Miyuki's Zetsuai Page Zetsuai 1989/Bronze
Strange Days-Interlude, Part 3
By Miyuki-Chan

Standard disclaimers apply.

Miyako couldn't believe it. She'd come to this bar precisely because it was small and quiet and she'd been assured that she wouldn't be recognised there so she could go there with her latest boyfriend in perfect secrecy.

So what the hell was Katsumi doing here in the company of Koji's nervy manager? What were the odds of meeting up like this? Miyako had no idea but reckoned they were pretty high. She had been in some embarrassing situations before in her time but tonight was rapidly climbing into her Top Ten. As for Katsumi, well. He was embarrassed too, but didn't want to show it (partly it was a matter of pride, but mainly because he was Katsumi and didn't get embarrassed, he embarrassed other people). Besides, he could turn this situation to his advantage. Miyako was obviously with another man, but as far as she knew Taka-chan was his friend, nothing more, and the two could have been doing nothing more than drinking together-they were workmates, after all.

Katsumi waved again-he was going to make this far more awkward than it had to be. She'd have made a hasty exit, but Katsumi liked situations from what Miyako could make out, why else was he still friends with Koji otherwise?

Getting to his feet, Katsumi called out to the girl again.

"Miyako! Who's the guy? I'd introduce you to Taka-chan in return but you already know him, so it would be pointless really…"
Miyako found her voice. "What on Earth are you doing here?"
"Same as you. Going somewhere discreet with a close friend."

The conversation in the bar had become muted. People were clearly curious as to what this strange discussion meant. Takasaka, with the practised skill the very nervous have for knowing when they are being watched discreetly, attempted to pretend he had nothing to do with Katsumi and fumbled with the top of his pill bottle. Miyako walked up to them, closely followed by her dark-haired 'friend'.

"Right, what on earth do you think you're playing at?" Miyako asked crossly. "Why are you here with Takasaka? What do you mean, 'a close friend'?"

Katsumi folded his arms, closed his eyes, and said in a manner calculated to irritate, "Word of advice, Miyako. It's hard to pull off the scorned lover act convincingly when you're with another guy. Anyway, I thought it might calm Taka-chan down if I took him out for a drink. Get him out of his car for a while." He opened his eyes again. "What are you doing here?"

They both looked at Takasaka who was trying his utmost to pretend he was invisible. He certainly looked like he needed calming down. He couldn't believe Katsumi was seriously trying to brazen it out when he'd rather have left discreetly.

Miyako looked at her new boyfriend for support and found none – it had been a mistake not to tell him about Katsumi. He was giving the two of them strange looks. Under his scrutiny Miyako blushed whilst Katsumi gave him an airheaded grin. Sometimes the ditzy act was really useful.

"Miyako, who is he?" He asked.
Miyako opened her mouth but before she could speak Katsumi did it for her. "Katsumi Shibuya. I'm Miyako's… well, I suppose I'm Miyako's ex." Then, more to himself than to the other: "Funny how quick these things change, fifteen minutes ago I was her boyfriend…"
"Nonetheless." Miyako said crossly. "We can't both stay here, it's socially awkward."
"If it bothers you, why don't you go somewhere else?" Katsumi asked reasonably. "I'm quite happy to stay here regardless of where you are." Miyako glared at him – why couldn't he take a hint? Get lost! – and again looked to her boyfriend for support.

***

Five minutes later Katsumi looked at himself in a mirror in the toilets and dabbed at his nose with a damp tissue. There was a bruise forming on one of his cheeks and a cut on his forehead. Takasaka looked at him more than a little anxiously.

"Is your nose okay?" he asked.

"It's not broken," Katsumi replied. "Just a bit sore. Still, it beats me why Miyako would want to hang around with a violent lunatic like that anyway."

Takasaka refrained from commenting. Miyako's taste didn't appear to be very good anyway. A woman who could lust after Koji whilst attempting to date Katsumi (who was Koji's friend but not a bit like him) then decide that some man who looked like an extra from "The Godfather" and acted the same was a better bet than both just had to have some kind of problem in choosing men. Still, considering Katsumi had dated the girl he must have seen something in her, so it probably wasn't a good idea to discuss her bad points just yet.

"I should do him for assault," Katsumi turned from the mirror, then leant back on the sinks. "but I don't think I can really be bothered."

