So this guy walks into a bar...

[snoozing_kitten]

Band: Die en Grey
Pairing: Die/Kaoru
Title: So this guy walks into a bar...
Rating: eventually NC-17ish but for now PG-13
Chapters: 18
Summary: An AU humor/romance story set in modern times where the 5 diru boys go to university, Die is out one day and rescues Kaoru who had an unfortunate meeting with a large chunk of metal.




A man walked into a bar
BAM!

Kaoru found himself laying on his back, the cement digging into his shoulder blades, this was a minor pain compared to that which seared across his forehead, it made him dizzy, and black dots threatened to take over his vision completely. Groaning softly he blinked once and when he opened his eyes a face was hovering over him, blocking the sun and casting its features into shadow.

“Are you alright?” Kaoru opened his mouth and closed it, licking his lips he tried again.

“…My head hurts…” the figure smiled, he could see the faintest glimmer of teeth in the shadow cast by the one above him.

“It would, that was a solid pole…”

“I wish it weren’t” Kaoru groaned again, and was about to sit up when a large hand was offered, taking the help he slipped his own smaller hand into the other man’s grip and let himself he hauled to his feet. Big mistake, the blood rushed suddenly causing the world to spin out of control leaving Kaoru to cling to the offered hand for balance, another hand was placed comfortingly across his shoulders.

“You alright?” Kaoru looked at his helper and felt his heart skip a beat, the man smiling at him was dazzling, red hair cut short and spiked defiantly, lean muscular arms and chest, and a sweet smile. Kaoru nodded slightly wincing,

“Still hurts,” he said; the other only smiled again,

“My place is right there,” he motioned down he street with one hand and let Kaoru cling to the other, “I can get you some ice and a Tylenol,”

“Sound fantastic,” Kaoru bent to retrieve his bag but the other smiled and got it for him; Kaoru could only thank him softly and taking his hand again to follow.

“So, my name is Daisuke, Ando Daisuke, but you can call me Die,” Kaoru nodded and the other stopped and turned to him, Kaoru blinked, his thoughts were a bit fuzzy, it was hard to keep them coherent; but he knew one thing now and that was for sure, this was Die…or had it been Fernando… okay so he knew this man with the red hair and the pretty smile wasn’t going to hurt him. Did it matter he couldn’t hurt him any more then his forehead hurt right now anyways; if that left a mark he was going to murder that pole. “And what’s your name?”

“Ahhh, I’m Kaoru Niikura, nice to meet you,” he bowed slightly and started to tip in that direction, cursing his feet silently he prepared for the fall, those strong arms he had been admiring earlier caught him easily, and held him for a second while everything settled down. Kaoru found that it felt nice against that strong lean chest, and as it turned out Mai…Fernando…Die? –Whatever- wasn’t that much taller then him, maybe it was the hair but he seemed taller.

“Don’t fall now, wouldn’t want to hurt that pretty face…” Kaoru was about to respond when a high-pitched voice cut though his thoughts.

“Daisuke Ando!” he felt the man holding him tense, “what are you doing molesting pretty young girls in the street! Why back in my day a man had to properly court a lady, only tramps would touch in public like this!” Kaoru felt the suppressed laugher and pulled away standing on his own two feet, he looked bewilderedly at the old lady looking out the first floor window at them brandishing a wooden spoon.

“Maa, maa Auntie,” Die gave her an innocent face and she scowled, “This is Kaoru-san and he fell, I only caught him,” the lady looked from Die to Kaoru, Kaoru met her gaze and smiled slightly, a hint of mischief in the turn of his lips to match Die’s.

“Ie! Back in the day men looked like men!” She gave a final shake of her wooden spoon at Kaoru and closed her window, Die sighed and Kaoru smiled at him, just when the redhead was about to open his mouth to say something when the window opened again. Die smiled at the old lady, she glared at him a second then shook her spoon again, “I made some buns, come over later and pick some up, they are your favourite,”

“Thanks Auntie!” Die waved at her and she smiled back at him, before retreating into her own house to leave Die alone with his patient again. Kaoru smiled at him.

“She seems nice,”

“She is,” Die opened the door and Kaoru walked though it, if Die noticed that Kaoru was walking slowly he didn’t say anything, “her husband died and her children all grew up, so she adopted me when I moved in, or should I say I adopted her, she’s like my mother, so I don’t get as homesick,”

“How sweet,” Die led the injured man to the elevator and upon reading the sign swore, Kaoru looked over his shoulder and read it out loud. “Elevator out of service,”

“Looks like we’re taking the stairs, think you’re up to it?” Kaoru flushed, he was perfectly physically fit and if the world would stop trying to shake him off balance he would be just fine!

“I’ll be fine,” Kaoru waved a hand in front of his face and Die smiled at him,

“It’s only on the third floor,”

“Lead the way,” Kaoru smiled, Die nodded and they set off again… They made it up one flight of stairs without incident, after slipping and landing on his butt –thankfully on a landing- Die decided that it would be safer to walk behind Kaoru. This annoyed the other man; he didn’t want to be babied, after his reasoning skills failed –there wasn’t really a reason and if there was he couldn’t quite grasp it- at long last he just whined,

“You just want to look at my butt,” Die rolled his coffee coloured eyes at the other man, at Kaoru’s expression he couldn’t help smile,

“That’s right, you caught me, I am Die the butt watcher!” Kaoru snorted and started back up the stairs. In his head he repeated over and over again; Die, his name is Die…Die, Die, Die, Die… Dei? Ide…hehe, nope it was… … never mind.

“This floor,” Die lead the other man to his apartment and quickly let the older man in, “It’s a bit messy,”

“Isn’t it always,” Kaoru said, Die quickly sat him on the couch and went off the find that first aid box that his mother had gave him when he moved out.

Kaoru found himself all alone in the living room, looking at all the things that lined it, there was a black puddle on the floor that he figured was a shirt of some silky material, on the low table in front of the television an assortment of cans and magazines covered the surface, an ashtray balanced on top of one of the empty cans making some bizarre shrine. Smiling Kaoru wiggled his butt till he was sunk into the puffy couch, it was a really comfortable couch, it was soft and slightly bouncy, ‘I wouldn’t mind having sex on this couch’ he thought absently not even noting the notion as it entered his mind and flew out his ear. Along the walls there were different pictures, an old woman, and old man, a bunch on teens and a bunch of pictures of cats. Kaoru found himself looking at a black cat, it’s yellow eyes challenging his so he stared and stared, knowing full well that it wasn’t going to blink first.

Die walked into the room, and in that instant Kaoru figured that the cat could go to hell for all he cared, this man was more important to him, even if he couldn’t quite seem to remember his name.

