The angry red globe slowly resigned to its fate, helplessly drowning under the horizons of trees and hills. It’s rays merged slowly with the purplish dark of the sky, like a painted background with black shadows of flocks of unknown birds flying home.

Shinya looked up at the sky sadly, tears glazing over and stinging his hazel-coloured orbs. Die and Kaoru rode in front of his horse; Kaoru was so tired he had fallen asleep with his head resting against his young master’s back. Shinya too a deep breath. Longingly, he looked back at the row of trees; the forest that hid Toshiya from him.

His heart ached.

***

Toshiya wrapped his arms around his naked body. His mind was in a mess. He walked into the clearing, where the lake was. Sensing his presence, the birds flew back to the ruffling leaves of the trees. A feeling of loneliness blanketed his soul.

Quietly, he sat by the edge of the water. The reflection of the moon rippled across the surface; the lonely moon in the vast blackness with no stars.

His eyes were damp. But every time he rubbed them, they became more wet. Then he heard a twig breaking behind him and he whirled around, hope beating in his heart.

Shinya???

But it was only a squirrel. It scurried away in a blink of the eye.

Tears started to fall from Toshiya’s eyes and he buried his face in his hands, pulling his knees close to his cold chest.

I’m all alone now…even Shinya has become human and abandoned me!

Shinya…I thought you hated humans! Why are you one now? Why?!

Now that you have left…

…I have no one.

***

He tossed and turned in his new bed, feeling himself getting all agitated and sweaty. Opening his eyes, Shinya kicked the blanket off. Closing his eyes for a moment, he shook his head. Then he looked outside the window. He took a few steps to the window.

It was a cloudless night, he could see a sliver of the moon hanging above. Shinya sighed, feeling a throb in his heart. Toshiya’s face appeared beside the moon. But Toshiya had run away from him that evening…why?

Maybe he thinks I betrayed him…

No…I would never! I love him! I…

Shinya felt as if there was something stuck in his throat and he gulped down. He was wearing a simple night gown which hem brushed his ankles.

" Toshiya, I love you…" he said softly, tracing the outline of the imaginary Toshiya face on the glass. He gazed with dreamy eyes into the night sky.

" Toshiya…"

Then as if something struck him, he pulled away from the window. After a heartbeat, he was running down the carpeted stairs, bolting for the door. He ran over the cold pavement with his bare feet, over the earth path, over the grass fields…

I have to return to him!!!

The sharp needles and leaves poked the soles of his feet as he dashed through the forest, trying to find Toshiya.

‘Toshiya!!!’

He didn’t receive a response.

‘Toshiya, please come out! It’s me, Shinya!!!’

He called out as he found himself in the open land in the middle of the woods. The air smelt distinctly of Toshiya but he had gone. "Toshiya?" He turned round and round, as if whirled around by the wind that swept his long brown hair into a wild flurry, trying to reach out to his friend. Moisture collected at the rims of his eyes when there was no reply even after the wind dies down and all the dried leaves and flowers fell back around him.

Hot tears streamed down his face. His knees buckled and he collapsed onto the ground, sobs wrecking his body. His nails dug into the soil in frustration.

" Toshiya!!!!!!"

***

" Hm…what’s that noise???" Kaoru crept down the stairs, careful not to fall down with only a small candle flame illuminating the space for him.

He had finally had a chance to eat a proper meal and rest after those days of starvation and torture. He had wolfed down three plates of serving during dinner. He felt so embarrassed now, acting like that in front of his mistresses and young masters but he was hungry!

But in his deep sleep, something managed to wake him up. There was a loud tinkling sound…sounded like a bell, a big one, that is. At first he ignored it then he couldn’t stand it anymore so he decided to go take a look.

Now, reaching the base of the stairs, he heard not only a tinkling sound but also a light scraping sound. He stayed extremely silent, not taking a single step, as he listened.

"What…"

" What is that, Kaoru?" another voice said, almost making poor Kaoru jump out of his skin in fright.

Kaoru looked up to see Die peering down from the top of the stairs.

" I heard some weird sound," he answered. He put a palm to his chest to calm himself.

" Yeah I heard it too…" Die frowned as he descended the flight of staircase.

They both looked at each other quizzically. "It’s coming from…"

" The door…" Die pointed to the main door. "What can it be?"

" Uh, don’t know…you want to take a look?"

" Why not you take a look?" the redhead nudged the older man towards the door.

Kaoru pouted. "Why me?" But he neared the door nonetheless; after all Die was his master. He pressed an ear to the wood. And the sound silenced down. Halfway hiding behind the door, he unlocked it and creaked it open.

Hesitantly he stuck his head out just enough for him to peep out then he stared at what was making the noise.

" You…!"

***

Eyes swollen from crying, Shinya trudged back to the big mansion. He didn’t know why he went back but he had nowhere else to go…His gown was soiled with dirt. He had waited all night for Toshiya in the cave where they lived together from the day they were born. But he didn’t appear.

Now dawn lightened the day, pale streaks of blue and purple blending with the healthy glow of the sun. One hand bracing his arm, Shinya ringed the doorbell. Looking down he saw his bruised and cut feet. Humans were so weak, he grimaced. Even his hands had red raw scratches.

The big door opened one side and the cheerful face of a maid greeted him. Then she gasped seeing the rumpled state Shinya was in. "Oh, Shinya-sama! What happened!"

Shinya just shrugged and let her lead him in, even though his feet left marks on the floor and carpets.

" We must get you a change of clothes before the mistress sees you or else it would be bad!!!"

" Okay, I’ll go and…"

His eyes widened at the three figures walking down the spiral of carpeted stairs, focused on a particular face. Seeing Shinya, Die waved at him. Beside him was Kyo who had a sleepy look on his face. Right behind them was a figure dressed in a long black gown with equally black hair flowing over exposed shoulders and that person smiled at Shinya.

" Good morning."

Shinya couldn’t believe his eyes nor his ears.