Chapter Four – Search
"Oh dear… was right." Nakago looked back as he reached the centre of the west wing in the shopping mall. As the blonde pivoted on the balls of his feet, he took in the sight before him. Jewellery stores were lined one after the other on each side of the corridor; they reached the second and perhaps the third floor. He cringed and scanned his brain for any ideas. Turning to the older man he opened his mouth. "Which of the stores specialises in engagement rings?" the security guard smiled as he looked at the row of stores.
"On this floor… there are four. Upstairs there are three and on the third floor there is the one. Would you like me to assist you still?" Nakago nodded quickly as he looked at the stores once again. Even with the number of stores being narrowed down to a single eight, Nakago knew that he was just starting a daunting task. "Tomo, you owe me big time." The blonde whispered as he fell in step behind the security guard, he had tried to call the black haired friend but only reached the voice mail for the millionth time, so he malignly shoved his phone back into his pocket and grimaced as he looked at his watch. Oh yeah this was going to be a long task.
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The group waited for an hour to see Miaka return to the house, but she didn't, she didn't call either and she didn't answer her phone, well that reason, as Tasuki found out after hearing the persistent ringing coming from somewhere inside an overly full wardrobe, was because Miaka didn't actually have her phone with her. Once a little over an hour had gone by without any sign of the teenager, the group broke up into teams of two. Tasuki and Kouji, Hotohori and Nuriko, Chichiri and Mitsusake, and Tamahome and Aimiboshi. Yui and Soi where left at the apartment to wait in case the angry young girl returned or called.
An hour later, after looking through the most obvious places in the small town, the group re-met outside the café without a trace of information, they decided to return to the apartment to check with Soi and Yui, oh and as Tasuki eloquently put it, to get a bite to eat coz he was in need and there was no way in hell he was gonna starve himself just because the brat had decided to play hide and seek, stupid little attention seeker… and so on and so forth.
Yui run to the front door as she heard it unlock. "Miaka!" she stopped abruptly as Tasuki rushed through the door and into the kitchen in two seconds flat, she turned from the flash of reds, blues and orange as she looked at the group walking in, in a single file. She grimaced as she looked the look of loss in each of their faces, her heart ached as Tamahome, the last to enter the apartment, closed the door. She could see in his eyes that he blames himself and she couldn't help but get angry with the girl in question.
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Nakago looked at his watch once again, even with the help of the older man, the blonde was nowhere closer to finding the store. He had spend two hours going through the first four shops, it should have taken less time, had he not been caught over and over again by persistent shop assistants. Normally he would ignore them all together, if he ever had to come to one of these shops, but today they seemed to have a power over him that he did not really like. He understood now why people seemed to get hooked to by these ladies with over-sugary voices and way-too-much make-up. They used the key word, naturally people that walked into these stores to buy their special someone the perfect gift; he never had a special someone before, so when the ladies walked up to him in their sly seductive pace, he had been totally caught of guard when she said the magic words. "Sir, may I help you select the perfect gift for the love of your life?" at the time Nakago reached up to his forehead to see if there was something stuck on his head that read "I'M IN LOVE!" in big red neon letters, but he only gathered a handful of his blonde locks. He then recalled the words that the young lady said and smiled at the thought of going to the apartment and surprising a certain young man with a gift, but then reality hit him and he frowned, they had only met yesterday, there was no way he could be in love already. Scratch that, he knew he really cared about Tamahome but… did the young blue hair man feel the same way? He mused, I'm sure he feels the same. All the while the guard and the assistant watched as his face washed with emotions, once Nakago retook control of his thoughts and his outward appearance, it was too late, the young woman was already grabbing his wrist and leading him to a secluded area of the shop. It wasn't until Nakago feasted his eyes on a collection of female jewellery that he thought to correct the girl and confirm that his love was in fact a man. A little embarrassed, and a tint disappointed, to find out that the gorgeous blonde was actually gay, the assistant nibbled on her lower lip until they curled into a wistful smile. Once again she grabbed his wrist and pulled him across the store to an even more secluded area of the store. Nakago took in his surroundings once again, he saw jewellery for men, it was a smaller area, as most of store sold jewellery for women, but from what he could see he didn't like anything or at least nothing seemed good enough for Nakago. The assistant disappeared around a screen door and then reappeared with a box in her hand, when Nakago saw the contents inside he couldn't help but smile in surprise but had to decline the offer and said he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to buy anything at this moment in time. He had to make sure that Tamahome wouldn't bolt on him if he presented the gray-eyed man with the presented. She understood.
Nakago breathed out as he walked out of the last store in the first floor, with the security guard on tow. The last three shops were more or less the same as the first store, only he liked the small piece of jewellery the young assistant had showed him first. Everything else just didn't seem to be good enough.
