For this chapter, I deleted some, and I added a tad, both at the end.

"..." Shiro stared at his respective name tag for a little while before sitting down in front of it.

Techincally, the masquerade was at the end of the night. For now, however, they were to just converse with people for five minutes and then move to the next table.

"Yo," a boy with a sun mask on sat in front of Shiro, "Nice to meet you. You can call me Sunshine. Your name?"

"Shiro."

"White, huh? That's pretty neat. You get that from your hair?" Shiro nodded. "So, why'd you choose to come here?" Shiro only stared. "You're not much of a talker, huh? Well, that's alright. I can talk enough for the both of us. So, I'm a college student. I work as a part timer, as a messenger," the boy babbled. Shiro felt two arms wrap around his neck, but they weren't Rize's.

'He smells familiar,' Shiro thought to himself. The black-haired nodded thoughtfully, and Shiro glanced around as the boy in front of him babbled his head off. Shiro spotted a familiar hair of blue a few tables away. Across from the angry teenager was a girl babbling off. Ayato was obviously annoyed and probably just wanted to kill her, but he was doing good to suppress that urge.

For now.

"Hey, are you listening to me?" the boy suddenly asked, and Shiro turned his attention back to him.

"Sunshine, huh..? Shiro, I like him."

"Yes, I was paying attention," Shiro told the boy, which wasn't a lie. Obviously, Kuro had been paying attention to his babbling.

'Do you want to talk to him?'

"Sure. You're too distracted and cut off for this," Kuro chuckled softly.

"Your best friend sounds like a nice guy," Kuro commented once he was given control.

"He is. You know, he's actually a bit like you, in a way. Quiet, reserved. Kind."

Kuro's lips curved in a smile, an almost painful smile. "Kind, huh? I don't know about that."

"Why do you say that?"

"Lots happened," Kuro cracked a finger under the table.

From beyond his mask, 'Sunshine' found himself unable to take his eyes off 'Shiro''s face. Sunshine knew that when Shiro was found out, it would be trouble. He didn't want that.

Little did Sunshine know, Shiro also wanted to save him from the turmoil that would come later.

"You're very cute, Shiro."

Shiro and Kuro smiled softly, Kuro responding, "Thank-you. I'd compliment your appearance, but I don't know what you look like."

Sunshine laughed, "I wonder.. Just between the two of us, Shiro.. you should probably leave."

"?" Kuro frowned. Shiro also frowned, serious.

"It won't be long before you're found out, don't you think?"

Shiro twitched behind Kuro, whispering in his ear.

"You don't think he knows, do you? Is he an investigator?"

"He said he's a part timer though.. a messenger.." Kuro mumbled back to him, never once losing eye contact to the eyes behind that mask.

"Then what is he talking about?"

"Would you prefer I call you Eyepatch?" Sunshine cocked his head, and Kuro and Shiro's eyes widened.

He knew.

He knew.

"How do you know?" Shiro hissed, now back in control.

"That's a secret! But I think we both know that you're better off leaving. Amon-san could probably recognize you."

"He's here?"

"Yes. A few investigators are. Including the CCG's Reaper."

".. Why are you telling me this?"

"I wonder."

"..."

"You aren't going to take my advice?"

"I can't leave. I have business."

Sunshine sighed, "Aogiri, is it..? Why don't you leave that organization? You fit Anteiku so much more."

Shiro glared, "How do you know about Anteiku?"

"I wonder," Sunshine repeated. "I think you should leave Aogiri, Eyepatch. You don't fit it."

"I've changed."

"I can see that. But you're still the same Eyepatch. Just under a veil."

"..."

"I know you feel guilty. Killing so many must be hard on you." Sunshine reached up, caressing Shiro's face, and Shiro couldn't help but melt into the touch.

How long had it been since someone touched him so tenderly..? A real person, not a figmant of his imagination.

"So stop. Quit Aogiri. You don't deserve that pain. They don't deserve someone as great as you. Your strength should be used for protection, don't you think? So leave. Leave Aogiri. Come back. Be that shy little bookworm you used to be." Before Shiro could object, Sunshine continued, "I know you've been through a lot, but he's still there. You're still there." Sunshine's hand retreated from Shiro's face, and Shiro involuntarily whined at the loss of warmth. "You've gotten so cold.." Sunshine commented as he scribbled onto a piece of paper. Once finished, Sunshine pushed the paper to Shiro, and Shiro read it, not noticing as Sunshine got up at the bell.

I may call myself 'Sunshine', but I'm not your sunshine, am I? You need your sunshine, and you know that. You shouldn't leave him alone.

Shiro picked up the note, his lips pressed into a thin line.

Your sunshine is Hideyoshi Nagachika. And you need him. And he needs you. How are you supposed to protect him when you're so far away and alone?

"I-" Shiro looked up, about to speak to Sunshine, when he realized he was no longer there. "..."

Shiro stuffed the note into his pocket as he glanced around suspiciously. Sunshine had moved as directed.

"..."

Shiro will be sure to see him at the masquerade later..