“Here, let me see…” Die sat on the couch and the other man obediently turned towards him, he brushed pale pink hair out of the way and smiled when it slithered against his fingers, it was soft like silky feathers. He frowned when he looked at the bump- that had to hurt-, he ran cautious fingers over the discoloured area and Kaoru flinched, “Sorry,” he muttered and continued to inspect the damage. That pole had certainly hurt Kaoru more then he had damaged it, it may have been a battle lost but he would win the war, no one upped Kaoru Niikura and got away with it, even if you happen to be a lamppost.

“Is it bad doc?” Kaoru asked, the world felt more stable to him now, warm fingers on his head helped, the soft way that long fingers slid though his hair; it felt really nice. So nice in fat that he felt sleepy, nice warm apartment, warm hands, concerned eyes, it was all one big plot to lure him to sleep, well if it was- it was working.

“Hey, stay with me,” hand were shaking him gently and he opened his eyes to look at the other man wearily,

“Sleep…”he said softly,

“Nope, you stay awake with me okay?” Die looked expectantly at the other man, Kaoru wanted to protest he wanted to tell Die that –first off he remembered his name!- and second that it was his warm hands and his soothing touches that made Kaoru want to sleep and it was cruel to keep him awake.

“…Okay” he couldn’t say no, not to those concerned eyes, Die’s smile lit up when Kaoru agreed and he reached behind him, pulling out a cold pack he handed it to the other man,

“This will keep the swelling down and keep you awake!” Kaoru took the ice pack and applied it to his bruised head.

“Thanks,” He muttered, if it weren’t for this man –Die- where would he be now? Fallen in front of a train? Maybe… not a pleasant thought. Letting the lethargy flow though his systems, but not letting his eyes close he went to lean his head on the other man’s shoulder but then, there was only air, Kaoru slipped sideways on the couch landing up staring at the blank television at a new angle. Die came back into the room and laughed at the other man lying sideways and put the glasses down on the table, he placed the pills beside them on top of a guitar magazine and Kaoru sat up, Die smiled.

“This is for you,” he handed over the glass of fruit milk and the pills Kaoru put them in his mouth without thinking and swallowed, Die only sipped his own milk. Reaching under him he felt around but found no remote, “are you sitting on it?” Kaoru looked at him and scooted over till Die could dig in the couch where the other man had been sitting, finding the black square god of the living room he flicked on the television, it came to life in a burst of static.

It took about and hour until Kaoru felt a lot more lucid, the pain had receded and the dizziness stopped coming so frequently nor was it as difficult to deal with. He smiled up at the other man, his host and doctor was absorbed in the drama he was watching, eyes watching every gesture that the figures in the box made. Kaoru didn’t mind this drama but it wasn’t his favourite, stretching he heard as much felt the dull popping of his vertebrae. Die looked at him and gave a smile, Kaoru suddenly wanted to melt, Die smile was so glamorous; it made him want to smile too. Blushing slightly Kaoru returned to watching the drama, the credits flashed by and Die turned to him, that smile ready, Kaoru met his eyes defiantly. He felt more back to his usual self, the strange cloud in his mind had lifted he felt light and since the dizzy spells had receded he was …ready to …leave. Kaoru frowned; Die noticed this.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing,” Die gave him a look and Kaoru laughed, smiling at the other man he was about to open his mouth and think of some lame lie when his stomach rumbled, Kaoru grinned, it seems his body thought of one for him- good body. “I was on my way to get lunch when I ran into you…kinda…” actually he ran into a pole but it’s the same thing “and I’m really hungry now”

“I’ll make you something,” Die smiled and in his mind prayed that Kaoru wasn’t a picky eater, he had been on his way shopping when he saved the pretty boy who he had been watching…and watched collide head first into a streetlamp, now there was nothing to eat.

“Let me take you out, as a thank you,” Kaoru grinned, Die nodded,

“Sounds like a plan”




A drunken man gets on the bus late one night, staggers up the aisle, and sits next to an elderly woman.

She looks the man up and down and says, "I've got news for you. You're going straight to hell!"

The man jumps up out of his seat and shouts, "Man, I'm on the wrong bus!"

Die bounded from the bus stop to his front door and through the front door to his apartment building, huge grin spread across his face. He had just had the best dinner with the most intelligent man he had ever met. So ‘intelligent’ wasn’t the word that Die would have used but Kaoru was smart among other things.

“Daisuke Ando!” That was what twice in one day?! Die spun and grinned at the old lady who had her head poking out of her door again, there was a stern look on her face.

“Yes Auntie?” He feigned an innocent looked; it had hit him in that moment that he had forgot all about the buns that she had made for him ‘just for you the old lady slaved away!’ he conscience yammered; but ‘think of all the time you got to look at Kaoru’s buns!’ his rational mind protested.

“Don’t give me that!” she huffed before stepping out of her apartment to walk over to the young man; despite her fiery personality ‘Auntie’ was a little old lady, and looking at her one would be under the impression that you could break her in two; brittle bones would snap like dried sticks. “You went out with that boy?”

“Kaoru; Auntie,” Die smiled, he loved her deeply but sometimes she would go a little over the top, but then again she was only trying to kept he things she cared for from slipping through her fingers; Die knew the feeling and that was why he had always come over when she called just to eat a nice home cooked meal or to just talk about TV dramas. “His name is Kaoru” Die said,

“Tch, a woman’s name,” she muttered darkly, Die could only smile at that, indeed Kaoru put a lot of women to shame, he wasn’t feminine though, his masculinity never once in question; deep voice, slender throat, defined Adam’s apple, beautifully structured face. Nope Kaoru was all man, and Die wanted all that man. “He does have nice hair though,” Die arched an eyebrow at Auntie; that was a rare compliment indeed from the ex-stylist.

“It looks soft,” Die said, she nodded

“Well taken care of,” Auntie looked wistful for a moment, lost in the memories of bright lights and the heavy cigarette smoke that would linger in clothing even after it was washed. “Will you be seeing him again?” It was an accusation of pure old lady curiosity.

“I hope so,” Die frowned, “He never gave his phone number or even a last name…”

“He knows where you live,” They had slowly migrated back into Auntie’s apartment where the scent of baking wafted from her well-used kitchen.

“He does,” Die shrugged it all seemed to surreal now that he was thinking about it in Auntie’s house, the smell of his favourite food and all the coloured scarves and pictures, everything had a soft feel to it here. And he wondered if the boy he’d spent the later half of the day with was only a figment of his deprived mind, had he dreamed this incredibly beautiful boy up and placed him on the ground in front of him?

“Here you go Daidai,” She smiled and he stuck his tongue out at her, the nickname was like a bad memory always following him around.

“Thank you Obaasan,” he said childishly back she glared at him; he smirked back.

“Enjoy your buns,” she huffed walking back into the kitchen, he could hear her mutter ‘ungrateful youth’ laughing,

“Good night Auntie!” He left her house bag of buns clutched to his chest.

