Utakata [Transience] - NaoxShin - 3/4
Title: Utakata
Author: silveryxdark @ arcoireis
Rating: PG/PG-13?
Genre: Romance, fluff, minor angst
Warning: Manxman, possible romantic cliches etc.
Disclaimer: I will never own them. D:
Summary: Life is ephemeral and seasons continue their stately march. Time passes by, waiting for no one, but Shin waits.
A/N: Oh my god. I know it has been moooonths since I updated but I hope this story hasn't been forgotten. And it's Shin's birthday today so I thought I just HAD to update this today. XD I hope you like it as always. <3 As always, dedicated to granitemouth <3
[HARU] [NATSU]
Autumn.
Leaves turn from the lush, deep green of summer, to various hues of red and gold - the colours of autumn. It is a bit of a contradiction, Shin thinks, for the warm colours signify the advent of a far cooler season. A season much less warm and humid than the one before, a season where one would be greeted with the sight of plants turning several different colours, a season when cool breezes shake fragile plants and kiss one's skin.
It is the season between summer and winter, warmth and cold, life and death.
It is not yet so deep into autumn that everything around Shin is coloured red and gold. Not yet, no. It is only the second week of September, and in Tokyo, the leaves are still defiantly green. They have barely begun to lose their colour.
Shin recalls how, in some areas of Hokkaido, the leaves would have already started changing. Some would already be a riot of shades. The temperatures there would have dropped quite low indeed. The air would already smell fresh and cool, though not quite sharp.
He remembers the way Nao would smile and breathe in that sweet air, face illuminated with a radiant joy, arms spread wide in welcome, as he stood at the window. Then he would turn and beam at Shin, before walking over and kissing him passionately - wishing him a happy birthday in a gentle whisper, caressing his face and stroking his hair.
Shin misses it, admittedly. He misses Nao's golden presence, so much that sometimes it feels like his heart would burst if he thinks too much about him. But there has not been a day when he doesn't miss Nao. Seven months, three weeks and two days, since Shin let Nao go. Nao has always been a free-running spirit after all, and letting him go was for the best.
Some days, Shin feels like he has almost lost count of exactly how long it has been since Nao left. But only almost. He knows, deep in his heart, he will not forget. He never will, as long as he loves and believes in Nao.
And he knows that it will be for his whole life - his whole life and beyond.
Nao promised him, after all. I will come back, love. Just wait for me. I promise to return, he wrote. Nao has yet to break a promise and Shin knows he will not break this one.
Shin can recall, as clear as if it happened the day before, the very first birthday he spent with Nao. Three days before his birthday, Nao practically skipped into their room and woke him up from a lovely afternoon nap, dreaming of a summer day he spent with Nao.
If it was anyone else, Shin would have ignored him and gone back to sleep. But well - it was Nao, grinning widely, and he would gladly trade his dream Nao for the real one any day.
And Nao would never wake him from his dear afternoon naps unless he had something important to tell him.
"What's the news today, Naoran?" Shin asked, looking up at his lover from the futon.
Nao laughed and swooped down, kissing him, before he got up and responded breathlessly, "Pack up for a couple of days, love. We are going to Hokkaido!"
Shin blinked at him, not entirely sure if he was hearing things correctly, still a little flushed from the passionate kiss he had just received. "Um... Hokkaido? What for?"
Nao laughed softly again, a musical sound that lifted Shin's heart. "Well, aside from the fact that it's been quite some time since I last visited my hometown, I want to take you to somewhere in Hokkaido to celebrate your birthday," he replied earnestly. Before Shin could ask further, he added, "I have a reason, love. You will see when we get there. I promise, it'll be great! Now, pack!"
"Wait! What about Isshi, Akiya and Izumi?" Shin asked, thinking about how he always spent his past birthdays with them instead.
"I told them already, and they've agreed to come along! Did you really think I would leave our best friends out of this? It's your special day after all, Shinpei. All of us should celebrate it with you, right?" Nao beamed, kissing Shin's nose playfully. "And don't worry about work! I helped you to get a few days off - Aoi-san is very nice! Of course, it might have been because I'm so charming and glib and I love you so much."
Shin laughed at that, and sat up, smiling at his lover. He leaned forward and caught his lips in a slow, loving kiss. Pulling away after a while, he breathed, "That sounds great, Naoran. Thank you for everything."
"Don't mention it, Shin. I love you," Nao said, stroking his hair. "I love you."
That was how Shin found himself on the plane next to Nao, two days after the talk. They had decided to take an early flight there, and Shin was dozing off with his head resting on Nao's shoulder. Isshi sat on Nao's other side, while Izumi and Akiya sat in front of them, both sleeping and curled against one another.
