Fated To Love Again

A little boy was running down the hospital halls with a football tucked beneath his right armpit.

"Seiji-kun stop!" A nurse screamed, running after him. "Somebody stop that stubborn child!"

Tanaka Seiji turned and stuck out his tongue at the fat nurse who was breathing laboriously as she tried to catch him. He increased the speed of his little legs, laughing madly as he ran. "You can't catch me!"

"Someone catch him! Please!"

But it was impossible. Seiji was like an eel, slipping out of anyone's reach. He moved swiftly, dashing down like Flash of the Avengers.

Unfortunately, someone decided Seiji had had too much fun and the poor nurse had suffered enough so he stepped in to help. Little Seiji recognized him as the macho security guard who throws out unwanted people. His big brown eyes widened in fear and he hurriedly changed course, successfully avoiding the guard and making him run into the nurse. He giggled when he heard them shout and curse as they both crashed to the floor.

He knew that if he kept running, they'd eventually catch him so he slipped into the nearest patient's room, quietly closing the door.

"Who are you?" he heard someone ask, making him jump up in fright. He hadn't expected the patient to be awake. For God's sake it was past midnight. His fear left as soon as it came though for he realized the patient wasn't a full adult. "Why are you here?"

With his ball still tucked under his armpit, he let out a mischievous smile. "My name is Tanaka Seiji. I'm the son of the owner of this hospital. You are?"

The patient was taken aback at the boy's confidence. He smiled. "My name is Kagarawa Yuuma"

Seiji hummed. "Your name is too long. Can I call you Yuu?

Yuuma was shocked. He had never seen such a kid in his life before. One who didn't care about the basic manners. Well, he is still a kid. "No. I'm 15 which means I'm your older than you. You can call me Yuuma-san or Senpai"

"Okay Yuu-kun" Seiji said with smirk, clearly ignoring what Yuuma had said. He walked over and climbed onto the chair beside the bed, keeping his ball secured firmly between his legs.

He examined the person in front of him. His chest and midriff were wrapped in thick bandages. A leg was propped up in the air by a machine. His left cheek was swollen slightly and his wrists were wrapped in bandages. Seiji's eyes dimmed as he could already guess what Yuuma did to himself. He may be small but he was much smarter than kids his age.

Yuuma scrutinized the little boy. He seemed to be around 7 years old. Mannerless. Clearly stubborn even though he had neat dark hair, innocent looking doe like eyes with chubby cheeks and bunny teeth. Adorable even.

"What happened to you?" Seiji asked. He felt Yuuma must have tried to end his life. He just didn't get why. Why would anyone want to take their own lives? To Seiji, life is beautiful. Even as Yuuma was battered and bruised, he still looked handsome. Seiji liked his blonde hair and grey eyes. He just didn't expect the answer the Yuuma gave him.

"I got beaten"

His jaw hung open. "Why?" The little boy wondered what on earth he could have done to get beaten up like that.

"Because I like boys"

His jaw widened even further.

Yuuma wondered why he said the truth. The boy was too young to understand the ways of the world but it was his turn to be shocked when the boy stood on the chair, puffing out his chest.

"Who beat you up? Name all of them and tell me where they live. I will beat them up for you"

He couldn't help but laugh even though it caused him slight pain in the ribs. Three were broken.

"Stop laughing! I'm serious. I'll beat them up! I can do it. I'm very strong. My dad calls me a Tiger". He was very mad that Yuuma was like this but he was laughing. He felt Yuuma should be eager to get well soon and have his revenge.

It made Yuuma laugh even harder. Tiger? The boy looked so adorable. Like a fluffy bunny. "Thank you Seiji-kun. But it's okay. No need to beat them up"

Seiji wasn't having it. "But they hurt you so bad!"

"I know but I forgive them"

The boy sunk back in his chair, pouting. "T-That's wrong. Well I don't. I'll find them myself and beat them up". He felt no one had the right to beat another person up like this.

Yuuma smiled. What a sweet boy.

"What do you mean by you like boys though?" Seiji asked, curious.

Yuuma idn't know how to explain it to the little boy.

"Do you mean you want to marry a boy? Is that why they beat you?"

Yuuma nodded.

"But that's bad. My daddy told me I can marry whoever I want. Yuu-kun, you can marry whoever you want too"

"It's not that easy Seiji-kun" Yuuma sighed. "They'll beat me up again"

"Then marry me!" he shouted, puffing up his chest and beating it with his tiny fist. "I won't let them beat you"

Yuuma was beyond shocked.

"Believe me Yuu-kun. I'll beat them up and break their bones like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. They won't ever touch you again". He started to punch and kick the air trying to imitate their martial arts. "I will protect you. I promise"

The kid's reasoning was just so pure it brought tears to Yuuma's eyes. He didn't even know what he was saying. "Really?"

Seiji nodded firmly. "My daddy always tells me never to break my promises. I will marry and protect you".

The sheer determination and fire in the boy's eyes actually made Yuuma want to believe him. The boy was going to grow up a good and honest man. He envied whoever the boy would end up with.

"TANAKA SEIJI!!!!!"

The boy nearly fell off the chair in fright. He gave Yuuma a sheepish smile then climbed atop his bed. Seiji carefully wrapped his small arms around Yuuma's neck then pressed a feather light kiss to his left cheek, surprising Yuuma once again. "I better go now. I'll come back to see you tomorrow. Goodnight" he said then quickly rushed out, forgetting his ball.

Seiji didn't even know that, in that moment, he had stolen someone's heart.