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The glass he was holding fell to the ground in an instant, splitting into a multitude of small shards of glass that adorned the floor like a strange, unconventional painting; he withdrew quickly, clutching the hand that had dropped the glass to his chest, widening his eyes as he watched the scene.
"Inui are you okay ?! What happened ?!" Draken asked worried, rushing into the kitchen after hearing the sound of the glass shattering. "I'm fine, the glass just slipped from my hands." Inui said, observing Draken who had come only in boxer and a white sock with red stripes due to his haste. He was not sure of the reason but the scene seemed rather comical, to the point that a light laugh escaped his lips while Draken remained in total confusion, there was nothing to laugh about, how could he have known if Inui had been hurt or not ? He had to be ready for anything, he couldn't look after the clothes.
"Having you as a roommate is absolutely hilarious" Inui said after having stopped laughing, narrowing his gaze slightly and getting up from the chair where he was comfortably seated just before. "Hey stop, there are glasses on the ground, you could get hurt. I'm going to get a shovel and a dustpan." Before he could even look away from Inui, he had already disappeared into thin air, returning shortly afterwards with a broom and dustpan, starting to free the floor from the disproportionate number of glasses. Draken remained silent watching his friend clean the floor, scratching his neck a little irritated by the speed with which he had cleaned everything.
"Anyway, why are you in the kitchen at ... 3:27 am?" Draken asked after checking the clock on the wall, covering his mouth for an unexpected yawn. "I couldn't sleep and I had a glass of peach juice but it didn't end very well." he said as he approached Draken with narrowed eyes. As soon as they were facing each other he gently rested his head on Draken's chest closing his eyes as he held his breath unconsciously. The taller boy was initially surprised, tightening the muscles in his body as he quickly closed his hands; it was a strange sensation, but absolutely pleasant, feeling Inui's warmth made him feel good, it reminded him that he was not alone. He placed a hand on Inui's soft blond hair, remaining motionless for several minutes, it was a too good moment to be interrupted, he would have loved to stay like this forever.
"Let's go to sleep" Inui said softly, without moving a muscle but slowly opening his crystalline eyes. Draken did not answer, he simply removed his hand from his hair seeing how in the following seconds Inui slowly walked away from him and headed for his room, stopping on the door jamb to give a last brief greeting with his hand to Draken. He replied with a bright smile, heading to his room, closing the door behind his back.
"Shit .." he leaned his head against the door and let himself slide down to sit on the ground, his face burned as if he had just eaten the hottest thing ever created, he felt his heart pounding in his chest, so hard that he was afraid it would burst at any moment. He put both hands on his face trying to cool it down a bit, even if to no avail; he didn't know how to define what he was feeling, he was so happy, embarrassed, confused, full of energy. The only thing he knew was that he wanted to feel the warmth of Inui's body close to his body again, he craved it more than anything else. He wanted to hold him close, caress his soft blond hair, hold his face in his hands, kiss his nose and then move to his lips, lick and suck his pale neck leaving red marks that would remain days, touch him as he never touched anyone.
He slapped his face after all those thoughts, he thought he was mad crazy, since when did he start feeling all those feelings for his friend who now was making his heart beat faster?
He snorted in annoyance as he rose from the floor and staggered to the bed, letting himself fall with his eyes closed. Thinking wouldn't help, it was also late, he just wanted to sleep so he could go back to seeing Inui's sweet face that accompanied him throughout the day. He opened his eyes slightly as he settled into a more comfortable position, turning his gaze to the left where he could see the photo of Emma, Mikey and himself framed next to the bright red alarm clock. Very slowly he brought his hand close to the image of Emma, stroking her rosy and smiling face with his index finger; he wondered if the feelings he was developing were caused by the enormous emptiness he felt. He loved Emma more than anyone else, why on earth would he have to fall in love with someone else? It didn't make sense.
"To hell" with a snap he removed his hand from the photo of the deceased girl, turning over in bed with his eyes burning, trying in every way to fall asleep. He didn't want to think anymore, he just wanted some peace.