"So... why Hokkaido, Nao-kun?" Shin heard Isshi ask.
"Well, like I said, I was born there. Whenever my family came back to Japan, it was usually spring or autumn. Hokkaido gets autumn earlier than the rest of Japan, and my family used to watch koyo there, all of us. The only thing I liked about autumn was that. Koyo. But now... I've got another, even better reason to love autumn."
Shin could not help but smile into Nao's shoulder. He heard Isshi chuckle, "That's pretty cheesy, Nao-kun."
"It's true," Nao said quietly, and Shin could feel him begin to caress his hand. "Because of Shin... I've begun to appreciate autumn a lot more. In many, many ways, it can be just as lovely as spring. Sometimes, even more so. Like Shin himself. It can be quiet and understated, sometimes not quite appreciated. But autumn is beautiful. You've just got to see it. And Shin is the most beautiful person I've ever met."
"You really do love him, huh?"
"Yes. Very much so, with all my heart."
Shin forced back the tears threatening to leak out beneath his shut eyelids. He was touched by those words - simple but sincere. Though Nao was a bubbly, carefree person - some might even say flippant - he was a much deeper person than he let on. After all, was that not why he first fell in love with Nao? Because he was so full of life and love, because he could see just how sincere Nao was, and because Nao was the one person who could break Shin's shell and see him for all that he really was.
Nao knew him inside and out. Their connection went beyond physical levels, it was something rooted deeply in their souls.
"You little eavesdropper," Nao murmured softly, and Shin felt his lips press against his cheek.
Shin blushed and looked up through watery eyes at Nao, taking in his sweet smile and sparkling eyes. "You were talking so loudly, Naoran. How could I not hear you?"
Nao brushed his tears away with a slender finger, and held him closer, kissing his cheek again. "We've still got an hour to go, Shinpei. I don't want you to be tired for the rest of the day, all right? Sleep, won't you? I'll tell you when we're about to land."
"Alright," Shin mumbled, drifting off to sleep again, inhaling Nao's sweet scent.
It was not long before they reached Asahikawa. The airport was large and spotlessly clean. Plenty of people milled about - not just their own countrymen, but a couple of groups of tourists as well. Nao held his hand tightly - proudly - weaving through the crowd with ease, ignoring some disapproving stares and whispers from passers-by. A long time ago, Shin would have cared, perhaps snatched his hand away and pretended that there was nothing going on, but Nao was so confident that he stopped caring, too.
Isshi, Akiya and Izumi followed closely behind them, and once they were out of the airport, Nao hailed a taxi and told the driver an unfamiliar address, at least to Shin. He looked up at Nao questioningly, but Nao just winked and kept his mouth shut, to which the rest shrugged and let Nao lead the way.
They stopped in front of an apartment building that was not particularly remarkable at all - indeed, it was one of many along the street. Nao, however, was positively bouncing as he stepped out and all but dragged Shin along. He looked around, and to his surprise the security guard beamed at Nao, talking to him like an uncle who had just seen his favourite nephew visit.
"That's Yuuta-ojisan. He's been here forever and practically watched me grow up. Yeah, I used to live here with my parents. We rent it out during summer and winter. My parents usually return during spring and autumn, but they are both on a vacation now - you could say it's a second honeymoon. So here we are!" Nao explained happily, as he fished out a keychain from his pocket to unlock the door they had stopped in front of.
When they stepped into the apartment, Shin was awed by how big the apartment was. He could see that it was really pretty large, and the clean, minimalist furniture only served to give the illusion of further space. It did not really look like a flat that a family of three with a grown-up son lived in - no, it looked like a place that a small, suburban family, perhaps newlyweds with an infant child, would buy.
"This isn't what I expected," Izumi remarked.
"I kind of thought it'd be messier," Akiya added, then pointed at the PlayStation 3 game console lying near the television set. "Oh! May I play with it later? Please?"
Nao burst out laughing. "Yeah, go ahead. Let's see... who's going to bunk with who? I'm with Shin, obviously... you three?"
"I think I'll share a room with Isshi this time," Izumi said dryly. "Being woken up at three in the morning by Akiya yelling about how he beat the boss after ten hours of gaming takes its toll on you."
"Hey! I do not!"
"You do!"
"Break it up, guys, we're in Nao's house!" Isshi scolded.
