar way.

He was used to being told that by now but old habits died hard and it still weirded him out to call anyone "momma" or call an older woman "chan", but this was one woman he didn't want to cross. “Sorry and thank you... Momma.”

“You're so cute!” She said while practically glowing and hugged onto him again. He looked to Akaya for help.

“Yes, yes, mom he gets it.” Akaya was somehow able to pry his mother off him and got smacked upside the head for it. It was one those times he truly loved and appreciated his boyfriend.

“Now come on, I made you two snacks and after you eat you can go upstairs and change, I already laid out two outfits for you each.”

“For… each?” He could feel a migraine coming on. He’d honestly thought and hoped he could still manage to get out of this somehow. Trying to be as polite as possible, he protested delicately, “Momma… I mean no disrespect and I appreciate your generosity but wouldn't it be slightly inappropriate for me to be in your family pictures?”

“Why would you say that?” She was all smiles. “You're part of the family, Wakashi.”

“Told you.” Akaya added unhelpfully and he glared at him while still addressing Kirihara-san.

“It means a great deal to me for you to consider me as such, but I still believe I should respectfully decline.” He bowed politely, hoping that would be the end of it. “I'll make sure Akaya is ready.” He grabbed Akaya's arm and started pulling him toward the snack table before anyone could object, however, the sound of sniffling made him stop in his tracks. He turned around with a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Wakashi.....don't you want to be part of our family?” She was looking at him with that trademark Kirihara puppy dog look which always made him feel like a terrible person. Damn it… he hated those eyes. “I...you know...I'm honored--to-uhh...” he rambled, trying to figure out the politest and most sincere way to handle this.

The eyes on him didn’t falter and it didn’t help matters at all when Akaya decided to join her. The twin looks he was receiving were nearly identical, minus the color of their eyes, Kiriahara-san with her dark brown eye and Akaya with his brilliant green ones.

Looking back and fourth between the two of them, he could have sworn he physically felt something inside him crumble. Shifted uncomfortably, he answered dismally, “Fine…”

Both looks turned into matching grins and he threw his hands up in defeat. “Alright! I said fine!” Crossing his arms grumpily, he changed directions and marched up the stairs to Akaya’s room, needing to get away from not one but TWO people who were waaaaay too good at getting what they wanted from him.

The previously mentioned outfits were hanging together nicely by the door as he entering Akaya’s room and he took a minute to glare at them. A moment later Akaya came in with a tray of treats.

“Hey.....I brought the snacks.” The way Akaya said that… with a cautious yet mischievous tone in his voice and a smile on his face… It was ridiculously endearing and he new he couldn’t stay irritated even if he wanted to.

He took the tray of snacks from him and placed it on the nearby chest of drawers. Grabbing his arm, he pushed him backwards, relocating him down onto the bed and so he could kiss him to his hearts content. Of course, Akaya didn’t seem to have any complaints if the small gasp and giggles were any indication. Soon, Akaya was kissing him back and they were smiling against each other’s lips. He had no idea how Akaya and his family made him feel this way. How he could be so irritated one moment then the next so… content?

“I love you,” Akaya said, wrapping his arms around Hiyoshi’s shoulders and kissing him again, “And I’m glad you came.”

“Me, too.”

He kissed him one last time before retracting himself, helping Akaya to sit up as well and got the snacks. They hadn’t had lunch yet and he knew if his brat didn’t eat soon, he would be grumpy.

Once situated comfortably on the bed, he held out a small sandwich square for his boyfriend. With a happy grin Akaya leaned forward and took the sandwich square from him with his mouth. Hiyoshi smirked and ate one himself before holding out another.

Akaya was happily munching, apparently enjoying being fed while Hiyoshi chuckled, enjoying the moment. He felt Akaya’s lips and tongue on his fingers now and then and every once in a while took a bite himself.

After a while of comfortable silence and just enjoying each others company, Akaya must have decided he’d had enough mini sandwiches and took one of Hiyoshi’s fingers into his mouth instead, sucking on it gently.

Hiyoshi looked fondly at him with an amused expression. “I'm gonna need that back, brat...” The only response he got was a grin as Akaya continued licking around a finger teasingly.

With not much success, he tried to hold back a small shiver. “Damn brat…” He took his now wet finger out of Akaya’s mouth and trailed it down the side of Akaya’s face. “We're in your parent’s house.” Despite saying so, Hiyoshi replaced the finger in Akaya’s mouth with his tongue, sucking greedily at him. Almost immediately, Akaya moaned against him and was kissing him back hungrily. Obviously he didn’t care where they were one bit.

Pulling him into his lap so Akaya’s legs were on either side of him, he ran his hands down and under Akaya’s shirt so he could feel the skin of his back and hummed in appreciation at the contact. He let out a small groan when he felt Akaya’s hands playing and shifting through his hair.

He didn’t know if he pushed or Akaya pulled, but soon they were again lying on the bed with Akaya pressed firmly into the mattress underneath him, completely forgetting about time and place. He could feel Akaya’s moaning and purring through his whole body and legs wrapped around his hips trying to pull him even closer. Hiyoshi’s hips started a small rocking motion which resulted in more delicious sounds and reciprocated movements. After a minute he had to pull away for a quick breath. “We have to...get dressed....” Hiyoshi whispered against him.

“Y-yeah...” Akaya managed to say before moaning again and pulling him back into the kiss.

He took hold of Akaya’s shirt and pushed it up to undress him so they could get dressed in what his mother set out, of course. A still fully dressed Hiyoshi requested, “Help me?” as he started undoing Akaya’s pants for him.

Akaya laughed quietly against his lips and started undressing him as well. They broke the kiss as he lifted his shirt up and over his head and Hiyoshi started to kiss softly down his chest so he could pull Akaya’s pants down and off, tickling his sides slightly in the process.

“Hmm, we should get changed like this all the time,” he heard Akaya say with a small shiver and laugh.

“Heh. Then we would never get anywhere.” He kissed the inside of a toned thigh then went to lie on top of him, pushing his hair back and out of his face, enjoying the view. “Your family is expecting us downstairs.”

