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Nezumi: -still has much to teach Shion and would prefer if others would keep their hands off of him-


Shion: -takes Nezumi's hand, looking around the new place curiously- "At least this place seems more pleasant than the West Block, don't you think?"


Nezumi: -peering over at Shion, he nods before looks about as he tries to figure out what to think about this place, squeezing Shion's hand in return-


Shion: -wags his tail excitedly, feeling hopeful about this new place they've ended up in- "I wonder how people generally make a living around here.. maybe you could start doing theater again?" -is secretly still hoping to see Nezumi on the stage someday-


Nezumi: -giving a slightly irritated yet thoughtful glance to Shion at a thought that passed through his head, he shrugs slightly, but not without a hint of a smirk at the corners of his mouth- "Hmmm... A new place to start over. Are you sure you can handle sharing me and Eve with them?" -a teasing tone in his voice as he leans in, taking Shion's chin with his fingers and turning his face up to his so they meet nose to nose, eyes glistening with mischief-


Shion: -a hint of pinkness spreads on his cheeks as his eyes meet Nezumi's silver ones, and he frowns a little- "I know you had many fans back in West Block.. yet I've never truly had a chance to see that side of you, only hints of it. I want to see all there is to you!"


Nezumi: -that smirk stayed on his face as that blush settles in on the other's cheeks... only to end up looking at him with one of those looks. One of those looks that just says 'I can't believe this guy still doesn't realize what he's saying!' With a slight shake of his head, the smirk still touching his lips, he moves to whisper in Shion's ear- "There will be plenty of time for you to see all of me later. It might be best to leave that particular show off the stage.... for the moment."


Shion: -the boy blinks, shivering a little from Nezumi's breath against his ear.- "Nezumi, what do you--" -his eyes then widen and he falls silent mid-sentence, his pale face turning a much brighter shade of pink as he finally realizes what was being hinted at.- "Ah.. b-but I still really would like to see you in costume, someday. You're so beautiful as you are, I can only imagine how dazzling you'd be on stage." -he reaches up a little to brush up on Nezumi's bangs as he speaks.- "Besides, theater and other kinds of art were all banned in No.6 so it's something new for me."


Nezumi: Having gotten a little bit of revenge for having to have dealt with Shion's clueless nature, he gave a chuckle as he pulled back slightly. His thumb brushed over Shion's lips lightly before his fingers let their grip on his chin go. "You poor sheltered prince of No. 6. But as you have a good point, for once, I shall do everything in my power so you can experience so much they took from you." He brushed some of the hair that had fallen in his face back behind his ear with a bit of a dramatic flair. "I suppose that means you'll have to think on what sort of performance you'd like to see so I can prepare." His grey eyes focused on the red of Shion's, a sparkling of his theatrical self in them.


Shion: His expression changed to something of a pout as Nezumi once again picked up his usual teasing manner of addressing him. It quickly changed back into his usual soft smile, however, as he pondered what sort of role he would have most wanted to see his companion in. "Oh, I heard you were an amazing Ophelia in Hamlet! Hopefully there's a theater here you could join.. I'd really love to see!" He was genuinely excited about this thought, and his tail wagged in a manner that left little to the imagination. He had always been the type to show his emotions, after all. "I'd like to think that No.6 gave us something, at least.. since we were able to meet. I'm grateful to you for so many things, Nezumi." He knew he had said nearly the exact same words once before, but this time was different. He reached up to place a light kiss on the other's cheek, knowing otherwise he would've probably been reminded of the other time too much, and maybe would have ended up punching him again.


Nezumi: He watched with great interest has Shion was actually taking a chance to think on what he wanted him to perform. In all honesty, he wasn't surprised at the choice since Hamlet seemed to be something that his little white-haired lover enjoyed reading... especially since he used it for a name for one of his rats. Cringe. "I'm quite amazing in the roles I take on no matter what they are, you know. Hmmm... I wonder if there's any others about to come close to matching my talents on stage." A laugh escaped him, finding amusement in the way that Shion's tail gave away his every thought as it wagged like there was no tomorrow. Though, the words to come out of the other's mouth right then nearly stunned him. He harbored such bitter feelings toward No. 6 for so long that he couldn't have even begun to think of anything from it in a positive light... let alone having gained someone in his life like he did. His ear twitched as he heard the sound of Shion's voice, though his mind was a bit too preoccupied with processing his current train of thought to actually have heard what was said at that moment. And yet, once again his companion managed to bring everything to a stop, that little kiss a good distraction. Focusing on Shion once again as he found himself coming out of his thought-distracted phase, he smirked. "Learning a little something from experience already. You're sure to pick up on other things quickly then~" He teased in a singsong tone as he winked with a bow of his head. "Hamlet it shall be, your majesty."


