The following ficlets were written in response to a word-fic challenge over at the Echoes of Winter. Enjoy!

Standard disclaimers apply.

RYUUEN'S BAN/KAZUKI FICLET COLLECTION

IV.

There are times when Ban thinks that it just isn't worth it, that waiting for Kazuki to make up his mind is just a fucking waste of time. It's not something he thinks very often, only at certain times when he is made painfully aware of what he is missing out on... Like the way Kazuki's hand would brush against his as they walk and he would be hard-pressed not to take it into his own and twine their fingers together. Or the way Kazuki's hair would keep on falling over his eyes when loose and Ban would give everything to be able to tuck the errant locks behind the beautiful man's ear. Or the way Kazuki would shiver on their nightly strolls and he couldn't help but wish he could just wrap his arms around the other to keep away the cold. Or the way he would watch Kazuki's lips as he speaks and could only wonder if they were as soft or as warm as they look...

It frustrates him, annoys him more than anything Kazuki has ever done, how much conscious effort the beautiful man seems to be putting into holding back, when it was so obvious that he was equally infatuated with the Jagan Master. Denial, Ban concedes, is indeed a powerful adversary, but he'll be damned if he'd let such a mundane thing as pride stand in the way of their happiness.But there still are times when he just wants to give up and walk away, times when he wishes he had never allowed himself to fall this strongly, this deeply. And there are times when Ban couldn't help but wish he could simply push Kazuki against the nearest wall and kiss him -- kiss him until he admits he likes it, until everything melts into nothing and there'd only be the two of them, until he admits that there's something more to their relationship, something deeper than physical attraction, until he's breathless and moaning and clinging desperately to him and what good would your denial do you then, Kazu-chan? He wants to... But he couldn't.

For he had promised Kazuki, in a sudden bout of masochism, that he would wait, that he wouldn't force the issue, that it was enough that he knew. And Kazuki had smiled then, thanked him for being so understanding. And then he had kissed Ban chastely on the lips before disappearing into the night, an unspoken promise that Ban wasn't waiting in vain. But now...

"Is it useless?"

"Hmm?"

"Waiting. Am I just wasting my time?"

"Ban-kun..."

"I know I promised that I would wait but, damn it, Kazuki I'm only human." A sigh. "It gets tiring after a while."

"Is that why you've been avoiding me? What would you have me say?"

"Nothing. Those wasted moments won't return, no matter what you say."

"Ban-kun, I..."

And Ban kisses him, kisses him with all the desperation and longing and love he feels and Kazuki's lips are soft and warm under his own and oh god, he was kissing him back!

"Kazuki..." he whispers when they finally part, so many promises, declarations of something he wouldn't dare leave unspoken after tonight (no, not after that) threatening to spill from his lips.

But Kazuki simply smiles, silencing him with another gentle kiss.

"I had that coming, hadn't I?" A pause. "I'm sorry, Ban-kun. I'm sorry if I made you think..."

And he shakes his head, sending soft brown tresses tumbling into disarray and Ban finally gives in to the temptation of pushing some of them behind Kazuki's ear.

Kazuki smiles at the tender gesture and takes Ban's hand in his, pressing his lips against its palm; and Ban's breath catches in his throat at the words the other whispers against his skin.

"Ban-kun, those wasted moments you think we've spent together... Let me make them up to you."

It is all he needs to hear.

End.