Aijou watched the others expression changed to a better more pleased one. Pressing his lips together, Aijou watched the other as he shifted, moving to a standing stance. Aijou slowly reached up to take his hand, unsure as to what was going to happen now. Glancing around the males home, Aijou worked his way up to his feet, only to pull his hand away when he was stable enough to stand on his own. "I...I'm Aijou" he said unsure if he'd told the male his name or not. Aijou did often forget things when he passed out. Glancing around he wondered if he could find a place to sit. He didn't really want to impose to much on the guy. There was still the issue of not having a way to pay him back after all...

Feeling awkward enough as he stood there, Aijou then heard the small grumble of his stomach. His eyes widen slightly as he felt embarrassment filling him, his face turning a shade of crimson. "I...Pardon me" he muttered as he held his waist, Having not eaten in a while. It wasn't that strange that his stomach would growl. But that was surely embarrassing. Maybe he'd have to try and find something later on. So that it didn't happen again. But...he hadn't gotten money so that left little options for finding food...

Akira was pleased that he'd managed to break the ice, and help the boy make his first step back into the world that had mercilessly thrown him aside. He even gave him his name.

"Aijou", the man said, as he shook his hand. "I think it's a pretty name. I'm Akira, by the way, nice to meet you. You see? Now we're not simple strangers anymore. You've learned a little about me, and I know a little about you, so there's no need to be afraid."

He slowly let go of the boys hand, and took a few moments to study his appearance in more detail.

"We need to warm you up with a nice hot bath, and find you something suitable to wear.... But first, we should go to the kitchen" he suggested, as he'd heard the boy's stomach growling.

"Come with me", he invited Aijou, as he pointed to the first door on the right. I think I bought some groceries yesterday, before going to work. I am glad you decided to trust me, even if only a little bit, and I want to prove to you that I'm worthy of that trust. So, everything you're going to eat, will be prepaired under your supervision."

Aijou was really embarrassed with the fact that his stomach had rumbled, proving his need for assistance even if he wasn't the type to want it. Mostly because when he did get help, the person always wanted something from him in return..

Hearing his name being called, Aijou glanced at him, feeling the slight hand shake of someone who in return spoke his own name. Akira? That was a nice name...he figured, being as not many did share their names with him. It wouldn't prove useful when they wanted him to leave...

Feeling Akira's gaze on him was awkward. And it made him wonder what it was the male was looking at. The dirt? Lack of clothing? Or simple the state the boy was in..

"I-I'm fine...B..but I would like a shower..." he said feeling slightly embarrassed. He didn't like baths, mostly because they scared him. One of his many foster mothers had used the bathtub as a means to punish, forcing whoever in the house, that had done something she seen as bad, under the water until the were choking.

Aijou fallowed after the male as he led him into what Aijou figured was the kitchen, his gaze moving around as he tried to find the way out, just in case he needed to make a break for it. Best to know how to get out then not. Chewing on his lower lip, he slowly moved to take a seat at the table, still feeling awkward as he placed his hands on his lap. "T..Thank you." he muttered.

"Don't worry", Akira smiled, as he opened the refrigerator door, looking around, to provide the boy with some decent food.

He liked to cook, and he used to do it a lot when he was younger, but now, he just didn't have the time anymore. He was so busy with his job, mainly fixing other peoples' stupid mistakes, that he'd barely have the time to run his own personal life.

"Normally, I'd dazzle you with my excellent cooking skills" the man giggled, as he tried to make the boy feel more cofortable, with a little humor. "I'm kidding, of course, but I'd really give you something more consistent to eat. Sadly, I only have some salamy, some cheese, and butter left in my vast treasure chest."

He carefully took the m out of the fridge and put them on the table, walking up to the pantry door, and going inside. "I'm pretty sure I have some bread left", he spoke as he started rummaging through the pantry. "Yup, found it. Now, I'm going to make you a few sadnwiches, and some warm chamomile tea, then we'll rest in the living room for a while, and afterwards, you can take a hot shower."

