Author's Note: I've decided that Hakuren needs more love, so this is a cute little something that I came up with while photo shopping together a 07-Ghost signature.

Time-line: I only know the story up to the North American Manga release (chapter 17) and what the anime has shown thus far (episode 14), and this takes place at some point between the two, so please ignore any discrepancies that might arise from further knowledge.

And also, if you have read ahead, please no spoilers? *bows*

I hope you enjoy. Reviews and critique are most appreciated.

Disclaimer: This is a fan made work. Not for sale, auction, or distribution. I do not own 07-Ghost or any of its characters.

Warnings: Light shonen-ai (boyxboy).

Teito walked casually through the halls of the church, watching with mild interest as parishioners mingled in the main courtyard. Mikage was bouncing actively from one of his shoulders to the other, perfectly cheerful as usual. As Teito turned a corner, two young children ran past him, playing a game of tag. Teito dodged to the side to avoid them, causing the little pink dragon to fall short of his mark and have to latch onto the side of his robes to keep from falling.

"Pyaa!"

Teito quickly picked him up and held him in his hand.

"Hey, be careful, you."

Mikage growled playfully and jumped onto his head, chewing on Teito's hair. Teito rolled his eyes. Typical. Mikage would always be Mikage after all.

Teito soon found himself on one of the rooftop gardens. Nobody else was around, which was perfect for him. He plopped himself down on a bench and sighed, happy for a quiet place to think. Things had been getting more and more hectic with each day, especially with the Bishop's exam approaching. Even though he was getting better prepared for both the written and practical portions, his mind had been wandering more and more, and he was worried it was starting to show.

But he just couldn't stop thinking about him. Sometimes he would find himself daydreaming and then realize that he had spent hours just wondering about him, and feeling so content. Why?

Why couldn't he get him out of his mind?

"Hey! Teito!"

"Buru-pya!"

Teito looked over his shoulder to see his roommate jogging towards him. Mikage jumped to from Teito's head to the older boy's, purring happily. The blonde tapped the dragon on the head, earning a chomp on his finger, before turning back to Teito.

"What are you doing out here? I thought you said you'd be in the library."

Hakuren.

His view of Hakuren had changed so much in the short time since he'd met him. He was an incredibly strange individual, but Teito couldn't think of many people who could so easily and loyally attach themselves to another human being the way he did.

Mikage got bored with Hakuren and jumped back to Teito's shoulder, nuzzling his neck.

Maybe only one other.

"So, what are you doing all the way up here?"

"I just needed a place to think."

And Hakuren being there made it all the more difficult. How could he clear his mind when the person who had been plaguing it kept showing up? Hakuren always seemed to be able to track him down and would turn up everywhere he went. As the days went by, Hakuren seemed to want to be around him more and more. It was starting to get creepy.

And yet, Teito couldn't help but get this warm feeling in his chest every time he saw Hakuren.

"Oh." Hakuren took a seat next to Teito. "Do you come up here often, then? I don't think I've seen you in this part of the Church before."

"No," Teito said. "I haven't been up here recently at all." Not since Mikage died, now that he thought about it. What was it that compelled him to come this way to begin with he wondered…

"I see. Though you probably shouldn't be coming to such remote places be yourself, you know. In case you haven't noticed, trouble has a way of finding you awfully easily."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Teito jumped up and Hakuren laughed. Teito pouted, causing the blonde to laugh even harder.

"Nothing, but you're kind of cute when you get flustered."

Teito felt his face heat up, and he tried to hide it behind a glare. "What are you, my keeper? Is that why you keep following me everywhere?"

Hakuren's laugh finally died down and he looked up at Teito curiously.

"Following you?"

"Don't go playing dumb. I can't go anywhere without you showing your face two minutes later. Geez, you're such a stalker."

Hakuren stood up with a frown.

"Am I bothering you?"

Teito tensed. "No-no, I didn't say that-"

"Because if I'm in the way, then I'll just go somewhere else."

