Disclaimer: I do not own Super GALS! in any way…what I write in here is for my personal enjoyment…and I posted it here so that other people who share my enthusiasm for this pairing can enjoy it as well.

(sighs) The heat is getting into me! (sweats heavily) And I had to imprison myself in my room with no company except Flack and my World War 2 Computer…

Flack: Uh…

Fine, my Pentium II computer. Sigh…sigh…sigh…sigh…sigh…

Flack: You'd think they'd choose to hold a record for fastest sighing in under a minute?

Sigh…. sigh…. sigh…. sigh…sigh…sigh…sigh…sigh…sigh

Flack: (bashes the author in the head with a brass pot) Hey, knock it off! As your official muse, I order you to stop making yourself pathetic! Geeze… T.T

(earns a lump on the head) A simple talking-to would have been fine, a pinch in the ass would have been uncalled but still alright, a punch in the shoulder would be more encouraging…

BUT WHAT THE HECK WAS BONKING ME ON THE HEAD WITH A DIRTY PAN FOR! (Turns demon-mode) Prepare to be obliterated to kingdom come! (cackles evilly)

Flack: Sigh…the things I do for love (runs and gets a bonk on the head for sighing)

-

Chapter 4

Saturday afternoon

"C'mon Yuuya, we have to shop before night falls." Rei impatiently called from the outside, his voice directing at an open window above their house.

"M'here." Yuuya replied, shuffling from the door. Rei noticed the other's new polo.

"Since when did you start wearing that?" Rei pointed at the crisp, white polo Yuuya wore.

"Huh? This one? Auntie gave it to me last night…why?" Yuuya shifted his head in askance.

"…It's originally mine." Rei crossed his arms, sitting himself on the leather seat of their scooter. And mind you, it doesn't look half-bad on yourself…

"Uh? Really? S…sorry. I thought it was your old polo or anything…I'll go change to something else." Yuuya mildly panicked, Rei noticing the hint of sadness and disappointment.

"Hn, never mind. You're right…it's old. You can have it. Let's go, we gotta hurry." Rei grabbed him roughly in his shoulder and dragged him into the backseat.

Handing Yuuya the other helmet, both sped off into Downtown, Shibuya.

-

"Uh, Rei? What exactly are you gonna shop? And why bring me along?" Yuuya curiously asked from the backseat.

"…You'll see." Rei kept his eye on the road. "And hold on tighter, I can feel your hand slipping from my waist."

"Ah? Isn't this rather…" Yuuya trailed, not able to say further on.

"Awkward?" Rei completed, viewing Yuuya's mild blush on his side mirror. "Yuuya, what are you trying to get at?" Because, somehow…I'm having the slightest idea now of what's going on with you…

"Err…nothing." Yuuya countered. "Why would you think so?"

"Let me guess…puberty hit you."

"REI!" Yuuya mouthed out loud, obviously embarrassed. "I've hit that when I was twelve!"

"When you were twelve, you were still the snot-nosed, crybaby I had to keep my eyes on or else he'd get himself stuck in the silliest situations." Rei snickered.

"Oh…riiight. And I assume, you've hit yours much earlier? Because when I met you, you could have passed yourself as a working man…thinking of a lot of things not meant for your age…"

"How do you know?" Rei challenged him. "You can't say much about me, can you?"

"What? That you're an overly-miserable boy who's got nothing to think when no one's around but depression, anxiety and a lot of mood changes to boot? Man, you can beat someone who's on menopause or something." Yuuya sighed.

"All lies." Rei replied softly, the scooter drowning his answer. Yuuya assumed he'd got nothing to say, so he kept his mouth shut as well.

-

Both had finally reached Downtown, Shibuya. Rei dropped Yuuya in front of Hachi-ko and told him to wait there while he'd go find a suitable place to park the scooter.

Yuuya sighed deeply, leaning on the statue of the dog.

"Hey, aren't you Rei's companion? Yuuya…right?" A girl's voice asked, Yuuya shifting his head left and right to find where the source came from.