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Engine oil stained his gloved hands and face as he was fixing another motorcycle; the customer said that the bike in question had some kind of problem somewhere. The description of the thing was not liked by Draken, who had to examine the whole bike to find that it had a small hole in the tank and had a brake that probably worked for some kind of miracle. Fixing it hadn't been easy but not impossible, by now Draken felt invincible in this field, nobody was as good as him in fixing bikes. The only one who could compete with his talents was Inui, the boy, even if he might seem inexperienced to someone, was absolutely capable and prepared; he believed that everything he knew had been taught to him by Shinichiro when he was little. Inui had not forgotten anything, not even a lesson or a small hint, he had listened to the older man with pure and simple admiration. Draken was surprised, he didn't expect Inui to be so attached to Shinichiro but how to blame him, anyone who knew him began to admire and appreciate him, he was just too perfect.
"Sei can you pass me a rag?" Draken asked not paying much attention to what the other was doing. Inui who was carefully observing Draken's every movement moved to take the requested rag, returning with the object in his hands. Seeing the dirty face of the taller boy he walked over to him and started wiping some oil. "As always you get too dirty Ken, can't you pay more attention?" Inui said sternly, continuing to wipe his face. Draken closed his eyes trying to move his face slightly embarrassed by the situation, he felt like an idiot child.
After cleaning his friend's face well, Inui placed the rag on Draken's hands, giving him a sweet smile. "Much better, now I'm going to get something to eat, I can see you're getting hungry." he said heading towards the kitchen, Draken was surprised, how did he understand that he was starving? After a few seconds he shrugged, wiping his oil-stained hands as he got up from the ground; he took one last look at the motorcycle satisfied with the result, it was as good as a new one.
"Hey Draken how are you?" a voice different from the one of Inui called him, he was surprised not expecting anyone's visit but seeing who was bothering him he beamed up. "Mitsuya is good to see you!" Draken said approaching his friend, giving him a light pat on the shoulder, Mitsuya chuckled pulling his hands out of his pockets and returning the greeting. "So? How's your new life going?" the lilac-haired boy asked, looking at him with narrowed eyes.
Draken replied with a "everything okay" "nothing special" Mitsuya smiled slightly, you could see from a mile away that he was really feeling good and happy. Soon they were already talking animatedly about how their futures would be better than each other, laughing and joking like the childhood friends they were; listening to their cackles was Inui dumbfounded, he had no idea what he should do. He was holding a saucer in his hands with bits of watermelon cut into cubes on it ready to be eaten, the problem was that it wasn't just him and Draken, Mitsuya was there too, and he didn't like it.
He didn't hate the lilac-haired boy, in reverse he was a very kind and nice person but at the moment the situation was putting too much pressure on him. Often he denied it but Inui often got anxious when there were people he didn't know or had only met once or twice, especially since Draken was there too. He didn't want to be seen weak and clumsy in front of his only friend so he quietly decided to sit on the ground and eat the watermelon alone.
During this time, Draken and Mitsuya spent several minutes together, as if they had stepped back in time, when everything was so easy and carefree. The lilac boy offered to come to his house any day to spend some time together and Draken accepted without even thinking, the idea was wonderful, he wanted to see how his friend's little sisters had grown. After almost an hour Mitsuya went away greeting his friend kindly, only then Draken realized Inui's disappearance, when the lilac boy disappeared from his sight he quickly went to the kitchen to find Inui crouched on the ground with his eyes closed and dozing.
It was such a beautiful vision, almost like in a dream, Inui's face was slightly illuminated by the light coming through the window highlighting his long lashes and his reddish burn. Draken slowly approached his friend, sitting next to him, he wanted so bad to hold him close and kiss the burn on his face but decided that it was better not to disturb Inui from his deep sleep; he probably hadn't slept much the night before. He also noticed the white plate to his left, there were still three pieces of watermelon waiting to be eaten, Draken did not hesitate to use it himself to appease his hunger even if slightly.
"Ken?" Inui's soft voice warmed the face of the taller boy, who turned all his attention to Inui; their gazes met for a few seconds, giving a sensation of warmth to Draken's entire body.
"Did you sleep well?" the tallest asked chuckling as he ate a piece of watermelon looking away, he heard a faint yawn and then Inui's head resting on his shoulder. He felt he was about to drown.
"Much better than I thought," he said closing his eyes and settling himself comfortably against Draken's shoulder, stealing the last piece of watermelon from his hand and eating it in one bite.