"I didn't say that!" The guy could be so unreasonable sometimes! Why did he have to take things so personally? "You can stay, alright?"

Hakuren studied him for a moment before walking up to him and reached over Teito's head. For a second he though he was going to mess up his hair and call him a school kid or something. Instead he felt a light brush on his hair before Hakuren withdrew.

"You had a leaf in your hair."

Hakuren held out the leaf for Teito to see.

"Oh… thanks." Why was his heart suddenly pounding so quickly? Teito swallowed. When Hakuren brushed against his hair… what was that feeling doing to him?

"Hey, are you alright."

Teito nodded once and looked away, hoping his blush wasn't obvious. He heard Hakuren take a step closer and felt his hand come down on his shoulder. Teito lifted his head up in surprise and Hakuren's lips press against his. Teito froze.

Wh-wh-what the hell was he doing!?

Teito's eyes widened. For a moment he was too stunned to do anything. But a second later he kissed him back, placing is hands on the older boy's shoulders and pulling him closer. He had no idea what he was doing. This light, warm feeling in his chest, the sensation of Hakuren against him... Why did it feel so right?

He felt a tickle on the back of his neck, and he tried to shrug the annoying cause away, mad that it was ruining this moment. A second later it felt like a weight had fallen from the back of his neck and he heard a pained sound.

"Pya!"

Teito immediately pulled back, felt that he stepped on something soft, and heard another pained squeak. He gasped and quickly leaped off of Mikage's tail. The little dragon jumped up and ran up to Teito's chest, and Teito quickly wrapped his arms around its tiny form, nuzzling his soft fur.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. He'd forgotten Mikage was even there. How could he? How could he do something so horrible?

"So am I."

Teito jolted his head up. Hakuren.

Hakuren looked at him with hurt in his eyes. Cold dread fell into the pit of Teito's stomach. Hakuren had just made himself so vulnerable to him and he just pushed him away. Teito opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He didn't know what to say. This feeling he had when he was around Hakuren… he wanted more of it. He had such a strong, uncontrollable desire to be with Hakuren.

But, Mikage…

Hakuren closed his eyes and turned around. "I'm sorry... I'll go now." He walked out of the courtyard and disappeared into the dark breezeway. Long after he was gone, Teito continued to stare.

He was alone again. Just he and Mikage. It was like it had always been, after all. Teito softly stroked the little dragon behind the ears, getting a happy growl/purr in response. It was all he had ever wanted.

So what was this heavy weight pressing against his chest? Why was his head pounding and breathing becoming harder to do? There was a horrible empty feeling in his heart, something he hadn't felt since Mikage died.

Teito squeezed his eyes shut and hugged Mikage close. Why this horrible feeling of loss? Hakuren wasn't dying. He was still with him, as his roommate, partner, and friend. So similar to what he had with Mikage. It was all he had needed with Mikage.

But he wanted more than that. He wanted Hakuren so badly it made his heart ache and head spin. But how could he? Did he care for him more than he had Mikage? Was that possible? Was it fair? Why did it feel like betrayal?

Teito ran out of the courtyard and back into the Church's main building, feeling Mikage clinging safely into his shoulder. He didn't know. He didn't know the answers to any of the questions that barraged his very soul.

He sprinted as fast at he could, turning randomly, not even sure if he was on the right trail, just hoping he could find Hakuren. Because the one thing he did know was that he would not loose him like this. He refused to loose anyone important to him ever again.

He spotted the end of Hakuren's long blonde ponytail just as he turned the corner into the dorm wing.

"Hakuren!"

He didn't know what he was going to say. He didn't know what to do. He just knew he couldn't let Hakuren go.

"Hakuren, wait!"

[End Chapter One]

To be continued…つづく

Author's Note 2: If I finish this, it'll probably be only one more part, but I'm not sure if I'm going to yet. Let me know if you liked it or not and I'll see. Thanks for reading!