Shion: "Maybe you could even find a fancier theater to join here, since we're not in West Block any longer. I wonder though, what should I start doing here? Inukashi's not here, nor is my mother or mister Rikiga.. I hope they're all alright." His train of thought kept bouncing back and forth, his face going over a variety of emotions as well whilst he spoke. He still wasn't even quite sure how they'd ended up in this new place, but as long as he was with Nezumi he didn't mind it all that much. "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" At that, he huffed a little, as he knew his lover was, after all, much more experienced at life than he was, having led such a sheltered existence within the walls of that city Nezumi so resented. At least those walls were now gone, but that didn't change the past. He still couldn't quite understand why Nezumi insisted on calling him a prince or other such teasing names, of all things. Yes, he had been once considered an elite in No.6 for his IQ and test scores, but what did that even count for in the end? He had learned so much more ever since the two of them had escaped together.
"Say.. we should probably start looking for a place to stay for the night, don't you think?" He then meekly reached for Nezumi's hand once more, lacing their fingers together. As it seemed they were here to stay, it would be wise to try and get their new life started as quick as possible.


Nezumi: Watching as Shion's expressions changed quite a bit so quickly was almost like watching a performance of a play in its entirety a matter of moments. "With the way you're acting, if you knew what you were doing, you might even be fit for a stage performance at some point in time. Perhaps the part of a frantic female, hmmm?" Maybe it was a bit of a cut, but who knows... It could be fun to pull Shion into something on stage sometime. Smirking once more as his companion was suddenly out of sorts over what he said, he leaned in, raising his hand and poking Shion's forehead with a finger. "It means what it means. Whether or not you pick up on what it means... I guess we will just find out." Nezumi couldn't help laugh to himself at the fact that someone so brilliant was such an airhead. Then again, many geniuses seemed to lack common sense. Ears perking up at the suggestion for them to find shelter came from Shion, Nezumi almost wondered how he was beat to that thought. He accepted the other's hand, giving a squeeze to it as he did earlier. "That sounds like a good idea. Hmmm.. Now do we split up and search, or stick together?" With his free hand, he brushed back his hair from his face again, a hidden smile lurking on his features as he waited to see how the question would be reacted to, though he was fairly certain he knew what the outcome would be... Not that he would honestly let Shion out of his sights for a moment.


Shion: The white-haired boy froze for a moment, shooting a somewhat pathetic glare in the taller male's direction. "Are you seriously comparing me to a woman?" He knew he was a lot more slender in build than Nezumi, but seriously? Out of the two of them, surely Nezumi could pass off as a woman much easier. Hell, that was what he used to do for a job even! Although Shion still had never seen 'Eve', he was very fascinated with this stage persona. Nezumi had employed that charm a few times in the past, but it just wasn't the same. Shion had read some of the plays stacked in their room, and he knew there was just.. some certain kind of magic to it. For now, it would be best to drop the subject, since there were more pressing matters at hand.
"I would prefer staying together.. After all, this is an unknown place and it would be bad if we got separated and couldn't find each other.." After all they had been through together, he wasn't going to lose sight of Nezumi. He had even told the other before that losing him was his greatest fear. In this new, strange land, Nezumi was all he had. While Shion missed his mother, he knew she was a strong woman and would make it without him. But he.. he simply couldn't live without Nezumi. Not anymore.


Nezumi: In amusement, Nezumi let out a chuckle, adjusting his scarf about his neck before giving Shion another glance. "And what if I am. I believe your personality would fit the part perfectly. Clingy, overly emotional at strange times, and a bit clueless." Well really his white haired lover was more than 'a bit' clueless, but it was just in jest for the moment anyways. "I believe I could easily dress you up to fit the part~" Though in truth there was a moment he thought of things Shion could be wearing that he wouldn't let be for a public show. With a grin, his body turned, leaning in toward his counterpart once more, unable to resist mussing up the beautiful mess of white atop his head with his free hand. It was hard to hide his attraction to the unusually colored hair.
Giving a nod to the answer he already knew was coming, he let his fingers slip through Shion's hair before brushing them over his cheek. He was feeling... exceptionally affectionate toward him at the moment. Maybe it was the time apart getting to him a bit more than usual after everything that happened. Shrugging to himself at his short train of thought, his hand squeezed Shion's once more before taking a step and giving the slightly shorter male's arm a tug. "C'mon.. Let's see what we can't find around here, then. Try not getting distracted by every little thing, okay? There will be plenty of time for you to stick your nose in everything later."


