"There is a movie theater going out of business and I've sent the address to your cellphones. Just watch the movie and wait till everyone leaves. Something will appear once it's done. It's such a simple job, you can even consider it a date." Knowing smile.
'Knowing smile', my ass. What is that man planning at our expense?
Kazahaya was obviously leaning toward it's more of 'a date' line of thought, because there was a perpetual blush on his cheeks as they walked the whole way toward where the theater was located. True to Kakei's descriptions, the theater had very few people going in and it did look as if was just fading into the oblivion of time. One of those things that people pass every day but never take notice of had been this theater's downfall.
"Rikuou…"
"What?"
"Only couples are going in."
"So?"
"Only couples are going in," he repeated.
Rikuou smirked a little. Kazahaya was still skittish about their relationship. Things that others too for granted, for example considering themselves a couple, he didn't. It was refreshing, in a strange and warped way. It meant that he had so much he could tease him about, like this.
He leaned down and whispered into that sweet ear that just begged to be nibbled on, "But Kazahaya, we are a couple."
It was amusing to watch Kazahaya blush so deeply his ears turned red and he jerked away automatically from their overly close position. "Jerk…"
He slung an arm over the slim shoulders and dragged him back into his embrace before approaching the ticket stand and paying for both of them, despite Kazahaya's protests. He didn't miss the fact that the attendant who handed the stubs over had a glazed-over gaze and barely said a word. In fact, all the workers seemed to be like that. It, no doubt, had something to do with what they were going to be getting that night.
Even though there were plenty of places he could have chosen to sit them, he picked one of the back ones, far from the screen. Kazahaya didn't seem to notice anything past the point that he'd draped an arm over his shoulder outside and he couldn't help another smirk. Really, it was just too easy to make this boy blush.
The movie began, but he paid it little attention, unlike Kazahaya who actually tried to watch it as best he could despite the distraction of Rikuou's warmth. What was there to pay attention to? The plot was cliché, the actors sub par, and the music dull, but Kazahaya seemed to enjoy it more than anyone else would have.
It brought the thought to the forefront of what little hints both Kazahaya and Kakei had dropped about the smaller boy's past. He didn't know who this 'Kei' was. Placing a bet on a family member, whether he was sure about the fact or not, seemed like a good idea. Either way, given their job at that mountain school had made some things very clear: Kazahaya had been in a very sheltered environment before Rikuou had found him.
What had possessed him to leave? It obviously had something to do with this 'Kei' person. And though he'd never admit it, he found himself unreasonably jealous. The cat they'd chased that one time had shown them the person they wanted to meet the most and Kazahaya had called out 'Kei'. Was that still true? Was he going to be fighting against a memory to get Kazahaya's full attention?
Hypocrite he may be, given his own situation with Tsukiko, but Kazahaya was doing one helluva job at keeping his concentration. He had never forgotten about her, of course not, but he found that he didn't feel the crushing weight of it that much lately. It had gotten somewhat lighter and when he thought about why that was, the only thing that came to him was Kazahaya's image.
"Ne, Rikuou…" Kazahaya whispered and he blinked, glancing down at the boy that his arm had made snuggle close to his side.
"What?"
"You're…thinking about me…a lot."
Ah… He couldn't tell if he smirked or smiled and leaned down his head to nuzzle that soft hair. Sometimes he couldn't tell if it was supposed to be blonde or light brown. Though its color seemed to change at the will of Kazahaya's mood, if Rikuou felt like being whimsical to put it like that, the texture of it never did. Was it because of the shampoo or because that was just Kazahaya for you?
"Is that a problem? Others complain when they're not in the forefront of their lover's thoughts all the time."
At being called lovers, Kazahaya couldn't even look at him anymore and Rikuou thought he had never seen something so adorable in all his life. Really, it made him want to drag the boy up into his lap and kiss him senseless and maybe do some other stuff.
But Kazahaya was sweet where he was bitter; soft where he was hard. There was a very specific way of loving Kazahaya and he was learning it all. Some things he knew instinctively of what to do and what not to do, but others, he only found out after stumbling on a landmine that proved to be a very bad misstep to make. And one of the biggest no-no's to loving Kazahaya was rushing him. If he rushed him, Kazahaya would only run away.
He didn't want Kazahaya to go anywhere. Especially to places Rikuou couldn't follow him to.
And though he didn't expect to, the movie was terrible and the chairs uncomfortable, he found that he wasn't bored. Kazahaya was never boring and he enjoyed constantly thinking about him and watching the changing expressions on his boyfriend's face.
Kazahaya seemed mildly disappointed when it ended, but Rikuou didn't really care either way. He withdrew his arm once the rest of the couples had gone and headed down toward the screen where the movie had been played on. Kazahaya jogged to catch up to him, almost tripping. For a cat, he had terrible balance on most things, but when it came to things that no one would think of doing, he was beautiful to behold.
