Saturday - Ruki’s Unveiling - 5:15 PM

The sound of knocking nearly stopped his heart. Ruki’s eyes widened and he whipped around to stare at the door. Kyo had left quite some time ago. As the partner of the company’s CEO, he was expected to look more fabulous than everyone else, as Kyo had explained. Ruki had simply laughed at the time, but now he felt foolish for letting him leave him here all alone. For a short moment that felt like an eternity, all he could do was stare at the door. A second knock shook him from his daze.

“U-uh..” He stuttered, “Coming!” Ruki hopped up from the couch, where he’d been sitting in his dress and heels, waiting anxiously for his date. Now that he was here, he couldn’t even walk without shaking like a leaf.

“Just a second!” He called out as he skipped quickly towards the door with his heels clicking after him. He paused just behind it, where a mirror was hung upon the wall. He fluffed his hair, picked at his dress, and reapplied his lip gloss. With a deep breath to soothe himself, he turned towards the door and opened it.

Ruki smiled up at the handsome man that stood there waiting for him, but inside his heart was pounding so hard he was afraid the man might hear it himself. His eyes dipped quickly over Tora’s suit and he soon came to a conclusive decision that he looked absolutely incredible. The loose tie was just the perfect touch, and the flower in his pocket was just right. His smile grew even more and he breathed a soft laugh.

“You look perfect..” He muttered, a warm blush overcoming him.

Tora stared at the boy standing in the doorway before him. His jaw had dropped open, his lips parted with soundless awe. “Me?” Hearing Ruki’s comment, his voice took over, speaking thoughts he never knew he could voice. “Ruki, you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” The comment had thrown them both off guard, in a wonderful way. Ruki’s eyes widened a little and his blush deepened. He shyly looked down at himself with a nervous laugh and shrugged.

“N-nah, it’s not that great..” He shook his head and stepped out of his home, shutting the door behind him. The color of his dress was a deep gold, comprised of many layers of beautiful lace. He carried in his hand a black bag that matched the bodice of his dress, where a silk bow hung off his hip. A pair of simple black pumps elevated his height by a whole five inches. Gold jewelry hung off his wrists that matched the buttons on Tora’s jacket perfectly. They were a wonderful couple, in appearance, and other manners that they were yet to discover, as well.

Tora smiled handsomely and reached out to hand him his flowers with a chuckle. “You look it to me, and that’s all that matters. Here.” He laid the bouquet carefully in Ruki’s grasp. “I know they’re no roses, but I didn’t want anything to outshine you.” He grinned crookedly, “Not that any flower could.” Tora extended a hand to thumb his cheek and offered the boy his elbow.

Flattered was an understatement. Hearing such words from Tora made his heart ache for more. He cradled the flowers delicately and touched the petals. Like his wonderful date, they were perfect. Everything was so wonderful. He could scarcely believe it was happening. Ruki thought back to the promise Kyo had made him to make this evening his fairy tale and he smiled. His friend was always right. Ruki nodded a little and curled his hand around his date’s elbow. This was going to be the best night of his life.

Saturday - Tora’s Arrival - 5:00 PM

A black Impala pulled in front of the elegant apartment building at precisely five o’clock. Tora killed the engine to his prized vehicle and stepped out to admire the aged building. The sun was low in the sky, setting a warm orange glow upon its side. Black, wrought-iron fences encased the balconies that accompanied each apartment. It was a very beautiful building, on the outskirts of town.

As nice as the view was, Tora found himself much too concerned with the boy awaiting him inside. Tora passed through the entrance lounge, where he earned himself a few longing stares from several lonely ladies. He wore the black suit he’d picked out, the cuff decorated with golden buttons. Underneath, he donned a white top, the first few buttons undone to showcase his sleek collarbone. A tie hung loose around his neck, the knot lower than what was normally worn. His black hair was straight and messy, just barely touching his shoulders. In the pocket of his suit jacket, a pretty white flower sat against his breast. Around the little flower’s stem he tied a golden ribbon that matched the same one around the bouquet he carried in his hand. Tora was very aware of the women looking his way, but he cared not, when he had someone so wonderful just a few floors up. With that thought, he stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the sixth and highest floor.

