"I'm sorry," he said simply.

She smiled up at him. "Don't worry about it. I'm thankful for your honesty. I appreciate you caring for me as much as you did..."

There was a terrible silence. Funny how awkward a train station can be despite the many people there. But the others' voices sounded like muffled buzzing, the train a silent woosh.

"I did love you," he told her truthfully. He felt ashamed to tell her.

But she reached out and held his hands in hers. "I understand. I told you, don't worry. It's over, I know. I've never hoped before, I'm not hoping now. I understand."

He smiled. She had always understood. He transferred his hands to hold hers and squeezed tightly the gloved fingers. "Take care."

"And you." She stepped forward and tiptoed, giving him a slight kiss on the cheek. When she stepped back, a stray tendril fell over her cheek and she brushed it away, giving him a sad smile. "Goodbye."

The conductor was shouting.

She pulled away. "Goodbye, take care, Suoh."

Suoh Takamura could do nothing but helplessly watch Nagisa walk towards the platform and into the train.

She was gone.

~ * ~

"It's getting late, you think?" Nokoru Imonoyama peered out of the window blinds to the walks of the Clamp Campus. "It's getting dark already."

Suoh Takamura looked up from his pile of papers. "Rijichou, if this is another way of your getting out of work--"

Nokuru threw up his hands. "Oh, Suoh, lighten up! It is already almost dark. Don't you think we should go home now?"

"You go." Suoh continued his typing. "I want to finish early and maybe continue with the other reports from the University section this weekend. There's the reformation of the CBA building and as well as the Apapa Hall--" He stopped suddenly when he felt a hand lay on his shoulder.

"Suoh," Nokoru told him quietly, "stop it."

Suoh smiled brightly. "Stop what, Rijichou?"

"What are you doing?" the other man asked in frustration. "You've never been this workaholic before! Are you trying to kill yourself?"

"Nothing of the sort," Suoh retorted.

"Has this got to do with Nagisa?" Nokoru asked, pulling up a stool and sitting on it, facing his friend intently. "It's been two weeks since she went away. She's been in your mind, I know."

Suoh sighed and looked away, suddenly realizing he had been clenching the pen hard. "It's nothing, Rijichou."

"Stop calling me that!" Nokoru cried out. "When it's just the two of us, when we're friends, call me Nokoru, as you once did. Am I, Suoh? Am I still your friend? You never tell me anything anymore. And I know Nagisa's going away has hurt you more than you can tell."

"Of course you're still my friend," Suoh told him forcefully. "You'll always be my friend, the closest one I've got, Riji--Nokoru. But--this is..." He stopped and his expression hardened.

"Why?" Nokoru asked quietly. "Why did she go away?"

Suoh sighed and looked down at his lap. "I don't really want to talk about it."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Can we do this some other time?" Suoh stood abruptly, dropping his pen on the table. "You're right. It's getting dark. We should be getting home."

Nokoru sighed, sagging against Suoh's desk. The other man was already going to the closet, taking his coat. Apparently, for Suoh, the conversation was over. But it's not, Nokoru thought to himself, for me.

Suoh threw his coat to his closet, missed, and swore. He picked it up again and arranged it neatly, before slamming the door shut. He glanced at his answering machine, saw there was a message, and pressed it to play.

"Suoh-kun, hello," a familiar female voice said. Suoh stopped himself from throwing his keys to the table beside it and listened. "It's me. I just...wanted to see if you're okay...hey, I'm having fun here! It's really quiet and I can write a lot. It's such a refreshing change from Tokyo although I actually miss the city. How's Iyujin-san? And Nokoru--I hope you've told him, Suoh. I don't want to see you suffer anymore--"

There was a beep and the message was cut off. Then, came Nagisa's voice again, hurriedly this time: "Sorry about that. You really should change your machine from just timing three minutes. Anyway, I just called to say good luck. If you haven't told Imonoyama-san, you should. You're just torturing yourself...and me in the process. If you have, then--"

There was a muffled shriek, laughter, then Nagisa's rushed: "Gotta go!" Then, the message was over.

Suoh laughed quietly. Nagisa had always been impulsive. He reached out to stop the tape but there was still one last message. It made him freeze when he heard the voice. It was Nokoru.

"I know you're not home yet. Really. I just want you to call me when you get there. It's really important, Suoh, call me! You know my celphone number." Then the line was dead.

Suoh hid his face in his hands and groaned. "I can't believe he's doing this," he muttered. He stood there for a while, staring at the phone as if it was some malevolent god. When it continued to sit there like a telephone, he finally sighed and picked it up, dialing Nokoru's cellular number.

In just one ring, Nokoru answered. "Suoh!" He sounded relieved. "Listen, I need you back at the office."

"What is it?" Suoh fought to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

"Well...I'm sorry but since Akira's in vacation, you're the only one I can call." Nokoru sounded really apologetic. "Umm...I think...the Kindergarten report? I think I shredded it."

