**

A man ran through the busy morning streets, loose papers in hand, about to turn a corner when another figure bumped into him, sending the papers flying off on their own. The two strangers fell in the middle of the sidewalk, rubbing their back in pain. They looked up almost simultaneously, glaring at each other. It was awhile before either spoke. Finally, the man that had been bumped into decided to break the tension.

" Well?"

" Well what?" Came the annoyed reply.

" Aren't you going to apologize for making me even more late than I already am?"

Hisashi narrowed his eyes at the newcomer, he didn't like the prissy look the boy was giving him.

" Me?" The boy looked insulted. " Apologize to *you*? You were the one in my way! I'm the one who's late here!"

" I have no time for this..," Hisashi stood up, brushing off the dirt and dust from his pants, picking up the papers nearest to him, " I've got work to do."

" Hey, are you ignoring me?" The boy sounded as if though he couldn't believe he was being brushed off.

" Good-bye and good riddance." Hisashi said, walking away with the unorganized papers in his hands.

~~

Hisashi sat down at the top of the hill, looking out over the town of Hakodate. He let out a sigh and placed a cigarette to his lips, about to light up when he heard steps coming towards him. Turning around, his eyes widened slightly in recognition upon seeing the boy from earlier that morning.

" It's you." He made the first words again.

" It's you." The boy returned the greeting.

Hisashi rolled his eyes and patted at the empty spot next to him, " Care to join me or are you here to accuse me of your horrible day at work?"

The boy seemed to find his words amusing for his lips twitched into a grin that made Hisashi stare back at him in wonder. The younger man shook his head, settling himself next to Hisashi.

" My day went quite alright… they didn't seem to notice I was late." He paused, looking at his companion a bit fearfully, " How was your day? Are you gonna accuse me of *your* horrible day?"

" It wasn't that bad." Hisashi shrugged. " Just the same as any other day-I won't get fired for being a few minutes late."

The man nodded, looking relieved. " My name's Hara Toshimasa, you can call me Toshiya."

" Hisashi Tonomura." He offered the best smile he could then held out the pack of cigarettes. " Want to join me?"

Toshiya smiled, taking a stick. " Don't mind if I do."

Hisashi cocked his head to one side; the view of Toshiya smiling reminded him of a painting of the goddess Aphrodite, sitting in the midst of a plain of flowers. The whole idea was so breathtakingly beautiful to him that he did the most unexpected thing; he leaned forward and brushed his lips against the smooth skin of Toshiya's cheek.

" Kirei ne.." he whispered, drawing back from the younger man.

Toshiya raised a hand to his cheek, looking surprised. The cigarette he had taken had fallen limply to the ground, unnoticed.

Hisashi looked back at him then fell back against the soft cushions of the grass. He let out a long sigh.

" You can run now. I won't mind."

A shadow fell over Hisashi and it took his eyes a short moment to realize that Toshiya was looking over him. Their eyes locked for a split second before Toshiya closed the gap between them with a long, searching kiss.

They broke apart minutes later, both gasping for air. Hisashi sat up once more, looking at the man he'd just been introduced to.

" I-" he started to say, but then stopped, realizing that he didn't know what to say.

Toshiya smiled lop-sidedly. " You know, we have the same initials?"

Hisashi scrunched up his face. " What?"

" We have the same initials..," Toshiya nodded, his hand searching for Hisashi's. " It's a sign."

" What sign?"

" That we're destined for each other."

~~

Blue clashed against blue, two figures sat at the edge of a dock, overlooking the magnificent sunset before them. The smaller man was propped up against the other, his head rested on slim shoulders. They didn't care about the disapproving gazes the people sent them, only enjoying each other's company as well as the view of the setting sun.

Toshiya wrapped his arms around Hisashi, letting a smile creep onto his face as the older man sighed in his embrace. The town of Hakodate was peaceful at the moment, there was almost silence.

" Ne Tono-chan..," Toshiya's cheek pressed against Hisashi's warmly, " What are you thinking about?"

" Nothing.." Came the soft answer.

