Disclaimer: GW and its characters owned by Bandai Inc.
Kabuki Karen
Heero Yuy sat at the small table of the Japanese restaurant nervously playing with the packet of wooden chopsticks. He peeled apart the two sticks and sighed in dismay when they did not break evenly at the top. He'd suggested the restaurant because he thought Duo might be interested in trying something different, and he'd already been to the place a few times before.
It had taken him longer to prepare for this 'date' than any of his shows. Various outfits and clothes had been tried on only to be taken off again in favour of another combination. In the end he settled on a simple dark grey Vesace suit and tight black t-shirt underneath. Heero had been hoping to strike a balance between casual and smart, the worry of going to far either way nagged at him constantly. However his hair laid in it's usual spiked mess over his cold blue eyes.
He lifted the teacup and sipped the cooling green tea, trying to savour the bitter taste to take his mind off his nerves. It wasn't often he got out like this, away from his company. He secretly had high hopes for this night. The Japanese man was about to start playing with his chopsticks again, when he heard a familiar voice from the doorway. He looked up to see the man he'd been waiting for, as if he'd just stepped out of a dream.
~~
Duo cautiously stepped into the wooden floored restaurant and quickly scanned the restaurant to see if he could spot Heero. There were already a few tables full, but not that many to be busy. He couldn't spot the person he was looking for, but a waitress came over to greet him. He smiled at her and adjusted the dark plum suit, making sure the bright green open shirt was not being ruffled. "I'm here to meet Heero Yuy?"
The oriental girl nodded in understanding and started to lead the way though the tables. The butterflies battering around in his stomach quickened with the thought of meeting the Japanese lady again. The waitress suddenly stopped and gestured to a double table.
A dark haired man sitting at the table stood up. The waitress disappeared to fetch some Menus leaving the two to stare at each other. The Japanese man who had stood up was unsure if to bow, shake hands or say hello and it got mixed up in a series of awkward half gestures. In the end he reached across for one of Duo's soft hands. "Hello Duo, it's nice to see you again."
The American was silent in his confusion. "Where's Heero?" He blurted.
The Japanese man let go of his hand and glanced down at the floor in either embarrassment or disappointment. "I am Heero…you've never seen me like this…you must not recognise me." He trailed off and sat down not looking back up at Duo
The braided man slowly sat down, in time of for the waitress to return with the menus. His mind tried to quickly rationalise what as happening. There was no doubt that the angles showed by the expensive suit were masculine; and that was Heero Yuy… Heero Yuy was a man. Duo couldn't believe he hadn't realised for so long. He wasn't sure what to think either.
"What would you like?" The soft voice opposite interrupted Duo's frantic thoughts. He realised he hadn't even been looking at the menu.
"I don't know…you'll be better at this, you can order for me."
"Do you like Sushi?"
Duo flicked through the laminated pages, and nodded numbly. He didn't want to look at Heero, but eventually he did look up. Heero was staring at him with those same Prussian blue eyes, some how the nervousness had gone to be replaced with a hard stare.
~~
Heero's eyes made contact with his dining partners. He'd felt disappointment flow through him at Duo's reaction to seeing him 'normal'. He wondered if some of the magic and beauty had disappeared for the young American. The actor wondered why he thought Duo would be any different.
The waitress came over, and Heero said, "A bottle of hot Sake…would you like to drink with me?"
His eyes flicked over to Duo, and the American realised the question was for him. He nodded dumbly. Heero continued to list the order and the waitress scribbled it down on the notepad. When he was finished, she nodded and took the menus away with her.
The both sat there in ominous silence.
The bottle was brought in a warmer, and Heero poured it into both the small cups. Quickly lifting the cup to his lips, he downed it in one. He refilled his cup again, but this time left it to sip. It was terribly rude of him to do that, but he felt he needed the alcohol to get through this meal. He sipped from his cup and was glad to feel a warm blush cross his cheeks. The rice wine slid easily down his throat, despite the slight burn it gave.
The Japanese man looked at Duo, he couldn't read the expression on the American's face. Neither did he want to. His cup was already empty and he reached for the bottle to refill it and top up Duo's. He could see the American was staring at him with pity, but he refused to acknowledge it.
Duo softly cleared his throat, "So can you tell me a little about the Kabuki?"
~~
Heero nimbly picked up the last slice of bright pink raw fish and placed it delicately into his mouth. As soon as he swallowed he drank back the last of his sake.
Duo watched as the young actor's once bright eyes developed dullness to them. The American sadly nursed the last of his drink. He was embarrassed at himself at not realising the situation earlier. But he had always thought it was Heero the beautiful actress…not actor, although he couldn't deny the dark haired man was beautiful. He had a dark exotic charm of him that oozed emotion…
The noisy scraping of the chair brought Duo back from his musing as Heero searched in his pocket presumably for his wallet.
"Sorry to leave so soon, but I have early rehearsal. I hope you enjoyed the meal." Heero didn't look at the stunned braided man still sitting; instead he focused on trying to count out the right amount from the wad of notes. The colourful bills landed on the table and Heero frostily made to leave. But as he stood, Prussian eyed man realised he'd been getting drunk from the legs up. He steadied himself on a chair, before trying to make his way dignified exit from the restaurant.
Heero ignored the waitress trying to say a goodbye as he stumbled outside. It was raining hard, but he didn't care. He stood by the roadside trying to spot a taxi among the oncoming traffic, each vehicle with its headlights glaring into the darkness. The actor was dazzled but he held his arm out in the hope of some cab driver spotting him. The rain was starting to soak his hair, plastering it to his forehead and neck. The cold water was starting to seep down the back of his neck.
He took a few steps down the road, desperate to get away. Not before long a taxi did stop by the roadside. He opened the door and took one last look back. Duo was standing in the doorway watching him. Heero was glad that due to the rainwater, the American would not be able to see the hot angry tears building in his eyes.
Flinging himself onto the back seat of the cab, he slammed the door closed and told the driver the address of his residence.
The car pulled away, and the lone figure in the door way became blurred with the rest of the scenery.
To Be Continued.
Notes: Karen- stage tricks. All clothing taken from Graham Norton.