“They can wait a bit longer” Was the response accompanied by a mischievous smirk. “Why you in a hurry to go downstairs now?”

“I just don't want to keep your mother waiting before she comes looking for us,” he said seriously. “Patience isn't exactly one of your family’s virtues.”

Akaya pouted at him and he resisted the urge to laugh, “Yeah.....alright.....” The brat pulled him into another kiss which was exactly what they should have been trying to avoid. He never grew tired of Akaya’s kisses and they always managed to distract him which Akaya was damn well aware of.

Soon they were right back to where they started; only this time Hiyoshi had a hand massaging the inside of Akaya’s thigh. “You're so damn distracting...”

Akaya moaned some more and smirked, tugging at his hair gently. “'s not my fault.”

Hiyoshi snickered, “It's entirely your fault” and moved his hand up to feel him through his boxers “you're so needy.”

“That's your fault.....you make me needy.......” he replied between small moans which made his eyes seem to turn a shade darker.

Unhurriedly, his hand slid under the elastic waist line of his boyfriend’s boxers and fisted him gently, asking calmly, “Would you say this is my fault, too?” He gave Akaya’s hard and sensitive member a questioning squeeze and was awarded by the beautiful sight of his boyfriend arching slightly off the bed with his eyes squeezed shut and a surprised pleased moan.

“Nn--of course it's your fault....”

“Hmm... I guess I better stop then.” He let go and started to move away with a knowing grin. He couldn’t help himself sometimes.

“Oh you're evil....” Akaya whimpered. “Come on Wakashi....don't--don't stop please......”

Hiyoshi smiled and ran his fingers over Akaya’s lower stomach in small circles “I'm trying to be a good boyfriend... Though if you really want it... I know you can ask better than that.”

“Please Wakashi?” He was still moaning quietly and wriggling his hips enticingly, “You really don't want us to go down there turned on.......they'll make comments about it and just send us back up here........”

Hiyoshi raised an eyebrow, “Your family is so strange,” He shook his head amused, “I..really like them.” Taking hold of him again, he started with long confident strokes, smiling against his neck.

“They feel normal to me......” was said between moans and breathless laughing, “I'm glad you like them though......they like you a lot......”

He handled him nice and easy, building him up slowly, loving the look on his boyfriends face. “I wouldn't say they're normal.” He said with a smirk and kissed his lips lightly, “I'm glad as well.”

“Hmm....I still haven’t gotten to meet your parents yet.....”

“..because they wouldn't be nearly as receptive to us as yours...” Trying to distract him from that line of thought, he started to pump a harder and faster.

Akaya’s back arched up off the bed again, this time with a louder moan, “Mm....we don't have to tell them......”

Hiyoshi reflexively rolled his hips against Akaya's leg, the sight of him taking his breath away, “You really think...we could hide it?”

“Y-yeah......I really want to meet your parents........” Akaya surprised him then by reaching down to rub his groin slowly through his pants making him gasp at the contact.

“I just don't think it's a good idea...” In retaliation he rubbed his thumb over the head of Akaya's very hot and wanting shaft, twisting in just the way he knew his boyfriend liked.

Akaya bit back a cry, but still managed to moan loud enough so anyone even close to the room could hear him. “You told me I could Wakashi.....”

Claiming his lips, he tried to cover Akaya’s moans with kisses. “You will...just not yet...” he had to cover up a low moan of his own and tried to burry it in Akaya’s neck.

“A-alright............” the currently being pleasure boy answered only half coherently. He was in one of those moments Hiyoshi loved to watch his lover in most, straining against his hand, eyes going between shut and glazed over, lips and body red and shuddering with every movement as if he had no control over himself. He bared more of his neck to him in invitation, or was that pleading?

He ravaged the offered neck, sucking and biting. His hand on Akaya was confident and knowing, trying to bring him to completion. “Trust me... I want...want you to meet them, eventually...”

He felt a stronger shudder run through Akaya’s body as his lover released with a loud cry of pleasure, hands gripping tightly at his dirty blond hair. His own throbbing erection ached painfully at the sight and feel of Akaya coming beneath him. He continued to stroke him through his orgasm, listening to his rapid breathing.

Akaya’s quiet panting lasted a few more moments before he looked at him with lust filled eyes, wearing that mischievous slutty smirk. “S-sit back.....I want to suck you off.......”

If he hadn’t been so turned on he might have laughed, “Just a reminder. You realize we're in your parent’s house, right?” but even saying so, he obediently sat back and waited.

Akaya kneeled between his legs and released his length from the confines of his pants “.....I know......” and lowered his head to mouth over the tip.

Hiyoshi gasped and covered his mouth, “fuck…”

Smirking, Akaya took Hiyoshi all the way into his mouth, sucking at him expertly, making him writhe, trying not to forget time and place. “Fuck...Akaya...don’t mess around--damn it…” He threaded his fingers in Akaya’s hair adding a little pressure. Akaya moaned around him and watched with amused eyes, taking his time despite his pleas.

“You...” He closes his eyes and his head collides with the headboard “damn brat...” He had a hard time controlling himself when Akaya did this, and he would rather die than be caught by a member of Akaya’s family.

Akaya chuckled around him and bobbed his head, sucking at him happily while Hiyoshi exerted great self control by not thrusting into that warm mouth, Akaya's slow movements and suction a sweet torture. “Oh god...I'm going to kill you for this later...” The only response he got was another moan around him before the chibi demon moved up to lick and tease at just his tip.

“Ah..hurry—nn..it up…” He wasn’t usually this demanding, but he could barley keep himself together, and the thought of his family being right downstairs… His breathes came faster and he pulled harder on Akaya’s hair.

That’s when Akaya finally decided to take in his whole length again while watching him with those big green piercing eyes. He had to cover his mouth again, holding in a loud cry. Fists clenched, he chanced to look down at Akaya and his eyes almost rolled back at the sight, “A-Aka...” Pleasure ripped through him as he came hard in his boyfriend’s mouth.

Akaya happily continued to suck lazily at him through his whole orgasm and Hiyoshi’s hand now ran smoothly and gently through his hair as shudders still racked his body. “Mmm… Come up here.” He gave the ebony curls a slight tug.

