It was almost lunch, the following day. Shinji blearily crawled out of the empty bed and into the bathroom, having a quick shower before trying to find some clothes, finally settling on some loose jeans and one of Rien’s soft tshirts with one of Kippei’s jumpers. He still felt shaky and cold and he really, [...]

Toshio hadn’t gone out of his way to track Shinji down again, though he did poke at Takayama from time to time. According to the medical records that had been sent over when Rien had arranged for them to come, both Shinji and Kippei were supposed to be in therapy, and while they’d both been [...]

Light streamed through the bedroom window, a gentle breeze picking up rose petals and tossing them around the floor. The scent of them was still in the air, soothing and relaxing. Shinji burrowed further in under the sheets, oblivious to his own nakedness, trying to escape the light, not wanting to wake up. It was [...]

Shinji went in ahead of them and grinned at the smiling waiter, who just nodded and indicated the table was ready. Shinji had been rather specific about what he had wanted; picking the exact table, positioning it just so, looking out across the lake, little lights in the garden alongside, candles along the runner down [...]

The fact that this was a honeymoon of sorts didn’t change the fact that it was first and foremost a holiday, the break from the pressure around them that they had all needed. Kippei let himself breathe a little more each day, relieved to have Shinji and Rien all to himself with no interruptions, no [...]