The screaming from the next room caused Shinya to clamp his hands tightly over his ears. He whined, with his red hair falling down over his shoulders and tangled in with fingers. Curling up under his blankets did nothing to stop the horrible voices.

Tears streamed down Shinya’s pale face as he ran out onto his balcony and shut the door, only to realize that there was an open window in that bedroom, the screams of Die and Toshiya echoed off his brain.

He slumped down against the brick wall near the balcony door. It was nearly two o’clock in the morning. He doubted he would get anymore sleep that night, considering the fight had just started.

His gaze fell down to the gardens. A cobblestone path circled around through the flowers and hedges that led off to the hedge maze at the very back of the garden. Moonlight danced down through the rainclouds, making the garden nearly as bright as morning at times then dark as the inside of a kettle the next.

Shinya considered his options. Trying to go back to sleep, where he wouldn’t really sleep at all, or go for a walk in the garden.

In the next moment Shinya was shimmying down the trellis of the side of his balcony and quickly moved into the garden away from the disturbing noises at the house.

The cobblestone was cold beneath his feet and there was a slight chill in the air. Maybe he should be wearing more than a thin chemise.

There was a fountain in the center of the garden where Shinya sank down onto the stone bench in front of it. He was mesmerized by the way the moon hit the water and made it glimmer brighter than the sun. He reached out and gently placed a finger through a stream spilling down and felt the icy water run over the nail at the end of the thin digit and spread out to start two new streams.

Shinya smiled and stood up, going around to inspect all of the statues in the dim night light. He was so used to seeing them usually everyday that he never stopped to look at them. But at night they seemed so lifelike he could swear some of them were alive. Especially this one…

Shinya stopped and stared at the face of one. The eyes were carved so extremely he could swear they were staring directly into his soul. It was a male statue, but the hair reached nearly to its waist. Shinya reached out and touched it, it he were real he would bet the hair would be like silk.

Like all the other statues he was carved to be naked. Almost feeling guilty and shy to even himself, he glanced down past the waist of the statue, then stared. He was carved…perfectly. Despite that he was alone Shinya quickly blushed and moved on.

A glint of embarrassed laughter followed Shinya as he moved on. Shinya gasped and spun quickly, had he been followed out there!?

He didn’t seem anyone, but…he didn’t feel alone. Why did he keep feeling that the statue had someone to do with it. Shinya crept back over to it and eyed is nervously. Maybe he was just tired…he quickly moved away and went back to the fountain. He loved this spot.

Sighing, Shinya laid down on the cool stone, cradling his face on his hand. The garden wasn’t the same now…his lover was gone. He wouldn’t have to be alone then…but he was.

His eyes felt so heavy…

"Where’s Shin-Chan?" Kyo asked while licking the hot blood from his extremely-rare, breakfast chicken. He ran his finger through a puddle on the side of his plate. Toshiya grimaced as he watched him study, then slowly lick in from his finger. The seat beside Kyo was empty and he missed teasing the sensitive bishonen with his unusual eating habits.

Kaoru looked up from his newspaper, and across from where he feet were up on the table. "I have no idea." He said, he was confused. Usually Shinya would be the first one down, making breakfast over the oven for everyone and putting the coffee pot on the burner.

Toshiya didn’t answer. His played with one of his blue dreadlocks and stared down at his runny eyes. Die couldn’t cook worth shit. He smirked and pushed the plate away. He didn’t care where Shinya was, and he didn’t want to eat.

Die didn’t answer either as he stood at the stove with a throbbing hangover, carefully trying to cook eggs, something he had never done before. He looked back as Toshiya pushed the plate away and snarled.

"I’ll go look for him." Kaoru said and let his feet thump onto the floor.

Kaoru smoothed down his bleach-blonde bob of hair as he walked into Shinya’s bedroom without knocking. He instantly shivered as the cold smacked him and wrapped tightly around him. "God, why is it so damn cold in here?" He complained as he looked around.

The blankets were twisted and thrown back. He guessed Shinya didn’t sleep well.

He stared at the open balcony door. His face twisted in confusion. "Shinya?" He called in the room, then checked the bedroom. He wasn’t there.

Maybe the balcony? He stepped out and looked around. The grounds below were covered in frosty white. It had frozen the night before. It was an ice kingdom around.

Suddenly Kaoru gasped, "Oh my God!"

"Shinya?" Kaoru quickly shook his arm and touched the icy face. He looked down at the frail body. He was wearing only the thin, silk chemise. What the hell was he doing out there!?

Toshiya sobbed over his shoulder. "Is he okay? Please let him be okay!" He turned, about to fall against Die but decided against it and sobbed into his hands.

Kyo watched, fascinated. "He’s as cold as death…"

Kaoru turned and looked back at Die frantically. "Go get Yoshiki! Quickly!"

Kaoru scooped up the frozen man and quickly carried him to his room.

Kyo slammed the doors of the balcony and lit the fireplace while Toshiya sat down beside Shinya on the bed when Kaoru set him down and helped him to wrap all the blankets around the trembling boy who had scarcely woken up while Kaoru was carrying him.

"What were you doing out there!?" Kaoru asked angrily, not expecting an answer. He turned to Kyo, "We have to keep him warm, go get me some hot water. Move!"

Five minutes later Die came running into the room with Yoshiki in tow. Yoshiki’s blonde, wavy hair fell to his waste thickly. His golden jewelry clanged as he moved in the room and dumped his large, silken coat over a chair.

Yoshiki ran to the bed and pushed the crying Toshiya out of the way. He felt Shinya’s pulse, checked his eyes, and made sure he was warming up sufficiently.

"What was he doing out there?" Yoshiki asked calmly as he pulled some herbs out of his bag, taking some of the hot water he started to ground it into a paste.

"We don’t know." Kaoru said. "I came up here looking for him and found the balcony door open. When I went out there I saw him asleep on the bench by the fountain."

Toshiya nodded as he listened, starting to spread the paste on Shinya’s temples and on his bare chest after ripping away the chamise.

"What…what are you doing?" Toshiya asked as he sniffed, looking away from Shinya’s naked body.

"It’s great for his immune system. It’s a very potent smell…it helps."