He put the bag on the counter, next to the other ingerdients, lit up the cooker. He then took a stainless steel kettle out of the cupboard, filled it with water, and placed it on the cooker ring.

"I'm going to share this humble meal with you, and drink some tea, so you can be sure that I didn't put anything wierd in, okay?"

As he informed the boy of what he was going to do, Akira took a kitchen knife from the drawer and started slicing the left over salamy and cheese, but he left the butter aside, as it was far too solid to dab onto the bread.

"I'll use the sandwich maker. it'll be a while before we can dig in, so, maybe you can go take a shower now. I know your tummy must be empty, but I promise you, by the time you get back, you'll have a tasty breakfast waiting for you. You'll find fresh towels and soap, and the door can be locked from the inside. That way you can rest assured that no one will go in after you. Try not to make tha water too hot, so you don't feel dizzy afterwards, and sit in the bathtub, don't stand, because you might slip and ind injure yourself, okay?"

The boy noded, a "yes", thanked him, and got off his chair, slowly limping towards the door.

"Poor boy" Akira thought, as he was watching Aijou close the kitchen door behind him. "I have to give him some room. Only then will he truly understand that I have no intention of harming him."

Aijou gave a small nod as he waited in the chair, watching as Akira moved about the kitchen to the refrigerator and poked around into it. Aijou wondered what was held in there, unsure as to what he'd be eating.

When he glanced to the side, he saw a few things scattered about. His head titling as he looked around the males house, it wasn't to bad..Cozy and warm. But he shouldn't think to much on this. After some food and a nice bath, he was leaving. He surly couldn't impose to long on this male.

Turning back to the other male, he watched as he took out the things he'd commented on and sat them onto the counter. Looking more then confused at the assorted foods on the counter, he wondered what would be made out of them, Having never had most of what was rested on the counter.The most Aijou ever got was a few slices of bread from the some odd old lady's that felt pity for him. Or he'd be lucky and find someone tossing the bread away and catch it in time.. He watched the male move to the pantry, poking through them too till he found the bread he'd been looking for. Biting onto his lip, Aijou was glad that the bread was found. He wondered if it would taste better not plain...

Aijou couldn't help but lick his lips slightly at the thought of getting some food, but before Akira started to make the food, he went to the cupboards and pulled something else out, filling it with water and setting it on some heat...

"O-okay.." he said as he squirmed a bit. He really did want to start eating. Shove a few slices of bread in his mouth...But this wasn't his home. (he didn't have one) and he wouldn't be rude.

Aijou froze when he saw the knife, his face going slightly pale as he leaned back slightly. He knew that the male hadn't done anything so far. But seeing him with something that could be used as a weapon didn't make him feel at ease...Even if all the guy did was cut up the salami and cheese.

Aijou was a little more at ease when the knife had been put down, his gaze moving back to the food as he watched the male say something about a maker? He wasn't sure what it was and didn't really care. He was told that he could shower while the food was being made. Giving a light nod, he pulled himself from the chair and headed down the hall, stumbling a bit before he found the bathroom. Closing the door, and let out a deep sigh, turning around to lean on the door for a second before moving to the shower He wouldn't lock it just in case he did pass out and need help, rather have the guy be able to get in and help him then not..Ue slowly pulled his clothes off, only to reach into the bath and turn the water onto warm, tugging the thing to switch it to a shower. When it was all set and ready, he climbed in, sitting down as he'd been told to do. He himself hadn't wanted to fall...

He doesn't seem so bad...rather nice. I agree...maybe we can get a nice warm bed to sleep on for a bit? Of course he'd have to stay in the other room...But you do need a good nights rest..maybe this is a sign to get it? Aijou sighed as he rested his head onto his knees. He still wasn't completely sure as to what he should do. He could stay for the night. Sleep in a warm bed...but that would be a little rude wouldn't it? Getting food..a bath and a place to sleep from a stranger? Guilt filled him as he thought of asking for such a thing after getting so much. Instead he just sat there, his white hair hanging down his back as the water splashed over him...Warming him up slowly.

