The Clamp artists own CCD and this story is in no way meant to infringe on that ownership. It was written for entertainment purposes only.
The Bathroom Blues
A tall dashing young man wearing an old style black suit and top hat stood peering out of the bathroom door of Imonoyama Nokoru's bedroom. He wore a mask over the top half of his heart shaped face to obscure his identity. But the fact that he was in disguise, offered him no comfort as he sat trapped in his best friend's bathroom.
"I don't understand how things got so confused. He should be at the office by now." Quicksilver eyes flashed in vexation as the masked man gazed at Imonoyama Nokoru's striking profile. The vivid sapphire eyes were crowned with somewhat unruly silk the color of sunlight. The delicate line of his chin and alabaster pale skin made him appear fragile until one caught the underlying strength of purpose shining though the CLAMP Campus Chairman's very being. Rijichou's bright head was bent down over a large pile of paper work that he was slowly wading though. If a star could take human form and come to live on earth, that star would look like Imonoyama Nokoru.
Akira sighed in his hiding place as a loud sneeze and subsequent sniffles revealed the mystery of why Rijichou was in his bedroom in the middle of a workday. Now that he thought about it, the wastebasket was full of tissues. Rijichou obviously had a cold. "I must have sneaked in when he was down having breakfast." Akira decided as he remembered how his heart had thumped when he heard soft footsteps that heralded Nokoru's return to the room. He hadn't gotten more than a brief look around at the beautiful furnishings before he had to find a hiding place quickly. The walls were a surprisingly plain tan hue. Most of the color in the room came from the rich jewel tones of the bed cover, decorative pillows and the rugs scattered about on the floor. Opulent, yet somehow not overstated, It matched the Nokoru's personality very well. The closet had been too far away, though it was closer to the door than the bathroom was. The bed would have been a bad choice considering how close it was to Nokoru's desk. "Rijichou, would have found me there for sure."
"The bathroom was my only real choice. I made it here just in the nick of time." Rubbing a long dexterous finger against his chin, Akira considered what must have happened. "Suoh must have sent the paperwork over. He should have received the note I left there warning them that I was going to try to get the new painting Rijichou just bought. Perhaps that is part of the reason Rijichou is still here. I must admit it's a good tactic. It certainly is making things far more difficult for me. " Akira leaned against the door, stuck with no way out that wouldn't alert Rijichou to his presence. The last thing he wanted was for Nokoru to know he was there. "What would Rijichou think if he knew I am 20 Mensou?" The nervous thief lifted his hat so he could push back the sweat dampened raven locks that clung to his forehead.
"Oh I hate this. Why do I have to steal from Rijichou, of all people? He is my best friend. I wish I weren't so weak willed. I just can't stand to see my mothers unhappy. But I don't want to lose my best friend either."
A knock at the door made Akira look up into the room once more. Perhaps this would be his chance. The thief strained to hear Nokoru say something in soft tones to the servant at the door. Quietly Akira began to ease the door open hoping he could slip into the closet while Rijichou's back was turned. The sound of Nokoru's voice didn't carry well and so he wasn't able to make much out other than something about tea. Sure enough, Nokoru turned back around holding a tray of tea.
It was too soon. The thief knew he couldn't make it across the room in time. Holding his breath, Akira slid back into the bathroom hoping the tea had distracted Nokoru enough so that the Rijichou wouldn't have noticed the motion of the bathroom door.
"This is not working out at all. I have got to come up with a plan to get that painting and get out of here. Nokoru hasn't used the restroom yet, but he will eventually. If I stay here, it'll be just a matter of time before I am caught." Akira thought despondently while he rested his forehead against the cool tile of the bathroom wall. He stayed that way for a while his eyes closed as he listened to the soft rustle of Nokoru's papers.
Another nock sounded on the door and Akira had just started to ease the door open again when he realized that the same servant who had brought the tea, had entered the room as was making his way over to where Rijichou sat immersed in papers.
His blood nearly froze in his veins when he overheard the tall fatherly looking servant's words.
"Here is the extra cup you asked for sir." The man gave Rijichou a long look as if to say he thought the request had been an odd one.
Nokoru simply gave the man one of his brightest smiles in return. "Thank you, Lee. I appreciate you going though the trouble to bring this to me."
"I am glad to be of service, sir." Lee bowed as he backed out of the room. Akira focused his attention on his Rijichou, as the door clicked shut with a soft thud. With a smile hovering on his cultured lips, Nokoru set his papers aside. Humming a little tune, he began to pour the tea into his cup.
Moving away from the door, Akira wrapped his arms around his legs and leaned back into the wall.
His mind was spinning like a mouse in a wheel. "He knows I'm here. I know he does."
