August 29/ Suited/ PG-13/ Closed

[nezumi]

Characters: Asuka and Kenji <3
Time: 10:23 A.M.
Location: Kenji's home
I didn't quite know where to put this, but the two of them aren't at the Aozora apartments, but at an apartment complex in Suginami.


He was holding her hand again, leading them through the streets of a city so familiar to him that Kenji could navigate with his eyes closed or in his sleep. Asuka was next to him, walking with him, and Kenji had caught himself glancing down at her several times since they had stepped off of the train only five minutes ago.

The dark-haired girl looked happy from what Kenji could tell, but she was an actress, and Asuka was damn good at keeping things hidden that she felt didn't need to see the light.

But things were different now, or Kenji believed that they were. She let him hold her hand, smiled at him with something more than just curiosity or interest, Asuka accepted the little kisses he placed on the top of her head at the oddest times -- usually when she wasn't paying as much attention to him as she normally did, when her mind was elsewhere.

They were great together, in some odd sync that Kenji couldn't even begin to explain to anyone. Even when they were both completely silent, busy with their own majors, they were still so aware of each other that some people might have called it strange.

Kenji didn't think so. Asuka made him happy, and from what he could tell, he made her happy too. That's all he needed. He just wanted to see her smile, even though Kenji still didn't know everything that was and was not off limits with her. He hadn't told her he liked her -- in so many words -- yet, and he hadn't kissed her on the lips yet. Little by little. Be gentle. The boy tested the waters repeatedly, half-expecting her to snap at him once or twice, but she never did, not anymore.

Their pace slowed, Kenji turning to her and walking backwards. He spun her around like a ballerina, smiling down at her. "Are you sure you want to do this? It can wait."

Kenji had made plans to retrieve his old suit from home to begin to put together his Halloween costume -- a king, Asuka going as his queen -- and had invited her along. The dark-haired boy wanted to introduce Asuka to his mother -- who worked from home on weekends meaning she would undoubtedly be there whenever they showed up.

The boy's mother was one of his favorite people in the world, and he knew she would like Asuka -- she already liked what she knew of the younger girl (because Kenji talked about her a lot), and wanted to meet her as badly as Kenji wanted to introduce them.

But... "You don't have to meet her this time. You can meet her when you're over for Christmas." Kenji said, keeping his promise to himself about not pushing her too hard in to things she didn't want or enjoy. "It's up to you, but you only have one more block to set your answer in stone."


This all poured out of me at 3 A.M -- forgive the all-over-the-damn-place-ness.

[false]

Asuka’s fixation on Kenji’s warmth knew no bounds – and as they walked together through his hometown she couldn’t help but smile a little, nothing brash, but the expression was undoubtedly there. Kenji was so much more than warm, though, and she knew that. Analytical, highly intelligent, musical, tall, handsome, and unflinchingly devoted; what more could she possibly ask for? Other than wishing to be less of a shitty girlfriend – less of a shitty person in general – there was nothing she wanted to change about their dynamic, one that on paper was strange but in practice it was perfect, absolutely perfect. Even with all of her glass edges they fit together like puzzle pieces.

She was still a little groggy from the early-morning train ride, but the cold air helped a little in keeping her awake. Kenji’s mother was somewhere inside this city – and in all honesty, the idea of meeting her was a tad intimidating. Kenji talked about her night and day, always smiling at the happy memories they had together, how kind and funny she apparently was. Asuka would smile – because she was happy for him, there was no refuting that – but in the back of her mind something awful stirred, fleeting jealousy that she shoved off to the side. There were all sorts of things wrong with her, but she would never allow herself to go any further with thoughts like that. Kenji deserved to be happy, Kenji deserved to smile all the time.

Asuka deserved neither of these, but he made it happen anyway.

As they slowed down, Kenji turned around in front of her, walking backwards. "Are you sure you want to do this? It can wait." He lifted her arm up in the air, spinning her around like a ballerina, the usual big, goofy smile on his face.