Moving up, Akaya kissed him slowly, wrapping him in his arms. He kissed him back lovingly and he could feel Akaya holding him close and smiling into the kiss.

Pulling back to breath but keeping him close, he whispered in a breathless note, “…we should get dressed....” How many times had he said that? He was always the practical one.

“Yeah.....” Akaya murmured back but didn’t look like he was going to move any time soon.

He nuzzled his nose right behind Akaya’s ear, breathing in his scent, and whispered barely loud enough to hear, “I love you.”

He didn’t see as much as hear the smile on his brats face when he heard him reply, “I love you too, Wakashi.”

Content, he kissed him one last time before sighing and lifting them both off the bed. As they got up, his eyes fell on Akaya’s neck. “Shit. I really hope whatever your mom laid out for us covers your neck.”

Akaya blinked and touched his neck, flushing a little, “Did you leave a mark?”

“A small one,” he admitted and touched the small red mark. “Heh… It's your own fault.”

“Oh well,” Akaya replied with a laugh.

Hiyoshi shook his head in mock exasperation then got a towel to wipe them both down. “Do you know what we're supposed to wear first?” He asked curiously, eyeing the nicely stacked and hung up matching outfits with apprehension.

“Nope, no idea.”

“Well, we can't change until we know, so go down and ask your mother.”

“The one’s on top boys!” Kirihara Yuzuka’s voice suddenly called from downstairs.

Hiyoshi’s eyes widened in alarm but then almost immediately started to laugh. This family was just too weird.

He took the plain dark matching suits off their hangers and handed Akaya his, wondering exactly how Akaya’s mother knew his size. Turning to Akaya, he rolled his eyes when he saw he’d messed up the buttons. Without a word, he approached him and started unbuttoning and then re-buttoning them.

“Thanks, Wakashi.” Akaya smiled at him.

Teasingly, he smacked him upside the head. “Think you can handle the rest, brat?” He handed him the pants.

He watched him slip on the pants but then Akaya looked up at him with a smirk. “You want to help me with these too, Wakashi?”

Smirking back, he pulled him closer by the collar and kissed him, zipping up Akaya’s pants and buttoning them while fondling him lightly in the process. “There, is that what you wanted?”

“Yes,” Akaya replied, smiling like an idiot, making chuckle. He let him go to put on his own pants and finished dressing.

When he looked up again Akaya was fiddling lazily with his tie. “I know you know how to put that on yourself.”

“Heh heh, yeah, if fukubuchou made sure I learned anything it was how to put on my tie right. You have no idea how many laps I got for getting it wrong.”

“I think he’ll just use any excuse to make you run laps.”

“Probably.....”

“Well, put your tie on properly so we can go downstairs. They're probably wondering what's taking us so long.”

Akaya tied his tie quickly then took his hand in his. “Alright, let's go.”

“Okay...” He was still self-conscious about showing affection in front of Akaya’s family (or anyone for that matter), but since Akaya didn’t mind at all and it was his family… he took a deep breath and squeezed his hand, letting him lead back downstairs.

Kirihara-san gave them a knowing look as they came down. “Nice of you to join us, boys. You two look adorable.”

Right away Hiyoshi’s cheeks flushed at her tone and he unconsciously tried to hide part of himself behind Akaya while mumbling a polite thank you since it was the courteous thing to do.

Akaya laughed and Hiyoshi was tempted to smack him. “Heh heh, I think you're freakin him out mom.”

“Oh don't be silly, now, Akaya, since you're the baby you're up first---“

“I'm not the baby anymore!” Akaya pointed to Hiyoshi “I'm older than him.” Hiyoshi glared since he did not like to be reminded of that.

“Really?” She blinked at him in a familiar Akaya way and he suddenly felt even more uncomfortable than before. “When's your birthday, Wakashi?”

“...December 5th...”

“Oh! We have plenty of time to plan a party then, right Akaya?”

The brat had a devilish glint in his eye he didn’t trust. “Yeah, plenty of time.”

His eyes narrowed. “NO parties.” He couldn’t remember ever having one he’d actually enjoyed, though that might have been because the only ones he’d ever had were put on by Choutarou in middle school.

“Why not?” Akaya pouted at him.

An eyebrow twitched. “It's not necessary. It's not important.” Plus it wasn’t fair since he had screwed up Akaya’s birthday so badly and he still felt some guilt over that.

“Come on, Wakashi, it'll be fun!”

No, it wouldn’t. “I would really rather not....”

“Wakashi~ come on. You know if she doesn't throw one I will.”

He suddenly had a terrifying image of a party organized by his boyfriend. It consisted of a lot of alcohol, embarrassing games, and video games. He wasn’t sure what the lesser of the two evils would be.

Sighing in frustration he decided it wasn’t worth the argument. “Do what you want,” he grumbled grimly.

“Heh, heh.”

“Oh good. I'll start on the planning next week then.” She was glowing again, “Now, Wakashi, you're up first for pictures. They'll do a couple shots of you by yourself then move onto Akaya and so forth, then we'll do group ones.”

“...why do I have to take individual photos?” Hiyoshi was still very confused to why he was doing this at all. “Wouldn't it be alright to just do one of the group photos?” He was feeling a lot of pressure and his palms were starting to sweat.

“We all do them. You know, like all the actors in plays and musicals~ we make little photosets for ourselves, though I suppose you can take yours with Akaya if you want.”

Hiyoshi looked at both of them like they were crazy and just gave into the inevitable. “Whatever you want.” This was becoming an unfortunate cycle.

Akaya squeezed his hand. “I'll take 'em with you, it will be fun. We don't have many pictures of just you and me.”

He was grateful for Akaya’s offer since he hadn’t felt comfortable at all with the idea of taking pictures by himself. “There aren't very many pictures of me period.” And he was perfectly fine with that. Though his boyfriend was right, the only picture they had together was the one from Tokyo Disneyland.

“Well that's no good. I want lots of pictures of you.” Akaya smiled wide at him.

“You already have two, how many more do you need?” The one Natsumi gave him and the one from Splash Mountain currently on Akaya's desk.

“Hundreds.”

Hiyoshi blanched, “You…” He really hoped he wasn’t being serious and laughed nervously. “Let’s get this over with.”

