Ch. 2
It was another hour before Tokito had calmed down enough to fall asleep. Kubota gently untangled himself from the boy's embrace and slid the sheets up around him. His hand lingered over the ruffled hair, fingers carefully stroked the silken tresses out of his eyes and he felt his breath speed up slightly. Leaning down he softly placed a feather-light kiss on Tokito's brow before turning around and grabbing a new shirt off the floor.
Kou was sitting behind the store counter when the door chime rang out. His usual errand boy slowly closed the glass door behind him and flipped the sign to CLOSED, pausing briefly to switch the lock as well. Never one for dramatics, if Kubota was concerned about unwanted visitors, something was majorly wrong. A lone eyebrow arched gracefully as his eyes narrowed slightly.
"I take it you're having a bad day? Tea?" He slipped from the stool, silken robe swishing slightly as he briefly walked into the kitchen to get the tea pot. Setting the cups gently on the counter he remained silent until the boy spoke first. The air was tense as Kubota murmured his thanks and drank the offered tea in one long, deliberate sip.
Setting the empty cup down he glanced up, "We had a little issue with the phones this morning if you recall. Not sure how they got the number, but we'll need new ones. Oh, and a few more 'woks' might come in handy too." Kubota laid a stuffed envelope in front of the man. Sliding his glasses off and rubbing his eyes, he looked up at Kou and sighed heavily, "I'm also going to need a favor...I have to make a few errands before he wakes up, can you go keep an eye on him?"
Kou smiled slightly, "You sure he'll want me there?" Kubota leaned back in the stool, one arm dangling by his side, the other lightly sliding the cup across the counter's surface. "Doesn't matter anymore. Nothing does."
"Pessimistic much? I would have thought there'd be more fire in you. What happened to that scrawny 15 year-old I treated a few years ago? He wouldn't be this passive," Kou knew goading him wouldn't accomplish much, but this new Kubota made him uneasy. Kubota's eyes fixed on Kou quickly, without his glasses he looked much older, but the look that was there now made Kou shiver slightly.
The boy languidly got to his feet and took the three 'woks' set out earlier. "I'll be back later this evening. Keep Tokito quiet and at home until then, would you?" The door clicked shut without a sound as Kou slid to the ground. That look! He'd seen Mafia's come and go, gang wars and bloodbaths, but that edged look in Kubota's eyes scared him, truly scared him. May the Gods pity the poor bastards when Kubota got a hold of them! It took several minutes for Kou to stop shaking and get to his feet again. Composing himself, he smoothed his robe and collected his medical gear and another 'wok' before grabbing the spare key to the boy's apartment and locking up the shop.
As Kou walked along the streets of Chinatown he sniffed the air lightly. Rain, it was going to be a bad one too. He hurried along faster than he had planned, but this storm was going to change the face of this town, he just knew it.