Chapter 16: Names and purple eyes...

During breakfast, Hiroki and Nowaki sipped coffee while eating a batch of crumbling cookies. A small form of dessert after eating the spread of food Nowaki prepared. A realization formed in Hiroki's head as Nowaki addressed him before he talked. Nowaki called him Kamijou-san. A distant name but respectful in nature. He didn't mind being called this name throughout the first few months of their acquaintance but they grew closer. In a way, he wanted a name which symbolized this new step in their lives. Something meaningful and sweet.

He hoped Nowaki didn't favor cutesy nicknames. His mother stopped calling him his childhood nickname through his request. In high school, he found the name infantile but found he loved hearing her call him little butterfly. She called him that name whenever they spent time together or after she saw after an extended amount of time. No one outside of immediate family and Kana knew about it. Miyagi would have a field day with the knowledge.

While he sipped his coffee, he tried not to tune out Nowaki's banter about his coworkers. Gossip ran rampant through the office in lightning speed. One mess up and everyone knew about it within the hour. Normal occurrences where someone misunderstood a problem and small feuds formed. From what Nowaki told him, two women fought over a man in recent months.

They transcended into a peaceful silence with breaks of crunching cookies and sipping their drinks. Hiroki heard Nowaki placing his cup down and scooting his seat closer to the table. Nowaki's warm hand covered his own, bringing a light smile to his face.

Hiroki moved his chair near Nowaki, until their arms touched. "Why do you call me Kamijou-san?"

Nowaki stopped drinking his coffee and focused his attention on Hiroki. "Excuse me?"

Hiroki curled his free hand tight around his cup. "You don't call me by my first name. At this point, we are way past the familiarity spectrum. You don't have to use my last name to address me anymore."

"Ah-I think I just grew used to it. I never thought about changing it after all this time. It's ingrained in my brain." Nowaki admitted with a wistful smile. "Did you have a preference? I don't want to call you anything you don't enjoy hearing."

"No cute nicknames."

"No muffin or cupcake? I have plenty of examples to give you..how about sweetheart?"

"Address me with any of those names and I will stop letting you come into my home." Hiroki sipped his coffee and licked his lips, tasting the bitter liquid. "Trust me, I locked Miyagi out when he called me baby cakes. He greeted me at the door and tried playing it off as a joke. He knows not to play with me while I'm half asleep. Such a loser."

Nowaki snickered, "What about Kana-san?"

Hiroki shrugged his shoulders, he tried remembering her ever calling him other than Hiroki-kun. Nothing significant popped into his head. "She calls me Hiroki-kun. She tried a nickname once in our childhood but it never caught on."

"Hiro-san?"

"What? Oh right, the nickname. That's what you want to choose?"

"Yes! I like it very much. No one else can use that now." Nowaki ate another cookie. "Can I call you dearest as well?"

Hiroki wrinkled his nose. "Why? You are calling me Hiro-san. No need for other names."

Nowaki placed his cheek on top of Hiroki's head. "At the orphanage, the caretakers put on romantic movies during the group movie nights. The loving couples on screen always addressed each other as honey and dearest. I always wanted to call the person I loved dearest."

Hiroki felt Nowaki tightening his grip onto his hand. "In private. No need to call me dearest around other people." No use denying Nowaki a simple pleasure of calling him dearest. Nowaki convinced him further down the line with his voice and his kisses.

Nowaki sighed in bliss, he tested it out, pouring his love onto the word. "Thank you so much...dearest."

Hiroki's heart skipped a beat as time stopped around him. Hiro-san stirred nothing but dearest caused his mind to shut down. He understood the implications of such a word. His parents called each other dearest or sweetheart throughout the years. Loving words of endearment which impacted the heart between two lovers. His preparation for hearing such sweet nothings was limited.

The intimacy of the word brought on memories of self doubt. After he lost his sight, he resigned himself to never have someone consider him worthy of love. His oldest friend rejected him and soon enough, more people would leave his side. Overhearing countless people taking pity on him and assuring him of someone wanting him. Almost as if his lack of sight brought him to a lower level. He didn't need his sight to know that lies laced their tongues when they spoke to him.