Shinya moaned, rolling away from the disgusting smell of his dream, something pungent assaulting his nose. When he turned and turned and realized it wasn’t going anywhere, he opened his eyes.

He looked up into beautiful gypsy eyes. Yoshiki. But he only came around when someone was very sick…

Shinya glanced around through clouded eyes. Everyone was watching him nervously. What was going on? He tried to speak but his throat burned like acid. He winced. "Oh, he’s awake!" Toshiya clutched Shinya’s shaking fingers, a teardrop spilled from his face to land with a "plop" on Shinya’s hand. Why was Toshiya crying?

Yoshiki placed a finger on Shinya’s chin and turned it towards himself. He made him drink water, which was wonderfully cold down his burning throat.

The thin fingers traced hot lines down his cheeks. Shinya touched his own cheek. Was he as red as he felt? A lock of Yoshiki’s blonde hair fell down and rested against Shinya’s chest. "What were you doing out in the garden last night?" Yoshiki asked gently. It was strange, he wasn’t usually a gentle man.

Shinya could barely hear him. His mind was clouded with fever and his voice was weak. Yoshiki bent down over him so that he could hear.

"Fighting…" Shinya spoke very gently so his throat wouldn’t burn.

"What do you mean?" Yoshiki asked.

Die and Toshiya looked guiltily over at each other. "Umm," Toshiya started but Die cut in. "We were fighting last night…pretty late."

"Oh." Yoshiki said while rubbing away the paste from Shinya’s face.

"The statue…he’s so beautiful isn’t he?" Shinya said suddenly. His face was pale and drawn. A memory of stone changing to flesh made him smile.

Yoshiki crinkled his face. What was he talking about?

"He talked to me…he’s so beautiful and he’s…he’s alive." He touched his lips lightly, breathing over his fingers. "He kissed me…"

The moonlight had grazed across his face and he lay on his back, sure he was asleep as he watched the statue…

He was coming towards him. Shinya unconsciously held his breath. He was gorgeous. The ivory skin was slightly shiny he bent down in front of the bench. The reddish-blonde hair fell over his shoulders in thick waves. He looked a lot warmer than Shinya was. He wore a thick blue jacket with golden leaves sewn onto the sleeves and around the thick collar.

His eyes were whiter than his face, his nails painted black. One of those fingers reached out to touch his face very gently, tracing the top line of his mouth.

"You are so much more beautiful when I don’t have to look at you through stone eyes." The breathed out his voice huskily.

Shinya realized he had been holding his breath and let it out slowly. He wanted to scramble away, but fear held him in place.

He let out a muffled cry as the usually-stone mouth pressed down over his. They were perfectly still for nearly a minute before the mesmerizing man moved his lips, opening Shinya’s lips with his tongue. Shinya stopped struggling and almost put his hand up to touch the man but then the cold hands took his wrists and held them above his head. His tongue explored Shinya’s mouth.

The cry that now came out of Shinya’s mouth was not in fear but in pleasure as the hands that were first holding his wrists slid down over his chest and held onto his hips. He sat between Shinya’s legs, spreading them until they fell over the side of the bench to touch the cobblestone.

A feeling of exhaustion overcame Shinya, creeping up his body. Then he gladly fell asleep in the man’s arms, as warm lips explored the long expense of his neck.

A goofy, wishful smile graced Shinya’s beautiful face as everyone watched him. Then he sighed and his head lolled to the side as he slept.

Yoshiki made a noise. "He’s delirious from the fever." Yoshiki said and covered Shinya’s body up with the blanket again. "Make sure he stays in bed all the time, and absolutely NO going outside for him. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to check on him."

The rest nodded in agreement.

Yoshiki eyed one person in particular. The little Kyo had turned away and was bending over to warm his hands in front of the fire. Yoshiki licked his lips as his eyes traced the delicate curve of Kyo’s ass. "Kyo."

The small man turned and looked over curiously.

"Walk me home." Yoshiki smiled seductively. The rest of the men in the room exchanged glances.

Die and Toshiya clamoured into their room and let the door close. Between the scare with Shinya this morning and the endless fight the night before they were both pretty exhausted.

Suddenly Toshiya broke out into sobs and dropped onto the end of the bed, slipped off and landed on the floor with a thud. He covered his face with his hands shamefully.

Despite the fact that Die was still pretty pissed at him he couldn’t stand to see his lover crying. "Totchi, what’s wrong?"

"It’s our fault!" He screamed and sobbed again into his hands, turning away.

Die was confused as he put his hands on Toshiya’s shoulders. "What is?"

"Don’t you see!? He must of heard us fighting all night and wanted to get away from it! You know how sensitive Shinya is to this type of thing!"

He was right. Die looked downcast. "Well, he will be fine, don’t worry. He’s not too sick." As he spoke the words he wasn’t too sure, he prayed that Shinya would be alright. It was all his fault…

He curled his arm around his thin lover’s shoulders and squeezed a bit. "Tochi…" He wanted to appoligize, but it wasn’t exactly a strong point of his.

Toshiya looked up at him pleadingly, hoping he would say the words that were on the end of his tongue.

Die looked uncomfortable quickly and stood up. "I need to get a drink." He rushed from the room and left Toshiya to start crying again.

Kaoru sighed as he saw Die rush down the stairs and into the dining room to grab a drink from the licquor cabinet.

Soft, cold fingers pressed against Kaoru’s stomach and moved down slowly. He gasped, nearly screaming and jerked away from the hold and turned.

A smiling little man smiled up at him. "Hello, Kaoru." The brown eyes slowly made their way up from his toes to the top of his head. "You’re looking very…delicious today." Hide pressed closer to Kaoru. "How are you?"

Kaoru took a step forward and smiled deeply, love flashing in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I came with Yoshiki, but he rushed out of here with Kyo…I figured I’m not wanted back at home so I thought I would visit with you for a while…"

Shinya tried to sit up in bed but fell back weakly. He pouted then scowled. Here he was with a fever and everyone left him!

His eyes were puffy and red, and his skin was lax and paler than usual. His arms felt so weak, and his legs probably would be too if he tried to stand.

