Chapter 4

"Mom, mom! People are moving in down the street!" Aburatsubo yelled, flying into the living room and latching on his mother's hand. "Let's go see!"

"We don't want to be rude, honey," his mother commented, but still climbed to her feet and followed her son's tugs toward the front door.

"But I want to see if there's any kids!" Aburatsubo declared, becoming frustrated with their slow progress and breaking away so he could charge out the front door. He didn't care if it was rude, there were no other kids in the neighborhood, and he was so bored having to play alone!

He rounded the walkway, but lost his nerve at that point and approached the other yard slowly. His mother caught up with him, taking his hand, and he gladly hid himself behind her when they were noticed.

"Hello. My son and I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood, and he couldn't seem to wait until you were more settled in. I'm sorry, but you know how children are when they see someone moving in. They have to know if there's a kid to play with," his mother greeted, laughing as she introduced them.

The two adults didn't seem angry. In fact, the pregnant mother fell into an easy conversation with his own mother after her husband went back to lugging furniture, commenting on how she was glad there would be someone around for her own son to play with.

She called the youth, and a scruffy black head peeked out of the moving van. It was in that second that Aburatsubo fell head over heels in a puppy love that grew into something much deeper as they forged one of the closest friendships anyone could have.

Aburatsubo remembered how shy he'd felt as he'd stepped forward, but the other boy had thrown an enthusiastic hug around his shoulders and immediately invited him to help set up the toys in his new room.

Over dinner that night, when his mother had asked him what he thought of his new friend, Aburatsubo had smiled widely.

"One day, we're going to get married!" he'd announced.

He remembered it fondly, the moment in his life that he'd been certain that he'd found his soul mate. Of course, at the age of eight, he didn't really know what that meant. But he'd been right. No one could ever come to mean as much to him as Takeo did, no one would make him feel so content and complete.

The youth tugged furiously at a lock of hair that refused to flow smoothly like the rest. He had to leave in ten minutes for his date with Takeo! Why couldn't his hair behave? He doubted the other would notice, but something inside of him made him have to look perfect in front of the other. He knew full well it wasn't just the breeding he'd been born with, although keeping himself in top condition had been something he'd learned at a young age.

A silly grin came over his lips when he recalled yesterday after school. Takeo had held his hand the entire way home. It was probably no big deal for other couples when they held hands, but the occasion had been momentous to him. The youth had placed his hand in Aburatsubo's, and hadn't pulled away.

His mother, being who she was, had given a happy squeal and hugged him so tightly he'd nearly passed out when he'd told her he was dating Takeo. She'd never been able to find any fault in him, even when he'd blatantly done something wrong, and had been overjoyed that he'd finally gotten the other boy's attention.

His father, who had immediately bought him a children's mechanic set the day after he'd announced his marriage plans at the age of eight, had reluctantly congratulated him. It had been hard for him to accept such a thing in his son at first, but had given up trying to change Aburatsubo's mind when he'd turned thirteen and started letting his hair grow long. At times, Aburatsubo worried that his father still hadn't accepted it fully, but the man had never said a word against him, and still treated Takeo with the same kindness he had before.

Which was good, because it allowed Aburatsubo the freedom to run around the house like a human tornado, the trait which most teenagers seemed to share as they tried to get themselves perfectly made up the upcoming date.

Now, if he could get that damned lock to quit curling, he'd be ready!

The doorbell rang, and he forgot about his hair, charging down the stairs so he could get to the door before his mother. He'd let her answer it once. Never again!

Still, he didn't open it immediately. He took a deep breath, told his heart to stop pounding, and made sure he was calm before finally pulling it open. It didn't seem to matter that this was their ninth official date, he was always just as excited as he'd been the first time, his nerves humming with the anticipation of being with the other.

Takeo jerked his fidgeting hands behind his back when he was revealed, although it didn't really matter because he laughed nervously anyway.

Gods, he was adorable.

"Hungry?" Aburatsubo covered, stepping out onto the porch.

The other seemed to recover from his nervousness now that he'd made the first move, walking along side of him as they made their way toward the bus stop. "Yep," he replied cheerfully. "I made sure I remembered not to eat when I got home from school, so that I'd be hungry when we went out for supper."

"I was told the restaurant was a nice one. I've never actually eaten there myself, but my mom said the food was really good, and not too expensive."

"Ah... well...."

"Don't worry. My mom might be a flamboyant woman, but she's practical when it comes to spending her money, and she's got good taste."

"I didn't mean to make it sound like that."

Aburatsubo laughed. "No, but it's easy to think so."

"It's funny that you grew up being so collected and calm."

Heh, he probably wouldn't be saying that if he'd seen Aburatsubo flinging clothes around his room, trying to find something to wear. But he was glad that Takeo saw him that way, as a person in control of himself. Aburatsubo had always done his best to show that face to the world, keeping his faults hidden as well as he could. He didn't want to think that he was a shallow person, but he knew that was the main reason he always obsessed over his appearance before meeting with the other.

He couldn't help but wonder what Takeo would think if he ever saw Aburatsubo without the careful preparation. He'd never thought of himself as an insecure person, but he had to admit that he was afraid that the other would think less of him. What would he say, if Aburatsubo left his hair the tangled mess that it was in the morning? What would he do, if Aburatsubo threw on a pair of torn jeans and a wrinkled shirt instead of his usually well-pressed clothing?

What would he think, if he saw the rough, unpolished version of himself that Aburatsubo kept hidden? Would he be turned off of by it? Would whatever desire he had for Aburatsubo vanish if he no longer held the elegant persona he worked so hard to keep up?

He didn't think he could ever bring himself to find out.