Outside of the tournament, Iori works as a musician, he spends his days composing new melodies and his nights performing at local bars with his band. The band gained more recognition thanks to Iori's participation in the KOF, so he is increasingly getting busier with gigs.
Kyo is slowly taking his place as the heir of the Kusanagi clan. Little by little he gains more responsibilities and assists his parents with all the clan-related duties. He is not entirely happy with it but has accepted that he can't change his destiny and is putting more effort into becoming a good successor of the Kusanagi Ryu.
Kyo visits Iori as much as he can. He always goes to the Yagami's heir apartment whenever he has free time and Iori welcomes him without complaining. It wasn't easy to reach this point. Not long ago they chose fighting instead of talking. But luckily for both, they found out that they longed for the same thing.
Tonight, they sit down on the sofa and Kyo is talking excitedly about a hockey match that is being aired on the TV. Kyo is a big Hockey fan and follows several teams closely. He told Iori he used to play it with his cousins when he was a kid.
Iori wishes he had good memories of his childhood. Playing sports with cousins sounds like a really good time. He envies Kyo a bit because he got lucky in life, he has understanding and loving parents, and even though he can't change his destiny, is not that bad. He's always healthy and can sleep properly at night.
On the contrary, Iori is alone. His mother died a couple of years after his birth and his father when he was 19. Iori is also quite ill. The sickness comes and goes when Orochi's energy becomes stronger and he barely can sleep a couple of hours without having creepy nightmares in which he hears voices demanding Kyo's blood.
Kyo keeps talking nonstop about the current match and about a very talented young player, Kyo says that this player has good reflexes and is quick at making important decisions in the field. Iori doesn't care about hockey, he doesn't even understand the rules of the game, but he stares at Kyo all the time.
Iori notices that there is a small Beauty mark on Kyo's neck. The skin of his neck is smooth and there aren't any visible scars. Kyo has plenty of burn scars on his arms and chest, and Iori feels proud knowing that he left the majority of those marks. But the skin of his neck is smooth and the small brownish beauty mark stands out.
It's kind of cute. Iori thinks.
" What do you think about the left winger? he missed the chance, don't you think? " Kyo asks turning his head towards Iori.
Iori has no idea what is he talking about and stares at him blankly.
"Are you paying attention at all?" Kyo insists frowning. He had been talking about Hockey for nearly 20 minutes and thought Iori was listening.
Iori doesn't answer but leans towards Kyo and touches the beauty mark with his index finger. Kyo trembles slightly like a cat taken by surprise.
"What...?"
"Found a new one"
"Huh? Found a new what?" Kyo is confused by Iori's actions and touches the spot on his neck.
"A beauty mark"
"..."
Kyo looks at the redhead in silence for a moment.
"Are you keeping track of how many do I have? "
Kyo asks jokingly but Iori doesn't deny it.
"Why are you so weird Yagami?"
Iori gets a bit self-conscious by the way Kyo is smirking at him. Why is weird to pay attention to your partner? he wonders.
Sure, Iori wasn't paying attention to what he was saying about the hockey match but he was paying attention to Kyo.
Kyo notices that Iori's eyes avoid his for a moment and look back at the T.V. In fact, Iori has always been a peculiar person. Kyo remembers, that since the first moment they met, he showed an unusual obsession with him. Counting beauty marks doesn't sound so weird compared to the things he had done before.
In fact, Kyo thinks is kind of cute.
"It's okay, I can deal with weird people."
Kyo says with a smug face. He likes to tease him. Iori is unpredictable and Kyo knows he can make him angry easily. Sometimes he acts bratty and plays dumb just to get a reaction from Iori.
Iori turned his head and his crimson eyes met the chocolate ones. His expression is impossible to read, and Kyo has no idea about what he will do next. Kyo likes that. He doesn't like boring things, he gets tired of people easily, but he never feels that way with Iori.
Iori grabs Kyo's neck with his left hand. He tights his grip a bit, and Kyo looks at him still smiling.
"You talk too much."
Iori says squinting his eyes and Kyo feels his nails digging into his skin. It's a bit painful and Kyo knows Iori is doing it on purpose.
" You don't like it? I thought you liked everything about me..." Kyo says while smirking "Isn't that the reason why you chased me all this time?"
Kyo's voice is cynical and his expression is cocky. Iori hates it when Kyo acts like this because he knows the brunette is aware of his 'unhealthy' obsession with him. Even now, after Kyo accepted and returned his feelings, Iori feels embarrassed when he remembers how he used to stalk him in the past.
Iori lets go of Kyo's neck and leans forward until is close enough to bite it. Kyo shivers when the lips touch his skin. Iori bites the area where the beauty mark was, sinking his teeth a bit, savoring the warm skin with his tongue.
Instead of a snarky remark, Kyo makes a soft pleasant sound. Iori prefers that. He likes it when Kyo's voice turns into sweet whimpers.
It's also the only way to make him shut up when he's being annoying.
He keeps biting his neck softly, and Kyo's breathing gets progressively more agitated. Iori knows that's his weak spot, Kyo is very sensitive to the neck, just like a cat.
Finally, Kyo gives in to the feeling and squirms a little letting out an embarrassed giggle.
"Stop that... it tickles."
Iori stops and smiles devilishly.
"Is the only way to get you to shut up."
Kyo looks at him half embarrassed and half annoyed. He is about to reply when the commentator on the T.V. announces a goal, the hockey team Kyo was cheering on won the match.
"Fuck! I missed it!" He complains and then looks at Iori frowning.
"It's your fault! I'll make you pay Jerk!"
Kyo is not really angry but he pushes Iori by the shoulders roughly.
Iori stares at Kyo menacingly as if he's about to launch an attack in the ring. Kyo finds his reaction amusing, he quickly forgets about the hockey match but keeps pretending he is upset because fighting with Iori is fun.
"What are you going to do about it? " He teases crossing his arms.
"You can watch your stupid match online later," Iori replies.
"It's not the same as watching it live," Kyo adds looking at Iori like a 5-year-old about to throw a temper tantrum.
Iori sighs and for a moment, it seems like he is angry too, but instead of fighting his expression softens. Kyo notices the subtle change and feels curious.
"We could... go to a real match together," Iori mutters after some hesitation.
Kyo's hazelnut eyes brighten up and he smiles widely, It's the first time Iori proposes going out together. Iori is the kind of person who prefers staying at home or quiet places like cafes or libraries. Going to a sports event is totally out of the ordinary for him to suggest.
Especially considering he doesn't even like hockey.
"We don't have to go if you don't want to... besides, I know you don't care about hockey, " Kyo says scratching his neck, he tries to hide his excitement but fails miserably because Iori notices how his face lit with the idea.
"Quit pretending," Iori says sarcastically. "You're smiling like an idiot."
"Can we go together for real?" Kyo asks forgetting to hide his excitement.
Iori thinks his brown eyes almost sparkle while looking at him. Kyo looks like Zarathustra when she asks for a yummy treat. Iori can't say no to that face.
He indeed likes everything about him.
"Sure." He replies.
Kyo smiles closing his eyes. His smile seemed as bright as the morning sunrays. Or is it Iori's imagination?
"Fuck yeah! It's gonna be awesome!" Kyo exclaims and gets his phone out of his pocket to check for upcoming Hockey matches.
Iori remains silent. He would deny it if someone were to ask, but he loves to see Kyo happy.
THE END.