Author's Brief Note: So, this is more of a Kouji blurb more than anything else. Please don't kill me. LOL! But he's really starting to grow on me and I wanted to give him some story time as well besides just forcing everyone to always read about the same two characters. I hope you enjoy this one too!

Chapter 11: Restroom

Kouji glared up against the cloudless sunny day, he was baring his teeth as if challenging the sun to be any hotter than it was now. His hands were drawn across his face to cover the sunrays from smearing its filthy heat across his face, but to no avail. Summer was definitely winning and Kouji was still miserable. The group sat outside the ticket booth for the two stragglers, Takuya promising he'd find them on the freeway, but Izumi probably held him back in one way or the other. 'Punctuality' was not part of Izumi's vocabulary and she was always fast on pointing the finger as well. Surprisingly, even after almost a decade of knowing the sandy-haired girl, the guys were still pretty unforgiving when it came to her belatedness.

They had all resorted to using the maps that they gave out at the entrance as makeshift fans when they finally heard Takuya pull up with Izumi in tow right behind him. She hopped off and pulled off her helmet, her face was flushed red and her hair was a mess but the silly smile plastered on her face was undeniable, a part of her had missed the joys of riding on a motorcycle. She nearly hopped on over to Aoi with adrenaline still pumping through her system and Aoi could only laugh with her.

"Oh! It was brilliant! I haven't done that in so long! I can't believe I went so long without tasting the wind in my hair and just flying by cars!" she cooed, it almost sounded like she was the one who was riding the motorcycle and not Takuya, but Aoi didn't want to spoil Izumi's fun. She hadn't seen her best friend this ecstatic in a very long time and it made her so happy to see Izumi be herself again.

"Oy! Can we go in now?" Kouji snapped like a little child throwing a tantrum. The two girls turned to face the raven-haired man. His face was tinted pink from the heat, his hair slightly stuck to his face and he had sheen of sweat across his body that was glistening under the sun. Aoi bit her lower-lip, it never occurred to her as to why it never crossed her mind that the younger twin was also quite handsome as well. I mean they were twins after all, but their personalities were on different sides of the spectrum so Aoi never really looked at them as if they were the same person. She hadn't had the opportunity to get to know Kouji so she didn't know much about him besides the fact that the two brother's lived together and that he was the stoic one of the two. Perhaps today will be the day that she'll be able to make friends with him on a personal level.

"Don't be such a baby, Kouji-channn!" Izumi drawled throwing in the formalities that made Kouij stiffen with disgust as Izumi went over and threw an arm around his shoulders whilst Kouji tried to push her off clearly uncomfortable at how close she's gotten to him. Takuya bounded over tossing Junpei's keys back at him and they proceeded to walk towards the ticket booth.

"I got you," a voice next to Aoi spoke up as she looked up and saw Kouichi pulling out his wallet.

"Ah, no! It's okay, I can pay for it myself," Aoi insisted pushing his arms back down, she didn't want to feel like she needed people to treat her just because she was a visitor.

"I want to," Kouichi answered with a smile that almost made Aoi's knees weak, but she managed to catch herself before she crumpled into a heap of useless limbs. "Come on, let me treat you this once! Let yourself enjoy Tokyo at my expense," he winked and Aoi felt a burning sensation creeping up to her cheeks.

"Oh…" she fidgeted uncomfortably looking at the ground, she couldn't bring herself to argue with him. For once Aoi couldn't get a guy to do what she wanted, and that really intrigued her. There were rarely any men that would be able to leave her speechless let alone make her act like it was her first time flirting.

Unaware of his actions, Kouji was actually watching from afar and he was unsure as to why it pissed him off so much to see his brother laughing with the new girl. There was a weird feeling in his chest that clenched itself together so tightly that Kouji felt it actually hurt and there was something in his stomach that was trying to claw its way out. It wasn't until the girl at the booth yelled for the next customer did he realize that he had almost ripped the money that was in his hand. Kouji cleared his mind of the haze that had just clouded his head. Once again he blamed the blasted summer heat for his sudden lack of judgment and the odd feelings that came with it. He really needed to get out of the sun.

The humid climate was now mixed with an intricate array of aromas that had begun to conglomerate around the tents. The sweet caress of caramel drizzled popcorn wafted from the left and Takuya could practically see the drool dripping from Izumi's lips while the delectable savory smell of bacon wrapped hotdogs had Junpei practically jumping ship for it. Aoi was at awe at all the bright colors and noise that were coming from the animals, the machines, and the rides. The ringing laughter of kids roamed the air like that of oxygen itself; it was so thick you can practically breathe it in. The festive mood soon seeped its way into each person and soon fell victim to the plushy animals hanging from the game booths. Tomoki was strangely good at the aiming games in the process he won a guitar and four other stuffed animals that he graciously gave to the ladies of the group. Of course the other men being the men that they were weren't going to let a younger boy out play them in the games and it was then that the challenges began.