"Call me paranoid, but I don't think we should go back out there." Takasaka said, motioning toward the door.
For once Katsumi decided to err on the side of discretion. "Um. You're probably right. So how do we get out of here then? I don't fancy waiting in here until Miyako decides to leave. I guess we could climb out the toilet window…"
"Both of us?" Takasaka felt anxious again, not that he hadn't been feeling anxious before.
"Well, why not?" Katsumi grinned. "It sounds like fun."

"Hey, Taka-chan?" Katsumi stood on the cistern and called to his friend. "Give me a leg up will you?"

Takasaka sighed and went to help him. After thirty seconds Katsumi decided he'd had enough. Folding his arms he said "I said help me out the window, not grope me. Pervert."
Takasaka sweatdropped again. Why oh why was he dating this boy? He must have been mad to even consider it. "I wasn't…" he began.
"Don't worry, I'll do it myself." Katsumi cut him off then pushed the window open to its full extent and climbed out of it head-first. The window shut behind him like a cat-flap. Listening from inside the toilets Takasaka heard a loud thump and learnt a few interesting new swear-words before Katsumi yelled at him from outside. "A word of advice. It's easier not to go head first."
"Then what way should I go?" He was honestly confused.
"I'll help you down if you've got a problem." From his tone of voice Takasaka could tell he was grinning. He took out his nerve pills and read the label on them. Damn, four hours before he could take another one or he'd run the risk of an overdose… he'd never survive this date.

Standing in the alleyway, Katsumi watched Takasaka attempt to get out of the window. It was a learning experience. If he hadn't managed to get out of the window properly, Takasaka was even worse at it.

"It's not far!" He called, in an attempt at reassurance.
Takasaka looked pained. "You can break your neck falling five feet."
"I didn't break my neck…" Katsumi said. "So you should be fine." With these reassuring words he turned away and looked out of the alley entrance and utterly ignored Takasaka who made an attempt to jump out of the window and repeated Katsumi's journey of discovery to the alley floor and interesting curse-words.

"What now?" he asked, as Takasaka straightened up and checked himself for damage. "It's still early and I've got some money left." Katsumi actually had a secret plan to finish the evening in a love hotel somewhere, but decided that Takasaka needed to be a bit drunker. "I'd like to get something to eat, for a start…"

"You're hungry already?"
"Yup."
"I'll go find the car…"
"No, don't bother." Katsumi waved the money at him. "let's get a taxi."

***

On second thoughts that didn't appear to be such a great idea. Ten minutes later and they had still failed to get a cab to anywhere. It was a busy night and there were plenty of people who wanted to take taxis.

"This is stupid." Takasaka muttered. "It would have taken less time just to get my car."
"I thought the whole point of tonight was to get you out of that car." Katsumi replied. "Anyway, I've just had an idea."
This sounded very bad indeed to Takasaka and he hoped that there would be no more taxis coming. Unfortunately this really wasn't his night as less than two minutes later one pulled up and a girl in a tight skirt who had also been waiting for a while attempted to get into it. Much to Takasaka's surprise Katsumi smiled at him vacantly and collapsed back onto his chest. The girl looked at them in some bemusement, as did the taxi driver.
"What are you doing?" he whispered, blushing. "Everyone's staring." Katsumi opened one eye and grinned. "Tell her I fainted, she'll let us have the cab." Then he slumped back again with a convincing sigh.
Takasaka wasn't sure what was more embarrassing, that Katsumi was having an imitation fainting fit in order to commandeer a taxi or that he was expected to carry him.

***

"Ah, the sights and sounds of Tokyo at night by courtesy of a cab…" Despite his comment, Katsumi couldn't actually see much apart from lights. He was lying on his back across the taxi's rear seats with his head in Takasaka's lap, causing the poor man some discomfiture. Takasaka was sure that Katsumi shouldn't have put his feet on the seats but it was essential if they wanted to keep up the pretence that he had fainted. He just wished the boy would stop fidgeting.

Katsumi pulled Takasaka's tie playfully and twisted it around his fingers, giggling softly. He was enjoying himself, this was what dates were meant to be like even if he'd expected them to be with girls like Miyako not men like Taka-chan, who was ten years older than he for a start, but still completely adorable. Still, whatever. Right now he didn't care what society thought, even if Taka-chan did. He'd just have to persuade him that it didn't matter. After all, if Koji could manage it with Izumi, so could he.

Onto part 4

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