Dedicated to rusalkaz
Rikuou leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and watched as Kazahaya did what little dishes there were to do. He'd searched the kitchen earlier when Watanuki had been in the bath with Kazahaya and had found an almost abundant supply of food. Considering that, it was obvious that Watanuki could cook, which couldn't be farther from Kazahaya. If it were possible to burn rice, Kazahaya would no doubt burn it.
"I wonder if they're working things out?" his partner muttered.
He shrugged. "Since you went to the trouble to get Doumeki over here, they'd better. You did help Watanuki clean himself up."
As much as he didn't want to admit it, his heart had given a painful, jealous twist when Kazahaya had said he was going to help Watanuki bathe. He didn't usually credit his imagination a lot, but he hadn't been able to stop thinking about it until Kazahaya had shown up some twenty minutes later in the kitchen. He didn't ask what they talked about, but he hadn't failed to notice the faint red rimming his friend's eyes.
Something had happened and his protective streak had no bounds. It had taken everything he had not to cross-examine Kazahaya.
"Rikuou…"
"What?"
"I love you!"
That was not something you said to someone when they there drinking something and Rikuou found himself coughing violently, nearly dropping the glass of water Kazahaya had handed to him only seconds before. "What the hell?" he snapped, going to wipe his hands on a dishtowel when he could actually breathe again.
"I told you that I loved you, you jerk! Don't just cough at me, answer me!"
Rikuou wondered if it was all some strange joke until he looked closely at his friend. There was no way it could be a joke, not with how prettily those cheeks were flushed and how shyly and yet fiercely their eyes were meeting. He noticed the shaking of those hands at his side, as if it was taking everything he had to stay still.
"Kazahaya…are you serious?"
Finally those pale brown eyes looked away and he crossed his arms over his chest, as if to ward something away. "I realized when I was talking with Watanuki-san in the bath. I…I'm not the type to keep stuff inside, so I figured now was the best time to tell you…"
"For how long?"
"How long what?"
Rikuou gestured randomly at him. "How long have you…?"
"Um…I don't really know. How long have I loved you? I don't know, maybe a few months. How long have I known I loved you? 'Bout an hour." There was a dispirited chuckle. "I just realized it when I was trying to help Watanuki-san with his feelings about Doumeki-san. I was describing and talking and he asked me if I was talking about him and Doumeki-san, or you and I."
Silence fell and Rikuou scratched his head in thought. What was he supposed to do now? He didn't know how he felt, really. Kazahaya was perhaps the closest person he'd ever been to, with the possible exception of Tsukiko. He was actually really cute and he actually didn't mind saving him.
Why was he thinking of that chocolate incident? He'd always made jokes about Kazahaya having a lustful expression or teasing him about kissing, but now he wondered if that was insensitive. He'd never worried about being insensitive before…
"Well! You just gonna stand there or are you going to give me an answer!"
Rikuou could only shrug helplessly. "Kazahaya, I don't know what you want me to say. We've been living together for months and I do…well, I admit I do care about you, idiot, but I don't know if it's like that. Honestly, I never thought of myself as gay before."
"You're the idiot!"
He could only stand there stupefied as suddenly, Kazahaya's hands were on his shoulders and lips were pressed against his. It was a short, chaste kiss, but he did not miss the taste of salt in his mouth.
"You're the idiot!"
Then the warmth was gone and he watched powerlessly as Kazahaya was running, feet pounding on the floor and the front door slamming. Idiot! What did he have to go and run away for! How could running possibly solve anything! Running away from problems didn't make them go away!
"I'm an idiot," he muttered, rubbing his forehead even while his heart was suddenly tight and breathing was difficult.
"Himura-san? What's going on? What happened with you and Kudou-san?"
Rikuou looked up as suddenly Watanuki and Doumeki were there. He really should leave, considering Watanuki's almost undressed state. His stare seemed to remind the boy and suddenly, with red cheeks, the pale boy was buttoning up his shirt again. Doumeki seemed as composed with his clothes as he was when he arrived, not a single twitch out of place and not at all embarrassed like Watanuki.
"It's nothing. It'll be fine tomorrow."
He honestly hoped it would be fine tomorrow because he wasn't sure he could handle it if it wasn't. He snatched up his own jacket, as well as Kazahaya's, and was just at the door when Doumeki's hand paused him. Green eyes met golden and there was a silent moment that seemed to stretch to infinity.
Since there wasn't much to say, he left after another moment. He knew what Doumeki wanted to say, but what good would that do? It was like chess. Kazahaya had made his move, now it was his turn for a counter. It was his turn to do something, to take action, or otherwise they'd be left in limbo for a very long time.
Just what he was supposed to do the jury was still out on.
"Hey, kid, what did you do to Kazahaya?"
Rikuou looked up at Saiga leaning against the counter as he shelved some medicine. "I didn't do anything."
"Then why won't he go anywhere near you and barely stays in the same room? At this rate, Kazahaya will be going out alone on those other jobs from Kakei and get himself hurt."
Rikuou didn't know exactly what he was supposed to say or do. Even if he did, Kazahaya wasn't giving him the time of day to do it. Even at night, whether he was pretending he was asleep or not, he refused to talk to him. Running wasn't solving anything, but apparently Kazahaya liked living in denial.
"If he won't talk to you," Saiga told him, as if reading his mind, "then make him talk to you. You all sleep in the same apartment at night. Even if he's sleeping, wake him up and talk."
"What's to talk about?"
"Whatever it is that's been bugging you both. You realize that the atmosphere has been heavy ever since you both came back from seeing those two other boys."
"Excuse me?"
Rikuou didn't have a chance to answer when he heard those two words. He sighed, knowing that voice. He turned and his green eyes took in the schoolboy that stood there. His glasses were firmly fixed on his face this time, and he really did look better with them on. Well at least he didn't have to worry about Watanuki wooing Kazahaya, or the other way around, since it was obvious that Doumeki was not about to let that happen.
It had been three days since that day in Watanuki's apartment. He'd met Doumeki once since then, by coincidence, and they'd exchanged a few words. Doumeki's devotion was unchallenged by any. The only problem Rikuou was coming across was his jealousy anyway, since for the past three days, Watanuki was showing up to talk with Kazahaya.
"Hey, kid! Where's the tall one always with you? The one that smooched you a few nights ago?"
Watanuki flushed at Saiga's comment. "He's not here. He doesn't go everywhere with me."
"Probably best if he does, considering all the trouble you get into." Saiga draped an arm around Watanuki's thin shoulders. "So how's it going anyway? How far you two gone?"
Watanuki turned and even deeper red and Rikuou finally took pity on him. "Kazahaya's in the back, he'll be out in a few minutes, so you can wait outside. I'll let him know."
Grateful sapphire eyes looked at him as he nodded and smiled at them both, before worming out from under Saiga's arm and nearly running from the store.
"You know, that's very brave. If that kid didn't have someone already, that'd be what's called 'helping the enemy'."
"What are you talking about? Kazahaya and I don't have that sort of relationship."
"Really? Then why is your hand shaking and you looking so jealous?"
Damn it, life was looking to be so much harder…
End
