~Part 1~

The moonlight shone through the parting in the curtains, illuminating a figure on the bed. It was silent. Everything seemed still but his once-in-a-while blinking eyes.

One…two…three…four…

Around him lay withered red petals of flowers, all scattered over the bed, floor, tables…

He loves me…he loves me not…he loves me…

A small smile touched his lips as he clutched the crumpled sheets to his chest. A gust of wind entered, blowing the lonely petals into a whirling breeze.

***

" See you tonight," Kaoru said into his cell phone before pressing the ‘off’ button.

" Ahhh, a date, ne? Keiko?" Die grinned slyly, giving the other guitarist a knowing nudge with his elbow.

" Wah! Is that Kaoru blushing?!" Kyo exclaimed. "Kaoru’s blushing!!!"

" Stop this!" Kaoru marched off to pack his stuff.

Toshiya sat quietly in a corner, running a brush through his long hair. It was raining outside; he just managed to sneak back into the studio before he got himself all wet. No point trying to walk to the station in this weather.

The studio lit up when suddenly a lightning stroke, followed by the low rumblings of the thunder. The air-cond which was whirring noisily a moment ago, slowed down and stopped working; the electricity was down.

" Phew, lucky we finished early," Die played around with the light switch.

Only Kaoru stayed back to make sure all the switches were off and everything was put back in place and also, that Kyo did not set a fire somewhere in a waste basket. Strapping his guitar case over his shoulder, he checked his watch.

Bath, get ready…just in time for dinner at Keiko’s house…

He whistled absentmindedly as he envisioned the his pretty girlfriend preparing steak for the two of them. Suddenly he heard a soft rustling sound coming from behind him. He whirled around to see a person standing in the middle of the studio; his face hidden in the darkness of the place. Kaoru caught a glimpse his face when the lightning cackled like an old lady outside.

" Ah, Toshiya! You scared me!!!" Kaoru let out a nervous laughter.

" Sorry. Where are the rest?" the bassist queried.

" They’ve gone home in Die’s car. I thought you left with them."

" I was hoping to get a lift since it was raining. But I hadn’t thought that they’d leave so fast while I was in the toilet…ara, this storm…" he looked worriedly at the rain trickling, or rather, washing down the flat panes of the glass windows.

Kaoru scratched his head. "Well, I can send you home."

" But I thought you had a date with Keiko tonight."

"It’s okay. It’s not this early anyway. And I’m not gonna let you drown outside there. Come on!" Kaoru insisted so Toshiya followed him to his car.

Rows of empty parking lots occupied the basement car park. It was kind of late, and usually the workers tend to go home early when there was a storm to avoid being trapped in the office till the next morning. Getting into the car, Kaoru noticed Toshiya had a frown on his face as he kept digging into his pockets.

"What’s wrong?"

" I can’t find my house keys. Shit!" Toshiya swore as he emptied the contents of his wallet on to his lap.

" Did you leave it back in the studio?"

" No. I didn’t take it out. I must have forgotten to bring it with me this morning."

" Aah… got a spare key?" Kaoru asked.

" No, but I’ll get the locksmith tomorrow morning. I’m such a klutz!" The older man saw the signs of Toshiya about to cry.

" Hey, never mind, you can stay over at my house tonight, okay?" Kaoru suggested.

" But you and your girlfriend…you know, won’t I be bothering?" Toshiya sniffed and looked at the guitarist.

" No! Keiko and I are just dating, it’s really nothing yet," Kaoru laughed and started the car.

The rain hit on the shield harder when they went on the road. The wiper swept left and right to rid the trickling trails of water.

" Say, Toshiya… I never heard you talk about your girlfriend…" Kaoru asked, his eyes fixed on the road.

" I don’t have one, that’s why!" Toshiya laughed softly and fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat.

" You’re kidding me, right?" Kaoru spared the road for a second and stared at Toshiya in disbelief. "You don’t have a girlfriend?!"

" It’s true!" Toshiya blushed.

" Haha, I suppose if you had one, she’d be jealous of your looks more than anything!"

The car swerved into an open lot. "There’s an umbrella behind there. Can you reach it?"

Toshiya turned to the back and groped for the yellow umbrella. But it was not a very big one; thus both of them got a little wet when they got to the apartment building.

Drops of water fell from Toshiya’s long ebony black hair onto the floor as he entered Kaoru’s home. The guitarist thought Toshiya looked very sexy with his hair wet and his clothes sticking to his slim body. Toshiya caught the older man staring at him and blushed before he sneezed.

" Wait, I’ll get you a towel." Kaoru hurried into his room and handed a clean towel to the bassist.

" Thanks." He sneezed again as he dried his hair and shoulders.

Kaoru came back with two cups of steaming tea. Toshiya’s hands felt extremely cold when they accidentally touched his while taking the tea. The bassist sniffled as he sipped the hot drink.

I don’t believe somebody as…beautiful…as Toshiya doesn’t have a lover. What a waste!

" What’s wrong, Kaoru?" Toshiya asked him when he noticed the man staring at him.

What lovely eyes…nose…lips…everything, just nice…

Toshiya’s face felt smooth against his fingers, cold against warm. He saw Toshiya’s eyelashes flutter as his eyes closed. Their lips felt so right as they touched, as Kaoru sought to taste this seemingly pure crimson rose. His fingers laced themselves among the rich black strands. He heard Toshiya moan as he caressed his scalp.

Suddenly the phone rang. As if waking up from a hypnotised sleep, Kaoru jerked away from Toshiya. Both stared at each other before Toshiya looked away, blushing.

" Moshi moshi," he greeted into the phone.

" Yes, I’ll be there on time. See you…" Guilt stabbed at Kaoru as he put down the transparent receiver and looked at the bassist.

" I have to go soon. You’ll be okay, ne?"

The younger man nodded but kept quiet.

***

He stared at the door as it closed behind Kaoru. The ramen was abandoned, forgotten, as well as the hunger he mentioned to the older man earlier, as he walked to the window. He ignored the raindrops pattering on his face; looking down at the car pulling out from its lot.

He felt his soft lips with the tips of his fingers.

The rain will stop when you come back to my side…

"Kaoru…"  

***