“Room 301.” Tora read aloud. He carried in one hand the bouquet, while the other held before his eyes the directions Ruki had supplied for him. He glanced up to the metallic numbers upon the doors until he found the appropriate one.

“Here we are..” He mumbled to himself. A smile overcame him as he approached the door. He lifted a hand to knock.. and stopped. He froze in place. He couldn’t wait to see Ruki, but.. what if he messed things up? He would never forgive himself if he lost this opportunity. His fist quivered with a faint tremor as his knuckles rested against the wood of the door. He hoped he looked okay. He cast a glance down at himself and recalled the women in the lounge. No, he looked good.

Staring at the door, he recalled a time in high school when he went to a dance with a classmate. He’d been worried that the girl wouldn’t like him and he was nervous. His father, who had helped him into his tie, said to him, “Don’t be afraid to be yourself. You’re a man anyone would love to be around, Kitora. Anyone who truly wants to be with you will be just as nervous. All you have to do is be yourself, and do it proudly.” The recollection of his father brought a smile to his face.

“I’ll do ya proud, Papa..” He whispered aloud and knocked on the door with new found confidence.

Saturday- Tora’s Day - 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Compared to Ruki’s early morning escapades, Tora’s day was relatively uneventful. He slept in until eleven, when his alarm buzzed, stirring him from the rather peaceful sleep that had been so rare in the recent months. Before he’d fallen asleep, he’d tossed and turned in sheer excitement. His mind played over hundreds of scenarios involving the company ball, all of them ending with him so confidently whisking Ruki away into his bedroom after a night of dancing and sweet conversation.

When he woke up the next morning, his day dreams started anew. He had no troubles climbing out of bed. In fact, he was quite eager. He started a fresh batch of coffee and ran a quick shower while it brewed in the kitchen. He dressed, his towel-dried hair still damp, and took a cup to go as he headed out the door. His scarf whipped around his tall frame as he skipped down the steps from his porch and through the black wrought-iron gate. With keys in his hand, he hopped into the black car parked against the curb and drove off.

His destinations were already near. It didn’t take long for him to reach the shop where he would be fitted for a tux. He’d called beforehand, but prior to asking Ruki to accompany him, he’d neglected to plan for his outfit. Tora would have to make a quick decision today. The store was full of various types of outfits from classic to just plain weird. As he browsed the racks, he pushed aside outfit after outfit, unable to figure out exactly what he liked and, most importantly, what Ruki would like. He didn’t like the cheesy bow tie. He didn’t want to look like James Bond, either. Soon, a sales clerk caught wind of his confusion and approached to assist. By the end of the hour, they’d settled on a simple black suit. He would wear a white button open and a loose black tie. He didn’t like it tightened up against his throat. It was uncomfortable. The buttons on his jacket were gold, to match the colors Ruki had supplied him. Tora nodded at the final product with a pleased grin. The outfit was paid for and packaged on a hanger in a zip up cover. Now that that was over with, Tora carried the hanger out to his car and hopped inside to scurry off once again.

Tora made his second stop only a few blocks down the street, where he parked in front of a flower shop. Plants and blossoms of every color hung inside the window. He thought of every flower compared to Ruki, but none of them stood a chance. Tora grinned at the thought of his lovely date, Ruki, his own little flower, and stepped out of his car to head inside.

A bell chimed as he stepped in and he was greeted by the shop’s owner, a friendly elder woman. Tora smiled and nodded in greeting. “Hello!” Tora was a very kind man. He always smiled when he spoke to people. “I need some help picking out some flowers for a date.” He explained, and the woman laughed.

“How sweet! I wish young men visited my shop more often. Nobody thinks to buy flowers for their dates, anymore.” The woman skipped gleefully around the counter to meet with Tora, wagging a finger for him to follow. “What’s the occasion?”

