Time passed quickly and it was already the middle of January. The members of HEAVENS got busier during that time. They were already popular but winning the decisive concert gave a boost to their popularity.

Catarina sighed. Everything was going well. Their boss seemed to have changed for the better. He was now a lot reasonable but still strict. HEAVENS' schedule was packed. But, the blonde composer was unhappy about one thing. It was about songs.

In the previous six months or so, Catarina had to compose a large number of songs; that even caused her to lose consciousness once. After that, when she was supposed to relax a bit, the whole drama of Raging Otori started.All together, she didn't get the opportunity to give herself a break .

So HEAVENS decided to keep her away from composing for a good amount of time. They told her to take a long break. HEAVENS wasn't going to release any new songs at the moment anyways.

But being the workaholic she is, she wanted to work on more songs; even though her mind was void of ideas. Even so, she just wanted to work. Yet, she couldn't. One reason was her lack of ideas for songs at present and the other cause was her seven friends forbidding her from working.

So here she was making three cups of hot chocolate. Among HEAVENS' busy schedule, Eiji and Shion managed to get the day off. Catarina decided to give them company. It was after lunch when Shion was taking a nap and Eiji was working in his garden.

"Rin."

"Oh,Shion!You're awake?"

"Mmm."

"Then it's a good thing I made three cups.Want one?" Catarina offered a cup of freshly made hot chocolate to the albino.

The younger boy nodded and accepted it with a thanks.

"Would you like to join me and Eiji?"

". . .where?"

"In his garden."

"Okay."

So the two of them headed for the brunette's garden.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

"You've grown to be really pretty.I hope the rest of you also bloom wonderfully."

When Catarina and Shion entered Eiji's garden, they found the male talking to his flowers gently. A real angel.

"Hi Eiji." Catarina's voice startled him as he was busy praising his flowers that he didn't notice the two's presence.

"Wah! Rin-chan! And Shion too, you surprised me."

"Sorry."She apologized feeling not a bit sorry. It was worth seeing that cute reaction.

"What are you doing here?" Eiji asked.

"Oh right." The female remembered her purpose."I made hot chocolate. Let's drink together."

"Thanks,Rin-chan." He accepted the extended glass. The three then sat on the Japanese wooden patio. With Shion and Eiji on her both sides, Catarina sat in the middle.

"Eiji, your garden is wonderful."

"Thanks,Shion."

"Even in the winter, the flowers are blooming. This must be the result of your hard work," Catarina added.

"No.Because of work,nowadays I don't get time to tend to them.But I'm glad they are growing well."

"Isn't it because you take good care of them?"

"The flowers can feel your warm love, Eiji. That is why, they want to bloom beautifully for your sake." At Shion's words, Eiji flushed slightly.

"Eh?"

"Yup. I heard that when you talk to plants, they grow up wonderfully." Catarina grinned."And it's really cute to see you doing it."

"Mou, Rin-chan. Don't tease me." The purple eyed pouted.

"Okay okay,sorry." She giggled before taking a sip. The flavour of the sweet chocolate filled her mouth.

They silently kept enjoying the warm drink.Their was a tranquil air among them as they leaned against th wooden wall.

"It's so calming." Eiji smiled a little.

"It is.." The girl agreed.

"Amakusa can feel the warmth of nature."

Even though it's winter? Catarina sweatdropped.

"We don't usually get alone time together like this," said Catarina.

"You mean us younger ones?" Eiji earned a nod from the girl.

"If only Nagi could join us.."Shion stated his thoughts.

"Then our younger quartet would've been completed." She grinned.

"Right.He's probably with Nii-san now."

"How do you know?"

"Nii-san told me he had a shoot with Nagi."

"Oo." Catarina continued drinking. "It looks like Eiichi has the busiest schedule."

"I know.As the leader he has to do much more work than us.I just hope he takes good care of his health." Eiji sighed. The rest two nodded in agreement.

"Eiichi is our leader. He will be fine," Shion proclaimed quietly.

