Anchor

Written by: RinoaDestiny

#16 – Protective

It was liberating being outside on a nice day – sunlight warming his back – even as Kyo encountered Yuki downtown. A coincidence and a pleasant one, since they'd parted well. He hadn't expected to run into her while grabbing lunch to go but exchanging niceties was okay. Safe, even.

"How are you doing, Kyo?"

"Okay." While his attention was for Yagami now, Kyo still had to admit Yuki looked pretty in her summer dress. "What about you?"

"Nothing much. Just work." She leaned closer, peering at him. "You seem happy. How's he treating you?"

"Yagami?" He said this with confidence, refusing to lower his voice. "He's more than he appears, Yuki."

"How so?"

Iori's reputation as a violent and unstable man preceded him; little wonder Yuki wanted to know, curious about Kyo's attraction to him. Time had passed since their first meeting and he was alive and healthy. Yet, Yuki still seemed protective over him – a carryover from earlier days when Yagami was unreasonable – and Kyo couldn't blame her. Not everyone saw Iori the way he did.

Hell, even he hadn't until recently.

The line they stood in shifted forward.

Yuki took a step and then turned back to face him, waiting for his answer.

"He's complicated. Like the rest of us."

"In what way?"

Kyo frowned. While Iori did have a softer side, this wasn't an aspect the other man wanted others to know. Yagami relied on his unsavory reputation to keep everyone else away – those he mistrusted or didn't care to know. Revealing this would break the other's trust in him, because somehow (Kyo didn't know how) Yagami would find out. If he discovered Kyo had spilled the details to his ex…

"He's not just a fighter. Has other interests."

"Besides you?"

"Yes." Kyo knew Yuki was correct. He didn't need to directly acknowledge it, though. "He's into music. Likes to read."

This time, Yuki's brow furrowed. "And you don't."

"Yeah."

The line moved forward again and this time, they were one person away from the ordering station. Yuki dug in her purse, removing her wallet. "As long as he treats you well, I'm not worried."

"You seem worried."

"Only because…" A few yen bills were in Yuki's slender hand. "He seems so volatile. Hard to trust he won't turn on you, Kyo."

"I'm still here."

"I hope it stays that way."

"It will." He hadn't seen anything untoward yet; hopefully, it'd stay that way. "Once you know him, he's not any different from the rest of us."

"Music?"

"Jazz. He plays bass guitar."

"He has good taste," Yuki said pleasantly. "You like it?"

"Getting used to it. Kinda slow. Almost lazy."

"Never thought I'd hear you say that." Yuki giggled and then the man before her left, making her the next to order. "I'll be –"

"Take your time."

While his ex ordered her lunch, Kyo pulled out his cell phone and checked the text application. He and Yagami exchanged messages on the days they couldn't meet up. Mundane stuff, but it didn't matter. Iori could be explaining about the latest tax hike on property and Kyo would read and respond. Official family business was confidential, but he could lay out the general issues and Yagami, with his position as heir, would give him pointers on how to proceed.

It was interesting now, seeing how their lives ran in parallel.

There were several messages, conveying one thing, sent half an hour ago.

Have a performance coming up. Small jazz club downtown three nights from now. You interested?

He'd missed the last one because of clan affairs. Seeing Iori in his element on stage would help him understand his lover better. He knew Iori Yagami the fighter; Iori Yagami the lover, he was still getting to know. Even though they slept together, the physical and emotional were different. One was easily assuaged; the other took more time. Rough edges and all, parts of their personalities. Strengths and flaws, the surface of which they only knew from their former rivalry.

Kyo typed quickly, because he was up next in line.

What time? Where?

Then, it was his turn to order. He shoved the phone back into his pocket.

He and Yuki parted ways amicably, since Yuki had to return to work. Kyo found a place to sit and ate his lunch, then strolled through downtown. He dove into shops and browsed without buying anything. His phone didn't vibrate, which meant Yagami was preoccupied as well. Between the upcoming performance and the old estate issue, Iori had his hands full.

Running a clan, even as an heir, took an enormous amount of time. It was also fraught with legal and interfamilial difficulties. His parents guided and helped him, small advances towards his future rank as head patriarch. Iori, being the only one left in his clan, didn't have family to worry about. Legal matters, however, still existed.

Kyo stretched, basking in the sun.

Whenever Iori replied back, he'd go check out the club. He was already downtown, after all and it was a perfect day for walking.

For reflection without worries.

Kyo wasn't worried at all. He and Yagami would figure each other out in their own time at their own pace. Whatever happened, they'd have each other's backs. They'd done it as reluctant allies. Surely, they could do it as lovers.

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

Kyo reached for it.