"That was mine." Draken said narrowing his gaze as he bitterly stared at the blonde on his right, receiving a dazzling smile in response. It was absolutely not fair, he jumped up causing Seishu to fall who no longer had a support to be comfortable, who made a light "Ow" as he slammed against the cold floor. Draken simply stared at him with an air of superiority, obviously he would never admit when Inui was beautiful lying on the ground with all his hair tousled and a pout on his lips, for nothing in the world.
"How's it on the floor?" he asked lowering himself to his level with that smile still on his lips, Inui simply pushed him away, rising from the ground offended. "I'll never give you watermelon again in my life." "Not that you exactly gave it to me my dear" he knew he had said it but he felt burning for that little nickname he had given Inui.
"I am neither dear nor yours, Doraken," Inui said letting his tongue out of his mouth and heading towards the bikes of the shop leaving the aforementioned Doraken behind. Draken was left in the kitchen with a stupid smile thinking about how beautiful Inui was with his tongue sticking out of his peach-pink lips, he had to bang his head against the wall to come back to himself.
"Fuck fuck fuck"
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It was a particularly important day for Inui, it was the day his sister died many years before, Draken had never known how the girl had died, he felt that it was not fair to ask but wanted to get more comfortable with Seishu. He wanted the older boy to feel safe with him, safe enough to tell him everything but often he wasn't and it made him suffer more than normal. His past was not very clear either, he understood that his five year older sister had died when Seishu was ten years old due to an accident in his house and after that day his life got worse as well as his friendship with Koko, the guy who was in love with his older sister and his best friend.
As several thoughts about Inui buzzed in Draken's head he decided what to wear, hastily donning his shirt and diapers and heading to his motorcycle where Seishu was waiting patiently for him with a blank expression stuck to his pale face. Seeing him like this was not pleasant at all, his chest tightened and all he wanted was to hold him close to comfort him.
"Are you sure you want to accompany me?" Inui asked looking at his shoes, lower black heels than usual. "Obviously, don't make yourself so much trouble for so little," Draken replied, getting on his beloved bike and starting the engine. He gave a sweet smile to the boy beside him, waiting for him to get on the bike with him. After a few seconds and a sigh, Inui finds himself sitting behind Draken, resting his face on his right shoulder and closing his crystalline eyes covered by his blond hair.
"Hold on tight" the engine made a loud roar before setting off and hurtling through the streets. Draken felt Seishu squeeze him close to him, resting his chest on his back, it was one of the best sensations he could experience even if it gave him a strange feeling of nostalgia, remembering when Miley used to cling to him like this, often ending up falling asleep. Sometimes they went through the streets together on different bikes but Mikey's one got stuck halfway and he was forced to take him away with him, always with a big smile on his face. He bit his lip trying to forget the past or at least not think about such a moment while Inui was like that.
After a few minutes he found himself in front of the door of the cemetery, stopping in the nearest parking lot; without needing to explain the situation Seishu broke away from Draken, letting a freezing cold hit the back of the tallest. He got off the bike very quickly, heading towards the cemetery without waiting for Draken, who was a bit surprised by Inui's attitude but let it go without problems. He got off the bike, turning it off and giving it a quick goodbye kiss and then headed for the cemetery door, having lost all trace of Seishu.
"And now what am I supposed to do ..." he decided to look after Inui, he couldn't have gone that far, he thought, but after several minutes he gave up and gave himself a new goal. He walked through the narrow streets of the cemetery, sure of his footsteps and with an eye on each grave; seeing how many people had died, of the most disparate ages left a strange feeling in Draken. But as soon as he read the name of the person he was looking for, he stopped.
'Emma Sano' was written on the girl's grave, he closed his eyes, for no apparent reason but remaining like that for several seconds, when he reopened them it was all the same as before, Emma Sano was still written on that grave and it didn't seem like it would disappear.
What could he expect, she was dead after all.
He placed his hands on top of each other and offered a silent pray for the dead girl, his first love and for a long time it also seemed to be the only one, until he started to talk with Seishu Inui, the boy with the most angelic face he had ever known.
"You know Emma, I think I fell in love." he admitted looking seriously at the tomb in front of him, he didn't know why but he felt that by revealing the truth the girl would understand him, she would support him. "Don't tell me! Really?" He did not expect to receive an answer, but it was a pity that the voice did not come in the least from his beloved Emma but from a very agitated Chifuyu, more than usual. Draken stared straight into his eyes, not moving a muscle for several seconds, blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't mad and, eventually, a massive blush showed up on his cheeks.