~~

Returning to his apartment he put the buns on the table and began to munch on one absently while he flicked on the radio to drive away the silence. The rest of the buns would keep for a while but he figured that he would call over Kyo tonight, maybe tomorrow –Kyo could eat that entire bag in one sitting, and he loved Auntie’s cooking- he would rave for about twenty minutes about his fate encounter with the beautiful man while Kyo pretended to be interested. Flopping on the couch and staring at the black screen of the television and ignoring the muted voices from the radio- maybe not.

About ten minutes passed till Die found himself on the phone,

“Hey Kyo!” Die beamed into the phone knowing that he friend couldn’t see him, “How my little Warumono?” He asked in a fake cooing voice,

“I’ll eat you.” Came the agitated reply,

“Did I wake you?”

“No,”

“Talkative tonight,” Die commented dryly, there was a grunt from the other end that could have meant ‘yeah I’m a ray of sunshine’ or quite possibly ‘Fuck off Die’. “…”

“You talk enough for the two of us,” Kyo finally commented after Die let the silence stretch on for too long, he felt stupid sitting there holding the phone to his ear while neither of them were saying anything.

“I do don’t I?” Die grinned, “and I’ve got quite the story for you, wanna come over a hear it?”

“Can’t I from here?” Kyo whined, he didn’t want to get up and walk all the way over to Die’s house, it was already dark out, but he didn’t have work or class tomorrow…

“Auntie gave me some chicken buns today,”

“I’ll be over in fifteen,” Die laughed at the quick response,

“See you then,”

“Hn,” there was a click and Kyo was gone; but he would return. Die shook his head to himself again- the buns always got Kyo, it was like a moth to a flame; the metaphor made him think of Kaoru, his flame, would he see the other man again? He sure hoped so.

The minutes passed and he stared out at the night sky beyond his window, out there somewhere Kaoru was, still looking sexy, still being mysterious, and somewhere maybe Kaoru was thinking of him?

~

“Owww,” Kaoru groaned as he lay down on his couch holding the ice pack to his head, hopefully it would reduce the swelling, and a huge ugly lump on his forehead was so not attractive, and he had work tonight.

~

“Sooo…” Kyo said sitting on the couch, actually he was lounging, his feet were across the red head’s lap and they were sharing the bag of buns. “Who is Mr. Wonderful?”

“Kaoru,” Die sighed dreamily, “He’s so beautiful,” Die grinned and Kyo raised his blond eyebrow;

“Prettier then Toshiya?” Kyo aksed,

“Much prettier then Totchi,” Die said with conviction that made Kyo snort to himself.

“He’s funny, he’s smart…” Die smirked and Kyo bit savagely into his latest victim; ripping bready flesh away to expose the meat underneath, Die looked away, watching Kyo massacre the poor bread –it never had a chance.

“Wow, where did you meet him, I want one;” Kyo laughed, Die chuckled with him.

“That’s a funny story…”

~~

“Oh my god Kaoru! What happened to you?!” Toshiya squealed and stared at the shorter man. Kaoru flinched and gave a small half smile at the concerned co-worker,

“I’m fine,” He muttered, much to his horror the place where the pole had hit him –he thought of it this way, it was less embarrassing- the skin had swelled and turned an ugly purple colour. His hair hid it but Toshiya was a very observant person, actually he was the first to notice if you cut your hair but he was the last person one would go to in an emotional crisis…

“Are you? That looks painful!” Toshiya was getting closer and closer, Kaoru backed farther and farther away.

“It’s fine!” He cried out softly and he was cornered, Toshiya lifted a hand and non-to gently brushed the older man’s bangs away, the older man winced.

“I have some thing that would cover that right up!” Toshiya beamed at the somewhat less thrilled man.

“It’s fine,” he growled, Totchi pouted but moved away, breathing deeply of air that didn’t reek of perfume.

“Hmm, so you wanna go out for drinks after work?” Toshiya said this everyday, hoping that the answer would be different this night then all the others.

“Totchi, we work at a bar, no I don’t want to go out for drinks.”

“But it’s so much better when you aren’t the one pouring them!” Toshiya wheedled; of course he knew that the older man would not agree to go out with him,

“I’m sure,” the sarcasm was evident in his voice and Toshiya pouted,

“Look lively men!” they both looked up when the other man entered the room, a wide grin on his face, “we open in ten, Totchi, these tables aren’t clean!”

“Yoshiki-samaaaa,” the blue haired waiter whined, “the night shift from last night should have cleaned them!” Kaoru snorted to himself

“Toshiya, you were working last night,” Yoshiki deadpanned and Toshiya looked lost in thought for a second; he grinned,

“I guess I was, I’ll have spotless in no time!” swiping the cloth that Kaoru kept at the bar he flounced over to the tables and began to wash them. Yoshiki shook his head, short blond hair falling into his eyes that were still covered with his sunglasses –Kaoru always wondered how he wore them indoors.

“Kaoru?” Yoshiki had strung long lean legs over a stool and was leaning on his arms,

“Yes?” The younger man turned to face his employer,

“Come ‘ere” Kaoru frowned and leaned on the bar so his face was closer to the older man, Yoshiki removed his sunglasses in a way that was so debonair that Kaoru felt his breath hitch. “Does that hurt?”

“Huh?” Kaoru blinked in confusion, then calloused fingers brushed his hair away from the damaged area, Kaoru flushed, “a bit…” he admitted.

“What happened?” Still faintly blushing, his skin warm under the older man’s hands Kaoru stuttered out something unintelligible.

“Hmmm?” Yoshiki held the bartender’s face close to his own and gave the man who was trying not to look at him a stern look. “What happened?”

“I walked into a pole…” Kaoru mumbled at long last and looked briefly at eyes that were trying not to laugh.

“A pole?”

“Y-yeah…” Kaoru was blushing now, only one man could get him this way; Yoshiki. “It was a pole,”

“Did it hurt?”

“…” Kaoru suddenly remembered other long fingers brushing his hair away, tending to the wound, “yeah…”

“Be more careful,” Yoshiki said pulling away, Kaoru’s heart was beating a little faster and he felt dizzy again but in a totally different way then when he had tried to stand up again. This dizzy was good like after you get off a carnival ride and the world just doesn’t seem to want to stay still for you.

“I will…”

“I’M DONE!” Toshiya announced loudly flinging the cloth in the general direction that Kaoru had been when he last looked, he giggled to himself, Kaoru and Yoshiki were so cute together, maybe someday soon Kaoru will just come out and tell him? That would be sweet, and Toshiya started towards the back of the room, images of chibi Kaoru and chibi Yoshiki walking in a flower field hand in hand.



Three blonds walk into a bar; they sit down at the bar and order a round of shots

“To fifty-one days” they cried before downing the shots, they ordered another round of shots, again

“To fify-one days” they cried as they downed them, curious the bartender asks them,

“What about fifty one days?”

