Interconnecting

- 4 -


Yosuke had been as nervous as he was the first time he had to go on stage for a school play back in the third grade. And then, he had been really nervous.

Regardless of that feeling, he had been eager and was practically flying through his usual preparation before heading to work. Though, he also kept forgetting stuff, having to walk back in the front door again about three times. Yu had to actually peek out of the room, making sure someone wasn't breaking in with how often Yosuke was running back to his room, locking, and unlocking the door again.

The third time he got it right. When he finally started on his usual walk to the subway station, it was nearing 10:20PM. He was trying to keep himself from spazzing out too much as he sat impatiently in the seat on the train. Brown eyes kept glancing at the time, seeing how minutes were dragging by at an annoyingly slow pace. When the train pulled into the station he needed to get off on, he jumped from his seat, trying not to trip as he made a hasty exit to go up the stairs and out onto the darkened street once more.

The club was only mere steps away now, and the line was already growing long from what he could see. It made him wonder if the stranger was in line, having to wait there for just an hour just to be inside on time. For some reason it made him even more nervous, which caused him to duck away into the alleyway and head for the employee entrance. The usual bouncer opened the door for him, letting him in as he threw off his bag near his locker and started shrugging off his jacket.

The dressing room was completely empty, which was a first. On a slow night, there'd be others in there idly chatting away about cute or nasty customers. They'd always give Yosuke a hard time (in a loving, family-type way) about still not having a boyfriend given how good looking he was. Now, Yosuke would never consider himself to be good looking, but when he slipped on his leather shorts, that was when he started to feel along those lines along with an abundance of being sexy.

Seeing the time was nearing 10:40, he decided to get dressed and do one more touch-up of hair and make-up. His normal clothes were shed, letting him tug on his black, leather shorts over his smooth legs. Yes, he had started shaving about a year ago for the general hatred of being so hairy. Deciding to go for ultra sexy that evening, he grabbed his tiny, black button-up vest.

The black boots came next, his favorite pair of course. Zipping them up over his knee, they settled against his skin right above his knees. As he looked in the mirror from afar, he turned, making sure nothing was on the outfit and that it was fitting in all areas properly. Seeming satisfied, he moved over to the vanity, the lights shining to show his complexion. He opened his make-up bag, pulling out some powder first to dab on his cheeks then under his eyes a little. Eyeliner came next, not too over the top, but enough to make his brown eyes more visible.

Just a touch of mascara made his eyes show even more, and he was debating on putting any lipstick on. Deciding against it, he felt like the darkening of his eyes contrasted well with what he was wearing. Now it was 10:50, and he needed to start heading for the stage. Grabbing his black Fedora, he tugged it on his head, aligning it just as he looked at his alter-ego in the mirror and gave himself a wink.

You got this Yosuke; it's just like any other night.

The deafening music and large crowd drowned out any other thoughts and nervousness for the next half hour.

Yu had pulled on the outfit he said he was going to be wearing. His jeans slipped on and fit him perfectly (as usual), and his black shirt was buttoned-up over his well-built frame. The collar was popped, his cologne was added, and his hair in its usual style but it was still silky smooth.

Making sure he had his wallet and phone on him, he was heading out the door minutes later.

He was calling Kou once he reached the last stop on the subway, exiting to hear him saying how the club was just around the corner. Both of them were already waiting outside, talking to the bouncer near the door. Once Yu arrived, they were all allowed to enter inside. The atmosphere was intense just from the first step in the club. It was packed beyond belief; clearly it was a Friday night.

Yu glanced at his phone, seeing it was already 11:30. That meant that his secret date for the evening was already on one of the many stages scattered in the center part of the club.

"We're going to get a drink, do you want anything?" Daisuke had to tug Yu closer and yell into his ear as the speakers were blaring the bass along with the loud chatter from the crowd around them.

"Just grab me a beer. I'm going to head closer to the first stage." He had to yell back along with thanks just as he started weaving through the crowd.

Grey eyes were glancing around, trying to get a better view of the stages that were laid out in a perfect circle in the center of the club. They were spread out a fair bit too though, tables aligned in the center of the circle as well as all around it. So many men and women were present, and it made it more difficult for him to get through the crowd since most where just standing and talking or standing and staring.

He was thankful when he reached the table area, finding it much easier to navigate as he could stand from afar and see the stages a bit more clearly, though some people were still in the way as they were throwing money and all out yelling at the strippers.

The first stage was clearly not who he was looking for. He started heading around clockwise to the next stage, simply walking past as that person had some body-suit on. Walking still, he kept being met with disappointment, and it was as he hit the fifth stage that Kou and Daisuke appeared with his drink.

"You look lost." Kou handed him a beer just as the other shook his head and downed almost half the glass.

"I didn't think there would be so many strippers."

"Well it's the largest gay club in town, it just so happens to be a strip club too though."

Yu nodded as he glanced at his phone to see it was now 11:45. He had to find this person now because once he started working on the floor, it'd be impossible to find him given the packed crowd.

He chugged the beer so fast, swallowing all the contents of it before throwing the glass away in a nearby bin. "I'm going to keep looking. You guys can go enjoy yourselves."

"All right. Well just call us if you need anything." Daisuke patted his shoulder just as Yu smiled and nodded.

When they were out of sight, he kept pushing forward, only seeing a few more stages left before he was back where he started. They were spread out to where it didn't look very far apart but it really was.

The prior two stages were nothing but disappointment again, and his only hope laid in the last stage which he was steadily approaching. His eyes were glued do it, trying to get a clearer view of the person on top of it. As they moved around the pole, he could see that this person was wearing shorts. He breathed out in relief; at least he had made it in time.

Now to get a closer look, his eyes narrowed in on them as he stood at the edge of the crowd and away from the tables. It was hard to get a glimpse of his face with how quick he was moving, but from just what he was wearing he could see how sexy he was. The lighting was showing his fair-skin and the way he moved on the pole was flawless in his mind compared to the other dancers.

He started taking steps forward, wanting a closer view, wanting to see his face.

The hat on his head was blocking his eyes. As he started getting a better look, he could at least see his lips, his mouth parting sometimes to show how delectable that was too. Locks of brown hair could be seen under the hat, but it was just his eyes that were still hidden to him.

Finally reaching the table that was directly in front of the stage, he stood there, watching almost in a trance as he saw the stranger shifting slowly, gradually coming to a stop on the pole as the music was changing to a new song. It was as he slid his hands down the pole, lifting his head to look down at the crowd around him that his eyes were finally made to be seen.

Yu froze. The realization hit him so hard.

That was no stranger at all.

That was his best friend.

That was Yosuke.