"YOU- WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ?!" He said, too embarrassed, too agitated, he did not expect his visit in the slightest and not even the one of Kazutora, who was at Chifuyu's side holding his hand like a happy and sweet couple. "Tora and I came to feed the cats in this cemetery, we've been doing it every Saturday for some time now." "What about you? You wanted to tell Emma that you have finally understood that there is not only her and that you want to be happy again with another person, preferably someone you share work and home with, who wears heels most of the time, have a burn on his face and blonde hair? " Kazutora said with a relaxed expression on his face, Chifuyu and Draken were both surprised by the boy's words.
"Draken" all three boys froze upon hearing the soft voice of the boy who had been invoked involuntarily. Seishu slowly approached Draken, placing himself in front of him ignoring the fact that Chifuyu and Kazutora were there too. He seemed hesitant but after a few seconds he took the tallest's hand and squeezed it, bringing it close to his chest as he closed his eyes; Draken could easily tell that he was in a state of stress just from the long breaths that came out of his rosy lips.
"What-" "There was Koko in front of Akane's grave, he had white hair ... And when he saw me, he smiled at me and..." he said keeping his gaze down, his voice trembling faintly, as if he could burst at any moment. Draken could not help himself and hugged him, making him rest his face on his shoulder, gently stroking his blond hair as he felt him clinging to his shirt.
"Let's go home," he said as he cuddled him, waiting for him to feel better leaving light kisses on his hair, almost imperceptible. Meanwhile Kazutora had a serene face, proud of himself, while Chifuyu was about to start crying from how tender he found them, now he understood what Kazutora meant.
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It was Draken's birthday and the boy was working on the most damaged motorcycle he had ever seen, it would take several hours but in return the customer would have paid well and had given him a lot of time to fix the bike. He had been invited to Pah's house to celebrate the birthday and obviously he couldn't refuse, he was happy to see his friends, his only family besides the brothel. He hadn't even realized that Seishu had sat down beside him, watching Draken's deft hand movements.
"Good morning Ken," Seishu said, slightly scaring the taller one, who turn around to look at him. Inui had a small chocolate cupcake in his hands, decorated with stars of different colors and cream, with a single cherry towering over the cake. Draken watched it for a few seconds before a sweet smile showed on his rosy lips; he took a rag and wiped his hands with a giggle. "Tonight we also have a party that will be super full of shit and you are already starting to spoil me?" Draken asked taking the cupcake in his hands and looking at it with a sprinkle of red on his cheeks.
"You better enjoy it because making it wasn't easy," Inui said with a chuckle, leaving the room with a confused Draken looking at the cupcake in his hands. "Wait, did you make it?" He asked to no one since Inui was gone now, leaving the question to disappear in the air. He could not help but look at the cake and smile, Inui didn't like cooking very much but he had done it for him, just for him. Maybe he was thinking about too many mental movies but it made him feel really special.
It didn't taste particularly good, but for Draken it was the best dessert of his life.
By seven in the evening he was ready to go, elegant dressed as Pah requested. He was more excited than he should, he was more than adult and yet the birthdays for him were still so joyful and cheerful as to give him an adrenaline rush in the body. The only thing missing was Inui, he was in his room changing and Draken did nothing but think about what he would wear, Inui was one of the people with the best sense of style he knew, obviously after Mitsuya.
If someone had asked him what he had seen coming out of the door he would have undoubtedly said an angel.
He had a black dress that reached his feet but didn't cover them, showing his beautiful golden heels that fit him perfectly, as if they were made just for him. The dress tightened around his hips, highlighting how narrow his waist was, his shoulders were bare as well as his arms, on his wrist he had a silver watch that he remembered having given him a birthday past. He would have never thought that Inui could become even more beautiful but there it is, in all he's glory.
"I know it's a woman's dress, but do you think it will be okay anyway?" he asked, a slight hint of insecurity in his voice. Draken swore to himself that if he changed clothes he would have killed himself here and now, nothing and no one could decide what the blond could wear. "Absolutely, don't worry, you're perfect like this." he said holding out his hand which Inui took and shook slightly embarrassed. He escorted him to his car, he didn't want to let him get cold with the bike, he opened the door and received a light laugh in response, he knew it was his birthday but now everything revolved around the blond sitting in his car with him. It didn't take long before they arrived at Pan's house, or rather, his second home; it was the house he used for parties and holidays, in fact it was huge, with a swimming pool and a personal bar.