Tora walked after the woman, his curious gaze sweeping over every bouquet of colorful flowers they passed. They were gorgeous, but none of them caught his eyes. They weren’t worthy of his flower. “A masquerade. He said he would be wearing black and gold. I don’t want anything too big or gaudy. He should be the spotlight.” He nodded with certainty and the woman grinned again. Tora’s sweet romance made her heart melt.

“Oh, I’ve got just the thing.” She turned, leaving Tora where he stood and returned only a few moments later. She carried in her arms a bouquet of white hydrangeas. Their stems were tied together with a golden ribbon. They were beautiful. Tora smiled as his eyes fell upon them. Perfect. He paid for the flowers and bid the woman adieu with a pleasant wave, then returned to his car for his third and final stop.

This time around, his car did not park in front of a store. Instead, he drove into a neighborhood and parked before a large house, its siding aged and plants overgrowing the white columns. Tora climbed out of his car and paused at the sidewalk. Memories of his child hood came flooding back all at once, bringing another smile to his handsome face. Looking out at the overgrown green yard, he swore he could see the small children that were his brothers running amok. With a low chuckle, he shook his head and headed towards the front door. He bothered not to knock. Instead, he twisted the knob with the key in hand and stepped right inside.

“Maman,” He called, shutting the door behind him and dusting off his muddy boots, “Maman, it’s me!”

A voice answered moments later from another room. “Hello? Julien, is that you?” Tora followed the voice into the warm kitchen and smiled at the plump woman standing behind the oven.

“Maman..” He said, this time in a tone of affection. He met the woman with a loving embrace and hugged her tightly. “Are you all alone?” Tora glanced around. She was baking cookies, as was her habit. His mother had raised six children, and although they had all moved out, she could not break the habit of baking goodies for the children that did not visit.

The mother woman removed the oven mitts and placed them on the counter. “Of course, I am, darling. You know nobody visits Maman anymore, not since your father left us.” She turned from her youngest son and began to scoop the warm cookies onto a cool plate. Tora’s gaze dropped to the floor, as did his heart.

“I do, Maman..” His voice was soft, as though his mentality had returned to that child like innocence he’d long since lost. “They just have a hard time visiting the house without Papa. We’re all getting together tomorrow. You should come, Maman. I’ll pick you up.” The dark-haired man nodded enthusiastically. He worried for his Mother often. Since his father, her husband, had died, she lived alone in the house where they had married and raised their children. He knew it was hard for her to manage all on her own. Whenever a light bulb went out, Tora was there to change it for her. When she needed to clean the gutters, Tora was always there to do it free of charge.

“I know, dear.” She spoke, her voice drifting into the usual nostalgic sadness as she thought of her husband. For a moment, his mother sighed, but soon, a smile came upon her. “That would be nice. I haven’t seen little Sophie in a long time.” She laughed, and so did Tora. His eldest brother, Cain, and his girlfriend had recently carried into the world a baby girl. Her name was Sophie, and she was the only grandchild so far. Other than Tora, Cain was the only one who frequently visited Maman. He did as much as he could, but between work and his family, he scarcely had time.

“Good.” Tora reached for a cookie, an act he knew would cheer both his sweet tooth and his dear Mother up. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow, then. In the mean time, I have good news..” Tora couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

His mother’s eyes widened and she turned quickly on him. “What? What is it?”

“I finally asked him, Maman.” He licked the chocolate off his lips and swallowed the last bite of cookie. “Ruki, the beautiful boy at work..” He could feel his heart fluttering. It was like he could spread wings and fly. “I asked him to go to the ball with me and he said yes, Maman.” Tora laughed in gleeful excitement and took up another cookie, as if in celebration.

“Oh, Julien! That’s wonderful!” His mother laughed along with him before lifting a finger, as though a thought had suddenly occurred to her. “That reminds me. Just one second, dear.” Maman left her son at the oven and disappeared into the house. Tora elevated his brow and blinked curiously, then shrugged and busied himself eating as many cookies as he could stuff into his face. His mother soon returned, with a little box in her hand. It was wooden, stained a beautiful color with intricate designs decorating its planks. Tora recognized it at once. It was the jewelry box his father had made with his own two hands. He’d given it to his wife for their wedding.