“We finished a puzzle in fifty-one days, it said ‘two to four years’ on it!”

It was an odd night; a parade of people followed by more people, absurd colours; hair, makeup, everything. It was like watching peacocks at the zoo, each more colourful then the last in hopes of attracting attention, but instead of some nice sturdy steel bars all he had for protection was the counter.

“Busy night!” Toshiya beamed at him, leaning one hip casually against a stool, his smile stretched from one end of his face to the other and showed off all his shiny –if not a bit crooked- teeth, and Kaoru noted with a hint of amusement that he fit right in with the rest of peacocks, strutting and showing off his colours.

“Hn,” Kaoru said back, well it was more of a hum then an actually response but Toshiya took it as a sign that the bartender was listening to him.

“But it’s SOOO neat!” the other all but squealed, Kaoru just looked at him.

“What?”

“All the people, if you talk to them each one has a story, and if they are drunk enough they’ll listen to you, it’s like having millions of fans!” The other giggled, and Kaoru just smiled, it was a busy night, and by the looks of things it wasn’t going to end soon enough.

“…I guess,” he commented dryly after Toshiya had looked at him expectantly long enough to make him shiver.

“Well, I think it’s neat you should try talking to some people, they all want to talk to you you know!” Kaoru raised an eyebrow; he found that just a little hard to believe.

“And why would they want to talk to me?”

“You’re pretty, and if you would look a little more approachable I’m sure everyone one would want a piece!” Kaoru shuddered at the thought

“And how would you know this anyways?”

“I have my sources,” the other laughed and pulled a notebook out of the apron he insisted on wearing –despite that Yoshiki said he didn’t need too- Kaoru looked at it as usual and then bluntly told Toshiya to read it out loud he wasn’t a god damn cryptologist.

It was going to be a long night.

~~

Weeks passed and over time Die had forgotten all about his ‘one true love’, but as this was the normal his friends only snickered at him but made no big deal out of it. Kaoru had long since forgotten his night in shining armour, but oddly enough still harboured a grudge against that pole. The latter had gone through a small vanity fit when the bruise had turned an sickly shade of green and refused to let anyone see it; until Yoshiki insisted, he had wanted to make sure that everything was healing fine. Life had returned to its regular pattern in the lives of two completely different men who had accidentally run into each other.

“When are you guys going to visit me at work!” Toshiya whined, he was sitting on Die’s couch eating some soup that Auntie had made while Kyo was inhaling down his own; Shinya sat on the floor eating. Die was in the kitchen trying to balance four cans to bring into the living room. “I mean I’ve worked there for months but you never stop in!”

“Wouldn’t it be bad to bother you at work?” Die called, he had made a small pyramid with the cans and was trying to wrap his hands around all of them at once, he was failing: soda one, Die zero.

“Nope I want you to come and see me, I have the cutest little uniform!”

“Isn’t it casual dress?” Shinya asked, the remote was clutched in the hand he wasn’t eating with, there was no way they were wrestling it from him tonight! He wasn’t going to watch some boring drama!

“Well Yoshiki-sama gave me one anyways!” Kyo snorted and Toshiya pouted, “besides I look cute in it!”

“I’m sure you do,” Kyo put his now completely empty bowl on the coffee table in front of him, it was only his second bowl and he thinking about getting up to get another but decided that Shinya being the evil she-devil he was would steal his favourite spot on the couch, so he remained.

“Ready?” Die said he came in carrying only three of the drinks, the last had been abandoned by the frustrated Die, he would go back for it later.

“YEAH!” Toshiya bounced on the couch, this of course bounced Kyo who glared at him, Shinya scuttled carefully –not to drop his food or loose the remote- away from them to lean against the wall, he had moved his butt-pillow with him.

“So what are we going to watch tonight?” Kyo asked, still throwing an evil glace at the taller man in case he decided to bounce again –no movement so soon after eating! Die gave him a grin that was so devilish and so evil that Shinya shuddered and scuttled a little further away.

“Ju-on!” He cackled madly and all the colour drained from Kyo’s face,

“…”

“Yes! I wanted to see that!” Toshiya grinned from ear to ear, reaching over he pinched the smaller man’s cheek, “don’t worry Kyo-chan, I’ll protect you!”

“Don’t do that,” Kyo snarled while swatting at the other’s hand.

“…I’ve never heard of it,” Shinya said almost silently, three eyes turned to look at him and he scuttled centimetres away again.

“It’s only the biggest horror movie of the year!” Toshiya cried,

“Don’t worry, Toshiya’ll protect you too,” Die snickered and Shinya gave a haughty look,

“What about you Die, need me to protect you as well?”

“Nah, I’d rather be eaten!”

“Hey!!”

“Met too,” muttered Kyo.

The movie started and all were sitting around or on the couch watching, Die indeed had gone back for the last dink he could not carry before, and Kyo suckered –with the cute face- him into getting him more food. Indeed it was scary, Shinya was gripping his pillow tightly, Toshiya was clinging to Kyo and hiding his eyes during the scary parts and when something would happen Kyo would jump and the popcorn he had been munching on would go flying, only to land like snow in Die’s red hair. All in all it was a rather normal get together for the four of them; things had carried on this way since the first day they all met, it was like the force of a magnet; it was a force as strong as love, but being who they were none of them would say that- I mean really that sounded SO corny.

~~

Another day another night, long lines of people, Kaoru sighed to himself, again this just wasn’t his night, he had known as much when he got out of bed in the mid afternoon stumbled when the sheet refused to let go of him –having bonded with him during the heat of the night- and he was sent sprawling in nothing more then a pair of boxers across his bedroom floor. It was going to be hard to make it to closing time, but a job was a job, and Yoshiki-san needed him; he would put up with anything for Yoshiki-san.

“Kaoruuu!” Toshiya’s whiny voice floated towards him as the above-mentioned man made his way towards the bar.

‘Never mind I’m leaving, even Yoshiki isn’t worth this’ Kaoru gritted his teeth knowing full well that there wasn’t a way he could leave fast enough to avoid the other anyways.

“Yes Toshiya?” The other never once seemed to notice the tone of voice that all but screamed, get the hell away. Instead of leaving –that would be to simple- the other only pouted,

“Sometimes I get the feeling you don’t like me,”

“Where did you get that idea from?” It seems he was immune to sarcasm as well, Toshiya only shrugged,

“I must have been imagining things!”