He was lead into a little studio area the photographers set up. The family had obviously spared no expense, but it seemed to him a bit much for just family pictures. Once positioned in front of the cameras, he stood like a statue in the center with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

Akaya rolled his eyes at him and wrapped his arms around his waist from the front. He tried to move away but Akaya held him fast then looked him in the eye. “Wakashi.....Look at me, smile.” He kissed him lightly, “I love you.” He smiled while looking at him as if he were the only other person in the world.

His facial features immediately softened, caught in his look and returning it. Akaya rested their heads together happily and a small smile appeared on Hiyoshi’s lips. He brushed a stray curl out of Akaya’s eyes and let the hand slide down his cheek, completely forgetting about the cameras for the moment.

Akaya’s eyes never left his and then his brat was slowly pressing their lips together. Hiyoshi closed his eyes and cupped Akaya’s face, kissing him back tenderly while reaching out to pull him closer. His boyfriend was humming quietly against him in that happy content way and he could feel eyes fluttering closed against his skin as everything faded away.

After a moment more, Hiyoshi pulled away with a soft smile. He opened his eyes, smiling even wider at the open expression on Akaya’s face and ruffled his hair making him laugh quietly. If either of them had looked, they would have seen Akaya’s mother completely starry eyed and near tears.

Never losing the eye contact, Hiyoshi took one of Akaya’s hands in his and kissed the inside of his palm lovingly. However, the moment his eyes left Akaya’s he abruptly became aware of the cameras again and his eyes widened. Pushing Akaya away in embarrassment, his cheeks flushed bright red and he warily moved behind the other boy in a futile attempt to hide from further humiliation. “I hate you…”

“I know, but now we'll have really wonderful pictures,” was the brat’s only excuse and Hiyoshi suddenly felt the need to attack something... maybe the camera crew.

“No one but us and your family will EVER see them... right?” was said in a deadly serious voice while glaring at him threateningly over the shoulder.

“Eep! Of course not....” Hiyoshi doubted he could trust that, but there was nothing he could do about it now save destroying the film, but he doubted Akaya or his mother would forgive him.

It seemed he did not feel overly threatened by his tone. Akaya wrapped his arms around his middle so Akaya was leaning back in the circle of his arms. Figuring it didn’t matter any more so he might as well make the brat happy, he grumbled out. “I'll give you 30 more seconds of this then I'm done.”

“Alright.” Akaya accepted the terms with a laugh, looking quite happy.

The camera’s continued to click away at them. He tried to smile, he really did, but it looked more like a cynical smirk or a glare depending on the moment. He was counting to thirty in his head, counting the seconds till his freedom, when Akaya turned in his arms and kissed his forehead, laughing at him. The counting became verbal through clenched teeth. “..29…30...times up.” Without delay, he let go and walked away. Akaya’s must have found that amusing because his laughing just got louder.

As he walked off the set, he saw Akaya’s parents watching them and felt his earlier embarrassment come rushing back. At this point it was obvious their relationship didn’t bother them but that didn’t mean he was comfortable being public about it in front of them, not to mention he was automatically paranoid of parents in general. “Umm…” He had no idea what he should say and looked back to Akaya for help, but before any help could be given, he was glomped onto by Akaya’s mother.

“You are just the cutest thing!”

The blush traveled all the way down his neck and he froze in place, having no idea how to handle the sudden motherly embrace or compliments he wasn’t allowed to contradict. Then there was an extra weight as Akaya hugged onto him as well, his earlier pleas having obviously been completely ignored. He felt his body going on embarrassment overload and couldn’t take it anymore. Bristling out of their embrace, he raced out of the room toward the living room as quickly as possible.

Once alone, he was able to get a hold of his breathing again and tried to be calm enough to make the redness in his cheeks dissipate. “They’re trying to kill me….” was whispered under his breath as he looked around the room. It was his first time in the living room by himself so decided to wander, looking at the multiple pictures hanging on the wall and leaning against surfaces. One particular family photo caught his eye of the four of them with an around 5-year-old Akaya giving the camera man a very bratty expression his boyfriend still used daily. He picked it up with a small fond smile.

Unbeknownst to him, the said brat had followed him to the living room but had stopped right outside the door hiding and watching him; a small smile mirroring Hiyoshi’s when he saw him.

Hiyoshi put the photo down and moved on to another that must have been taken around the time he first met Akaya briefly when they were in middle school. His smile turned to a smirk at the familiar expression on Akaya’s face, just as he remembered him.

Moving on to the next set of pictures, he raised a curious eyebrow at Akaya’s straight hair, almost not recognizing him without his curly locks. He chuckled under his breathe and hoped Akaya would never do that again. Akaya’s hair had become very dear to him and he couldn’t imagine not being able to run his hands through the tangled web of impossible curls.

If he had looked back at the door Akaya was currently failing at hiding behind, he would have seen his boyfriend redden at him seeing those photos. Hiyoshi’s attention however had already moved on to a picture of a small Akaya with a few missing teeth, beaming wide at him in all his childish demon innocence.

Feeling a slight klepto impulse, he began to reach towards it but quickly caught himself and shook his head. “No…you’re not like Natsumi…” he chastised himself harshly before whirling around at the unexpected laugh coming from the doorway. “...how long have you been standing there?” he asked, trying not to blush again.

“Not long.....” was the grinning reply.

Long enough, he thought to himself. “I was just... looking at the photos. Your family does this every year?”

“Yeah. It's a family thing I guess.....we just all like pictures....”

Hiyoshi looked at one of the photos again and stated as a matter of fact, “My family doesn't, though I suppose part of that’s because we're all rarely home at the same time.” He didn’t talk about his own family often, but there really wasn’t much to tell and he’d never thought to mind. “We have one family portrait that was taken for my grandmother when I was a baby, but I think that's it.”

Akaya walked up behind him and wrapped his arms around him slowly. Leaning back into him, he didn’t say anything. He didn’t really care that his family never took pictures but thought it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to attempt doing something family-like every once in a while.

“I love you.” Akaya said while kissing the back of his neck.