“Maman..” He began, but his mother quickly interjected.

“I want you to have it, Julien.” She placed the box on the counter and opened the lid. The inside was lined with a soft red velvet. On the velvet sat an aged gold ring, topped with a beautiful diamond. Little diamonds surrounded the gem, all the way around the band. Next to it were two simple golden bands, one larger than the other. They were his parents wedding bangs. The diamond ring was, of course, his mother’s engagement ring. Maman continued to explain, while Tora stared with his jaw dropped, “I want you to give it to whomever you truly love, Julien. I know this may be your first date and you don’t have to give it to him now, but… maybe some day, Julien…” She trailed off, a soft look overcoming her eyes as she pleaded with her son to take the box.

Tora looked at the rings and sighed. His heart warmed. “Maybe some day..” He repeated, tasting the words for himself, and he believed them. With a smile, he took the box and left his mother with a warm hug, promising to collect her the following evening. It was time he head home to get ready for the evening.

I accidentally numbered the parts out of order. Sorry if I confused anybody. :] It’s fixed!

Saturday - Ruki’s Apartment, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Once he finished breakfast, Kyo directed him to wash off the mask, then lead him into the living room for manicures. His nails were cleaned and cared for, then painted black with a dust of golden glitter to match his planned accessories. Next, Kyo spent some time applying a mineral treatment to Ruki’s hair to make it silky smooth and finished by drying the blond locks with a heated blow drier, all the while watching movies and giggling together in the living room.

Ruki sat cross-legged in the floor, donning a soft robe in front of the couch, where Kyo sat behind him, a flat iron in hand. He was presently working on Ruki’s hair, straightening his shoulder-length tresses with a slight curl, giving them body and shape as they fell against the nape of his neck. Ruki’s collection of makeup was spilled onto the table before him while he sorted through it, trying to decide what best matched his outfit. All of Ruki’s attempted decisions were for naught. Once Kyo finished shaping his hair, he layered it with hair spray and wasted no time taking over the makeup. Ruki turned in the floor, giving Kyo his face to let his dear friend work his magic. Soon enough, the boy was dazzling. Kyo had selected for him a dark black shadow, with a faint golden glimmer. His lashes were long and tempting, matched with rosy cheeks and shiny pink lips. He looked nothing short of incredible.

“Now then..” Kyo said, a pleased smile displayed proudly as he looked upon his nearly finished product, “Let’s get you into that dress and a sexy pair of heels..”

rinsachi & kuragari134.

I hope you really enjoy my stories. :3 

And thank you to everyone who has reblogged & shared the luff! It really means a lot to me to know that people are actually reading them.

Saturday - Ruki’s Apartment, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

The moment he left the bathroom, he could hear Kyo’s voice seconds later beckoning him into the kitchen. Ruki stepped through his house with a purr of comfort. He wore but a simple towel around his torso, droplets of water hanging on his calves, hair damp against his cheeks and yet he was very comfortable. His little apartment was nice and warm. Ruki grinned. His friend must have turned up the heat for him, knowing how he hated the cold. Every grouchy thought he housed leftover from the morning was no completely diminished.

“I’m here..” The freshly showered boy sang as he entered the kitchen. The smell of bacon hung deliciously in the air. Ruki’s brow elevated with interest. Kyo stepped away from the oven with a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast. The smell alone directed the blond towards the table.

“Have a seat, love. You look much better already.” Kyo sat the plate down, matched with a glass of orange juice and pulled out a chair. Ruki took the seat and picked up his fork. He stuffed his mouth full of bacon and chased it down with fresh juice. While Ruki was busy eating, Kyo collected a small bowl from the counter and took a seat next to him.

