Rating: K+ to T

Warnings: OOCness, kind of cheesy and fluffy

Disclaimer: Whims of Anime does not own No. 6. They belong to their respectful owners. Please support the official release.

Beta: None

Dedication: To nezushijustwantstobefree. Happy Birthday!

Anime: I wrote this for moist_wet_juicy on Twitter for the No.6 Secret Santa in 2019 with the prompt being a reunion au. I thought I'd post it here for the birthday of the biggest No.6 fan I know, nezushijustwantstobefree. I had other fics planned but my Word kind of crashed. Luckily, I had this one and another one-shot available. I hope you all enjoy!

The Rain Brought You To Me Again

Shion stared out the rainy window. The rain made a pleasant sound against the glass of the window. Shion tapped his table, absentmindedly tapping to the beat of a familiar song. He paused, catching himself remembering.

Remembering Nezumi.

It had been three years already since Nezumi left and the walls of No. 6 were broken. Three years since humanity began to destroy the rigid rules of No. 6 and the world began to become free.

Shion had become a bit of a celebrity during that time. Everyone wanted to hear his story. Shion hadn't felt comfortable talking about it. He still hadn't spoken about what had happened. He couldn't talk about Elyurias, the darkness of No. 6, Safu or Nezumi.

His mother had understood. She had cried when she had seen him then. He remembered crying too. He must have been a sight to the other people. He'd been crying on his mother, holding a baby in his arms with a rat and a dog standing nearby.

He stayed in his old home with his mom in the bakery for a month before moving out. He found a nice little house that had been made where the wall used to be. He moved in with Nezumi's rats and the baby Inukashi had named Shion.

He never told anyone that he moved all of Nezumi's belongings into the house.

He hadn't heard from the wandering Nezumi during all these years. Not even Inukashi had heard anything from their numerous new contacts. Nonetheless, he had never stopped hoping and waiting. All he did was not pause his life waiting like some protagonist in a romance novel.

Shion had gained a lot of hobbies and responsibilities in the three years since Nezumi left. First, he became one of the guardians of the baby Shion alongside his mother. Taking care of a baby was a big responsibility and he didn't have time at first to do anything else. When his mother started babysitting baby Shion, Shion found he had more time in his hands.

Like the time he had now.

Shion looked to the plain canvas that was currently taunting him. He hadn't painted anything recently, something that worried him a bit.

He had picked up painting four months after Nezumi left. His first attempts had Inukashi laughing while Rikigia had tried to compliment him over the laughter. He kept practicing enough that Inukashi actually started liking his art.

Painting had become an integral part of his life since the fall of No. 6. The fact that he hadn't done anything recently worried him greatly. He was sure it had to do with the last painting he had done. He had hidden the painting away in the room he'd reserved for Nezumi, too conflicted and confused.

He had barely grabbed his paintbrush when the windows opened.

"Ah!" Shion cried out as he rushed to close it. He slammed it shut before the rain could flood his studio. He didn't even have a chance to sigh in relief before he heard noises from the living room, leaving the studio.

His living room windows were similar to his childhood bedroom windows in No. 6, before he and his mother were forced to vacant. It had been one of the reasons why he had chosen this house. The windows had made him remember that day. Of course, it was a pain when the rainy season kicked in and it threatened to flood his house if he wasn't cautious.

He almost tripped on his carpet as he closed his windows, panting harshly. He leaned his forehead on the glass, listening to the sound of the rain hitting glass. It was a soothing sound. He was half tempted to go outside and scream like he did seven years ago during his birthday, but he wasn't twelve anymore.

He felt something cold in the back of his neck. He froze, immediately glad that his mother had taken the young Shion to her home. His mind raced, wondering how long it would take for him to get one of the kitchen knives.

"You haven't changed at all. Still too vulnerable, Shion."

Shion turned around so quickly he almost gave himself whiplash. Standing before him, holding a metal spoon that must have been what had been pressed against his neck, was none other than Nezumi.

Nezumi was giving him a familiar smile, the one Shion could not say he missed without tearing up. His long hair had been cut short, reaching up to the back of his neck. He was dressed in new clothes that were soaking wet because of the rain. The only familiar piece of clothing he had was the scarf.

