It was a scorching summer when it all began. With hindsight, Shinobu would admit that he had been one fucking bastard in the way he had treated Ren all summer.
They had been best friends (somehow) for two years by then. They were going to be seniors in high school after the break. Ren was focused and set on doing well and going to one of the best universities.
Shinobu couldn't care less what happened to him. Every year that had passed, it seemed as if it was becoming all the more apparent that Ren grew up in a different world from him. When Ren began to talk about the future, all he could think of was that Ren was slipping away.
Hanging out with a delinquent in high school was all good but after that, why would Ren want to associate with someone with nothing to offer?
Shinobu was pissed off and scared. And he manifested those feelings in the only way he knew how - by ignoring Ren. He believed that if he could pretend that he didn't care, then it might become true.
Ren, true to form, had been patient and did his best to cheer Shinobu up. He kept coming back for more even when Shinobu had all but told him to fuck off.
One day, it blew up, spectacularly.
Ren had found him smoking on the rooftop of the school after the last bell (Shinobu had replicated the keys for them which he had 'borrowed' from the school janitor).
"Shin!" Ren knelt beside him and announced. "I've been looking for you. Where have you been?"
Shinobu just looked at him coolly.
Undeterred, Ren snorted, "Jeez, you are still in a mood. Come on, summer's going to be over soon. We should go hang out somewhere."
"Not interested."
"Why not?" Ren was exasperated. "I found us a good deal. Arai's parents run an inn by the sea and he said that if we can help out at the inn, they'll let us stay for free!"
Ren did not need to work at an inn for lodging, Shinobu was painfully aware of that. All Ren had to do was ask and his mother would be able to buy him a ticket for a trip to anywhere he wanted.
It was Shinobu who couldn't afford anything and Ren was kind and generous enough to sacrifice his comforts to spend time with him.
That pissed him off even more.
"Just leave me alone, will you?" he said cuttingly. "Go on the trip with people from your class."
"But we should spend time together," Ren insisted. "The third year is going to be hectic with exams and all. Look, I've looked up the train schedules and stuff to do-"
Shinobu, to this day, could never explain what he did next. All he knew was that he had a sick feeling in his stomach when he slapped Ren's wrist away, sending the papers flying everywhere.
A moment of silence stood between them.
Then Ren erupted.
"You bastard! What the hell is wrong with you?" the usually cheerful and easy-going boy shouted. "You've been moody all summer and taking it out on me!"
Shinobu stood up and killed his cigarettes, walking away.
Ren wouldn't have it. He followed and grabbed Shinobu's arm.
"Shinobu! What's wrong? Tell me!"
"Shut up," Shinobu wrenched his arm away. "What's it to you anyway."
And the next thing he felt was a hard slap across his cheek.
Ren yelled, "You idiot! Having the guts to say that. I'm your best friend, that's why! I don't know what's gotten into you but you could at least tell me instead of acting like a bloody idiot!"
Shinobu only told him coldly, "See you around."
"Stop acting so cool," Ren raised his voice further. "You never lose control. You just tell me to fuck off as and when it pleases you. Do you even think of me as a friend?"
Shinobu whirled around and was about to bite back when he saw the tears welling up in Ren's eyes.
"You're so mean," Ren whispered.
"Idiot," Shinobu felt his control slipping away.
Ren ranted on, "I wish I'd never met you. You're really mean to me."
"Shut up," Shinobu hissed.
"The worse," Ren didn't seem to hear him anymore. "You're really the worse."
Shinobu threw all caution and control out of the window and pushed Ren against the fence. Then he kissed him. Hard.
Ren was frozen. Shocked. His eyes widened.
Then Shinobu realised what he had done and backed off.
"Shit," he cursed and was going to apologise when he felt his shirt pulled closer and Ren's lips pressed against his.
It was tentative, shy. But definitely a kiss.
Ren stepped back and looked down, his hands still on Shinobu's shirt.
Silence hung over them.
"What are you doing," Shinobu finally said.
"God knows," Ren croaked.
"Shit, you're crying," Shinobu softened.
"It's your fault."
Shinobu sighed and pulled Ren into his arms, holding Ren's head on his shoulders. They stayed like that for some time.
"Why are you so mean to me," Ren murmured.
Shinobu said quietly, "I don't know."
"You've to take responsibility," Ren whispered.
"What, it's just a kiss," Shinobu teased.
"It was my FIRST kiss! You-" Ren looked up and started.
Shinobu grabbed his head and kissed him again. And this time, he gave Ren the whole works - tongue and all - and felt Ren shivered.
Ren was inexperienced but Shinobu had never tasted anything sweeter.
When they broke off, he told Ren seriously, firmly, quietly, "You're mine, okay?"
Ren only smiled beautifully. "Okay."
Shinobu couldn't help but smile too. "Okay."