"No one but he can handle everything perfectly with a smile." Catarina added with a small smile.

"Nii-san will be happy to hear that." Eiji stares at his plants before continuing,"He really is someone amazing. . .But I want to be someone who can stand as his equal,no, I want to surpass him!"

The other two turned to him to see a determined smile on Eiji's face.

"You really admire him,don't you?" Catarina smiled broadly.

"Of course.He's my first star,my hero." Eiji replied with a bright smile. "And my rival.I want to be someone he can be proud of."

"Eiichi is already proud of you, as he says," Shion announced.

"But I don't think I'm anywhere near nii-san now.If he is the brightest star , then I am an asteroid." The male looked at the sky.

"I don't think an asteroid is the right term to describe yourself. To me, you all are shining stars."

"Thanks,Rin-chan. . . I'm going to work hard and become someone he can lean on!"

Smiling, the blue eyed woman hummed as an encouragement.

"Aside from surpassing him,I have another dream.." Eiji trailing off earned him the two's curious stares.

"...I want to sing a duet with Nii-san."

"A duet..."

"With Eiichi..."

"Yes." The brunette gave a shy smile. "He has always been protecting me. I want to repay him for all he has done. When I can become an idol I can be proud of then,not only as a member of HEAVENS, I want to sing with him as the idol Otori Eiji."

With a warm smile, Catarina said, "I'm sure it'll be a wonderful duet. I'll wait for that day to come."

Shion added,"Eiichi and Eiji. . ., I look forward to seeing what kind of light you will show us together."

Knowing that his friends were looking forward to it, Eiji could only give a smile as bright as the sun.

I wonder how Eiichi will react when he will hear about Eiji's dreams. . I'm sure he will get excited and passionate and scream 'good'. She inwardly chuckled.

Suddenly a memory flashed before her eyes.

The memory before HEAVENS' stage when Eiichi stared intensely into Catarina's eyes....Will he have the same look as that time?

"Rin-chan, are you okay? Why are you getting red?" She snapped out of her little trance.

"Huh?"

"Your cheeks are red." Shion pointed.

What? Pressing a hand against her cheek, she could feel the warmth radiating from it. It really is!

"Must be from the warm drink." Catarina shrugged it off.

"You already finished your drink a while ago. And by this time, it is supposed to go cold," Eiji informed.

"Late effects then? Let's just leave it." She waved her hand, dismissing the topic. The two boys obliged. Even so, Catarina couldn't dismiss the warm feeling in her chest.

With their drinks finished and keeping the glasses aside, the three sat silently and watched the peaceful scenery in front of them.

In the quiet afternoon,surrounded by flowers and after a cup of hot chocolate, the three young ones couldn't resist the temptation of a nap.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

By the time Kira returned, the sun was setting. He knew that he was the only one supposed to be home from work-aside from the three already home ones-.

As he entered the penthouse, he found it dark and cold. He found it strange since Eiji ,Shion and Catarina were supposed to be home.

He checked the whole place but didn't find any trace of the trio. He assumed they didn't go shopping ,since their wallets and phones were there. As the mother of the group, he grew worried; yet he was able to maintain his poker face.

When he was thinking about what to do, a place came to his mind. Even if it was unlikely for the three of them to be there at this time, he still walked to Eiji's garden.

The sight he saw melted his worries. There ,on the Japanese patio, sat Shion, Catarina and Eiji. They were sleeping while leaning on each other.

A tiny smile formed on the raven's lips.It was a cute sight to see the three innocent members hurdled together like that. Debating whether or not to wake them, he decided to do the latter.

His eyes trailed off to the three glasses, which were kept at a side. Taking those ,he went away, deciding to let those three sleep a little longer. He could wake them up when it was dinner time.

Not long after he left, Kira returned and gently wrapped a blanket around them. Taking a picture of the sleeping trio, he went back to prepare dinner, while not showing the emotions his heart was feeling.

                                      To Be Continued.