[Summary: Yosuke goes to a concert.]

[Author's notes: This is based on another fic of mine called "Sleepy Sunday."]

Day 22 - a kiss

Yosuke clapped his hands high over his head, following the lead of the hundreds of other people in the audience with him. As one they screamed at the top of their lungs between every pause in the songs being played on stage. He still couldn't believe he'd secured a ticket to the most fist-pounding hard rock band he knew. That was The Demon himself up there on stage, Gene Simmons!

It was absolutely wild. Flames were shooting out over the audience, accompanied by a fog machine and a laser show so frenetic it'd give a cat epilepsy. There was a bazooka, a flaming guitar... and at the culmination of an extended solo, Simmons began to spit out fake blood. And just when he thought the final encore was over, they went on to do another! And another, and another!

All too soon it was over. Yosuke filed out of the concert hall in a daze, thinking of just how awesome that show had been, listening vaguely to the other KISS Army members around him as they voiced the very same thought. The emotional high they all felt was going to last all night.

Yosuke sighed as he walked to the hotel he was staying at, thinking of the concert the whole time. When they'd thrown that guitar into the air and it'd stayed there suspended in mid-air, only to end up shot by the bazooka... not a real one, of course, but dang those pyrotechnics had been top notch. It could give Yukiko's Persona a run for the money.

After swiping his card through the reader, Yosuke opened the door to the hotel room. To his surprise, Souji was stretched out on the bed, in his ridiculous kitty pajamas and reading some sort of self-help book. He put the book away and smiled at Yosuke. "How was it?"

Yosuke hesitantly stepped towards the bed. "I didn't expect you to stay up for me."

"It's not that late," Souji pointed out. "The trains are still running."

"Not for much longer."

Souji sat up on the bed and patted the spot next to him. "Get changed and then come here and tell me about it."

After taking off his shirt and pants so that he'd be ready for bed later, Yosuke sat down on the very edge of the bed. "Well... you didn't want to go." The emotional high was starting to fade, guilt trying to replace it.

Souji leaned forward and tugged him all the way onto the bed. "We had a deal, remember? You went to the concert, and I went fishing. I just want to know if you had a good time." He pulled Yosuke into a hug from behind, and, a moment later, wrinkled his nose. "By the smell of it, I think you did."

"I had a few beers," Yosuke admitted. "But you really wanna know?"

"Of course," Souji said.

"In a word: phenomenal," Yosuke said. "Even after all these years, they can still tear down the walls."

"So it was worth it."

"Hell yes."

Souji nuzzled Yosuke's ear with his nose. "I'm glad."

"And you know that crazy tongue that Gene Simmons has? It's real."

"Wow..."

"Oh, oh, and I got this!" Yosuke shimmied out of Souji's hug to find his pants where he left them on the floor. He pulled a guitar pick out of the left pocket and showed it to Souji. "Paul Stanley touched this!"

Souji managed to look impressed, even though he likely had no idea who that was.

"It's not that special, actually," Yosuke admitted. "He was throwing them out into the audience like candy. But still!"

"You should frame it," Souji said.

"Yeah!"

Yosuke knew he was grinning stupidly, but he was just so happy. And the tender look Souji was giving him... Souji was happy for him. There was no reason to feel guilty about having fun without his partner. They could always share it together later just like this.

"How was the fishing?" Yosuke remembered to ask. He put the guitar pick away and returned to the bed, sitting by his partner.

"I haven't found the Guardian of Okinawa," Souji said. "I doubt there is one. The Americans probably scared it away a long time ago."

Yosuke laughed. "But you had fun chasing it anyway, right? I can see you got a little sunburn."

"Sure did," Souji agreed, rubbing his shoulder and wincing. "You might need to lotion my back tomorrow."

"No problem," Yosuke said.

After that, he yawned and laid down on the bed. Souji soon followed suit, facing him with that sweet smile that was just for him.

Souji reached out and brushed away stray strands of Yosuke's hair. "You know," he said, "I'm surprised you still have your voice. I thought for sure you'd be hoarse."

"I think my hands have it worse from all the clapping," Yosuke said. "But... we'll see tomorrow. You'll probably have to talk for me if we go anywhere."

"I can do that," Souji said. He yawned, and then frowned a little. "I was hoping we'd be able to stay up a little more, but I'm tired."

"All that sun," Yosuke said, nodding to himself.

"I was hoping you could try and show me..." Souji trailed off, looking away.

Yosuke noticed the dusting of pink on his cheeks. "Oh? Show you what?"

"Well, you aren't Gene Simmons, but... Sorry, this thought is dirty. It's proof that I'm tired."

"Finish that thought," Yosuke said. "Now I'm curious."

Souji's cheeks were as red as the sunburn around his neck. "Show me how crazy your tongue is," he mumbled.

"Souji!" Yosuke began to crack up.

Not looking at him, Souji stuck his tongue out and waggled it up and down.

Yosuke stared for a moment, then stuck his own tongue out, waggling it too.

Then Souji began to laugh, and Yosuke couldn't help but laugh too.

"You're such a dork," Yosuke said affectionately when they'd both calmed down.

"I know," Souji said.

A moment later Yosuke yawned and tears came to his eyes.

"Bed time?" Souji asked through a yawn of his own.

Yosuke nodded and together they slipped under the bedsheets. The bed was rather comfortable for a hotel bed, and easy to snuggle down in.

"Goodnight, partner," Yosuke said after he turned out the lights.

"Mmm, goodnight Yosuke."

Yosuke leaned towards him to kiss him goodnight... and he couldn't resist putting in a little bit of tongue.