Kouji watched as Takuya and Junpei attempted to smash a pile of bottles each hollering at each other to lose while Izumi and Tomoki were cheering them on to win. He couldn't even bother to figure out where his brother was as the sun beat down on his back and he squinted up at the sky. Honestly, he hated being outside when it was this hot. He was never a summer person to begin with. Apparently they weren't the only ones that were stupid enough to wander out into this godforsaken heat. He closed his eyes daydreaming that a/c was blasting everywhere when he felt a sudden coolness overhead. He opened his eyes to meet a pair of amethyst colored ones staring back at him with a sun umbrella between the two of them.

"What are you doing?" he demanded and the girl just gave him a smile, she rummaged through her purse, pulled out a bottle of iced water and a pale pink handkerchief. She placed the umbrella on her shoulder and proceeded to dump water onto the handkerchief. "Hey—what!" before he could object she had placed the cooling mat on his neck soothing his sunbaked back. Kouji couldn't help but let out a sigh, the cooling sensation of the iced water dripped around his neck felt so nice that he just wanted to jump into a pool right now.

"Thought you'd need it more than me," Aoi said with a small chuckle. She put the water bottle back in her purse and slowly rubbed circles down Kouji's neck, his shoulder then his arm, "Your brother told me how you hated the heat. I find it admirable that you came out with us anyways even though I can clearly see how miserable you are," Aoi's soft voice was once again captivating Kouji's attention. He watched her long lashes bat against her eyelids and those lips that he couldn't get enough of. The touch of her skin against his was sending goose pimples down his neck. God, he just wanted to kiss those succulent lips.

His mind was wandering again and the compulsion of wanting to just pleasure the whole of her came rushing to his stomach. But Kouji's mental ability has always been the stronger of the two and in one swift motion he grabbed ahold of her wrist to make her stop, it took every morsel of focus for him not to give in to his physical side. Deep down, he didn't want her to stop; it felt too good when she was this close to him. He felt her breath shorten and her eyes grew big watching him, he finally let go of her turning and walking away.

Aoi's heart was beating fast that she thought it would've jumped out of her chest. She rubbed the area where Kouji had grabbed her, she knew that he didn't mean to startle her all of a sudden, but was it something she said? Aoi felt her cheeks flush a fresh sheet of pink as she thought back on what just happened. The second he had touched her she felt the strangest sensation of a shock go through her body. She had never felt anything like it and it left her almost breathless. Her stomach was knotted in butterflies and she couldn't calm her beating heart. She looked down at her wrist, now turning a light shade of red, and wondered: What was this strange feeling in her chest?

x x x x

Kouji had rushed to the restroom and turned on the water faucet. He threw water onto his face hoping the sudden coldness would wake him up from this weary feeling. Every single time she was close to him it just drove him insane, she made him feel things that would leave him exhausted but wanting more of that useless emotion. He just couldn't lie to himself, he wasn't an idiot, and it's obvious that he couldn't get enough of her. She was dangerous. It was like Aoi didn't even realize that Kouji was also a man, not just Izumi's long time friend. A man very like Takuya whom had needs as well. He looked up into the mirror, a darkened azure-eyed man stared silently back at him. What was he going to do? Kouji sighed, there wasn't much to do. He just hoped that he didn't get stuck alone with the girl.

Kouji decided to empty his bladder before exiting when footsteps resounded into the restroom and Takuya strolled in, the two stared for a moment before Takuya walked over to the other stall. The sound of zippers and belts being undone echoed across the room when seconds later it was replaced with the sound of urination.

"Aoi, huh?" Takuya teased not looking up, but Kouji can practically envision the huge smirk on the jerk's face.

Kouji scoffed, "Can't a guy piss in peace?" but already he could feel the burning sensation of embarrassment making its way up his neck. Fuck. He was hoping no one noticed his attraction to Aoi. Then again, Takuya has mastered the ways of seduction. Kouji wouldn't be able to hide something like that from his best friend even if he tried his hardest.

"Don't be stupid, Kouji, you and I both know that she's attractive," Takuya concluded for the both of them and Kouji couldn't retort against that.

Kouji turned and looked at Takuya whom had just finished his duties, "For a guy who's still in love with his ex, that's a pretty bold statement,"

Takuya shrugged, "I never said I was going to sleep with her, it was merely an observation. Are you going to tell me that she's not a pretty girl?" This time it was Kouji who shrugged. "But just saying, if you and I noticed… I'm sure there are others that has too," Takuya simply said as if insinuating at Kouji to do something about it.

"No," was Kouji's answer. He wasn't going to hurt his own brother like that. If Kouichi liked her then he can have Aoi. Although that very thought made his stomach churn but Kouji decidedly ignored his own feelings.

Takuya washed his hands and dried them with a paper towel, "Your loss, bro," and with that he walked out. Kouji finally let out a haggard sigh; this was the reason why he hated public areas. Pissing with your best friend never has a good outcome.

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Question of the Day: Kouji or Kouichi? I can't decide! D: