Broken Paths

Halloween

"Wait you told us earlier you fell ten floors!" the female said.

"Yes, if you were only on the third floor..." The man frowned. Nezumi smirked.

"We had gotten in the service elevator. The third floor was really the fourth, since there was a basement. Then two levels for the parking garage. They had about four under ground floors for storage and deliveries and all sorts of stuff." He shrugged as he picked up the pot of coffee.

He poured it into the cups held out to him. What else should he tell these people about his Shion? He pondered, when a memory pressed forward. He chuckled.

"I used to sing, to dance. I had a love for the theater. To be on stage, to conquer an audience, the thrill was... addictive." He purred out. Laughing to himself he jumped up to sit on the counter, ready to begin another tale. Nearly every chair was filled with a warm body. His blue eyes scanned over the watching crowd. One head was covered by their hoodie. The person sat with his back more toward Nezumi. Teenagers! The man thought. He was sure the young male was more interested in his phone than what the security head had to say.

"I owned a lot of stage costumes, makeup, just about anything to put on a show." He rubbed at his chin.

It was Halloween. Shion had lost track of time, something that happened often to the pale haired male. He had forgotten to get a costume. The schools dance was in three hours. Nezumi took the boy to his attic. He showed him all the stuff he had.

"Take your pick." He chuckled.

"What are you going to be?" Shion inquired.

"Lord Macbeth, perhaps?" Nezumi ran a loving hand over the rich red fabric. The golden accents striking on the velvet suit.

"No, something you have never been before." Shion pushed.

"Shion, I've worn all of these.." Nezumi gestured to the rows and rows of costumes.

"Then, let's create something new!" He challenged. Nezumi loved the wild eyed enthusiasm in the boys eyes. He laughed out right.

"Why not!" they spent the next several hours making a complete mess of the attic. Laughing, stomping, running from one end to the other. When they were done, they were hardly recognizable.

Shion was breathtaking in a long chocolate colored wig. The tight whiteish/ blue dress hung from his thin shoulders. The makeup. Nezumi had painted his face made him look like a doll. He fanned a picturesque fan over his lips. His alluring eyes, pulling the viewer in.

"Stunning, Shion." Nezumi praised him.

"You think so?" Shion asked nearly breaking his ankle in the golden heels he wore. Nezumi decided they were too dangerous, siting his inability to walk in them.

Having mercy on his poor feet, the tall dark dancer sought out better footwear. He shuffled through the countless pairs of shoes he had lined up. Now they were scattered around. He found what he was looking for nonetheless. A pair of gold Roman sandals. They were delicate, just like Shion. Strong, beautiful, but had a breakability to them.

"Knowing Shion, you just wanted to protect him." The modern day Rat muttered. His mind was back in the past, however.

He had knelt before his friend. Taken the thick heeled shoes from the delicate feet. Gently he placed the slim foot into the sandal. With skilled hands, Nezumi criss crossed the golden straps, up the slender leg of our little Shion. At the top he tied them off in a perfect bow.

Moving to the other side, he repeated the gesture. Shion's hand lightly touched his should. This was in order for the pale haired boy to maintain his balance. Yet now, Nezumi felt every touch from Shion as electrical shockwaves. His body was in tuned with the others in a way he wasn't sure how to handle. They hadn't spoken about the kiss.