Nao and Shin were, however, laughing at the scene before them. Shin was highly amused, and was almost reluctant to excuse himself from them when Nao started to pull him away. But it was Nao, after all, and he was willing to go wherever he pulled him. They ended up in a large room down the hallway, the walls of which were painted purple and white, and a white tree was painted next to the bed. A study desk cluttered with books and figurines stood in another corner, but aside from that, everything else was really quite clean.
"Whoa. This is your room?" Shin asked, surprised at the colours that so contrasted with the rest of the whitewashed flat.
"Yeah. We'll stay in here for the time being. Tomorrow, we head to Daisetsuzan!" Nao responded eagerly. "Come on, let's unpack, then we can grab lunch and sightsee a bit! And tonight I'll give you your, ah, early birthday present, shall I?"
Shin grinned. "Yes, please," he said, and flung his arms around Nao, kissing him joyously.
Nao returned the kiss happily, holding him close. He pressed his forehead against Shin's and murmured, "Shin, I really hope you'll like what I have planned for you. I love you so much and I want to make your birthday special."
Shin smiled. "Nao, as long as it's you, I know it's going to be great."
Nao laughed softly. "That's good to hear, love."
For once, Shin thought that things would not take a turn for the worse, not when everything seemed so good and would only get better. And he was right.
Akiya and Izumi took responsibility for cooking lunch, which was actually really good. Then Nao happily took them around the city for several hours, before he took them to an eatery that, according to him, was run by some family friends.
Shin hardly felt embarrassed now, when Nao proudly introduced him to his friends as his lover. He smiled and bowed, and was glad to see that they were smiling in approval at him. He suspected that no one Nao knew would care that he was male - Nao was simply so free that societal norms just did not apply to him.
Dinner was, as expected, tasty. They spent much of the night there, befriending Nao's friends and talking among themselves. And to their great surprise, Asako, the lady who ran the eatery and whom Nao fondly referred to as his sister, told them that they could have the meal on the house.
"Asako-nee!" Nao said in surprise, looking up at her. "You don't have to!"
"Naoran, come on. You haven't been back in ages, and we've known each other since we were kids," Asako smiled.
Asako's husband, Masaru, added genially, "It's also Shin-kun's birthday tomorrow, isn't it? Take it as our birthday present to him!"
"How did you know?" Shin said, blushing.
Asako laughed, a laugh that was bright and melodious. "Well, Nao was talking about it quite loudly. He seems to be very excited about celebrating your birthday, Shin-kun. May you have a happy birthday!"
Shin smiled and thanked her graciously, while Nao scratched at his hair, looking quite embarrassed. Isshi, Izumi and Akiya all thanked her, too, and began to tease Nao mercilessly, stopped only by Shin laughing and telling to lay off his lover.
And Shin did get the early birthday present Nao promised him - all of that and more. Nao was gentle with him - he was always gentle - and yet, there was fire in his touch, and Shin rather thought that it was the best sex he had ever had.
Of course, they had to keep it quiet, with the other three around, but when Nao held him afterwards, giggling breathlessly, Shin didn't mind at all, laughing together with him. Shin lay in Nao's arms, deceptively thin and wonderfully warm. Keeping him safe and secure and most importantly, happy.
The next morning, Shin awoke to a series of butterfly kisses from his chest up to his jaw from Nao. Chuckling softly, he drew Nao into a deep kiss, from which they separated a long time later.
"Happy birthday, Shin," Nao whispered blissfully.
Shin beamed. "Thank you, Nao."
That was, perhaps, the only moment of peace for the morning. The rest of it was a blur of activity - having a quick breakfast, fighting for the bathroom, Nao reminding everyone what they had to pack for the day and what they ought to wear, Izumi, Isshi and Akiya giving Shin his birthday presents, and finally, setting off to central Asahikawa to rent a car to go to Daisetsuzan.
Nao drove while Shin rode shotgun, and they kept up a lively conversation with Isshi, Izumi and Akiya throughout the journey. They passed the metropolitan city area, going further out into the country. Shin looked out whenever there was a lull in a conversation.
Leaving the steel-and-concrete city behind, he could see why so many people flocked to Hokkaido in September. In Tokyo, the leaves would still be the green of summer, but here, as they neared Asahidake Onsen, which Nao said was their destination, trees were already colouring, a beautiful miasma of red and orange and gold.
It was easily one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.
In about an hour, they reached Asahidake Onsen. They would be lodging overnight, before returning to the city the next morning and going back to Tokyo at night. Izumi asked Nao why he did not simply come directly to Asahidake Onsen the day before, and Nao admitted sheepishly that he quite wanted them all to see the place he had grown up in.
