Café

Chapter One – Take my Breath Away

Tasuki laughed as he watched Tamahome and Hotohori shuffle down the platform towards the exit of the train station. Both he and Chichiri knew that the boys were shattered and very pissed off - they also knew the reasons for the boys' aggravation.

Tamahome was more than pissed and he had reason to be. Tasuki had literally dragged him down to the station whilst Chichiri took care of his luggage. He knew exactly where they were going and he was not at all pleased with the turn out of the initiation of his summer holiday. Tamahome had listened to a telephone conversation between Tasuki and Miaka the previous day, he caught the reasoning of the two as they spoke about a reunion which was defined as getting together and catching up with old friends. He knew better, Miaka wanted to see him and she wanted him, but he didn't want her… at all. She was like a kid, well more like a kid sister… well actually more like a young lady but still she was the 'pestering, clingy sister' that he never had. He was beginning to regret being an only child, coz with the contemplation of actually having a pestering and clingy sister, he didn't run through the risk of having his sibling fantasy… ookkkeeeeyyyyyy, we'll stop there; I think that is more than enough information as of now.

"Knots, knots and more knots." Hotohori stretched his muscles. He had never had a more horrendous experience in his life. Being the rich kid that he was, he was accustomed to luxurious trips to where ever he desired, that is what his parents' money was for, after all.

"But noooooooo, his beautiiiffffuulllll friends decided that they should take the eight hour flight from England to America." He pulled his arms back once more. "This is such a violation of my physical and mental state not to mention how my emotions are going cope now."

Tasuki giggled as he caught the glare that the green-haired boy sent him as he idly followed behind with Hotohori. The skipping flame-haired man stopped suddenly and hollered, making Hotohori and Tamahome drop on the floor and cover their heads. "OI! Get a move on… this aint time for a nap!" The two boys looked up and frowned perversely at the flame-haired boy as he laughed and skipped off to join the giggling Koji and Chichiri.

………………

Miaka looked at the mess in her room; she sighed as she began to tidy up the clothes once again - for the forth time in the last hour and a half. She had chosen so many outfits to wear but once she put them on, she had changed her mind as she instantly picked up the flaws in each wear. She looked at the clock on her wall. Two thirty. "Arrggghhhh!" Miaka dropped the clothes then dropped on her knees and began to pick them once again. She was not ready, she was not ready. The guys would be arriving any minute and she was not ready.

"Miaka, Are you alright?" Nuriko's voice could be heard from the other side of the door as he knocked softly and most probably pressed his ear to the door.

"Er… yeah, yeah, I'm alright. I'm fine." Miaka breathed out quickly as she began sorting out the mess - again. It still looked unorganised but at least they wouldn't be walking into her room and actually finding the clothes all around. Yet knowing them, Miaka knew that they wouldn't miss the slight strain on the wardrobe as it threatened to burst with the overflow of fabrics. "Well they are simply not going to enter my dormitory. It is as simple as that." Miaka pulled her hair back and tried to breathe herself into a composed state. It wasn't working. "I AM NOT READY!"

Soi run into the room, forgetting the 'knock before you enter' rule and stood before a wide eyed Miaka. "What happened?" She asked looking around the room searching for any cause of damage or the criminal that upset Miaka.

The latter dropped on her knees once again as she began to sob in frustration. "The guys are coming, I'm not ready, I can't find anything to wear, they are going to be here any minute and… and I can't even cry - the tears aren't coming." Miaka looked up to Soi, her face broken and flushed. Soi looked back frozen, she wasn't sure weather to laugh or cry, the excuses that Miaka had just given her were… if anything, they were pointless, but her state was pitied. Miaka was really upset; after all when she said the guys, Soi knew she meant Tamahome, THE guy. She understood perfectly well why Miaka was so distraught, she herself had had a crush on Tamahome a few years back, but it ceased to exist when she realised that he wasn't interested… in anyone for that matter, Miaka had been more persistent though, and it made Soi wonder - was the girl so stupid that she did not see that Tamahome wasn't interested or was she just a plain and straight optimistic. It made little difference at the end of the day but Soi still couldn't help but wonder.

………………

Nakago tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for his coffee, for some strange coincidence the waitress that was serving him just happened to get his order confused with another customer so he had to wait for his coffee to be made once again. At least it was nice and quiet.

Laughter flooded in as a group of boys got closer to the café. Nakago frowned. "Spoke too soon." He remarked scowling further.

"Wait, hold on I want to get some doughnuts" One of the guys bellowed as he made his way into the café, another soon joined him, grousing about weariness and wanting some hot coco. Tasuki licked his lips and rubbed his hands hungrily as he looked over the selection of doughnuts on the display.

