Is it Love or Lust? (pt. 1)
It was a crisp, winter evening over Mushiyori City. Valentine's Day season had taken over shopping malls, centers, and districts as wives, girlfriends, and significant others began their hunt for the best gifts for their loved ones. For Keiko, she was no different. "Are you sure these would work," she asked her friends.
"Of course, they will," Botan responded, "This is Yusuke we're talking about. He's going to love these and since it's a gift from you, he'll love them even more."
"I second that," Shizuru added, "If there's anyone who knows Yusuke, it's you."
Keiko sighed, "Alright. I'll buy them." It's good that Keiko brought her friends with her for this special occasion for she didn't know what to get for Yusuke. It's not like there were many options that he would go for.
However, someone else is having the same issue Keiko had. It took Shizuru to figure it out. "Hey, is that who I think it is," she wondered.
Botan noticed Shizuru's direction, "Who? Who do you see?"
Keiko knew, "Oh, my, gosh. It's Kiyoni. Probably shopping for Kurama, I bet." Sure enough, Kiyoni arrived at the same mall for the same reason as Keiko. She stood in front of a store window overlooking sweet desserts for the holiday season.
"Hey there, stranger," Shizuru approached.
"Hm? Oh, hey, ladies," Kiyoni responded, "What are you doing here?"
Botan replied, "Helping Keiko with her holiday shopping."
Keiko concurred, "I'm getting Yusuke these boxing gloves. I think he'll like them."
Kiyoni agreed, "Yusuke does like to throw hands. He'll love them."
"That's exactly what I said," Botan cheered, "Well, not exactly, exactly."
Shizuru questioned, "So, what are you here for? Kurama, I'm assuming?"
Kiyoni admitted in defeat, "Yes. I have, absolutely, no idea what to get him. Fortunately, he seems so put-together, that it takes the stress out of shopping. Unfortunately, it also takes the fun out of it. Flowers are cliché, chocolates are passé, and jewelry doesn't excite him unless it was any piece of the crown jewels. I'm seconds away from giving up."
"Oh, Kiyoni," Botan assured, "Don't do that. I'm sure that whatever you find for Kurama, he will absolutely adore."
Keiko suggested, "We all were in Heliopolis not too long ago. Did anything, there, interest him?"
"Yes," Kiyoni incited, "He told me, himself, that there were things he wanted to get his hands on the five-finger-discount way. However, after witnessing Hiei getting caught and realizing the type of environment he was in, he didn't. He won't be going back to Heliopolis for a while after that."
"That's a bummer," Shizuru admitted, "I wouldn't mind going back. I had fun."
"Me, too," Keiko claimed.
"Me, three," Botan stated.
"Thank you. I'm glad everyone did." At that moment, an announcement was made from a nearby store. A new brand of perfume had just hit the shelves and it's the hottest thing ever to come out during the holiday season. The store offered a buy-one-get-one deal on travel size bottles with the purchase of a regular size bottle or body oil. "Ooh…" Kiyoni smiled, "maybe that's what I should get. I love BOGO deals."
"I should look into getting one, too," Shizuru concluded, "I'm tired of smelling like an ashtray."
The perfume store reeked of different brands of perfume as customers walked in and out of the entrance, most of them women. Body sprays, oils, scented bath salts, and body lotions were all available and abound just waiting to be purchased. "Geez," Keiko noticed, "At this rate, we may not get to see the new perfume at all."
"Greetings, girls," a store employee welcomed with a tray of tester bottles in his hands, "My name is Itsuki. May I assume you are all here to try out our latest product?" Itsuki seemed really chipper and anxious to make a sale with these girls.
"Ooh, I like the name," Botan observed, "Sinful Desires."
"Yes," Itsuki responded, "It's developed by an evolutionary biologist from overseas using synthesized pheromones."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, it reacts to your pheromones. Thus, finding your perfect partner becomes easier than ever."
"So we put this on and our partner just comes running," Kiyoni questioned.
"That's right," Itsuki answered, "It's perfect for singles."
"I'll take one," Shizuru grabbed and tested a bottle, "Okay. What do I smell like?"
"Like…cigarettes and cinnamon," Keiko stated after catching a whiff.
