He woke up early the next morning. The nostalgic pain in his arms and legs from working out reminded him of the wonderful night before. He stretched and moaned as his aching muscles protested the gesture.
"It was a great match," Fuji thought happily to himself. But, quickly, he remembered that he had work to do today and slipped out of his bed and in to some real clothes. He grabbed a bag, stuffed his school research and journals in to it, slung his camera around his neck, and headed out. There was a church close by, in a nice area. (Fuji still thought shrines were better.)
He walked happily down the street, wondering secretly why Christianity didn't have as many demons as Shinto religions, then of Germany and Tezuka, then of Saeki… The church was different from how he remembered it.
Was the stained glass always that pretty?
Why were there so many different buildings?
Fuji frowned a bit, raising his camera. He started snapping, mentally and physically recording the church. He absentmindedly entered the building, observing through the lens of the camera. He saw a mass in progress and snapped a picture. The church itself was plain, with woodwork and modest decorations. The clergy and the congregation were all singing a hymn together.
Fuji's camera wandered.
It settled on a short brunette, a baseball cap in his hands. He, too, was dressed modestly, as he watched the mass quietly. He snapped a picture before lowering the camera.
"Shishido-san?"
The brunette jumped at the sudden address. "Who – uh, you're – Fuji Shusuke?"
He smiled and nodded. "What a surprise seeing you here, Shishido-san! It's been quite a while, hasn't it?"
Shishido nodded, gaping slightly. Fuji chuckled a bit at the sight. He coughed, blushing a little, and turned his attention back to the mass in progress. "What are you doing here?
"I'm writing a paper comparing and contrasting different religions," Fuji answered, following Shishido's gaze to a tall, silver haired boy, figuring he knew the answer to his return question. "You're here to see Ootori-san? You two were quite close in middle school, if I remember right."
"I was gonna give him something, but I gotta get to work," Shishido explained. He fumbled with a small present for his friend in his jacket pocket. He sighed a little.
Fuji snapped a few more pictures as he absentmindedly followed Shishido out the door. "That's nice of you," he said.
They were at the end of the road when Shishido stopped, turned, and looked at Fuji as if this were the first time he'd seen him. "Fuji," he began, in an almost hollow growl, "are you following me?"
Fuji stared at him back for a second. "Hm. I suppose I am."
"I'm just going to work," Shishido explained, exasperated, with a flush in his cheeks.
"Cool." Fuji smiled. "Where do you work?"
"A petstore," he mumbled, the blush reddening.
"How cute! I'd love to see it! What's it called?"
"It's – um," Shishido stalled. "It's called Koi. It started out as a fish store thing, but we've expanded to all sorts of pets and specialized pet things," he explained delicately.
Fuji smiled again. "It sounds lovely, Shishido. Let's go see it!"
"I'm sorry it's a mess," Tachibana apologized.
"My place is awful, too. It's alright, Kippei." Chitose smiled. And when Tachibana had bent down to pick something up off the floor, it really was.
He heard Gokutora's gallop as he ran to greet his master.
"So it's just a diet change, then? That's easy. I'll pick some of the food up for you after work today. Oh, that reminds me!" Chitose began. "My boss is quick to work. We hired a vet on a trial basis to try and bring in business."
Tachibana fell on to his couch, lifting Gokutora on to his lap. Chitose made himself right at home and sat across from him.
"Oh? That's interesting. I'll come to you if I need anything, then. Thanks, Chitose. You've been so much help to me." Tachibana smiled.
Chitose smiled, too. "Sure, Kippei. I'd do anything to help you, really," he said, trying to keep himself from blushing.
Tachibana switched on the television, the remote in one hand and his other petting his dog. "Ecstasy's trying something new, too. We just started implementing a catering menu. It's crazy how much business we're getting through it. Anyway, did you want to stay for dinner? An is making some sort of Chinese dish tonight."
"Oh, An-chan is? She's a great cook. I'd love to stay."
"Alright, great," Tachibana chuckled, yelling for An to make some for Chitose, too.
"But she's not acting like herself," Shiraishi explained, exasperated and worried. His hands ran over the contours of his cat's back.
"She is getting old, Kura," Koishikawa offered, hands resting on his shoulders as he kissing him on the head from behind.
"Don't say that! She's extremely healthy. I feed her very nutritious cat food every night. Don't you," Shiraishi stopped as he caught sight of his boyfriend's hands and his best friend's feet. "I was out with Kenya last night."
Kenya attempted a smile – a goofy smile – but it mixed with worry and fear of potential guilt on his face. "Yeah, Shiraishi?" He offered, sitting on the chair in the corner of the room.
"So I didn't feed her." He spun around, forcing Koishikawa's hands off his shoulders. "What did you feed her?"