Tamahome on the other hand had forgotten about his hot chocolate and stood stock still, taking in the image that stood before him. He breathed out suddenly realising that he had been holding his breath. The swift action caused a reaction from the blonde as he turned around irritated, but the anger banished as his eyes made contact with Tamahome. They stood still for some time measuring each other, liking or more than liking what they took in… and somewhat wanting more of each other. "Wow… you took my breath away." Tamahome whispered loud enough for just the two to hear. Nakago moved forward but suddenly his path was blocked by the flamed-hair friend as he waved his hand aimlessly in front of the blonde's face.

"Em… hey dude, that chick has been calling you for some time now." Tasuki rubbed his jaw with the back of his hand as he pointed towards the girl behind the counter, with his head. Nakago turned around to see what was being pointed at him and noted that the girl was indeed calling him as she held out his cup of coffee. The world rushed back in and crushed down on all his senses as Nakago started to see, hear, smell, taste and feel his surrounding, he said a small thank you to the young lady as he took the coffee from her. He turned back to the blue haired angel but found out that the latter was currently in a head lock as his crazy friend rubbed the crown of his head, calling out different doughnuts. He smiled softly then exited quietly but not before he noted that Tamahome was struggling to get free. He did miss the moment when Tamahome broke free and searched for him, he also missed the look of loss and disappointment that the boy send out once he figured out that the blonde had indeed disappeared.

"Hey Tasuki, Taka, lets go, Miaka is waiting for us." Koji called out bringing the blue-haired boy out of his thoughts and shortening the fiery haired boy's order.

Once outside, the group continued their journey towards Miaka's place, Tamahome stayed behind as he waited for Tasuki to tuck into his deserts, but his eyes never stopped searching for that vision that he had met.

Miaka breathed in deeply, the guys were about half an hour late or maybe she was early, maybe she had enough time to change again. Miaka looked down at her attire, blue jeans and pink blouse, Yui had picked it out since Nuriko refused to enter Miaka's room and Soi had been consoling (or at least trying to) the younger girl. Yui was coming out of the kitchen with a tray of food whilst Nuriko looked outside the window. Soi was sitting next to a fidgety Miaka, with one look Yui indicated to Soi that Miaka had to be calmed down and with a small slap on the wrists, Soi caught Miaka's attention and made her stay still.

"Heeheeheeheehee," Soi and Miaka both turned to look at Nuriko, Soi out of confusion, Miaka out of anger; thinking that the boy was laughing at her. Yui on the other hand understood Nuriko's sudden action and joined him at the window. She smiled. The boys were messing about as usual, Tasuki was jumping around aimlessly eating doughnuts, whilst Chichiri laughed at him, Hotohori joined in on the jokes as Mitsukake and Koji ruffled each other's hair and Amiboshi watched, slightly amused. She frowned, Tamahome seemed lost, he walked steps behind the group looking about once in a while and then he would go back to his reverie. Yui looked over at Miaka and Soi, Soi understood what was going on whilst Miaka still looked rather irritated as Nuriko continued to giggle. "The guys are here." Yui offered before Miaka could speak.

………………

Nakago sighed, 'maybe I should have stayed, Taka would have liked that…' "I know he would… I would have liked staying – with him." He shook his head. Nah he was thinking crazy… crazy… things. He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe I should go back, he could still be there." He shook his head once again unsure, and walked into his kitchen dropping the groceries he had bought earlier. He wasn't even sure if he was Taka. The blue hair man had called out two names; Taka just seemed to work so well on him. It had to be Taka; maybe it was short for something. Nakago stopped; his hand was on the door knob. "No, he must have gone by now." Nakago turned back - an abrupt sound of cheering made him stop once again and that was when he noticed that he had opened the door. He recalled the cheering from the café and realised that Taka and his friends were outside. "Maybe he followed…" Nakago smiled gently. "Would he have really followed? He did say that I took his breath away, he cares…" Silence, Nakago frowned then stuck his head outside the door. The group had gone, they must have been going to… who?

Once the guys reached Miaka's apartment, they found that the door was already open and four hosts waited in line just within the entrance. They rushed in cheering and hugging each other in turn. Only Amiboshi and Tamahome waited patiently outside, they had enough sense not to get caught up in the human stampede. The two youths looked at each other and smiled, it was nice to know that some things didn't change. When the group moved in further into the apartment Amiboshi and Tamahome took their cue to enter, Amiboshi went in first after Tamahome bowed low at the waist and indicated, with a flare of his arms, for the brunette boy to go through. One step and Tamahome stopped, noticing that the door next door was slightly ajar, his concern more than his curiosity made him move first but he was pulled back abruptly as Tasuki came out of nowhere and dragged him inside and closing the door.