"Really?"
Botan took the second whiff, "Yep. Cigarettes and cinnamon."
"Is it really that strong?"
"It is," Kiyoni replied, "Sorry."
"Ugh!"
"Mister Itsuki," Kiyoni uttered, "Does this work for men?"
"Of course," Itsuki expressed, "This is a unisex product. Men, women, and anyone outside or in between. Is there someone special you're thinking of?"
"It's none of your business," Kiyoni stormed off fully aware of what to buy for Kurama.
"Looks like Kurama is getting some perfume," Botan observed, "Or is it cologne?"
"Looks like it doesn't matter," Shizuru chuckled.
The next day, Kiyoni found herself standing in a private area with Kurama directly in front of her. He spoke with the same cool, collected persona he's always known for, "Something you want to tell me…or give me?"
"Well…" Kiyoni expressed, "I had such a hard time looking for the right gift to give you that I nearly gave up but, then, Keiko, Shizuru, and Botan caught me and gave me an idea so…here you go."
"Oh, Kiyoni…you didn't…"
"I did. Do you like it?"
"I do. I actually have a sweet tooth," Kurama admired. His gift is a rose complete with a stem, leaves, thorns, and a small pot all made of white chocolate and designed with edible paint and gloss to make it look realistic. "Mm," he tasted, "It's good. Really sweet. Thank you, Kiyoni."
Kiyoni embraced Kurama with gratitude of her own, "I'm so glad you like it."
"It came from you and I can tell you put your heart into it. Of course, I do. Say…is that a new perfume?"
"Yes! I bought it while shopping. The seller said it reacts to hormones. To me, I smell like peanut butter. What about you? What do you smell?"
"…Sugar…jasmine and…a bit of honey."
"Ooh, I adore your sense of smell. That sounds like a body scrub I should make."
"Worry about that later. Time for class."
"Right."
Somewhere else in Mushiyori City, Keiko presented her gift to Yusuke, "Hope you like it."
"Oh, boy," Yusuke revealed, "Boxing gloves?! Hell yeah!" Looks like Botan was right.
"Do you like them? Are they the right size?"
The gloves were given a test run before Keiko finished her second question. "They're perfect," Yusuke breathed in between air punches, "They'll go great with the punching bag I'm saving to buy. Thanks, Keiko."
"Yeah, sure." It's time for the second part of Keiko's gift. The perfume she bought from the mall. Two spritzes on Keiko's neck will do for now. "Hey, Yusuke? What do I smell like?"
"Huh?"
Keiko offered her neck with a little bit of cleavage for added attention, "Uh, what do I smell like?"
Yusuke was confused. He didn't know if what Keiko was doing was a joke or something serious, "Uh, what are you doing?"
"I'm asking you what do I smell like," Keiko debuted her décolletage again, "I bought a new perfume and I want you to take a whiff."
"Uh…there? Couldn't you, uh, spray your wrists or something?"
"Ugh. Maybe I wanted to be a little daring for once."
"Well, maybe you should've said that in the first place. I'm not a mind reader."
"Oh, whatever," Keiko followed Yusuke's advice, "Here. Try it now."
"Okay, okay. You smell like flowers. Like you've been around Kurama all day."
"Flowers? Really? I'm serious, Yusuke. Try again and be serious this time."
"Alright, alright," Yusuke's second whiff is deeper than the last. It also produced a different result, "You smell like the beach."
"The beach?"
"Yeah. The same beach where…you know."
"That beach," Keiko blushed.
"Yeah. So tell me about these gloves. Where did you get them?"
"Ugh…Yusuke."
It seemed Valentine's Day went off without a hitch. Even as the sun completed its journey across the skies, lovers bonded over exchanged gifts. It's enough to make a few romantic short stories…and enough for the dark side of love and romance to come through. At the top of the city's tallest building, a demonic presence overlooks the city. The energy that's flowing through Mushiyori is so strong, so enticing, it's enough to use it to its potential. "Perfect," the demon declared, "Once I collect all the energy from these humans, I'll have enough to awaken you, my love. And then, you and I will wreak havoc on this world, once again. You will see your vision come to pass, once again."
