Happy for all the favs 8D!! My love goes out to all you people and of course to Shiki and Akira T_T~~ Soooo sadd puuu~~~ I think I'll refrain from writing anymore angsty stories revolving around these two.

Six months ago…

Akira's stomach churned with anxiety. The hairs on his arms and back tingled, causing him to shake violently. It felt as if he had lost something dear to him; something irreplaceable to him. He mentally heard something shatter inside of him and from a far distance, call out his name…

"Akira!"

The grey-head snapped out of his momentary trance, his impulsive movement suddenly frightening the pigeons that had previously perched on top the branch. The transparent leaves fell distractively between the two lone men who were both lying on their backs, their eyes taking in the beautiful scenery of clear blue skies. Such perfect weather was so rare in Toshima that most people have forgotten what the blue sky even looked like.

Akira's heart nearly leapt out his chest when Shiki jerked at his arm. "Hey, you gonna tell me why you brought me here?"

The grey-head turned his head groggily towards Shiki, placing his bare hand on his in return. "Sorry...I just wanted to do something different today." Akira pointed towards the sky. "Look…It's been so long since I've seen such a pure blue sky."

"What are you on about?" Shiki sat up and looked irritatingly at his partner. "This is boring. Hey, Akira, can we do something fun?" His trademark smirk appeared on his face as he stared seductively into Akira's eyes but disappointment crossed his face when his partner shook his head.

"Sorry, maybe not today, hmm? I just...want to sit here with you and watch the clouds roll by."

"Hmph, what's gotten into you?" The pale man mumbled under his breath, averting his gaze back towards the clear skies. After a few moments, he chuckled abruptly out of now where, startling Akira. "It's amazing...never once have I seen such beautiful weather in this shit hole. Maybe it's the beginning of the end, wouldn't you agree Akira?"

"What do you mean?" A dreaded look of concern appeared on the young man's face as he sat up, staring intently into the other's eyes. "You make it sound as if…"

"Have you heard the rumours about the definite evil that lurks in Toshima?" Akira shook his head and shifted closer to Shiki, curious about what he has to say. "They say after evil had befallen Toshima, the skies turned grey and the people became corrupt with greed and power. Dirt was ash and water became blood. There was no happiness, only pain and sorrow." He turned away from his partner and gazed at the sky, lifting an arm up as if to reach it. "This sky…it may be God's message to everyone that the evil is disappearing…"

Akira rolled his eyes and playfully punched Shiki's arm. "What the hell are you talking about? There is no God; at least not in Toshima. The only one that could even come close to being called a 'God' would be Il-Re, and that's you."

"Haha, a god am I? No, Akira. People in Toshima only know me as the most evil entity around here."

The most evil entity…?

"I don't blame them for it, though," the man's scarlet-blood eyes lowered to the ground, as if to hide regret. "I have killed countless people and have taken joy from it as well. Maybe the sky is clearing because my time of reign is nearly over."

The look of sincere regret and sorrow on his face angered Akira. "What's wrong with you? It's like you're not even yourself anymore!" A gasp escaped his lips. "You're not thinking of leaving me are you?!"

"That's ridiculous!" The ominous man leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Akira tightly, burying his hands into his silky grey hair. He clung almost desperately to his partner, as if Death was about to take him. He laughed his worries away. "I told you already. You belong only to me! I will never EVER leave you!"

"Yeah, yeah I know. You told me that already." Akira tried to address the matter coolly but ended up blushing anyway. He quietly enjoyed his partner's intimate embrace but grew agitated when Shiki did not release his grip on him. "H-hey, you can let go now. Shiki?"

"Let me just hold you…just a little longer…" The man feared as Il-Re sounded almost sombre. His voice was still stern though it lacked the dominating feel to it. It was almost as if the 'Shiki' Akira knew was slowly diminishing. His presence, his place in society…it was disappearing, and it terrified Akira.

"Shiki, you're scaring me. Is everything alright? Are you…okay?"

Akira felt his partner nod on his shoulder and smile. "Yeah…sorry… Sorry about everything, Akira."

He's apologizing…something he rarely does…

"Hey, cheer up man. It's a beautiful day, the breeze is nice and no one's being a dick. Let's just enjoy it while we still can."

"Ahaha, of course." Shiki pulled away from his partner and chuckled humorously, his trademark smile appearing on his face once more. "But next time let's do something I want to do."

Ugh…it's something involving me…in bed…naked, again…

"Anything for you, eh? You better go easy on me, you friggin bastard, because last time hurt like hell. And don't get me started about the time you did it in the kitchen…"

Shiki simply grinned, not saying a word in response, obviously having other plans in mind. He leaned forward again and pressed his lips against Akira's gently. "Hey, who's the boss here, hmm?" Without waiting for a response, he kissed his beloved passionately; the kiss hidden behind the shadow of falling leaves drifting slowly towards the ground as if to make it a scene from a fairy tale. Together they remained there until night fell then returned to their home, feeling content about the day they spent as one. Of course, the words Shiki left behind remained etched into Akira's unsettled mind. His stomach began to act up again. He was anxious again…fearful for something that cannot be seen…

If only I knew sooner what Shiki was hiding from me…