Shion: He huffed in protest, but knew he'd lose this war if he got caught up in it. He had understood that Nezumi was astoundingly beautiful in his stage getup, but he wasn't really all that certain about how he'd look himself if he were to dress up in women's clothing. The thought seemed silly, to be perfectly honest. There had been more than just a few occasions he'd tried to imagine his partner onstage, and figured that his fantasies would most likely still lose to the real thing. Now if only he'd finally get his chance.. He had to straighten his hair a little after Nezumi tousling it - ever since his 'transformation' the other had seemed oddly fascinated with it, as well as his strange scar.
It wasn't really very characteristic for Nezumi to be so tender, but Shion certainly didn't mind, for they'd just spent a fair bit of time apart, and he'd gravely missed his lover's scent, and those grey eyes that he always lost himself in. It was like he could gaze into them forever. Glancing around quickly, he began to walk beside the slightly taller young man.
"I think a basement of some sort would be cozy, as long as it isn't too dank. Wouldn't want mold all over our future book collection, right? I mean, I really miss the collection you had back in West Block, and I'm sure Hamlet, Cravat and Tsukiyo would like to be read to again. The little guys really loved those classics you had!"


Nezumi: Since he knew that Shion would stand there, thinking on silly things for ages, Nezumi didn't have a second thought about tugging the puppy along with him so they could get a move on. Even if the rats were good for scouting, he didn't know this area and would rather not take chances. As Shion fell in step beside him, he felt better.. less... anxious about their current situation than he was a few moments ago. At least he had managed to keep that feeling to himself in a round about way, the small showing of affection aside.
Eyes forward, his ears flicked and moved as the other began speaking, unable to help scoffing some. "A basement, huh? That would have about the same feel I suppose. Feeling nostalgic are we?" his voice coming out on the more sing song end of things once again. This felt right. So right. Why he had been stupid enough to leave Shion before he still struggled with trying to figure out. Was it to protect him? To protect himself? Was it fear? Shaking his head to himself, trying to push aside those thoughts for when he had time alone to work through them, he smirked. "There is a reason that classics are classics, after all. I suppose we'll have to work on rebuilding the collection. ... Hmmmm..."
Pausing in his steps, his eyes gazed along the horizon, trying to decide the best direction to continue in. Tail swaying behind him as he thought on it, he started moving once more, pulling Shion along with him. "I think there may be something this way that would suit our purposes." And with that, he picked up the pace, wanting to get them toward a building he saw in the distance faster.


Shion: He smiled wistfully, looking up ahead, clearly recalling the time they spent together in that small underground room. Maybe it was nostalgia.. it was living in that room, spending time with Nezumi, that had finally made him feel truly alive, for the first time in his life. In those few months, he had learned so many things and grown so much as a person.. and most important of all.. he'd been close to Nezumi. In all those years he hadn't been able to forget him, and now, Shion was fairly certain they knew each other better than anybody else. Well, Nezumi had pretty much always read him like an open book, anyway.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that", he finally replied. "That room meant a lot to me because of the time I spent together with you in there."
As they paused for a moment, he blinked, looking at Nezumi questioningly. He trusted the other to have better senses when it came to this kind of thing, after all he'd made a living in West Block for several years. So many times, Shion had found himself in some kind of trouble out there, reality having been so very different from the false utopia of No.6. But what would life be out here, in this new and unknown place?
"You spotted something?" he asked as they began walking faster, his tail beginning to wag somewhat excitedly again.


Nezumi: Laughing as he continued pulling his lover along at a faster pace, he shook his head. Shion always said the funniest things. They were honest words. Honest thoughts, but sometimes he wondered how someone like him.... "We did spend a lot of time there together." With a grin, he peered down at Shion out of the corner of his eye. They did spend a lot of time there together. Some times were actually wonderful, while others were absolutely horrid. The flood of memories that came were hard to push away... especially since Nezumi also had the thoughts of the fact he lost the place that had been his home for so long. At least he didn't lose the one thing that would help him move on from the way he had to live his life before.
Then, of course, as they were walking toward a place Nezumi thought would be a good point to start their new home search.... Shion opened his mouth and his genius was showing. Sighing, he simply replied "No. I just thought walking in this direction quickly would be more fun than going another way at a slower pace." Sometimes he just couldn't even begin to think of what to do with Captain Obvious. But then again, he was glad to have the stupidly brilliant one in his life again. "There's a building just ahead. I don't know if it's empty, but it may mean there's more in the surrounding area for us to try and find a place. It's getting darker..." And although they both had fight in them, he'd rather not chance Shion's safety in a place he didn't know anything, or anyone
And after keeping the quicker pace, they came up to the building within a couple minutes. It was something that reminded him a lot of the West Block, as well as a few closer ones. "This feels like home sweet home...." he said as he slowed his steps down before stopping in front of it