“…Yeah…”

“Be nice,” Kaoru jumped when someone spoke close to his left ear,

“Y-yoshiki-san!” Kaoru reeled and quickly caught his balance, he looked away, for a moment willing the flush off his cheeks, then he looked up with a smirk, “I always play nice,” the older man raised one fine eyebrow and Kaoru chuckled, Toshiya giggled,

“So what did you want Totchi?” With Yoshiki so close to him the night didn’t seem so long or boring anymore, in fact he thought he could even put up with Toshiya! …for the next ten minutes at least…

“I wanted you to meet my friends, they came in tonight and I wanted you to meet them, pleeease!!” Toshiya blinked, his eyes suddenly looking bigger, Kaoru was speechless, Toshiya looked so weird, and all he really wanted to do was edge away slowly but he thought that with that face the other might bite him, searching wildly for a way out, he heard a polite cough –laugh- from behind him.

“I’m working Toshiya, I can’t, I need to stay here!”

“I’ll watch it, you need your break soon anyways, I’m sure You won’t mind if I take over for you, he goes on break after you anyways,” Kaoru gave Yoshiki an evil look, a look that said ‘traitor!’ the other smiled sardonically back at him and Kaoru huffed.

“Yeah, I need a break…” Toshiya’s face lit up and he clapped,

“You’ll LOVE them!” He grabbed the older man’s slim wrist and practically dragged him over to a table in the corner, in Kaoru’s mind he imagined all of Toshiya’s friends, they all looked like him and talked like him, a shiver of terror travelled down his spine. When he got there, three or four heads would turn to look at him, all with perfectly brushed hair and perfect make-up, three or four Toshiya’ all coursing together ‘KAORUUUU!!!’ in that same whiny voice, he could feel the headache starting.

“Yeah,” he said weakly, “I’m sure I will…” Closing his eyes he felt Toshiya stop and wasn’t even bothered when he bumped into him, there was silence for a moment then a deep voice asked,

“Is he alright?” Kaoru felt a little of the terror flow away, they weren’t a colony of Toshiya clones, Totchi’s voice could never sound that sexy, not even if he tried. Then like a speeding hamster another thought hit him, what if by pure chance Totchi had perfectly normal friends and he was making a fool of himself right now?

“Everyone this is Kaoru, Kaoru this is everyone!” the bartender cautiously cracked open one eye, there were two people looking strangely at him; he kept his face neutral, so as to not show his embarrassment. “HEYY!” Toshiya glared at them for a moment, “Where is Die? He totally ruined my big introduction!”

“He needed to piss,” the short one said bluntly, Toshiya huffed and Kaoru felt a smile trying to pull at his lips, indeed they were perfectly normal people, then why the hell were they friends with Toshiya!?

“I’m Niikura Kaoru,” he said, his own deep voice attracting the short blond one’s attention, the other had yet to stop staring at him, it was kind of creepy actually…

“I’m Toru Niimura, call me Kyo,” then there was a wicked grin that fit perfectly on that face, “or some call me Warumono,” Kaoru smiled at that, what a cute little Warumono, that face was so adorable, he wanted to pick up the short man. Kyo –or Warumono, if you were some people but Kaoru did not know if he were some people or not- wore a tight white sleeveless shirt with a unidentified blue blob that covered the front in an almost pattern that was pleasing to look at. Tight black leather pants and matching cuffs, the man was too cute for words and Kaoru wanted to cuddle… squashing that urge he smiled at the other man, all the while he had been looking at Kyo he had the odd notion that this one had yet to stop staring at him…

“Terachi Shinya.” He said simply, and Kaoru admired his air of mystery and his ability to go a really long time without blinking. This Shinya fellow was dressed in a black button down shirt –with all the button done up; so mysterious!- it looked like a female’s shirt and it accented a waist that really wasn’t there. With it he wore dark brown pants, and slightly heeled shoes, he was sitting on the end so Kaoru could observe his shoe style, Kaoru noticed with amusement that they were both blond and wondered if their friend was blond as well, that would be like the beginning to a bad blond bar joke… ‘Three blonds walk into a bar,’ he suppressed a chuckle at the thought.

“And I’m Toshiya!” the man who had surprisingly remained silent till now exploded with a grin, “now all that leaves is Die…”

Die? Why did that name sound familiar? Kaoru wracked his brain but could not place the name to face, but that sure did sound familiar. Die, Die, Die, damn that sounded familiar, and for some reason made him think of the name Fernando, but he didn’t know anybody by either of these names did he?

“What about me?” All four men turned to look at him; eyes met each other, ‘nope not blond’ his mind supplied helpfully for him.





Two guys were in a bar, and they were both watching the television when the news came on. It showed a guy on a bridge who was about to jump, obviously suicidal. "I'll bet you $10 he'll jump," said the first guy. "Bet you $10 he won't," said the second guy.

Then, the guy on the television closed his eyes and threw himself off the bridge. The second guy hands the first guy the money.

"I can't take your money," said the first guy. "I cheated you. The same story was on the five o'clock news." "No, no. Take it," said the second guy. "I saw the five o'clock news too. I just didn't think the guy was dumb enough to jump again!"


“DIE!” Toshiya squealed, a huge grin spread on his feminine face,

“Hey,” he said casually to the other, but never once did he take his eyes away from Kaoru’s, the other stared back in mild shock, that intense stare made his knees felt weak, his heart pulsed in his ears. The whole world was trying to shake him down, before only once had he felt like this: it had been about half a year ago, looking for a job he applied for a position at a new bar called ‘Xtasy’. Cool, confident, in control Kaoru; he was a rumoured ice queen; beautiful and elegant totally unapproachable –no one knew what a dork he really was…- and then one day, that man, Yoshiki as he had introduced himself, Yoshiki who was even cooler, even more elegant and he exuded a kind of dominate air that said ‘I’m in control’ Kaoru had felt weak and helpless in front of that man. From that day all he wanted was to be protected and held by Yoshiki, and that brought him here to the present moment where Die intense eyes were awakening the same reaction.

“Die, this is Kaoru,” Toshiya said pulling Kaoru’s wrist so that the other man was forced to take a step forward lest the other try and pull his arm off.

“I know, we’ve…met,” there was a grin, Kyo raised an eyebrow and Shinya looked like he was hiding a smile, Toshiya looked clueless; but what else is new.

“Y-yeah,” Kaoru said, he tried to draw himself up to full height, he tried to make himself look cool and confident as always; but there was something about Die that stripped away all that he tried to fake.

“Is the bruise gone?” Die asked, he refrained from checking and Kaoru was grateful, he didn’t think he could keep the flush off his face if Die were to do that.

“Yeah…” wow, what a vocabulary he had, Kaoru mentally kicked himself, this was not the way to impress people; they must think he’s some freak or something, could this get much worse?

“You know him?” Toshiya had that curious gleam in his eyes, a gleam that said he wanted all the juicy details; Kaoru had seen that look many times, not often directed at him –you need a life to talk about one- “where?”

“I helped him when he walked in-“

“We met on the street!” Kaoru cried suddenly, it was bad enough already; they didn’t need to know of that embarrassment as well, he was doing a well enough job right here and now.