“I made some of my special face mask, so don’t move.” Before Ruki could object, Kyo globbed a thick handful onto his cheek and smeared the blue paste down his jaw. Ruki gave a faint roll of his eyes, but held still nonetheless, his mouth full with food. The mask smelled nice, like flowery perfume. He didn’t know how Kyo made it, and he didn’t want to know, truth be told. It worked wonders. That’s all that mattered. Ruki decided to be helpful and turn towards his friend, making the process easier for them both.

“I’m so happy for you..” Kyo grinned with a small sigh. He sounded like a mother who longed to see their child off. Ruki chuckled.

“So you don’t have to listen to me cry anymore?” He retorted.

“Exactly.” Kyo finished applying the mask and carried the bowl to the sink to rinse out. “I just wnat you to be happy.” He trailed off, as if something very heavily weighed upon his mind. Ruki blinked and thought about asking him what was wrong, but Kyo continued before he could even think to open his mouth.

“I can’t remember ever feeling more love and happiness than when Ettie asked me to marry him. My life wouldn’t be the same without my husband..” Kyo began to scrub out the bowl with a sponge drizzled in soap.

“Kyo, are you okay?” He laughed, “It’s only a date. We’re not getting married.” Though he did have to admit, the thought made his heart beat louder than it ever had before.

“I know.” Kyo smiled and laughed at the idea. “But I know how lonely you are.”

Ruki knew it was true, but hearing the actual words made him want to cry on the spot. He’d been watching Kyo interact with his husband for years. Though their lov was strange, it was always there. Always. In the way they talked, smiled, held hands, kissed, and even fought. It was always special, an interaction shaped for that one specific person alone, shared with no one else. Ruki wanted that.

“And I know how much you love him, Ruki.” The sound of Kyo’s voice brought the boy back to Earth. “So we’re going to make this night magical for you. He’s going to fall so in love with you, he won’t know what to do with himself. It’ll be like a fairy tale, just for you. I promise.” The smile on Kyo’s face was true. Ruki believed every word of it. Tonight was the night he would fall in love.

Saturday - Ruki’s Apartment, 10:00 AM

The next day was the longest of his life. Hideki had woken up bright and early to the sound of a fist banging at his door. He tried ignoring it, only for shouts to soon follow the banging. Hideki grumbled some choice words, too nasty to reiterate inf ear of tarnishing his lovely lady image, and crawled out of bed to begrudgingly answer the door. He found at the door a very angry best friend.

“What the hell’s the matter with you? It’s ten in the morning and you look like you’ve been five finger fucked by the ugly stick.”

Kyo was a very odd, very flamboyant man. He wasn’t afraid to speak the truth and any business of Ruki’s was business of his. They’d been friends since high school. They spent almost every weekend together, watching movies, shopping, and gossiping.  Oh, and he was also married to Ruki’s boss, Etienne Alderic, otherwise known as the world’s biggest hard ass. People of the office either transferred because he was tougher than a bag of nails or stayed because he was incredibly sexy. While Ettie was CEO of a corporation, Kyo owned a local sweets bakery. They were a strange couple, but they’d been married for years.

Ruki stared at Kyo in disbelief. “It’s ten.. in the morning. What in fuck’s sake am I supposed to be doing right now?” Needless to say, the little blond was not a morning person. He had a fiery attitude, on top of it all. His complete and utter disrespect for the process of true beauty prodded Kyo’s fanciful buttons.

“Get your ass in that bathroom and take a shower right now. I’ll make breakfast while you scrub the ugly off your face.” Kyo pointed his finger towards the bathroom like an angry mother. His tone was slow and almost frightening. Strangely enough, for whatever reason, Ruki listened, and disappeared into the bathroom with a hateful roll of his eyes.

Like his mornings, Ruki’s shower was nice and hot. Too hot, even. The stinging splash of water on his back turned him on to a number of vastly imaginative scenarios, all including sexual endeavors with his love. One Kitora Amano. He imagined the man sliding into the shower with him, naked and dripping with water. He felt his hands against his soft flesh, around his hips and between his thighs. Ruki glided one of his own hands down his sleek abdomen, mimicking the touches he wanted to desperately to receive from his coworker. He turned his head into the spray of the water and groaned. It felt too good.