“Oh, Kenji, getting into the role of king already?” Asuka giggled – the more time they spent together, the more feminine her instincts became. Whether it was because there was no reason to fight back against him anymore or hide herself from him anymore, she wasn’t sure. Maybe she’d been like this all along and the violent, avoidant suit of armor she’d worn was only temporary. “We’ve come this far, why would I back out now?”

They resumed walking, and as she stepped Asuka found herself wondering what Kenji would look like in a suit, dressed up in something other than his usual, clean-but-informal clothes. He’ll be irresistable, she thought, trying not to swoon. Meanwhile she would be in some sort of dress; if she was lucky she would find a shimmering, resplendent fabric to wrap herself in, hiding the fact that she was just an ogre who’d caught the king’s attention.

No, that’s wrong. Kenji had told her thousands upon thousands of times how beautiful he thought she was; and if anything his opinion was the only one that mattered. Asuka had been certain that she was ugly for years, and it was difficult to think anything otherwise. Difficult, yes, but when she replayed the words ‘Asuka, you’re beautiful’ inside his head, it didn’t seem quite as impossible.

"You don't have to meet her this time. You can meet her when you're over for Christmas." – that was right, they’d planned on spending the holiday together – “It's up to you, but you only have one more block to set your answer in stone." None of Kenji’s promises were empty, especially the one he made about never pushing her too far, never forcing her to do anything outside of her comfort zone that had been tiny but was expanding with every day they spent together, each and every second. Sometimes she caught herself wondering what it’d feel like to kiss him – his lips always looked so great that words couldn’t even describe them, even though they were often chapped – but she couldn’t let herself think like that, not yet.

“Kenji, don’t worry.” Asuka smiled at him, walking a little faster than before. “Meeting your mother – who sounds wonderful, I must say – is hardly a scary thing.” She squeezed his hand lightly. “Lead the way, lover boy.”

[nezumi]

Asuka smiled up at him. “Kenji, don’t worry. Meeting your mother – who sounds wonderful, I must say – is hardly a scary thing.” Squeezing his hand, she added, “Lead the way, lover boy.”

The dark-haired boy grinned at her, incredibly glad that she didn't consider this to be out of her comfort zone. Kenji knew of her family life now, and, if their positions had been flipped, he couldn't say that he wouldn't have been more than a little apprehensive about meeting yet another family. Though, in this case, his family was only one woman and she was the furthest thing form horrible. Kenji's mom had held things together so well after his dad left, and he admired her for that.

He got his strong will from her, his stubbornness when it came to Asuka pushing him away had come from her, and, without all of that -- if he had become a spineless prick like his father no doubt still was --, Kenji wouldn't have everything he had now. He was thankful, so thankful, because of all of that, he had Asuka, Kenji had her because his mother had taught him well.

That was a round-about way of thinking things -- that much Kenji knew -- but if he had been raised by his father instead, the boy was sure he would have nothing close to the happiness he had now.

"Good," Kenji said, letting go of one of Asuka's hands and stepping to her side again. "She's really excited to meet you. And she's only scary when it comes to work -- being the boss is hard on her sometimes."

The remainder of the walk was quiet, comfortable, and Kenji's face held another grin. He guided them past the shops he had gone to on a regular basis until only two months ago, waved to a few people he had known his entire life, and, thinking about it, he laughed wondering if Asuka was starting to believe that he was well-known or well-like here, neither of which were the case, but somehow it still amused him.

Approaching a building nicer than most around it, Kenji looked up. Fifth floor, second first window in from the left, that was home. He had counted with floors and windows when he was little, memorized it, and every time he came home, Kenji found himself looking up, counting again. It was a habit he would never be rid of, and didn't really mind having, but it was hard to explain such a simple act in the detail he believed it needed to be explained in.

He pressed the call button and was buzzed in immediately. The boy glanced down at Asuka again, looking for any sign of nervousness, but found none whatsoever. The elevator ride was quick, and, suddenly, Kenji was standing in front of his home again, smiling big as he read over the names on the sign next to the door. "TAKUTO AIRI & KENJI"

Yeah, this is home.

Unlocking the door, Kenji held it open for Asuka to enter before him, following closely behind her. Kicking off his shoes, Kenji called for her, listening as the faint sound of a chair scrapping against the floor resonated from somewhere down the hall.

