Reunion

That must be the place over there. Shion's mama is a good person but I don't think I could have handled her teary-eyed gratitude. Lucky she was upstairs, and Shion's little reading time pal, Karan was inside and knew the way here.

This place really is as big as it looks from a distance. Okay, doorbell…

...Hmm, no answer. Again, then.

…Nothing?

Plenty of windows going three floors up, but I can't see inside. Guess I can leave a message with the dogs if I can find some out back. Wait, there are voices out behind the house…

"—standardised testing at age two anymore." Inukashi!

"So that's changed too." Strange. She sounds familiar…

"They're still revamping the whole school system. No. 6's schools were… They didn't really… They tried to control… Well maybe Shion can put it better than me—"

Figures she'd have such a tall fence around the back. They're just on the other side...

"Brainwashing," the other voice interrupted. "They were brainwashing us." Us?

"Oh yeah! You hate No. 6 so much, I keep forgetting you two went to school together there! The way you talk about No. 6 sometimes really reminds me of— OW! Fuck!"

Dogs barking. Now this sounds like Inukashi's place. So that girl went to school with Shion in No. 6 but really hates No. 6 now? Some elite classmate, like that girl.

"You know the drill, Inukashi. Money. In the jar. Now."

I've longed to see you, Shion.

An auditory hallucination? Haven't been getting enough sleep lately.

"B-but I just hurt myself— look, I'm bleeding!"

"You wanted to do this for the baby, right? No excuses."

Must be that baby Shion rescued...

"Damnit." Such an exaggerated sigh from Inukashi! Priceless. "I know, I know, I'll top it up. Please just don't give me that look."

"Remember this was your idea, not mine."

Time to skip over and see the looks on their fa—

"Oi! Nezumi!" —ces. Shit, the dogs must've— "Back after two years, and this is how the rat makes his entrance? Classy. But… we do have a front door, you know." Good, she probably doesn't know how long I've been listening. "Don't know how long you've been listening, but yer already enough of a creep. Stop sneaking around and get your a— get the h— get yourself over here!"

"Seems nobody here knows how to answer a doorbell."

Fruit-bearing trees, berry bushes, flowers… this garden is huge! And a gate into the office yard on the other side. Did Inukashi arrange for all this landscaping herself?

Inukashi and the other girl are in coveralls… That one's working the soil with a spade… Inukashi's just tossed hers and stood up to greet me… "Whatever. Let's have a look atcha then. Oooh… new hair. A hat! Interesting fashion statement, Eve-san."

"Eve can correct your fashion don'ts later on, if you like. So I heard Shion would be here… ?"

"He's with the baby now." Did Inukashi just shoot that girl a nervous glance? Can't see her face under that wide-brimmed hat… "That natural, he probably didn't even notice the doorbell. He really adores that child."

"The doting daddy, huh? That would suit him.

"Daddy? More like big brother." She rolled her eyes. "Why don'tcha find the two of 'em yourself? It's not hard to find the room they're in from the double doors there. This dog here'll point the w—""

"I'll show him… if that's okay." Who is this girl?

"A-alright." Something really weird's going on here. Even Inukashi's uncomfortable. Something to do with Shion? Could she be Shion's— "Just… follow her, Nezumi. She'll point the way from the back doors."

"Right. Lead the way." Still hiding her face…

"I've a lot to thank you for, you know." What? Who the hell are you? "I'm really, really grateful for all you did for Shion and for me, two years ago."

…for Shion… and for her?

I've longed to see you, Shion.

"No…"

"Yes. I look a little different now, but I'm very much alive— and I'm not Elyurias, either."

Finally, she's ditching the hat… and those eyes! Same colour as Shion's flower.

"S-Safu?"

"Yes, it's me— Glad to see you again, Nezumi. Just want to be clear that I'm really, really grateful for all you did— and how you helped end No. 6. I hope you won't hold what I'm about to do against me."

Huh?

"I really don't have any grudges against you myself. Honest I don't… not now."

What?

"But I know Shion's not going to do it, and knowing how he feels, I… I apologise in advance."

It's the sleep deprivation. I must be hallucinating…

"W-what are you talking ab-AH!" Okay that sting on my cheek is very real. She slapped me! Really. Hard. My questioning look back at Inukashi is going unanswered. Judging by that gaping mouth, she's as shocked as me.

"Do you have any idea how he's felt, being left behind like that? Without any idea when you'd return? Regardless of whatever you think of me right now, I hope you'll apologise when you see him." Did I just flinch when she pointed inside? "Down the hall to the front, up the stairs, first door on the right, opposite side!"

"I…" Shion, this is one scary woman you grew up with. "You've got guts… Safu."

"I won't do anything like that again… Go on. He's going to be ecstatic to see you…" She's this close to tears despite that smile. Unrequited love.

Well it's a relief to have these lovely doors between me and that woman now. Apologise, huh? Like Shion, the day we met the old man.

Upstairs… a guitar? And a quiet, breathy singing voice… Shion?

"Then the traveller in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark.
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so."

Hopefully I won't get caught eavesdropping this time...

Shion's playing simple chords. The little girl's going to take an afternoon nap. There's only the light of the overcast sky coming through the window.

"As that bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveller in the dark,
Though I know not where you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star."

Girl's falling asleep; he's setting the guitar down in its stand. I'll step into the doorway now. Aww, he's stroking her hair back to check she's all knocked out? Cute.