It didn’t take long before his daydreams caused his hormones to rush south. Ruki unknowingly suffered the same fate as his coworker had just yesterday morning: a thick hard-on with no proper outlet, other than a curious hand. The blond’s thick hair laid against his head, stuck to his wet cheeks, red with the heat of the water. Steam engulfed his petite frame, and through the thick fog, one would see a sly hand dipping between his thighs.

He rubbed his fingers against himself. His head lulled back, lips parted with a heavy groan of release. Every tense worry was eliminated from his shoulders, leaving him with nothing but pleasure. Hideki lifted a single leg and perched it atop the bottom ledge, allowing him better access between his legs. His fingers ventured deeper, sliding in and out of his warm insides, tight with neglect. His hips twitched every now and then when his fingers struck a certain spot, causing a sudden cry to leave him. Hideki’s heart raced. Every time he would come close to orgasm, he would slow to a dreadful pace until it passed, where he could pick it back up again soon after. He pressed his forehead against the slick shower wall and panted.

He was almost there again. His mind flooded with images of Tora and what he thought he might look like naked underneath him in bed. The boy rocked his hips back and forth against his own fingers, wishing it was Tora he was grinding against. The wild thought finally sent him over the edge when climax struck him hard. An unexpected cry left him and his hips bucked forward, his fingers clawing at the flat glass door, desperately seeking something to hold onto as cum spilled from his throbbing length. His body quivered with the aftermath of orgasm. A sigh passed his lips and he withdrew his still shaking fingers. He figured it was about time he continue with the real shower.

Don’t hesitate to follow or message with critique/requests. :] There’s plenty more to come. I write two-three different plots at a time.

Office Building, 32nd Floor, Tora’s Desk - 4:30 PM, 30 Minutes to Quittin’ Time

The sound of heels clicking along the carpet alerted Tora to an approaching presence. He quickly minimized the web browser where he’d ordered flowers specially for his date tomorrow and turned in his chair to see Ruki standing before him.

“Hello, miss..” He cheerfully greeted him with a smile, his long day suddenly eased with the soft face of his secretary.

A genuine smile came upon him at the sound of Tora’s voice. It never ceased to amaze him. “Here..” He extened a hand, passing over a small stack of stapled papers.

Tora arched an eyebrow and inspected the papers, flipping through them curiously.

“Directions to my house.” The blond explained, laying a finger on the first page. “So you won’t get lost.” He laughed in a way that sent a wave of adoration throughout Tora. He loved him for that.

“Perfect..” He purred appreciatively, taking a moment to skim through the directions, complete with a colored map.

“And I’m wearing black, with antique gold accessories, so you can match.” The next page had examples of his outfit’s colors.

Tora chuckled. “I feel like I’m going to Prom..”

Ruki grinned with a twinge of sadness. “I never went..” He only mumbled the words, as if embarrassed. Regret tainted his beautifully colored orbs and he glanced down at the floor.

Tora quickly looked up. The tone in the boy’s voice upset him. His brow furrowed in question.

“My boyfriend at the time didn’t want to go.. and he wouldn’t let me go with anybody else. He eventually became my exhusband..” Ruki explained with a small shrug, as if it were truly no big deal. Even if it wasn’t, Tora’s heart ached for him. Prom was an event every teenager should joyfully remember. A beautiful boy like Ruki should be held and spoiled with flowers, a beautiful dress, fancy ride, and a dutiful man to escort him into a decorated ballroom. At that moment, Tora decide that this date would be the most spectacular evening Ruki had ever had.