Toshiya smiled. He loved hearing the man's voice, it was always cool towards others but when directed to him, Hisashi's tone was soft and gentle.

" Are you sure? You never call me over for nothing… You're thinking about something, Tono-chan."

There was stillness between them. An uneasy stillness that didn't go unnoticed by Toshiya.

" Tono-chan, what's wrong?"

" I told them." Hisashi's voice spoke again; it was soft as usual but there was a forced edge to it, as if he was trying very hard to keep his voice from breaking.

" Told who? What?" There was an incomprehensible look on the young man's face. " Tono-chan, you're gonna have to be straight-forward with me.. you know how I don't usually catch things so quickly-"

" I told my parents about us." Hisashi cut off Toshiya's words, his voice no longer hiding the pain he had been holding back.

" Oh." Toshiya's heart was shattered. " Oh."

Hisashi pushed himself away, wanting to read Toshiya's expression-only there was none. His eyebrows knotted together in confusion and worry.

" I know that there was no reason to… practically the whole town knows about us.. and I'm sure one of them had told my parents but I needed to tell them myself..," Hisashi tried to make eye contact with Toshiya but his gaze was avoided. " Totchi, I'm not breaking up with you or anything… I knew that they wouldn't approve..but I'm not going to leave you. Totchi, aishiteru ne."

Toshiya looked up at the confession, staring into Hisashi's earnest eyes.

" Aishiteru ne." He pressed his words out again, trying to earn himself a response. " Hontou ni, aishiteru.. Totchi.."

Toshiya gave him a lopsided smile, reaching out, grabbing a fistful of his shirt then pulling Hisashi back into his arms.

" Baka Hisashi.. why didn't you just say that from the beginning.. you got me so worried." Toshiya whispered, afraid of causing the tears in his eyes to flow. " I love you too…"

His arms held the man securely, feeling how they seemed to compliment each other so well. Hisashi's body fitted snugly against his own, the feeling of being able to embrace him and be embraced in return was a delightful feeling he had everytime they were with each other. Toshiya closed his eyes.

" Aishiteru…"

~~

Hisashi ran off to the train station, trying to urge his feet to move faster with each passing step. Time was flying, going off without him and he needed to chase it. There was no way he could be left behind. There was just no way he would allow that to happen.

Toshiya had left him a note saying that he wanted to pursue his dream as a model by trying to find work in Tokyo. The note was short, brief, and didn't state anything about the reasons to his sudden decision. It had only been a week since they openly admitted their love for each other and Toshiya was leaving him alone.

He wouldn't be left without an explanation-a real explanation- as to why he was being left behind. If Toshiya wanted to go to Tokyo, he could've invited him, he would've gone wherever the man wanted to. But by the way the note read, there was no indication that Toshiya wanted him in his life anymore:

Dear Tono-chan,

I'm sorry to leave you like this but I need to fulfill my dreams. I'm going to Tokyo to find work, wish me luck for my success.

Love, Totchi

How could he be satisfied with a note like that??

He arrived at the train station and saw that Toshiya was boarding. Hisashi ran again, no longer aware that his feet were starting to hurt. Before Toshiya could enter the train, his hand grabbed onto his wrist, stopping the man.

Toshiya turned and surprise crossed his beautiful face momentarily.

" Tono-chan, what are you doing here?"

Hisashi tried to catch his breath, inhaling and exhaling several times before finally managing to speak.

" Totchi why? Why?"

There was obvious hurt in his eyes that was easily translated that he wasn't asking about Toshiya's career.. more of why the man was leaving *him*.. Hisashi, not the town.

Toshiya lowered his eyes, shaking off Hisashi's hand from his wrist.

" Gomen ne, Tono-chan.. I just can't stay with you anymore."

Toshiya didn't see the pain that was openly shown in Hisashi's eyes, he kept his eyes lowered, prying off Hisashi's fingers forcefully. He turned around, running into the train clumsily, not looking back. He slumped into a seat, the furthest away from the window facing Hisashi, keeping his head down. Toshiya sniffled, he was already starting to cry.

The doors to the train closed. Hisashi didn't bother to the run in. He knew it would've been worthless to do so.

