That certainly took a while. But guess what? It's Konatsu's birthday! Well it was his birthday two days ago on the 25th. Yes, if their birthday happens to come around—you know I'll incorporate it. Albeit this one might not be too huge like the rest. (I'm still so disappointed that we don't know Ayanami's birthday! *chewing cloth* Maybe I can assign him one?)
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Disclaimer in first chapter.
Spoilers from Episode 20.
Chapter 25:
"Achoo!" Konatsu sneezed, immediately covering his nose with a tissue. 'God, this happens nearly every other year.' Which was one of the reasons why he was always least looking forward to his birthday. His birthday would always come around early spring where the gradual temperature differences would mess up his immune system. The end result of that, if he was very unlucky, would be a fever or a terrible cold. Today just happened to be one of those days. The blond had to take the day off from work but was fighting all the urge to go back and check on Hyuuga.
With the sigh, the teen forced himself to cuddle under the covers and attempt to relax. He was dressed casually and comfortably and placed all the necessary items beside his bed. 'Okay, now just close your eyes and go to—'
Knock—knock—knock.
The teen's face instantly dropped in displeasure. 'Who was it now?' He wasn't one to get many visitors at his dorm. The intruder knocked again, dragging Konatsu out of his bed and towards the door.
"Yo~" Hyuuga saluted with his usual carefree grin and upturned arcs for eyes.
"Hagh…Hyuuga-san…right now isn't—" Konastu heaved another loud sigh.
"Nonsense! What better time then? Look, I brought a ton of stuff so let me in." Hyuuga invited himself into the other's room anyhow. "I heard you caught something in the air."
"Yeah…it's just a small fever." The blond staggered back to his bed, sitting on it. "What is all that stuff anyway?"
"These are for your birthday! Don't you notice the balloons hanging up there." The brunette pointed above him, following the strings in his hands were assorted helium filled balloons. He also carried a few shopping bags and a gift bag. "Let me just tie these up somewhere." Hyuuga told as he tied the strings to a chair across the room while setting the bags down on the coffee table.
"Hyuuga-san, you really didn't have too…"
"I thought ya'd say that, well this is nothing—too bad we couldn't invite the others but if we did, it'd be a roaring zoo in here—anyway, tada~" The brunette rummages through the bags and revealed a square cake with the other's name scripted on it. "Happy birthday my beloved Kona-chan~" He winked as he brought it closer to the other with a '19' candle on it. Konatsu was taken aback for a split second as his heart skipped a beat. 'Aw man, of course he didn't hate the directed attention.'
"You… I'm sick you know, I shouldn't be eating that stuff," The blond averted his eyes.
"Don't worry, a little cake won't kill ya." The elder reassured. 'I better stay on my guard before things get worse.' "I'll make some room on the night stand so it's easier for ya to blow them out." The blond watched the elder shift some things on the floor against the wall and place the vanilla cake with blue swirls on it.
"Did you eat something beforehand?" Hyuuga asked while he lit the candles.
"Yeah, I did." Konatsu sluggishly replied.
"Splendid, then blow out the candles Kona-chan."
"I swear Hyuuga-san, you're such a child sometimes."
"Nothing wrong with enjoying your lover's birthday." He grinned confidently.
Konatsu jolted at that statement. "L-lovers? When did you decide that?!" His face was entirely scarlet and flustered by now.
"Hm?" Hyuuga raised his eyebrows in wonder as his smile also dropped. "Eh...how cold, you mean to say we did all those things and ya felt nothing?"
'Ugh. when he put it like that...did he have to remind me?' Konatsu was grateful his face was already a bit flushed from the fever, so it hid the embarrassment and blush he was fighting. The blond averted his eyes before answering. "It's not that...but you never said anything about...lo-lovers..." His voice automatically died down when he uttered the last word. "T-then are you trying to say this means we're...dating?"