Akria gave himself a sharp shake. "Ok, I have to calm down." Forcing himself to take a deep breath the thief tried to reason out why Nokoru had asked for a second cup." Suoh is probably planning to stop by. Yes, that's probably it." The dilemma dissected Akira stood and stretched allowing himself relax.
" Ohayou Akira, would you perhaps join me for some tea? It has to have been boring sitting in the bathroom for half the morning. Nokoru's soft melodious voice sounded from the doorway startling the thief."
Caught completely off guard, Akira responded as he always did. " Ohayou Rijichou. Yes, it has been a little boring waiting in here. " Paling at what he just said Akira lifted a shocked hand to cover his lips. He stayed perfectly still though he felt like running around screaming and flailing his arms about like he did as a child. "I didn't just say that did I?" He asked himself miserably.
"Join me then. You could use a break and I think even Suoh would say I deserve one as well." Throwing a sunny grin over his shoulder Nokoru walked back to the table where the tea sat.
When he had walked half way across the room a realization struck Akira like a bolt of lightning. "I am still dressed as 20 Mensou. So he knows! He knows who I am." His mind screamed at him. Akira froze in place holding his breath, his silver eyes seeking out Nokoru's sapphire gaze.
The elfin face looking back at him with impish good humor held no blame or reproach. That clear compassionate gaze enfolded the thief. Akira nearly fell to his knees with the sudden overwhelming knowledge that despite the fact that he was a thief Nokoru still accepted him; all of him, not just the kindly cook, but the clever thief as well.
Settling into the seat across from Nokoru, Akira removed his mask. He didn't really need it anymore. Folding it neatly he slid the soft fabric into a suit pocket. Picking up his cup of tea he looked at his friend.
"I've had the painting wrapped for you. You can take it with you when you go home for the evening. Or I can just have someone drop it off at your house, if you'd rather not carry it with you. What would you prefer?" Nokoru smiled over the edge of his teacup.
"You're just going to hand it to me?" Akira's jaw dropped open. The world had just turned upside down. "But you just bought it! Why give it to me?"
He watched Akira's amazement with amusement dancing in his eyes. With an elegant shrug Nokoru set his cup down to pour some more tea for himself. Meeting his friend's quicksilver eye he answered simply. "Because you want it."
"That's it? Because I want it you're willing to just give it to me."
"Well I have plenty of art. And while the painting in question is quite lovely, if it is to make your mother's happy how can I say no?"
"Well that made sense," Akira thought to himself. "Rijichou would do a great deal to make a woman happy." Dropping his gaze he whispered. " Doumo arigatou gozaimasu. I don't deserve this, but I am very grateful. For more than just the picture."
Akira's head snapped up and he narrowed his eyes on the smiling blond in front of him. "Wait a minuet, are you telling me you would have given me all the things I have had to steal from you in the past if I had just asked for them?"
Hiding the lower part of his face behind a fan, Nokoru snickered. It was enough of an answer for Akira.
"If you've known about me for so long why didn't you say something before now?" Akira asked, unable to keep the irritation from his voice.
"I figured you liked the challenge. Besides, having you around helps Suoh immensely in the training of his guards."
Grey eyes flew wide open. "He doesn't know does he?"
"No, no he doesn't." Nokoru said soothingly as he took another sip of tea. "But Suoh does like sending in the cocky young guards who feel they are invincible when we know you're out on the prowl. After you knock them down a peg or three they're usually a lot more manageable. Or so Suoh tells me.
" I do like the challenge. But I think if you don't mind I might ask you for things from now on. I don't like stealing from my friends."
"As you wish." Nokoru nodded leaning forward to pick up his cellular phone that had been buried in paperwork as it started to ring. After listening for a moment Nokoru replied," All right, I'll see you in a little while then." Hanging up the phone he looked over at Akira.
"I am sorry we have to cut our tea short, but Suoh is coming to check up on me and I don't think you want to be here when he arrives. " Seeing the shadow of sadness pass over Akira's face Nokoru smiled comfortingly. "It's going to be all right Akira, Suoh's just going to need a little more time to adjust to the concept.
Be patient. Everything will work out. You'll see."
Reassured, Akira started for the door and then paused to look over his shoulder. "Doumo for the tea. Oh and Rijichou?"
"Hmm?"
" Doumo arigatou for being here for me. I don't know what I'd do without you as my friend." Akira gave his sempi one of his most dazzling smiles.
Grinning in return, Nokoru walked over to hold the door for his friend. "I could say the same for you, Akira. Now you should get going or we are going to have a situation on our hands.
With a short bow and a nod Akira strode out the door with a bounce in his step. He was quite pleased with the way the problem had resolved itself. Such a weight had been lifted from his shoulders that he felt like dancing his way down the halls. Instead he kept silent and slipped into the shadows. But deep inside chest his heart was singing.