Hisashi watched as the train started to move away from him, going down the tracks towards Tokyo, taking his koibito away from him. He watched the back of Toshiya's head, feeling despaired.

Toshiya clutched the bag closer to his chest, burying his face into it. Tears were cascading down his cheeks in anguish, he held back a sob as the train station of Hakodate became smaller and smaller until it was finally gone. As did Hisashi's figure.

' Gomen ne.. Tono-chan…'

~~

They were still holding onto each other, back into the present again. Surprised friends and family continued to wonder about their relationship as they weren't paying attention to their surroundings anymore.

As soon as they released each other, Toshiya leaned in quickly, his lips skimming on Hisashi's lightly. Teru's eyes widened with shock, as did Sugizo's and Jiro.

" To-Totchi.. you and this man.. " Teru held out a hand, pointing accusingly at Hisashi.

" 'nii-san?" Jiro's voice was uncertain as he spoke up.

Hisashi finally turned to look at his brother again. There was a quivering smile on his lips as one of his arm held Toshiya by his side.

" Jiro-"

" How do you know Toshiya?" Jiro cut off Hisashi's words.

The hold Hisashi had on Toshiya loosened a bit at his own surprise but then his hands were firmly placed on Toshiya's waist again.

" So you know Totchi.. this makes it easier to explain… a bit," Hisashi looked up and smiled at Toshiya, despite the uncomfortable situation they were in at the moment. " Totchi was my koibito back when we were in Hakodate."

" What?!" Both Jiro and Teru chorused together.

Sugizo and Ami seemed to be left out of their conversation. The two glanced at each other briefly, wondering if they understood what was going on.

" You've dated Toshiya?" Jiro looked increduosly at his brother.

" You've been Jiro's brother's lover?" Teru looked even more increduosly at Toshiya.

" Yes." The two in question answered together.

" We hadn't seen each other in a long time." Toshiya explained. " I've never met his family before.. I didn't know his brother was Jiro."

" And I didn't know you two knew each other." Hisashi looked back between Toshiya and his younger brother. " How come you've never mentioned Toshiya?"

" We've just recently met." Jiro said, looking at Toshiya then at Teru. " In Bali."

Hisashi seemed to get the message Jiro was implying. He turned to Teru then hugged Toshiya posessively.

" You and Teru know each other?" Hisashi asked.

" We were also once lovers." Teru spoke up, glaring at Hisashi as if though there was no tomorrow.

The hold on Toshiya's waist seemed to loosen again but the model held onto Hisashi, latching himself so that the other man couldn't get away.

" There was a lot of 'once was' in my life, Tono-chan… but..," Toshiya lowered his head, dropping his voice to a whisper so that only Hisashi could hear his next words, " You were the only one I've ever loved."

Hisashi smiled up at him.

Teru noticed the exchange and felt his heart drop to his stomach. He pushed back his chair, drawing attention from everyone.

" I think I should leave now."

He walked away without saying another word.

Ami blinked at the sudden announcement and departure. At first she only watched as her love walked away from her but then her mind started to function again and she got to her feet, chasing after Teru.

Jiro felt Sugizo's hand on his; he looked down and noticed that his koibito was still sitting quietly by his side, waiting paitently for him to calm down. The blond let out a sigh, dropping himself onto the seat again. He felt very tired all of a sudden.

" Toshiya… 'nii-san.. why don't you sit down and tell us a bit of what's going on here?"

~~

" Teru!"

Teru ignored the voice, whoever it was, wasn't important. What was important was the fact that the person he loved had been in the arms of another man, someone who happened to be the brother of Jiro! As if this world hadn't been small enough to begin with, it was starting to become much more smaller!

He stopped in his tracks, wondering where he should head off to. There was no way he was going back to his apartment now, he was too furious to meet his brother any time soon, if he was to meet him anyways. He could go to the bar but then getting drunk didn't appeal to him the way it usually did… Maybe he should stop by at Ami's and seek her comfort… Ami! What had happened to her..??

" Teru!"