Luckily, his both sides of his family poured their limitless support. No one treated him any different. At times, they forgot he saw nothing through his cloudy brown eyes. Kana understood his pain through her own bout of sickness. Miyagi's accident gave him a perspective to life.

These people provided enough love to sustain him. He never thought about lowering his guards in the aspect of love. Nowaki's presence added a confusion of emotions but, he welcomed a new friend. This man edged through his walls with gentleness, transforming their acquaintance into something sweeter.

He feared this dream's end.

Hiroki's eyes prickled with tears but he blinked them away. "Limit your use on that word."

Nowaki lifted his face away from Hiroki's hair and inquired. "Eh? Why should I do that dearest?"

"You're shameless. Stop it. Stop it." Hiroki took back his hand back from Nowaki's grip, he hid his embarrassed face from view.

Immediately understanding, Nowaki wrapped his arms around Hiroki. He wanted nothing more than to kiss Hiroki senseless. "Hiro-san, I love you."

Miyagi tried not to blurt out the wrong words at the sight of his visitor. His hand held the front door of his apartment wide open. For moment, he thought his eyes played a trick on him. Rubbing them with his free hand, he remained firm at the door. His cigarette almost fell from his mouth but he bit into it just in time. A tiny bit of ash broke off and fell onto the floor. He cared little about wiping down his once pristine floor.

After all this time, Shinobu stood in front of him. His hair tidier than usual while his clothing remained the same. He remembered that Shinobu wanted to change his style of clothing to something more punk before this separation. It didn't take fruition from what he saw in front of him.

Miyagi caught onto a plastic bag peeking from behind which crinkled from his movements. Shinobu's last attempt at cooking came out decent. His cringing about Shinobu's cooking skills went away.

Shinobu shuffled his feet around. His hands remained behind his back as he bit his bottom lip. Averting his gaze, a wave of shyness washed over him. After such an extended period of time apart without a phone call, he hurried over to Miyagi's home. His explanations ran through his mind. He needed to clear this situation.

Shinobu furrowed his brows at Miyagi's delayed reaction. "Aren't you going to let me in? I'm not going to stand out here all day."

"S-Sure. I didn't expect you to come here." Miyagi moved aside and Shinobu hurried inside. "How are you?" He closed and locked the door.

Shinobu kicked off his shoes and got onto the wooden floor. "Fine. Just fine." He handed Miyagi the bag. "I made some food. Good food this time. I got some practice from some housewives who live in the same complex as me. They told me this was my best attempt. Nothing foul tasting, trust me. I took a bite before I left my apartment."

Miyagi held the bag in his hands and asked. "Let's get to the point. Where did you disappear to? No phone calls. Nothing. Your father kept me in the dark about where you went. I thought he sent you overseas."

Shinobu sighed. "I had to prove the seriousness of our relationship through staying away from you. Father knows how amazing you are but still...the fact you married my sister first brought out his hesitation. Also, my grades slipped from this hard class and he thought you distracted me."

Miyagi snorted. "You're the one distracting me from correcting my own classwork." He peeked inside of the bag. "What is it this time?"

"Katsudon."

"So...with cabbage and rice?"

"Yes. The sauce is in a separate container. I don't know how much you add and it might have gotten soggy on the way here. Be grateful. I burned a few before I got this result."

Miyagi grinned. "Thanks...I actually haven't made myself lunch so you're right on time."

Shinobu noticed something missing from Miyagi's hand. "Wait...where's your cane? You always carry the damn thing."

"I don't use it that often at home." Miyagi pointed behind Shinobu who turned around and saw it leaning against the shoe rack. "It's not like I have to walk long distances. Besides, all those hot springs trips I take with Hiroki are helping the muscles in my leg. I can walk a bit longer without having to use my cane."

Shinobi arched a brow. "Where was my invite? I'm not worthy of getting invited anywhere?"

Miyagi winked at him. "Each time I asked, you had to go to study for another exam. I couldn't insist, you're adorable when you're serious about school."

Shinobu huffed. "You should have insisted. I wouldn't mind taking a break from these stressful projects. It's not like I enjoy spending time with my group partners, they are dreadful and annoying."