Draken knocked on the door with Inui behind him, he was nervous and probably uncertain about his appearance and even if he tried not to show it for Draken was easy to understand. He took Inui's hand again, giving him a comforting smile, which was returned by the blonde boy. The door opened and Draken was thrown to the ground, a large dog was washing his face while Inui watched the scene dumbfounded.
"Pochi! Get off!" Draken said with a chuckle as he cuddled the dog, he had never understood how he got so in tune with the quadruped but after all he always considered him a very intelligent dog. "Pochi! Leave Draken alone!" Peh yelled, with his usual perennially angry look, but the dog did not seem to appreciate his intervention and began to bark at the man who, frightened, ran and hid behind Mitsuya. The lilac haired boy had watched the whole scene impassively, after the dog got tired of his position on Draken he quietly left and Mitsuya could not help but laugh.
"You are nice and clean now celebrated!" Mitsuya said offering his hand to help Draken get up, who willingly accepted and got back on his feet. Mitsuya's gaze moved quickly towards Inui, he was petrified and tried to move away but he wouldn't had let him.
"Inui! It's nice to see you! You have a wonderful dress" a slight blush showed on Seishu's cheeks, who never expected to receive compliments on the clothing from Mitsuya himself, in a certain way he felt honored and decided to give him a soft smile, relaxing the shoulder muscles. "I appreciate you being friends and stuff but how about going in? I'm kind of hungry you know" Draken said already in the house and carefully observing every movement of the two boys, he knew it was stupid and selfish but he didn't want to leave Inui alone with anyone.
Everyone was at the party, Mitsuya, Peh, Pah, Hakkay and Yuzuha, Takemichi, Smiley and Angry, Chifuyu and Kazutora, laughing, drinking and having fun. All except one of course, at the thought Draken felt a bitter taste sting his tongue but tried not to think about it, to smile, to act as he should even if that annoying feeling remained. The only thing that made the party pleasant for Draken was the touch of Inui's hand on his, that now familiar grip that warmed his heart, his soft voice.
"I know what you're thinking," he stopped, tightening his muscles. "You miss him, I know, I understand. But don't worry, I'm here." Inui said, looking down, perhaps out of embarrassment, perhaps out of nostalgia, without letting go of Draken's hand. The tallest had never felt so predictable as now, he felt that Inui would understand every single thought, mood, everything. He felt, in a way, helpless, but the knowledge that the only person who would understand everything about him was the one he had fallen in love with was comforting. And his words were so appropriate that a light laugh left his lips, he couldn't ask anything better then this. He didn't have Emma, he didn't have Mikey, but he wasn't alone, he had his friends and Inui by his side. He didn't even realize when a single small tear wet his cheek.
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The more the days passed the more the feelings that Draken felt for Inui increased, and he didn't know what to do. He was determined to tell him the whole truth, to confess what he felt, all the love he had stuck in his throat, but it was scarier than he thought. If he rejected him, he didn't know what he would have done, how he would go on, if they would remain friends or not talk to him again, leaving home and changing jobs. The thought was dereterious to his poor brain which at the moment was just telling him to get out and get some fresh air but he had to finish that damn bike by tomorrow and there was still too much shit to do.
When he saw Inui's soft and pale hand resting on his he lost a beat, the blood in his veins stopped flowing and his gaze focused on the most beautiful hand he had ever seen, which always remained soft and neat even after all the repairs that he did.
"What's wrong?" Seishu asked looking at Draken in the eyes, today he had a tender high ponytail that left only a few locks free that slightly covered his face. Draken only now realized that he was going to screw in a bolt with a hammer, which is not exactly conventional or functional, a low laugh left his lips as he put his free hand through his hair, ruffling it and ruining his black braid.
"I'm just a little thoughtful," Draken said moving his hand away from Inui's but the blond took it with both hands and squeezed it. When we talk about communication between Inui and Draken there were always touches, handshakes or caresses, it was their way of knowing that they were not alone, that the other one was there to console and help him. Inui was not good with words, or rather he hardly spoke so he preferred these quick and sweet contacts rather than animated speech. Draken had to surrender to Seishu's sweet insistence, feeling his hand warmed by the blond's hands.
