Leonardo waits an entire week to text him back. He doesn't want Usagi thinking he's desperate does he? Or well, that's his reasoning for the first three days. Then he realizes he's not sure if pursuing this means he's running away from Karai, or getting over her.

While he avoids contact with Usagi he continues to work at Mikey's flower shop. His second day Michelangelo does the same garbage, leaving him stranded at the counter to talk to his "contacts" about getting new plants. He actually does come back with some too, his arms are bursting with flowers in fact: reds, and whites, and oranges all covering his ocean green skin. This gives him a little leeway in Leo's mind, as he can see the rationale. Still, he needs proper training and even though he asks Michelangelo for exactly that when he returns to the shop minutes before they close, he only gets it when Slash steps into the shop on the third day. He's carrying Mikey's lunch in one hand, like he did the day before. "He always forgets." The burly turtle mumbles, before slamming down the big white binder he'd been lugging around in his other hand.

"Here you are Leonardo. All the flowers we carry. With pictures. Text Michelangelo if you have any question." He pauses and glares at the wall. "Though know that if I come back tomorrow and he isn't here I'll drag him back myself."

"Uh... thanks." Leo leaves it at that, not wanting to get involved in a lovers quarrel, and starts flipping through page after page of flowers. He now thinks should've taken a class on botany or something before he was hired.

More customers file into the doors as the week drags on. Mostly old women, which is a surprise to Leonardo. He expects a lot of surfer boys trying to win girls, and he gets some of those too, but more often than not, middle aged or older ladies walk in, pick something out and bring it to the front. Leo looks through the binder to find the price. He'd usually feel bad for taking so much of their time, but they usually wave him off with a gracious smile. A few even made some very interesting comments about what a handsome young man Leonardo is. Some, are so obvious about it that he almost considers mentioning his coffee date with Usagi or the fact that he's getting over someone. Still, that'd probably just make things more awkward. Most just seem like they're playfully reliving they're younger years. Harmless in the long run.

Mikey finally decides to help too, which makes things easier, but Slash does end up having to drag him back to the shop. "Yes, I know you want to look at new additions. I get that you're excited, but you can't get carried away now that you've got an employee. Yes, even if he is your brother. Now that your back, you need to teach him some things about everything here. He doesn't even know how to make gift arrangements yet." He interrupts every arguement Michelangelo can make, kisses his forehead and then hands him lunch, before heading to his own job. Mikey pouts as Slash turns to leave, but when he spins around the real lessons begin.

By Friday, the fifth day, Leo finds that together him and his brother are on a roll. Leo is getting the hang of what goes well with what, and if someone asks for something in particular Leo either already knows where it is, or only has to take a minute to look it up in the binder. Everything is alphabatized so in reality even someone as untrained as him can do it, Leo isn't really sure why it wasn't in the shop in the first place. Mikey probably has it all floating up in his head somewhere. Next to the pizza and video games.

It's also by friday the Leo realizes he hasn't gotten a single day off yet. When he was at the musuem he got the weekends, so he hopes that this job will be similar. Still, he didn't want to assume anything. Micheangelo is his boss now, even if he acted like his sameold irresponsible self.

"Say... Mikey." Really the informal way they talked to eachother did make the whole situation feel like they we're simply cleaning the garage for their father or something. "Do you ever take days off from this place?" Still, he can't help but make all phrasing cautious.

"Oh yeah, we're closed on Sundays."

Well, that was pretty easy. "So I don't have to come in the day after tomorrow then?"

"No Leo, you gotta be here early so you have enough time to sit around and do nothing... of course you don't dummy! Honestly if you wanna leave at like noon on Saturday that's cool too. I can handle half a day by myself. I used to do it alone 24/7 anyway."

"Oh. Cool." So now he has nothing stopping him from seeing Usagi this weekend. Would the rabbit be more free then? He seemed like the type to always have something on his plate. Then again, he is helping plan a wedding. Maybe after the fact he'd have more time. Still, it doesn't hurt to try right? Except that when he actually tries to pick up his phone, the whole Karai debate rages in his head again.