"Nezumi."

He wanted to say and ask so many things. He wanted to throw himself crying at Nezumi. He wanted to scream at his face over his long absence. He wanted to ask where he had been. He wanted to ask what took him so long.

Instead, Shion asked, "How long were you in the rain before the windows opened?"

"Not long, of course." Nezumi answered, "Just enough to get this wet."

"Then get out of those clothes."

Nezumi smirked, "Well, well, you've become bolder in three years."

Shion blushed, "Unless you want to get sick, you'll go to the guest room and change into dry clothes. Besides, you're ruining the carpet."

"Are you giving your carpet priority over me?"

"You don't want me to answer that."

"You wound me. When did you become so cold?"

"The guest room is over there."

Shion pointed at the room where Nezumi's belongings were. Nezumi nodded and was heading there before stopping. He unslung a bag from his back and gave it to Shion. Shion held it and, before he could say anything, Nezumi went to get changed.

Shion looked at the heavy bag he held in his arms. He walked to his couch and sat down before he opened it. The first thing he saw was a beautiful white conch shell. He held it up, amazed at how beautiful it looked. It couldn't be real! He set it to the side carefully before grabbing another item.

It was a bottle filled with white sand. Had Nezumi taken it from the same place as the conch shell? Shion pulled out the rest of the items, becoming more amazed as he continued. Nezumi had also brought a jar filled with beautiful rocks that shined with different colors, a strange feather from a creature he had never seen before, a strange figurine, a black rock, a leather-bound book and broken eggshells that had strange colorings.

"Like it?"

Shion looked up to see Nezumi had walked into the living room. He was dressed in some of his old clothes that were a couple of sizes too small for his arms. Shion blushed before looking away.

"Yes. Where did you get these?"

Nezumi sat down in the couch next to him, "I went to many places that not a lot of people have gone to since the creation of the six cities. I saw the ruins of old cities from before. I saw different things that everyone claimed had gone extinct. I got these things to show them to you."

Shion smiled, "Thank you."

"It was a bit harder to get some things than others. Your new conch took days to find."

"Did it?"

Nezumi nodded before grinning, "I saw you took my things. Is that my room, then?"

Shion nodded, "I always knew you were coming back. I just didn't know when."

"Did I make you wait a long time, then?" Shion didn't answer but he supposed that was enough of an answer. Nezumi grabbed his hand, and Shion knew it was his way of an apology.

They had been apart for three years but Shion felt like that time hadn't made them drift apart. He still felt like he knew Nezumi as well as he knew himself. He squeezed Nezumi's hand, feeling reassured that this wasn't a cruel dream.

He didn't want to wake up to see the blank canvas or the empty house where he could hear his own heartbeat. He didn't want to imagine another day waiting for Nezumi if this was a dream. He leaned on Nezumi's shoulder, hearing his heartbeat and knowing that he was real and alive.

Shion felt Nezumi reach out to touch his hair that was currently in a messy ponytail. Nezumi removed his elastic hair band, allowing Shion's hair to fall. Nezumi observed the now shoulder-length hair and held it between his fingers.

"Why did you end up growing it out?"

Shion straightened himself, "At first, it was because I didn't want to cut it. I never had the time or effort for it, even if my mom asked that I do it. Now, I like it. It kind of reminded me of your long hair and thought that it wasn't a bad look."

"Better hair story that mine."

Shion reached out for Nezumi's now short hair, "What happened with your hair? I don't think you liked having your hair short."

"I don't. Someone cut it a couple of weeks ago after I got into a fight. They ended up losing a couple of fingers."

Shion didn't know whether to believe that or not. Instead, he smiled and brought Nezumi's hand to his face, "You never seem to change, Nezumi."

He kissed their joined fingers, an action that didn't seem to surprise Nezumi.

"You do but it's not enough for you to be someone else entirely. You're still the Shion I met in that rainstorm and the Shion that foolishly and correctly believed in a third way."

