"I'll kill you."

It went on for 4 full years, until about 3 days after finishing uni, he unexpectedly showed up at my doorstep begging to let him stay for a while. At first he wouldn't tell me anything that happened, I had to pry out information from him but after a lot of persistence he told me that Ritsu just up and locked himself in their house. Knowing that I decided to take action myself. I went to their house and made a deal with Ritsu. I paid him all of the money I had saved up then to get out of Taka's life. It was about 3 million. I know I didn't do the right thing but just knowing he was out of my friends life for good made me not feel guilty. Hirahi was devastated when he found out that Ritsu left, he left a note at home that said: "Let's break up. Bye.". Taka shut himself out again, but after half a year he mysteriously "got better"." Mark showed quotation marks in the air. "He started going out every night, to ever gay club in the area. He began drinking and smoking a lot, sleeping with anyone that would approach him. He even started doing drugs. Once I found out about them I immediately sent him to rehab and made him quit. Luckly he hasn't been doing them for too long so he wasn't an addict. After he got out I harassed him into creating a company with me and our other friend from university. Even though he didn't drink as much and didn't do drugs he still went to clubs often and would sleep around non stop. I heard from Kuro that he quit smoking only recently. Anyway about 8 years later he began dating Chiaki. He was a crazed party animal, but it benefited the business and I saw that their relationship was purely sexual. After he cheated on Taka, they broke up and he didn't seem to mind as much."

After hearing about Hirahi's past Shimizu didn't know what to say, he pitied the man, he wished that he didn't have to experience those traumatic events.

"And now we come to the present day. Since Ritsu he carries more anger and pain than a thousand armies could ever bear. He was betrayed, deceived, hurt. Believe me when I say, he has already crossed hell. The first time in a really long time I've seen peace in his eyes, was when he looked at you. You're the reason he's smiling so beautifully. You're important to Hirahi, so before you hurt him I want to ask you. How much?"

Shimizu was confused, he couldn't think straight, his mind was filled by Takase, he was still trying to process everything.

"How much for you to leave Hirahi? I have way more money now than 3 million, just say a price and I'll give it to you."

Suzuki didn't want that, he felt hurt.

"I don't need money, I genuinely like Hirahi."

Mark sighed, he didn't have any more energy, he finished the tea, looked at his watch and said.

"If you hurt him, I'll kill you, trust me I really will. And Taka should be home now."

Right as he said it Hirahi burst through the door with a huge grin on his face and a box in his arms. He looked at Mark with a questioning look.

"Did you need something?"

He just shook his head.

Once Hirahi looked at Shimizu he realized what had happened. He got scared. Shimizu heard about his dark past, a dumb mistake he hasn't forgiven himself for. He placed the box on the floor. Mumbled. "Happy birthday." And left. Suzuki tried to run after him but Mark grabbed his wrist.

"No, give him time. He will come to you himself, when he is ready." And left too.

Shimzu was left alone in Takase's apartment wondering when his lover would come back, when he heard scratching inside the box.

He opened it and a small while kitten jumped out. It had sky blue eyes and white fluffy fur. It had a collar and on it was engraved his name "Moon". There was a litter box, some food, and a brush to take care of the cat. At the very bottom of the box was a note that said: "Isn't the moon beautiful tonight? Happy birthday, love. -Takase". Shimizu blushed, he didn't expect such a confession. He hugged the note and cried wishing Hirahi had been with him.

Shimizu woke up in the morning with Takase sitting next to him.

"Good morning. Get up, I've made you breakfast, after you eat let's talk." He got up and layed out clothes for Suzuki to wear. While he was eating, Hirahi fed and played with the cat. When Suzuki finished eating they sat on the sofa and Hirahi started explaining.

"I still remember the happy days we spent together and the not so happy ones. Whenever someone would tell me that Ritsu cheated, I couldn't bear it. I'd run to the bathroom and constantly throw up. I can't count how many times I have gripped the porcelain sink with shaking hands, and looking at the mirror repeated: "It's only this once, he still loves me.". When I cut contact with everyone except Ritsu it felt more reassuring, I was steady. Only after years have I realized that I was steady because the ground before me was solid and that was when I realized that I had reached the bottom and just could not fall any further. Then me and Ritsu got into an argument about what to do after university and I got kicked out of my own home. Look what I want to say is… I still care about him. I haven't gotten the reassurement that we broke up so I just can't let go…"

"What about the note he left behind?"Asked Suzuki, he was sure Takase had gotten the reassurement from it.

Hirahi let out a painful laugh.

"I lied to Mark about it. In truth it said something way worse, I thought he wouldn't let go if I told him the truth, he'd hunt Ritsu and make him pay for what he did, so I just couldn't tell him. The note read: "I have manipulated everyone that has ever fallen in love with me to fall in love with me. And that either makes me a very good liar or a very unlovable human being."."

With that Hirahi finished. Shimizu couldn;t muster up the courage to say anything, so he turned Hirahi's head to face him and kissed him deeply.When he pulled out he asked.

"You know what's between us?"

Takase looked flustered, but just shook his head.

"Nothing."

Blood drained from Hirahi's face. So now that he knows, he wants to end it. I should have known. But why did he kiss me? Was it a goodbye kiss?

Then Suzuki grabbed Takase by the back of his neck and pulled him into another kiss.

Ah he was right. There was nothing between us, nothing between our lips. Not even air.

Hirahi pulled him in even deeper, not letting him break the kiss.

"From now on I'll take care of you. Let's just focus on us."

"It's rotten work, taking care of me."

"Not for me especially if it's you."

They made up and cuddled up on the sofa with their new member of the family.

"Thank you for telling me everything, we will take care of it together." Suzuki said while playing with Takase's hair.