"NOKORU!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! But can you come over now? I'm sorry but Mrs. Iwakawa needs it tomorrow." Nokoru was all apologies. Suoh could almost see him hunched over the celphone in the darkened office.

Nokoru...Closing his eyes, Suoh cleared his throat. "Yes. Alright, I'm on my way." Before Nokoru could say another word, Suoh had already put down the phone.

The drive back to the office took only ten minutes without the evening traffic. The building was already deserted except for the guards whom Suoh raised a hand to when he entered. They saluted in return. It was nothing of the ordinary. There had been many times Suoh had returned to the office because of little matters that either Akira or Nokoru had trifled with.

When he arrived at the highest office, he knocked on Nokoru's door before seeing the note posted on the glass window: "Suoh, go up".

What on earth does he have in mind now? Suoh thought. He stood there for a while, glowering, before finally deciding to follow his friend's instruction.

He ran up the stairs leading to the roof and opened to huge metal door.

"Alright, Nokoru, what's this about--?"

He stopped. He stared. He gaped.

"Hello, Suoh," Nokoru said calmly. "You took your time."

He was sitting comfortably on a plush seat before a candlelit table complete with wine and dinner. Across him was another plush seat without anyone occupying. In his hand he held a wine goblet. He was still in his office clothes.

"I thought about bringing you to a bar so we can talk," his superior went on, standing from his sit and walking towards him, "but I decided against it since I wanted it to be private."

"How--" Suoh blinked, cleared his throat, and turned to Nokoru slowly. "How on earth did you manage to fix this in such a short span of time?"

Nokoru laughed. "Suoh, we've been friends since we were elementary. How can you still wonder?"

Suoh clamped his mouth shut.

"Come on." Nokoru guided Suoh towards the table. "I figured you haven't had dinner yet so I had it prepared. And, to tell you the truth, I'm starving. I didn't think it'd take you can hour to get home. Where have you been?"

"Driving around," Suoh replied before he can help himself. He couldn't help it. He was too distracted. And he didn't see Nokoru raise an eyebrow. The blue-haired man found himself sitting with the pillows and before a lovely dinner. He sighed. "Alright, you win. I'm too hungry to argue with you." With that, he picked up the expensive red ivory chopsticks.

Taking this as a sign of victory, Nokoru sat across him and poured him wine. "Eat up," he told the other man.

Suoh was chomping down some beef teriyaki before he remembered the reason why he came up. "So," he said, chewing slowly, "should we get start on the Kindergarten report now?"

Nokoru looked puzzled before he laughed and brought out his ever-faithful fan. "Oh that!" On the fan was the word: usotsuki. "It was just an excuse."

Suoh frowned, swallowing the food. "Oh. For what."

"Do you still have to ask?" Nokoru inquired softly.

Silence.

Suoh brought the wine glass to his lips, sipped, and put it down on the table a little to the top right of his plate. Then he brought the cloth napkin on his mouth and dabbed it. "Alright," he said just as quietly. "You went under all this trouble. What do you want to know?"

Nokoru leaned forward. "Suoh, I'm not doing this just to get information from you. I'm doing this because I'm your friend and I want you to loosen up. Telling someone will take away the pain, believe me."

"That someone can't be you," Suoh blurted out before he could help himself. Then he blushed and raised an arm as the expression on Nokoru's face changed to incredible pain. "No, no, I didn't mean that--"

"Then what did you mean, Suoh?" Nokoru asked coldly.

"I--" Suoh stopped, feeling incredibly stupid and dumb. "It's because--" He stopped again, raised his head, and froze. "NOKORU!" he screamed, shooting up from his seat.

Nokoru whirled around and saw the building's electricity pole falling towards him. He raised his arms as a form of defense just as Suoh's ninja skills kicked in. His lithe figure jumped from the table to grab Nokoru's vulnerable form, then threw him to the side.

There was a sickening crash as the lovely dinner and plates Nokoru had prepared was destroyed, a great hiss, and the silence that signified the loss of electricity in the building.

Nokoru watched it happen, still too dumbstruck to move out of Suoh's arms as they lay on the ground. When he thought he could make it, he managed a shaky smile and turned to look up at his friend. "I guess we won't have power for the weekend--"

And felt Suoh's lips on his.

Silence in the darkness.

Then, Suoh pulled away and hugged Nokoru tightly, burying his face in the blond hair. "My god, don't ever scare me like that. I thought you were going to be killed..." His voice was anguished. But in a few seconds, he suddenly realized that Nokoru had stiffened in his arms and that the other's palms were on his chest in an effort to push away. He braced himself and pulled away, sitting up. "Rijichou! I'm sorry, shouldn't have--I'm sorry!" He sounded absolutely horrified.

Nokoru sat up, trembling quietly. "Suoh--"

Suoh helped him up silently, then turned away to dust his jacket. "There's your answer," he said grimly. "What more do you want to know?" He walked away. "The generator'll be kicking in in a few seconds."

