Christmas morning Kahaku for once out of bed early heads downstairs with a wrapped gift in his hands. A small tree is decorated in the corner of the living room that him and his brother put up a few days before. Sho who is eating breakfast at the table greets him as he walks in the dinning room. "Merry Christmas. This is the one day of the year you actually wake up at a reasonable hour."
"I don't sleep in all the time! I'm sure you already saw the envelope on the table. Matsuda gave a little more this month as a Christmas present to you." His cousin was kind enough to send Kahaku some as well. He can definitely use the extra cash to put up. "Anyway this is from me, Merry Christmas."
Sho pauses in his eating slowly taking the gift from his brother's hands. "Um, is this really okay?"
He's probably asking because he knows Kahaku is saving up to move. Something like this won't set him back too much. "Of course it is. Open it up."
"Thank you..." Ripping free the package his eyes light up as soon as he sees the title. "This is Crossfire three!"
"Did I surprise you? I know how long you've been waiting for this game to come out. When I saw it was on the shelves I picked it up. I knew with the rating you weren't going to be able to purchase it for yourself. It didn't come cheap though so take good care of it."
Sho stares blankly for a second before leaping from his seat and giving Kahaku a hug. His body freezes from shock as hugs are a very rare occurrence from his little brother. Looking down at how happy he is brings a smile to his own face.
"I'm going to try it out now!" he exclaims, shooting past him towards the living room.
"Wait shouldn't you finish breakfast first?"
After spending the morning with his brother the two get dressed to head over to Megumi's place. She's throwing a small Christmas party and said Sho could tag along too. He goes digging through several clothes items from the back of his closet. Most work days he throws on whatever, so it's not often he dresses up like this. In the end decides to put on a pink colorful polka dot bubble vest, that's hardly got any use since he bought it. Throwing on a dark blue long sleeve underneath it and some skinny jeans. Once they're both fully ready the two drive off to her apartment.
...
By the time they walk through the front door it's already late evening. Sho shoots for the television most likely to play his new game again and Kahaku chuckles to himself. "Make sure you give the system time to cool down. I'll be going to hang with Natsume so I'll be back in a little bit."
Natsume did say for him to pick out where they go and to keep it a surprise. He already told Kyou the place and time when seeing him at the party, so he'll be meeting them there.
I hope he likes what I decided.
After picking him up Kahaku drives through the light snow flares as they head towards the destination. "I wonder where it is that we're going." Natsume hints, but he simply shakes his head keeping eyes on the road.
"You'll see when we get there."
It isn't too long until the vehicle pulls to a stop in a parking lot. Natsume gets out the car first looking at the building standing before them. "A...skating rink?"
"Yeah, I haven't stopped by much any this year. I thought it would be something different."
"Sure, I suppose it would be all well and dandy if I knew how to skate," Natsume replies with a wry smile, and Kahaku's eyes grow wide.
"You don't know how to skate?! B-But you never mentioned that before! We went skating a few times back then."
"Yes, roller blading down the road not skating on the ice."
It's true you could know someone for years and still learn new things about them. A pit forming in his stomach wishing he would have just picked a simpler activity. "Sorry, I should of stuck with something more basic."
He's quiet for a moment before shutting the car door. "You really wanted to come here and I'm the one who told you to choose. There's a first time for everything."
A small smile forming on his face as he follows him to the entrance. "Thanks and how about I give you a lesson on skating? It'll be a reward for all the help you've been giving me with my dancing." It would be a nice change of pace for him to be doing the coaching.
A devilish grin crosses his face at the suggestion. "Alright, if you insist but teaching me won't be easy. I'm not the most tolerate student."
"I'm up for the challenge."
"Let's get to it then."
After greeting Kyou already waiting inside he gives the two their space. Observing from outside the rink with a notebook and camera in hand. Kahaku leads Natsume up to the front for them to both get rented skates. Grabbing a free booth to change Natsume takes of his coat. Today wearing a orange sports sweatshirt though he isn't familiar enough to say for what team. Along with a plain pair of black jeans and matching shoes he's now removing. His friend is known to dress more flashy though luckily he didn't today. Considering all the falling that's surely to come.
When the pair switch on the skates they slowly make their way unto the ice. There's people of all ages having fun going around the large rink. "Push off one foot at a time. It's probably best if we just start off going around the edge of the rink first until you get comfortable."
"Right." The blonde setting a hand on the edge to help steady himself, and grabbing Kahaku's hand with the other. He feels his heart flutter a bit at the gesture, reminding him of the warm feeling like at the festival. But tries to ignore such emotions as they'll only cause a distraction.
As they cautiously work their way around Natsume loses his footing and nearly falls back. "Are you okay? Not so fast I said. This takes much more time learning than to roller blade. If you do fall always get up with one knee on the ice, so you don't end up slipping back down."