"So...you don't mind that Hiroki tags along?"

"I don't care." Shinobu rolled his eyes, he poked Miyagi's chest with his pointer finger. "We're there to relax and I've gotten along with Kamijou. He's not such a bad guy. It's sad he has to deal with you when you're bored or drunk. You're impossible."

Miyagi patted his chest with a sigh. "You two are so cruel to me. Kana is one of the few people who takes my feelings into consideration. She never mocks me."

"She's a nurse. She has to tolerate people who are being ridiculous. I've heard her stories, some of the patients she deals with are a bunch of assholes."

"She loves her Yoh-kun!"

"Yeah right." Shinobu slapped Miyagi's chest with the back of his hand.

Miyagi pulled him in a loose embrace, he kissed the side of Shinobu's face. "Nonetheless, thank you for clearing everything up. I thought you ended up dumping me. I have to say...I was sort of afraid to call you."

Shinobu rubbed his forehead on Miyagi's chest. How he missed inhaling Miyagi's scent. "As if I would leave you, I stepped up to gain your affection. You wouldn't have done shit."

Miyagi snickered as he ran his fingers through Shinobu's hair. "We should eat this before it gets cold."

"Y-Yeah..." Shinobu hid his reddened face and wrapped his arms around Miyagi's chest. "You better eat all of it."

Akihiko put aside some time on Saturday afternoon to attend Hiroki's concert. An earlier concert where the sun started setting in the horizon. Having bought the tickets earlier in the week, he had no need to stand in line to get them from the ticket vendor. He left his car to a valet and handed him his keys. Pocketing his sunglasses, he smoothed down his crisp black suit. From his spot, he saw different groups of people enter the building. Some groups lingered outside for a quick chat before they entered inside.

After he checked the time on his watch, he hurried through the large doors. Through his observation, the building almost reached his own high standards. From the amazing decorations to the cleanliness of the interior. It didn't look cheap. He assumed Hiroki accepted nothing but the best venues. Years in the music business gave certain performers an idea on their preferences.

Akihiko shifted through the seats of the audience before he sat down on his seat. Front row seats. Nothing more than the best for him. His position gave him a clear view of the piano. He saw no disturbances where Hiroki might bump into it. Unless, someone accompanied him on stage and lead him toward his seat. He found that reasoning unlikely. Hiroki showed too much pride to let anyone baby him. Then again, after so many years, he might have changed due to his...disability.

From his peripheral vision, he watched tall man squeeze himself through the row. He wore a moderately priced suit but found the turtleneck an odd addition to the ensemble. The majority of the men who came to the venue wore buttoned up shirts. This man stuck out of the crowd due to his tall stature. He was even taller than him. When he turned to excuse himself, Akihiko saw his bright blue eyes.

Nowaki hunched himself to give the people behind him a better chance to see up front. The last time he attended, someone tapped his shoulder and he excused himself. He risked wrinkling his suit from the action but he didn't want to block someone else's view.

Akihiko scrunched up his face at the action. "You shouldn't bother doing favors for someone else." Akihiko fiddled with his watch. "They won't appreciate the gesture in the end."

Nowaki chuckled. "This happened on another occasion and I don't want to impose. Besides, I'm here to listen to the music. Hiro-san works so hard to make sure his pieces show the passion he has for music. It's amazing."

"So you know him?" Akihiko inquired, a slight curiosity developed in this man's connection with Hiroki.

Nowaki rubbed the back of his neck and tried not to smile in a goofy fashion. "I'm another one of his friends. He gifted me a ticket sometime ago. Good thing he did, I missed having to watch him perform on stage. It's different watching him practice." Having agreed with Hiroki to keep their lives private, he divulged their status to a minimal amount of people. "Do you know him?"

Akihiko patted his blazer pocket to check for his lighter, he craved a cigarette but the venue didn't allow it. He might go outside during one of the intervals. "A long time ago. We haven't spoken in years. I'll see him soon to reconnect our friendship."

"Ah, so you're going to talk to him after the show?" Nowaki inquired as he silenced his phone and shoved it in his pocket. "You might catch him before he goes home. He doesn't stick around the venue before he calls a cab."

