Unveil
I wonder what I am getting myself into.
Confused, pondering light tawny eyes gave a curious once-over to the black outfit with its shoulders hooked onto a hanger, just a mere foot away. The ebony coarse material was firm and unyielding underneath callused fingers, expressing the attire's virgin freshness, and suggested that the new owner would be its first wearer. A mint, musky smell inhibited and soaked every particle of the untried clothing, stretching along an entire, masculine-form body's length of five-feet and nine inches. A white top serving as the undershirt hung within the folds of the suit; a pair of well-polished raven-colored shoes that visibly displayed hard and time-consuming work it took to reach its current state of appearance was sitting on the floor, with the apparel directly above the footwear.
…I bet Yugo is thrilled that I finally have the need to wear something fancy of this sort, the ninja thought as he stared at the suit with a smirk, yet equally almost stupefied look on his face. Now how would he have known to get this…outfit…last week? I never thought I would ever wear it until perhaps his wedding day with Alice sometime later in their relationship together, certainly not to a school-organized social event.
He scrunched up his nose in slight disdain. How foolish I was to think just days ago, that this suit's first use was to be when I accompanied Uriko to the prom this weekend, instead of with a girl whom seems to be all right, yet one that I barely know.
A breathless sigh elicited from his throat as the teenager reached his hand out and grasped a hold of the closet door, pulling until it slid to a close, ending up looking at the image of himself in the tall mirror propped up in the wooden frame. His sleep-ready attire of a white muscle shirt and dark blue sweats wavered upon the reflective surface as he shifted his weight to one foot in a casual stance. The pale brown shade of his own hazy irises stared back at him, slivers of pallid orange speckles licking at the edge of his eyes. Fueled by the stealthy shadow of his hidden anger, they almost seemed able to leap out at any second and burn his form with ardent flames. His dark eyebrows were creased, knitting together in the center of his forehead, expressing a voiceless emotion of engrossed contemplation, as his thoughts truly were soaring through his mind at that moment.
What does one do at prom? How am I supposed to dance with Wendy if should ask me so to perform that task with her? Why are students at the school speaking of prom night with such mysterious lechery coating their tone of voice and hidden meaning intertwined within their words?
A gentle rapping against his door startled Kenji out of his meditative, pondering state of mind, and his gaze quickly darted toward to glance at the digital clock sitting on his nightstand before gliding over to the entrance of his room. Noting the time, which was a little after eleven, he inquired, "…Who is it?"
"You still up, little brother?" the speaker from the other side countered. "Hey, mind if I talk to you about something real quick? I won't stay long, since I gotta get some sleep soon."
The sixteen-year-old shook his head, though he knew that his action could not be seen, and cast one last glance at the mirror, at himself, before finally tearing his eyes away. "No problem, Yugo. Come in."
The knob turned and the door was pushed open inwardly, then the solid frame of his older sibling etched a shadow of his body length stretching along the fuzzy carpet floor. He grinned and greeted, "Still up after your bedtime? What were you doing, talking on the phone with a certain best friend of yours? Heh, heh."
How I wish that were so. "No." The mole zoanthrope unconsciously slouched his shoulders at the mention and strode over to his bed, carelessly plopping his bottom onto it, then glanced at his brother. "…What did you want to speak to me about?"
Yugo Ohgami ran a hand through his bronze-colored tress and tsked while eyeing the younger male, a half-smirk touching his lips as he seemed slightly amused. "Down to business as usual. Okay, here's the thing, I just got a call from the county office in Okinawa, and they've been reporting some problems with zoanthropes and humans both causing trouble to each other. They want the top representatives to go there and help them out, so that means tomorrow afternoon, Alice and I are leaving, we're flying over to that city. Normally, we want to, and would bring you and Uriko along with us, but you guys have school right now, and we don't know how long this will take, so you two are gonna have to sit tight here for a while until we get back."
The teenager couldn't help the frown that marred his brows. "I feel rather insignificant."
"Hey, c'mon Kenji, you know you're not!" the young boxer insisted heartily, taking a couple steps toward his brother and placing a hand on his shoulder. "'Course, you're completely aware of the fact that you'll take over the NGO when way later on in the years, I step down from leading the group, right? You and Uriko both, that is." The ninja's head snapped up in attention at the mention of him and his former best friend cooperating, together continuing to lead the group that his brother's legacy left behind in the future. "Every leader needs a life partner, after all, and I'm gonna go ahead and guess you'll choose her to be your co-leader and companion. And Alice wishes for that, too."
He nodded slowly, and forced a diminutive smile on his face. "Thank you, Yugo. Of course, it would be an honor to continue leading the NGO until true peace befalls between humans and zoanthropes everywhere, however long that may take." I am just not sure Uriko would agree to co-lead by my side.
"It might be a lifelong struggle," his elder sibling stated, a serious expression on his features. "I mean, a lot of prejudices still exist today, and that's something people've been battling practically since the beginning of time. The most you can do is try your best, and ever give up!" A wolfish grin tugged at his lips. "And it doesn't hurt to have a lovely assistant as your partner, and in your personal space outside of business hours, haha."
