Over the next few days, Yixing avoided Luhan as best he could. He spent time with Baekhyun, Chen and Sehun when they were in the dorms, and when they were in the studio, he concentrated intensely on learning his parts on the songs they were preparing for Christmas as well as working on the piano piece he was to play. Truthfully, it was not that hard to concentrate as he was rediscovering his love for music, the reason he was here. He remembered the early days, the start of this journey and his promise to himself to make the most of the opportunity as there was no going back. Regardless of what else happened between him and Luhan, the music would always call to him; so he focused with every bit of strength he had. He practiced dance with Jongin and found freedom again in letting his body flow with the music, translating the melody into physical movements. Even though the piece that they were practicing was going to be done by the other youth alone, at Jongin’s request Yixing was allowed to learn it in case something happened to Jongin on the day of the performance. Yixing also had to prepare a solo work for their Christmas special and he loved exchanging ideas with Jongin and watching the other work the kinks out of a routine with his special gift of movement. Time passed like this, slowly, slowly, until one day he realized that he was no longer feeling bitter. He still loved Luhan but he was learning to let him go.

“Yixing-ah!” the sound came from a familiar voice at the entrance to the room.

Yixing stumbled and almost fell in surprise. The person he had just been thinking about was here and he had not even noticed him! He looked up at Luhan from his crouched position and marveled again at how the sunlight flooding the dance studio picked up the highlights in his multi-toned hair. He could see hints of caramel, amber, chocolate and auburn in there. The eyes that he adored so much were sparkling at him and he felt himself fall all over again for this boy.

“Y-yes?” he croaked, then cleared his throat and stood up.

“Are you almost done? I wanted to go shopping and I was hoping you would come with me…” this was said almost hesitantly.

“Umm, what about Xiumin?” Yixing asked nonchalantly

“Oh, he’s not interested, plus I want your opinion on what I need to buy …” his voice trailed off and he turned puppy dog eyes on Yixing.

Yixing’s mouth dropped open, then quickly closed and he shrugged, “Well, I was almost done, give me half an hour to shower and get dressed and I will meet you at the entrance.” He turned back to face the mirrors.

“Alright!” Luhan smiled widely, “See you in a bit!”

Yixing wiped his trembling hands on his sweatpants… that didn’t really help since the pants were soaked through with sweat. He shook said hands out and tried to go through the routine one last time but his concentration was shot to hell. He figured he might as well get a head start on that showering thing. He took a breath and smiled at Jongin, pointing at the door. Jongin, completely unaware of the undercurrents of the situation, just nodded and went right back to his starting position.

When he was dressed, Yixing wandered back downstairs to the entrance and stopped when he caught a glimpse of Luhan pacing in front of the sliding doors. At that moment, Luhan looked up and saw him then gave a small smile. Yixing smiled back and started walking forward again. Thoughts raced helter-skelter through his mind. Just relax, Yixing, it’s just shopping, nothing is going to happen, it can’t happen that fast, could Chen be right? oh gosh calm down! He stopped at the door as it automatically slid open and Luhan grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.

“Hey,” he said with a searching look.

“Hey, back at you,” Yixing said and shoved his free hand into his pants pocket. “So where to?”

“I wanted to get something for someone and I need your help.” Luhan pulled him to the right and they started walking forward.

Yixing’s heart fell hearing that. So this was a shopping expedition for Xiumin? Oh well, what was I expecting? He thought to himself.

“I see. Well, you already know his tastes so you don’t really need me for that right?” he said with not a trace of bitterness in his voice. He was done trying.

Luhan threw him an unreadable look then said, “Hmmm, well, I feel that he might have changed a bit recently and I am not so sure anymore.” He still had not let go of Yixing’s hand.

Yixing frowned in confusion then shook his head. Whatever, let’s just get this over with.

They walked in silence for several minutes until they came to a little music store that was located a couple blocks from the company building. This used to be Yixing’s favourite store and it still was, except he rarely had time to come here these days. Figures that he would be getting something for Xiumin at the store I like. He sighed then decided to be positive about it.

“So what are you thinking of getting?” he asked.

Luhan was silent for a bit then instead of answering, he said, “You… have you been okay recently?”

“Huh?”

“I mean,” Luhan hurriedly continued, “Ever since that radio interview, you have been kind of distant and it has been weighing on my mind.”

Yixing stared blanky at him. Surely he is not saying what I think he is saying??

“We used to be really close and I know that I have not been around as much but I recently realized that something was missing…” he trailed off awkwardly.

Yixing cleared his throat and said, “Umm, I don’t know what to say…. do you mean you have missed me?” He bent down to look into Luhan’s face and was surprised to see he was turning red.

Luhan turned his face away and also cleared his throat, “Well, we are sworn brothers aren’t we?”

Yixing’s eyes widened…no way! He thought, grinning foolishly.

Luhan suddenly swung his head around to face Yixing and Yixing quickly wiped his face of any expression.

“Being with Xiumin is fun and all but the connection you and I have…I miss it. I miss the times we talked about everything. I miss sharing jokes with you. I miss talking with you in Chinese like now.” Luhan’s face turned even redder but he kept his gaze on Yixing’s face.

Yixing stared into his eyes silently, then burst into a smile. He flung his arms around Luhan’s neck and laughed. “I have missed you too!” he said.

Luhan wrapped his arms around his waist, lifted him off the ground and spun him around laughing. When they stopped spinning, he dropped Yixing to stand on his own feet and brushed his hair off his forehead. “I missed your forehead.” He dropped a quick kiss on it and stepped back as they were still in the middle of the sidewalk.

Yixing snorted, “Yeesh! Where did that come from? Of all the things to say?!?!”

Luhan chuckled then grabbed his arm again and dragged him into the store.

“So wait, what are we really here for?” Yixing asked confused

“Silly, we are here for you! I saw this really great record of your favourite Chinese singer and I know you don’t have it yet so I wanted to get it for you.”

Yixing looked at him with eyes wide and mouth open.

Luhan laughed again and said, “Close your mouth or the flies will get in.” Pushing him forward to the register he spoke to the cashier.

“Please bring the record I was looking at the other day.” He laid the piece of paper with the name of the record on the counter top. The cashier grinned and bent down to retrieve it from under the counter.

“You came back,” the cashier said, “Is this who you were buying it for?”

To Yixing he said, “This friend, he was in here for hours looking through our stack of Chinese music and talking to himself. You could see he was acting really weird saying things like, “was it this?” and “no, no, it’s more like that” and so on. He was trying to remember the artist that his ‘closest friend in the world’ liked the most but he did not know the name.” the cashier shook his head with a smile. “When we finally found the record, he let out a whoop and made me swear to hold onto it until he came back.”

Luhan was turning red again and Yixing was smiling widely.

“Yes, he can be like that at times, this friend.” He said to the cashier patting Luhan’s shoulder.

After Luhan paid for the record and they left the shop, Yixing burst into laughter. “You are something else! Why didn’t you just ask me for the artist’s name?”

“I was afraid you would not want to speak to me and I really wanted to find it and present it to you first.” Luhan said shyly.

Yixing ruffled his hair and patted his cheek. “Want to go get some tea?”

Luhan looked at him with those eyes, “Let’s!”

They walked off hand in hand.