Shinya watched with a sort of sadistic pleasure as Kaoru squirmed when everyone looked at him, Die with an amused smile on his face. So this was the true love that Die had been talking about, ‘a funny, friendly, beautiful man’ ‘Mr. Perfect’? Shinya almost laughed out loud but refrained, that would go against his image. Indeed this Kaoru man was beautiful, light pink hair that framed his face with a cascade of silk black hair underneath that was braided midway down his back. A button down white shirt and black pants, he looked simply elegant. His small hands were clenched; he looked very stressed, but Shinya admired the way that it could only be seen in his body posture and hardly in his face; an odd face, structured so delicately a blend of both woman and man, elegant and delicate.

“So you two are ‘friends’?” Toshiya elongated the word friend as if ‘subtly’ asking what went on; Die gave a wicked grin. Kaoru’s eyes widened at that grin, he wouldn’t! He couldn’t! Why was Die only nice to him when he was injured!?

“I’ll be your ‘friend’” Kyo laughed and Kaoru tried to rebuild his haughty mask that he would have shown anyone else when someone said that but he was failing, everything was so out of his control, the feeling was akin to being a fish flopping helplessly on the sand.

“My ‘friend’” Die said winking at Kaoru, the older man was speechless but when both Die and Kyo simultaneously chuckled and Shinya grinned with Toshiya he realized that they weren’t TRYING to put him in this situation, this was just who they were, when Die looked at him, with nothing but warmth in his coffee coloured eyes he surprised himself by smiling back.

“We should all be friends,” Kaoru said and Die smiled widely at him,

“Kinky,” Shinya said and Kaoru felt more at peace, they indeed were perfectly normal people, well not normal per say, but they were comfortable; ‘normal’ for him anyways.

“I get to be top,” Kyo said, and Die gave him a look of mock horror.

“Not with me little man!”

“I’ll show you who’s little!” Toshiya laughed at them, and Kaoru found himself smiling. This was nice but a single thought kept nagging at the back of his head…’I’m supposed to be working!’

“I’m sorry, but I need to get back to work,” Kaoru said all four of them looked at him, Toshiya pouted,

“I’m sure you can stay for a little longer,” he whined,

“Yoshiki needs me” Kaoru said, he then flushed; that sounded not quite right, Toshiya giggled,

“Right wouldn’t want to keep you from Yoshiki,” Kaoru wanted to smack him, Die was looking at him oddly now.

“Y-yeah, see ya,” Kaoru turned to leave when he felt a warm hand fall on his shoulder, he whirled around and found himself looking up at the other man, his eyes had gone from joking to intense again and Kaoru felt a shiver travel up his spine.

“You work here?” Kaoru nodded, and Die smiled, “I’ll remember that,” he winked and let Kaoru go, even as he waved at the other two who nodded at him, Kyo waved, he had the oddest feeling that he had somehow cheated on Yoshiki, that was impossible though, you need to be with someone to cheat on them…

~~

“So that was him?” Kyo asked Die when Toshiya left smiling saying that he needed to get back to work as well.

“Yeah,” Die said looking wistfully in the direction of the bar, it was like those two weeks where he completely forgot the other never even happened.

“Your Mr. Perfect,” Shinya added nodding, Die smiled at them,

“Isn’t he?” For Die it had been something like love at first sight, he had seen the other man rushing down the street, he watched the long braid trail behind him, pink hair shading his face, it was just the way he moved, it was the way the wind blew when he first spotted him, it was about the way the air seemed warmer, it was about the way everything seemed so clear in that moment. It was love, that was the only word that Die could think of the describe it, the feeling that took a wild roller coaster ride though his body, and then Kaoru had looked back over his shoulder, when he looked ahead again it was too late, there was a dull thump and Kaoru bounced backwards landing dazed on the ground. It was like a sign(post) from the gods. After that Die –being a good citizen- rushed across the street dodging a few cars that honked angrily at him and went to the beauty’s aid. The rest, well you all know what happened from there.

“I suppose,” Shinya said, he still thought that Kaoru was a little weird, but he seemed nice enough. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Shinya,” Kyo said suddenly his deep voice sharp, but the other ignored that; instead he met eyes with Die the other looked at him for a moment before he looked away guiltily.

“I-I,” Die looked at his hands, they were clutching a drink – a drink that he supposed that Kaoru had given to Toshiya to give to them. “I never thought I would see him again,”

“…” Kyo glared at Shinya, why must the other always bring up the past, Shinya was always the rational for Die’s impulsiveness. But the other thing Shinya was good at was bringing this up in the worst times…

“But still, seeing him again…” Die trailed off, Shinya frowned, Die was known among them for his odd ability to falling love in the blink of an eye, and out of love even faster. This often ended normally, he would forget the person in a few weeks, never to see them again. The rare time something that came out of the infatuation it always ended in pain for either Die or his partner, sometimes both, Die was such a sweet person he couldn’t leave without hurting, but the attraction always faded and he would find himself looking at someone new. It never ended well and Shinya had a point did Die want to hurt himself again did he want to hurt Kaoru? Would he fall into love again?

“Go for it, who is this Yoshiki guy anyways? He can’t stand up to the great Die!” Kyo tried to boost Die’s spirits, he didn’t like it when the other looked sad it was like looking at a dog that wasn’t aloud to play, he hated that look. Die detested being reminded of all the people before, he hated being reminded of all the pain he caused without wanting to.

“I think he’s different,” Die said looking straight at Shinya, the other looked uncomfortable for a moment, then looked away; Die didn’t notice, he was thinking about when he first saw Kaoru, the feeling of soaring through the air but distilled, like drinking pure joy. He’d hardly been able to keep from smiling widely when he saw Kaoru standing uncomfortably beside Toshiya.

“If you think so,” Shinya said uncomfortably, Kyo smiled.

“I know so,” Die said confidently, if anything he was always a little over confident.

“Another round of drinks!” Kyo called, Toshiya who had been walking to the bar turned and smiled at them nodding. Die looked at the bar where Kaoru was ignoring some man talking to him, Die just watched him; soon enough the other seemed to notice that someone was watching him; Kaoru looked up and around until he noticed Die their eyes met and Die smiled at him, Kaoru gave a small smile back, before Toshiya distracted him.





A man walked in to a bar after a long day at work. As he began to drink his beer, he heard a voice say seductively "You've got great hair!" The man looked around but couldn't see where the voice was coming from, so he went back to his beer.

A minute later, he heard the same soft voice say "You're a handsome man!" The man looked around, but still couldn't see where the voice was coming from.

When he went back to his beer, the voice said again "What a stud you are!" The man was so baffled by this that he asked the bartender what was going on.

The bartender said, "Oh, it's the nuts--they're complimentary."