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Half an hour had passed since the group had returned from their search, and they were unsettled, Tasuki was still eating, Kouji snacked from the flamed-haired youth's plate once in a while but refused to get his own food, claiming that only Tasuki's food tasted good. Tamahome had smiled inwardly as he watched the two fight and make up, 'your regular lovebirds, only without the title. Well without the regular either. He laughed as Tasuki attacked his partner as he caught him taking more food from his plate. The food momentarily forgotten, Tasuki launched forward and made a grab for the bun making Kouji tumble backward and onto the floor, with Tasuki on top of him, Kouji blushed furiously, the orange haired youth extended his arms as he pinned the blue haired with his own body; he watched as Kouji moved the bun further away from his reach and then circled it to his mouth, taking a small bite then his hand once again shot out of the other's reach, Tasuki scowled before smirking as his hand reached for the lips of his partner. The two froze, Kouji looked up at Tasuki as he touched the lips gently, a small kiss on the fingers was given ahead of the blush that covered the young man's cheeks, Tasuki smiled at the small show of affection and embarrassment and his hands moved down the length of Kouji's arms, pinning them down in case he would revolt. In a flash Tasuki pressed his own lips to Kouji's and asked for entrance into the warm cave, Kouji in turn surrendered willingly taking in Tasuki's tongue with more than pleasure. The kiss endured for the time they had enough air to breath but as the two pulled apart it was obvious that they had disapproved of the interruption.
"The bun tastes so much better coming from you." Tasuki smiled as he sat up, pulling Kouji with him so that he was straddling his hips.
The laughter of the others in the room brought the two out of their little bubble as they realised that everyone had seen their exchange. "Oi, mind your own business." Kouji frowned playfully as he covered is face with Tasuki's shirt.
"Oh come on guys, it was cute." Soi laughed as she saw the visible blush on both their faces although Kouji was attempting to bury his face on Tasuki's chest and Tasuki was nestling Kouji's hair. "Ok fine, should we just go look for Miaka then seeing as you guys need some distraction." She smirked as the two turned a darker shade of red.
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Brown eyes watched as the whole group walked out of the building, Soi and Yui was with them this time; they seemed a little more relaxed as they mocked Kouji and Tasuki who were holding hands. The group separated, going in their pairs to their own destinations a determined strike in each their steps. Miaka waited a few more minutes to ensure that no one was coming back, a smile crossed her lips as she stood from the balcony's edge and took one last look down the street. Only Nakago could be seen walking down to the building, obvious coming home. Miaka smiled as she walked to the door and made her way down to her apartment.
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Nakago walked down the street, it took all his strength and self control to not run down the road when his building came into view. He was rather pissed of that it had taken him so long to find the jewellery store; it had turned out to be the second to last in the third floor, the guard that had been with him for the entire ordeal gave a cheer of delight when the assistant had confirmed that the Tomo had indeed reserved a wedding ring at the store. It had taken some time to get the business sorted out such as confirmation that it was the right ring, the right owner and the right person to be picking it up. Nakago had to pay for it as Tomo had forgotten to pay for it when he first reserved it, but at that moment in time the blonde did not care, all he wanted to do was get home. He touched his pocket and smiled, feeling both packaged safely inside. Yep, after much thought, he had decided to buy Tamahome the small present that he had seem on the first store. The young assistant had been thrilled to see him when he walked through the doors after saying goodbye to the security guard. She exclaimed that she knew he would come back and that although she had been prepared to wait for him to come later rather than sooner, and keep therefore keep the object in secret reserve, she was glad he had come anyhow. He had smiled gratefully as she wrapped the perfect black box into fiery blue wrapping paper with a gold ribbon. Paying for his purchase he took the gift and pocketed it and walked out.
Nakago walked into the building and looked at the lift, debating whether the stairs or the moving compartment would get him to his apartment any faster. Deciding that the stairs was definitely faster he rushed to the fire exit and took two steps at a time once he was through the door. A little breathless and flushed he walked through the exit door to his floor and made his way to his apartment, stopping right outside his door.
He took a deep breath as his hand rested on the doorknob, twisting it softly he closed his eyes and pushed the door open, it swung easily letting the blonde take a look inside. "Tama…" he called out gently as he walked in, silence greeted him, he made his way to the bedroom, it was empty, the living room, bathroom and kitchen where just as isolated, a small frown of confusion crossed his face as he looked around him before his lips broke into a smile. "He must have got bored and went next door." Nakago laughed as he made his way to Miaka's apartment. He knocked briefly and waited, he heard a small voice call for patience and smiled.
Miaka opened the door slowly and poked her head though the given gap. "Oh hey Nakago, what can I do for you?" She smiled brightly.
"Oh hey Miaka, I was just wondering, is Tamahome here?" the blonde asked quickly.
"Tamahome? No he went out with his friend, do you want me to tell him that you came by?" Miaka smiled gently as she asked. Nakago nodded as he turned to leave. "Oh Nakago… how do you know my boyfriend?"