Kenji snickered good-naturedly. "You and Alice make quite a striking pair, both partners equally determined and head-strong, with steel wills, that regardless of how hard they may want to try, no one can dissolve." A wistful sparkle shimmered in his shady pupils and a gnawing hunger formed a lump in his throat, while yearning clawed at his stomach as he thought of his feline companion, and how much he wished to speak with her on friendly terms at that very moment.
"Well, the same could be said about you and Uriko!" An icy glare from the cobalt-haired teenager made Yugo relent and raise his hands up in surrender as he took a few steps back, nearing the door. "All right, all right, I know you keep claiming that you guys are just friends or whatever, and that's fine! I believe that's true… for now, anyway," he chortled, and spied the exasperated eye rolling action from his brother just then. "Hey, don't gimme that look. After all, who're you going to the prom tomorrow night with besides Uriko, eh?"
"I am not escorting Uriko to the prom, Yugo." The young ninja snapped, irritation dripping from his words. "My accomplice is another girl in school named Wendy Kesler."
The wolf zoanthrope blinked in surprise. "…Wait, you're putting me on, right? I mean, seriously, no one else has ever convinced you to go to those school dances and such except Uriko, and I was sure the first time you are ever gonna wear that suit is to bring her to the prom-"
"Well, not this time, all right?" Kenji insisted almost hissingly. "I have the freedom to acquire other friends, as well as install a little variation into my selections, or do you have a problem against that?"
"Damn, chill out already," the older male regarded him with a curious, yet cautious eye. "I'm glad you're making more friends at school; it's just that you've never mentioned hanging around with anyone else besides Uriko, so I didn't know about the others, okay? Kenji, don't jump down my throat just because I don't have knowledge of every aspect in your social life…"
He sighed, visibly agitated as he placed both hands atop his head and gripped fistfuls of his hair, expressing a sliver of frustration in his attitude. "You're right. I apologize, Yugo. I am a little irritated at the moment, is all. I'm not sure of what to do at the prom, and fellow students have been whispering about the prom night around the school, speaking in hushed tones, which ignites my curiosity." Glancing up at his sibling, a hopeful look crossed his eyes. "Might you have even the slightest inkling of what their talk is referring to?"
Appearing a bit abashed at the inquiry, Yugo awkwardly scratched the back of his head before shifting his arms and folding them over his chest, glancing briefly at the ground as he quickly collected together his thoughts. A few moments dragged on, and then he spoke, presumably choosing his words rather carefully, "…You see, another thing that surprised me about your not going to the prom with Uriko is because I didn't think that you'd trust anyone besides her."
Back to that again? The sixteen-year-old narrowed his eyes in annoyance, and opened his mouth to speak, but his sibling cut him off, "Before you get all crazy on me, wait until I'm done talking first, okay? I think it'll make more sense once I'm done explaining."
His lips pressed together tightly, he nodded in reluctant agreement, but a sudden question brought a bemused smirk to his expression, and prompted him to ask, "But, why do you mention trust? You presume that my partner will attack me at the prom, attempt an assault, try and pressure me into taking drugs, or something of the sort? I was sure that you knew I am fully capable of taking care of myself, and looking after my well-being."
The boxer gave a partial shrug. "Yeah, I know, and it's not about that, really," his features turned serious at that moment as he questioned, "…Uh, Kenji, do you know what usually happens on prom night? I mean, after the dance is over, that is, and it'd probably around twelve o'clock at the time."
"Send your date home, of course." Kenji replied matter-of-factly, peering at his brother as if the answer was obvious, and wondering why his time was being wasted by such pointless information. "If it is truly that late when the prom ends, there is nothing more appropriate left to do but see to the safe journey home of your escort."
"…Eh… Not necessarily everyone would share your idea there," the bronze-haired zoanthrope whistled lowly. "Damn, it's times like these I wish Alice could help me explain this kinda stuff to you… Uh, Kenji, you've had…sex education…in school before, right?"
"…Yes," the teenager answered slowly, unsure of what point he was trying to get at. "The second semester of my freshman year; remember how I had to attain your signature on a permission slip for me to be in that course?"
"…Oh yeah!" He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, bad memory. Ah, well then…" a slightly pale shade inhibited his facial features. "All right, I'm just gonna be blunt, since you'd probably eventually guess it anyway, and I'd much rather tell you now myself, than to have you learn it on your own tomorrow night, when it might be too late then…"
"Learn what??" Kenji inquired, impatient aligning his expression. "Too late? What are you talking about?"
"Ahem," his brother coughed, averting his eyes elsewhere to dance around the walls of the room. "'Scuse me for being blunt about this, but… You know that proms are at hotels, right?"
"I am acknowledged of the fact that this year's location is indeed at a hotel downtown; however, I don't know if past prom events were at a similar location or not." And I would inquire Uriko of that information… but under our current circumstances…
"Damn it, this is kinda embarrassing to say," Yugo uncrossed his arms and slung one of his hands over his shoulder, while the other slunk around his waist and the pair linked together in a stretching movement behind his back. His nose twitched in disdain as he admitted, "But it's gotta be done. Okay, Kenji, here it is. On prom night, most - not all - but most, of the couples won't just leave and go home after the dance's over."