'This is good for you! You can finally stop thinking about her all the time. You're pratically sulking by this point!'

'Yeah but what if this guy is just a rebound rabbit. You don't want to hurt him for nothing do you? And hey what if he ends up hating you or something. Then that's just double rejection. Yeah, I'm sure that'll make things better.'

This mental arguement goes on for another two days. Until he wakes up Sunday morning, mumbles "Fuck it" and texts the number.

"Hey. Hope you aren't busy. Did you still want to meet for coffee? I'm off all day so we could even go get lunch or something too.

-Leonardo, you know the guy you talked to the other day at the flower shop."

Even with all the 'I don't give a fuck' bravado, it still takes Leo at least twenty minutes to type the damn thing. And probably another five to actually press the send button.

Usagi is merciful, and after only two minutes of nervous fidgeting and pacing, a reply comes back. "You caught me on a good day actually. Lunch sounds like a good time. There's a ramen place I frequent that's actually pretty close to my work. It's pretty good. If it's too far from where you live we can go somewhere else of course, but I'll send you the adress and you can tell me. Is noon alright?"

Leo glances at the clock. Nine. He's glad he's an early riser. The place is only a fifteen minute drive, but he already feels a desperate need to make himself presentable. "Noon works fine, and so does the place. I'll see you then."

Three hours feels both like ages and no time at all to get ready. Showering, eating a small breakfast, brushing his teeth, that was all simple stuff, but when he stands in front of his closet trying to think of an outfit, well that's when he starts feeling like he's going to be late. He's immediately stuck on how classy or casual the place might be, and with a small breath he starts pulling outfits out of the closet. He's struck by the sudden fact that some of his old 'date clothes' had spent years in the closet. Work polos were easy, and Karai had liked them, so grabbing anything other than that seemed silly when they were still together.

In the end he still has to wait around for an hour and an half. He picks something in the middle of fancy and casual. He stares at himself in the mirror, finding it weird to be obessing so much over his looks. He checks various angles, before shaking his head at himself and flopping down onto his couch. His mind spins: with thoughts of Karai, her words, her face when she told him she didn't want to be with him anymore. The last date they went on. It had been two weeks before they broke up too. It was even fancier than normal. An anniversary present.

Thinking of that makes him close his eyes. He sniffs and steeples his hands over his face, until they slide down and he's rubbing at his cheeks. His breath gets deeper, slows, until he let's out a solid ugh and stands. He flips on the television. Anything to keep his mind preoocupied after that.

He almost doesn't leave the house, and by the time he gets there, he's considered turning his car around twice. He can make some excuse about feeling sick. In a sense he won't be lying completely. His mind is reeling so fast it's making him dizzy, nauseous even. It's been years since he's been on a date (IS this a date? He's still angonizing over that question), and even so he's never been on one with a guy before. Karai is his only past experience, and they had been friends for at least a year before deciding to date. Mutual highschool friends had made that so easy. Presently, he only has a name and a beautiful, beautiful face to go on.

He slips out of his car and Usagi is waiting for him at the entrance. His breath catches for a moment. His clothes are loose fitting, a traditional haori and hakama pants, but even still, he still seems strong and graceful. The way he tilts his head and presses himself forward to greet Leonardo. There's a fluidity in it that reminds him of Michelangelo, but a fierce strength that reminds of him Raphael.

"Leonardo-san. I hope you don't mind my outfit. I just came from work. The people running the place don't usually mind, but I suppose this isn't usual date attire now is it?" Usagi is all casual about it, even the last words, which catch and stick in Leonardo's mind like a spiders web. He wonders if he's a fly.

"Oh uh..." He swears mentally, getting stuck on the fact that this is indeed a date, then berates himself into finding his tongue. "It's fine. I don't really care much as long as your cofortable... though..." Usagi predicts the question before it has even fully formed in Leonardo's lagging mind.