Akihiko tried not to wrinkle his nose at the thought of a cab. The very thought of sitting in a cab didn't register. His expensive sports car showed off his wealth and sitting a cab diminished this image. He thought the money Hiroki made provided for a driver. From the overprotective nature of Hiroki's parents, he assumed they would push for someone to drive him everywhere.

"I'm just here to watch him perform. I will do a personal visit on another separate occasion. This is not the right time or place."

"Oh okay. I'm sure you can get his information from Masahiro-san." Before he asked for a name, the lights dimmed around the auditorium. Nowaki placed his attention onto the stage and everyone else quieted down.

Hiroki walked onto the stage. He seemed to glide toward his seat and presented a level of utmost confidence. Nowaki bounced his leg in excitement. His heart sped up at the handsomeness of his lover and the manner the held himself. Whenever Hiroki practiced, he wore sweat pants and a loose shirt so the occasional suit swept him off his feet. The moment Hiroki started playing his first piece, he closed his eyes, entranced in the music.

Akihiko saw his behavior throughout the performance. He narrowed his eyes. The idea of a friendship between the two slipped away from his mind.

He knew the face of a man in love.

Hiroki released the breath he held in his body while taking off his blazer. Clinging to his blazer, the fluttering left his stomach and he stood in what he assumed was the middle of the dressing room. He heard the staff of the venue scuttle down the hall. Creating a variety of noise which cluttered his mind but he tuned them out. The clapping brought down his nervousness at the end of each performance.

Someone wrapped their arms around him, the scent of citrus filled his nose. "I thought you couldn't make it Kana." Hiroki patted her arm as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Mother told me about your sudden busy schedule. How convenient that many of your staff got sick at the same time. You shouldn't have picked up your phone when they call you."

Kana whined as she clung to him, "It was torture! I had to put my foot down and tell my superior that I was too exhausted to work. There is no way I can provide a service while running on little sleep. I might do something wrong." She placed her cheek on his back. "Anyway, I managed to catch the last ten minutes before your show ended."

Hiroki furrowed his brows as Kana rubbed their cheek together. "Tell me you used the free ticket I gave you. I give them to you for a reason. This way you're not stuck standing in a line."

"I forgot mine. I just got out of a shift, I had no time to go home and get it. Masahiro-san let me in." Kana told him, "He saw me at the ticket vendor and ushered me inside."

"Good on him. He usually gets in a frenzy when he finds out about one free ticket. Not that he minds giving them to my own parents. He knows you so this shouldn't be such a big deal. Anyway, where is the old fart?"

"I have no remote clue. He left me near the door before he wandered off somewhere. He was in such a hurry too. I think he saw someone he knows and wanted to talk with them."

"Whatever. He'll call me when he has to go home." Kana removed her arms from around Hiroki. "Also you arrived on the right day...you get to meet Nowaki in person."

"Really?! Where is he? Well, I'll keep this visit short. I don't want to interrupt anything between you two."

"Don't be ridiculous. You're coming along with us in the taxi. I'm not leaving you here all alone."

Kana snickered as she nudged his side. "I'll interrupt any make out sessions."

"We're not teenagers." Hiroki swatted her arm and she giggled in response. "We can have a proper conversation on our way home."

Nowaki knocked on the door, Kana turned her head toward the door. "Hello! Hiro-san, am I interrupting anything?"

"Not at all. Come in. Kana stop smirking."

"I'm not." Kana denied it but Nowaki saw a huge grin on her face.

Nowaki walked inside and embraced Hiroki before kissing his cheek. "You were amazing."

Hiroki coughed into his hand. "I played as usual. Nothing different. I didn't hear anything off."

Kana piped up. "I disagree. Your father told me there is a significant difference. I'm surprised he hasn't called you to bring your boyfriend over to the family. Then again, he might have found an issue if this relationship messed up your performances."

"Messed up?" Nowaki inquired.

Kana explained. "A new relationship either changes a person or keeps them relatively the same. "

Hiroki scoffed as he reached up his hand and patted Nowaki's cheek. "I have to admit that he changed me but not to the extent where my family has to intervene." He gulped when he introduced them. "Kana, this is Nowaki Kusama." He squeezed Nowaki's arm. "Nowaki, this is Kana Narita."

