Aiya. He grabbed Aiya’s hand, one that didn’t look hurt and pulled him to onto his own bed. Maruki sat next to him, facing him sternly. He quickly raised a hand to Aiya’s face, only to gently brush his bangs to the side so he could see the bruises. Aiya was shocked for a moment, his eyes closing tight until he realized what Maruki was doing.


The small yet dark bruises and tiny scratches were not things a mother should give a child. Maruki’s stern eyes softened.
“Why would you let your mother harm your pretty face like that Ai?” To Maruki it was a stupid question, but upon seeing the bruises again, he didn’t know what else to ask. With gentle grace, Maruki cupped his hand over Aiya’s cheek gently. He knew that Aiya loved his mother, and she loved him. It was all the lingering pain of the loss of his father.


Aiya looked away from Maruki. It wasn’t like he allowed his mother to hit him. She was drinking again, excessively and she lost control again, this time she was yelling at him about his father. Though Aiya never met his father, it seemed to be the reason to his mother’s excessive drinking. Looking at photos of his father before he died, Aiya realized he looked much like his father did.


Maruki gentle placed a hand on Aiya’s right shoulder, the small irregular shaped bruise on it trailed down to his elbow where there was another deeper bruise.
“Does it still hurt?” Maruki asked, cradling his bent elbow in his palm, moving it as little as possible. With soft, lidded eyes, Aiya stared at Maruki’s hand on his flesh, shaking his head, slightly, but noticeably. “We’ll check it again later, ne?” Maruki was concerned for him, but having dealt with it before, he knew he could handle it again.


After letting go, Maruki moved away slightly from Aiya, getting comfortable on his bed. Aiya’s rosebud lips parted slightly, wanting to feel Maruki’s touch more.
“I forgive my mother Maruki. It wasn't her fault.” Aiya whimpered softly, hoping his friend wouldn't be mad at him for forgiving his mother for an incident like this again.


Maruki saw the pain in Aiya’s eyes, he was angry, not ay Ai, but angry altogether. He collapsed back on his bed, resting his hands on his bare stomach.
“Let’s deal with this tomorrow okay Ai?” Maruki tilted his head to the side, looking up at Aiya softly. Maruki was still tired from his nap, and he knew that Aiya needed to sleep off this night.
“Get into bed Ai.” Maruki demanded to his friend, throwing his legs up, sitting up once again. He was harsh in saying it, but Aiya knew he only meant good.


Aiya looked up at Maruki again, nodding in agreement. He was hurt, emotionally and physically, he didn’t want to do much more then sleep at the moment. Though he didn’t want to go to school the next morning either, he knew he had to. Aiya stood at the same time Maruki did, gripping the hem of his shirt with just one hand, and lifted it over his head, turning it inside out. Maruki moved to the doorway, where the light switch was located. He turned out the lights, seeing nothing but black for a few moments. Once his eyes adjusted to the black of the night, he saw Aiya’s silhouette moving to the floor where his futon was located.


Maruki found his way back to his bed easily. He crawled back onto by the foot of it by the bed. He didn’t want to step on Aiya at all. Curling under his down blanket again, Maruki lay flat on his back.
“Good night Aiya.” A small whisper, riddled with sadness and worry came down from the bed.


Aiya looked up at the bed, sliding himself under his blanket, laying his head flat on the pillow. A small smile pulled into the corner of his pink bruised lips.
“Good night Maruki. And thank you.” Even if it considered running away, even though it was down the block, Aiya was happy it was at Maruki’s. It took Aiya forever to fall asleep. Over time, he could hear Maruki breathing deeply, he could tell that he was asleep. The worry of his mother showing up at Maruki’s house filled his mind, keeping him from relaxing.


Well past midnight now, Aiya was finally getting sleepy. The house was quiet now, Maruki’s parents having gone to bed finally. Exhaustion not relaxation was setting in. Aiya looked up at the clock, it was past two in the morning. Aiya had rolled onto his stomach, and planted his face into the pillow, letting out a sigh, he closed his eyes ready to fall asleep. Moments later, with what seemed like hours, he felt a hand touch his shoulder. Aiya jolted slightly and rolled to his side, seeing a sleepy Maruki peer down fro m his bed. Though it was dark, Aiya could see that Maruki was reaching for him, finally grabbing his arm, tugging slightly. Aiya was frozen a moment before he followed Maruki’s slight tugging. Maruki pulled Aiya onto his bed and under his blanket.