Shion: Getting pulled along like this would probably have been embarrassing for most guys, but he quite honestly didn't mind it. Not right now, anyway. He'd told Nezumi before he wanted to stand beside him as his equal, but at the end of the day the taller male still was prone to taking the lead, and he himself was just as easy to simply follow along, like an obedient little puppy. But at the same time, right now this felt right because he could see Nezumi in front of him, not having to lose sight of him for even a moment. It had been mere days since the 'wanderer' had returned to him, like he had vowed to do upon their parting.. and Shion found himself time and time again thinking this was all just a dream - that he would soon wake up and discover himself alone once more.
"Now you're just making fun of me again", he retorted with a small huff, but Nezumi's next observation piqued his interest and he decided to close some of the distance between them. Indeed, twilight was setting in, and it was important to find somewhere to spend tonight, at the very least. Finally, they came to a stop, and he looked over the building in front of them. It seemed abandoned from the outside, though there was no telling without actually venturing inside.
"It's not quite as run-down as the houses in the West Block - I'd almost say this is closer to Lost Town", he playfully remarked. Regardless, there was a certain nostalgic air about the place, and he certainly wouldn't mind trying to make this into home. Heck, if it really came down to it, he'd even sleep outside as long as Nezumi was with him.


Nezumi: Becoming more focused on the situation at hand, Nezumi just looked to Shion with a smirk as he shrugged. "You make it all too easy to do, your majesty." But of course he couldn't simply say that without an added flourish of his free hand and a slight bow, taking the chance to place a kiss to the hand in his own before standing straight once more. "Maybe one day you'll learn how to not let yourself become a victim of my quick wits and taunting, but until then I shall seize every moment I possibly can."
Though he couldn't quite argue the point the pampered prince made, nodding. "I suppose that's true. That means we may get a bit of a nicer basement then, hmm?~" Slowly, and not without a slight bit of hesitation, he let go of Shion's hand, taking a few steps forward. With his now freed hand, he motioned Shion to come closer to him. "Stay close and be quiet. We're going to see if there's anyone inside and if we can at least make camp here for the night before trying to decide on where we might try to set up shop." He made his way toward the door, hand outreached. Carefully, he pushed on the door, ears pinning back as it creaked open with little force or fuss. "Hmmmm..." And with that, he stepped through the doorway to start scoping the place out.


Shion: The time he'd spent with Nezumi had made him a little more wary of his surroundings, but he was still worlds away from the level of alertness that the darker haired male always had of the world around them. He still dropped his guard far too often, and sometimes actually realized that.. but it was relatively hard to break away from the sheltered way of life he'd led for so long, even if it was all a lie in the end.
The kiss on his hand managed to catch him unawares and he instantly blushed some, shooting another sharp look Nezumi's way. Why was it so difficult to gain the upper hand? Intelligent as he may have been, Shion could never truly get a grasp on what made Nezumi tick. Then again, human behavior was always more in Safu's field of expertise..
Safu.
His chest felt tight all if a sudden, and Shion clenched the front of his shirt. If only they'd made it to the Correctional Facility earlier, she may have been...
The sudden breaking of physical contact snapped him out of his momentary slump, and he was reminded of the current situation once more. He stepped up to Nezumi, nodding silently in compliance. Slightly nervous as he was, he also found exploring an unknown building rather exciting, and this was once again given away by his fervently wagging tail as he followed closely behind his partner.


Nezumi: Once again, Shion had shown where he came from as he had managed to catch him unawares with even that little kiss to his hand. Sometimes, it just seemed a miracle to Nezumi that this guy was still alive. Though he had to admit to himself, he did so enjoy the fact that he still was able to catch a glimpse of the blush in the dimming daylight. If not for the mission at hand, Nezumi would have all too happily let that image run away with him.
And as he had stepped away from his lover to scout the place out, he caught that offness that Shion had to him as he seemed lost in his own thoughts. He was almost certain he knew where his easily straying mind took him, but he didn't want to think on it. Guilt didn't usually get a hold on Nezumi, but in this instance, it was easy to feel it. Though those thoughts only made him stray from his task at hand for a moment, just like Shion's did for him, they were back to the moment and situation at hand. Trying to see what this place could possibly be at least for the night.
Knowing that the princeling pup would stay close as he could, Nezumi began making his way throughout the building quickly. So far there seemed to be an upstairs, a main floor, and a basement from what he could tell. The place was in a bit of a run-down state, but so far it still seemed livable from what could be seen of the main floor at least. He knelt down by the stairway to the second floor, holding his hand out to signal silence and to take a similar position. "I'm going to go upstairs. I want you to stay right here." And without letting Shion get the chance to fight him on it, his silent footsteps took him up the stairs while he hoped Shion would listen to him for once.