"I teach Kendo. It's actually a rather fun job, even if some of the kids can be a bit snobby. My father had a friend who was a swordsman and he taught me when I still lived in Japan. When I moved here I wanted to work to pay for school, but I ended up loving the job so much I dropped out of college." Usagi is nonchalant as he they walk inside and spills a big part of his life onto Leonardo's lap.

"My father wasn't pleased, but I can support myself and..." His voice lower a tad "help Mariko with Jotaro. That's what really matters." He explains all this as they walk in and take a seat. He motions with his hands as he talks, and Leonardo can't help but find the gestural nature of his explanation charming. Maybe he just finds everything about this rabbit charming.

They step inside and Usagi waves to someone working at the bar. She waves back. They sit and the girl comes over to hand them menus and ask Usagi a few questions in Japanese.

They seem to know eachother well, and Leonardo can't help but notice how pretty she is. A cat with tied up black hair that seems to frame her face perfectly. Her voice is deep for a women's but melodic and strong. She looks strong too, fierce, and suddenly Leo is pulled back into thoughts of Karai. This time in a dress, with a sly smile on her face. He kicks the memory away just in time to hear Usagi's friend mention Jotaro again, and when she leaves Leo can't help but focus in on it.

"Jotaro. Your son?"

Usagi jumps and shushes him, leaning in as his eyes turn stern. For a horrific moment, Leonardo thinks he's ruined everything. That he's going to be asked to leave and never talk to the rabbit again. "Yes, but please be quieter about that, and don't mention it in front of Tomoe Ame. You technically aren't supposed to know that, and she definitely can't figure it out." He jerks his head toward their waitress. Tomoe Ame apparently.

He backs away and the anxiety in his face dissiapates. He still looks stern. "You must understand that the day I met you wasn't a particualty good one for me. I didn't think I'd see you again, and was so aggravated that I had to let something spill over. It is simply unfortunate it was that secret."

Leonardo had seen it forming in the shop. The story that involved Usagi, his son, and the friend he was supposed to be marrying off to someone else. "Mariko is the mother, then?"

"Yes. And as far as you and anyone else who asks knows. Kenichi is the father, as well as the man she will be marrying in a few weeks time." Usagi's face still hasn't completely relaxed and now he looks impossibly grim, studying Leonardo.

"Kenichi. Understood. Promise that's the story I will stick too."

He sighs and rubs at his forehead for a few moments, but when he springs back up, he looks chipper and noticably less strained. "Right. Now that that's taken care of. We can relax and eat." He wonders if the rabbit is smooth enough to time the end of that phrase with Tomoe coming back over to their table. Usagi introduces them formally this time. "Tomoe Ame. Leonardo. Leonardo. Tomoe Ame." They shake hands, even her grip seems strong and she switches to english for a moment to exhange plesantries. "Nice to meet you."

He smiles, and returns with: "Douzo yoroshiku." Followed by stating his full name as an explanation. A small 'ah' forms in her mouth and she begins asking question after question in Japanese, not really giving Leo a chance to answer them. That is until Usagi tells her to slow down and take their order instead of giving Leonardo the third degree. She tsks, but nods and asks for their order in her native tongue now that she knows she can do so.

They start with tea, ordering a pot of jasmine to share and placing the small cylindrical cups in front of them as they wait for it to arrive. There's a lull after that, one that puts Leonardo on edge. Usagi has already placed his menu down onto the table and seems to be smiling at him expectantly. He scrambles to find something to say until Usagi's look goes from expectant to quizzical. He's glances at Leo and then a menu on the table three times before Leonardo realizes what was going on. "Oh uh..." slips out of his mouth as he unfolds it and sticks it in front of his red face.

Usagi chuckles and reaches across the table to gently place his hand over Leonardo's. "You don't need to be so nervous. This is a date, but well... if I'm completely honest I'm very inexperienced with this. In fact, while I've felt attraction to men all my life, I've never actually been on a date with one. That parts totally new to me." He takes a breath and smiles wistfully. "I was with Mariko for many years."