Teru looked back, seeing Ami rush up to him. He had forgotten that Ami was with him when he met up with Toshiya a moment ago. How could he?

" Teru, why did you go off like that?" Ami demanded, panting from her chase.

" I'm sorry Ami, I didn't realize I was-"

" I'm sure you didn't realize it, I could see that for myself." Ami took in a deep breath, holding her chin up so that she could meet Teru eye to eye. " Who were those men? One of them was Jiro's brother but the other one… the other one.. You called him your lover."

Teru winced. He'd forgotten about Ami as soon as he had seen Toshiya with Jiro's brother.

" Well…," Teru made a move with his head, as if though trying to figure out what to say next.

Ami threw up her hands in frustration.

" Goddammit Teru, when are you going to be straight-forward with me?" She looked as if though she was finally letting out what she had been feeling so far. " All you've been doing nowadays is beat around the bush! You haven't been straight about anything! You wouldn't even talk about what happened between you and Jiro and I thought that was the most of my problems! Now there's this man whom you've obviously been in love with and I don't even know who he is!"

Teru winced again, he didn't realize he'd been neglecting telling Ami about what had happened. But then, had he really been planning to tell her anything at all?

" Ami.., listen.. I'm really sorry you had to meet up with Totchi like that but…"

" So his name's 'Totchi'?" There was obvious envy in her voice.

" Um, Toshiya. We'd been friends for a long time and we became lovers when I fell in love with him but I guess the feeling was one-sided…," Teru let out a sigh. " Ami.. if I were to tell you everything about my life I don't think there'd ever be an end to my story."

" So what are you trying to say? That there would also be no end to your problems that I'd have to share?!"

Ami didn't look as if though she understood a thing Teru was trying to say. Not to say that Teru was doing a good job of explaining anything.

" No! I--," Teru gestured helplessly, " I don't know…"

Ami gave him a look of exasperation. She shook her head, placing one hand to her head.

" I can't… I can't do this anymore…," Ami said, her voice shaking, " Teru, you know that I love you with all my heart but I just realize that I don't know anything about you!"

" No! Ami, you know plenty about me.." Teru protested.

Ami shook her head again, tears welling up in her eyes. " No, I don't."

She turned around, about to cry before holding herself just in time. Trying to look as uneffected as possible, she walked away.

~~

" So that's all of my life story!" Die announced.

" That was rather short… for a life story." Shinya commented, taking a sip of his iced tea.

" Well, there's not much to tell." Die shrugged. " It's easy to make a summary of my life so far-I was borned, grew up with younger brothers who helped me have a little responsibility in my life, went to school, finished it, got work and have been working ever since!"

Shinya chuckled.

The two were having lunch at a nearby restaurant just opposite of Shinya's apartment. They had at first wanted to talk about their professions when realizing that they had no real idea on what the other did. So, to make things easier for the both of them, both Shinya and Die agreed to let each other tell their stories so far. Die had just finished summing up his life over banana split and was starting on another one.

" Now that I'm done, tell me about your life." Die clapped his hands as if though to signal Shinya to begin.

" Well, since you made your story so short and simple, I'll make mine the same as well." Shinya paused, thinking for a moment. " Umm.., I was raised by my nanny, I don't see my parents often because they were always away on business. I went to private schools all my life and went to a private college as well. When I finished I didn't want to take over my father's business because actually, I wasn't interested in managing hotels. So I came to Tokyo to start my life anew, met Jiro who searched for work with me and we ended working in the same computer company! The job's pretty boring since everything's the same day in and day out but.. I'm living my own life and I'm not complaining!"

Shinya smiled. " So that's my story!"

" Wait a minute!" Die protested. " That was shorter than mine! At least I give details!"

" So I'm not a detailed person." Shinya shrugged.

" Well at least tell about how you and Jiro met!"

" Only if you tell me how you and Teru and Toshiya met." Shinya took another sip of his drink.

For some strange reason he enjoyed talking to Die. He hadn't realized that when the red head wasn't teasing, he was actually good company.