He looked over towards the balcony door. It was now snowing outside. Soft, white sparklets of ice fluttered down over the world. The garden flowers of the spring showed patches of purple and red in areas, disappearing in others. There would be a power outage, and a storm.

Shinya wasn’t watching the snow, but the full-length mirror beside the door. He never noticed how it looked straight down into the garden before. He saw the fountain, not working so well since the pipes were probably frozen. The statue behind it…was it moving?

Shinya held his breath and watched. The shadow behind its arm shifted, bending. The white granite slowly changed color while he watched the mirror transfixed. The white turned to a soft peach, and the granite hair turned golden and shiny before his eyes.

His breath came deep as he watched the statue seem to stretch and step off its platform! No, it couldn’t be! It was just a dream! The statue looked up towards Shinya’s balcony and move out of the site of the mirror.

He clamped his eyes shut. No! He didn’t see that! He was dilusional from sleeping outside all night! He froze when he heard the balcony door open…

"Shinya…" Someone was stepping up beside the bed, soft footsteps on the Persian carpet. Someone touched his forehead with cool, soft fingers. And that voice…like a feather floating in on the wind.

Shinya took a risk and opened his eyes, he tried to focus his eyes to see but everything was still in a cloudy haze. He tried to sit up, but gravity seemed to have doubled from the night before. But he knew who it was, he knew who was standing there.

"You’re not there…Yoshiki was right, I am hallucinating!" He voice was barely audible. "I’ll go to sleep and when I wake up you will be gone, my fever will have gone…and no one will think I’m crazy…" Shinya was nearly asleep now, positive that the beautiful man before him was nothing more than his imagination.
There was a light chuckle then the cool hand passed over his forehead and across his cheek. "Then I suppose you won’t mind me lying down beside you…"

Shinya didn’t say anything struggled to keep his eyes open. He distinctely felt the wind as the "imagination" opened the blankets and slipped in beside him. There was a very real warmth beside him, that Shinya chalked up to the fever.

The imagination nuzzled the back of Shinya’s neck with his nose, breathing warm air along his nape. "This room…I always imagined this room from my place behind the fountain. It was hard to see up here…I always say you on your balcony, always crying…what could make you so sad, Shinya darling?"

Shinya smiled dazely at being called "darling". A sad tear sparked in Shinya’s eyes. "Why couldn’t you be real…I know soon you will gone. So leave now, and save me from some misery…you don’t even have a name!"

The honey-blonde bent over Shinya and licked away a salty tear as he brushed the red bangs out of Shinya’s face and cradled it with long fingers. "Please don’t turn me away. I have admired you for so long from my cold place, where the water of that damn fountain always splashes me. I have loved you for so long as I watched you and your family here. Watching you sitting off to the side, always watching the couples longingly…How can I prove to you that I am real?"

Shinya shrugged.

The stranger chuckled and put his hand on Shinya’s shoulder to turn him. "Look at my eyes, Shinya. You studied them so closely that you should know them by now.

Shinya was close enough that he didn’t need to strain to see. He knew those eyes… He ran his fingers weakly through his hair. "I knew it would feel like silk." Shinya said as he finally accepted the truth and cuddled up to his human-statue. "If you are real, stay with me now, everyone else left me…"

He let him curl up and held him as he slept. He sighed…he knew that Shinya would probably think himself crazy when the fever broke and realized it wasn’t just a figment of his imagination. He whispered, "I will never leave…and I do have a name, darling. It’s Kamijo."

Kyo looked around and shook the snow from his hair. There was a black cat was curled up in the center of the couch, when he saw Kyo and Yoshiki coming he hissed, raised his fur, and ran off. Yoshiki was covered in snow also, but didn’t seem bothered by it. It had been a long walk from the mansion to Yoshiki and Hide’s small house.

Yoshiki shoved Kyo down and moved over him, running his long fingers through Kyo’s short, blonde hair and gripped it tight to hold him in place as he tongue plunged into his mouth. He toyed with Kyo’s long tongue, pressed his own against Kyo’s teeth and in his cheek until Kyo had to push him back and pant for air. His hands weren’t the only thing pushing at Yoshiki now.

"What’s the matter?" Yoshiki asked as he licked all over Kyo’s face and neck. "Am I too much for you?" He laughed and ground his erection against Kyo’s hip and moaned as he still smiled.

"Come on." Yoshiki couldn’t conceal the lust in his voice.

Yoshiki pulled him off quickly to his bedroom.

Kyo loved this room. The bed was very high, and covered in a feather-cover so deep it was like sleeping, or having sex, on a cloud.

Yoshiki shoved Kyo flat on his back and strattled the smaller man’s non-exhistant hips. Grabbing his face, he practically smothered Kyo with his hot lips.

Kyo reached a hand out and twisted Yoshiki’s nipple hard.

With a screak he lunged back and slapped him. Kyo laughed wickedly (Night note: as an example of evil laughter listen to the beginning of Zan!) and threw his head back, daring Yoshiki to get him back.

"You look pretty innocent for someone who likes to hit." Kyo mocked and smiled as he flipped over Yoshiki and tried to open his shirt with his teeth, but that damn gold jewelry kept getting in his way. He broke a few chains ripping them from around Yoshiki’s neck, then tore open his shirt.

Yoshiki clutched the bedsheets as Kyo’s teeth bit as his nipples, his mouth devouring them and sucking them until they ached and turned browner than than already were. (Night note: They ARE brown! Okay…sorry)

Yoshiki felt himself grow hard beneith the smaller man, felt himself prodding between the man’s legs without trying. Kyo’s eyes gleamed down at him and rubbed themselves together slowly. "Oh, what is this hard thing beneith me!? I must examine further!"

Yoshiki almost laughed at Kyo’s silliness. His smiled lingered as Kyo pulled off his pants frantically and leaned on his arm towards his waste to stare at Yoshiki’s groin appreciately.

"Don’t tease me, Kyo!"

Kyo tried to look curious as he reached a finger out and ran it down the shaft. "Oh! This hard skin is so soft too!" Yoshiki turned bright red.

Bringing his face forward Kyo placed a gentle kiss on his lover’s erection, slowly bringing out his tongue to lick the whole length. Yoshiki gasped and jerked, his body tingled. Kyo giggled, he loved Yoshiki so much. He wished that he would show more interest in him than just sex.

