Moments in Time

By: wolf demoness

Chapter Three: The Cinematic Experience

Shuichi's POV:

I picked the movie. Shuichi didn't really like action movies, something about the fights not being realistic, and I doubt either of us wanted to sit through a chick-flick. So a comedy was the obvious choice. We went to the concession stand and got sodas and popcorn. He looked amazing. He was wearing a white shirt that had an ink drawing of a dragon on it, or something like that, it was kind of hard to make out, and jeans. It wasn't that great of an outfit actually, but the jeans were a bit tight and before I knew it I was glaring at people for checking out his ass. While he was paying for the refreshments, it was his turn; I was in the middle of staring down this guy who just wouldn't look away. I had just won when Shuichi looked up, smiled at me, and handed me the popcorn and my soda. My knees felt watery for a minute, but I managed to stay standing. "God the last thing I want is for him to find out that I like him." I thought. "I mean, its one thing to know that your friend and roommate is into men, its another thing entirely to find out he's secretly lusting after you."

We sat down just as the trailers were starting. He was peeved, I could tell. At home, when we rent, he always skips the trailers. Personally, I like seeing the adds for the new movies. That way I know in advance what I want to see. I nudge him when an especially good-looking movie is advertised. He sort of looks at me and nods. I'm not sure if he agrees of if he's just pacifying me. "I'll ask him about it later. Gotta remember the title." I think. The next one looks a bit dull. After another fifteen minutes I could see his point, especially after we sat through a Diet coke commercial. I mean, what's a commercial doing in there anyway? You'd think they'd have some standards.

Twenty minutes in the movie starts. It was hilarious. I'm definitely buying this one when it comes out. Besides, the wife, Yvonne, is hot, and the pool boy's not half bad either. I sort of notice movement out of the corner of my eye. "Was Shuichi looking at me?" I think. "Oh, god. My foot's hooked around his ankle. Okay, maybe he hasn't noticed. If he had he would have moved, right? I'm just going to ease my foot away and hope he doesn't notice. It looks like he's still watching the show." I gave a quick prayer to whatever deity was watching over me and began to shift my foot away from him. "Easy, easy, okay, almost there."

I jumped when in a flash he'd reversed positions on me. Now his foot was wrapped around my ankle. I glanced down, not that I could see anything in the dark theater, then I looked at him. Still watching the movie. It was a simple gesture, really, but it was enough to throw my thoughts into utter turmoil. "All right, this doesn't make any sense." I think to myself. "What in the world is going on? Maybe he likes me. No, that can't be it. But why else would he have his leg, well foot, pressed up against mine? This doesn't make sense; he's not gay is he? No, can't be, he liked that woman at the bar just fine. Bi, maybe? I wish. No there's got to be some other explanation, but…"

That was pretty much my thought process until we got back to the apartment, one endless loop of confusion and doubts. I don't remember how the movie ended and I barley recall the ride home. What I do remember though was falling onto the couch at home. He left the room for a minute, then came back in. There's a coffee table in front of the couch, he stood on the other side and looked at me. I really thought he was going to tell me off right there, right then. He didn't though. He walked around the table and sat down next to me, practically in my lap. I was waiting for something, anything to happen: him to tell me that he didn't like me that way, he was involved with someone else, or that he wasn't gay he was just really friendly. But he didn't say or do anything. He just sat there leaning back against the couch. After awhile he started humming this tune I'd never heard before. I just couldn't place it. I think he was having difficulty remembering all of it because he would stop at the same place every time then start up again.

I look over at him and think. "He's very handsome. He's kind, gentle, smart, and interesting. I care a great deal for him. I don't want to ruin our friendship though. But I'm not sure how long I can go on seeing him every day without telling him that I think I'm falling in love with him. He's so perfect. How could I not love him? And if there's even the slightest chance that he feels something for me…" At about this point Shuichi closed his eyes and began chewing on his bottom lip in concentration. I guess he still couldn't remember that line in the song. That was my undoing. My hand reached out, almost of it's own volition and turned his head into a kiss. His lips were so warm and soft. After a second he leaned toward me and deepened the kiss. Careful, delicate kisses became more passionate until I'd pulled him into my lap. I had my hands tangled in his hair and he was clutching my chest. When we came up for air he placed a soft kiss on my cheek and said, "It's late. Why don't we go to bed and talk in the morning?"

"Okay." I whispered.

"Goodnight." He kissed me again.

"Goodnight." He got off my lap and we each went to our beds. That night I slept better than I ever had since setting foot in this apartment.

******

I always sleep late on Sundays. It doesn't matter if I mean to be up early or not, I always sleep in. Shuichi however, rises early. He told me once that he doesn't feel whole until the sunrises. When I asked him what he meant he said that "…many things can happen in the course of the night and the only way that you can tell it's really over is to see the sun come up again. It's a turning point. By the time the sun rises, if you're careful and lucky you are safe at home, if not you're nestled in the arms of your enemies. It's a dead line, a challenge. And every day you live to see the sunrise is one more day you've won." It's such a dramatic point of view. It surprised me, but then again he always surprises me. In the four months I've been here I've never known him to miss a morning. I don't know how he does it, especially with us being the night owls we are.