Office Building, 32nd Floor- 8:15 AM

Ruki always got there early, after the janitors and cleaning crew, but before any of the office workers. He thought it was his duty to greet all his friendly coworkers, plus, it was the only way to be sure that Tora was present without being too obvious. If he was absent, the whole day was dreadfully long and dull. Every passing glimpse of the tall, dark-haired man sent Ruki’s heart racing, like a school girl with a crush. He looked forward to those fleeting seconds when Tora would approach his desk and ask for some copies to be made. Of course, he was happy to do it for him. Their hands would brush by one another and the touch ignited a fever of passion and desire between them that neither believed the other was aware of. Their fascination with one another was highly mutual, but their fear of rejection and heart break kept them from action.

On the 32nd floor in one of the tallest office buildings in the city, Ruki arrived at his desk as the clock struck half past eight. He left his purse and took his bagged lunch into the lounge to sit neatly on the top shelf of the fridge. He had used a black sharpie to etch his name in pretty cursive on the bag’s front, in order to claim it as his own. The top was rolled down and stapled to keep his nosy coworkers out. He took from the fridge a bottle of milk and creamer, collected sugar from the cabinet and set to work producing the morning’s first batch of coffee, made fresh to appease his fellow officefolk. He took a warm mug for himself, full of caramel vanilla creamer, and returned to his desk.

He busied himself by organizing his desk, sorting multi-colored pens in a cup next to his computer monitor and filing paperwork into neat stacks. He sipped at his coffee with caution while glancing up at the clock from time to time. People usually started to show up by now. Looking out the window, a soft flurry of snowflakes floated slowly from the gray skies above, down to the chilly earth below, like icy feathers. He wondered if the weather was bad enough to keep anyone from making it to work. His heart sank in worry. He hoped Tora would make it okay.

At about that time, the phone rang. He picked it up, pressed it to his ear, and introduced himself with a pleasant,

“Hello, thank you for calling the 32nd floor. This is Ruki speaking, how may I help you?”

On the other line was a girl named Kathrine. She was a nice girl. A little absent-minded, but very kind. She was calling to tell Ruki that her car was frozen solid and wouldn’t start. She was taking the day off. Ruki wished her a safe winter and hung up. He pressed a few keys and clicked some buttons, recording the girl absent. Moments later, the door to their offices swung open, and Ruki’s heart leapt in his throat with hope.

He looked up quickly from his desk, the pen in his hand going still. It was him. In through the door strolled that man, his dark hair messy, glasses on his nose, and a bag slung over his shoulder. Today, he work khaki trousers and a black button up, red tie, and a gray blazer. He looked unbelievably handsome, as he always did to Ruki.

When Tora came through that door, snow dusting his broad shoulders, he looked up to the petite blond behind the counter and smiled. [i]Oh, there he is,[/i] Tora thought, as if he’d been searching for him all morning. The only thing that made this place tolerable for Tora was that bright, lovely smile he greeted every morning.

“Good morning, Ruki..”

A hot blush came over the secretary and he couldn’t stop the sparkling smile of thrilling relief. He made it! Perhaps today wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Good morning..” He replied, ever so conscious not to seem too eager. Of course, he was, but he was afraid of letting anyone know that.

“I smell coffee.” Tora noted with a pleased tone. Despite already having some at home, he’d never miss out on a fresh batch brewed especially by the most beautiful specimen of human he’d ever seen.

Ruki beamed with happiness, as he did throughout every morning conversation they shared.

“Oh, yes. Let me get you some.” The blond hopped up from his desk and scurried into the lounge. Tora smiled to himself and removed the bag from his shoulder and laid it upon the high counter. Watching Ruki walk away, he’d stolen a few sly glimpses of his curvy waist, that round bottom that had made his morning so entertaining. He felt something twitch below the belt and sighed. He needed Ruki, in so many more ways than one.

Tora shook himself from the mid-morning daydream when Ruki returned, walking carefully with a steaming cup of Joe.

“Here you go. Just the way you like it.” Ruki placed the cup next to Tora’s bag and took a seat behind his desk. Tora smiled in thanks and took a sip, an ever so grateful purr leaving as he spoke against the mug’s warm brim.

“Mm.. wonderful. Simple wonderful.”

Ruki smiled, happy to have pleased the man.

