DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters from X/1999.

A/N: Hi all I'm a big big fan of X/1999. I've been working on this fanfic for quite some time and hope you'll enjoy it.

First Encounter

He made his way to X on a Saturday night. X was this club down the end of Clamp Lane, owned by Nokomo, Akira and Suoh, his seniors back in college. Everyone he knew was going to be there and one of his friends was going to be the guest DJ of the night. DJ Kishu she was called and her boyfriend, Sorata was the one who had sent them the invites. The neon lights along the narrow path stuttered like a deadbeat firefly, creating a kind of eerie feel as he approached the club. From the darkness, the outline of a gothic cathedral took shape before him once he reached the end of Clamp Lane. This was it. Yes, not too long ago, what stood here was just a simple church that had been abandoned for years before his three seniors bought it over, restructured it, repainted it and turned it into a club. The entrance looked like a gateway into a mausoleum and he caught himself holding his breath as he stepped into it. He passed the bouncer—Kusanagi was his name—who let him through with just a single firm nod of his head. His seniors have made sure Kusanagi knows all the usual faces. He brushed through the red velvet curtains that formed the second part of the entrance inside and his shoes padded across the cold stone floor, creating soft echoes that beckoned him to explore further. Instinctively he turned left, somehow knowing exactly where to go and the slow rhythmic beat of digital drums accompanied by synthesizers and mellow female vocals swallowed his entire being whole and for the first time that week, he felt different.

"Kamui!"

He turned around and his shoulder was met with a playful punch. "Sorata," he greeted dispassionately at his ever so gleeful friend. Sometimes he wondered why they still maintained their friendship even after college. They were so different, like two birds of very different feathers and different tastes in prey. Kamui took a 'What bird are you' online quiz a while back and his result was a kite which was a type of hawk. He loved hawks. They're graceful and beautiful to watch and they never miss their prey. Kamui looked at Sorata and decided that an ostrich would fit him well.

A silhouette approached them and under the dim light, Kamui's face lightened. "Kamui," said a voice coming out of the silhouette. The voice was soon matched with a pair of emerald eyes which greeted his own violet ones. He's the reason why, Kamui thought with a smile. "Subaru," he replied, the magical sound of that name trailing off the tip of his tongue when his best friend wrapped his arms around him. He returned it and they stood there in what felt like a space locked in time and no one was allowed in. "You made it," the emerald-eyed bisounen whispered in Kamui's ear. Kamui nodded in reply, his face wrapped within Subaru's embrace, feeling up his senses with his scent before letting go.

"Hey, hey you two can get a room later but now you gotta see Arashi first before her gig starts." Sorata waved his hands, beckoning them forward as he led them into a different room. They followed and once inside, a woman with ivory complexion framed by long straight hair stood up from the couch in a warm greeting. She gazed up towards Kamui and Subaru and let her eyes linger longer on Kamui. "You've lost weight," she said, voicing her concern. But Kamui assured her that he's fine.

"We have an announcement to make."

They waited for it.

"We're getting married!"

Kamui and Subaru went wide-eyed at the same time. Married? Wow, they said. Congratulations, they said. Arashi blushed as she thanked them while Sorata's joy exploded in a series of laughter.

"What's so funny?" A lady with slender figure encased within a tight lacy dress sashayed in, her tightly spiraled locks just reaching the hem of her Chinese-collar. The small room was soon filled with a heavy floral scent as she stood there and even though her question was aimed towards Sorata, her eyes were locked onto Kamui's. Kamui glanced away uneasily, trying very hard not to let his eyes wander inappropriately lest he gave her the wrong signals.

"Hey Karen! I just told them," Sorata said and Karen nodded and smiled and congratulated him again before sauntering away, not after showing off a chunk of her thigh in full view of Kamui of course. Subaru giggled after witnessing the parade, "she's still onto you huh?" Kamui growled, jabbing Subaru's side in response.

Karen Kasumi was the club's manager and main hostess. Ever since she's set eyes on Kamui, she's been making advances towards him, from subtle to not so subtle to the point that Subaru had to pretend to be his boyfriend. After learning that her target was not to be tempted by the flesh of the more voluptuous sex, she had withdrawn herself much to Kamui's relief though he could still feel her preying eyes feasting on him.

"You're gay?" Sorata had chosen the wrong time to ask and Kamui had spitted his coffee—dark and no sugar—all over himself. No wonder Sorata had been glancing at him and looked like an internal conflict was happening in his head. So when Sorata finally asked, all he got was a cold look and a slimmer wallet. Yes, in order for Kamui to say anything, he had to make up for his blunder by buying a brand new top—and not just any top, it had to be Italian—for Kamui.

"So, are you gay or what? Tell me!" Sorata demanded the minute Kamui sat down in his new Italian top. Kamui let his friend's anticipation linger till the point it was driving him mad when he finally nodded his head. He never knew it could feel this good coming out. Next was his mother.

"So… you and Subaru are…"

"Nope, we're not… Well, sort of."

Sorata raised an eyebrow. There's one thing he never understood about Kamui was his penchant for vagueness.

"We dated once..."

"I knew it!"

"What's that supposed to mean? Was it obvious?"

"I'm your best friend!" Sorata declared. Kamui scoffed.

"Anyway, Subaru and I dated but it didn't go well because… Are you sure you wanna hear this?"

Sorata nodded with great fervour that Kamui thought his neck might snap.