When I get up the sun's already flooding my room with light. I stumble out of bed and into the shower. The hot water chases the cobwebs out of my sleep-clouded brain. I pull a bottle of shampoo off the shelf and lather up. It's funny though, Shuichi and I use the same soaps and he always smells different. Sort of earthy, like a field after the rain stops. If I didn't know better, I'd think that he used some sort of perfume. But it's not as strong as that. You have to stand very close to him to smell it. It's very faint, but it's always there hanging just beyond conscious notice.

After I wash up, shave and change I head toward the kitchen. I haven't seen Shuichi yet, he's not in the kitchen when I get there and I don't see him in the living room. There's hot coffee in the machine already. Shuichi must have turned the machine on before I woke up. My favorite mug's on the counter, it's one of those joke mugs. You know the kind, it's black and says in big bright yellow letters, "Keep Watching, I Might Do A Trick." While pouring coffee I hear the apartment door open and shut. I sit down at the table as Shuichi comes into the kitchen carrying a brown paper bag.

"I went to the bagel stand downstairs. I hope you haven't eaten yet." He grins at me and walks to the counter and pulls some plates from the cupboard. I sort of blush and turn my head when I catch myself admiring the view. I can't help thinking about our situation though. "Last night something I'd never truly expected happened and I find myself completely unprepared, where does that leave us? What does he want from me? A relationship? I'd like that. But just because he was interested last night, is he still interested today? What does he want today? Maybe he's changed his mind about the whole thing. I mean we didn't decide anything last night, we didn't even talk." I worried to myself.

"You're being foolish."

"W…what?" I nearly spill my coffee; my hands are shaking so badly.

"You're worrying yourself needlessly." He walks over to the table, sets a plate in front of me and runs his hand through my hair. "I'm right here. I'm not leaving." I reach up to catch his hand and bring it to my lips. How did I get so lucky?

******

We took things slow at first. It was pure heaven. Snuggling on the couch. Late night walks in the park. Study sessions where the only thing that I studied was that talented mouth of his. This sort of soft and easy pace went on for three weeks. It was in the second week of Christmas break from school when things changed.

I was getting ready for bed when the door opened. I was in the middle of dressing; I had my pajama bottoms on and was holding a T-shirt. Shuichi was standing there looking at me curiously. "What are you doing?"

I held up the T-shirt, "Going to bed. Did you want something?"

He looked around the room, then at me again. "No. It's just. You're in the wrong room." Before I could wrap my mind around that statement, he grabbed my hand and began to lead me down the hall. He stopped at the foot of his bed, let go of my hand, and walked around to the other side. He crawled onto the bed and lay down. He promptly closed his eyes and fell asleep. I looked down at my hand, "I guess I lost my T-shirt somewhere. He looks so peaceful asleep. My Shuichi."

I walked to the other side of the bed and crawled under the blankets. I settled myself and closed my eyes. A hand moved across my chest. "I guess he's not asleep after all." I think, surprised. He rests his head on my shoulder and I can feel sleepy puffs of breath against my neck. Wrapping my arms around his waist I draw him close to me and feel him sigh in contentment. At around four in the morning, after much thought and introspection I come to the conclusion that whoever said that you get the best sleep in the arms of a love was either a moron or a eunuch. I don't sleep all night.

******

A few nights later, my hormones settle down and I can sleep through the night next to him. One night though, I woke up. He loves me to hold him in his sleep. That night we were sleeping wrapped in each other's arms, but as I watch him he began to fuss a little and I think to myself that he' s going to wake up, but I stroke my hand down his back and he quiets. He whimpers into my neck and he turns his face in time for me to see a tear travel down his cheek as he whispers a name. It breaks my heart to see him so sad. I hold him until he wakes and kiss him when his eyes open. He smiles at me and cuddles up to my chest. "Are you alright?"

"Of course I'm alright," he smiles "you're here."

I smile back at him. "Good." I kiss him, and elicit a small sigh. "You had a nightmare last night."

"I did?"

"Hmmm." I kiss him again. "Shuichi, who's Kuronue?" He pulls away from me and sits up wrapping his arms around his himself. He looks so vulnerable. "If you don't want to tell me…"

"He was the greatest friend I ever had."

"Was?" He nods. "What happened?"

"He died."

"Shuichi, I'm so sorry. I never meant…"

"Lets not talk about this." He embraces me.

"Okay." I let him lay against me and we both lie in. He watches the sun come up in the window; I can see it reflected in his eyes.

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Rei Akita: Here's that update you wished for. Sorry, can't help you out with the million though. J