The tea kettle started to wistle softly, as the water inside it finally reached its boiling point. Akira had just finished setting up the table, when he heard the sound, so he turned off the cooker, picked up the kettle by its plastic handle, took out a white thermos flask from the cupboard, opened the lid, threw a few chammomile tea bags inside, poured the hot watter over them, and closed tha flask, letting it rest on the counter.

"Well, it's not much, but at least It will fill his empty tummy, until I manage to go shopping again. Oh, almost forgot. He's going to need clothes."

And with that, he left the kitchen, and went into the living room, to look into his drawer for some pijamas to give to the boy. He didn't think he was going to find something even remotely close to the boy's size, when he stumbled across an older pair of cotton pijamas. He used to wear those before he started working out. they were still kind of big for Aijou, but they were better than anything else he could give him at that moment.

He took out a coat hanger, put the jammies on it, and walked all the way to the bathroom door, hanging them on the door handle.

Then, he went on to his room to get changed into something more comfortable.

After enough time had passed, Aijou pulled himself up to his feet, being careful not to slip as he grabbed the shampoo and began to wash his hair, making sure to get all of it nice and clean before rinsing out and moving to conditioner and then some body soap. His body being rinsed off as he scrubbed the dirt off his paled skin. The time it took to clean his hair and his body had taken more time then he'd though. Then gain when someone doesn't have a way to wash up for a few days, it gets really bad.

When he finally finished, Aijou was a new person, smelling of sweet flowers and sparkling clean. He slid out of the shower, the water now off as he grabbed a towel and began to dry off, making sure not to leave to much water on the floor. When he finished drying his body off, he took the towel and wrapped it around his head, as to keep his hair out of his face and leave it up in the towel to dry, no water dripping on the floor as he bit onto his lip, unsure as to what he should wear. Opening the door to ask, he spotted the hanger and clothing, Figuring that they were placed there for him.

Closing the door again, Aijou took the PJ's and began to tug them on, finding the pants a bit to big, but not by to much, and the top falling down to his thighs. He could have just pulled of wearing the top, if it wasn't so awkward to be walking around it in at least. Sighing, the male glanced into the mare and gave a nod as he took the towel off his head and hung it up, letting his long white hair fall back down in slight wet knots.

Leaving the bathroom, Aijou headed back into the kitchen, sitting back down at the table as he looked over at Akira. "I..I finished." he said in a small voice as he waited, hands in his lap again. He felt much better now that he was clean and warmed up, all he needed was some food in his belly and he should be set...Well...that and a small nap.

Akira slowly loosened his tie, then took it of, placing it on the bed. He then proceeded to remove the rest of his clothes, placing them on the chair. So there he was, completely naked, but it was okay, because he didn’t feel cold at all. He actually felt quite warm.

“Yes, it feels warm, even thought it’s freezing outside. I never feel cold, because I have a home to go to every night, I have food, and clothes, and shoes. But that boy has nothing, short of his worn out blanket and torn clothes, that barely kept his bruised and fraile body from freezing to death…”

He just stood there, completely disrobed, contemplating the depts of Aijou’s torment and despair, and as he did so, he suddenly felt dirty, ashamed, gorged in guilt, as if he were the one responsible for the way things turned out for the boy. And, suddenly, all those annoying and painful questions started popping up in his mind.

“What am I going to do with him? How will I be able to take care of him? What if he runs away? I don’t even know how old he is. Does he still have parents, or relatives? Did someone try to force themself on him? What if he doesn’t want to tell me who abused him? How will I be able to keep my promise and help him then?...”

So many questions, to which he had no answers at that time. All he could do for now was provide him with a decent meal, some clothes, and a warm and comfortable place to sleep in. They were both in desperate need of rest.