"Sex with him was weird."

"I think sex with any man is weird," Sorata added. Kamui scowled and crossed his arms. "I'm not saying anymore!"

"Hey, hey I'm just playing."

"It didn't feel right," Kamui continued, "having sex with him. We stayed over each other's places for a few nights and we couldn't do it. Holding hands and kissing were fine until our clothes were off and we were like, 'what now?' We always end up hugging each other to sleep which was cool for awhile until the lack of sex bothered us and we thought maybe we didn't love each other enough. We had a long talk about it and the root of the problem finally dawned on us. We're both the passive types." Kamui looked at Sorata who had a puzzled look on his face until he finally snapped his finger and went, "Ohhh!"

"So you two love each other, just not that way." Kamui nodded.

"So you have a platonic relationship with him."

"I guess."

"So…" Sorata scratched his head and for a second Kamui felt worried. Would Sorata still be his friend after knowing this about him?

"Am I your type?" Sorata asked, sweeping away Kamui's worries knowing that their friendship would remain strong.

Speaking of which¸ Kamui thought as he began pondering about his type. After he and Subaru had reverted back to being very best friends, they spent the whole night discussing about their type.

"I like him tall," Subaru said and Kamui concurred. Tall is good. It makes him feel safe and secured. "But you know what they say about tall guys," Subaru added, his emerald eyes twinkling with mischief. "What?" Kamui asked, blushing as Subaru whispered the answer into his ear. Subaru laughed. "Your turn."

Kamui thought about it. "I like him handsome"

Subaru rolled his eyes, "Can you be more specific than that?"

Yes, he can be more specific than that, for he's looking straight at him right this moment as the music swayed around him and the lights dappled upon the dance floor. Kamui's eyes were locked onto his, unable to break away from them. They were dark and narrow, carrying no known emotion. Kamui shivered even though it wasn't cold and cursed himself for being so feeble. He was sitting on a high stool in front of the bar with one foot down on the floor. His eyes remained on Kamui's even as he brought a glass of whiskey to his lips. Kamui watched the drink go down his throat and caught the flick of his tongue as he savoured the rest of it on his lips. He saw that his dark hair was short and partly combed back, partly falling over his cold preying eyes. And as if reading Kamui's mind, he brought his hand up and swept his loose hairs back in one smooth gesture. Kamui gasped, realizing that he had unintentionally been caught in a game of seduction and there's no turning back.

Arashi's gig had started and the music was starting to increase in rhythm. Kamui's heart beat harmonized with the drums and he felt his whole body vibrate with the music. He didn't know how or when but when he looked up, he was on the dance floor with him. From this close, Kamui saw that he had long fingers and he wondered how it would feel having it wrapped around his neck. Again, as if reading his mind, he traced one finger along his neck before gripping, squeezing it gently. Kamui had never felt this way before, his life completely in the hands of someone else and the strange thing was, he wanted, no. He craved for it.

"What's your name?" he asked and Kamui never knew that a man's voice could lurk with so much danger.

"Kamui," he replied and he saw a gentle smile break out from his cold demeanor. "I'm Fuuma."

Fuuma, Kamui thought and made sure it stayed there. "Are you alone?" Fuuma asked, his hands were now hanging by his side.

"I came with some friends," Kamui replied.

"I saw you talking with the DJ, is she your friend too?"

Kamui nodded, his heart fluttering at the mere knowledge that he's being watched for a while now.

"Well, well what have we here?" Kamui's trance was broken by an unfamiliar voice and all of a sudden, the flickering dance lights were hurting his eyes. "A new pet?" Kamui looked up and saw a second figure standing next to Fuuma. He closed his eyes unsure if he was seeing double or it was really was another man with them. He was equally tall but unlike Fuuma, he seemed not to care much for coiffure and let his disheveled bangs fall all over his eyes. He had his hands stuffed in the pockets of a long black trench coat and though he wore an earnest smile, there was something about him that brought Kamui a sense of unease.

"He's mine, Seishirou."

"Take it easy, Fuuma. I already found someone. He's over there." He took out one hand and pointed to the direction opposite him. Kamui followed his trail and saw who he was pointing at and gasped.

"He has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen." Indeed. "I'm Seishirou by the way. But you can call me Sakurazuka because it's way cooler."

"Are you both friends?" Kamui asked.

"Hmm," Seishirou's smile widened. "More like business partners. Right, Fuuma?"

"Oh, what kind of business?"

Before Seishirou could reply, Fuuma stepped in, blocking him from Kamui's sight. "I don't like you talking to him," Kamui heard him say.

Kamui's heart throbbed further. He wants me for himself!

"Fine, fine," Seishirou said, waving as he turned away, leaving Kamui and Fuuma alone once again.

"He works for me," Fuuma said once Seishirou was out of earshot. In front of them, Kamui could see Subaru in clear view, only to disappear behind the moving crowd. "What kind of business?" he asked after giving up trying to search for Subaru.

Fuuma only kept quiet as if trying to find a simple way to explain what he does for a living. Maybe he's doing something illegal, Kamui thought and placed an assuring hand on Fuuma's arm. "It's fine if you don't want to tell me."

Smiling, Fuuma said, "I will when I'm ready. But right now, all I want to do is…"

Kamui closed his eyes and waited. Soft lips met his and as the rest of the night beat away, nothing else mattered anymore.