It had been five long years since Shishido Ryou had last set foot on Japanese soil. Even when profitable accounts had demanded that the shoot be done in Japan, Shishido refused to go back. Call him superstitious, but he hadn't planned on ever setting foot in his home country until he was ready to face the possibility of running into one of his old friends.

Now, though, he was ready. He was twenty-four, past the point of ever having to care about whether he would have to work after modeling was over, single and very much sought after, and he felt as though, at last, he could face his demons.

Which was why he was here, in Tokyo, wandering around after having dropped off his bags at the apartment he had bought via a third party. He simply let his feet take him through his old haunts, wondering if certain stores or restaurants were still open.

~

Atobe left the apartment he and Jiroh shared to catch a breather. The benefits of being your own boss was that you could take three or four hour lunch breaks, go home and fucking your boyfriend through the mattress, spend time doing whatever you wanted, and no one would care.

When Shishido had left, almost everyone had cursed him and given their support to Ohtori, who had been a complete wreck. Atobe offered a minimal amount of support, secretly blaming Ohtori for being the one to drive Shishido away from them all. Jiroh, in his sleepiness, had defended both Shishido and Ohtori, believing that whatever had happened between the two was none of their business.

Atobe, always aware of the golden haired boy, had been shocked when Jiroh had asked him, point-blank, to go out with him. Atobe hadn't realized that while he had been watching Shishido, Jiroh had been watching him. Five years later, they were still together, and still very much in love. Atobe couldn't be more amused by the situation.

Running a hand through his hair, he froze as he spotted someone standing outside one of the old bookstores with a coffee shop right next to it. The fact that the person standing in front of the bookstore was gorgeous enough to be in several magazines was not what had stopped him.

What had stopped him was that it was Shishido Ryou.

~

Shishido bent over to look at the titles on the display outside the shop. He needed another book, he was almost finished with the one he was currently reading, and he was always looking for something interesting to read.

"Holy…" came a voice to his right. "Ryou?"

Shishido straighten quickly and stared, sunglasses slipping down his nose. "Keigo…?"

"It is you!" Atobe grinned widely. "Have you had lunch yet? No? Let me treat you. Dear gods, I can't believe your back!"

Shishido laughed and followed his old friend, letting Atobe's sophisticated tones wash over him. "You haven't changed at all, Keigo."

"Ah, but I have," Atobe smiled. "I'm not as pretentious as I used to be."

"We'll see about that," Shishido quipped.

"Tch, no respect for your former captain?"

"None at all," Shishido said. Atobe looked offended, but Shishido kissed his cheek quickly. "I have missed you, Keigo. All of you."

"Even Ohtori?"

Shishido froze, face carefully fading into a cool, unbreakable mask.

"Ah, especially Ohtori, eh?" Atobe teased.

"Keigo—"

"You'll be very proud of him," Atobe continued, ignoring the stricken look on Shishido's face. "He graduated valedictorian, majored in music, and thanks to Sakaki-san, he's working with an orchestra and I believe is head chair for the violin section."

Shishido smiled sadly and nodded, "Good for him."

"He listened to what you said," Atobe said softly.

"I'm glad for him," Shishido murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, can I take a rain check on lunch? I've got a really bad headache."

"You just don't want to talk about him, right?" Atobe said, grabbing Shishido's arm.

"Keigo, I don't know what you're—"

"You still love him."

Shishido froze. "What gives you that idea?"

"Ryou, why don't we make it dinner, tonight?" Atobe said suddenly. "Jiroh and I were going to take in a show—"

"Jiroh and you?" Shishido gaped.

Atobe straightened his back, "Yes. Five years now."

"Wow," Shishido said, smiling. "So, dinner and a show?"

"Yes, so dress sharply," Atobe said, pulling Shishido into a hug. "What's your cell number now and where do you live?"

Shishido smiled and told him, noting all the changes five years had made.

"Tonight then," Atobe said with a smile. "We'll pick you up."

Shishido nodded and watched as Atobe left before he hailed a taxi.

The End

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