Shion's hair is still so white it's almost glowing even in the darkened room. Snake's still burning bright red. He's petting the big brown dog resting under the crib, closing the window, pulling down the blinds…

Now why are you spacing out at a covered window? Turn around and look at me with those crimson eyes of yours, Shion! I'm directly behind you…

"Nezumi… !" Ohhhh, I get it—

He's finally turning around; an old mouse friend scrambling down to the ground from his shoulder. I can vaguely feel the other two skittering down my leg for their reunion. The three of them aren't so youthful as they used to be, but it doesn't seem to slow them down. There's something comforting about that. "Took you long enough. Still such a natural."

"Your majesty," I bow low with a flourish, in greeting, removing my hat.

"Nezumi…" That pretty face has arrived to wet my neck and shoulder with tears as he embraces me. He's still so warm. But now he's backing me into the brightly lit hallway. He whispers: "Come on— we'll wake her."

"That baby you rescued from the Hunt. She's grown, unlike you."

"It's been… two years. Come on."

All of a sudden he's taken my hand and he's leading me— very quickly— behind the ornately carved door at the far end of the hall.

I have to laugh. "Become a take-charge kind of guy have you, Shion?"

"You could say that I guess. So welcome… to uh… my room." Cue the flush to his cheeks. "It's uh… a long way to the living room from here."

"I don't doubt it. This place is ridiculously huge. I didn't know you lived here though…"

"Well it's really only my weekend home. So I can be with little Shion of course, and… Here, take a chair. They're really comfy."

"Little Shion must love the weekends." Shion, this chair is way too soft.

"Inukashi gave me one of the master bedrooms. It's much grander than I'm used to. There's even a fridge and mini-bar inside that credenza table."

"Nice."

"Honestly I find it all rather embarrassing. But I love that bed. It's so big and it feels great to lie in." Bragging about the bed while I'm in your room? Still so innocent. "Nezumi, I notice you're wearing your hair down now. It's nice. I like it."

"And you seem to have started combing yours. Great look for you, Shion."

Don't smile like that at such an underhanded compliment, you natural!

"I can't say how good it is to see you again Nezumi. I knew you'd keep your promise, but it… it means a lot to me to be able to… be near you again."

I prefer Safu slapping me to this feeling. "I'm sorry, I haven't written in a while…"

"So much has happened. Did you see her?"

"Yeah, Safu. She's alive." I can still feel the evidence on my cheek.

"She's been living here too. Her room's down the hall, next to little Shion."

"It's really great you two could find each other again."

"Well, more like she found me— right on my eighteenth birthday! It was quite a shock, but I'm so thrilled to have her in my life again."

"Your birthday's always been a day of miracles, Shion." Damn, that just came out. And that smile of his is contagious…

"Now that you're here too, I don't think I could get any happier, Nezumi…" Those ruby eyes are… "I have something I want to give you."

"Isn't it customary for the traveller to bring the omiyage?"

There's a rare mischievous smile on that boy's pale lips. He's blocking me off in front of the chair; hands on my arm rests. He'd always do that when he had something important to say. Now he's leaning in; sliding his hands up my arms… knee against my inner thigh… This is an incredible reunion kiss, Shion!

"Okaeri, Nezumi." Those eyes…

"Ta… daima." I'll catch those hands and massage the backs of them with my thumbs. I'm not letting those passionate eyes escape from before me just yet. "Have you been practising? That was quite a kiss, Shion."

He looks encouraged. "Remember, I don't forget anything once I've learned and reflected on it. And… I've had two years to reflect on returning that kiss to you properly."

"Shion…" I'm a gifted performer of classical verses; I've a scalding, razor-sharp wit; I never lose an argument; I'm no virgin… but now I have no adequate words. Instead, I'll speak with fingers through your hair, trace the scar from your cheek down around your neck, and bring my lips for a moment to the spot where it meets your shirt…

There's hot breath in my ear: "Nezumi… I've missed you so much…" Nibbles and kisses from there, down my neck, across my collarbone… "Surely you're staying here tonight? If you want, I can set up a guest room… or you can sleep with me."

I have to laugh, and of course he joins in too. That natural's still talking about guest rooms now? After all we've been through together, how did I ever think I was going to be able to keep him a stranger? "Can I see just how comfy that bed of yours is?"

If the ones who survive are the winners, then we winners deserve a prize to treasure for the rest of our lives. Mine is a miracle I could never forget. The longer I stayed away, the brighter your star became, Shion, always beckoning me back. In time, maybe I can tell you these things, and more.

End

Author's Note:

• "Omiyage" is Japanese for a "souvenir" or small gift travellers give friends and loved ones upon their return home.

• "Okaeri" and "Tadaima" mean "Welcome home" and "I'm home" and are common greetings used every time someone enters and leaves the home.

• The flower Shion is named for (紫苑) means either "I won't forget you" or just "remembrance." In English, it's called "Tartarian Aster." The name "aster" is derived from "star," because the flower was thought to be star-shaped.

UPDATED:
11/22 - It's come to my attention recently that this final chapter was leading people to believe a certain event/circumstance had happened that was not at all intended. I have changed/added wording to clarify that Safu has NOT had Shion's baby! I also took the opportunity to tweak some of Nezumi's thoughts and dialogue.

11/19 - I've finally begun to complete the sequel promised a while ago. It's called "The West Block." Four short chapters with a different character perspective each. (And don't believe this site's word count; the new story's chapters are under 600 words each.)

I hope you enjoyed this story. Comments are highly appreciated! :)