Valentines Special

* For readers: As it is actually Valentines Day, and we here at Harajuku usually like to keep the real world and the Gravi world synchronized, I've made this post a sub-plot from the on-going story in celebration.

12:00 p.m.

It was already late morning/early afternoon, yet no sound or movement came from the master bedroom. "Typical," Shuichi nodded, chuckling to himself, "All the better." Today was Valentines Day. This love-centred holiday in Japan was very unlike the celebration in the United States. In Japan, February 14 was called White Day, and on this occasion, girls would give gifts to their male friends, relatives, or loves. Admittingly, since he was the "girl" in their relationship, this was Shuichi's opportunity to show Yuki how much he really cared for him especially from the past year's hardships. Shuichi hadn't even thought Yuki had loved him then (or had a relationship), and spent the last White Day in the States alone. Shuichi didn't like to think of that time at all, and he gladly forgot the Reiji's vendetta against him when they both discovered he was still in love with Yuki. He had to leave it to Reiji, she was the most unconventional matchmaker. Taking his brown, felt jacket from the closet, Shuichi made himself as inconspicuous as possible, opting not to wear his pink, Lycra bodysuit. He swiped change from the counter-top, scrawled a note to Yuki explaining that he was spending the day with Hiro, and hurried out the door to catch the bus leaving for downtown.

2:00 p.m. - A guy's got to eat, y'know?

Curry bun in mouth, he briskly walked down the side of the pavement, trying to avoid the heavily trafficked lanes of people going to their different destinations. "Second breakfast....hobbits must be geniuses..." Chewing thoughtfully, Shuichi passed department displays of lingere, musks, and perfumes. Further down, tempting advertisements for hourly rate love hotels and expensive liquor brands turned his head. Sighing, those were wonderful gifts...but they didn't feel right to him. " Onegai...I want to find the perfect present," his eyes gleamed with watery determination, his right fist punched the air, " I will find you!"

3:15 p.m. - After crazy whirlwinds of charging through stores....

"Would you like this wrapped or would you prefer a bag?" A stiff, too sweet voice asked. Shuichi looked up to see the saleswoman's nose (and nose hairs) bearing down on him. He could see her beady eyes assessing his clothes, hair, and face expertly calculating what type of customer he was and how much he was willing to pay. The creases of her neck and face were caked in powder, he noticed a shade too light for her mottled skin. She looked like his middle school teacher, except female and with a better looking hair piece. His nose crinkled in amusement. "Wrapped, if you please." He watched fascinated as her wrinkled hands measured out the exact amount of paper and ribbon; her fingers working efficiently to tie and bow the ribbon at the centre of the package. Her handiwork was immaculate, and Shuichi was thankful, it was much an improvement to his own.

3: 40 p.m.

He managed to walk out of the store and turn the corner to the bus stop, before the bubble of happiness burst out from deep within him. "Yuki...Yuki...Yuki...It's perfect, I know you'll like it. I just know you will," he practically sang and pranced the last few steps into the bus, choosing to ignore the disapproving stares of the old women and wives. He chose a seat beside a young couple and absently looked out the window. "I wonder if Ayaka-chan gave Hiro-san a gift? If she did, I wonder what it was?"

[Mumeishi Edit]: A couple typos were bothering me. Fixed them. There may be a few more though.... Oh well...
[Reality/complaint-edit note]: Thanks Shacho =P... =D *smacks on head*

Keys.....

Tohma turned around and walked into the open door, hands in his pockets. This time he was kind enough to close the door. Walking into the room, his eyes swept the floor for anything that would look like his keys. He looked at the table with the cake still packed neatly in its box... Nothing. He walked down the hall and passed a blank-looking Tatsuha without even giving him a glance. He looked at the floor as he walked, a rare event.

"Keys, keys, keys..." The words came softly from his throat. He really began to wonder where they were now. If he had to replace them, that would be a lot of money. Even though he was the head of the famous NG, he didn't like the idea of spending unnecessary money. Starting to really get annoyed, "Goddammit where are my keys?!" The thought came suddenly. Tohma used most of his energy to look calm. He didn't want anyone to see him lose his temper, especially over a stupid thing like this. It was his fault anyway, wasn't it?

With a oomph, he bumped into someone. He quickly looked up...

Under Key & Lock

Feeling a bit more recovered, Shuichi slipped unnoticed to his room to change. Dumping the soiled clothes into the hamper, he chose an old, over-sized shirt from the closet. He barely noticed the faded, yellow lettering spelling "X JAPAN" on the front covering the peeling picture of the band's 1999 tour. Hearing the commotion through the door, Shuichi flinched at the high-pitched squeal that he recognized to be Tatsuha, Yuki's younger brother and second biggest Ryuichi Sakuma fan (the first being himself of course).

Shuichi paused before the doorframe and peaked through the crack to see if Seguchi-sama was still there. He was well enough trouble by himself without Tatsuha in the mix. Listening further, he noted the agitation in Yuki's voice...
Was it just Tatsuha's unexpected visit that annoyed Yuki or was he still angry at him from the bathroom?

" Do I really care?" Shuichi surprised himself with this comment.