“I know,” he chuckled back, rolling his eyes. “You don't have to feel bad for me or anything. I don't. At least my family isn't insane.”

Akaya laughed. “I don't feel bad for you. And guess what, you're part of the insane family now so get used to it.”

He turned his head to look sideways at him, giving him an overly exasperated look. “Damn... What the hell was I thinking?”

In a mock version of a teacher’s voice, Akaya answered, “Obviously you weren't Hiyoshi-kun.”

There was a soft “pft” and Hiyoshi rolled his eyes. “Can I get a do-over?”

“Nope!”

He sighed, “Oh well. I guess I'll survive somehow.” Leaning back against him again and closing his eyes, he allowed himself to think just for a moment that he really could be a part of this family.

“Yeah, somehow.” he heard Akaya say behind him while kissing his neck again.

He chucked and stayed where he was, comfortable in Akaya’s arms. After a minute or two though he started to get paranoid someone would walk in and see them like this so untangled himself from Akaya’s hold. “What pictures do we have next? Do we change now?”

“Yeah,“ Akaya sighed. “We both gotta change into the Christmas outfits. I gotta go do my individual pictures first though. Wanna go change and I'll meet you in my room?”

“Fine.” He liked the idea of having an escape route given to him so he didn’t have to go back into the studio room yet. “I’ll see you upstairs.” He turned to leave, but before he could make his exit, Akaya pulled him back into a quick grinning kiss. The kiss caught him by surprise and he smiled back automatically before remembering this wasn’t the time or place and pulled back with a glare, shaking his head before leaving. He could still hear Akaya’s laughter as he went up the stairs.

Back in Akaya’s room, he took his first good look at the next outfit set out for him and cringed. “I am NOT wearing that…..” Sitting on the bed with a contemplative expression, he tried to figure out a good way to get out of this, all the while glaring bloody murder at the sweater adorned with a happy grinning snowman.

Akaya came up not long after, pulling off his shirt as he walked in. “Hey—why aren’t you changed yet?”

The expression on his face didn’t change as he pointed to the offending article of clothing without a word.

“….Yeah? It's a sweater. You haven't worn a sweater before?”

He looked at him incredulously. “It... has a happy snowman on it....”

“Yeah—that’s Christmacy”

Now he was trying to figure out the best way to tell his boyfriend how emasculating it was and that he didn’t DO “Christmasy”. “It doesn’t suit me.”

“Of course it does.....well, you can wear mine if you want?” He held up a green sweater with a chibi happy Rudolf on it.

Hiyoshi’s couldn’t contain his laughter, it came spilling out as he doubled over onto the bed, saying between laughs. “That's...okay. It matches your eyes.” It would almost be worth it to wear the stupid snowman sweater to see Akaya in his.

Akaya stared at him flatly. “Yeah yeah, laugh it up, snow man.”

That only made him laugh harder, and he saw Akaya’s eye twitch. Trying to get his breathing under control, he glared up at him. “Are you trying to kill me?” snicker, “Reindeer-san?”

Akaya twitched again then jumped on him, knocking him back with an “Umph!” He had no time for retaliation before Akaya started to tickle him mercilessly resulting in crazed laughter under Akaya’s knowing fingers. “HA HA STOP... BRAT! HA ha--can't...BREATH!”

“What’s wrong? Going to melt, frosty?” He smirked at him all high and mighty above him.

“I…think” he gulped down some much needed air, “I already did,” then laughed some more. Finally getting a hold of Akaya’s arms, he yanked them away from his sides and mashed their lips together.

Akaya groaned and kissed him back firmly. Hiyoshi was half kissing him, half still smiling while holding his hands behind his back so he couldn’t tickle him any more. Once he got a good enough hold on him, he forced him into an even deeper kiss, using the leverage on his arms to pull him harder against his body.

Akaya moaned happily against him, obediently letting him take full control of the kiss. He took Akaya’s tongue into his mouth, sucking and massaging at it greedily, taking full advantage of his position in control.

Pulling them both up till they were on their knees, showing a large amount of self-restraint, Hiyoshi yanked his lips away from Akaya’s with a gasp.

“Stop me now or I’m going to fuck you right here.”

The brat only smirked. “What if I want you to?”

He laughed, so tempted, but… in the end released his hands and pulled him into a hug. “How do you do it?” He whispered into his neck.

He could feel Akaya blink against his skin. “Do what?” He asked, hugging him back.

“You somehow manage to make me happy.” He nuzzled his neck, not caring how sappy that sounded.

“Because you love me.” was the simple answer.

He nodded, thinking about how much he really wanted to continue this scenario, but instead got up and slipped on the happy snowman sweater. Turning around, he faced Akaya feeling ridiculous with such a childish out of character sweater on.

Akaya grinned at him, looking like he was trying not to laugh. He rolled his eyes and grabbed Akaya’s sweater. “Arms up, brat.”

Grinning wider, Akaya shot his arms up like a kid on a rollercoaster.

Hiyoshi dressed him like one would a five-year-old and mussed up his hair when his head popped out the top. “It suits you,” he smirked then went to the door to go back downstairs. Akaya grinned ear to ear as he trotted out right behind him.

Before they entered back into the studio room, Hiyoshi looked back at Akaya and noticed the small mark on his neck from earlier was not sufficiently covered. “Uhh…” He gestured toward the mark, worried.

Akaya just shrugged and didn’t say a word, as if he already knew but didn’t care.

Hiyoshi was embarrassed but knew people were less likely to notice if he wasn’t a walking obvious hint. He took Akaya’s hand in his as an act of personal defiance and started to walk them back to the studio.

Akaya seemed stunned for a moment then his expression softened and he squeezed his hand, “Naa, Wakashi. I love you.” He said right before they walked back into the studio.

Hiyoshi squeezed his hand back. “Me, too.”

Upon arrival, Hiyoshi raised an eyebrow at the family of assorted happy Christmas sweaters. Whispering into Akaya’s ear, he said jokingly, “I don't think I've ever seen your sister with that much clothing on.”

Akaya flat out cackled at that, making his sister glare at him. He kissed Hiyoshi’s cheek and grinned from ear to ear, looking quite amused.