Yoshiki groaned deep in his throat and bucked up when Kyo took him in his mouth. His tongue was hot, his mouth slick and tight as he closed his lips, sucking hard. His hands rubbed gently along Yoshiki’s thighs then reached up to play with him.

Yoshiki moaned in broken syllables, pressing his hand to the back of Kyo’s head to hold him in place and lunged forward. He screamed as he jerked again and came down Kyo’s throat.

A wonderful feeling of euphoria came over him. His body hummed and he fell back, too weak to even kiss the beatiful man moving up towards him now.

Kyo curled up to Yoshiki, thinking the selfish man would want to sleep. "What are you doing?" Yoshiki asked quickly and flipped the little man over when he finally got some strenth back. He completely stripped him naked, pausing to admire the slim body and pale skin. "You’re beautiful, Kyo." He fingertips played over the skin, reminding Kyo of his playing the piano.

Kyo writhed under him. He couldn’t believe the sweetness radiating off of Yoshiki now.

Yoshiki raised Kyo’s legs and put them on his shoulders, reaching down he stroked Kyo until he panted and groaned for release.

"Please, Yoshiki…I need it now!"

Kyo was shaking so much that his legs almost fell from the other man’s shoulders.

"Why are you nervous, Kyo?" Yoshiki asked, a little confused.

He was almost afraid to answer. "Because I…" Yoshiki had stopped touching and stared at him inquiringly. "I love you!" Kyo blurted out. He turned his face away and covered his face.

Oh, God! Kyo thought and tried to curl up on his side, but Yoshiki was sitting on his waste. He wanted to disappear. He wished he had never said it! Yoshiki wouldn’t want him now, he hated commitment!

"Oh…" Was the simple answer and Kyo felt his heart ripping in half. Until…

"No one has ever said that to me before!"

Was that happiness Kyo had heard in his voice? He uncovered his face and looked up.

Yoshiki sucked in air happily and fell down to cover Kyo’s body and hug him as hard as he could. Kyo was stunned but held him back tightly. Did this mean Yoshiki loved him?

Yoshiki pulled back and looked down at him, cupping his face. He spoke very gently as he breath fanned the other man’s skin. "I love you too."

Kyo made a sound of shocked happiness and threw his hands around Yoshiki’s shoulders, he held him tighty, wrapping his legs around his waste. "Thank you! Thank you!"

They stayed that way for nearly ten minutes before Kyo got impatient and whispered desperately, "Ne, Yoshiki, make love to me?"

Toshiya’s stomach growled. It was nearly lunchtime, and he hadn’t eaten anything all day. He sighed and turned over onto his side in bed and stared out the window. The snow was getting harder, beating quick but gentle against the panes of glass.

He was lying in the center of the bed. He wished he wasn’t, he wished he could lie on his side of the bed, with Die on his own, or both of them in the middle. How long had it been since he had done that with Die? Too long…

The doorknob to the dining room was cool, as was the rest of the main hall. Toshiya pressed his ear to the door, nothing. He knocked. "Die?"

There was a pause then, "Tochi! Come in!" His voice was slurred almost incoherently from the alcohol as he called through the door.

When Toshiya entered the room he fell back in shock. The room was totally trashed. All the dining chairs except the one he was sitting on were tipped over, a few broken. One was overturned in the china cabinet, the antique plates and glasses were smashed on the floor in front of it. A huge wine stain adorned the floor.

Toshiya frowned and looked at Die. He was wearing his black suit with the ruffle shirt, the suit-jacket was flung up on the table. He held a glass in his hand, it was nearly empty. The bottle on the table in front of him was nearly empty.

The way that Die was watching him made fresh tears spring up into his eyes. There was hatred in Die’s eyes, but he knew that he didn’t hate him. Only when Die was drinking did he get like this. Toshiya didn’t look at his face but around the room, over the pain he felt anger.

"God dammit, Die." He growled at him. "What do you think you’re doing in here? Do you think you own this whole house!? Do you think you can trash any room you please? As if trashing our bedroom isn’t enough!"

Die was frowning, but he didn’t seem to be listening at all. He had a hazy look on his face and his eyes were glazed as he stared at the floor now.

"Dammit! Are you listening to me!?" Toshiya lunged forward and knocked the glass out of Die’s hand, it crashed to the floor and smashed, the wine spilling over his ankle.

Die finally looked up at him.

Hide giggled and looked down at Kaoru from where he was propped up on his elbow beside him. His long, brown hair fell over his shoulders, tangled behind him, and it was so long he was actually sitting on some. He giggled again and tweaked Kaoru’s nose.

"What’s so funny?" Kaoru asked tiredly as he yawned cutely. His eyes were barely open after the exhausting session of lovemaking he just had with Hide.

"That wig!" Hide giggled and pulled it off Kaoru’s head. His long, purple hair fell down over his shoulders.

"Wah! Give it back!" Kaoru laughed too and made a futal effort of taking it back.

Hide tossed the wig back behind him and smoothed his hands through Kaoru’s hair. "That’s much better." He was about to collapse back down on Kaoru’s chest when a scream jerked both him and Kaoru to sitting up.

Kaoru threw open the dining room door as he pulled on his clothes, Hide was in tow just behind him.

They saw Toshiya on the floor beside the table with his hand up to steady himself. He was holding his cheek and sobbing uncontrollably.

Die was across the room staring at Toshiya in shock, he pressed up against the wall. He started to move around a bit, about to collapse. Hide ran to steady him and Kaoru dropped down beside Tochi.

"Toshiya, are you ok?" Kaoru rubbed his hands up and down Tochi’s back, trying to comfort him.

"He…he hit me…I can’t believe that he…" He broke off sobbing and buried his face in Kaoru’s shoulder. Kaoru looked up at Hide shocked, then over at Die where he snarled; looking like he wanted to rip the man to shreds. Hide let him go and Die dropped to the floor.

Kaoru helped Toshiya to his feet to lead him off. Hide glared down at Die before running out of the room to follow.

"Please go away." Toshiya said as he weakly dragged himself up on the bed and curled up. He tugged futily on a dreadlock like he wanted to rip it out.