"J-just that cat food in the pantry, Kura. The one with the blue label," he said quietly.
"That's the wrong one! I told you to throw that out!" Shiraishi looked back down at his cat. He frowned and gently lifted her up.
"Shiraishi, I'm sorry. I didn't think," Kenya began.
"It's not your fault, Kenya. I shouldn't have left her alone." Shiraishi sighed. He set her down in Kenya's lap and grabbed his phone off the table.
"She'll be okay," Koishikawa said, kissing Kuranosuke and squeezing his hand reassuringly. "I'm sorry. I messed up."
There were a thousand things Shiraishi wanted to say – to yell – to scream. He thought of blaming the entire thing on Kenjirou, of leaving for somewhere with Kenya, of calling a vet. Instead, he said nothing, and he dialed his phone.
"Hello?"
"Fuji? Hey, it's Shiraishi. I need help. My cat is sick, I think."
"Oh no! What do you need?" Fuji turned in his chair, away from his computer. He'd minimized skype – Tezuka was talking to Miyuki anyway.
"Do you know any vets? Or any place to go to have a checkup for her?"
Fuji smiled. "Yeah," he said, recalling his afternoon. "Yeah, there's a pet store over by that new restaurant Ecstasy. It's called Koi. Do you remember Shishido Ryou? He was on Hyotei's team in middle school. He works there, so he can probably help you out."
He could hear the apprehension in Shiraishi's voice, even over the phone. He thought, a bit fondly, of his friend. "Do you know what time they close?"
Fuji hummed. "I'm afraid not. It can't hurt to check, can it? And, if anything, you can see what time they open tomorrow morning."
"Ah, that's very true! Thanks so much, Fuji! I'll talk to you later, okay? Bye!"
"Bye, Shiraishi. Good luck." Fuji shut his phone and glanced at the computer before he turned to the door as the latched unlocked and Yuuta came in.
With Mizuki.
"You brought him again?"
It was hard to believe that Mizuki looked more upset than Yuuta did.
"Aniki – "
"You know how I feel about it. I hate you two being here – making out all the time."
"Um, excuse me? It's my apartment too, Aniki!"
"I'm just saying I'd like if you didn't bring your bitch of a boyfriend – "
"He's not a bitch!"
Mizuki, nearly in tears, turned without a sound and left.
"Haji – Aniki! Hajime, wait!" After one final glare at his brother, Yuuta ran out the door.
Shusuke, nearly in tears himself, fell backwards in to his chair. He stared at the blank computer screen. After a few minutes of listening to his own frustrated, heaving breathing, he clicked his phone screen on.
"Sorry, Shusuke. I have to take care of some things here. I won't be able to make it to Tokyo. Next time, okay?"
Again.
It was until next time, again.
There was never a next time like he said.
Not with Saeki.
Or anyone, for that matter.
"What's the matter, Shishido?"
He just didn't want to see anybody.
"Ah, Atobe, look, he's getting mad again!"
"Please be quiet, Jiroh. You'll irritate him more."
It wasn't that he was a fifth wheel (as usual), he just didn't want to see anyone.
"Yeah, Jiroh. Hey, Shishido," Gakuto chirped, "have a bad day at work or something? You don't have to go out with us if you don't want to."
"You're the ones that called me over here! You might as well just tell me what it is that you want."
Atobe scoffed in a way Shishido recognized as annoyance. "I have a proposition for you, Shishido."
(The word "proposition" made him nervous.)
"Yeah?"
"My company is throwing a Christmas party. We already have a venue, but we'll need entertainment for the night."
"So? Wh-what's that got to do with me?"
Shishido caught the subtle roll of his eyes. It was easy to spot after years of annoying him.
"Jiroh," he explained, exasperated, "told me your business isn't doing well." (Jiroh gaped at Atobe as Shishido glared at him across the table.) "We need something different and exotic for this party."
"What are you trying to say? We're not a freak show or a charity case, you know."
"I'd like to have Koi's animals featured as a petting zoo or an exhibit or something at the party. There's good money in it for your store, if you agree."
Shishido didn't know what to say for a while.
Atobe stared at him, waiting for some sort of response. "Well?" He asked finally.
"I-I'll talk to my boss about it."
"Good. I'll be waiting for your call to confirm it. Don't keep me waiting." Atobe casually checked his nails, avoiding looking at Shishido's awed face.
"Hey, Atobe, let's get going, huh?" Jiroh interrupted.
"We don't want to miss our reservations," Oshitari agreed.
"Ah, yes. Let's get going, everyone." Atobe stood up and everyone made their way towards the restaurant.
"Atobe?"
"What is it, Shishido?" Atobe sighed, mildly aggravated.
"Thank you," he said.