“Your voice echoes,” Dee said softly. “That must mean your house is huge.” Dee turned around, as if he were looking at the entrance way. “How big is your house?” The blind teenager tugged on Ryo's hand. “Show me around; tell me what everything looks like.”

Ryo couldn't help the warm feeling in his chest as he slowly walked Dee to each room in the house. He explained that his parents were very well off, which was an understatement, and that their house was much too big for only three people. Dee seemed amazed the further they walked into the house, even though he couldn't really see anything; he could imagine what everything looked like. Ryo was very good at describing things.

“This is my bedroom,” Ryo said as they came to his partly opened door. “I keep it simple, unlike the rest of the house.” The sandy-haired teenager laughed. “My bed is up against the wall near the window, that overlooks the yard, and my favorite tree. The tree is a huge oak. Right now it's shivering in the cold, wrapped in a blanket of snow. It looks like snow fairies are fluttering around it.”

Sitting Dee down on his bed, Ryo set next to him. “My bed is queen sized. Right now it's unmade, because I am not as neat as my parents wish of me.” He chuckled at that. “The comforter is a dark forest green, one of my favorite colors.” Ryo guided Dee's hand down to his blanket. “See, feel? I love how soft this one is. It makes me feel like I'm wrapped in silk.”

“I've got a desk across from my bed. Just a plain wooden one where I study or use my laptop. I like to write a lot, so I do enjoy my desk.” Ryo squeezed Dee's hand.

“Your carpet?” Dee whispered, his eyes shut tightly. It might have seemed strange to anyone else, but it felt important to Dee to know what things looked like, even if he couldn't see it with his own eyes.

“Dark forest green, just like my blanket.”

Pulling Dee off his bed, Ryo gently pulled him down to the floor. “It's a very shaggy carpet, like the kind you can run your fingers through. It's horrible to clean though. Though my room is spotless usually. But my friends always manage to drop food on the carpet.”

Dee laughed. He stood up, surprising Ryo when he grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet as well. Dee really seemed good at sensing where Ryo was like that. He always made Ryo feel so flustered.

“Are you blushing right now?” Dee asked. He squeezed Ryo's hand.

“W-why would I be?” Ryo stuttered, startled by the change of subject.

“Because your hand's hot,” Dee teased. “I didn't know hands could blush, Ryo.”

“Well, it's not!” Ryo exclaimed. “I have no reason to be blushing, silly.”

Not much more could be said as Drake, JJ and Diana decided to waltz in at that moment. They never knocked. It was as if they lived at Ryo's house their selves.

“Hey, Ryo!” JJ exclaimed loudly as he and the other two entered the bedroom.

Not expecting someone else so suddenly, Dee jumped, his hand squeezing onto Ryo tighter then before. Ryo noticed the younger was slightly shaking and he wondered if it was from the sudden fright, or if his illness was the cause?

“JJ,” Drake scolded. “Don't yell so loud.”

JJ gave Ryo and Dee a guilty look. “Sorry, am excited about the party.”

“Dee, these are my friends, JJ, Drake and Diana.”

Everyone said their hellos, before the group set down on Ryo's bed and started to talk about casual things, getting to know each other better. Dee was happy that he seemed to fit in and nobody seemed to care that he was blind or sick. The 'party' went on for a couple hours; they ate and talked and played board games. Ryo and Dee always partnered on the games that eyesight would be needed, which was nearly every game, though Dee never complained and Ryo explained everything very well, in vivid details.

“It's not much of a party until there's dancing,” Diana commented in boredom. She yawned, before giving Ryo a sidelong glance. Ryo had been acting strange all day and he was over protective of Dee. It was very sweet and her girl intuition was working over time.

“We're an uneven number,” Ryo pointed out with a laugh. He wasn't so good at dancing.

“So what,” Diana countered. “We can take turns. Let's have some real fun now and burn off some of these calories.”

JJ turned on Ryo's CD player, agreeing with Diana. It sounded like a fun idea, and it really wasn't a party without dancing.

“I'll watch for now,” Diana said, waving her hands at the four boys, “go on. Give me a show,” she joked.

Drake and JJ had no problem getting up and rubbing their bodies together suggestively as they started to dance to the slow sensual song that was now playing. Ryo blushed, before shaking his head at his horny friends. They were always like that; they had no idea how to keep their hands off each other.

"So we dancing then?" Dee asked, smirking at his new friend. He found Ryo's hand easily, despite his eyesight being at it's worst today. The blind teenager pulled Ryo off his bed, and then tried to listen to the song and move to the rhythm. He had never had the chance to dance before. Dee was thrilled that his first time would be with Ryo. Somehow Dee wished all his firsts could be with Ryo, but he wasn't sure if he would be around long enough for that, or if Ryo could ever like him back.

"I-I," Ryo stuttered, "don't really know how to dance," he said, letting out an embarrassed squeak when Dee started to spin him around in time to the music. Even though he was flustered, Ryo couldn't help laughing as the bigger started to get creative, dipping him and surprisingly picking him up off the floor. Ryo was too stunned to even protest to the way Dee was pushing himself.

