Everyday Paradise

AN: First attempt at Fafner fic(let). Thus, probably a bit OOC and otherwise wobbly.

"Soushi, where are we going?"

It had taken Kazuki somewhat as a surprise to find Soushi at his doorstep ten minutes earlier, simply asking him to come with. Ever since Kazuki's return to Tatsumiya Island, Soushi had treated him even cooler than normal. He understood that; understood Soushi had felt betrayed when left - more importantly, that he left with Mark XI, their main line of defense.

Yet, it was something he had to do - and it had worked out fine, if only through fortunate coincidences.

Soushi had the right to be mad. Kazuki had apologised repeatedly in more ways than just words, but he was never sure if the message got through to Soushi.

The feedback from the Siegfried System had to have gotten worse. These days, half the time Soushi appeared completely absent of mind, painkillers killing presence as well as pain.

There was no hiding the determination in his eyes when he came to Kazuki's house that evening, though. With just the three words 'come with me', spoken with great conviction, Kazuki had put on his shoes and jacket and done as asked.

They hadn't spoken. He walked fast to keep pace with Soushi, and with every step he'd hoped Soushi would say something - anything. On the beach earlier that day, Soushi had said forgiveness lay at the end of a swimming race. Kazuki had won that, but couldn't shake the feeling Soushi had lost on purpose. Then again, Sakura had gone with them, and even she couldn't keep up.

Perhaps it was just that the incentive had given him the extra strength needed to win.

Soushi hadn't said anything about his desertion after that though, and Kazuki feared that deep down, Soushi had not yet forgiven him. Feelings of betrayal are tough to excise, Kazuki knew that first hand - especially after himself being stabbed in the back by someone he trusted.

But that was past.

And the path of the present was unknown.

Soushi stopped, glanced over his shoulder, not smiling, eyes clear and harsh. "I want to fulfill a promise."

"A promise?"

Soushi nodded, started walking again. "I once promised I'd take you to paradise."

Kazuki halted, watched Soushi advance a few more steps before realizing he wasn't followed, turning around. "Soushi?"

He reached out his open palm to Kazuki. "Come." Kazuki hesitated obeying this time, if only until Soushi's mouth curled into a faint smile, whispering an added "Please?"

Taking a few stumbling steps forward, Kazuki took the offered hand, let himself be led on, through a backalley, up a hill, his grip on Soushi's hand tightening until he couldn't be shaken off. to his relief, Soushi didn't seem to mind.

Soushi turned a corner, slowed down until they were standing side by side. "We're here."

Kazuki didn't understand at first. They'd reached a promontory point, most of the town spread out in the bay below them. Was Soushi referring to the island as a whole? Was-

Soushi tugged his hand. Kazuki gave him a glance, saw him nod towards the building behind them. Turning, Kazuki read the arched sign in the window, finally understanding. 'Paradise', indeed - the restaurant that Kouyou's parents had run. He had to smile. This, he hadn't expected - but it was getting late; the place had to be closed by now. Mizoguchi didn't strike Kazuki as someone to keep his shop open for all that long, not even for the important charade of peace the entire island took part in.

Indeed, the lights appeared to be off, except perhaps a few table lamps, giving off the faint, eerie glow visible through the great window.

Soushi led him to the door, opened it to the chime of the doorbell. "We're here," he announced, affording Kazuki another weak smile. Kazuki felt his heart beat a little faster, both palms clamming up.

There was a ruckus from behind the counter. Mizoguchi straightened up, gave them a quick salute. "Ah, so you are. Hi, Soushi, Kazuki." Grinning, he nodded towards where the dim light was coming from. "Your table is all set." He checked his watch, whistled. "With five seconds to spare from what you said, too. You've got impeccable timing, Soushi. Just took the food off the stove."

Soushi nodded. "This is important. Being late would be unforgivable." Quick glance at Kazuki, back to Mizoguchi. "Thank you."

Chuckle. "I don't mind - now, you keep your end of the bargain." Mizoguchi walked over to the rack near the door, grabbed his coat. "Well, I'm off. Soushi." As the boy turned, Mizoguchi tossed him a set of keys. "Here - lock up when you're done. Leave the dishes - and you can send the keys home with Kazuki." With a wink, he was out the door, the small bell chiming into silence.

"What did he mean by that, Soushi?"

Not answering, Soushi wrestled his hand free, made for the collar of Kazuki's jacket. "We're having dinner," he answered, a flicker of doubt across his face. "If you want to."