Draken finally looked into Seishu's eyes, the boy had a worried expression, he could see himself a mile away that he was completely focused on the black pools that were Draken's eyes. The pitch eyes softened and without thinking too much he placed a hand on Seishu's cheek, bringing his face close to his, waiting for some kind of reaction, positive or not.
Inui blushed slightly but remained impassive, motionless, not breaking eye contact with the tallest, he was really determined to know what was tormenting the man. Draken felt that if he had moved even just a few centimeters ahead he would have met the blond's lips, he knew, and yet he could not move any further, ending up receding embarrassed, removing his hand from his cheek.
"Don't think about it too much Sei, I'm just sleepy, I haven't slept much" that was half the truth, in fact he had slept probably only three hours but the reason why he didn't even know how to screw a bolt was the boy in front of him and his pretty face . He would have expected everything, everything, except that Inui hugged him resting his head on his shoulder, sighing.
"You're the best person I know but absolutely the worst at lying. Listen, if it's something that doesn't include me or you don't want to tell me, just tell me 'I don't want to tell you', I'll understand, but don't lie to me, you just can't." his words were so warm, so soft that they destroyed the world of Draken every damn time. His unparalleled strength, his impassive being, his convictions, all had been taken and destroyed by those words. It was late now, his mouth was already open and his voice was already escaping from his lips, relentless.
"I love you Seishu."
Inui remained motionless for several seconds, only after making mentally sure that he heard correctly he move away from the tallest, looking him straight in the eyes, a blush covered his normally pale face. "You are the best thing that has happened to me after Mikey was gone, after Emma was gone. I didn't think I would be able to love, feel physical or sentimental attraction for anyone anymore, yet look at me. I'm completely lost for the guy who's looking at me in the eyes right now, so lost that I'm confessing everything I think about without reasoning, in a disastrous, messed-up way. " he laughed alone, shaking his head. "I know this is the most pathetic confession you have ever received but do I still have hope?" he asked with a smile on his face.
Seishu looked into his eyes without the slightest sign of life, he didn't expect Draken to feel all this for him, he had never felt so loved in his life, he had never felt something like this. "Forget it, forget everything I've said, I'm going for a walk." Draken said, trying to get up but was blocked by the soft hand of Inui, who was trying in every possible way to prevent his gaze from crossing with Draken's one.
"Do you really think what you said?" Inui asked, wavering, it could have been a joke, a kind of mockery of him but when Draken caressed his cheek and looked into his eyes he realized how serious he was, how much he cared. "Every single word," he smiled slightly, his cheeks flushed. Suddenly time stopped, all of a sudden Inui was pressing his rosy lips on Draken's, placing a hand on his neck and not letting go of Draken's hand that he had been holding all that time, like a lifeline .
It was a clumsy, pure kiss, with no hidden motive, one and simple love shared between two people. Draken even if surprised didn't take long to return the kiss, pressing Inui closer with his free hand, he wanted the moment to never end, he felt that he was living a moment of pure happiness, something he never felt before. After a few seconds they detach at the same time to look into each other's eyes, sharing the same thought, ending up kissing again several times, as if the other's mouth were the best drug ever tried.
After several minutes they finally broke away, cheeks on fire but with a smile on their lips. Inui rested his forehead on the one of the boy in front of him, inhaling and exhaling slowly, enjoying the moment of peace.
"You know Draken, from the moment we started working together at the shop I realized that I felt something for you. Something deep and damn annoying, I knew that at the time I was nobody to you so over time, I got used to being a simple friend. But these feelings, this annoying feeling never left me, every time I looked at you I thought about how attractive you were, kind, sweet, funny, kind, perfect. " he stopped talking for a few seconds, looking at Draken's completely red and surprised face.
He chuckled softly. "If it wasn't clear enough, I like you too" and with this he started kissing the soft lips of the tallest once again. Draken even though he was still dazed and surprised, he happily returned. Draken wasn't used at all to hearing Seishu express his feelings even though Takemichi had previously revealed to him that Inui was very worried about him during the time he joined the Brahaman. Thinking about it today he had a really stupid idea, Mikey had gone his own way and so had Draken. It was okay like that, he and Inui against the world. The kiss was longer and more passionate and all the while they were kissing Ken thought about how lucky he was to be there today, with Seishu in his arms watching him embarrassed as he walked away from the panting kiss.
In that moment, in that exact instant, he realized how much he loved to be alive.