Hyuuga stared at him for what seemed like a super long minute, with his eyes closed per usual until he slowly opened those thin slits and smirked. "That goes without saying." Konatsu's heart jumped in his chest once, taking in that extraordinarily playful yet mature and charming countenance. The teen wanted to speak but failed to come up with any right words for the moment. "But now that I think about it, ya never said ya loved me back?" The elder acted more like himself now and plastered a finger on his chin in thought.
"Uh...ah! the candles?!" The blond suddenly panicked at the flaming candles atop the cake that were melting rapidly.
"Whoops, forgot all about them there—ja, why don't you blow them out first before they mess up the whole cake?" Hyuuga insisted. Konatsu did as told and blew them out immediately. "That was close...though we'll still have to scrape off some of the portion of the cake that got tortured with wax haha."
"Really you...you're so careless." The teen sighed while the other sliced a piece of cake and motioned it to his begleiter's mouth. "I can eat it myself-"
"Just bite it already, no need to be so shy~." The blond succumbed and bit a small portion of the cake.
"...it's really good."
"It oughta be." The brunette took a bite from the same portion, enjoying the time he chewed the delicious dessert. "Want some more? We do have a whole cake for ourselves ya know."
"No thank you—I'll pass." The blond realized he didn't have much of an appetite from the fever.
"Always so modest." Hyuuga made a boring face was slightly getting on the blond's nerves. "Then...is it time to open the presents?" He abruptly stood up and walked back to the table with the bags.
'He really came all planned. I wish he'd stop forcing himself to enjoy this for my sake...I really don't care too much about birthdays.' Konatsu mused, albeit still appreciating and coaxed by the other's efforts. "The present better not be a dress—I'm telling you know: I'm not wearing it."
"Are ya sure—it's the right size."
"Hyuuga-san!" The younger exclaimed at the top of his lungs before that evoked a cough.
"Calm down, calm down, I was only pulling your leg." Now the teen was subtly curious— if it wasn't anything obscene then what could it possibly be? "And here it is, open it up." The edler sat beside him on the bed.
The blond examined the wrapped box once before ripping off the sheet and ultimately opening it. "What on earth…" He had unboxed a sheath. "For the sword you gave me…?"
"That's right. You like it?" The brunette grinned. "It even has your name engraved on it."
"It's really cool and all but I was happy with the original one—"
"Geez, are ya gonna accept it or not?" The elder claimed with a frown now.
"I do!"
"That's more like it." The lieutenant smirked, cupping the younger's chin with fingers and smooched his lips once. As soon as the blond registered the act he thrusted away.
"Hyuuga-san! I'm sick—what are you doing?!"
"Eh? Don't worry, I won't catch your cold."
"Nonsense." Konatsu straight out refuted.
"And there he goes, ruining the moment again." Hyuuga shook his head and holding his face up with a palm.
"What…?" The teen asked as the other continued to stare at him making him feel self-conscious.
"Mn…I can't wait for ya to get better—then I won't let you use any excuse." He answered, applying a load of subtext. What were the odds that Konatsu knew exactly what he was thinking about and groaned before throwing himself under the covers for good. "Eh? Was it something I said? …Does this mean you really won't try out the cute dress I brought?"
*-*-*-*…*-*-*-*
"It appears Ayanami sent a signal for backup. He'd like a diversion created by us in order to infiltrate the church and for the major part, take the eye from the sklave." Katsuragi announced to the other members of the Black Hawks. "Any volunteers?"
In that moment, Kuroyuri raised his hand all the way up, despite pretending to be somewhat asleep and being carried in Haruse's arms.
"Very well then, good luck." The elder man smiled.
From here refer to episodes 15 to 20
Teito descended from the sky in a free fall motion, trying his hardest to recapture the Eye of Mikhail that had eluded his body. He had to do everything in his power from letting the Empire get its hands on it. However, as he fell from the sky, two hawkziles cut through the sky in God speed. Not recognizing who was piloting which, he found himself being caught by one while the sacred eye was caught by the other. Both glanced at each other in parallel one last time—devastatingly confirming that Hyuuga had grasped the Eye and he was held by Frau— before splitting ways.
