Love Stage: Hidden Love

Time waits for no one

Christmas came and went. Rei watched the snow fall outside as Shougo yelled, squealed and played with his brother. The hot coco was warm on Rei's sore throat. Then Shougo went back to school. Six more months. Rei continued on. His life becoming routine.

Well as routine as working with pissy prima Donna's who think they deserve every spot light. Fitting the right costumes, watching as Seiya looked on with more and more confidence in Rei's growing ability. Nights with Shougo on video call, sometimes it was watching him practice with his band. His drummer was almost back to his old self. He still had some issues with his left leg, but therapy was working on that.

Rei clicked off the computer. He hadn't found any listing for houses in months. He hoped the slump would clear soon. Maybe he should look further out. If he found a home on the same bus line or something. Rei packed up his things, he wasn't sure what he wanted, even now. He knew things between him and Shougo were heating up. Soon the elder son would be home permanently. A slow smile crossed Rei's lips at the thought.

The spring went by just as quickly as everything else. Shougo came home for Izumi's tenth birthday. They went to the Cherry Blossom festival, where Rei found a necklace that had a cross on it. It was simple, but he wondered if Shougo would wear it. He toyed with the metal in his hand.

His faith had waned a lot over the years. At times it was nonexistent, yet something always pulled him back to it. His mother had believed in her faith, even while she lived her life against it. He closed his hand around the metal cross. About to put it down, he heard a sultry voice in his ear.

"I like it." Turning Rei looked up and down the crowd of people behind him.

He swore it had been Shougo's voice. Yet, he saw the tall teen down a few stands laughing at his brother hugging what appeared to be a sleep wear set. Rei turned back to the woman watching him. He held out the necklace.

"I wish to buy this." He said.

She gave him a smile fishing out a black box from under her table. Rei paid before walking up to where the brothers were watching fish swim around in bags of water.

"Are we done?" he asked.

Shougo looked back at him. Their eyes met, Shougo grinned beautifully. Rei lost his mind in that dazzling smile. They were brought back to reality when Izumi yelled.

"No, it's mine!" Turning neither one saw the small boy.

He had been right beside them. It was Shougo who spotted him first. Izumi was still clutching the items his brother had bought them, yet a tall, rather rough looking male was trying to pry them out of his arms.

"LET GO!" Shougo yelled. He could get some volume to his voice, must be all the singing he does. Rei thought.

The man looked up at Shougo charging toward him. Rei dodged to the side. He slipped around the edges of the crowd while Shougo was fighting to go up the middle. He was yelling at the man to leave his brother alone. Rei got behind the would be thief. He gripped a spot on his beck. The man slowly sank to kneel before Rei, his arms falling uselessly to his sides.

"Go away and don't ever bother children again." Rei snarled. The man couldn't move his body. His eyes followed Rei as he stepped around him.

Rei pushed Izumi toward his brother. He wasn't sure which was crying harder as they fell into each other. Rei looked down at the man.

"You will be able to move in a moment. Don't let me see your face again." He adjusted his glasses to go calm the siblings.

With his hand firmly in Izumi's, one arm around Shougo's waist, Rei marched them down to a quieter section. They sat by a pond watching the fish jump in the water. Ducks and geese floated on the surface. It was peaceful.