“Do you think he would mind all to much if I started stalking him?” Die asked, he was talking to Kyo who was almost asleep in his breakfast; the smaller man had stayed the night –deciding last night that he was to tired to walk the necessary three blocks to his own apartment. Die was staring at his breakfast; it was slightly burnt and looked more pathetic then Shinya’s dog when the other forgot to feed him. Since last night when he had met Kaoru again everything he had looked at reminded him of the other man; the beauty of the lonely moon in the sky had reminded him of Kaoru, the stars that twinkled in the sky were like the twinkle in Kaoru’s endless eyes, and he had passed the fateful post on his way home. Staring at his burnt breakfast he amused himself by trying to somehow have it remind him of Kaoru.

“Who?” Kyo slurred there was a dull thump and Kyo’s head met the table, his eyes closed with the smooth wood kissing his forehead, how could Die be so alive so early in the morning? It was some ungodly hour like ten. “Oh, Kaoru,” he said with a little less lustre then he normally would have put into his words.

“Yeah,” Die smiled, “I could go to the bar every night to see him,”

“Then he would just think that you were an alcoholic,” Kyo said, his voice oddly warped from the table pressed against his face.

“…Right,” Die nodded,

“Now shut up, I’m not here yet,” Kyo growled. Lifting his face to glare moodly at the other man.

“Yes, Warumono” Die said with a grin before he dug into the breakfast that he decided that was vaguely in the shape of Kaoru’s head. Looking back at that he decided that he wasn’t so hungry.

“Damn straight.” Kyo mumbled before letting his head thump against the table again.

‘Thank you gods of homoerotic love,’ Die said with a silly smile on his face, ‘thank you for bringing me to him again’ he was quite sure that it was no coincidence that Kaoru had fallen for him, well he had fallen so Die could help him.

~~

‘Dear people in my head’ Kaoru wrote in his journal, said book was big and black, looking vaguely sinister. Kaoru was sitting cross-legged on his bed, the blanket’s were piled around him in a sort of nest, his own little nest, with the traitorous sheet on the bottom. The book was on his lap and he had a pen in one of his small hands, he twirled the pen absently between his fingers while he thought. Every single one of his entries had started that way, ever since he was an angsting youth- that’s when the journals had started.

‘Last night at work I was a bad boy. I cheated on Yoshiki-san, you know Yoshiki ‘Mr. I’m a walking sex god’, yeah that Yoshiki. I think I cheated on him, I feel kind of bad for it, since I never got the nerve to ask him to go out with me’ He had thought about it once, but then after much thinking figured it hurt his head. Really if he brought him to a bar wouldn’t he be offended, since it was like cheating going to a different bar, but then if he went to Xtasy it was too much like work and he wouldn’t be able to take anything seriously.

‘I’m talking about Die, I met him again. He helped me that day, you know that day with the pole –I hate that chunk of metal- he helped me, brought me back to his house and everything.’ The details of that encounter were a bit fuzzy but he could still almost fully remember the feeling of large hands brushing through his hair. Kaoru had a sort of hair fetish, he loved his hair the long silky mass was his personal pride and joy. ‘I feel like I cheated, he made my heart beat and my head spin –I thought that was just the head injury before- I’m not sure what that meant. Does that mean I feel the same way about Die as I do Yoshiki? I don’t think so, Yoshiki is my G-O-D.’ Kaoru sighed and chewed on his pen, he was glad that it was a personal journal and no one would ever read this. He sounded like an obsessive teenaged girl. Sighing he lay his head down on the book, and was unaware when he lifted his head again that he had teenage obsessive words scrawled across the side of his face.

Kaoru spent the next ten minutes trying to scrub the gel pen off the side of his face.

~~

“So do you think that Die is really serous about this guy?” Shinya asked, he was sitting under a tree in the middle of the park, his books were laying open all around him, and his pens and pencil were mixed with Kyo’s inking pens, the gentle breeze fluttered at the pages of his text books. They always did this, Toshiya nor Die had the attention span to partake in this activity. Shinya worked on his homework while Kyo drew and inked his latest pages, Shinya couldn’t get Die out of his head this time and his concentration was breaking. The other looked at him oddly; it had always been custom for them to remain silent during these work sessions.

“I think that there is something about Kaoru that interests him,” Kyo said, it wasn’t a yes it wasn’t a no, actually it was paraphrasing what Die had sent the night before- conniving little bastard.

“No, do you think that Kaoru really is all that different then the others?” Shinya chewed the end of his pencil; it bothered him that Die could fall so easily for anyone, anyone it seemed but him. It was like all the dramas that Die liked to watch, and Shinya was the hopeless girl who could only chase the man of her dreams. But as much as Kyo asked him indeed Shinya was a man, and no matter what he did Kyo always seemed to harbour those suspicions.

“I hope so, he seems nice, and if Die weren’t…” Kyo licked his lips and grinned in his own devilish way.

“Well then, I suppose we could just sit back and watch…” Shinya trailed off and looked at Kyo out of the corner of his eye.

“That would be no fun now would it?”

“Now, now Warumono, we shouldn’t interfere with Die’s love life,”

“He needs to get laid.” Kyo pointed out bluntly. “What are friends for?”

“To help him get laid?” Shinya asked, his light tone of voice, making this sound like it was normal conversation fare.

“Of course, you need any help while we are at it?” Kyo asked with a wicked smile.

“No.” ‘If you could help me get Die I’m sure all our problems would be solved’ Shinya huffed at Kyo.

“Wonder if Toshiya does?” Kyo said, more to himself then to Shinya who still seemed to be offended that Kyo would think that he needed help getting laid.

“That slut?” Shinya shook his head, “as if.” He said that in a nice way, if there is a nice way to say that.

“You’ve got a point,” Kyo’s amusement showed through on his face, “he doesn’t need any help,”

“But Die does?” Shinya frowned,

“…Yeah.” Kyo looked confused for a moment before he just shrugged, “he needs helped getting laid by Kaoru.” He said finally in a voice of great authority.

“Kaoru would be top?” Shinya asked with an arched eyebrow, that didn’t seem right, Kyo stuck his small tongue out,

“Nah, don’t think that Die would give that up, he likes the top spot to much.”

“How do YOU know this?”

“Who else do you think I share my sex stories with?” Kyo waved his hand, “In return he tells all, like you and Toshiya and your gossip,”

“I do not gossip!” Shinya screeched, looking ruffled,

“I understand,” Kyo paused to flash his trademark Warumono grin, “It’s girl thing.”

“FOR THE LAST TIME I’M NOT A WOMAN!” and Shinya snapped.

~~

“Hey, Kao~ruuuu,” Toshiya sang happily, the other almost visibly twitched, it was near closing time and the barkeep was tired and would have liked nothing more then to just crawl home and under his blankets. Cursing mentally Kaoru turned to the dark blue haired man, his smile was almost painful.