Shin laughed and kissed Nao lightly at the explanation, as they went up to their respective rooms after checking in. They unpacked their things and met in the lodge lobby ten minutes later, dressed for hiking (as Nao strictly instructed).
"Sorry for making you walk so much on your birthday, love," Nao said apologetically as they stepped out of the lobby and onto the road. "But you won't regret it later!"
"It's okay," Shin said. "I think, whatever you have planned, it must be very special. Right?"
Nao nodded earnestly. "It is. I've been planning for ages, Shin. I wanted to make this special for you."
He held Shin's hand tightly, and then, before long, they were on the ropeway, on the way to Mount Asahidake. This time, Akiya was the one snapping away on his camera, while Nao and Shin simply talked quietly, viewing the surrounding scenery happily. Isshi was humming a tune under his breath as he looked out, too, and Izumi stood at Akiya's side, occasionally taking the camera to snap other photographs.
The sound of a click that was all too near startled Nao and Shin, and Izumi showed them the photograph he had taken of the two of them - holding hands with blissful smiles on their faces.
"The two of you look good here. Your love shows through even here," Izumi said, looking at the screen. "Kind of as though the two of you are the only ones in the world."
Shin blushed, and Nao agreed to let Izumi keep the picture. Shin had to admit though - Izumi's description was rather true.
They soon reached the mountain, and once on the trail, Nao instructed Shin to close his eyes. Trusting him completely, he did so, and Nao held his hand as he guided him to their destination. Nao's directions - like a whisper that there was a rock in front of him - were gentle in his ears.
He nearly tripped over at one point of time, but kept his eyes tightly closed even as Nao caught him and stroked his hair, asking, "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Let's continue," Shin murmured, smiling.
Nao pressed his lips against his cheek and nodded. "We're not far, now."
After what seemed like ten more minutes or so, he heard gasps of wonders from his friends. "Open your eyes now, Shin. We're here," Nao said rather breathlessly.
Shin opened them slowly, and he almost stopped breathing. He looked down and what greeted him was a sea of colour - gold and vermillion among pale green, interspersed with flowers of several different colours. Pools of clear water sparkled in some spots. Not so far away was the summit of Mount Asahidake, already capped with snow.
He took in a deep breath, and the air smelled cool and fresh, though there was a slight hint of bitterness owing to the sulphuric vents around them. It was a unique smell - the smell of a beautiful autumn - and Shin loved every bit of it.
He turned to Nao and flung his arms around his shoulder, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Nao. I couldn't ask for anything better. I love you."
Nao whispered lovingly, "I love you too. Happy birthday, my Shinpei."
He kissed him then, amidst the ocean of colours around them, atop a mountain trail. It seemed almost as though the season itself blessed them, as they held each other, breathing in the scent of autumn and of each other.
And for Shin's next two birthdays, Nao took him there alone. Just the two of them together - and it was all Shin needed for his birthday.
Each time, it was just as beautiful as the last, but never would Shin forget the true wonder and beauty of the very first time he saw autumn with Nao.
This year, however, Shin knows that they are not going anywhere. It's not that Isshi, Izumi and Akiya do not want to take him there - it's that they know it has become his and Nao's place, now, and Shin would not wish to visit Hokkaido without his lover by his side.
For the first time in three years, Shin will be celebrating his birthday in Tokyo.
Later on, Shin thinks, they will come over and take him to the city. They've got tickets for a concert tonight, for a band that Shin has loved for years. They will have lunch and dinner together, the four of them, and it will be just like the old days, before Nao sprang up in their lives.
Shin doesn't quite mind it. Sure, he wishes that Nao was back already, but then again he has always trusted and loved Nao unconditionally. One birthday without him is nothing.
The doorbell rings.
Shin is startled from his reverie, and he goes to answer the door. A tired-looking young man in a delivery service uniform is holding a nondescript parcel, to be delivered to Shin. Shin signs the receipt and takes the box, his eyes widening at the achingly familiar handwriting.
There is no return address, just his own, written in that messy scrawl Shin loves. He carefully opens the package, and beneath the packing paper is a gold and red box. He opens it, and his breath stops for a moment.
Leaves.
Crepe paper leaves and shiny plastic leaves, all in the colours of autumn. He laughs - it is something only Nao would do. He picks up each one, smiling at all of them, and then his hands touch something else.
He picks up a pressed leaf in a plastic cover, real and in the shade of gold he loves so very much. Turning it to the back, he feels himself truly smile for the first time in a long while as he reads the words scrawled on the plastic backing.
Happy birthday, Shinpei. Wait for me - I'll come back soon. I love you.