There was a tiny glow in the center of the huge, huge screen. It was like a small, shining star and it hovered as it separated itself from the material. For a moment, he began to wonder how they were going to get it, since it was so high above them, but then it began to crystallize. The hard body it created fell through the air as gravity attacked it and landed with a plunk in Kazahaya's hands.
Almost instantly, Kazahaya began to crumple to the floor and he barely managed to catch him in time. His partner would pitch a fit if he didn't, since the floor was absolutely filthy.
"Idiot," he whispered and grabbed the trinket from limp fingers. It was a broach, in the shape of a movie reel, one of those tacky things that you'd find in any dime store that cost less than ten dollars. Tossing the unconscious boy over his shoulder, he turned to leave the theater. On the way out, he noticed that the employees had all disappeared. The lights had gone out entirely and it had a depressing, sad feel to it. With a shake of his head at it all, he decided to head back to Kakei.
So much for a date.
Saiga had been relegated to manning the till while the little errand boys were gone. He normally didn't care either way, but this time, Kakei had forbidden him to sleep, which annoyed him a tad. There were a few things that Saiga loved beyond anything else: Kakei, sleeping with Kakei, and sleeping period.
He yawned a little, propping his feet up on the edge of the counter as he lounged in the not-exactly-comfortable chair and watched the door. Kakei had said that when the boys returned, they would close up shop. Well, he wished they'd get there sooner, as he had to get back to their home before Kakei. After all, he had a cake to make and candles to set up.
Saiga never forgot their anniversary.
The door swung open, interrupting his thoughts on the various other things he'd have to put out to make it all perfect, and he grinned like the Cheshire cat. Kazahaya was bright red and Rikuou had the satisfied smirk of someone who had just had their cake and ate it too. It was a little disconcerting and at the same time amusing to watch them. It was like going back in time to watch his younger self, only more fun this time.
In fact, he thought with a faint pout, Rikuou seemed to have a whole lot more fun since Kakei had always known when he was going to be teasing him. It was the only time that he'd ever disliked his lover's ability. After all, it's not at all fun if the person knows you're going to do it even before you do, right?
"Well, well. Why's your face so red, boy? Make out with your boyfriend here while you were there?"
Kazahaya turned even redder and he raised his eyebrows at the spluttering that ensued. "Saiga-san! Of course we didn't, we watched the movie and got what we were sent for!"
That was odd. "So, you didn't sit in the back, back row?"
The young boy seemed puzzled while the grin on Rikuou's face grew larger, as if anticipating what reaction there'd be when he found out. Really, sometimes Rikuou bordered on cruel, he thought in amusement.
"Yes, we did. But why does where we sit matter?"
"Silly little kitten," he responded and laughed. "In theaters, the back rows are usually reserved for couples that make out. Hell, Kakei and me, we almost went all the way one time. You mean you didn't notice others doing that around you?" Kazahaya was looking mortified and Saiga could see clearly why Rikuou enjoyed teasing him. He leaned forward with something like a leer. "What were you doing that kept you that occupied?"
"Watching the movie, damn it!" the boy screeched, sending the most poisonous glance he could at his partner, and turned to rush up the stairs and toward their apartment.
"His face was so red, I thought he'd burst a blood vessel," Saiga commented with another hearty laugh and looked back at Rikuou, who was shaking with silent laughter.
"Do have pity on poor Kudou-kun, Saiga. After all, he already has someone who does that to him all day every day."
Saiga smiled when Kakei came up behind him and draped an arm around his shoulders. He leaned his head back against that slim chest as Rikuou and his lover began talking about the little job they'd just been through.
"You retrieved the broach? Thank you, Rikuou. I will give you and Kudou-kun your payments tomorrow."
Rikuou nodded, seeming not interested in knowing anything more and disappeared out of the store to the apartment. Saiga, however, was filled with a terrible curiosity. He rolled his eyes up to peer at his partner, who was looking intently at the item he'd been handed.
"So what's up with that?"
"This? It belonged to the woman who had established the theater when she was very young, barely out of her twenties. Her and her lover worked on it together. He had given this to her and she treasured it since she loved movies. Their feelings for each other and the theater embedded itself into this little broach. But it wasn't more than two years into its time that her lover died. So distraught over it, she couldn't bear to go near it again. The broach was left behind by accident. Still rooted in the feelings the two possessed, it upheld the theater. Even when the employees quit, it conjured more."
"Sadly romantic. Why'd you send them for it?"
"The woman, old now and reclusive, had been informed that a development company wanted the land it was on to build a new store. The theater only held old memories for her by this time and was willing to sell it to them. However, she wanted the broach back before it was demolished."
"She know that the broach was playing the movies and keeping up the theater with non-existent people?"
"I think she suspected it. That's why she came to me."
"Heh." Saiga dropped his feet off the counter and stood, leaving a long and slow kiss on Kakei's forehead. "I'll head home first, all right?"
"All right."