“Yeah, what is it?” Toshiya regarded the other man through hair that fell across his eyes, he wasn’tr stupid, really he wasn’t. He could read the wariness in the curve of Kaoru’s deep eyes. Toshiya just liked to play, people were so much less guarded when they thought that you weren’t a threat; so he played dumb. It was amazing what you could learn, he knew for a fact that Kaoru liked Yoshiki and for a fact that Shinya would have like to be closer to Die. Knowing more about the current layout of things than anyone else he decided that he would be the one to fix things.

“I was wondering, about Yoshiki-sama,” Toshiya batted his eyelashes in a playfully innocent way- a way that made Kaoru want to back away from him again. He could see the way that Kaoru’s tired eyes grew guarded and he looked both ways before meeting Toshiya’s eyes again –this was a bit of a touchy subject.

“What about him? I don’t know much more then you do.”

“Well you have been working here longer then I have,” Toshiya said and Kaoru just shrugged slightly.

“He doesn’t talk about himself a lot,” Kaoru said lightly, indeed the older man was secretive, in a totally alluring way.

“Well I just wanted to know more,” Toshiya smiled, “I mean he’s hot!” Toshiya giggled in that almost girlish way of his that made Kaoru want to plug his ears.

“…” Kaoru couldn’t reply to that because if he started talking about the older owner of the bar he knew he wouldn’t be able to stop, he would go into full gushy mode and his image would be totally ruined forever.

“For an older man that is,” Toshiya grinned and Kaoru could feel the light flush trying to creep onto his face below the thin layer of makeup.

“Y-yeah,” Kaoru could feel the room trying to heat up and he looked for away to escape from this situation, someway to save his face and leave without looking overly like he was trying to get away. No one knew about his secret crush on his employer, and he would like to keep it that way.

“I’d do him,” Toshiya laughed at the scandalized look on the other man’s face, Kaoru looked so pretty when he was panicked; on the other hand he looked pretty any time his mask broke. The mask had a certain appeal, but the appeal was that you wanted to see his face under the mask; you wanted to shock that haughty look right off of him and revel in his emotions. Right now Kaoru looked so pretty, his face was trying to keep from showing his fear, but his eyes gave him away they darted around quickly and Toshiya wanted to giggle. Some days he almost hated the other man, he hated how pretty he was, Toshiya knew that he was beautiful, like a girl and he loved to flaunt it, but Kaoru was different. He was confident, and self-assured; Toshiya knew that people liked him on a different level then they liked Toshiya, he envied Kaoru. ‘Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful’ he thought to himself and laughed, Kaoru looked at him oddly but Toshiya didn’t really care.

“Do who?” Kaoru nearly jumped out of his skin again when Yoshiki spoke from the doorway. Toshiya laughed, and wiggled his eyebrows at the older man.

“Well I would do you!” He laughed and Yoshiki smiled at him, Kaoru looked vaguely faint.

“Hm, I like my boys a little more sophisticated,” Toshiya pouted and Yoshiki laughed, his eyes strayed to Kaoru and Toshiya noted this with great interest the last piece of the puzzle was slowly revealing himself. “Don’t you?”

“I like my guys…yeah smart boys,” Toshiya giggled, before he winked at Kaoru the other was staring intently at the bar counter, Toshiya would have paid to know what was going through the older man’s head right now.

“What about you Kaoru?” He asked just because he knew that’s exactly what Kaoru DIDN’T want his to say.

“I like… I like mature guys…” Kaoru said with a smile, well there goes Die, now the poor boy’s going to have to try so hard if he wants to beat Kaoru’s dream guy.

“Hmm, that counts out most people,” Yoshiki said tapping one long finger against his chin, Kaoru looked away and Toshiya laughed to himself.

“Well, I’m tired,” Toshiya said stretching and arching his back and letting his shirt ride up, Kaoru looked at the closed door, it was indeed only the three of them left. You had been picked up by his boyfriend long ago, damn lucky You, even he had the perfect boyfriend, Toshiya sulked in his mind, Kaoru was going to end up with Yoshiki, Shinya was gong to end up with Die and You had a super model boyfriend –only THE Gackt, how in the world did he get himself mixed up in that?-, it wasn’t fair who did that leave him with? Kyo? Ewww no.

“Yeah, I need to go home and sleep, I have class later,” Kaoru said, he wanted to reach around Yoshiki who was standing in front of the coat rack, but at the same time he really didn’t want to, it was to soon after Yoshiki had looked at him like that –like Die did…

“Well, actually Kaoru would you-“ Yoshiki was cut off when the door opened dramatically, Toshiya turned to glare at the newcomer, there standing framed in the doorway the Warumono himself stood.

“Howdy,” He said sauntering into the bar, today he wore a blue see through button down shirt the same tight black pants and a cowboy hat.

“K-kyo?” Toshiya asked, this was so not right, Yoshiki was about to ask Kaoru out!

“Happy to see me? I came to pick you up!” he grinned madly,

“Kyo, it’s late, what are you doing here?” Toshiya said not able to keep his mild annoyance and disappointment out of his voice.

“I told you already, I’m here to pick you up!” the short man grinned from ear to ear, Kaoru smiled at that, for some reason that grin didn’t quite look as creepy on Kyo as it did on Toshiya, Kyo was just too cute!

“W-why?!” Toshiya asked, but he really was happy to see the short monster.

“Did you forget already?” Kyo pouted his cute face turning into a puppy pout that looked so adorable it took every ounce of will from the three men to not hug the little thing right then and there.

“Forget what?” Toshiya looked stricken, what on earth could he have forgotten? It wasn’t near anyone’s birthday, nor was it any of Die’s old cat’s birthdays –he still thought that they were making up excuses to get really drunk, but Die assured him that he truly loved his cats- nor was it Shinya’s dog’s birthday.

“We are going to celebrate my first manga sale!” Kyo said his grin only becoming wider.

“You sold one!” Toshiya forgot all about his dealings with Kaoru and Yoshiki to glomp the shorter man.

“Die didn’t tell you?”

“Nope, bastard!” Toshiya said with a wide grin.

Both Yoshiki and Kaoru stood and watched this almost silently, neither of them wanting to say anything, nor really having anything to say.

“So wanna come back to Die place?” Kyo said with a grin, “They sent me to get you,” Kyo looked past Toshiya and grinned widely at Kaoru. “Wanna come too?”

“Me?” Kaoru said with mild surprise,

“Come on, it’ll be fun”

‘Class’ his mind said to him, but Yoshiki laughed,

“Oh, to be young again,” his eyes had a certain sad sparkle to them, “I’ll leave you kids to have fun!” He waved and disappeared back into the back rooms. Toshiya didn’t even notice that his plans would need to be put on hold for now.

“Coming?” Kyo asked, looking expectantly at Kaoru.

‘Oh what the hell,’ Kaoru thought,

“Wait for me!” he said grabbing his coat quickly and rushing after the other two, “So you’re a artist?”