Atobe Kosuke had aged well, Nanjirou noticed, dark eyes contrasting his son's in a deep shade of sapphire; not that Nanjirou ever could forget. The only distinctive difference from the day they had parted was the lighter shade of his grey hair, an evidence that the years had passed.
"What is it you insisted on meeting me here for," Kosuke asked, impatiently glancing at his watch.
Nanjirou settled down on the chair, 'even now the man was short on time.' This was important to Nanjirou though, and he didn't care that Kosuke had somewhere else to be. A flash of defiance glimmered in his eyes, "I'm certain you are aware that my poor boy is dating yours?"
Kosuke looked up, surprise evident. The man was aware that his son was having some sort of dalliance with a boy, he just hadn't… expected it to be an Echizen. The waitress cheerfully interrupted them asking if they were prepared to order. Relieved to have his response postponed he ordered, "I'll have a cup of earl grey, and he'll be having black coffee, three teaspoons of sugar."
Nanjiro only looked briefly surprised. An Atobe never forgets. The words appeared to him, with a memory of a far different man. He nodded and the waitress left leaving a heavy silence between them. Unwilling to give in he waited for the reaction, hoping that maybe something of the Kosuke he knew had remained all these years, a glimmer of understanding.
"I don't particularly care," Kosuke started, "when the time comes Keigo will do what is proper and expected of him."
"That is precisely the problem," Nanjiro shook, eyes flashing a quiet fury, "or have you forgotten already?"
"Look I don't see the problem. It's a dalliance, that's all it ever was," Kosuke stated, "they'll both outgrow it."
"I don't understand how you can be this unreasonable," Nanjirou countered," you know they'll never outgrow it." Ryoma had brought the boy home knowing the endless amount of insufferable teasing he was going to get. This felt too much like the way Kosuke and him had been, and Nanjirou can't imagine sentencing them to becoming their fathers: Kosuke a ruthlessly efficient conglomerate executive and Nanjirou a man lost in tennis and his son; the only two things that made him truly happy. He couldn't bear to see Ryoma turn out the way he had.
The phone beeped twice and Kosuke stood, "I don't have time to argue this with you. Keigo is the heir to the Atobe Company, he must fulfill his duties."
Nanjirou stood casually easily alongside him, "You are incorrigible and I'll haunt you until you agree to let them be." Despite the casual tone, Kosuke had to wonder just how true that threat was. He dropped a ten thousand yen note on the table and walked away. Nanjirou watched him go, he'd hoped that Kosuke would be more reasonable than this. At once they were old men and somehow, it felt as if nothing had changed.
Rinko was used to early mornings. As a lawyer it took quite a bit of effort to get her work done on a daily basis, especially if she was to be on time for dinner with her family. Which is why when upon waking she found her husband already up she was curious. Was there some ceremony to prepare for? Her husband was the monk of the temple, yet normally those duties were taken care of by the other priests. Not him. He was far too lazy and too much of a pervert to do the job. Even more surprising was his attire, the last time Nanjirou had been in a suit was their wedding day.
"Good morning dear," she greeted.
Nanjirou looked up from his coffee and newspaper," Morning my Rinko-chan!"
Giving in to her curiosity she asked," is something important going on today? Did I miss something?"
Nanjirou shook his head," Not at all darling. I just happen to have to annoy someone today, do you like my disguise?"
Rinko laughed, "figures." She shifted in front of her husband and fixed his tie, tightening it, "if I hear you've been bothering some girl from those dirty magazines of yours I'm going to kick you out."
Nanjirou paled briefly before shaking his head, "No, no my Rinko-chan, it's nothing like that."
She nodded briefly taking the paper from him, "alright then dear."
Nanjirou sagged in relief as he finished the last of his coffee. He placed a kiss on her head on his way out, and "have a wonderful day dear."
Kosuke was much more surprised than Rinko could have been when he found Nanjirou splayed out on his couch reading one of his business school tomes. He looked at his secretary who offered," I could call security and have him removed. I'm not –"Kosuke raised a hand, "He can stay." He took his place behind the notably mahogany desk refusing to give weight to his curiosity. How had Nanjirou gotten in? It was rare to have someone actually get to the CEO's office. Especially given that his was a security firm.
"But Sir-"Kosuke shook his head," don't worry about him, worry about how he made it this far into our security firm."
The secretary nodded looking sufficiently cowed by the response," Yes, Sir." The man left the room wondering who the man was and why Atobe Kosuke was willing to let he remain in his office. In truth, Kosuke was aware that he couldn't have Nanjirou escorted out. It would look horrific if word got out that someone managed to break into the CEO's office. No, Nanjirou had to stay. If it looked intentional, then no one would bother too much about it.
Kosuke still didn't bother with Nanjirou, no if the man wanted to be in his office, he would allow it. It didn't mean he had to pay him any mind. Unfortunately, Nanjirou had other ideas, "are you willing to reconsider your stance?"
" No," he responded looking over the morning report.
"If you agree, then I'll go away. It's that easy," Nanjirou offered good naturedly.
Kosuke sent him a look," I hope you don't think you can get me to change my mind." Nanjirou hadn't succeeded before, but this time Nanjirou had much more spare time and leeway. Nothing was said to counter although the tome was replaced by a decidedly inappropriate magazine. It was then that Kosuke wondered if he hadn't made a mistake.