Shion: In moments like these, Shion was reminded just how much Nezumi lived up to his name. He enjoyed dark and cramped places, and could find his way around in almost complete darkness.. like a rat. Whereas he, a sheltered child of the City of Light, always had difficulties adjusting to more dim lighting.. but he had gotten better at it, even if just by a bit. It was still improvement.
With the windows mostly boarded up, there was minimal light allowed into the inside of the building, not to mention that twilight was upon them and soon it would get completely dark. Not that Nezumi would mind it much, but Shion wasn't completely comfortable with it yet. Especially when they were in a completely unknown environment like this..
As Nezumi began to ascend the stairs, he wanted to voice his disagreement on not staying together, but was interrupted by a quick, sharp pain to his ear. "Ow!" he hissed quietly, which elicited a small squeak from his shoulder. He tilted his head slightly to find a pair of tiny, grape-colored eyes staring up at him intently. A sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back against the wall, but he was also smiling. "Making sure I sit still, eh, Hamlet?" he asked quietly in an amused tone. The small, creamy colored mouse nodded. Shion reached up to gently scratch the small creature's head. He had named them, bonded with them, but when it really came down to it, these mice were most loyal towards Nezumi, and would act accordingly.. like Tsukiyo, who had remained by Shion's side while Nezumi was gone.
He glanced over the surroundings. There were some cracks, and pieces of plaster crumbling off the walls, but in its entirety this building was in far better condition than Inukashi's hotel, for one. It would likely keep them safe from the cold, if nothing more..


Nezumi: Even as he had started to put distance between himself and Shion as he started up the stairs, he still picked up on the sound of Shion's yelp, stalling his movement. He was about to run back down to make sure the other was okay, and possibly tear someone limb from limb, but then he heard that it was just one of his mice that watched over Shion. He smirked as he listened to what was being said, proud of his little creatures before he got back to his mission at hand.
When his boots touched down on the top floor, his eyes darted about. It was a bit darker upstairs as there were fewer windows that could be seen from the hallway. As he made his way forward slightly, he could see one, two, three... four doorways. He stayed crouched down and silent, listening for any movement in the slightest... and yet all he could hear was Shion downstairs. Rolling his eyes with a quiet hiss to himself, Nezumi moved forward again. Coming up on the first door, he waited a moment before reaching out and turning the knob, carefully pushing the door open. Pulling out his knife that he had slipped in his boot earlier, he stepped through the door, ready for anyone who might jump out at him. And yet, all he happened upon, was a rundown child's room. A girl's from the look of things. Dolls, stuffed toys, and the remnants of degrading lace and pinkish materials on the bed and knickknacks about the room. He moved about the room, checking the closet and beneath the bed and other such spots, finding it void of any occupants. Nodding to himself, satisfied that it was cleared, he moved out to the hall and continued to check the three remaining rooms in the same way.
When all was said and done, he found that there was a master bedroom, two smaller rooms -- one being the child's room and the other an everything sort of room it seemed -- and a bathroom. All empty of other beings. He crept back down the flight of stairs, glad to see that Shion had managed to stay put. Grinning as he took his place in front of him once more, he whispered "All clear upstairs. Now it's time to check the basement... let's go." Nezumi had no intention of leaving Shion behind this time. Was there an ulterior motive? Maybe, but really he just hated having left his lover behind. Standing up this go, he pulled the white-haired one up with him, tugging his arm as he moved to take him toward the basement stairs.