-Nao
Author: silveryxdark @ arcoireis
Rating: PG/PG-13?
Genre: Romance, fluff, minor angst
Warning: Manxman, possible romantic cliches etc.
Disclaimer: I will never own them. D:
Summary: Life is ephemeral and seasons continue their stately march. Time passes by, waiting for no one, but Shin waits.
A/N: Oh my god. I know it has been moooonths since I updated but I hope this story hasn't been forgotten. And it's Shin's birthday today so I thought I just HAD to update this today. XD I hope you like it as always. <3 As always, dedicated to granitemouth <3
[HARU] [NATSU]
Autumn.
Leaves turn from the lush, deep green of summer, to various hues of red and gold - the colours of autumn. It is a bit of a contradiction, Shin thinks, for the warm colours signify the advent of a far cooler season. A season much less warm and humid than the one before, a season where one would be greeted with the sight of plants turning several different colours, a season when cool breezes shake fragile plants and kiss one's skin.
It is the season between summer and winter, warmth and cold, life and death.
It is not yet so deep into autumn that everything around Shin is coloured red and gold. Not yet, no. It is only the second week of September, and in Tokyo, the leaves are still defiantly green. They have barely begun to lose their colour.
Shin recalls how, in some areas of Hokkaido, the leaves would have already started changing. Some would already be a riot of shades. The temperatures there would have dropped quite low indeed. The air would already smell fresh and cool, though not quite sharp.
He remembers the way Nao would smile and breathe in that sweet air, face illuminated with a radiant joy, arms spread wide in welcome, as he stood at the window. Then he would turn and beam at Shin, before walking over and kissing him passionately - wishing him a happy birthday in a gentle whisper, caressing his face and stroking his hair.
Shin misses it, admittedly. He misses Nao's golden presence, so much that sometimes it feels like his heart would burst if he thinks too much about him. But there has not been a day when he doesn't miss Nao. Seven months, three weeks and two days, since Shin let Nao go. Nao has always been a free-running spirit after all, and letting him go was for the best.
Some days, Shin feels like he has almost lost count of exactly how long it has been since Nao left. But only almost. He knows, deep in his heart, he will not forget. He never will, as long as he loves and believes in Nao.
And he knows that it will be for his whole life - his whole life and beyond.
Nao promised him, after all. I will come back, love. Just wait for me. I promise to return, he wrote. Nao has yet to break a promise and Shin knows he will not break this one.
Shin can recall, as clear as if it happened the day before, the very first birthday he spent with Nao. Three days before his birthday, Nao practically skipped into their room and woke him up from a lovely afternoon nap, dreaming of a summer day he spent with Nao.
If it was anyone else, Shin would have ignored him and gone back to sleep. But well - it was Nao, grinning widely, and he would gladly trade his dream Nao for the real one any day.
And Nao would never wake him from his dear afternoon naps unless he had something important to tell him.
"What's the news today, Naoran?" Shin asked, looking up at his lover from the futon.
Nao laughed and swooped down, kissing him, before he got up and responded breathlessly, "Pack up for a couple of days, love. We are going to Hokkaido!"
Shin blinked at him, not entirely sure if he was hearing things correctly, still a little flushed from the passionate kiss he had just received. "Um... Hokkaido? What for?"
Nao laughed softly again, a musical sound that lifted Shin's heart. "Well, aside from the fact that it's been quite some time since I last visited my hometown, I want to take you to somewhere in Hokkaido to celebrate your birthday," he replied earnestly. Before Shin could ask further, he added, "I have a reason, love. You will see when we get there. I promise, it'll be great! Now, pack!"
"Wait! What about Isshi, Akiya and Izumi?" Shin asked, thinking about how he always spent his past birthdays with them instead.
"I told them already, and they've agreed to come along! Did you really think I would leave our best friends out of this? It's your special day after all, Shinpei. All of us should celebrate it with you, right?" Nao beamed, kissing Shin's nose playfully. "And don't worry about work! I helped you to get a few days off - Aoi-san is very nice! Of course, it might have been because I'm so charming and glib and I love you so much."
Shin laughed at that, and sat up, smiling at his lover. He leaned forward and caught his lips in a slow, loving kiss. Pulling away after a while, he breathed, "That sounds great, Naoran. Thank you for everything."
"Don't mention it, Shin. I love you," Nao said, stroking his hair. "I love you."
That was how Shin found himself on the plane next to Nao, two days after the talk. They had decided to take an early flight there, and Shin was dozing off with his head resting on Nao's shoulder. Isshi sat on Nao's other side, while Izumi and Akiya sat in front of them, both sleeping and curled against one another.