“Alright!” Akaya’s mother spoke up “Everyone in the picture. Let's go. Sweetheart, you're in back. Haruka, you're in front of your father, Akaya, in the middle and Wakashi next to Akaya.”

Hiyoshi followed Akaya to stand as directed, feeling somehow even more awkward than with just him and Akaya. He stood stiffly, having a case of statue syndrome in front of the cameras again. At least this time Akaya wouldn’t try anything inappropriate… hopefully.

“Now now, honey, relax.” Akaya’s mother said, putting a hand on Hiyoshi’s shoulder.

He tensed at the contact at first but forced himself to relax. Akaya took his hand with a smile and suddenly he was feeling a bit coddled and embarrassed, but he could also feel warmth in his chest. His lips turned up in a weak but true smile. Akaya raised his fingers in a “V” sign and grinned happily as the cameraman clicked away.

After what felt like an eternity of standing there, which was actually probably only a few minutes, he started to wonder how much longer he would have to fend off his need to escape. Looking over at Akaya through the corner of his eye he also noticed that his boyfriend was way too used to this and seemed to enjoy getting his picture taken entirely too much.

“Alright, boys, I think we're done for now. Why don't you two go relax until dinner?” Akaya’s mother’s voice rang out like a blessed school bell telling kids class was over for the day.

Relaxing sounded good, very good. Facing Akaya’s father, he bowed sincerely since it was the polite thing to do. “Sorry for the intrusion. Thank you for allowing me to trespass upon your family.”

Akaya’s father merely nodded his head. “Of course, of course, you two go on.”

Even though he probably shouldn’t have been, Hiyoshi was surprised. Akaya’s father seemed to merely wave them off and he wondered if he should bother following proper protocol and thank him again. Then his father put his hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. “You don't have to be so polite here, Wakashi-kun, you're part of the family, remember?”

It was one thing to hear it from Akaya and his mom, completely different coming from his father. He nodded slowly, words caught in his throat. Akaya laced his hand through his and pulled him along towards his room with a big happy smile.

The short trip back up to Akaya’s room was a blur. Once they reached it, Akaya closed the door behind them with a happy sigh. “There, free!” He pulled off his sweater in one motion and threw it in a corner.

Hiyoshi stood there watching him, though not really seeing him, thinking.

Akaya looked at him worriedly. Coming over, he bent his head to look directly into Hiyoshi’s blank stare. “Wakashi.....?”

Hiyoshi blinked when Akaya’s features came so close into his line of vision. “Thinking, brat, give me a second.” He crossed his arms and looked at his brat with a contemplative expression while Akaya just stared back him, giving him his minute.

After a few more moments, he came out of it and flicked Akaya’s forehead. “Done. What do you want to do?”

Akaya blinked and rubbed his forehead, looking confused as hell, which was actually rather amusing. “Uh, I dunno.”

He rolled his eyes. “Okay, let me know when you figure it out.” Going to his bag, he pulled out his book and sat comfortably on Akaya’s bed, opened it and started to read.

“EH?!” Akaya crawled across the bed and stared at him over his book with a pout. “Wakashi~! Don't just read and ignore me!!”

“I told you to let me know if there was anything you wanted to do.” He looked up from the book with a raised eyebrow. “Who could possibly ignore you?” He pulled Akaya against him so dark curls lay against his chest and he ran his hand through them lazily.

Akaya smiled and closed his eyes while Hiyoshi looked back down to his book and read while his hand continued to comb and lightly scratch through Akaya’s very spoiled head of hair.

After only a few minutes, he heard a… “Heh heh heh....”

“What are you snickering at, brat?”

“You're wearing a happy snowman sweater.”

He’d completely forgotten about that. “It’s comfortable…”

Akaya grinned and poked the snowman in the nose.

Sighing, he pushed Akaya off him for a second so he could sit up enough to discard the sweater to the other end of the bed. Then he settled back down again with Akaya, who was grinning as if he got exactly what he wanted and began kissing down his chest.

“You know,” Hiyoshi smirked, “You're making it very difficult for me to concentrate on my book.”

“That was the point.”

“I see” He raised an eyebrow and went back to reading.

Akaya flicked his tongue over Hiyoshi’s nipple with a feigned innocent look, resulting in a small flinch of repressed reaction, but he still refused to take his eyes off the book. The persistent brat nipped at him some more and moved up to kiss along his neck. He no longer recognized the words on the pages but still wouldn’t give Akaya the satisfaction of closing it. It was about then he could feel Akaya concentrating on one particular spot on his neck and knew it would leave a dark mark behind. He closed his book so he could hit him lightly over the head with it.

“No marks, brat. I don't want your parents to see.”

Akaya pouted at him, “but I have one, why can't you have one?”

“Because they look much nicer on you,” he said with a teasing leer.

“Pervert” Akaya teased right back.

“Whose fault is that?” He asked with a shrug and pulled Akaya more comfortably on top of him. Slowly, he started kissing his neck in much the same way Akaya had just been doing to him.

“Hm, totally not mine.”

“Oh? Whose fault is it then? You'd rather it be someone else's?” He bit down on a perfect patch of skin on Akaya’s shoulder then ran his tongue over it.

Akaya moaned above him. “No way.....that's not allowed......”

“So it IS your fault then?” He moved down Akaya’s chest and copied Akaya’s earlier treatment by lightly licking at the area around a nipple before taking it gently between his teeth.

“Mmm......maybe......just a little........”

He snickered and moved to the other nipple, giving it the same loving attention while Akaya shivered in his arms and buried his hands in his hair. He didn’t want to leave marks where they would be visible, but had no qualms whatsoever with leaving them everywhere else. Laughing, he took his time massaging Akaya's muscled chest, abs, and torso with his hands and mouth. “If this is what you wanted to do, you should have just said so.”

“Mm—“ Akaya was making those good noises in his ear. “You should know it's what I wanted already.....” If he didn’t know any better he would have thought Akaya’s whole body was purring against him.

“Maybe I just like hearing you say it.” Slowly, he made his way back up Akaya’s body, but because Akaya was a little taller than him and still straddling his lap, he couldn’t quite reach his lips. “You need to shrink.” He glared up at him irritated.