"Toshiya…" Kaoru moved forward to put his hand on his arm but Hide held him back.

"Go find Die, I’ll talk to Toshiya."

Kaoru was reluctant as he watched Toshiya rocking himself, gritting his teeth so hard they almost broke. Finally he nodded and left.

Hide sat down on the end of the bed and touched Toshiya’s ankle. "Are you okay?"

Toshiya wiped his nose over his hand and sniffed. "I’m fine! Go away!"

Hide didn’t say anything.

"I don’t want to talk to anyone right now, okay?" Toshiya said weakly and pulled his ankle away from Hide’s hand.

Shinya reached over in his sleep feeling the well-shaped, warm chest beside him. He smiled as if having a wonderful dream and ran his fingers lightly over it. With his eyes still closed he slid up his fingers into the silky hair and held on to make sure he wouldn’t go anywhere.

Kamijo chuckled and leaned over, kissing Shinya’s forehead. Shinya was beautiful tangled up in the white blankets and sheets with a tiny slip of sunlight making his hair look as if it were on fire.

Shinya opened his eyes, and instead of looking happy he was confused.

"What’s wrong?" Kamijo whispered as he ran his thumb over Shinya’s tiny bicep.

"How did you…I mean how are you…"

Kamijo smiled warmly and hugged Shinya, resting his cheek on Shinya’s head. He felt a lot cooler than before, the fever had broke but he still looked too weak. "Do you want to hear about how this happened? How I became human?"

Shinya nodded quickly, settling himself comfortably to hear the whole story.

Kamijo stroked his hair. "When I was twenty four…about a hundred years ago…I was in love with a gypsy. My family lived here, on this estate. It was arranged that I was going to marry a woman of another noble family. Her name was…" He paused, thinking. "I really don’t remember her name. Well, I did something horrible. I went to the gypsy and told him that I was leaving him for the woman, that I would marry her if I had to because she was rich and her family powerful. And that he was only a man, and it was wrong." Kamijo sucked in his breath, almost crying at remembering how bad he had acted. "The gypsy got so angry that he cursed me to live forever as a statue in the garden, until I could realize what love truly was and to embrace it… Through the family the gypsy still hates me, it’s like a family trait now."

He waited for Shinya to say something, but there was no answer. He looked down. Shinya was staring up at him. "So you had to stay a statue until you fell in love?" His voice was mesmorized.

Kamijo smiled and nodded. "That’s exactly what it means, Shinya." He was leaning over him, whispering in his ear.

Shinya looked serious, but humor glinted in his eyes. "Good to know."

Kamijo giggled as he watched Shinya lean down against the pillows and fall asleep.

It was midnight. There was no sound at all in the mansion except a grandfather clock in the main hall.

Shinya was smiling as he curled against Kamijo, his hold tightening on him in his sleep. He had been coughing for nearly an hour, Kamijo had turned his face away so that he wouldn’t get it in the face.

Kamijo froze when he heard someone coming down the hall towards Shinya’s room. He knew he would have to leave for a while anyway, he had to settle something. He guessed it should be then.

"Shinya, wake up." He whispered, shaking him a little.

Shinya moaned. "What’s the matter?"

"Someone’s coming and I have to go for now…okay?"

Shinya was now awake at hearing this. "Go? Go where? You can’t leave!"

Kamijo shooshed him and kissed his face all over quickly. "I promise you I’ll be back, I promise okay? I just have to do something first."

Shinya looked sad… "You’re coming back?"

Kamijo nodded quickly. "Of course I’m coming back!" He smiled and kissed him quickly as the doorknob started to turn. "See you soon." With that he was gone.

Kyo walked into Shinya’s room quietly as soon as he got home.

Shinya looked over at him. He smelled like sex. His hair was messed up, clothes rumpled, and he looked very happy.

"Oh, what are you doing awake, Shinya?" Kyo asked. "You need your rest. I could hear you coughing as soon as I got in the door. Are you okay?"

Shinya nodded. "I’m okay."

Die knocked once on his bedroom door, he could see the candle light flickering underneith the door, so Toshiya hadn’t gone to sleep yet. He didn’t get an answer.

"Toshiya?" He asked nervously. "Toshiya, are you in there?"

He slowly creaked open the door, and saw Toshiya in the closet across the room, quickly throwing some of his clothes into a bag.

"Toshiya! What are you doing?" He ran forward, taking the bag from him and tossing it up onto the bed. "Where are you going?"

"I’m going to move into an extra room. I’ll come back tomorrow to get the rest of my stuff." He said quietly as he played with his fingers, not meeting Die’s eyes. He quickly walked back over to the bag and snatched it up.

Die looked over to a chair by the door. Kaoru was sitting there, what was he doing? Protecting Toshiya? Die gritted his teeth.

Die ignored him though. "No, Toshiya!" Die ran over to him and grabbed him, about to hug him. Toshiya flinched, throwing up his hands in front of his face.

"Hey!" Kaoru got up, about to attack Die if he didn’t let Toshiya go.

Die let go and stepped back quickly, staring longingly at Toshiya…Toshiya thought he was going to hit him. He had destroyed everything…He always thought that the fighting would stop someday, that it was just some stupid phase they were going through in their relationship and now he had gone and screwed it up.

A tear silently slipped down his cheek as he watched Toshiya quickly walk from the room with Kaoru in tow.

Kamijo sighed and walked silently through the gypsy’s house. It was basically the same as the last time he was here. The same wallpaper, same flooring. But he had been modernized by the passed down generation. Yoshiki and Hide.

Hide’s room was right next to Yoshiki’s, but he wasn’t home. He’d bet he was asleep in Kaoru’s room.

Kamijo gently opened Yoshiki’s door and stepped in. He sighed at the sight of him. He looked exactly like his relative that had cursed him in the first place. The soft lines of his face, the thin lips, even the way he would sleep curled on his side with his mouth slowly open.

Kamijo gasped and quickly walked over to the bedside table. The golden locket! What was it doing here? Kamijo picked up the beautifully decorated necklace and opened it. It no longer held the pictures it originally did. He wasn’t surprised. He was surprised however that he hadn’t just destroyed it when Kamijo had broken his heard. Now it had a picture of Yoshiki and Kyo in it. Kyo was sticking his tongue out at the camera and Yoshiki had his face pressed against Kyo’s neck.

