Notes: Already updating! Thank you KTBR and SoraItou for reviewing!
Much unlike the previous day, the sky loomed dim and dismal. There were only two kids playing on the slide, and the accompanying adult looked ready to leave. As he walked, Bryan felt that it wasn't a very promising day despite his optimism for his meeting. His destination was the wooden bench, and as he reached it he found it expectedly empty.
His watch told him that it was nine forty five; Yuri should not be there for another fifteen minutes. Relaxing on the hard seat, he put his hands behind his head and waited, watching intently for the smallest gleam of red.
Twenty minutes went by, and then thirty five. Bryan sat agitatedly and wondered if he'd been stood up. He thought for a moment of his own stupidity to believe that a complete stranger would want to meet up with him for a second time. But then, at the end of the walkway two figures appeared. One of them was undoubtly Yuri; the fiery locks stood out in great contrast to both his pale complexion and the surroundings. The other was a man with raven hair, wrapped back and swinging haphazardly as they approached.
They were chatting animatedly, the black-haired man laughing mirthfully at something Yuri said. Unbidden, a slight note of jealously began bothering Bryan but he crushed it and awaited them with a smile.
Finally they reached him, and he saw that Yuri was dressed in the same white, hooded jacket of the past day. He himself had exchanged his jacket for a longer, black coat, but had kept the emerald scarf. The two men spared him only a glance.
"Do you mind if we sit here?" Yuri asked.
Surprised, Bryan shook his head, "Not at all."
They sat side by side and chatted quietly as he waited to be acknowledged. But both men ignored him completely and he began feeling awkward.
"So Yuri," he said, finally, "Still interested in a tattoo?"
All movement and talk ceased between the two individuals. Icy blue as well as gleaming gold swivelled to pin him under an excruciating gaze.
"Excuse me?" Yuri demanded, "How do you know my name?"
Truly confused, Bryan met his gaze squarely, "Hey," he said, "Don't you pull that on me. If you didn't want to meet, you could of refused my offer yesterday."
Yuri was on his feet in an instant, "What the hell are you talking about?" he asked, "What offer? How do you know my name?"
Bryan moved to stand as well, exasperatedly. "Listen, I'm not up for jokes. Drop the act, it's fine; I'll leave."
"No you won't," Yuri snarled, looking angry now, "What are you, some kind of stalker or something?"
"Calm down," his companion said, turning a scorching glare on Bryan. He looked oriental, Chinese perhaps, and had sharp, unnatural fangs. "Why don't you walk around for a bit and I'll take care of this jerk here?"
Yuri shook his head, "No Rei, I want to know what the hell he's getting at."
Rei pushed him away lightly, "Go," he ordered, and Yuri complied after shooting Bryan a dirty look. The second he was out of hearing range, Bryan felt himself thrown back and pinned into the bench. The fangs leered at him.
"Look pal," the golden-eyed man said, "I don't know who the heck you are and truly I don't care. But you better stay away from him," he jerked his head in Yuri's direction.
Bryan pushed him away angrily and towered over the shorter, unyielding form. "What are you, his boyfriend?" he spat, "What the fuck is going on, huh? He meets me yesterday and talks about getting a tattoo and now he acts like he's never seen me before!"
"So you met him yesterday," Rei crossed his arms, "He's not acting."
"The hell he's not!" Bryan retorted.
Rei sighed and looked worn out for a second. "He's not," he confirmed, "He just doesn't remember."
Bryan laughed derisively. Rei's brows furrowed into a frown, "He doesn't. He was in an accident a year and a half ago and now he doesn't remember anything that happened to him since."
Bryan was speechless for a second, "What's that supposed to mean?" he demanded.
"That means," Rei began slowly, "That he lost his ability to convert short term memories to long term ones. Which makes him live every day in isolation—his mind gets wiped clean every night as he sleeps."
There was a moment of silence as Rei pondered his own words sadly. Bryan stared at him for any sign of a lie. Slightly disbelieving, he said, "Is this a joke?"
Rei shook his head, "I wish it was. Stay away from him." he turned and began walking in the direction Yuri had taken. He stopped after two steps but did not turn.
"And I'm not his boyfriend," he told Bryan, "Just a protective friend." And then he disappeared rapidly along the path.
Reviews, Reviews, Reviews!
