Author's Note:
These characters do not belong to me. The vaguely established setting is Japan—which I've obviously never visited. Forgive me if I butcher actual locations.
. . .
Saiga paced his room anxiously. He thought about calling Bob a couple of times to check in, as Bob had begged him to, but Saiga knew he'd just end up talking about Kagura the whole time: a topic he hoped to avoid. His hand curled over his cell phone subconsciously. He stepped out on the balcony before dialing his number.
"Saiga! Oh, I'm glad you made it out okay! It's great to hear from you."
"We're staying in a suite a little north of Tokyo. I've got a friend who's a doctor who suggested we both take a little rest. Thanks a lot for the loan, Bob."
"It's no trouble. And you do need the rest, that's for sure."
"How's the home front?"
"Nothing's changed. You'd think the city would be topsy-turvy right now, but no one seems to care about anything."
"Eh," Saiga took a drag from a cigarette. "That's nothing new."
"So… Tell me why you really called."
Saiga sighed. "What are you talking about?"
"You want to talk about the girl."
"Just tell me what you told me before the wedding. Say it all again real slow and clear so it's seared into my brain."
"Saiga, you poor fool."
"I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, but this just might make the top. And she keeps saying these things and giving me these looks." He rubbed his forehead. "It's not helping."
"Maybe you should go out with someone your age."
"No, Bob. I—" He heard a tap on the glass behind him. Kagura was staring at him with a puzzled expression. "Jesus… I have to go. I'll call you back later." He pulled open the door. "Kagura! What are you still doing up?"
"I heard you leave your bedroom." She glanced at his phone. "Who—"
"Just Bob: he wanted me to check in."
She nodded.
"You should go back to bed." Saiga said.
"I can't sleep."
"You need your rest, Kagura."
"Are you tired?"
Saiga finished the last of his cigarette before crunching it in the ashtray. "No."
"Can I stay up with you?"
He sighed. "Only for a little bit, then you need to sleep."
"Okay."
They stood in their places, waiting for the other to make a move.
"Do you want to watch TV?" He suggested.
"There's nothing on."
"Oh… Well… Do you want to help me clean my camera?" He shook his head. "I'm not very exciting."
"Sure, we can do that."
. . .
Saiga took out a couple of his favorite cameras and lenses and spread them out on the table. Kagura watched with a grin on her face.
"What're you smiling about?" He asked as he uncapped a bottle of cleaner.
"This stuff is so fascinating. I wish I knew how they worked." She gingerly picked up the nearest camera and turned it over in her hands.
He resisted the urge to frame the shot with his fingers. What he would give to be able to take her picture: the perfect subject. "I could teach you," he replied without thinking.
She jerked her attention back to him. "Really?"
"Y-yeah. I mean, it's not that complicated. And since your shot won't explode when you take it, we could get it developed. Of course, we'll have to go to some one-hour place." He rolled his eyes. "Not the best, but it'll do."
"Do you miss…" she gestured towards the equipment, "taking pictures?"
"Every day, every minute." He wiped a lens free of scum.
"I'm sorry I took that from you." Kagura's face was solemn.
Saiga scowled. "Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. You were just Suitengu's puppet, okay? This is not your fault. Besides, if I hadn't been there that night, taken that photo, gotten that kiss then I never would've met you or been able to save you."
Kagura's fingers ceased twirling the exposure ring. "Kiss? You mean I—"
"I don't remember much." Saiga said hurriedly. "I was pretty stunned and terrified, so I didn't pay attention to—"
"To me kissing you?"
"Don't say it like that." He snapped. "It wasn't like that."
"It wasn't? So I didn't kiss you?"
He dropped the bottle of cleaner, and it splattered across the table. "Kagura." He shut his eyes. "It wasn't a kiss."
"Oh." She grabbed a towel from the kitchenette to wipe the table.
"I mean, there were tongue and lips involved but—"
"What?" Her hand flew to her mouth.
"Shit." Saiga cradled his forehead in his palm. "It's not like I fucking enjoyed it, okay? It hurt like hell having my DNA ripped apart!"
Kagura sat back down slowly. "Saiga, can we just forget we ever spoke of this?"
"Please."
. . .
Author's Note:
As if that wasn't awkward enough, it only gets more awkward.