He set it back down and turned towards Yoshiki. He knelt down in front of him and touched a finger to his face. He screamed as a hand reached out and grabbed his hand!

Yoshiki opened his eyes. He couldn’t see the intruders face in the dark. He reached up quickly turned on the light, he fell back himself. That face! He had seen the pictures and painting a thousand times! It was him!

"You!" Yoshiki jumped off the bed and backed away. "But you’re just a…I thought you were just made up!"

Kamijo jerked to he side as Yoshiki lunged at him and grabbed a beautiful dagger from beside the bed and held it towards Kamijo. "I was always told if I saw you, to kill you!"

Kamijo halfheartedly smiled. "And I was told that I would only be allowed to come back when I found true love…why would you want to kill me now that I am happy?"

Yoshiki smirked. "And what about my great, great grandfather? He was heartbroken for his entire life! His life ended when he changed you!"

Kamijo sat on the edge of the bed. "Yes…it is true…I can never make it up to him. But now…I have a chance to do something right with my life. I have found someone I can truly love, and who truly needs me." He looked up at Yoshiki. "It’s Shinya."

Yoshiki dropped the knife where it bounced dangerously close to his foot and stared. "Shinya…"

Shinya hadn’t been happy in a long time. His lover Sakura left him three years ago…since then he hadn’t been with anyone, and his happiness had always seemed forced. Of course Yoshiki wanted him to be happy…but Kamijo…

"Okay…" Yoshiki said. "Why are you here then, why did you come see me?"

"I had to resolve things with you before I can go back to Shinya."

"Well you have my blessing…as long as Shinya is happy." Yoshiki said, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

"And…" Kamijo began, not sure where to start. "There are more things I must do before I return to him. Tell him…tell him I will be back soon."

Yoshiki stared at him for a long time, then nodded. "Okay, but if you ever hurt him when you return, I’ll kill you."

Kamijo stared for a moment, then nodded and left.

A week had passed. In that time Shinya hadn’t seen a single sight of Kamijo. Yoshiki had relayed his message but it only made Shinya feel slightly better. After spending the night curled in Kamijo’s arms he was unable to sleep any of way.

He truly didn’t feel Kamijo would return to him. His body was almost completely better now, but he refused to eat anything, and would only drink water.

Everyone was concerned for his health except for Die, who was lost in his own world. He stayed locked in his and Toshiya’s room. No one knew what he was doing in there, and he wouldn’t let anyone enter. Toshiya tried three or four times to talked to him but he was ignored each time he went to the door. Well, not ignored exactly. Die only told him, "I am going to make it up to you, Toshiya." Then he would go quiet.

It was very early in the morning. Everyone was asleep when Toshiya heard the gentle knocking on his door.

He groaned and turned over, rubbing his hands over his eyes and looked through blurred eyes at the door. "Who’s that?"

There was no answer for a moment. Thinking that he had only dreamed it he curled the blankets up over his head and snuggled up, wishing that it was Die instead of just blankets he was snuggling up to. He didn’t hear the door opening.

Die stepped into the room silently after a few moments. Only a week and it smelled sweetly of Toshiya, like vanilla and that wonderful smell that men natually had. (Night note: This is how I imagine he must smell ::smile::) Toshiya must have been spraying perfume to mask the dusty smell of an unused room. It also smelled like one of those unknown brands he used.

Die knelt down beside the bed and gently rubbed his fingers over Toshiya’s forehead. Toshiya turned over and mumbled in his sleep, leaning into the touch.

Leaning down, Die inhaled Toshiya’s scent, feeling a flutter in his heart. He rubbed his smooth jaw on the smooth skin behind Toshiya’s ear. He was glad that he had bathed and shaved, he hadn’t the whole week. He touched Toshiya’s cheek where only a week before a bruise must have adorned it. His heart ached. He kissed the skin gently, smoothing his thumb over the other cheek.

Toshiya felt something strange. He meant to move his head but then was stopped when he felt a familiar, warm mouth press against his cheek.

Opening his eyes he gasped as he saw Die leaning over him with tears in his eyes. "Die…" He raised a hand and touched the round cheek, instinctly wiping a warm tear from the reddened skin.

"Tochi…I’m so sorry…" Die whispered as two quick tears fell from his eyes and splashed onto Toshiya’s hand and wrist.

Toshiya gasped again as Die quickly scooped him up, making sure he was held safely in his arms. "I want to show you something." Die whispered.

"Umm, okay." Toshiya said quietly, resting in Die’s arm, wrapping his arms around his shoulders to held him support him. He didn’t feel scared at all, in fact more safe in Die’s arms than in that strange, lumpy bed.

Hide was making his way out of Kaoru’s bedroom to go to the bathroom down the hall when he eeped and hid behind the door, seeing Die caring a sleepy Toshiya down the hall. He smiled and closed the door, he didn’t want to disturb the reunited lovers.

Die quietly bumped open the door to his and Toshiya’s room.

Toshiya gasped as Die set him on his feet just inside the door.

The entire room was lit up with at least a hundred yellow candles. Everything in the room had been changed. A couch that had cluttered one side of the room had been moved out. The bed was surrounded by an soft, sheen, silk net that gave it a beautiful, soft look. On the bed was an overstuffed comforter and many pillows that covered half the bed. There was soft piano music playing from the stereo. The balcony doors were open and blowing the soft smell of roses in from the garden.

"I spent the entire week on the room…I wanted it to be perfect."

Die held Toshiya’s hand and led him to where the couch had been moved out and pulled him to him, slowly leading him into a slow dance.

Toshiya rest his head on Die’s shoulder, feeling as if he were in heaven. Of course if he really was he probably wouldn’t be wearing cotton nightclothes. He didn’t notice before, but Die was wearing his suit again, but now it was washed and smoothed down over his arms and legs. It looked very good on him.

Leaning against Toshiya, Die nibbled on his ear. "I’m sorry, Toshiya. Let me make it up to you…"

His mouth was working but he couldn’t seem to get anything out as he was choked on tears. He simply nodded and looked up at Die as their mouths gently touched. Die wrapped his arms around Toshiya’s back and deepened the kiss by tilting back Toshiya’s head and parting his lips.