Going through it a few more times around the edge Natsume starts to gradually stumble a bit less. Before they can go another lap, Kahaku grabs his left arm slowly pulling him towards the middle. "Whoa! Don't you think it's too soon for this?"
"But you can't learn by holding unto the wall the whole time. I'd like for us to skate around a little like this before we have to leave."
"As you say coach, but any fatal injury I may take you'll have to explain to both of our managers."
"You'll be fine. The most damage you'll do is skin your clothes." The two go around and though Natsume does fall a few times he gets right back up. Actually them skating is enjoyable and the article soon becomes an afterthought as they joke around. His gaze staring down to their hands once more. Even if he can't feel his warmth through the gloves the tingly feeling still remains. Kahaku tries his best to just focus on the fun they're having and block out anything else.
"Coming through!" A young girl shouts from behind and Natsume quickly attempts to move out of her way. A little too quickly causing him to lose balance and clutch unto Kahaku for support.
"Wah! You're heavy!" Not being able to support his weight the younger falls back with Natsume landing right on top of him. "Ow. You have to stop reaching for me! You're only dragging me down with you."
A laugh comes from the taller man as if he finds the whole situation amusing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I do it without thinking." He slowly picks himself up and Kahaku realizes just how close their faces are. His gaze drops down to his lips and the memory of their first kiss resurfaces. His chest feels tight wishing he could experience that sensation again. "Kahaku, are you alright? Your ears are red."
He's thinking so much it's starting to show. He has to push all of those emotions aside right now. "I-I'm fine."
"Really? We can't take a break if you're cold."
The friends go purchase a hot drink and go take a break in the lounging area. Kahaku letting out a small sigh as they sit down. "This is harder than I thought it was going to be."
"You're not that good of a coach. You can't even help your student out when they're falling," he says dramatically, and Kahaku's cheeks pucker at his words.
"I said I can't support you on these skates, and besides you could be a better student. You keep on trying to rush things when I tell you to take it slow."
"You seem to be pretty good at this though."
"Megumi taught me how a while back. We didn't have places like this back home."
"Yeah, that's true. I didn't know there was so many things to experience living in the city...You know, you've changed a lot since then. You use to be more closed off just like Sho is now, but getting you to open up became a little chatterbox. Oh, and you were a total crybaby too."
"W-What, I was not!" Well perhaps there is some truth to that statement.
Natsume chuckles at the quick denial.
"And I can't forget really stubborn. Though I guess that factor hasn't changed a bit."
"Well you're even more troublesome now than you were before."
"Aw, come on. I might of did a few reckless acts here and there, but I wasn't so bad."
"Wasn't so bad is an understatement and you know it," he teases, throwing his own words back at him. That remark sends the two laughing and it really does feel like old times.
They settle down after a minute and Natsume's smile slowly fades. "When I first moved here you must of felt so alone. I was too busy only focused on myself and completely went back on my word. Ha, some friend." It seems like he's more talking out loud to himself. Although Kahaku is far from happy to find it's still bothering him, is touched to know how much he cares.
"Back then when you first moved away I use to go to the lake everyday and just sit. I thought maybe out of the blue you'd just show up saying you were there to visit. That you came to see me, but that day never came." Natsume expression crumbles as Kahaku tightly grasps his cup, eyes glued down at his reflection in the dark liquid. "I had to let go and get myself to move foward. Coming here I met Megumi by chance one day, and that's when my life started to change. She gave me confidence to do things I usually never consider. In the end I got to see you again. This...is more than enough for me."
"Kahaku...I see."
That's right. He should be happy just being friends with Natsume after five long years. Wanting more than this is acting greedy. As long as things can stay this way he'll be content.
Maybe if I keep repeating that to myself I'll actually start to believe it.
A squeal snaps them out the tense atmosphere as a crowd of girls surrounds them. "I-I thought it was you two! I can't believe you're here!"
"This is the best Christmas present I could ask for!" A red head squeals.
"Are you here on a date?!" Another girl questions and they exchange looks.
"Kinda, Kahaku was nice enough to try and teach me how to skate. I'll make sure to return the favor by teaching you a thing or two of my own a little later." Natsume purrs leaning in close and his breath catches with their noses nearly touching. Kahaku knows his face is burning up yet again with the girls tittering at the show. "Haha, I said too much."
"Can I get a picture with you two real quick?" The blonde asks pulling out her phone.
"Me too!" It's clear now that they've been discovered they aren't going to get any more practice in tonight.
They make a break to escape at the next opening before even more fans can pop up. Kyou follows them out to the parking lot showing some of the photos he snapped on his digital camera. "I got some good shots of you two! This will be a great article for the magazine."