"Aya-tan, hey this is Hyuuga reporting—I couldn't capture the kid but you'll be content ta know that I caught the eye." Hyuuga told cheerfully.
"The Eye! The Eye!" Teito screamed on the other side. "Frau, why didn't you catch the eye! Why go for me?! We have to go back!" He protested.
"Stay focused shorty! Stop struggling!" The blond bishop swirled him in one quick motion embraced him securely with an arm. "I know what's more important to me. And it's not the eye." The brunette's eyes widened at that unforeseen claim as his face was buried into the elder's chest.
Meanwhile, as all this commotion took place in the sky, Mikage was watching from ground level, praying his friend would be out of danger. He breathed a sigh of relief when he thought he saw Frau seize the brunette.
"Mikage-kun, why are you still here? Hyuuga has reported the mission a success, so you ought to be boarding the Ribidzile right away." Ayanami informed, typing something on his special telephonic device. The Ribidzile was the Empire's flagship/aircraft.
"We're returning?"
"Of course."
Mikage hesitated for a futile moment. The silverette had already turned around and stepped towards the ship that could be seen landing in a distance. The younger couldn't fathom this uneasiness growing in his chest but since he had no choice, he quietly followed behind. They traveled a few meters until they arrived at the foot of the ramp of the aircraft.
The blond's hands balled into fists as he attempted to sum up the courage to speak. He was more afraid of what Ayanami's response would be than what he was going to suggest. "A-ayanami-san! I-I can't!"
"Excuse me?" The elder turned around and faced him with a very puzzled look.
"I... I want to talk to Teito one last time—so, I promise I'll join you later!" the blond assured. Ayanami blinked first right before his eye's reduced to narrow rifts.
"Are you out of your mind?" The silverette simply asked, reaching forward and caging his upper arm in his grip, afraid the blond might elope this instant.
"I promise I'll come back! I mean it! I just want to say goodbye...please—just this one time...before I ...never see him again." Mikage chose to ignore the pain from the tight grip and he placed his contralateral hand over Ayanami's. The chief's mind wasn't open to any negotiations what's so ever especially under these circumstance, but the more he looked into the younger's desperate eyes, his stance was weakening for reasons beyond him. He had never seen the teen act so vehemently with a facial gesture so pleading—almost as if his life depended on it.
'Who the hell said that if you really loved something you let it go?' The elder's mind was continuously registering 'no,' and was aware that if he let the other escape now, there would be no chance of him to come back. However, despite all that, his grip was autonomously loosening. Mikage noticed this and gently broke free from the silverette, a wave of surprise followed by gratification washing over him.
"Please climb the ship—I swear I'll be back before it launches." The teen gave his word and dashed back to the open ground where Teito and Frau were estimated to land. Ayanami silently stood on the ramp, eyes concealed by his wavy hair while his cognition was still in a time-struck daze. 'Was he the one out of his mind instead? Why would he do such a thing and let the younger disappear right under his nose? This felt like the time with Eve and Yukikaze—the feeling of losing a loved one eternally and not having the power to cease it.' "Am…I becoming too merciful? No, it was that expression…" Ayanami was beginning to hate what he was gradually succumbing to.
"Teito!" Mikage called as he ran up to the two standing beside a hawkzile.
"Mikage?!" The brunette exclaimed. "You're still here—I thought those bastards left?"
The blond threw his arms around the thin teen. "About to. I only have a couple of minutes before the airship takes off."
"Wow, what are you thinking?" Frau teased.
"Wait, you're leaving?! Why?! You don't need the army." Teito convinced.