A strange noise escaped Toshiya’s lips by the amount of assult he was under. Die laughed gently and pucked up Toshiya to lay him down on the bed. He closed back up the netting again and looked down at Toshiya, who was quivering under his gaze.

He was very nervous, he had never seen Die so sweet before, he didn’t know what to think or do, so he simply lay there, waiting for whatever may come.

Die stood up on the bed, still looking down at Toshiya, who felt weak while looking up at the tall man standing above him. Die slowly started to undress, watching the other man as if he wanted to devour him. He pulled off his jacket, dropping it off the side of the bed. Next, he stripped off his pants. He unbuckled them and slowly slid them down his legs under they puddled around his waist then he kicked them and his shoes off the side of the bed to go with his jacket.

Toshiya let out his breath that he didn’t realize he had been holding. Die’s shirt was covering the most important part, he held his breath again and waited.

Dropping to his knees, Die made the bed bounce. He grew harder as it made Toshiya shift, his hips coming up slightly off the bed. He took Toshiya’s hands, which were clutching desperatly on the bedspread and raised them to his chest. "Unbutton my shirt." His voice was husky.

Toshiya started to unbutton his shirt with shaky fingers, they shook so badly he could only get one or two before Die gently pushed his hands away, smiling he finished it himself. When he was completely naked he leaned back and let Toshiya look at him. "Do you like what you see, Tochi?"

He nodded quickly, "You always knew that I do." He teased, and let out a shaky laugh.

"Let me undress you." He said almost to himself. Toshiya nodded and sat up. He braced himself back as Die pulled off the plaid, cotton pants. Die almost groaned when he saw that Toshiya wasn’t wearing any underwear. Then he pulled the Gundam Wing t-shirt over his head and dropped both items on the floor.

"Have I ever told you how beautiful I think you are, Tochi-kun?"

Toshiya nodded, no.

"Then I think now is a good time to start." Die whispered and bent over him. He took a nipple into his mouth and sucked deeply, nibbling on it. Toshiya moaned and clutched the back of Die’s head. He felt an ache forming from the center of his stomach and building a hot need all through his body.

Die started licking his way up to Toshiya chin, where he nipped playfully and then licked his lips. Toshiya let out a pleasure sound and attacked Die’s mouth, begging him to go faster than the crawling pace that he was going. He slipped his tongue to the back of Die’s mouth, drew Die’s tongue out of his mouth and sucked on it.

He put a leg up around Die’s waist and pulled him towards himself with it until their erections ground into each other.

Die giggled and pulled back. "Oh, you want me to do more?"

Toshiya tried to glare but only made Die giggle insanely. "Okay, okay." He leaned down and licked Toshiya’s ear. He leaned up again, this time sitting on his shins. He pulled Toshiya up quickly, sitting him on his legs and kissed him so deepy that when he pulled away Toshiya swayed, almost unable to open his eyes. Before he could come out of his daze Die kissed him again, sliding one hand down Toshiya’s back and leaving one up to steady him.

The hand moving down started to probe at Toshiya’s hole. He gasped, bucking forward and clung to Die with both arms around his neck.

Die slipped one finger in as far as he could and wriggled it slightly. Toshiya sounded like he was going to cry as he held on tighter. "Please, now…now, Die."

Die panted as he turned Toshiya around, lifting his hips. He put in another finger, going slowly when Toshiya winced in pain.

Toshiya bit his lip, a trail of blood starting to form. Die leaned down and licked at it. "Toshiya...don’t hold it in..." He pleaded. Toshiya let go of his lip and wimpered. His noise growing faster and louder and Die moved faster and harder. He turned Toshiya around again, sitting him back up on his legs and probed until he found the spot.

Toshiya screamed and clutched onto Die’s shoulders as a wave of pleasure spread through him. "I can’t wait anymore, Die!"

He lifted himself up away from Die and grabbed Die’s shaft. Die let him settle himself down on top of him. Die threw his head back and groaned, pulling Toshiya to him tightly. Toshiya tightened his muscles so much that Die was almost in pain.

Die choked in air as he gripped into his lovers hips, holding him to him as he thrust hard into him.

Die felt the pleasure building up inside of him. He sped up his hips, holding Toshiya closer. Finally they both screamed in pleasure, almost in unison, as they kept moving.

Toshiya collapsed back against the pillows, his legs still wrapped around Die’s middle. Die slid down on top of him, untangling himself from Toshiya and rested his head on Toshiya’s shoulder. "Will you forgive me, Tochi?" He asked breathlessly.

Toshiya giggled sounding asleep and stroked Die’s hair. "How could I not?" He pulled him close.

They both were now looking straight at each other as they each lay on their side covered in a sheen of sweat that gleamed as moonlight filtered through the netting and landed on their skin.

Die moved in close and snuggled up and pulled the blankets over both of them. They closed their eyes as their faces touched and Toshiya could feel Die’s breath again against his skin. They were both soon asleep, a soft breeze ruffling their hair.

Shinya threw back his blankets. It was bad enough when he had to hear Die and Toshiya fighting but now he had to hear their makeup sex when he had lost his love?

He stood up and got dressed quickly in a pair of tattered jeans and a tight, black t-shirt that clung so tightly he made him look near death. This time he would be smart about it and also put on a brown, puffy coat.

Soon he found himself in the garden again. This time he didn’t go near the fountain, or the area where he first saw Kamijo...he entered into the hedge maze. He had lived in this estate his whole life. He knew his way around the maze better than anyone since he used to run off their when he was a child and had gotten into a fight.

He remembered one day when he had yelled at Die, so Die pushed him and he fell hard and bruised his hip. He had started crying and ran off, hiding in the center of the maze. No one else knew how to get through the maze and had spend nearly an hour in there looking for him.

Kamijo dropped down over the side of the estate wall, close to the house. He walked around to the back of the mansion, about to climb up onto Shinya’s balcony when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned and gasped. "Shinya!" He called to him quickly moving in the direction but Shinya didn’t hear him and kept moving.