Shion: The sound of footsteps, as well as the quiet creaking of the floorboards and the building around them, suddenly made Shion aware of just how drowsy he was feeling. His back resting firmly against the wall, Hamlet's warmth emanating against his neck, the pale boy's eyes slowly closed. He didn't quite fall asleep, but his mind took him back to that morning.. after their miraculous escape from what should have been a certain death. He had awakened, frantically searching for Nezumi with his eyes.. He'd been there, teasing as usual, while Karan was busy baking.. how serene and normal that had felt. Yet of course it wasn't meant to last. Nezumi had left the very same day, leaving behind only Tsukiyo as Shion's companion, and a kiss as his vow of reunion. Though Shion had told him that there was no meaning to him in a world without Nezumi in it, the other had called him a child, in a woman's voice no less.. yet it was the honest truth. Ever since his 12th birthday, Nezumi had been an irreplaceable, precious person to him. Someone he felt blessed to have met, no matter how many times they were at odds with each other.
Oh, how many times had he flung his window open, arms welcoming, hoping to invite in that traveler he'd saved seemingly by chance on a stormy night? Who had turned his whole world upside down? He'd waited, and hoped.. and yet at times, it felt like they would never again come to meet. There were so many things Shion had wanted to do, to celebrate. He had planned on asking Karan to bake cherry cake.. and of course Inukashi would come over with little baby Shion, and even Rikiga would be asked to come, for he knew that under that bad-mouthing the old man did appreciate Nezumi's talent and wits. He'd had it all planned. And yet.. as soon as their paths crossed again, they ended up in this strange place. At least they were together.. and Shion knew his mother was strong, so she would be fine on her own. She would know Nezumi was with him, so she wouldn't have to concern herself with their safety, either.
Such a shame about that cherry cake, though..
When Nezumi's voice suddenly came out right in front of him, Shion gasped sharply in surprise, in turn startling Hamlet, the poor mouse nearly jumping onto the floor in shock. "Ne-Nezumi! You're back already?" was all he at first managed to get out. Then, he was already getting yanked along by a stronger arm than his own. "Ah, you don't want me to sit still for this one?"

Nezumi: It was no surprise to Nezumi to come back to a spacing out Shion. He always seemed so off in his own lala land. Sometimes it was amusing, other times irritating... but it was just part of how the brainiac functioned. He could only wonder what his lover was thinking about before he surprised the white haired pup, grinning at the gasp from him. "So shocked to see me? You really should have been keeping an eye on things while I was upstairs..." There was a hint of disappointment in his voice that Shion would pick such a time to space out, but he was also teasing him as well.
With a bigger grin, he turned back around to face Shion, pulling him against his chest as he peered down, staring into those crimson eyes. "I want you close to me. Think you can manage such a thing?" Nezumi tilted his head to the side, reaching up with his free hand to stroke his fingers along Shion's jawline. Damn this guy for being so... so... Leaning in, still holding tightly to Shion's wrist, he touched his nose to the other's, eyes closing for a moment. It felt so good to be near Shion again. To smell his scent. Touch his skin. Hear his voice. When he had left Shion, he regretted it every day they were apart, but it was for the best at the time. Now.. well now he wouldn't let him out of his sight ever again.
Pulling away before he got too into the moment, Nezumi turned about once more as he pulled away, dragging Shion toward the stairs once more. Right now they had something to finish, then he could let himself get carried away.. Mmmyes. Coming up to the already opened door to the stairs that lead to the basement, Nezumi's grip slipped from around the other's wrist as he slid up against the wall, peering down. It was dark. Dank. Actually.. almost impossible to see past the first few stairs. But, the mice were well trained and Tsukiyo came right over, eyes beaming a light as he scurried down the first few stairs. Nezumi looked to Shion, nodding for him to follow and slowly stepped down after the mouse, wondering what they would find.

Shion: He quickly glanced at Hamlet, still firmly perched on his shoulder, and the mouse returned the boy's gaze with a somewhat puzzled look. "Ah, I'm sorry.. I was.. just thinking about mom.. how I wanted you to get to taste her cherry cake", he confessed. There was no point in trying to lie to Nezumi, anyway. He could read Shion's body language better than he himself could. "And besides.. Hamlet would surely have alerted me if anything came up. But I do apologize for spacing out like th--" he was abruptly cut off as Nezumi pulled him close, making him gasp once more, though in a somewhat different manner this time around. A shiver ran down his spine, and the red scar coiling around his form tingled somewhat as he felt Nezumi's fingers, and his breath on his skin.. Shion's heart rate immediately shot up, his cheeks growing flushed and his breathing slightly more labored.
As the taller male's face drew closer, Shion instinctively let his eyes close, his lips parting ever so slightly in expectation.. yet in the end, it was merely their noses that touched. A tinge of disappointment grasped at his core, and Shion tried to close the distance between their lips, take the initiative for a change - yet he was a moment too late, and ended up simply stumbling forward a little in a somewhat comical manner.
Cheeks still glowing, another firm yank at his arm set him into a quicker pace as the pair proceeded to scout the basement. Hopefully it wouldn't be too dank for them to set up living quarters in.. though having a regular bedroom wouldn't really be a problem for Shion either. He simply figured that a more secluded and confined style of housing would work best for his beloved 'rat'.
Despite the looming darkness, Shion descended the stairs with a rather goofy grin on his face. He was flooded with memories, both good and bad, of how they'd saved each other countless times - or how Nezumi had protected him time and time again, to be honest.. and yet the other considered himself indebted, to Shion? It was absurd.
That morning, back when they were 12.. it wasn't just the shirt, medical kit, towel and Nezumi that had disappeared from Shion's room.. Nezumi had also taken his heart with him. And still held it, to this very day.