Kazuki brightened up immediately, hesitantly reached his arms around Soushi's waist, a loose hug growing ever closer, not relenting until he felt Soushi reciprocate, a warm hand against the small of his back, another between his shoulder-blades, cheeks brushing. Time became indefinable, at least until Soushi loosened his hold on him.

"Even with the lids, the food will get cold," Soushi calmly commented.

Leaning back for their eyes to meet, Kazuki nodded in agreement. They took off their jackets, walked over to the table where the pair of white candlesticks flickered, fighting the darkness of the locale. White china, crisp napkins, impeccably placed utensils, a bucket of crushed ice and a green bottle sticking out - though Kazuki was almost certain the contents did not contain alcohol. Soushi was not careless with such things.

Piloting Mark Sein drunk might be an interesting experience, but a frightfully dangerous one - and Soushi had enough to deal with flashback pains, if he wasn't to fight a hangover as well.

Soushi pulled back a chair, motioned for Kazuki to sit down. Feeling his face warm up, Kazuki accepted the offer. He watched as Soushi sat down at the opposite end of the small table. "Please," Soushi asked, taking a hold of his lid. Kazuki copied him, and at the same time, they lifted it aside, watching steam rise from their plates.

Kazuki felt his mouth water at the sight. Generous helpings of rice and steamed vegetables was one thing, the piece of dark meat covering the rest of the plate quite another. Kazuki couldn't remember the last time he'd had meat - at least not this much. The staple food of Tatsumiya Island tended to be whatever they could haul up from the local waters, or grow on the scattered patches of fields the island sported. There were enough of chickens, but cattle and pigs were scarce - meat just took too much resources to be a staple.

A great treat, then. Undoubtedly a costly one, too.

Soushi allowed himself half a smirk at Kazuki's baffled expression. He reached for the green bottle, poured the harmless content into their tall glasses. While not quite champagne or wine, the sweet apple juice would suffice - he hoped.

For all Kazuki cared, water and breadsticks would have sufficed, as long as the company remained. Not that he voiced this in any way. Instead, he struggled to wait in digging in until Soushi was ready. Together, they began eating, both going for a piece of meat first.

At the first taste, Kazuki closed his eyes and smiled to himself, telling himself that if he still wasn't forgiven, and this was some sort of strange punishment, he would have to grate Soushi more often.

Or perhaps, just break and make up with him more often.

Then again, he didn't really want that.

He only wanted Soushi.

And more meat.

---

The eve passed in silence, at least as far as words were concerned. None too discrete looks, brief touches in reaching simultaneously for the salt or bottle of soy sauce, feet meeting under the table, content sighs at each mouthful - such things said more than most words could.

Their plates clean and the green bottle empty, they prepared to leave. Kazuki blew the candles out, slipped out the door and let Soushi lock up, handing him the key chain. Kazuki looked at it, remembered what Mizoguchi had said earlier and pocketed them.

Soushi took a faint hold of Kazuki's wrist, guided him towards the railing of the promontory point. The moon was high in the sky, clouds were mostly absent, a few stars already shining down on them - although they both knew the mirror shield above them most likely distorted their lights.

It didn't matter.

Kazuki shifted his wrist so that he could entwine their fingers. He let his thumb rub slowly along Soushi's as they watched the town by night beneath and all around them. "Soushi...?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you... for tonight."

Soushi's grip tightened, but not uncomfortably so. "You're welcome." A quick glance, an addition. "Thank you for coming, Kazuki."

Soft smile. Another light below went out for the night, another household going to bed. "Soushi...?"

"Yes?"

Kazuki nibbled at his lower lip, hesitant in asking. "What... what exactly did you promise Mizoguchi?"

Soushi looked at him for a moment, then out at the bay again. "I promised I'd keep you out of your home for at least two hours."

Kazuki took a minute to think about that, slowly reasoning it out. "Oh..." he breathed out, his cheeks flushing nicely in the night as he looked out over the bay, not daring to face Soushi.

Their fingers untangled, and Soushi tentatively put his arm around Kazuki's shoulder, waited for Kazuki to lean in against him. They didn't talk after that, merely stood close for a little while, before exchanging another set of uneasy glances.

Finally, Soushi smiled at Kazuki again, stronger this time. With his free hand, he reached up to cup Kazuki's cheek, leaned closer still...

The power of a smile, a touch, is tricky to define. The effect of a kiss can be indescribable.

For that night at least, Soushi went good on his promise, leading Kazuki from one paradise to another.

The hell of their daily struggles to survive would return soon enough.

They had tonight, and they did not let it go to waste.

-end-