Shion pulled away from the kiss to stare at Nezumi. Nezumi smiled softly, an action that he'd hardly seen in him, "I gave you a goodbye kiss. Where's my welcome back kiss?"

"You are insufferable."

Shion still obliged, closing his eyes before pressing his lips against Nezumi's. Nezumi pulled him closer, holding him so tightly as if he would disappear. As if it was Shion that had been gone for a long time.

This isn't a dream.

Nezumi broke the kiss to lean his forehead against Shion's, "I'm back, Shion."

Shion laughed, "Welcome home, Nezumi."

Shion didn't remember exactly what happened next. He'd been talking to Nezumi about some of his paintings and about his charge in one moment and, the next, he was waking up on the floor on his carpet in Nezumi's arms.

He moved carefully off Nezumi's arms but the other boy had always been a light sleeper. Nezumi opened his eyes just as Shion headed to the kitchen to make him something to eat. He sat up, yawning softly.

"What would you like to eat?"

"Anything you cook that's decent."

Shion sighed, "Eggs and bread, then, because you want decent food."

Nezumi yawned again, "Don't go out making something crazy. I don't have the taste buds for it this early in the morning."

"Alright."

Shion glanced at Nezumi to see he was looking at one of the paintings he had on the wall. It was one he had done last year after he had several recurring dreams about Safu and the last time he'd seen her alive. Safu was asleep in a field of blue roses while a crown of white roses adorned her hair. She was smiling softly, holding something hidden in her hands.

"Did you do this?"

"Yes."

Nezumi moved away from the painting, "You got good at this. I didn't even know you had this talent."

"Trust me, I didn't know I had it either."

Nezumi walked towards him, "The painting in my room is your work, then?"

Shion almost dropped the egg he was holding. He caught it before turning to look at Nezumi, "You saw it?"

"Yeah. Why did you paint that?"

Shion didn't know. He'd been dreaming a lot about that day the moment he'd placed his brush on the canvas. He'd drawn that moment like he was a madman, vividly remembering the horrific details he wished he'd forgotten.

Nezumi was on his knees with blood coming out of his arm and leg. He looked so sad, staring at something or someone. The background was a mix of red and gray with red splatters adorning the edges of the canvas.

"I thought if I did, it would stop haunting me. I . . . almost lost you then."

"You also lost yourself then."

"I suppose so."

Shion supposed, then, that was the real reason why he had been unable to paint since he had done that work. He set the egg down on a bowl, holding onto the counter tightly. He'd been so confused over his own emotions after he had finished and had been unaware why he had felt that way. He was amazed at how quickly Nezumi had figured it out.

"At least you found yourself again, Shion."

Shion nodded before he continued making breakfast. Nezumi began exploring the house, occasionally yelling at him what he thought about the décor. When Shion finished the eggs and toast, Nezumi had come back wearing one of Shion's hats.

"Were you checking on my room too?"

"Yeah. Your sense of fashion hasn't changed."

"Says the pot to the kettle."

Nezumi laughed, "At least you're more prone to biting back."

Shion chuckled, "Things have changed a bit in three years. I'm sure you haven't properly looked around to see all the changes that have happened around here."

"Nah. I was too busy figuring out where you were than what changed around here."

Shion blushed, "I'm flattered, Nezumi."

Nezumi looked away, "You were one of the only people I thought about in three years. I hardly thought about anything else."

Shion couldn't help thinking about how cute Nezumi had become. Had he always been like this? He gave Nezumi his breakfast before he began to eat. Nezumi muttered a simple thank you before he began to eat.

Shion ate in silence, thinking about how to tell the others that Nezumi was back. Rikigia would probably welcome him but not be too excited about it. Inukashi would pretend not to care but they would be pleased. His mother would like to hug Nezumi and feed him all day.

Shion looked outside and turned to Nezumi, "I want to take you somewhere."

"Where?"

"You'll see."

I

Shion and Nezumi were walking down a path that Shion knew was unfamiliar to Nezumi. They were holding umbrellas, Nezumi lagging slightly behind. He stopped, seeing a large field of sunflowers. He turned to Shion, confused over what he was seeing.