His mother pocked her head around the door frame of her office, a grin lighting her face the second her eyes landed on her son. "Good, it's you!" she said, walking toward Kenji and stretching upwards to place a kiss on his forehead.

The boy smiled down at her. "Who else were you expecting?" He then turned to Asuka, slipping his arm around her shoulders and holding her close to him. "Mom, this is my girlfriend, Asuka Tomoe. Asuka, this is my mother."

Kenji's mother moved her gazed to Asuka, smiling widely at her was well. Nudging her son lightly, she said, "You did not lie about her being absolutely beautiful." Her smile softened a bit, Kenji could tell she was trying her best not to be overly welcoming, but that was just who she was. "Hi! I'm Airi Takuto, and it is wonderful to meet you, Asuka!"

Folding his lips to hide another smile, Kenji watched them interact. He knew -- or he hoped beyond any worldly hope -- that they would get along. If not, Christmas would be terribly awkward.

[false]

"Good,” Kenji said, returning to her side once more. "She's really excited to meet you. And she's only scary when it comes to work -- being the boss is hard on her sometimes." Asuka nodded, having nothing else to say. She could have speculated endlessly on what sort of person his mother would be like – would she be as kind as he said, as wonderful in every way? or was he blinded by familial attachment? – but it would be easier to meet her and find out on her own.

Their walk was quiet, peacefully so. Kenji greeted his hometown eagerly, waving at a few of the people he must have grown up with – Asuka took in this sleepy, indiscriminate town and wondered how, exactly, someone as wonderful as him had came out of it. It wasn’t that it was dingy or awful by any means; simply too ordinary for someone she revered so much. Sometimes she felt as though he lived on Mount Olympus while she was away, frolicking about with his fellow gods, dulcet-toned and untouchable, empyreal. Fucking warm, too, Asuka thought, feeling somewhat feverish herself with Kenji’s hand blazing next to hers, her boyfriend burning bright like a star. Resplendent.

The elevator carried them towards his home – Asuka felt obligated to be nervous, but she wasn’t, not even a little. There was no way Kenji’s mom would be a monster, she was wonderful, just like Kenji had told her. Even if she had opted to run there would have been nowhere to go – there they were, standing in front of what was obviously his apartment door.

“Takuto Airi & Kenji,” who else could it have been?

Kenji held the door her, eternally chivalrous, his smile enormous. Asuka exhaled and stepped inside, lightly tossing her shoes off to the side. From behind her, Kenji shouted his mother’s name, removing his shoes as he entered.

"Good, it's you!"

Kenji’s mom was a dark-haired, kind looking woman who was probably in her forties – she was around as tall as she was, maybe that was where Kenji had acquired his height. But unlike so many wilting lily women who were all sugar, Airi seemed... tough, unflinching. Given what had happened with her husband, Asuka supposed that she needed to be, to keep everything together.

Asuka smiled slightly as she stood on her toes to kiss Kenji on the forehead – it was obvious that she had nothing to worry about. "Who else were you expecting?" He smiled, and she leaned in to him as he slung an arm around her shoulder. "Mom, this is my girlfriend, Asuka Tomoe. Asuka, this is my mother."

Fuck, what am I supposed to say here? Asuka nodded, cursing her words and how they’d suddenly deserted her. Airi was looking at her, smiling widely – the resemblance to Kenji’s trademark grin was enough to startle her even more. "You did not lie about her being absolutely beautiful." She nudged her son, smile softening slightly in an attempt to seem less overbearing. "Hi! I'm Airi Takuto, and it is wonderful to meet you, Asuka!"

Asuka took a deep breath, swallowing her accursed awkwardness. This was no time to choke – there was absolutely no reason to choke in the first place, god damn it. “You’re as pretty as Kenji said, too, Okaa-cha—” She covered her mouth, flushing. Fuck. That had been incredibly presumptuous of her, hadn’t it? “S-sorry, I.. Uh... I mean, it’s lovely to meet you too!”

She took her hands off of her mouth, tips of her cheeks still streaked with faint scarlet. “I-I’m Asuka Tomoe, like Kenji said.”