"Suoh!"

The power hummed. There was power now, but only for the computers and other important office works. Suoh sighed. "There's nothing more to say, Rijichou," he said. He could not help letting the sadness seep in his voice. "I let Nagisa go because of you. Please, just let this one go for me."

And he walked away.

Nokoru continued to sit on the ground long after the door had closed behind Suoh. He didn't know if Suoh was still behind the door. If it was any ordinary building, he would have heard the sharp acceleration of Suoh's car driving away. But not from fifty-floors up. The roof. The accident. The power shortage.

Gods! Suoh kissed him!

HIM!

Nokoru wrapped his arms around himself, trying to stop himself from shivering. He didn't know if it was because of the cold, the wind had picked up, or because of what happened. Or if it was because of what happened, if it was because he was disgusted or...

Suoh kissed him.

Nokoru groaned and buried his face in his hands, shaking his head. Yellow mane fell over his eyes and he brushed them aside impatiently.

That was a god-awful scene, he thought angrily. I never asked him to leave Nagisa for me...what an arrogant thing to say!

But he knew exactly what Suoh meant.

Light pressure on the lips, full of fear and passion and--

Shut up!

"Rijichou?" A guard was peering from the door where Suoh had left. "Excuse me, sir."

Nokoru raised his head. "What?" he growled.

"Takamura-san...he said we should check--on you..." Two guards rushed up to him. "Are you okay, sir?"

Nokoru nodded, trying to smile. "Yes, yes, don't worry. I'm all right. Have someone check on this post. I want to know why it fell that way. And find someone to clean up this mess." He shivered again. "I have to go home. I'm a little shaky after this."

"Would you like us to appoint someone to accompany you?" the other guard asked immediately.

But Nokoru shook his head. "No, no thank you. I can manage. Please." He left them quickly. He didn't know what to do.

When he reached the parking lot, he panicked. There was an insane part of him that wanted to stay in the safety of the office. He had never felt comfortable living alone in his apartment. He had never liked the silence. He found the office more suiting despite the trillions of work he had to go through. But he always had Akira and Suoh...

Suoh...

I have to go home, he thought desperately, fishing the keys out of his pockets. He released the security lock and jumped in. He started the ignition and started driving blindly.

Soft, insistent lips pressing closer, desperate for contact, for proof of existence--

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Nokoru screamed to his mind.

Fifteen minutes later, he found himself in the last place he would have expected: Tokyo Tower.

"I know you're in there. Pick up."

Suoh ignored the answering machine.

"Come on, Suoh. I'm gonna fill the whole three minutes of your machine."

Suoh wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. He would be taunted by Nokoru's voice. In his desperation when he came home, he had cooked, cleaned, and changed the answering machine from three minutes to unlimited.

"Suoh. Suoh! If you're not gonna pick up..." Silence, then Nokoru's sigh. "Alright. I'm sorry. I really am. I pressured you a lot and I was surprised at the answer. I didn't expect it. How could I?"

Suoh bit his lip.

Voice dropping into a whisper. "I'm in Tokyo Tower now. They won't let me in even though I'm an Imonoyama. I wanted to see...wanted to see the place where we got the idea to form Clamp Campus Detectives. Remember, when we were in elementary? And remember Duklyon, how they always tried to foil the great 'Robin Hood' 20 Masks? Remember in high school when we were protecting the prince? And Kamui...only a year ago, Kamui...?"

Suoh fought back his sobs and wrapped his arms around himself. He wanted to make Nokoru shut up and go away. He wanted to be left alone and die in peace.

"...remember the day we first met? When you swore you would always protect me without even knowing my name?"

Suoh remembered. He remembered it clearly.

"I'm sorry, Suoh. I've gotten used to having you with me so much I ignored the changes. I was afraid of them. I was afraid to feel...I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Nagisa. And I'm sorry I ignored what I really felt..."

Suoh raised his head, surprised. What?

"Suoh, believe me. You wanted to protect me, but who would protect you? Will you let me, Suoh? Will you let me protect you?"

Suoh took a deep breath...

"Suoh, please..."

...and picked up the phone.

"You've reached Suoh Takamura's residence. I'm not in, but I hope you'll leave a message instead of hanging up. If extremely important, call my office number. You know it. Thank you."

Suoh smiled and straightened his collar.

"Working weekends, Suoh? I hope not. I'm enjoying it here more and more. Every day is filled with memories! I'm happy, Suoh. I hope you are as well. I hope you've already reached your heart's desire. Have you? Hey, give me a ring this week and maybe we can arrange for you to get out of work and bring Nokoru and Akira here for a little vacation. Just us and nobody else. It'll be like old times in elementary school, remember? We'll have fun! Hey...wait. I've reached four minutes already?"

An arm snaked up from the couch and pulled him down.

"You changed it already? Good! Hey, gotta go. Have some morning chores to do. Take care!"

Click.

Muffled laughter and then silence.