He did manage to get clear pictures of them from the sidelines. Kyou definitely has talent for what he does. "These are pretty good. Thanks again for taking the time to do this."
"No problem. Like I said it's beneficial for the both of us. Welp, I'll be heading home now. Have a good night." Kyou taking off in his own car as they get into Kahaku's.
It's an awkward silence betwwen them as drive to Natsume's home. The blonde gaze off out the window as the soft radio continues to play. The night was going well so how did it turn to this? Kahaku pulls the car to a park at his driveway. "Um, today was fun. I'd like for us to go again soon."
"Ah, yeah I had a good time too. Even if I fell down more than I can count. Right, I almost forgot! Come inside with me for a minute."
Does he really mean to 'teach him something' like he told those girls earlier? Of course not! That's no way the reason he wants me to go inside.
It's a possibility Akira is in there. That thought on his mind he rather end Christmas on a good note and not follow to find out. "Uh, I can just wait here."
"It's cold out here and you don't have to worry. She's not here today." And naturally he saw right through him. With his worries at ease he tags along inside.
Kahaku takes a seat on the sofa as he patiently waits for Natsume's return since he disappeared upstairs. Turning back from the holiday cartoon on television when hearing his footsteps approaching. His old friend holds a wrapped medium size box in hand, and that immediately has Kahaku jump off the cushion over to him. "Merry Christmas."
"A present for me!"
Natsume laughs as Kahaku eyes light up. "Don't get so excited and you haven't even opened it yet. I don't want you to get your hopes up."
He's a little upset he doesn't have anything to give him their first Christmas being reunited. There's not much for him to spend but even something small is better than nothing at all. "I'm sorry, I don't have a gift for you. I'm still putting up to move and spent some of that money on the new game for my brother."
"It's fine, I'm not expecting anything in return. Just take this as a thank you for accepting my apology of the promise I broke all those years ago. Now go ahead and open it up."
He doesn't have to ask twice with him ripping off the fancy paper to find a robot action figure still in it's boxing. Kahaku goes quiet as it doesn't take long to recall why he would choose this as a gift...
"Natsume!" A young Kahaku ran up to join Natsume who sat by the lake as usual. He stood up and walked over to his friend who had a huge smile on his face.
"There you are. I've been waiting forever. What's that behind you?"
"You wanna know? It's Altruan! It's the last robot of the Mecha Destroyers I needed to complete my collection. I finally have all four!" His excitment died down for a minute as he kicked at the dirt on the ground. "You probably think it's stupid, right? An eleven year old to get so happy about a dumb toy."
"I don't think that at all. I actually think it's kinda cute." He blushed slightly and setting the toy aside the two start to play around the lake.
Soon the sun goes down an Kahaku uncle came to bring him home for dinner. "Bye, Natsume! See you tomorrow!"
Later on after eating Kahaku realized he's missing something very important. His Altruan figure is nowhere to be found. He searched the living room for the third time after already checking his bedroom. "I can't find it! My last Mecha men toy!"
"Come to think of it I don't believe you had it when I picked you up. We can search for it tomorrow, but I have work early and it's getting late."
"But-!"
"You could of simply misplaced it around here, and even if you really did leave it outside very few kids live around this area. It's unlikely for someone to find it and take it."
Though what his uncle said is true he couldn't shake this bad feeling. So instead Kahaku waited for him to put himself and Sho to bed. Once he did however the boy snuck out going to fetch Natsume as to have an extra pair of eyes for looking.
"This is why you dragged me out so late? I do have school tomorrow." The blonde grumbled as he followed to their base.
"We have to find it! Altruan is really rare because he's so popular. It took forever for my uncle to get this one for me. If I can't find it I'll never get another!" They searched and searched but still end up empty handed, as it only continued to get even later.
"Could it really disappeared so quickly? It had only been a few hours but we pretty much covered this whole area now..."
"He's gone. He really is gone. I-I should of never took it out the house because now it's lost forever..." Tears started to fall as the boy sinks down to his knees in the grass. Natsume walked over and rubbed his back sympathetically.
"Hey, don't start that. I'll take you out for ice cream tomorrow after school, okay? I'm sure we'll luck up and find another one someday, you'll see."
The fact that he still remembers this from that long ago warms his heart. There's a small grin on Natsume's lips when he looks up to face him. "I know it's pretty late but here's your Altruan."
"Thanks a lot Natsume. I love it," he says with a tender smile. Little actions like these are having his suppressed feeling only grow even stronger.
You're sure making it difficult to settle as just friends.
A/N The end of another chapter. Funny thing is when I wrote this story years ago I had no idea what Voltraun was. So seeing the similarity now is ironic. Please don't forget to comment your thoughts:)