"So... why Hokkaido, Nao-kun?" Shin heard Isshi ask.
"Well, like I said, I was born there. Whenever my family came back to Japan, it was usually spring or autumn. Hokkaido gets autumn earlier than the rest of Japan, and my family used to watch koyo there, all of us. The only thing I liked about autumn was that. Koyo. But now... I've got another, even better reason to love autumn."
Shin could not help but smile into Nao's shoulder. He heard Isshi chuckle, "That's pretty cheesy, Nao-kun."
"It's true," Nao said quietly, and Shin could feel him begin to caress his hand. "Because of Shin... I've begun to appreciate autumn a lot more. In many, many ways, it can be just as lovely as spring. Sometimes, even more so. Like Shin himself. It can be quiet and understated, sometimes not quite appreciated. But autumn is beautiful. You've just got to see it. And Shin is the most beautiful person I've ever met."
"You really do love him, huh?"
"Yes. Very much so, with all my heart."
Shin forced back the tears threatening to leak out beneath his shut eyelids. He was touched by those words - simple but sincere. Though Nao was a bubbly, carefree person - some might even say flippant - he was a much deeper person than he let on. After all, was that not why he first fell in love with Nao? Because he was so full of life and love, because he could see just how sincere Nao was, and because Nao was the one person who could break Shin's shell and see him for all that he really was.
Nao knew him inside and out. Their connection went beyond physical levels, it was something rooted deeply in their souls.
"You little eavesdropper," Nao murmured softly, and Shin felt his lips press against his cheek.
Shin blushed and looked up through watery eyes at Nao, taking in his sweet smile and sparkling eyes. "You were talking so loudly, Naoran. How could I not hear you?"
Nao brushed his tears away with a slender finger, and held him closer, kissing his cheek again. "We've still got an hour to go, Shinpei. I don't want you to be tired for the rest of the day, all right? Sleep, won't you? I'll tell you when we're about to land."
"Alright," Shin mumbled, drifting off to sleep again, inhaling Nao's sweet scent.
It was not long before they reached Asahikawa. The airport was large and spotlessly clean. Plenty of people milled about - not just their own countrymen, but a couple of groups of tourists as well. Nao held his hand tightly - proudly - weaving through the crowd with ease, ignoring some disapproving stares and whispers from passers-by. A long time ago, Shin would have cared, perhaps snatched his hand away and pretended that there was nothing going on, but Nao was so confident that he stopped caring, too.
Isshi, Akiya and Izumi followed closely behind them, and once they were out of the airport, Nao hailed a taxi and told the driver an unfamiliar address, at least to Shin. He looked up at Nao questioningly, but Nao just winked and kept his mouth shut, to which the rest shrugged and let Nao lead the way.
They stopped in front of an apartment building that was not particularly remarkable at all - indeed, it was one of many along the street. Nao, however, was positively bouncing as he stepped out and all but dragged Shin along. He looked around, and to his surprise the security guard beamed at Nao, talking to him like an uncle who had just seen his favourite nephew visit.
"That's Yuuta-ojisan. He's been here forever and practically watched me grow up. Yeah, I used to live here with my parents. We rent it out during summer and winter. My parents usually return during spring and autumn, but they are both on a vacation now - you could say it's a second honeymoon. So here we are!" Nao explained happily, as he fished out a keychain from his pocket to unlock the door they had stopped in front of.
When they stepped into the apartment, Shin was awed by how big the apartment was. He could see that it was really pretty large, and the clean, minimalist furniture only served to give the illusion of further space. It did not really look like a flat that a family of three with a grown-up son lived in - no, it looked like a place that a small, suburban family, perhaps newlyweds with an infant child, would buy.
"This isn't what I expected," Izumi remarked.
"I kind of thought it'd be messier," Akiya added, then pointed at the PlayStation 3 game console lying near the television set. "Oh! May I play with it later? Please?"
Nao burst out laughing. "Yeah, go ahead. Let's see... who's going to bunk with who? I'm with Shin, obviously... you three?"
"I think I'll share a room with Isshi this time," Izumi said dryly. "Being woken up at three in the morning by Akiya yelling about how he beat the boss after ten hours of gaming takes its toll on you."
"Hey! I do not!"
"You do!"
"Break it up, guys, we're in Nao's house!" Isshi scolded.