Aiya wasn’t all that sure if Maruki was aware of his actions until he spoke.
“You cant sleep can you Aiya?” Maruki was on his back until he felt Aiya moving in close to him. With his arm under Aiya’s head, Maruki rolled to cradle Aiya.
“Go to sleep Aiya.” Maruki whispered softly. His sleepy voice was defined as awake, but just barely. Aiya curled up in Maruki’s bare chest, soft whimpers muffling against his flesh. The warm sensation of tears rolling down his collarbone woke Maruki up more.
“Don’t cry, Aiya. Please.” Wrapping an arm around Aiya, Maruki stroked his hair gently, trying to calm him down.
Aiya was a big baby when it came to opening up to Maruki, this was not the first time he had cried in his arms. Maruki pulled Aiya close, cradling him, hoping he would fall asleep soon.
Not even five minutes later, Aiya was fast asleep. Maruki, was almost asleep again, his eyes getting heavy. Times like this in the past proved that he knew how to make Aiya fall asleep.




Seven in the morning, Maruki’s alarm was going off, waking both boys simultaneously. Maruki was the first to move, quickly turning off the alarm. He sat up on his pillow, rubbing his bedhead hair. He looked down at Aiya who seemed to have fallen back asleep, rolling over, nuzzling the pillow and snoring softly.
“Oh, Ai.” Maruki chuckled softly, with a small smile on his lips. He crawled out of bed, removing his sleeping pants again. Being only in his boxers again, he moved to the dresser at the foot of his bed to find some new undergarments.


The soft sound of wood against wood woke Aiya again. His long lashes flickering open again, it was obvious that he had no recollection of waking minutes earlier. Aiya groaned as he sat up, covering his bare chest with the blanket.
“Morning Maru-chan.” Still being half asleep, Aiya had forgotten about the bruises on his face, until he went to rub the sleep from his eyes.
“Itte!” wincing and taking his hand from his face quickly, Aiya woke up from the pain.


Maruki turned, holding his undergarments innocently in his fingertips. He scanned his eyes over Aiya’s face. Over night, the bruises had settled on his flesh, dark and discoloured. It was nothing too noticeable, fortunately. But Maruki still felt bad for his best friend.
“Would you like pain ointment Ai? Maybe some ice?” Maruki asked in a soft voice, shifting his weight to one leg, and placing one foot on the other. Maruki silently worried for his best friend.


Aiya stood and stretch, making sure he wouldn’t touch his face again.
“No, no its okay Maru.” Aiya smiled sweetly, secretly he wanted others to see those marks on his face, his mother most of all. Aiya stretched again, raising his arms up high.


Maruki dove to the floor while Aiya was still stretching. He quickly picked up Aiya’s shirt and hurled it to his chest.
“Get Dressed Ai.” It took a moment for Maruki to regain his balance. He smiled, giving Aiya a thumbs up as he backed up to the door.
“I’ll be right back, I’m just going to go shower.” The door opened and Maruki left, closing the door behind him.


Aiya was left alone in Maruki’s large clean room. It was almost for the first time that this has happened too, Maruki never left Aiya alone in his room. It was not like he ad anything to hide, or that he didn’t trust his best friend, he just found it rude and unsettling to leave him alone. Aiya readied his shirt before sitting back down on Maruki’s bed.


Aiya dropped his head into his hand, his hurt arm was to rest limply over his lap. Stress took over, his fingers grasped at his thick black bedhead. A soft strained sigh passed Aiya’s lips. He knew Maruki wanted the best for him, but in times like this, Aiya felt that all he was doing was causing him trouble. Since Maruki’s parents got better jobs, they seemed different. Maruki got a new room, a new computer, even a cell phone. His parents were rich now, they only cared about the money. They were still kind and caring parents, even towards Aiya, but they were still different. On the other hand, Maruki had not changed at all, he still did everything for Aiya.


Aiya’s stressed train of thought was interrupted by a small sound coming from behind him, vibrating. Aiya knew what it was and curiosity took over. He picked up Maruki’s phone, which had slid between two pillows. The screen had shocked him enough to drop the phone on the bed again. ‘Aiya’s Home’ was written on the screen, his mother was calling Maruki personally. He had not heard the home phone ring since he had been awake. Reasoning her calling his best friend was entirely personal.


Aiya let the device ring a couple of more times before he flipped it open, his thumb on the ‘talk’ button for one more vibrate before he answered it.
“He-hello?” A petrified boy, and a shaky voice, he was scared as to what his mother was going to say to him for running away.


To Aiya’s surprise, he did not get the