Leonardo still takes a moment to process that and spits out the first thing that comes to mind. "So you're in the same boat as me then?"

"Am I?"

"I was with Karai for a long time. That was her name. I've never been with a man either."

There's a stunned silence at the similarity of their situations. Until they both crack a smile and Leo goes back to look at his menu, his shoulders now a little less tense than before.

He manages to pick something out as Tomoe Ame as coming back to get their orders, and when she goes to give their ticket to the chef, they're conversation strikes up again. With a couple deep breaths and the knowledge that Usagi is probably just as nervous as he is, Leonardo finds holding the coversation to be easier. Even when Usagi leads with:

"Can I ask about her then? Karai."

Leonardo frowns and Usagi is quick to apologize.

"No no it's fine." Leo assures. "I just... well it really would be best if I didn't speak of her now. It was... rather recent."

"Of course." Usagi nods and switches the topic.

"So uh maybe your family then?"

He knows he's made the right choice when a smile flits to the turtles lips. "Are you quite sure you want to hear about my three brothers?"

"Three brothers? Not sure if I should envy you or feel sorry for you."

Leo laughs. "It's a bit of both."

He ends up blabbing about them for most of the rest of their lunch date. Usagi keeps his gaze locked onto him the whole time, which would normally make him uncomfortable. In this situation however, it makes him feel noticed, appreciated even. The rabbit seems to be hanging on to every word, and even asks questions every now and again. Leo isn't sure if it's because he's actually curious or because he wants to show he's listening. Either way, it's nice. Even if some of them are a bit predictable. "Renaissance painters huh?" "Why a flower shop?" "Isn't he that world renown fighter who also is super into knitting?" He hears them whenever someone grows curious about his family. Co-workers, friends, these ones always come up.

Though the way Usagi looks at him makes him want to ditch the usual answers.

"My father said that he'd always been interested in people who had great skill in their craft. He's... well definitely not a painter, but he does pratice martial arts so he can appreciate the control." comes out instead of "Yeah." with a little bit of a shrug.

He does still tell Usagi that his brother's mind is a mystery, but he delves a little deeper, mentioning Michelangelo's weird fascination with color, and how they all thought that he'd be the one to actually live up to his artistic name.

He tells Usagi that Raphael has knitted him a total of five sweaters, three hats, seven scarves, ten pairs of socks, and one pair of leg warmers. "Those were experimental. None of us liked them." All for Christmas. He even mentions the fact that the sweaters always have the first letter of their names on them, L D R and M, and they're always a size too big, but that's kind of the point.

Usagi laughs and casually says through his hand. "Can you imagine me in one of those things? It would almost be a blanket!" Leonardo finds that he can and he's sure his cheeks turn red at the thought.

Before he knows it they're sipping the last of their broth from their bowls. Leo starts to apologize for taking up so much time with his dorky brothers, but he can't even finish before Usagi is already waving him off. "No no. Your family sounds fantastic. Warm. Friendly. You surely care a lot about them. I'd love to meet them all sometime." They're stare at eachother for a moment, until they realize what he's said and chuckle together.

"Perhaps I shouldn't be meeting your father quite yet."

"It's a bit ear-"

A round of what sounds like annoyed chirps cuts Leonardo off. Usagi pulls out his phone and sighs. "It seems I've lost track of the time. I promised Jotaro I wouldn't be late picking him up this time. It is my off day so..."

"I completely understand." He wasn't about to deprive Usagi of time with his son.

"Uh... So... well... would you like to do this again? I had fun."

"Of course!" Leonardo's voice is a bit to enthusiastic and Usagi laughs. "I... I mean yes. Please. I'll pick the place next time."

"Sounds good." He rises begins to leave, but Leo interrupts the action by standing and saying his name.

The rabbit turns, a halfed formed 'hm?' on his lips until it's crushed by Leonardo's own. The kiss is short. Usagi has to leave, but they hover inches from eachother for a few moments. Until his phone beeps again and Usagi rushes out the door.