"This field of flowers appeared seven days after the wall was destroyed. I think Elyurias did this. No one comes here because they get scared they might anger her."

"Then why do you come here?"

"Safu."

The flower began to emit a soft glow, shocking Nezumi. Shion chuckled as he walked a path to the middle of the field. He turned, "I always feel her here. It became the only place I could come to after everything."

Nezumi walked forward, still staring at the flowers. He glanced up at the sky, "The rain's not stopping yet you still came here. Do you always do this?"

"Yes."

Nezumi sighed, his eyes showing his understanding. Shion was glad again to have Nezumi by his side. Nezumi seemed to understand him, even though things had been so different three years ago. He had someone who didn't need to hear him say something to understand.

Shion kneeled down, uncovering the small stone he had put in honor of his dead friend. He smiled and got up in time to see Nezumi holding out a hand to him. Shion looked at Nezumi to see him smiling.

"Can I have this dance?"

Shion laughed, "You're so ridiculous."

Despite that, he still took Nezumi's hand. Nezumi dropped his umbrella to hold Shion in a comfortable waltz stance while Shion had no choice but to do the same. The rain was cold, but he was comforted by the sound of Nezumi's heartbeat. He leaned closer to Nezumi as they began to dance.

Shion had decided to learn how to dance in Nezumi's absence. It had been a bit hard to do considering the only teacher he'd had was Rikigia. Inukashi had been forcefully volunteered into being Shion's dance partner. Shion could still feel his toes being stepped on, like some form of phantom pain.

Nezumi was, by contrast, a master dancer. He twirled Shion and weaved them through the field without crushing the sunflowers. He tipped Shion slowly, grinning, "Who did you practice dancing with?"

"Inukashi, under Rikigia's tutelage."

Nezumi righted Shion, twirling him, "Not bad for a wild child like Inukashi. Maybe I should thank them for this."

Shion moved his arm away from Nezumi's shoulder. Nezumi didn't say anything as Shion twirled him. They came back together, panting softly. Nezumi touched one of Shion's cheeks, smiling softly with eyes filled with fondness.

"I'm glad I came back."

Shion leaned onto the hand, closing his eyes "You kept your promise, after all."

Something warm pressed itself onto his lips. Shion leaned closer to the kiss, forgetting about the rain and the world. He didn't even notice how the sunflowers had begun to glow more brightly. He opened his eyes just as Nezumi pulled away.

"I don't want to leave you alone. You might get into trouble. Or get lonely without me."

"Trouble? I never got into trouble until I met you." Shion laughed.

Nezumi moved away slightly from Shion, retrieving their fallen umbrellas. He looked at him with a cheeky grin and Shion sighed while grabbing his umbrella.

"I don't want to hear whatever joke you're planning on cracking."

"You aren't much fun, Shion."

Shion sighed, "I don't even know what the point is. We're already soaking."

"Then let's go back home."

Shion paused wondering if Nezumi had heard him say 'home'. He didn't ask. He started walking after Nezumi, grabbing his hand. Nezumi turned to look at him and smiled again, tightening his grip on Shion's hand.

Three years waiting had hurt Shion. He'd been scared that he would start forgetting parts about Nezumi that he never wanted to. He was afraid that Nezumi would come back and not want him.

He was glad that his feelings had not changed. He and Nezumi had changed in some regards but not enough that they had grown apart. He was so happy that Nezumi was going to stay by his side. They were going to live together after so long apart. They'd get to see each other every day even if they drove themselves crazy. They'd do everything and nothing together.

Shion smiled, "I think we should stop by my mother's place before that."

He wasn't risking his poor carpet for their wet clothes again.

Reunion will come

And it finally did

Anime: Happy birthday, nezushijustwantstobefree! I hope you enjoyed!

[Original A/N: moist_wet_juicy, I hope you enjoyed and spent your holidays surrounded by good cheer! My characterization of NezuShi may be too sappy but I wanted them to be cheesy. I hope you enjoyed this gift of mine. May 2020 bring you more joy! - whims]

2020 has not been a great year. But I'm keeping my head up. Stay safe at home, wear a mask and remember: Black Lives Matter.