"Yeah? And…who are you?" He said, turning his head left and right again.

"Up here." Yuuya glanced up, and after seeing a hefty lot of gymnastics and a soft landing, a familiar face came up to greet him.

"Hi!" The girl grinned, waving her obviously over-manicured fingernails on Yuuya.

"Oh, hi Ran!" Yuuya came up. "Do you really have to sit on Hachi-ko?" He asked, pointing back at the statue of the dog (which uncannily looked as if it was relieved!)

"Oh, that? AHAHAHAHA!" Ran laughed, unperturbed. "It's a habit I've grown to." She answered dismissively, waving her lacquered nails, Yuuya sweatdropping at her.

"By the way, where's Rei?" Ran looked sideways.

"He went to park the scooter somewhere. " Yuuya laughed nervously, obviously not comfortable with the way Ran asked and scooted close to him.

"Ah, thought so. Thought it was impossible seeing you and Rei separate. You really are that close aren't you?" Ran scooted closer, leering at Yuuya.

"Ehh? We live in the same house! Of course, we're that…eep!" Yuuya clamped his mouth with his hands. Oh, that certainly was off the record!

"Ooooh, you live in the same house? Interesting…" Ran rubbed her palms, obviously looking pleased with herself.

"And, may I ask how that info would exactly help you?" Yuuya sweatdropped, uncomfortable that someone was happy on his account.

"Nothing! See you around, Yuuya…" Ran replied in a happy tune, skipping to where her friend, Miyu was waving at her. Yuuya heaved a deep sigh, feeling drained.

-

"Hey…" Rei came up on the blonde, startling him.

"Oh, it's you…" Yuuya felt his heart, which was racing from the sudden dose of adrenaline in his system.

"I saw you with Ran. What did she want? Did it have something to do with the bag?" Rei asked.

"Ah, no. Just greeted me and said hello." Yuuya answered. "So, let's go to your mystery shopping place?"

"Mystery, indeed." Rei huffed a bit, and walked side by side with Yuuya.

-

"Here?"

Yuuya pointed to a rather modest-looking(huh? The understatement of the year?) men's clothing store.

"Uh-huh. Here." Rei simply replied, going inside the store, Yuuya following closely at him.

And when he said understatement, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Practically everything, and that meant everything, could have been found here. Clothing from different parts of the world were shipped here, from tees, jeans, pants, shorts, coats, jackets, vests, cargo, anything! Accessories also lined the place, necklaces, hats, caps, ties, shoes, socks, drawers, briefs, watches, bracelets, earrings (yes, earrings!), rings, and sunglasses.

"Oh wow, this looks like paradise for the metrosexual!" Yuuya mouthed, gaping at the large array of things to wear.

"Err…clarify me on the term metrosexual?" Rei gapped, obviously surprised to hear Yuuya say such things.

"Metrosexual…y'know. Those guys that spend more time glamming themselves up with gels, lotion and all that stuff. Of course, you can mistake them for something else, but they're a hundred percent men." Yuuya said, trailing off, obviously still carried away by the intensity of the place.

"Right. C'mon then." Rei took Yuuya's arm and led him into the aisles where the signature clothes hung.

"Oh, wow…" Yuuya frolicked, going from one part to the other, taking out various pieces of clothing and trying it on for size.

Rei came closer and viewed the whole scene with mild annoyance and amusement.

"This looks cool!" Yuuya pressed the coat on himself. "And this too!" He said, trying on the polo for size. "And this one! And this one! Ooooh, this one too!" He shuffled from each aisle.

"Uh, Rei? What are you doing with those clothes that I just returned?" Yuuya looked back at him, his eyes drifting on the pile of clothing on Rei's arms.

"You're trying them on, that's what." Rei basically replied.

"What! But these cost in the thousands of yen, Rei! You know I can't afford those…much less you…" He slowly looked up, peeking from the fringe of his hair.

"I don't have to. Mom gave me the money to buy you your clothes. I told her you have to stop living off my old clothes." Rei leaned on one side of his hip.