"I think you dance amazingly," Dee chuckled into Ryo's ear. "The best I've ever seen." Of course that was just a saying, but even so it startled the others in the room, though not Ryo who was used to it.

"How many have you really seen?" Ryo asked. Diana was giving Ryo a shocked look, obviously thinking he was being insensitive for saying such things.

"Oh, you got me," Dee laughed. "You're actually the first."

"How come we didn't know Ryo was gay?" JJ whispered. "They're totally flirting, aren't they?"

His boyfriend smacked him gently, "Don't be so sure. You know it's not good to jump to conclusions. Though I do agree Dee is flirting with Ryo and Ryo is just too innocent to realize he's doing it back."

Both boys snickered. "It's cute," JJ murmured. "Remember when we were that way?"

"Oh yeah," Drake nodded, "and then when I wouldn't take the hint..."

"I pushed you against a wall and kissed you."

"If I'm the first, then how do you know I'm amazing? You have nothing to compare my dancing to?" Ryo asked. He gasped out when Dee suddenly pulled him closer to his chest as the song grew more sensual, his cheeks flushing when he felt Dee's fingers in his hair, moving down to his cheek.

"Because you're amazing," Dee answered quietly. "I can't imagine how my life would have been had you not shown up, you know?" The dark-haired teenager shut his eyes, "not to sound all mushy, but you turned me into a person. A lot of people just see me and... well..."

Ryo chewed on his lower lip; he felt his chest growing warm, as if his heart was over flowing with affection for his friend. "I know what you mean, Dee. I'm glad I met you too."

---

"Crap, look at the time," Diana mock gasped after they had danced for about an hour. Somehow she, Drake and JJ managed to always get Dee and Ryo paired up. If either noticed, they didn't say anything.

"Sorry to cut the night so short, guys, but I have a date with Berkeley."

"Eww," her three friends groaned, teasingly.

"Oh shut up, he's not that bad," Diana defended.

“Sure, until he decides to trick Ryo to his bed," JJ grumbled.

Dee frowned at that, though he kept quiet, not sure who they were talking about.

"That was one time before he and I started to date," Diana said with an eye roll. "Ryo turned him down quite clearly," she chuckled.

"Glad he's moved on," Ryo said, "I mean... he really freaked me out, he was much too demanding and he didn't seem to know what "no" meant."

Dee promised himself that he would never be that way no matter how much he liked Ryo. He wondered what Ryo looked like right now; his voice suggested that he was frowning at the unpleasant memory.

From now on Dee knew he wanted to make sure all of Ryo's memories with him were good ones. Though in the back of his mind he couldn't help feeling guilty, knowing that his death would be very hard on Ryo.

The dark-haired teenager scolded himself for thinking that way, but he couldn't help it; he had never liked anyone before.

Diana stood up. She walked over to Dee and gave him a quick hug, "good luck, mistletoe above you," she whispered. With that, she pulled away and then grabbed Drake and JJ's hands. "Let's go guys," she said. The three had car pooled after all.

"Nice to meet you Dee," Drake called.

"Yeah, see... um you later," JJ added, flushing at his choice of words. Diana rolled her eyes at him. Dee only grinned.

"Thanks for a fun time, guys," Dee said, waving as the three quickly left.

Ryo scratched the back of his neck, confused about his friends rushed exit.

Glancing up, Dee wondered if there really was a mistletoe up there. He couldn't figure out why Ryo would have one hanging from his ceiling, even though it was Christmas time. Who would be kissing? Dee smirked. Hanging up a mistletoe was probably just a tradition.

With that thought in mind, Dee leaned up and pressed his lips against Ryo's, startling the sandy-haired teenager so much that he gasped. Pleased that he had actually managed to hit the right spot, Dee put a hand on the back of Ryo's neck. He pulled back from the kiss and smiled. “Merry Christmas Ryo,” he whispered.

“M-mer... w-wait. Why did you kiss me?”

"Because a little birdy told me that I was standing close to a mistletoe, since I can't really see it myself, I figure I had better kiss you just in case. I'm loathe to go against tradition and all." Dee smiled gently.

"You were the only one here, and frankly even if the others were still here, I don't know them well enough to kiss. Oh! And there is the fact that I like you too," Dee said with an amused look. Ryo was so adorable; Dee didn't even need to see him to know that. The way the older teenager reacted made butterflies dance around in Dee's stomach. Dee wondered if it could be a good sign that Ryo hadn't pushed him away?

"W-what... mistletoe, little birdy?" Ryo looked up; there was nothing up there, so then why in the world did Dee think there was? The only person who could have told Dee that was Diana when she was hugging him, but why would Diana do that? Girls were so weird.

"Well, um... I'm glad you like me," Ryo said, flustered. "I guess I understand the whole tradition thing," he murmured. For some reason he didn't feel the need to tell Dee that there wasn't one up there.

With a wide grin, Dee ruffled Ryo's hair. He knew Ryo had totally misunderstood his confession, but he didn't mind so much.