"No?" The dark-haired ninja peered at him skeptically. "All right, so if they don't leave, then where does the duo go? Certainly they do not wish to stay in the room long after the prom has been dispatched, and spend the night there in the silent darkness."
"Well… You got the overnight part right…"
"What? You must be jesting." Kenji appeared incredulous yet curious of his sibling's proclamation. "There are people who willingly and stubbornly stay in the location when the event has ended? But, why would they do such a thing? What purpose does their action serve?"
The boxer sighed and released his grip, losing the stretching pose as he allowed his arms to casually fall to his sides and his hands relocated to rest against his hips. "Let me put it this way, Kenji. The prom is at a hotel. Usually, it's couples that go to the event, and it doesn't end until around midnight. The majority of the people won't leave the hotel even after the dance is over to go home, which will then leave the assumption that they are going to stay overnight. They are staying, together, overnight. What would you presume happens when a young couple sleeps a night at a hotel, alone, just the two of them, with no intention to leave until morning?"
He cast a meaningful look in the mole zoanthrope's direction, whose eyes widened when the realization dawned upon him. "You… you mean, they…" They sleep together? Most couples do that? Their main intention of going to the prom is… is to have intercourse with each other?
"I see by the shock on your face that you get what I was hinting at," Yugo laughed weakly, but it died off when he caught sight of the bright red numbers blinking from the digital clock some distance away. "And sorry, I don't mean to run out when you're half in a state of trauma or anything, but it's getting pretty late now and I really do have to get some sleep. There're some things Alice and me gotta do early tomorrow morning before leaving for Okinawa."
His brother remained stationary; an emotionless expression on his face as even more questions scrolled through his mind that he felt too embarrassed to ask aloud. But Uriko says she has gone to prom every year since she was a freshman; is it because of that? Could she really have lost her innocence at that young of an age? …Hrmp, I should talk, with what happened between Wendy and I just last weekend. He scowled quietly, paying no attention to the older male, who had continued droning on about his thoughts regarding the upcoming trip and how he was suffering from withdrawal since he hadn't participated in a boxing match for days.
But I had an excuse, didn't I? Kenji wondered, a deep frown marring his brows. I doubt I would have given her my consent if I had been fully aware of the situation… Damn myself for getting drunk and losing my head… Who knows what other foolish things I would have done, if I would've wondered around and ensued a fight somewhere, and end up hurting innocents, or committed a crime somehow. Or morphed in public and scare hoards of humans…
A sudden thought occurred to him just then. …Wait, if what Yugo says about prom night is true, does that mean Wendy expects me to sleep with her again, the way we did last weekend? Is that what she interpreted of my invitation, and why she seemed so excited and enthusiastic about going with me? No… I didn't know… This is unfair, I was never aware of the hidden meaning behind this prom event… Argh, I wish I hadn't purchased those damn tickets in the first place…
"Hey, I'm gonna leave and go to sleep now, okay?" Yugo spoke up at that moment, jostling his brother out of his deep pondering, sending him an amused smirk as he commented, "Damn, I never knew you would be practically in a coma about finding out prom night's background! Kenji, just don't worry about it, all right? You don't have to do anything you don't want to with your date. If she advances or anything, tell her no, and I'm sure she'll understand and back off, so relax and stop looking so shaken up and tense over there."
The cobalt-haired zoanthrope nodded slightly and glanced down at the floor, his eyes scanning the bristly carpet while his hands subconsciously wrung together nervously in his lap. "…I hope you're right."
"C'mon, relax, Kenji!" His elder sibling grinned. "Now, have a good night. Go to sleep already! I'll see you tomorrow before I leave for the airport with Alice, okay?"
"All right," he agreed, gazing up briefly with a forced smile grazing his lips. "Good night to you too, Yugo. And… thanks for telling me about prom night. I just wish that I had found out sooner." Sooner, as in, before I ever even thought of buying those cursed prom tickets…
"Ah, no problem, that's what big brothers are for, to scare the hell out of their little brothers and put them into some trance-like state the way I did to you!" Yugo joked, yet a sliver of guilt lingered in his eyes and he turned away before it could be detected; he started to head for the room that he and his girlfriend shared, but stopped after taking just a couple of steps. "…One last thing, Kenji," he called over his shoulder, pivoting his head to peer at his sibling, "Whatever happens, you don't have to tell me anything, but I do want you to make sure that you don't give it away unless you really want to, you know what I'm saying? Just… be careful, because while all of us know Uriko, we don't know that girl Wendy, but don't get yourself hurt by her is all."
With those last fateful words, he was swallowed up by the shadows as he disappeared around the corner, leaving a perplexed Kenji still sitting on his bed in a slight stupor. The young ninja heaved a deep sigh, and tried to cast away the numerous questions baffling his consciousness as he flicked off the lamp on his nightstand. He was still confused as to what his prom date intended of him; he also wondered why his former best friend was always so eager to attend the event, and feared the worst possibility. His eyelids slid down to a close even when the inquiries stubbornly plagued his mind, and continued doing so, following him as he succumbed to sleep.