The End
The Bathroom Blues
A tall dashing young man wearing an old style black suit and top hat stood peering out of the bathroom door of Imonoyama Nokoru's bedroom. He wore a mask over the top half of his heart shaped face to obscure his identity. But the fact that he was in disguise, offered him no comfort as he sat trapped in his best friend's bathroom.
"I don't understand how things got so confused. He should be at the office by now." Quicksilver eyes flashed in vexation as the masked man gazed at Imonoyama Nokoru's striking profile. The vivid sapphire eyes were crowned with somewhat unruly silk the color of sunlight. The delicate line of his chin and alabaster pale skin made him appear fragile until one caught the underlying strength of purpose shining though the CLAMP Campus Chairman's very being. Rijichou's bright head was bent down over a large pile of paper work that he was slowly wading though. If a star could take human form and come to live on earth, that star would look like Imonoyama Nokoru.
Akira sighed in his hiding place as a loud sneeze and subsequent sniffles revealed the mystery of why Rijichou was in his bedroom in the middle of a workday. Now that he thought about it, the wastebasket was full of tissues. Rijichou obviously had a cold. "I must have sneaked in when he was down having breakfast." Akira decided as he remembered how his heart had thumped when he heard soft footsteps that heralded Nokoru's return to the room. He hadn't gotten more than a brief look around at the beautiful furnishings before he had to find a hiding place quickly. The walls were a surprisingly plain tan hue. Most of the color in the room came from the rich jewel tones of the bed cover, decorative pillows and the rugs scattered about on the floor. Opulent, yet somehow not overstated, It matched the Nokoru's personality very well. The closet had been too far away, though it was closer to the door than the bathroom was. The bed would have been a bad choice considering how close it was to Nokoru's desk. "Rijichou, would have found me there for sure."
"The bathroom was my only real choice. I made it here just in the nick of time." Rubbing a long dexterous finger against his chin, Akira considered what must have happened. "Suoh must have sent the paperwork over. He should have received the note I left there warning them that I was going to try to get the new painting Rijichou just bought. Perhaps that is part of the reason Rijichou is still here. I must admit it's a good tactic. It certainly is making things far more difficult for me. " Akira leaned against the door, stuck with no way out that wouldn't alert Rijichou to his presence. The last thing he wanted was for Nokoru to know he was there. "What would Rijichou think if he knew I am 20 Mensou?" The nervous thief lifted his hat so he could push back the sweat dampened raven locks that clung to his forehead.
"Oh I hate this. Why do I have to steal from Rijichou, of all people? He is my best friend. I wish I weren't so weak willed. I just can't stand to see my mothers unhappy. But I don't want to lose my best friend either."
A knock at the door made Akira look up into the room once more. Perhaps this would be his chance. The thief strained to hear Nokoru say something in soft tones to the servant at the door. Quietly Akira began to ease the door open hoping he could slip into the closet while Rijichou's back was turned. The sound of Nokoru's voice didn't carry well and so he wasn't able to make much out other than something about tea. Sure enough, Nokoru turned back around holding a tray of tea.
It was too soon. The thief knew he couldn't make it across the room in time. Holding his breath, Akira slid back into the bathroom hoping the tea had distracted Nokoru enough so that the Rijichou wouldn't have noticed the motion of the bathroom door.
"This is not working out at all. I have got to come up with a plan to get that painting and get out of here. Nokoru hasn't used the restroom yet, but he will eventually. If I stay here, it'll be just a matter of time before I am caught." Akira thought despondently while he rested his forehead against the cool tile of the bathroom wall. He stayed that way for a while his eyes closed as he listened to the soft rustle of Nokoru's papers.
Another nock sounded on the door and Akira had just started to ease the door open again when he realized that the same servant who had brought the tea, had entered the room as was making his way over to where Rijichou sat immersed in papers.
His blood nearly froze in his veins when he overheard the tall fatherly looking servant's words.
"Here is the extra cup you asked for sir." The man gave Rijichou a long look as if to say he thought the request had been an odd one.
Nokoru simply gave the man one of his brightest smiles in return. "Thank you, Lee. I appreciate you going though the trouble to bring this to me."
"I am glad to be of service, sir." Lee bowed as he backed out of the room. Akira focused his attention on his Rijichou, as the door clicked shut with a soft thud. With a smile hovering on his cultured lips, Nokoru set his papers aside. Humming a little tune, he began to pour the tea into his cup.
Moving away from the door, Akira wrapped his arms around his legs and leaned back into the wall.
His mind was spinning like a mouse in a wheel. "He knows I'm here. I know he does."