“Heh heh--no way--I like being taller~”

“I don’t” he sulked and grabbed a fist full of Akaya’s hair, forcing his head lower. Akaya just sank into him, kissing him back warmly. Hiyoshi sighed, irritation completely gone. “Do we have any other obligations this evening?”

“We gotta have dinner with everyone, but other than that, it's our time the rest of the night.” His boyfriend answered, giving him the look.

“Our time? And what exactly do you have in mind for "our time"?”

“What do you think?”

“Hmm... Well, you do have a lot of video games, and I saw a park on our way here, you could always want to go socialize with your family...“ Oh, how much he loved to give Akaya a hard time.

The look turned into a full out pout and he chuckled, taking pity on him. “Or I suppose we could always fuck each other through the mattress for the rest of the evening?”

The look came back full force and it looked like he was about to pounce. “Now you're talkin—“

“But,” he interrupted, stopping him, “perhaps we should save that for after dinner.”

Akaya pouted again but conceded, “yeah.....I guess you're right....”

He smiled and fluffed his hair. “That’s a good brat.”

Hiyoshi leaned back against the headboard feeling relaxed and happy while Akaya nuzzled his neck and closed his eyes with a soft, “Hmm......” He went back to reading his book while idly running his hands through Akaya’s hair. In his opinion, it was the perfect way to waste an hour or two.

Akaya’s mother called up to them announcing it was time for dinner about an hour and a half later. Hiyoshi put his book to the side and called softly to his human blanket, “Akaya, wake up. Your mother is calling us.”

“Hmm…” He blinked open his eyes and sat up slowly, yawning. “Mm, is it dinner time?”

Hiyoshi nodded and got up to find his shirt. Slipping it on, he straightened out his clothes to look presentable. Akaya just reached under his bed and pulled out a wrinkled shirt that had been hiding under there. Putting it on, he stretched and yawned again, “Mmmm -- I hope dinner is good.”

“Are you doubting your mothers cooking?”

“Hm, mom's cooking is the best. Alright, let's go.”

They made their way downstairs with Akaya in the lead. Akaya happily trotted into the dinning room and took his seat at the table, gesturing for him to take the empty seat next to him. Hiyoshi had no idea what Akaya’s family considered to be good table manners so decided to play it safe, remaining silent and watchful.

The food appeared to be stereotypical American which perhaps made sense since Akaya’s father was American. He’d never had food like this outside of McDonald’s and Wendy’s but wasn’t going to tell Akaya’s mother that.

“Wow, you really went all out mom.” Akaya said next to him with a big grin.

“Dig in boys. Wakashi-kun, if you don't like anything you don’t have to eat it and I can always make you something else too.”

Would he ever cease to be surprised by this family? At his own home almost everything was made by the hired cook. If you didn’t like what you were served then you either sucked it up and ate it anyway or didn’t eat at all. It made sense to him even though he was a picky eater and had gone without many meals in his life. “I'm sure it’s all very good. Thank you.”

Not wanting to be rude in any way, he reached out to serve himself as he saw everyone else was doing and ate silently while listening to the conversations going on around him. The food was very different from what he was used to but by no means bad. There were no mushrooms.

Akaya was chatting along with the rest of his family, every once in a while throwing glares at his sister, generally smiling and enjoying the dinner. He felt out of place in the atmosphere and couldn’t help comparing them to his own family whose dinners were mostly respectfully silent, only interrupted by questions from his father or amusing out of place jests by his brother.

Laughing at something his father said, Akaya turned to him, “Hey, you don't gotta be so quiet.”

“What am I supposed to say?” He asked frankly.

“Don't look so confused.”

“Yes, Wakashi, don't be so quiet.” Kirihara-san added. “Hm, how has school been?”

School was a safe enough subject. “Good. I've been working hard to keep up with my studies, thank you for asking.”

Akaya’s mother just kind of blinked at him like Akaya did when he was confused. “.......well, tell us about it. What classes are you taking? Which ones are hard? Oh! Do you have any attractive teachers?”

His eyes widened, thinking she couldn’t possibly be asking about his teachers the way it sounded. “Uh...I'm mostly taking general education and business courses. Economics is difficult but it’s essential to my understanding of the major. My...teachers? I have no complaints I suppose.”

“Are any of them cute?”

Okay, apparently she HAD meant that the way it sounded. It didn’t help that Akaya was watching him with a big fat curious grin on his face.

“Err...” All the attention around the table was focused him and his palms started to sweat. “C..cute? I guess... uh...” He didn’t know what to say and had to actually think for a moment to remember what his current teachers looked like. “ …my business math instructor is nice...”

Akaya laughed and leaned over to kiss his cheek as everyone else went back to their chatter. He breathed out a sigh of relief once the attention was no longer on him.

Looking over at Akaya, he said in a low flustered tone so not to be overheard above the other conversations, “What kind of question was that?”

His boyfriend just shrugged as if it was nothing. “Seems like a reasonable question to me.....”

“Do you think any of your instructors are 'cute'?”

Akaya laughed. “You really want to know?”

It was meant as a joke but now he was uncertain. “I don't know...”

“My English teacher is pretty hot, but he never really makes much sense,” he shrugged again. “Other than that, they're all old and weird.”

Hiyoshi wasn’t sure if he should be concerned his boyfriend thought a teacher was hot or just relieved he wasn’t interested in him. With a small sigh, he turned back to his food and tried to keep up with what everyone else was talking about, though he was having a difficult time with the rather fast pace often rather random topics.

Though he couldn’t follow the conversations well enough to join in, he still liked the unfamiliar upbeat mood at the table. He ate his food slowly and politely, trying to look interested in what everyone else was talking about.

After everyone looked to be finished, Akaya’s mother stood and began clearing the table while happily humming. Everyone at the table seemed full and happy, even the two cutthroat siblings looked satisfied. Hiyoshi was mentally exhausted from concentrating during the meal and over exposure to being social all day, but was no less satisfied.

“Thank you for the food, Kirih--Momma. It was very good.”

“You're so cute.” Momma grinned and kissed the top of his head. He felt the warmth spread through his cheeks for the umpteenth time that day and looked down at his lap. He was starting to worry if he blushed much more today it would become a condition.