Nezumi: Cocking a brow at the response, not that he should have been surprised that Shion's mind would wander to such a trivial and silly thing, he sighed. "Though we know he would have, you shouldn't depend on others for something like that, even for being a pampered brat." he teased. Though, the thought of trying more of Karan's baking did sound really good. Damn Shion for distracting him!
But then he had the upper hand on Shion for just a moment as he held him close against him, noses touching. Though, when he pulled back, it was a slight shock to see the other trying to steal a kiss like that. It brought a bit of a hidden smile to his own face. You won't be waiting long... he thought as he went back to pulling his lover along with him. Believe me... you aren't the only one... And it was true. The time apart had damn near killed him. He missed him in so many ways.... Even if he was a total airhead, pampered prince.
But now was not the time to dwell on those thoughts. There was still a task at hand, and then once it's done, then their minds could wander. As he stepped away from Shion and down the stairs, he peered over his shoulder once to make sure the other was coming along. Once he was sure Shion wouldn't be far behind, he went back to looking about as Tsukiyo's eyes shone a light on the basement. It wasn't too bad from what he could tell. There was a damp smell to it, but it could have been worse. At least there were other rooms upstairs should they need them instead.
Ears perking up and tail twitching, he saw what was most likely a little spot for relaxing. A couch, table, and a few other mismatched pieces of furniture. The rest of the space seemed occupied by disintegrating boxes, shelves, and random things strewn about. And in the end of it all... the house seemed unoccupied. Good. They at least had a place to stay for the night. Maybe even make their place. Peering back at Shion once again, he grinned and he tucked his hands in his pockets, waiting to see what he thought of the space.

Shion: Oh, he never tired of teasing him about the smallest things, did he? No matter how many times it would be, it still stung a little every time Nezumi picked on him for something. He was trying! He stuck out his bottom lip in a bit of a pout, keeping his eyes steadily on the grey-eyed beautiful being that had captivated him from the first glance. Movements so elegant and calculated, they were nearly out of this world. A voice that could sound like either man or woman, changing tone on a whim.. and his song. Nezumi's singing was like the wind itself. Raw, piercing, enveloping, soft and soothing.. all in one. Inukashi had been right, Nezumi's song could take suffering souls to the afterlife.. he'd personally witnessed it during their dangerous mission.
But still, the most mysterious, most profoundly captivating thing in the world, for Shion, was this young man standing in front of him. Had Nezumi grown a little taller again compared to him during their time apart? He still had the most beautiful, almost sculpted frame, delicate yet still muscular enough for any of the physical labor he had to take part in. Shion himself, in comparison, was still scrawny. He had gained a little more muscle as well, but he knew he would never be able to overpower Nezumi without using some kind of dirty tactic.
And those eyes.. those hazy, grey eyes.. like the sky before a storm, or just at the verge of daybreak.. A nostalgic, yet strange and hypnotizing color. He always felt he could gaze into them forever.

Once again realizing he'd gotten lost in his thoughts, Shion blinked a few times, stopping beside Nezumi, looking over the room in the dim light provided. He stepped over to the couch, patting it, causing a small cloud of dust to spread into the air. At least it didn't seem damp, or moldy. That was a good sign. There was a bit of a stale odor in the air, but that could be fixed easily enough. Truly, this reminded him a little of their previous 'nest', and would certainly serve as a base until they came up with a better plan. With his hands lightly raised to rest on his hips, Shion nodded approvingly, smiling at Nezumi. "I think this will work just fine, for now!"