"…are you uncomfortable seeing me wear your old clothes? Is that it, Rei?" Yuuya asked nervously, almost pathetically.

Rei came close and took the tee Yuuya had on his hand. "No, but I want you to have your own identity. You basically can't just live on…on these hand-me-downs. Besides, it was me who asked mom. That means you'll be owing me."

"Rei…" Yuuya spoke softly, unbelieving.

"Here." Rei handed all the piles of clothing on his arms to the blonde. "Go run into the dressing room. I'll be looking for some more that might look good on you." Which to my opinion won't be that hard, considering you'd look good in everything…

Yuuya smiled a bit. "Thank you, Rei…"

Rei looked back, a small smile creeping on the corner of his lips. "You'll be owing me for this, Yuuya…" Believe me…I'll hold you on that.

Yuuya went into the nearest dressing room and occupied it for himself.

-

"Otohata, is that you?" Rei turned around, his attention from the several silver necklaces brought away to the origin of the voice.

A Caucasian-Australian teenager and a platinum blonde came forward, looking happy and surprised.

"Keough? And Masaaki!" Rei smiled, hugging both the men in friendly manner.

"Long time no see! Still in our favorite hangout, huh?" Keough nudged Rei's head, while the blonde nodded thoughtfully. "So how goes the heartthrob of Shibuya these days?" Masaaki stifled a giggle.

"Knock it off, you two." Rei looked serious. These guys really don't take me seriously…

Both just turned to each other before Keough burst out laughing again and Masaaki finally chortling off track.

"Still that damned kid who refuses to laugh and share a joke, eh Rei?" Keough sighed off, wiping a tear from his eye. "Ever since we left Shibuya since Grade 5, you really haven't changed a single bit have you?"

"Ah, you know Rei, Keough" Masaaki fixed his eyeglass. "Nobody to share his joys and sadness."

"And when did both of you arrive?" Rei cocked an eyebrow, unperturbed at being laughed at in his own expense.

"Ouch. Take it easy, Rei." Keough mockingly rubbed his arm. " Give us a warning when you'd direct your icy glares would you?"

"Actually, Rei." Masaaki pinched Keough's other shoulder. " We just arrived yesterday. We're staying in a hotel now, but we're looking forwards for a month-long stay, so we'll be scavenging for a rental house."

Rei nodded understandingly, then his gaze shuffled from Masaaki to Keough. A small smirk tugging at his lips once more.

"So that's it, then." Rei said understandingly, and then laughed softly covering his lips with his hand for effect.

"Uh? What's what?" Keough stared at Masaaki, who also shook his head.

"The two of you…living together, I presume?" Rei casually crossed his arms, satisfaction in finding the surprised reactions of both men.

"Oh, now you knock it off Rei!" Keough poked his finger on Rei's shoulder jokingly. "You're gonna stand in there and get all ignorant with…these types of relationships?"

"What? Can't say 'not straight' in front of my face?" Rei mocked Keough, while Masaaki blushed on Keough.

Rei took the opportunity to kid around. Lightly grasping Masaaki's chin, Rei leered closer, his eyes fixed on the blonde.

"You look cute when you blush. How 'bout giving daddy a kiss?" Rei came closer and closer, his breath hitting Masaaki's lips.

"Rei!" Keough snatched the now tomato-red Masaaki from Rei. "Now you stop that act!" He hissed, Rei taken aback by the over-protectiveness of Keough.

"He's still unsure of where this is gonna lead both of us…please understand Rei. This is not some simple matter we both can't just put off…especially Masaaki…" Keough watched his blonde companion, who was sniffing and sobbing a bit.

Rei looked back at Masaaki, and seeing the teary eyed mood he was in now, lightly placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder.

"Masaaki…I'm sorry for this. I thought you two weren't serious about this. Please forgive me." Rei gazed at Masaaki.

The blonde gazed back, hurt and confusion seeming to disappear. "I…I'm sorry too, Rei. I guess I overreacted a bit…"

Keough shuffled his gaze at both of them, somehow derelict in the hidden communication going through each other's minds.