Kana clasped her hands together, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Hiroki-kun told me so much about you. Every details is not bad I assure you." She reached out her hand and Nowaki gripped it for a handshake. "You're going to have to deal with a lot of close family members. Although, they are more interested in knowing who caught Hiroki's attention."

Hiroki told her. "All Nowaki has to worry about is meeting father. He's the one who is not easily impressed with anyone outside the family. Nowaki met mother months ago."

Kana turned to Nowaki. "You've met Fuyumi-san? Isn't she just the sweetest?"

Nowaki smiled big at the thought of Hiroki's mother. "Yes, I met her before we started dating. On that same night, I met Miyagi-san but um...he was a little too drunk. I don't think he remembers the encounter."

Kana snorted. "I told Shinobu-kun to monitor his alcohol intake. His leg won't get any better if he gets drunk and stumbles."

Hiroki informed her. "He's had some problems with the kid. He won't call him and Miyagi doesn't want to bother him. Takatsuki's father found out about their relationship and it looks like it soured."

"Ouch!" Kana cringed. "We can always stage a meeting to see what's going on."

Hiroki nodded his head. "We can plan it through the cab ride. I'll call the cab driver."

Nowaki intervened. "Let me call them, I insist."

Hiroki nodded his head. "Sure. Go right ahead. Try to see if we can get one asap."

Nowaki pecked Hiroki's cheek as he dialed the number. Removing himself from Hiroki's side, he walked a good distance away. "Hello, can we request a cab to this location." He described the details as Kana and Hiroki spoke more about Miyagi's situation.

Masahiro blocked Akihiko's passage, he kept his voice from showing his true aggravation at seeing him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Akihiko took out a cigarette from his pocket and placed it in between his teeth. "A man can't come visit an old friend? I even bought the ticket myself, I used no connections to get in here. Although, it's easy to get tickets for classical music."

"Not when that old friend banished him from his mind after so many years. He has no need for you in his life. What do you want from him?" Masahiro gritted his teeth. "Fuyumi warned me you visited them to get information. I thought you had more sense than to visit Hiroki at his performances. He doesn't need a bad distraction to ruin his focus."

Akihiko glanced at him with narrowed eyes. He tolerated no one talking down on him. "He can decide that on his own. I'm certain he doesn't know I've wanted to make contact with him."

"Of course not! He is content with his life. You came back just to bask in his status outside of his family." Masahiro said. "You broke the friendship through cutting off ties after you discovered his affliction."

"I'm surprised his family has not broken him from his lover. They quickly blocked me from knowing anything else." Akihiko took out his lighter. "His lover won't last for long. No one wants to deal with the struggles of a blind person."

"You'd be surprised." Masahiro remembered Nowaki's hidden secret. "Hiroki's lover doesn't judge on appearances alone."

Akihiko smirked. "Not when he didn't reveal their status to me. Hiroki must be an embarrassment to him."

"They are private." Masahiro asked in a stiff tone. "What did you say to the kid?"

"Nothing, nothing. He almost fooled me, until I saw him giving Hiroki amorous glances throughout the performance." Akihiko lit up his cigarette. "He might end up finding a normal person and break things between them."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Akihiko blew a line of smoke. "I want Hiroki back in my life. His broken friends and foolish lover are not going to keep him away from me."

Masahiro chuckled as he rubbed his temples. "You'd be surprised on Hiroki's tenacity. He's not the same depressed kid from his teenage years. You knew about his struggles in his life and didn't step in to help. He doesn't need someone who will drop him when he's useless. He doesn't need you."

Akihiko shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe you're right but, I have way more connections to help him than those people. You can tell him I came tonight. I don't really care. I get what I want in the end." He maneuvered around Masahiro and ventured into the crowds of people.

Masahiro's hands formed into fist. "He won't fall into your hands again. He's worked too hard to need you. I'll make sure of that." He took out his phone and dialed Hiroki's number. "Hey brat...we need to talk in the morning."

TBC