Shinya walked silently towards the center of the maze, running his hands over the leaves of the hedge along the sides of him as he walked.

His stomach growled painfully. He couldn’t go much longer without food and survive, but maybe it didn’t matter. No one loved him, no one cared if he ate. They certainly hadn’t tried to make him eat.

Maybe, he thought to himself, Maybe I am waiting for them to show me they care... He quickly shook his head to dismiss the thought. They cared...but they were all just occupied in their own lives to run his for him.

When Sakura left those years ago he had been practically brutal with his reason. He could still remember clearly Sakura’s voice and words, even the tone.

"I don’t love you anymore, Shinya. I have fallen in love with someone else. He’s soft and warm, and he’s not so clingy or needy as you are. He’s funny and smart, he doesn’t just sit there and wait for me to say something." Sakura clutched onto the end of Shinya’s bedpost and stared at him cooly.

Shinya didn’t even know what to say. How long had he been with Sakura? Sakura had been his first lover, he was the man who made him discover that he loved men! Shinya didn’t mind crying in front of him, in fact he almost wanted Sakura to see what he was doing to him...maybe then he wouldn’t leave.

"Don’t cry, Shinya." Sakura’s voice was cold, as if he were fed up with everything. "Look, I have to go. He’s waiting downstairs for me."

Shinya tore his blankets off of himself and ran to Sakura, dropping to his knees he held Sakura around the waste, holding his cheek against the strong muscles of his stomach. "Please...what did I do wrong? I can change for you!"

Sakura pried Shinya from him and stepped back. "No. I don’t want you to change for me. I just want out. Please don’t follow me out."

Then he left, softly clicking the door behind Shinya as he withered in the floor in a mass of tears and sobbed for hours and hours, not talking to anyone or acknowledging their presence when they came in and hugged him and talked to him.

Now Shinya felt ashamed for feeling so bad over the loss of Sakura. Sakura was never right for him, never really cared. He had been after the power and money that Shinya had, he realized that when Sakura didn’t return any of the expensive presents he had given him.

Shinya had reached the center of the maze and looked up at the granite statue in the center. It was of two lovers with their palms flat against each others and kissing deeply. He looked away from it and lay down on the neatly mowed grass, staring up at millions of stars above him. He was in a shadow of the moon, making the experience even better to him.

He froze when he saw someone coming into the maze. His heart fluttered when he saw who it was but decided not to move. Was this going to be Sakura all over again?

Kamijo looked around the center. At first thinking no one was there until he saw something out of place in a shadow on the ground with brown eyes glowing up at him.

"Shinya!" He ran to him, wanting to scoop him up in his arms and hug him but Shinya held up his hands to block him. "Where were you?" He whispered, feeling tears creeping up on him, but refused to shed tears for another lost love.

"Oh, Shinya...I’m sorry. I know I was gone for a week, but didn’t I tell you I was coming back?" He stroked his back, feeling the ribs practically coming through the skin. "Shinya!" He pulled away and stared at Shinya’s face. "What have you been doing to yourself?" He asked as he ran a finger over the thin cheekbones.

Shinya pulled away and sniffed, rubbing his hands over his bony arms. "What do you care?"

Kamijo gasped. "Shinya! Don’t say that!" He pulled Shinya to hugging him, holding him so tight as he felt dread in him, but not too tight because he was afraid of hurting the thin man. "I love you! I love you more than anything! Why would I be here now if I wasn’t truly in love? I would still be a statue in the garden.

He smiled as he felt Shinya hugging him back and scooped him up. "I want to make love to you." He said gently. "Can I make love to you?"

Shinya nodded happily and wrapped himself around Kamijo so that he was holding him like a mother would hold a little child.

"But first I am going to make you eat!" Kamijo laughed and carried Shinya off to the kitchen.

After stuffing Shinya full of leftover pizza, ice cream, and a whole bunch of fruit (not at the same time) he carried Shinya off to his room. It was dawn when they finally finished making love.

Shinya woke up, reaching over beside him to hug Kamijo to him and sat up gasping. He was gone!

"No! Not again! Kamijo!" He screeched and clutched desperately onto the blankets as tears sprang up into his eyes and ran down his cheeks. He heard a toilet flush and water running before Kamijo quickly rushed back into the room. He was totally naked and the very white skin practically transparent in the morning sunlight. Shinya wiped the tears off and looked up and down his body. He was beautiful.

"Shinya, what’s wrong?" He asked full of concern. He crawled back up onto the bed and kissed his arms. "Did you think I left again?"

Shinya nodded sadly, then clutched him to himself. "Don’t go anywhere again."

Kamijo giggled, it reminded Shinya of a groupie girl, and tickled him until Shinya was screaming with laughter and the sad look on his face disappeared. "I have something for you!" He announced when he finally quit and let Shinya settle down.

"You didn’t have to get me anything." Shinya smiled.

"yes, I did." Kamijo came back to the bed from getting something out of his bag and dropped on his knees beside the bed. He pulled Shinya to sitting on the side of the bed and kissed him gently on his cheek. He took Shinya’s hand and slipped an enormous diamond ring on his finger. "Shinya...marry me?"

Everyone downstairs in the kitchen jumped at hearing Shinya scream. A few moments later he came running into the room pulling Kamijo behind him, who was laughing happily and grabbed Shinya. He held him tightly from behind. "We’re getting married!" Shinya screamed and showed everyone the ring.

"You too?" Kaoru asked and smiled as he nuzzled his koi’s neck.

Shinya gasped and looked over at Hide who couldn’t quit grinning and held up his hand to show off a saphire ring then kissed Kaoru greedily, sticking his tongue to the back of his neck.

"Wah!" Toshiya gasped and grabbed Hide’s hand to see the ring. Hide still had his tongue in Kaoru’s mouth.

"You too?" Yoshiki echoed and giggled. Everyone looked over shocked as he held up his hand and, even if it looked strange, nuzzled his smaller lover and ran his fingers through his hair. "Ne, are we all getting married?"

They all looked over at Toshiya expectedly. He frowned and rubbed and rubbed the bare skin of his finger.

Die frowned then smiled and grabbed Toshiya. "Damn, does this mean I have to buy a ring?"

OWARI