WELCOME

[aika kiyoshi hiori]

Aika eyed the computer suspiciously, wondering how in the world it worked. He was trying to figure out a way to contact Ritsuka considering that Aika had sent him home for a few days to stay in contact with his family. They had decided not to have Aika come along because it would raise too many suspicions. But now, Aika was missing him terribly so he figured he would try to figure out the computer that was left for him. He turned it on and watched as the boxes came up and a loading screen came up. He read the instructions that Ritsuka had left him and opened up AIM. He filled in his name and watched as a buddy list came on, friends on there that Ritsuka had added.

xXCrimsonxX has signed on

He looked around for Ritsuka's screen name and once he finally found it, he clicked on it and another box came up.

xXCrimsonxX: Ritsu-chan?

[ritsuka nao miyage]

Ritsu didn’t really like the idea of leaving London, even if it was to visit his family. Of course, the first day he had arrived he had been drilled with questions. He hadn’t returned home since his transformation and when his parents thought he was deathly ill. Once he had convinced them he was fine they seemed to let him out of their sight, to his relief. Still, it was nice to be back in Japan, but he missed Aika terribly. He was only to stay in Japan for a few days, but even so, he wanted to return to Aika now, and wished he would have come with him, but Aika had said that it would arise too many questions, and made Ritsuka go by himself.

Hatsu was at his side, tugging on his arm impatiently as she watched him turn on the one lone computer in the hot springs. “Are you gonna talk to Aika, Onii-san?” She asked curiously, her dark eyes, a mirror reflection of Ritsuka’s own, darting towards the computer as it flickered and coughed to life. “Hai,” Ritsuka answered her, with a broad smile as he patted her head gently. “Why don’t you go find Shuichi-kun, I’ll come play with you in a bit ok?” He suggested and Hatsu frowned, nodding slowly before skipping out of the room. Ritsuka looked back at the computer, waiting as it loaded at an agonizingly slow pace. However, as soon as he signed on to AIM, a box instantly filled the screen.

Ritsu-chan has signed on.

xXCrimsonxX: Ritsu-chan?

Ritsuka smiled, his heart instantly fluttering in his chest as Aika spoke to him. It might not have been his voice, but his words, and they were so far away… he’d take anything to be able to talk with Aika, even if it was only virtual.

Ritsu-chan: AIKA! –tackle- I miss youuu. ): Can’t you come to Japan, please?

[aika kiyoshi hiori]

xXCrimsonxX: Iie, Ritsu-chan, you know I can't. Demo, I miss you too, koibito.
[translation: No, little Ritsuka, you know I can't. But, I miss you too, my lover.]

Aika smiled to himself once he typed this, imagining his boyfriend's adorable pout the moment he read those words. Ritsuka really was helpless without him. He knew that he should have gone regardless but he really didn't feel like dealing with the bombardment of the questions that was sure to come. Besides, Ritsuka really needed some time with his family without him by his side to distract him. He was sure that Ritsuka's family, as well as his own, would be happy to see him. Even if he had to sacrifice having Ritsuka to himself for it.

[ritsuka nao miyage]

xXCrimsonxX: Iie, Ritsu-chan, you know I can't. Demo, I miss you too, koibito.

Ritsuka frowned at this, watching the words for a few moments; as if by some miracle they would jump from their spot on the flickering screen and laugh ‘just kidding,’ before returning to what he wanted them to say. He wanted Aika to come to Japan, but he supposed that Aika couldn’t. It would raise too many questions. But Ritsuka really wanted Aika to come so they could confront his parents about them getting married. Ritsuka was too nervous to confront them by himself, but all this news would probably be too overwhelming to his parents anyways so they had decided to wait on it.

Ritsuka’s hand felt bare without his ring, which he had carefully tucked into the pocket of his suitcase for safe keeping. He couldn’t have his parents, or Aika’s parents see it on his finger. At least, not without Aika. Ritsuka had decided not to tell the Hiori’s simply because he felt as if that was Aika’s decision, something he should do, because he knew that his parents would be overjoyed about the two getting married. So Ritsuka wanted to save the surprise and allow Aika to tell them himself.

Ritsu-chan: B-but I dont want to ride the train back all by myself. The people there are scary. TT^TT They dont like me very much... A-And what if I get lost again?!?! DD: -panic-

[aika kiyoshi hiori]

Aika shook his head the second that he finished reading Ritsuka's message. A small smile came across his face, of course he would worry now about Ritsuka indeed getting lost for it was what the boy was notorious for. He laughed a little bit as he began typing up a reply.

He was interrupted however by a knocking at the door. He rose an eyebrow, having only typed two words before turning curiously toward the door.

"Who is it?" he asked, standing up to walk near the door so he could hear the person better. He must have been so wrapped up in his conversation with Ritsuka and with trying to figure out how the computer even worked to sense the person behind the door approaching. He vaguely wondered if it was someone he should be worried about but the aura he felt was nothing evil, nor ill-intentioned. In fact, it was one he remembered.

"May I come in? I have something for you," a timid female voice asked and Aika smiled, the sound of her voice being a confirmation as to who Aika thought she was. He opened the door, the smile still plastered on his face as he saw her face. She blushed at the sight of his features, she always did whenever she saw him.

"Can I help you?" he asked, being polite and courteous. She nodded and pushed a letter into his hands, smiling up at him.

"It's addressed to a Mister Hiori. I didn't open it or anything like ... that," she said, looking down to the floor in embarrassment. He smiled and put a hand underneath her chin, pulling her face up so he could look at her. He hadn't noticed before how beautiful she was. She was far from normal looking and that made him wonder why he hadn't seen other guys fawning over her. After all, he wasn't attracted to her but he could easily see how others unlike him could be.

"You have such a pretty face. How come you're always hiding it away by looking at the ground?" he asked with a soft tone to his voice. "You ought to have more confidence," he said, ruffling the top of her head before taking the letter gently and nodding. "Thank you," he said before waving to her and closing the door. He sat on the computer chair once more and looked at the letter. He decided that he wanted to open it now so he did. He carefully ripped open the envelope, using the utmost care so that his vampire strength wouldn't get in the way. He retrieved the parchment from out of the envelope and began reading.

Dear Aika,
How are you, dear? I haven't gotten a letter from you since you wrote to me telling me about the vampire that encountered you a night or two ago. I hope every thing's alright. You have your father and I a little worried. Shuichi-chan is, of course, worrying his head sick over you but I have assured him a thousand times that you are alright. Which is why I sent this letter as proof, hoping you would send one back.
Ritsuka is here now, that's a shock. He's actually here without you, telling his parents some story that I'm sure you've told him to tell them. You always were a crafty liar; after all, our kind has to be, am I right? But, Ritsuka seems to be having fun with his family but I know he is missing you terribly. Even if he hasn't said a word about you. That's right, he refuses to talk about you. He's told his family that you had a fight and that you two aren't speaking. It's the reason he's supposedly come back for a while so that his parents can heal him. But he said that he does want to go traveling alone now to go find some nice woman who will marry him.
Which is a lie. I know, after all, how deep in love you two are. I wonder when his parents will be able to see that. Oh well. Beggars can't be choosers, am I right?
As long as you two are happy.

Which I'm sure you are.

Write back soon [with love, as well]
Your mother.

Aika let a smile come across his face at the usual tenderness that his mother's letters were always written with. He folded it back up and decided to get back to the task at hand. He turned towards the computer screen, wanting to ask Ritsuka about this story that he concocted all on his own.


xXCrimsonXx: So, I just got this letter from my mother stating that you haven't spoken a word about me to your parents. In fact, we got into a fight, am I right? =]

[ritsuka nao miyage]

Ritsuka was surprised that Aika didn’t respond right away. He just sat there, kneeling before the flickering computer screen waiting for Aika to begin typing something. However, a minute turned to two, two turned to three, and Ritsuka’s brows furrowed slightly. Maybe he was deliberating coming to Japan? He smiled widely, thinking that he had won Aika over and convinced him to come to Japan to meet with him before he returned to England, but Aika responded not moments after thinking this, shattering any hope he had of see him as he changed the subject with uncanny ease.

He was right- he hadn’t spoke about Aika since he arrived in Japan. He had told his parents that they had gotten into a fight simply because he didn’t want to get drilled with questions. If they thought he had gotten into a fight with the young man they would no doubt drop it at that. Besides, he couldn’t think of another acceptable excuse as to why he had disappeared all of a sudden, and why he had returned so soon without Aika by his side. The last time his parents had seen him was when Aika was with him, they were inseparable, but he figured that a fight was good enough excuse to get his parents from trying to scavenge up more information. Their fights were few and far between, and whenever they did get into a fight, it was a touchy subject for the both of them, so he knew his parents would avoid the subject if at all possible. But he knew that it wouldn’t be beyond them to slip microscopic questions in here and there to try and get Ritsuka to unintentionally slip more information. But he was being mindful, and held his tongue. Of course, this probably would cause more trouble when they came to ask for his parents’ blessing… but, it was working thus far.

Ritsu-chan: Hai. I’m afraid if I told them anything different they wouldn’t let me out of their sight for years. -__-;

Ritsuka idly wondered whether Aika knew the entire story- how much his mother had told him. He had told his parents that he planned on traveling alone to find a nice woman to marry, which wasn’t at all true. But it was the only way he’d be able to get out of the hot springs without his parents hovering over him like two pestering flies, hungry for information. It really annoyed Ritsuka how over protective his parents were, but he supposed he’d rather have that then his parents ignoring him completely.

His sister and the Hioris were the only ones who knew the truth. It was almost frightening how perceptive his sister was even when she was ignorant to most things that went on between him and Aika. But even so, she seemed to realize that they loved each other very much, and was genuinely happy for them. He had showed her the ring Aika had given him- but made her promise not to tell anyone. Of course, he cringed at the idea of his seven year old sister slipping in her excitement. But she seemed to understand the vitality behind it all, and that it be kept secret. So he doubted he’d be regretting his decision any time soon.

Ritsu-chan: They agreed to let me go whenever I wish. But Mama wants me to take Hatsu to Tokyo to see Papa. So I’m stuck here for another few days. ):

[aika kiyoshi hiori]

Aika sighed as he read Ritsuka's message. Stuck for a few more days? He couldn't regret the fact that he had made Ritsuka go over there by himself. He had wanted the boy to spend some time with his family WITHOUT having to explain why Aika was here and why he was suddenly wearing an engagement ring. Aika shuddered at the thought of having to explain that to them so soon. He knew that the time would come, however. But he would wait until the right time for that.

xXCrimsonXx: Haha! I can just see them doing that. Your parents really are something else.

He laughed outwardly at that. He had always liked Ritsuka's parents; he never really had a problem with them. They always treated him kindly and his parents got along well with Ritsuka's. It was the reason they had met, after all. He always had Ritsuka's parents to thank for bringing his angel into this world. Otherwise, he wouldn't be as happy as he is now. Although, he could be a little happier if Ritsuka was here but that was something he brought upon himself. He sighed once more at that notion.

xXCrimsonXx: Whenever you wish? How lenient of them. =] However, I want you to stay there a bit longer. Spend some time with Hatsu-chan and your father. I don't want to be the reason why you're not so close with your family anymore.

[ritsuka nao miyage]

Ritsu-chan: I’ve spent seventeen years with them, I’ve only got to spend two with you. Don’t you think it’s time they shared? :3

He didn’t like how Aika always thought of himself as a burden. Ritsuka would always be close to his family, Aika needn’t worry about that. Besides, Aika was part of his family now… had always been a part of his family… even if Aika didn’t know it, even if he denied it, Ritsuka had always held him close to his heart.

Yes, it had been very lenient of his parents to allow him to leave whenever he wished to though. After all, he had just returned from what they thought was a deadly illness. He figured that they wouldn’t let him out of their sight until he was fully examined from head to toe. What a surprise then it was to find him in perfect condition, if not greater condition than what he had been in before. His skin was flawless, though pale, he looked overall very healthy. But he knew his parents would dismiss this fact all together. He had given them quite a scare before he had left, and they didn’t hesitate to point this out every chance they got. They were still protective, warning him not to do this, or to do that, to ensure that his health stayed in its blessed condition. He loved his parents dearly, but he felt smothered, though any child might, and a parent’s protection over their child was only a natural instinct in them, so he couldn’t blame them for that.

Still, he couldn’t help but frown at Aika’s willingness to allow him to stay for a few more days, while he took Hatsu to Tokyo. His little sister was so thrilled to go and once upon a time Ritsuka had been also. But it was no fun going to the city when all he had on his mind was Aika. He was so anxious to return to him- and if he could, he’d leave right now. They had just gotten engaged after all, and the continent between them seemed like a lifetime.

Ritsu-chan: But Aika, what will you do while I’m gone, aren’t you lonely? ):