Tora continued to sip at the coffee, his lips resting comfortably against the ceramic mug, elbows propped upon the counter that welcomed guests into their office.

Ruki sat at his desk, cradling his own cup, turning idly in his chair. The pair remained silent for several long moments, simply enjoying the company of the coworkers they endeared so much. The both of them searched desperately for some conversation to share. Ruki swallowed, his cheeks burning under the scrutiny of his crush. He wondered what he was thinking. Did he look pretty? He wanted to look in a mirror and check. This silence was killing him.

Tora’s dark eyes spent some time undressing the lovely figure before him. He stopped only when his pants suddenly grew tight. He wished he had a dollar for every hard-on Ruki gave him and another for every night he spent without him. That passing thought, along with his long lonely morning, instilled a burst of courage somewhere in him. He felt a drive of longing, looking at the blond boy he wanted so badly. He couldn’t take it anymore. Something had to be done.

“Ruki, I..” He began, setting his coffee down with a sudden tone of seriousness.

The sound in his voice made Ruki’s hairs stand on end. [i]Oh god, please say it. Confess your undying love for me and whisk me away to a private cabin to make love until the sun comes up.[/i] Ruki had gone over this conversation a million times in his head.

“Yes?” His voice was drenched with expectation, his gray eyes practically begging to hear such a confession of love, as he’d imagined so many times before.

“I was wondering..” Tora stared into his coffee, thumbs idly rubbing against its paint. His heart was racing. A part of him suddenly regretted opening his mouth. Eventually, he choked up the courage to continue.

“If you’d like to go to the company ball with me tomorrow? I.. I know it’s late notice, but I’d really like to go with you..” He felt sick. He didn’t know if he could handle rejection. Tora’s heart beat so hard against his chest, it dizzied him. He braved the nerves and looked up from his coffee to read Ruki’s expression.

The blond’s mouth hung open in surprise. Did he really say that? For a second, he was afraid his heart had stopped. He was so speechless, the lungful of breath was stuck in his throat. He mouthed the word “oh” in attempt to speak, but no sound came out.

“T-to the ball? The masquerade, you mean?” Ruki finally question. He struggled to believe Tora actually wanted such a thing. He could only assume that he’d misheard the man. He didn’t want to make a full of himself, getting excited for nothing.

Tora breathed a nervous laugh to play it cool and nodded with a shrug. “Y-yeah, I mean.. it doesn’t have to be a date, we can just be friends, if that’s what you want…” Before he could finish the thought, Ruki excitedly intervened.

“No!” He sat up straight, as if alarmed. “No, I’d love to! I’d love to go with you.. on a date..” Warmth flooded his cheeks. He couldn’t believe this was actually happening, and how excited he had been! Surely Tora could see that. He felt as though every feeling he’d ever thought for Tora were visible for all the world to see at this moment.

Tora’s eyes widened. “Woah, really?” He questioned in utter disbelief, unable to stop himself. He was too taken aback to note Ruki’s own behavior.

Ruki began to smile. He breathed a soft laugh and nodded eagerly with a quiet mumble, “Absolutely.”

Tora couldn’t stop himself from exhaling a sigh of relief. Was asking someone out really that easy? He’d worked with Ruki for two years and never got the courage to do this until now. Love was so intimidating.

“That.. that’s so wonderful..” He sounded so thrilled, like a young boy, too shy to speak much louder.

Ruki nodded, his entire being quivering, though his voice held a sure tone as he spoke. “I expect dinner. A proper date. Pick me up tomorrow at five.” If Tora was taking him out, he’d be damn sure it would be one hell of a first date. He was not about to let this man slip through his fingers, not after so long.

Tora had no qualms listening to his demands. In fact, it brought a smile to his face. He nodded in understanding.

“You got it.” He smirked with confidence and collected his coffee. “You won’t be disappointed, I promise you that.” Tora winked and finally strolled away from the counter to settle at his own desk. No amount of work would be done today. He would spend all day analyzing and restaurants and planning his first date with the love of his life.