“I guess I can’t stay here like this, meditating for all eternity. I’m hungry, not to mention tired. I should be getting back to the kitchen.” So Akira tried to let it go, but he just couldn’t. Every time he would close his eyes, he could see poor Aijou, taking of his torn clothes to reveal a skinny, fragile body full of beating marks. And he’d feel sadness, pain and anger towards the person responsible for making them, and he’d want nothing more than to hurt that person deep inside, just as he or she’d hurt the boy…

“I wish I could get my hands on them, so I can make them pay for each and every bruise on his body, for each and every wound, carved deep into his heart, for every cry for help that went uanswered, for each and every tear he shed!…”

He struggled to get ahold of himself, but he just felt the need to cry again. He despised those tears, and yet he looked forward to them. He hated them, as they made him feel weak, and helpless, and he wanted them, because he felt the need to punish himself for all of Aijou’s suffering. Even though he wasn’t to blame, he still felt the need to pay for someone else’s sins! He just wished he could take all of Aijou’s pain away, and make it his own. Because the pain he felt in his heart was insufficient. He needed to take the boy’s pain as well...

Aijou was a complete stranger, a boy he’d met by accident on the streets. There was nothing to tie them together. But if he was just a mere stranger, than why did it hurt so much, everytime Akira thought about him? Why did every tear, falling from his eyes feel as if it were the very first one he’d shed in his entire life?...

As Aijou sat in the kitchen he waited for the other male to come back out so that he could eat. Having not figured out where it was the guy had gone to. Now that he was warm, the young male felt a sense of pleasure just for not having grim or dirt all over him. It was nice to be cleaned.

Scratching his arm Aijou glanced around, soon growing restless as he waited. He just wasn't use to sitting in someone's house with out something happening. So it felt rather odd. More so when he had been told he'd get to eat when he left the shower, now to not see anyone there to give the food to him.

Maybe he was in a shower himself? Just one that Aijou wasn't in? He wondered slightly as he slowly rested his head on the table, He wasn't sure if Akira would be mad for him doing this, so he kept his eyes open just in case he had to sit up when the male came back into the kitchen. Letting out a sigh, he wondered what to do after eating. Leave? Stay? It was hard to decide..

I cant' believe it. You're going to really trust this guy! Kreg said. Aijou ignored him as he gave a light pout expression, It was fine wasn't it? Trusting someone who seemed to be different from everyone else? Oh, don't worrky Kreg, if the guy does something stupid, I'll take him out. As will I, No worries. Oh..Thats not what I'm worried about.. Kreg said with a sigh.

Sighing, Aijou gave up on waiting, instead he slowly pulled himself up to his feet and wrapped his arms around his waist, not because he was cold, just because he was a bit nervous as he slowly shuffled his way out of the kitchen, wondering where it was Akira had gone to.

Biting onto his lower lip, Aijou made his way to the males bed room, slowly pushing the door open and peeking inside before seeing Akira standing in the middle of the room with nothing on what so ever. His face grew a deep shade of red as he pulled his head back. "s-sorry!" He stumbled while moving back. His face was still bright red as he slid down the wall and sat outside the males door. He wasn't sure why he just sat there, having just saw the guy in a state that was embarrassing to comment on. He wasn't sure what to do.

(so much less then yours Dx i had a brain fart)

"Aijou, you startled me, said Akira, when he exited his room to find the boy standing against the wall. He'd been too caught up in the train of his own thougts, so he didn't notice it when the boy slowly opened the door to look for him, no did he hear the boy's apologies for having violated his privacy, getting to see him without any clothes on.

"I thought you'd be in the bathroom for a while, enjoying a nice long shower, so I took a little longer to get into my jammies" he explained to the boy. Don't tell me you've been waiting here for me, so you could start eating?

But Aijou didn't say a word, as he kept staring at the floor, trying to hide his flustered expression from the man. Akira had absolutely no idea why the boy was acting so shy. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but smile, and rustle his beautiful white locks of hair. Or so he thought it was, when they first bumped into each other on the cold and deserted street. But looking at it now, made him think of it as being a very bright blonde, far brighter than his own hair colour. Aijou remanied perfectly still and perfectly silent, as though he were nothing more than a perfect wax replica of a human being.

"Well...Not only are you intelligent, but you're also a very well mannered young man", Akira suddenly spoke, so as to fill those few awkward moments of silence. "I apologize for making you wait so long." He reached out his hand once again. "Come on, lets go to the kitchen and fill up our empty bellies with some yummy sandwiches..."