"Phew! I've missed you." Akira said, closing the distance between the two and giving him a tight hug. Azu wrapped his arms around him as he quipped, "You know, I really want to act all cool and say that I didn't miss you, but that would be weird considering everything I told you over the phone"

"Yeah that definitely would be weird," Akira smiled, patting Azu's back gently and nuzzling his head against his neck. "Babe, I'm sorry about earlier."

"Hmm..it's okay", Azu hugged Aki tighter. "Well it's a bit embarassing to admit but it felt good - letting it all out like that. Besides, this isn't so bad."

"You're right." Akira laughed as he pulled away from the hug. "Before that, can I use your bathroom? I  really really need to pee."

"What?!", It took Azu a moment to register the topic that popped out of nowhere into the conversation."Ahh sure, go ahead. What are you being so formal for anyways?"

As Akira headed to the bathroom, Azu went back to his bed and seated himself on it, this time, not bothering to pull the blankets around him.

In the shabby bed, they both laid next to each other, cuddling and making up for the times they had missed. This right here, was their oasis in a seemingly endless desert, a shade in the scorching heat of summer and an island far away from the chaos of the world that divided and separated them. 

Azu turned over and inched closer to Akira. He felt like it's been days since he had felt so peaceful and calm.

The plums hadn't begun to ripen yet but Azu wished for it to rain.