Kiku sat apprehensively at the bar as he waited for Arthur to arrive. It was the first night of them being an official couple and Kiku was incredibly anxious. In theory, nothing should have been different—Kin had explicitly forbade the hostesses from making it obvious that they were unavailable and compared to the way some of the other soldiers behaved, Arthur was the epitome of a perfect gentleman. Why am I so nervous? Kiku thought to himself as he fidgeted on the cushioned bar stool. He took a sip of his water and stared apprehensively into his cup.
Arthur was a great friend, Kiku thought. Kind, funny, always quick to compliment Kiku's hair even when it lay limply against his head. He could be crude, but Kiku hadn't met a soldier yet who wasn't. Arthur would always buy a minimum of five bottles of sake and at least one of them was always top shelf so Kiku could get a higher commission. Even when Arthur couldn't make it in due to rounds or for whatever reason, he would always send one of his men in to buy at least one bottle. He would always listen to Kiku's stories, no matter how mundane they were. Arthur had even helped improve Kiku's English and had never laughed at him when he mispronounced a word or phrase, instead smiling gently before telling him how to properly say it.
Any woman would be pleased to be with a man like Arthur, Kiku mused as he gently touched the dog tags under his dress. Kiku hadn't removed them since Arthur had placed them around his neck. He knew that if he had taken them off at the apartment, his brothers would have noticed immediately and the last thing he needed was for them to find out. Neither of them would understand how he was feeling; Yao would coo and fuss over him while Yong Soo's teasing would reach new heights. Kiku vowed to himself that he would tell his brothers once he had figured out his feelings.
If only he knew what those feelings were. Romantic relationships were foreign territory to him. There had been a couple girls he had fancied when he was younger as well as a few boys, but nothing had ever progressed past innocent flirting. Once Mother had become ill and Father had gone off to war, nobody had time for a relationship; he had the house to look after and to make sure Mother was comfortable. He remembered Mother telling him, before the delirium had set in and the pain became too much, about how she and Father had met. She, too, had been unsure about how she felt about Father, but the matchmaker had assured her that he was a fine match. She had been right. Mother had died clutching Father's picture and when the brothers received their father's personal effects, a small picture of Mother was in his uniform pocket. Perhaps it would just take time, Kiku thought as he ran a finger over Arthur's name. Besides, even if Arthur had come off last night that he was fine with his fiancée ending their engagement, Kiku could still sense the hurt that was in his eyes. The last thing he wanted was for his friend to have to have two broken relationships in one week. Kiku quickly downed the rest of his water and continued to wait for Arthur's arrival.
He didn't have too much longer to wait as two arms wrapped themselves around Kiku's waist, the familiar scent of pipe tobacco and Courtley After Shave filled his nostrils and a low "good evening, darling" rasped in his ear. Kiku shuddered.
"Asa-san, hello." Kiku murmured, staring in his empty cup. Arthur pressed his lips against Kiku's cheek before hoisting himself onto the empty stool next to him.
"You're lovely always, my darling." Kiku blushed. Give it time.
"Asa-san is so kind to me." Arthur smiled before ordering sake and a beer.
"Are you wearing them, Kiku? How do you like them?" Arthur asked, placing his hand on Kiku's thigh. Kiku swallowed before glancing to make sure Yang and Yong Soo weren't looking in his direction before pulling the dog tags from under his dress.
"I haven't taken them off, Asa-san." Kiku said honestly. Arthur patted his thigh gently.
"You make them look good, darling." Arthur's hand was touching Kiku's knee.
"Asa-san is too kind with his words." Kiku said as Wan set down a bottle of sake and two cups. Wordlessly, Kiku picked up the bottle and filled Arthur's cup. He was about to pour some into his own cup when he felt a hand on his chin, tipping his face upward. The next thing Kiku felt was Arthur's lips on his.
This kiss was different from the previous times Arthur had full on kissed him. This kiss was confident and sure and not tinged with shouchou. The hand that had been resting on his knee was slowly working its way up under Kiku's dress and along the smoothness of his thigh. Briefly, Kiku hoped the hand would not go any further up than what was necessary to keep his secret. That particular thought dissipated when something slick slipped between his lips. Ah, Kiku thought, this must be what Yong Soo called France kissing. Kiku barely had time to register before Arthur pulled away, sheepishly grinning. The hand was still on his thigh.
"Sorry, my dear. You don't know how long I've wanted to do that." Kiku could feel his entire face getting hot and he could feel the two pairs of eyes burning holes in the back of his head.
"Oh Asa-san," Kiku mumbled, trying to find words, "I have never been….France kissed." Arthur chuckled before plucking the bottle from Kiku's grip and filling his forgotten cup.
"I find that hard to believe you haven't been French kissed. A beauty like you." Arthur set the bottle down between them. Kiku swallowed hard.
"Do you have any plans next Saturday night?" Arthur asked, taking a sip from his cup. Kiku furrowed his brow: Saturdays were notoriously busy at the club and that was the night he would make the most money. Kin was loath to allow anyone to take off on Saturdays without good reason. Kiku remembered one night when Yong Soo had been ill and he and Yao had to physically carry their poor brother down to the club to show Kin how sick he was.
"I have to be here."
"Well, ask off. There's going to be an officer's dinner next week and I want my girl by my side." Arthur said, smiling broadly at Kiku.
"I would love to go, Asa-san, but I don't know if Kin will let me off. And I don't have anything to wear." Kiku shifted uncomfortably. So we are at that stage, he thought to himself.
"Ask him anyway. And don't worry about what you'll wear. You could show up in a potato sack and still be the loveliest girl there." Arthur said earnestly.
"Asa-san, you wouldn't really want me to show up in potato sack." Kiku said quietly. Arthur chuckled before downing his drink.
"Tell you what Kiku, if you're able to go, I'll buy you a new dress."
"You're too generous, Asa-san…" Arthur waved his hand.
"Nothing wrong with a man wanting to make sure his girl looks her best. Say, why don't you go ask your boss now? That way we can know before the night's over!" Kiku grimaced. Kin did not like to be bothered when they were supposed to be working, especially if it was something as trivial as asking for time off. Perhaps he will say no, Kiku thought as he slid off the barstool and made his way to the man's office.
No such luck, Kiku thought as he headed back towards Arthur at the bar. Once Kin found out that it was to go the officer's dinner, the man had pressed a small handful of business cards in his hands as he told Kiku that he could have the evening off. He gave Arthur a small smile when he saw the man staring nervously at him.
"Asa-san, Kin gave me the night off so I can go with you." Arthur's face broke out into huge grin.
"Perfect! I can't wait to show you off. Our first social engagement as a couple!" As unsure as Kiku was, he had to admit that he had always found Arthur's enthusiasm charming.
"I look forward to it, Asa-san." Arthur quickly pulled out his wallet, took out a crisp 100-yen note, and placed it in Kiku's hand. Kiku glanced at the portrait of Prince Shoutoku before staring back at Arthur.
"Use it to buy yourself a new outfit. I want you to surprise me. I'll be wearing my formal uniform, or mess, as its called." Arthur said.
"Asa-san, I can't take this!" Kiku protested, trying to hand the money back to Arthur, who merely chuckled before pressing his lips against Kiku's.
"Nonsense. I know you'll look stunning in whatever you choose. Let me know if it's not enough." Kiku sighed, knowing the battle had already been lost.
"Asa-san is too generous." Kiku mumbled. Arthur chuckled before summoning Wan for another drink while Kiku carefully folded the note and placed it in his bag.
"Let's have another bottle and I'll tell you about my first officer dinner when I got promoted to Captain. Let's just say I nearly made a total arse of myself…"