Rei broke off the contact and looked at the Australian questioningly. "So…you guys…y'know…do the 'thing'?"

"What…you mean sex?"

"Keough!" Masaaki glared at him, somehow embarrassed when people started looking towards their direction.

"Look who's being blunt." Rei rolled his eyes.

"It's not as if, we hadn't got practice ever since we were kids…" Then Keough leveled his gaze towards Rei. "Or have you forgotten who keeps initiating them during those times?" He flashed a feral grin.

"It wasn't like that, Keough. Just sexual experimentation. Typical among kids, you know that stuff." Rei dismissed him with one hand.

"Well, it sure did get me all right. Geezus, I just wonder what I would have been if the three of us didn't do it…" Keough stared off, thinking of something.

"Keough…"Masaaki sighed." Forgive him, Rei. Ever since we arrived, all he thinks is dirty thoughts…"

"Hey, I resent that. Rei really was my first crush!" Keough covered Masaaki's mouth before the other had a chance to retort. " But look whom I bagged. And it seems I'm more luckier around you." Keough gazed at Masaaki's eyes, partially letting go of his hand.

"You're just a satyr, that's all. Raging hormones and all that snazz…" Masaaki pulled Keough's hand away and pinched him lightly on his ear.

"Oh, please. The cubicles are that way…" Rei pointed at the public restroom.

"So, Rei." Masaaki contained his blush by coughing a bit. "You still haven't told us whom you are with right now…"

Keough cut in. "Certainly with your beauty and masculinity being paraded on each and every teen magazine, you've earned a lot of…uhurm…admirers?"

"Masaaki, I am not committed to anyone. And Keough, I have a lot of faceless admirers I don't even know their names. End of discussion." Rei turned his attention back to the silver necklace he was planning to buy for Yuuya.

"Geez, you're a tough nut to crack. Anyway, saa. We'll visit you when we find our pad of our own. Same house right?" Keough waved at him goodbye, as Masaaki was dragging him by the neck.

"Yeah…same house…" Rei looked after them, and then got on a decision of getting the necklace with the snowflake pendant for Yuuya.

-

Want a clue as to which Keough and Masaaki looks like? I got Keough from Ragnarok the Animation (yep, as in Keough: that cold, ruthless blonde who is so in-love with Iruga that he killed him out of evil insanity…sigh, star-crossed lovers indeed…). Erm, Masaaki looks like Yukito from Card Captor Sakura. Oh, and after that…I also do not own Ragnarok the Animation and Card captor Sakura…there!

Of course, every story needs their own problem for the plot to revolve on, don't worry guys, I'll reach that portion after a chapter or two. But for now…heeh heeh, I'll let the little boys take their time with each other.

Rei is suddenly turning OOC, somebody is sure bound to notice that. Of course, we can never tell what Rei is thinking, maybe he does think about these things, maybe he doesn't. I'll let you decide.

Concerning Keough's comment about "It's not as if we hadn't had practice when we were kids…" yadda yadda yadda… I got that from my Psychology teacher, telling stories about childhood and this little interesting game called "I'll-show-mine-if-you-show-yours". I'm not to discuss those things to you, you bright sparks should know to do your homework in the library. (Unless YOU are reading this in the public library Internet system, then that can't be helped).

What to expect? More Keough and Masaaki in this series? I dunno, I'm not good in developing side characters though. Oh, and I wouldn't ask you to review this out of goodwill and necessity, I just want to know if this type of story-writing is effective. Reviews about the characters themselves is not necessary (as I would not entertain someone whining things like 'do this to them!' or 'do that to this jerk!' or 'rip whatchamacallit's balls off and shove it down his puny little throat!') Please, if you are that kind of person, I suggest you register yourself into and do your own story. Do us all a favor and follow my suggestion.

Oh my…I'm ranting…in an NC-17 rating kind of rant! Eep! Pardon my vulgarity in using such language! (I hope no kids read this…gulp!) Maybe I should plaster a warning outside…