Mikage sadly smiled. "Sorry, Teito, I have to leave—I can't stay. Did you forget? I joined the army to protect my family, if I leave what purpose would that hold?" He excused himself with another not entirely incorrect reason. "And believe it or not, there is someone that I must return to or who knows what hell would break loose." Pulling himself back to look directly into the smaller's eyes, he smiled. "But I assure you, that no matter what parts of the world we reside, you'll always be my best friend, okay?" It was for a brief moment but something extremely painful danced in the brunette's emerald green eyes as he slowly took in the fact that his friend was serious about leaving.
"Frau-san, please take care of him." Mikage removed himself his friend and turned to the taller bishop.
"Heh, that's somewhat become my duty anyway to be honest." Teito shot him a glare.
"I don't know when I can see you again, but it made me real happy to see you alive. I'll write to you okay and you have to write back!" The cadet urged.
"What do you mean? You can always come back when you want to, no?" Teito asked.
"Uh, it's not that simple…though I am Ayanami-san's begleiter and that in itself speaks for ample work but I haven't gained the Empire's complete trust yet." The blond explained. "But we'll be in touch, I swear." That's when the teen heard engines ignite and dense gushes of wind crash at them. He whipped his head immediately at the army aircraft getting ready to take off as clouds of dust and sand surrounded it. "Sorry, Teito looks like I have to go now."
"Hey, take care of yourself kid—you're the one trapped in a cage of lunatics ya know." Frau advised with a wink, causing the younger blond to chuckle in understanding. With that, he turned on his heels and began running towards the airship hoping to make it in time.
"Wait…Mikage…" Teito could only helplessly call out.
"Hm? Are you crying?" Frau teased.
"Shut up! You don't get it, Mikage was my light."
The bishop placed his large hand over the sad teen's head comfortingly. "It's alright, Mikage is a smart kid."
Mikage looked back once while he marched forward. 'I feel kinda bad for not telling Teito about Ayanami and I, but I just couldn't bring myself to destroy that innocence. Plus, he needs to open his eyes to how much Frau-san cares about him first. I'm glad someone like that is by his side.'
"Huh? Who's that? Isn't that Mikage-sama?" One of the front pilots viewed Miakge running toward them on his screen.
"Why is he still on ground? Quick! Lower the ramp again!" His copilot ordered the surrounding men who instantly obliged.
Mikage felt like he was chasing the aircraft to no end until he witnessed the ramp to the entrance slightly revealing himself. "How did we miss someone so important, I wonder?" Hyuuga stood at the end of it, reaching out his hand.
"Hyuuga-san!" On three the teen jumped with all his might to catch the hand which pulled him into the ship, the door soon closing on them. "Phew that was close, I thought the Ribidzile really would fly away."
"What were you doing staying behind anyway? Why weren't you with Aya-tan?" Hyuuga inquired.
"Uh, I must have gotten separated along the way…speaking of which, where is Ayanami-san?"
"He was here a while ago." Hyuuga shrugged.
That was that. The aircraft rose higher and higher into the sky without any limits and charged back in the direction of the Empire.
The blond stepped through the halls of the massive airship, impressed by its interior. It had to be his first time in a real one. As he passed the halls he noticed another soldier walking ahead of him. 'Ayanami-san!'
"Ayanami-san!" The teen didn't hesitate to call out. His begleiter froze in his tracks, but didn't turn around. Mikage quickly caught up to the elder, still facing his back though. "Thank you so much for letting me see Teito one last time and for sparing his life—it means a lot to me." He earnestly appreciated, hating himself for believing at first that the elder wasn't capable of complying.
The younger couldn't see the other's expression or else he would have noticed the frown growing on his face. 'Teito again.'
To Be Continued…
There's more to Ayanami's feelings than that and we'll center that at the beginning of next chapter. I hope there isn't any confusion from the jump in the chapter, I didn't feel the need to rewrite all those extra scenes of Haruse and Kuroyuri from the anime because there weren't any changes I wanted to add. But, if you have any questions at all, please ask! Just drop them down below and you know I'll answer to every one of them : )