" Oh, we didn't meet at once. I met Teru first.. it was really funny actually. There was this party thrown by this guy in college and of course, there was a drinking contest. Teru and I were both in it and of course, Teru lost." Die chuckled. " He has a very low tolerance for alcohol."

" Anyways," he continued, " He passed out and since no one seemed to be able to take him home, I did and he threw up in my apartment. And we've been good friends eversince."

" Nice story." Shinya commented dryly. " Howabout Toshiya?"

" Totchi? He met up with Teru first and then Teru introduced him to me as 'the love of his life'." Die shook his head. " You can imagine how often I've heard *that* line before."

" I can imagine." Shinya nodded.

" So, what about you and Jiro?"

" Sorry to say, my story isn't as interesting as yours and Teru's. Well, the both of us are non-smokers so when I was having lunch one day, we were eating at the non-smoking section. Incidentally, there was only the two of us in that section and somehow, Jiro managed to trip over his own feet and his lunch spilled on my lap. Since his apartment wasn't too far away from the place he helped me clean up and then treated me out to lunch, tea, and dinner. We found out that we were both new in Tokyo so we helped each other afterwards and became friends."

" Heheh.. I notice that you didn't mention what was his lunch!" Die leaned in, grinning from ear to ear.

Shinya shook his head, smiling ruefully. " Spaghetti."

Die let out a roar of laughter. " You must've been a sight.. walking through the street with spaghetti stain on your clothes!"

Shinya chuckled, watching Die in amusement. " It's not *that* funny…"

" Yes, it is… you're funny! Hilarious, really!"

" You're exaggerating." Shinya felt a blush rise to his cheeks.

" I always exaggerate about you." Die smiled at him warmly.

~~

Jiro placed both hands on his hips, watching as his brother clean his clothes into a suitcase.

" Let me get this straight-you want me to actually *move out* so that Toshiya can come live with you?" Jiro looked at his brother worriedly. " 'nii-san, are you sure you're alright?"

" Jiro, it's been years since I last saw Totchi, alright?" Hisashi looked at his brother pleadingly. " And anyways, you've got someone who can take care of you!"

" You want me to move in with Sugizo?" Jiro looked surprised. " I didn't know you didn't mind!"

" I didn't mean that man!" Hisashi looked up from his packing. " I meant Shinya!"

" Shinya's busy..," Jiro gestured to the phone, " I can't seem to reach him."

" You have plenty of other friends."

" I'm sure Toshiya has his own place to stay, 'nii-san." Jiro didn't look too happy that he was being kicked out of his own home.

" But I want him to stay with me!" Hisashi said, sounding over-protective.

" Tono-chan! Are you sure I can move in with you so soon?" Came the voice from the living room.

" Of course!" Hisashi yelled out. " No problem whatsoever!"

" Hey! I'm your brother!" Jiro sounded indignant.

" Yes, and because you're my brother, I know that you'll do just fine on your own!"

" But-"

" If it makes you feel any better, I give you permission to stay with that Sugizo person." Hisashi said, throwing another piece of clothing into the suitcase.

" I would've gone and stayed with him with or without your permission, 'nii-san." Jiro sounded sour. " You seem to forget me really quickly with that Toshiya around."

Hisashi looked up from the suitcase, surprised. He walked over to his brother, hugging Jiro tightly.

" I'm not forgetting you… it's just that I'm really happy to be able to be with Totchi again.. and now that we're away from Hakodate, I can finally just *be* with him." Hisashi looked at Jiro. " You understand me, right?"

Jiro sighed defeatedly. " Yeah, I do."

" You don't mind me being with Totchi, right?" Hisashi looked worried for a moment.

" No, of course not." Jiro smiled. " As long as you're happy."

" Great!" Hisashi shoved the suitcase in Jiro's arms. " Give me a call as soon as you've settled in somewhere! You might get the answering machine but I'll call you back some day!"

With that, Hisashi pushed his younger brother out the door before Jiro could let out another word of protest. Jiro could hear the sounds of two people whispering and then the sounds of fabric against each other.. He turned away so that he wouldn't hear anymore.

" I can't believe my own brother would choose his boyfriend over me." Jiro pouted.

** 

End of Part 9