Nao and Shin were, however, laughing at the scene before them. Shin was highly amused, and was almost reluctant to excuse himself from them when Nao started to pull him away. But it was Nao, after all, and he was willing to go wherever he pulled him. They ended up in a large room down the hallway, the walls of which were painted purple and white, and a white tree was painted next to the bed. A study desk cluttered with books and figurines stood in another corner, but aside from that, everything else was really quite clean.
"Whoa. This is your room?" Shin asked, surprised at the colours that so contrasted with the rest of the whitewashed flat.
"Yeah. We'll stay in here for the time being. Tomorrow, we head to Daisetsuzan!" Nao responded eagerly. "Come on, let's unpack, then we can grab lunch and sightsee a bit! And tonight I'll give you your, ah, early birthday present, shall I?"
Shin grinned. "Yes, please," he said, and flung his arms around Nao, kissing him joyously.
Nao returned the kiss happily, holding him close. He pressed his forehead against Shin's and murmured, "Shin, I really hope you'll like what I have planned for you. I love you so much and I want to make your birthday special."
Shin smiled. "Nao, as long as it's you, I know it's going to be great."
Nao laughed softly. "That's good to hear, love."
For once, Shin thought that things would not take a turn for the worse, not when everything seemed so good and would only get better. And he was right.
Akiya and Izumi took responsibility for cooking lunch, which was actually really good. Then Nao happily took them around the city for several hours, before he took them to an eatery that, according to him, was run by some family friends.
Shin hardly felt embarrassed now, when Nao proudly introduced him to his friends as his lover. He smiled and bowed, and was glad to see that they were smiling in approval at him. He suspected that no one Nao knew would care that he was male - Nao was simply so free that societal norms just did not apply to him.
Dinner was, as expected, tasty. They spent much of the night there, befriending Nao's friends and talking among themselves. And to their great surprise, Asako, the lady who ran the eatery and whom Nao fondly referred to as his sister, told them that they could have the meal on the house.
"Asako-nee!" Nao said in surprise, looking up at her. "You don't have to!"
"Naoran, come on. You haven't been back in ages, and we've known each other since we were kids," Asako smiled.
Asako's husband, Masaru, added genially, "It's also Shin-kun's birthday tomorrow, isn't it? Take it as our birthday present to him!"
"How did you know?" Shin said, blushing.
Asako laughed, a laugh that was bright and melodious. "Well, Nao was talking about it quite loudly. He seems to be very excited about celebrating your birthday, Shin-kun. May you have a happy birthday!"
Shin smiled and thanked her graciously, while Nao scratched at his hair, looking quite embarrassed. Isshi, Izumi and Akiya all thanked her, too, and began to tease Nao mercilessly, stopped only by Shin laughing and telling to lay off his lover.
And Shin did get the early birthday present Nao promised him - all of that and more. Nao was gentle with him - he was always gentle - and yet, there was fire in his touch, and Shin rather thought that it was the best sex he had ever had.
Of course, they had to keep it quiet, with the other three around, but when Nao held him afterwards, giggling breathlessly, Shin didn't mind at all, laughing together with him. Shin lay in Nao's arms, deceptively thin and wonderfully warm. Keeping him safe and secure and most importantly, happy.
The next morning, Shin awoke to a series of butterfly kisses from his chest up to his jaw from Nao. Chuckling softly, he drew Nao into a deep kiss, from which they separated a long time later.
"Happy birthday, Shin," Nao whispered blissfully.
Shin beamed. "Thank you, Nao."
That was, perhaps, the only moment of peace for the morning. The rest of it was a blur of activity - having a quick breakfast, fighting for the bathroom, Nao reminding everyone what they had to pack for the day and what they ought to wear, Izumi, Isshi and Akiya giving Shin his birthday presents, and finally, setting off to central Asahikawa to rent a car to go to Daisetsuzan.
Nao drove while Shin rode shotgun, and they kept up a lively conversation with Isshi, Izumi and Akiya throughout the journey. They passed the metropolitan city area, going further out into the country. Shin looked out whenever there was a lull in a conversation.
Leaving the steel-and-concrete city behind, he could see why so many people flocked to Hokkaido in September. In Tokyo, the leaves would still be the green of summer, but here, as they neared Asahidake Onsen, which Nao said was their destination, trees were already colouring, a beautiful miasma of red and orange and gold.
It was easily one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.
In about an hour, they reached Asahidake Onsen. They would be lodging overnight, before returning to the city the next morning and going back to Tokyo at night. Izumi asked Nao why he did not simply come directly to Asahidake Onsen the day before, and Nao admitted sheepishly that he quite wanted them all to see the place he had grown up in.