Baby steps, he told himself. The younger pulled Ryo to him and held him in his arms.

"Thank you for everything lately, Ryo. Can we . . . can I just hold you right now?" The blind teenager asked softly. He never, ever had anyone to hold him like this. Holidays were always the most horrible, yet somehow this year, someone had come into his life and gave him another reason to want to live.

Without hesitating, Ryo curled up into Dee's arms. The sandy-haired felt his heart beating a frantic pace in his chest; he felt so many things at the same time. Warm, and safe in Dee's arms, yet distressed by how lonely Dee must have been his whole life. He also felt something else; a weird feeling in his stomach, as if someone had made him swallow a bunch of Mexican jumping beans. Ryo pressed his face against Dee's chest and sighed softly.

"What time do you have to go back?" Ryo asked. He didn't want Dee to go back; neither wanted to be alone.

"By nine probably," Dee answered. He gently brushed a hand through Ryo's soft locks, feeling his heart constrict. He wanted to stay.

"So this Berkeley guy likes you?" Dee questioned, his arms seeming to hold tighter to Ryo, in a more possessive way. Dee felt Ryo's skin heat.

"Yeah, he used to like me, I guess. I mean, throwing me on a bed and trying to kiss me would suggest he liked me," Ryo said with an eye roll. "I think I kicked him where the sun doesn't shine."

"How in the world did you end up in the same bedroom as he?" Dee asked. He felt his body tensing up as he thought about someone treating Ryo that way.

"Camping, “Teen Options”, you know? It's this program that teaches you to say no to drugs, drinking, and unsafe sex," Ryo explained. "At the end of the program, they take everyone camping, girls in one cabin, guys in another, so Berkeley and I were alone once . . ."

"Sounds like a jerk."

"Mm, well, you can't help who you like, so it's okay," Ryo answered sweetly. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply in and out. He didn't quite understand how he had became so comfortable around Dee. "It's just sad when things are one sided, but at least he found someone else to like."

"Yes, you're right. Man, Ryo you're super nice. Some dude nearly molests you and you don't care." Dee brushed his fingers across Ryo's cheek, smiling when the smaller shivered, yet did nothing to stop the younger teenager from touching him.

Dee set up quite suddenly, knocking Ryo away from him. Concerned, Ryo helped Dee as he tried to stand up. With an uncomfortable chuckle, Dee kept his head cast toward his feet.

"Uh . . . help me to the bathroom, please," he said quietly, though it sounded urgent. Dee felt his stomach bubbling, and burning, his heart twisting in pain. He hated being sick more then he ever had before, feeling betrayed by his own body for messing with his nice moment with Ryo.

With tears in his eyes, Dee leaned over the toilet and started to throw up everything he had ate before. When he was finished, he raised up and turned his teary face on Ryo.

"I'm sorry. Getting sick like that is always unexpected. I probably ate too much earlier. I forgot myself . . . I'm sorry."

"Shush, I don't know why you're saying sorry, Dee," Ryo said with a frown. He grabbed a cup and filled it up with water. "Here, drink," he ordered.

While Dee drank down the water, Ryo held him around his waist, gently rubbing Dee's upset stomach like his mother used to do when Ryo was a child. It had always helped him, hopefully it would help Dee.

The way Ryo was acting was very endearing and so adorable; it wasn't everyday an older, yet smaller teenager rubbed your tummy. Dee smiled. "Gosh, you're amazing. Thanks, Ryo. It kinda feels different when it's a friend caring for you and not someone at the hospital who gets paid to help you."

"I really like my time at the hospital; I honestly was terrified I wouldn't know how to act around everyone, you know? But I'm so glad I decided to volunteer instead of going with my parents."

"To where?"

"Aspen."

"ASPEN? You gave up Aspen for us?" Dee asked, shocked.

"Yeah, I don't like being the rich spoiled little brat everyone thinks I am; I wanted to give this year, instead of taking."

"I can't imagine how anyone would think of you that way," Dee murmured. "You're anything but; the biggest heart I've ever had the pleasure of having around me."

Ryo blushed, "you flatter me too much."

The sandy-haired dug out a spare toothbrush, holding it out for Dee. "Want to brush your teeth?" He asked.

With a smirk, Dee grabbed the brush, "yes please."

---

"Thanks for looking after Dee," Doctor Rose said. Ryo and Rose glanced into Dee's room. The younger teenager was now asleep, his nightly medication sending him off to dream land.

Ryo smiled gently. “We had a great time. I hope he can come outside more often.”

“Just depends on how he's feeling. He could be an out patient, but he really has nowhere to stay,” Rose said sadly. “The orphanage where he usually lives doesn't have it in them to care for him when he's sick, so he's here even when he could be an out patient. It's easier for them to leave him here, instead of bringing him around when he needs treated.”

“T-that's horrible.”

“I agree. I couldn't imagine sending Berkeley away like this. I mean Dee is sick, but if only he had a home, you know?”

“If only,” Ryo whispered. He told Berkeley's father bye, before he slowly started to make his way down to the car garage.