[COTE Oneshots] Ayanokouji x Ryuuen

His lies in April

The prompt this time was a tree with orange leaves.

Summary: There's something wrong with Kiyotaka, but he can never figure out what it is.

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Under the tree with orange leaves comes new beginnings, and new relationships.

He's not sure how he ended up under the tree, but as his vision clears he finds himself awestruck by the man in front of him and smiling gently. "Oh goodness... he's really pretty!"

"Hey, finally up, sleepyhead?" The dark magenta-haired man chuckled at him like they were very familiar with each other, but were they? "Come on, we were supposed to be home early today."

Home? Where is... home?

"Um..." He lowered his head, unsure how to speak without hurting the man. "W-Who... are you?" Was he supposed to know him? And what about himself? "Do you... know my name?"

He heard a quiet sigh, "Yes, I do. You're Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and I'm Ryuuen Kakeru."

~~~~~

"Do you want to visit the place where we met?"

"Under the tree with orange leaves?"

"Yes, it's got full of memories, doesn't it?"

"It does... and that's where you said we had a mutual interest, right?"

"That's right."

Returning to the tree filled him with so many emotions, one in particular, was an odd feeling of sadness. Where had it come from and why the sadness?

Taking a glance at Kakeru, he could tell he was holding back from showing a melancholic expression but he could see it from his eyes. This unsettled him, does he know something he doesn't? And if so, why isn't Kakeru telling him about it? "Love? What are you thinking about?"

Kakeru only smiled bitterly, "Don't worry about it, darling. It doesn't matter." He took Kiyotaka's hand and led him to the same spot he sat in a year ago, except this time, Kakeru took the spot and patted his lap. "You can lay your head here."

He yawned quietly as soon as it was suggested, "Your timing is so perfect... I'm so sleepy all of a sudden..." Doing as told, he laid his head with a satisfied hum. The unsettling feelings from earlier had settled into something peaceful, "I'm so happy you're here, love."

"I know darling, I know." He gently ran his finger through his hair, "I love you, so, so much. I hope you know that and I..."

"Mmm? And that you...?"

"Never mind."

"Ru... why do you... never finish those kinds of thoughts?" He turned to face him, he was tired, yes, but he was also curious. There were times when Kakeru looked sad, and there were times when he said something that felt like he shouldn't know.

He'd always wondered what Kakeru was hiding, why he was so protective over him even before they started dating, or even why they wore matching rings. And as always, he would change the subject or tell him that he's not ready.

But what did he have to be ready for?

"Well... because I don't... I don't know how to help you."

"Do I need help?"

"Sort of," Kakeru looked at him and he could tell he was hesitating. "Remember how I said we were friends who liked each other?"

He moved closer, nuzzling his stomach, "Of course I do."

"There's... actually more to it, but you once asked me to only tell you that."

Kakeru could remember it clearly, after the sudden news of Kiyotaka's predicament, he'd requested to pretend their romantic story was just starting. That they haven't been anything more yet, and it was... so difficult to keep that promise. He wanted to tell him everything and yet... he honored it because he's a man of his word.

He wishes he could end it, but he doesn't even know the first step. No one else has ever experienced something like this, and even the doctors are at a loss. "If you knew about it... I'm sure you'd tell me the same. That's why I never want to finish my words when I slip up."

"How are you so sure that I would?"

"Because you're stubborn when you want to, darling." He felt like he said all he could now, and he knew that his beloved could no longer hold back from falling asleep. "You can sleep now, I'll be right here when you wake up darling."

Kiyotaka only smiled, eyes finally fluttered close, "Wake me up when we need to get home, okay?"

"I will, darling. I will."

...

...

...

Under the tree with orange leaves sat a couple who only had each other.

"Hey, Kiyotaka wake up, we need to go home now."

"Mmn..." He stirred a little, opening his eyes and he saw a man with dark magenta hair. And all he could think was how he loved looking at him. "Who... are you?"