Shin laughed and kissed Nao lightly at the explanation, as they went up to their respective rooms after checking in. They unpacked their things and met in the lodge lobby ten minutes later, dressed for hiking (as Nao strictly instructed).
"Sorry for making you walk so much on your birthday, love," Nao said apologetically as they stepped out of the lobby and onto the road. "But you won't regret it later!"
"It's okay," Shin said. "I think, whatever you have planned, it must be very special. Right?"
Nao nodded earnestly. "It is. I've been planning for ages, Shin. I wanted to make this special for you."
He held Shin's hand tightly, and then, before long, they were on the ropeway, on the way to Mount Asahidake. This time, Akiya was the one snapping away on his camera, while Nao and Shin simply talked quietly, viewing the surrounding scenery happily. Isshi was humming a tune under his breath as he looked out, too, and Izumi stood at Akiya's side, occasionally taking the camera to snap other photographs.
The sound of a click that was all too near startled Nao and Shin, and Izumi showed them the photograph he had taken of the two of them - holding hands with blissful smiles on their faces.
"The two of you look good here. Your love shows through even here," Izumi said, looking at the screen. "Kind of as though the two of you are the only ones in the world."
Shin blushed, and Nao agreed to let Izumi keep the picture. Shin had to admit though - Izumi's description was rather true.
They soon reached the mountain, and once on the trail, Nao instructed Shin to close his eyes. Trusting him completely, he did so, and Nao held his hand as he guided him to their destination. Nao's directions - like a whisper that there was a rock in front of him - were gentle in his ears.
He nearly tripped over at one point of time, but kept his eyes tightly closed even as Nao caught him and stroked his hair, asking, "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Let's continue," Shin murmured, smiling.
Nao pressed his lips against his cheek and nodded. "We're not far, now."
After what seemed like ten more minutes or so, he heard gasps of wonders from his friends. "Open your eyes now, Shin. We're here," Nao said rather breathlessly.
Shin opened them slowly, and he almost stopped breathing. He looked down and what greeted him was a sea of colour - gold and vermillion among pale green, interspersed with flowers of several different colours. Pools of clear water sparkled in some spots. Not so far away was the summit of Mount Asahidake, already capped with snow.
He took in a deep breath, and the air smelled cool and fresh, though there was a slight hint of bitterness owing to the sulphuric vents around them. It was a unique smell - the smell of a beautiful autumn - and Shin loved every bit of it.
He turned to Nao and flung his arms around his shoulder, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Nao. I couldn't ask for anything better. I love you."
Nao whispered lovingly, "I love you too. Happy birthday, my Shinpei."
He kissed him then, amidst the ocean of colours around them, atop a mountain trail. It seemed almost as though the season itself blessed them, as they held each other, breathing in the scent of autumn and of each other.
And for Shin's next two birthdays, Nao took him there alone. Just the two of them together - and it was all Shin needed for his birthday.
Each time, it was just as beautiful as the last, but never would Shin forget the true wonder and beauty of the very first time he saw autumn with Nao.
This year, however, Shin knows that they are not going anywhere. It's not that Isshi, Izumi and Akiya do not want to take him there - it's that they know it has become his and Nao's place, now, and Shin would not wish to visit Hokkaido without his lover by his side.
For the first time in three years, Shin will be celebrating his birthday in Tokyo.
Later on, Shin thinks, they will come over and take him to the city. They've got tickets for a concert tonight, for a band that Shin has loved for years. They will have lunch and dinner together, the four of them, and it will be just like the old days, before Nao sprang up in their lives.
Shin doesn't quite mind it. Sure, he wishes that Nao was back already, but then again he has always trusted and loved Nao unconditionally. One birthday without him is nothing.
The doorbell rings.
Shin is startled from his reverie, and he goes to answer the door. A tired-looking young man in a delivery service uniform is holding a nondescript parcel, to be delivered to Shin. Shin signs the receipt and takes the box, his eyes widening at the achingly familiar handwriting.
There is no return address, just his own, written in that messy scrawl Shin loves. He carefully opens the package, and beneath the packing paper is a gold and red box. He opens it, and his breath stops for a moment.
Leaves.
Crepe paper leaves and shiny plastic leaves, all in the colours of autumn. He laughs - it is something only Nao would do. He picks up each one, smiling at all of them, and then his hands touch something else.
He picks up a pressed leaf in a plastic cover, real and in the shade of gold he loves so very much. Turning it to the back, he feels himself truly smile for the first time in a long while as he reads the words scrawled on the plastic backing.
Happy birthday, Shinpei. Wait for me - I'll come back soon. I love you.
-Nao