Nezumi: And of course, even in the dim light given off by his mouse, he could see that Shion's mind had wandered away with him once again. It never failed. If only there were a way for him to know what was going on in there when the other's mind got away from him, to see what he saw when he was lost in his thoughts. It would have to be quite the adventure at times since Shion was whisked away by them so often. But before he could do or say anything to snap the white-haired one from his trance, Shion actually realized he had spaced off again. Nezumi couldn't help a bit of a smirk for it. Even if his spacing out could get irritating at times, it was also adorable,,,,
Standing there quietly, Nezumi simply watched as his lover scoped out their -- possibly temporary, but also maybe more -- hideaway. He wanted to see what the other's reactions would be. How Shion would handle being in a place like this again after having spent time back at home with Karan for a good while once again.It was almost amusing as the pup went right to the couch. Nezumi mused to himself, wondering if there were any similar thoughts buzzing about that busy brain of his as he checked it out.
Then Shion stood there, almost looking as proud as anything over something so simple as the couch. With a light chuckle, Nezumi pulled a hand from his pocket, brushing some of the hair that was resting at the side of his face back with a smirk as he took a few steps closer. "I was thinking something along those lines, myself. But until we test it out, we won't know for sure, now will we?" Now grinning, tail swaying to and fro behind himself, Nezumi reached out, grabbing his lover's arm once again as he plopped on the couch to pull him down on it with him. He couldn't lie... he sure as hell hoped there would be some sort of furniture downstairs for this very reason. Grey eyes dancing in the pale light of the room as they looked at his lover, his hands reached up, thumbs stroking over Shion's cheeks as he shifted his body to turn toward him. "And now that I know we have this place to ourselves... I think I'm going to work on reminding you that you're still mine~" And with that, he swooped in, pressing his lips to Shion's as his eyes fell closed. A soft and needy 'mmmm' was the only other thing he could manage while he began losing himself to kissing his lost lover once more after so long.

Shion: A small shiver ran down his spine, reminding Shion that they were indeed underground, where it was bound to be slightly cooler than upstairs. In wintertime, it would be the opposite though, keeping them a little warmer. But as it was right now, it seemed apparent they would have to sleep as close to each other as possible to share their body heat. Maybe they could find blankets, or sheets, or whatever, anything to serve as a little extra cover.. but right now, the former elite student simply wanted to take a breath and relax for a moment.
"Test it out, Nezumi, what do you--" he cut off in the middle of his question, being pulled down onto the surprisingly comfortable seat.
Just as Nezumi had difficulties understanding the way Shion's mind worked, the white-haired boy in turn could never seem to read the thoughts or intentions of the other. Nezumi had so many different sides to him, he was unpredictable, prone to disappear at any moment.. All this time, he'd kept slipping away just as Shion thought he was about to get a grasp on him. And he'd kept chasing, trying to understand, trying to get the other to open up to him a little bit more.. open his heart like he had his own.
Crimson eyes peered back into the hazy grey orbs in front of him, the faint light bringing out all the subtle details of Nezumi's face all the more. His eyelashes were long, his features like some exquisite doll's. Sudden skin contact caused him to jolt just the slightest bit, but he eased into it nearly immediately, having so missed the few tender moments they'd shared.
"Huh? Wha-- Mmmnnnh..!" his retort was quickly silenced by his mouth being covered by another, his fingers grasping at Nezumi's shirt. This felt nothing like their parting kiss, nothing like the one Shion had given Nezumi in that small room filled with books.. There was a heat there that made his heart pound and his breath turn ragged in mere moments, as he struggled somewhat to respond to the kiss in an appropriate manner.

Nezumi: He couldn't help his own amusement over always having the upper hand on doing things that were surprising to the white-haired pup. The other's reactions were starting to become something he could thrive off of like a delicious meal. It almost fueled him to want to shock Shion more often than not. It was like applause at the end of a scene or a serenade while he was on the stage.
In those brief moments that he merely held Shion's face with his hands as he gazed into his eyes, he could see the gears turning in his head. Leave it to the genius to start over thinking and over analyzing something during a moment like this. Now wasn't the time to be lost like that. Not in such a mechanical and analytical way that Shion always became so lost in as he tried to figure things out. Sure Nezumi fully planned to give the guy something to think about, but that would be for much... much later. He was most certain there would be hardly a chance for thoughts outside a few choice things that almost had Nezumi chuckling to himself over. Well, not that the startled Shion’s jolt didn’t pull a little something from him anyways.
... That is until he dove in for that kiss. Oh damn. It had been far too long since their lips met like this. And this was one of their few kisses that wasn’t a fake ‘good night’ or ‘until we meet again’ kiss. No. This was a ‘you are mine and I’m going to make sure you remember it’ kiss. He groaned against the kiss as the other grabbed at his shirt, almost wishing it was in an effort for his lover to start taking off his shirt. This couldn’t be happening fast enough for him... He was an impatient man after all, and yet he slowly pulled back from the kiss, long-lashed eyes fluttering open slowly as he smugly smirked to his lover. “And now I have a brilliant tactic for shutting you the hell up.” Laughing in his amusement, he stole Shion’s lips up in a kiss once more -- one that was more urgent -- as his fingers slid back to grip that wonderful white mess of hair that he adored so.