Akaya stood and gesture to him. “Let's go upstairs.”

All he could do was nod and follow, but not before stopping to bow to Akaya’s father and politely thank him for the meal as well.

“Don't thank me. I can't cook to save my life, not unless it's barbeque.” The man heartily chuckled at him.

Hiyoshi had to refrain from informing him he was just trying to be polite since he was the head of the household and proper etiquette required… oh, never mind. These people properly didn’t even know the definition of proper etiquette. He awkwardly bowed again and even gave a small head nod to Akaya's sister. Walking over to Akaya, he elbowed him in the ribs. “Thank your mom for the meal, brat.” He was determined that at least one person in this family would learn some manners.

Akaya winced then blinked, “Wha--? Oh uh---thanks mom....”

“Anytime, sweety.”

Hiyoshi rolled his eyes.

“What?”

“You have no manners.”

“Eh? Of course I do.”

“Oh? Since when?”

“Always.” Akaya stuck his tongue out at him.

The action made him snicker. “I'll believe it when I see it.”

Akaya “hmph’d” at him, like an offended five-year-old, and stomped up the stairs which only amused him more. He followed along behind trying but failing not to laugh at his little tantrum.

Back in the room, Hiyoshi closed the door behind them and Akaya sat on the bed, complaining with a pout. “You better make that comment up to me.”

“Make it up to you? First, I think you need to prove it to me.”

“Make me.”

Hiyoshi walked over to the bed and looked down at him with a challenging glint in his eyes. “How about you make me?”

Akaya stared right back at him just as challengingly.

“Besides, I already did make you,” he pointed out with a snicker, referring to making Akaya thank his mother for dinner.

The only response he got was Akaya sticking his tongue out at him again. He rolled his eyes. “Yes, brat, that was real polite. You're not doing a very good job of proving yourself.”

Akaya was definitely in pouty mode. “I don't wanna, too much effort.”

Hiyoshi laughed and sat on the bed next to him, ruffling his hair. “That's okay. I like you the way you are,” he chuckled, “most of the time.”

Immediately, but not entirely unexpectedly, Akaya pounced on him and he landed on his back with a laugh, “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Just what I said.”

“And what about the rest of the time?”

Rolling his eyes, he pulled his pouty boyfriend the rest of the way on top of him. “The rest of the time... I love the way you are.” A lopsided grin was showing and he twirled a bit of Akaya’s hair around his finger.

Akaya laughed on top of him and leaned down to kiss him, which he returned happily. He let Akaya take full control of the kiss and relaxed against the bed, thinking that there was nowhere else he would rather be.

After a minute of light kisses, Akaya began to gently nip at his lower lip and suck at it, making him shiver as he lightly ran his palms up the warm skin of Akaya’s sides. It didn’t take long at all before Akaya’s hand slid down over groin, prompting an instant response of moving against the warm palm and the release of a small groan.

“Mm...who said--you get to be in charge, brat?” Even though he liked it sometimes (okay, most of the time) when Akaya took charge, he still had to say something at of principle.

“If you wanna take control, you gotta take it from me.”

Half-heartedly, he started to squirm under him to get a better grip and flip them over, but his movements ceased when Akaya laughed and slipped his hand into his pants, gripping him with familiar knowing fingers. He let out a louder, needier sound and tried to cover it through clenched teeth. There was no good way to describe the evil smirk looking down at him and glared back.

“Shut up...”

“I didn't say anything~”

“You didn't need to.”

Akaya placed a soft kiss on his lips and just kept them there, the smirk never leaving, and began teasing his length with just his finger tips. Hiyoshi moved against the hand, wanting more friction and growled at the teasing. He bit at Akaya’s lips in warning which won him one good stroke before he went back to teasing.

Hiyoshi arched slightly off the bed, breath quickening, Akaya was enjoying this way too much. “Damn brat…” He reached out to thumb over Akaya as well through is pants, not willing to let him get away with this one-sided.

“Hmm......I’m not a brat......” Akaya moaned happily at the contact.

Groaning, Akaya pulled his hand out of Hiyoshi’s pants so they could quickly and efficiently remove each others clothing.

Clothes all gone, he looked up at Akaya from the bed, raised an eyebrow, and asked in an amused tone, “Now what?”

Akaya pressed their bodies together with a little humming sound. ”Mmnn.....what do you think?”

He closed his eyes as skin met skin, appreciating the sensation, then opened them a second later. “Maybe...if you're really good--I'll be generous.” So saying, he lifted a leg and wrapped it securely around Akaya’s, pulling him in hard against him.

Akaya smirked and moved in to kiss him again which he heartily reciprocated.

“Wow--this is even sappier than a boys love movie.....”

At the unexpected intruding voice, Hiyoshi’s head swung to the side to find the culprit… Akaya’s sister, who was leaning against the doorframe watching them. He let out a rather loud squawk then tensed completely under Akaya.

“OUT!!!” Akaya yelled, glaring bloody murder at her.

She just giggled and gave them a little wave over her shoulder as she walked out, leaving the door open.

The silence was almost deafening before Hiyoshi breathed out “Akaya... I hate your sister.”

“...join the club” Akaya snorted.

Hiyoshi watched nervously as Akaya reluctantly got up to close the door, feeling the mood had completely broken. When he came back, Akaya sat next to him, hands burying themselves in his hair. “ ......sorry---about her.....”

Slowly relaxing again, he pulled on Akaya’s arms till he was lying beside him again. He was at a loss for words until it occurred to him. “Umm... Akaya?”

“Hmm?”

“What the hell did she mean by we’re sappier than a movie boy's love?”

The laughter that followed had him crossing his arms indignantly.

“You're happier not knowing.”

Hiyoshi rolled his eyes.

“Trust me on that.”

“Fine,” he said in a clipped tone and turned on his side away from him. “Let's just go to bed.” As an afterthought he mumbled, “...I'm not sappy...”

Akaya snuggled up to his back and wrapped his arms around him. “Naa, Wakashi......I'm really glad you came with me......”

Irritation forgotten, he smiled softly, relaxing into comfortable sleep.