Akria gave himself a sharp shake. "Ok, I have to calm down." Forcing himself to take a deep breath the thief tried to reason out why Nokoru had asked for a second cup." Suoh is probably planning to stop by. Yes, that's probably it." The dilemma dissected Akira stood and stretched allowing himself relax.
" Ohayou Akira, would you perhaps join me for some tea? It has to have been boring sitting in the bathroom for half the morning. Nokoru's soft melodious voice sounded from the doorway startling the thief."
Caught completely off guard, Akira responded as he always did. " Ohayou Rijichou. Yes, it has been a little boring waiting in here. " Paling at what he just said Akira lifted a shocked hand to cover his lips. He stayed perfectly still though he felt like running around screaming and flailing his arms about like he did as a child. "I didn't just say that did I?" He asked himself miserably.
"Join me then. You could use a break and I think even Suoh would say I deserve one as well." Throwing a sunny grin over his shoulder Nokoru walked back to the table where the tea sat.
When he had walked half way across the room a realization struck Akira like a bolt of lightning. "I am still dressed as 20 Mensou. So he knows! He knows who I am." His mind screamed at him. Akira froze in place holding his breath, his silver eyes seeking out Nokoru's sapphire gaze.
The elfin face looking back at him with impish good humor held no blame or reproach. That clear compassionate gaze enfolded the thief. Akira nearly fell to his knees with the sudden overwhelming knowledge that despite the fact that he was a thief Nokoru still accepted him; all of him, not just the kindly cook, but the clever thief as well.
Settling into the seat across from Nokoru, Akira removed his mask. He didn't really need it anymore. Folding it neatly he slid the soft fabric into a suit pocket. Picking up his cup of tea he looked at his friend.
"I've had the painting wrapped for you. You can take it with you when you go home for the evening. Or I can just have someone drop it off at your house, if you'd rather not carry it with you. What would you prefer?" Nokoru smiled over the edge of his teacup.
"You're just going to hand it to me?" Akira's jaw dropped open. The world had just turned upside down. "But you just bought it! Why give it to me?"
He watched Akira's amazement with amusement dancing in his eyes. With an elegant shrug Nokoru set his cup down to pour some more tea for himself. Meeting his friend's quicksilver eye he answered simply. "Because you want it."
"That's it? Because I want it you're willing to just give it to me."
"Well I have plenty of art. And while the painting in question is quite lovely, if it is to make your mother's happy how can I say no?"
"Well that made sense," Akira thought to himself. "Rijichou would do a great deal to make a woman happy." Dropping his gaze he whispered. " Doumo arigatou gozaimasu. I don't deserve this, but I am very grateful. For more than just the picture."
Akira's head snapped up and he narrowed his eyes on the smiling blond in front of him. "Wait a minuet, are you telling me you would have given me all the things I have had to steal from you in the past if I had just asked for them?"
Hiding the lower part of his face behind a fan, Nokoru snickered. It was enough of an answer for Akira.
"If you've known about me for so long why didn't you say something before now?" Akira asked, unable to keep the irritation from his voice.
"I figured you liked the challenge. Besides, having you around helps Suoh immensely in the training of his guards."
Grey eyes flew wide open. "He doesn't know does he?"
"No, no he doesn't." Nokoru said soothingly as he took another sip of tea. "But Suoh does like sending in the cocky young guards who feel they are invincible when we know you're out on the prowl. After you knock them down a peg or three they're usually a lot more manageable. Or so Suoh tells me.
" I do like the challenge. But I think if you don't mind I might ask you for things from now on. I don't like stealing from my friends."
"As you wish." Nokoru nodded leaning forward to pick up his cellular phone that had been buried in paperwork as it started to ring. After listening for a moment Nokoru replied," All right, I'll see you in a little while then." Hanging up the phone he looked over at Akira.
"I am sorry we have to cut our tea short, but Suoh is coming to check up on me and I don't think you want to be here when he arrives. " Seeing the shadow of sadness pass over Akira's face Nokoru smiled comfortingly. "It's going to be all right Akira, Suoh's just going to need a little more time to adjust to the concept.
Be patient. Everything will work out. You'll see."
Reassured, Akira started for the door and then paused to look over his shoulder. "Doumo for the tea. Oh and Rijichou?"
"Hmm?"
" Doumo arigatou for being here for me. I don't know what I'd do without you as my friend." Akira gave his sempi one of his most dazzling smiles.
Grinning in return, Nokoru walked over to hold the door for his friend. "I could say the same for you, Akira. Now you should get going or we are going to have a situation on our hands.
With a short bow and a nod Akira strode out the door with a bounce in his step. He was quite pleased with the way the problem had resolved itself. Such a weight had been lifted from his shoulders that he felt like dancing his way down the halls. Instead he kept silent and slipped into the shadows. But deep inside chest his heart was singing.
The End