A New Age (open)

Hiro sat in the bar with a smallish smile on his face... It amazed him after spending over 200 years in a run down shrine in a park letting the world move forward without him, that there were some things that did not change... He had been brought here by a water dragon... Freed by a water dragon... And was now slowly easing his way into an age that he was wholly unfamiliar with... The customs, the dress, the music... Everything was so wildly different from what he knew and yet... Good booze made it all seem irrelevant...

Taking a sip of the drink known as "whiskey", Hiro found himself delighted with the way the alcohol burned it's way down his throat. It made it easy to forget that he was alone... Or rather felt alone... He'd been invited here to the God's realm, but honestly felt that perhaps he should visit the human realm... Certainly he would not get the praise and adoration that he once adored, but at the very least he wouldn't be alone...

Running his finger around the smoothe rim of the glass, Hiro gave a soft sigh as he adjusted his shirt... These damned modern clothes... Robes were so much more comfortable... Sensual... He had once had a couple come into his shrine to play with each other (teens of course, with no respect for his holy ground) and he had been struck by the lack of sensuality of their clothes... There was no mystery, no celebration of form... Never mind that the openings in robes are strategically placed so as to provide a unique soft of intimacy...

These modern clothes were tight, uncomfortable and didn't allow for any form of play... They left nothing to the imagination... Taking another sip, Hiro smiled again, his eyes reflecting the whiskey... Amazing how much like an old man he sounds...

The water dragon himself had been stumbling around and between any and all of the realms for so long that he lost count on where he would land nightly. With Mako gone, Yuuki was lost completely for quite some time. He still hadn't gotten used to the clothes and he still hated the fact that his mate was now gone. It felt like it was his fault, the twins born and one passing, it had to have been his fault. There was no other explanation. Ikuma had already grown enough to be sent to the Elders to be trained properly, so his son had been gone for some time, leaving Yuuki once more on his own. Even his ward was missing. Too much was amiss and being left alone for an ungodly amount of time put a large hurting on the tiny water dragon.

He had made his way through Heaven's realms and into the open which he really did not like. He missed the skies and more importantly, the oceans, ponds, lakes, and being able to shift freely as he pleased. At this moment however, he was in some dive bar, getting his drink on, and not caring what happens to him in the slightest. If Ikuma decided to return to the surface, he would be old enough to care for himself and Yuuki would be left alone once again. It was a feeling he was slowly getting used to. Though one thing was for certain, he had refused to allow another in his pants since the disappearance of Mako. That dragon was his mate, his chosen one, and he too was ripped away from him, even if it was an arranged marriage. That fear was now ingrained into him, that if he was to be with another, that one would disappear as well without any notice. He was doomed to be by himself.

He had way too many kamikaze drinks, and was giggling to himself as he stumbled over the rug in the center of the bar, turning to mumble bad things to it as if scolding the rug for being in a bad place. Plopping himself down beside the dark long haired male at the bar, he held his hand up for another kamikaze, to which the bartender begrudgingly began to serve.

"You know, one thing I can't stand is clothing. Or rugs. They both defeat any purpose." he giggled while resting his elbows on the bar, looking towards the male beside him. His brows raised, not meaning to do so rather obviously, but this guy was pretty damned amazing in appearance. His eyes squinted a little, leaning in and whispering to the male. "You aren't human either, are you good sir?"

Hiro was mid drink when the being approached him... As the familiar voice spoke he slowly lowered his glass and turned to make sure the Gods were not deceiving him... Kirin are not Gods... They can manipulate fate to an extent, much like the Greeks and their Morai... But the Gods fear and respect the Kirin because of the power they wield... Even the Gods are no exempt from fate and so they tread carefully and treat the Kirin with respect... But at the moment, none of that matter, because he is certain its you... The sweet smell of young male and rain water, the blond locks and the marble smooth pale skin... And those eyes... So blue they put tropical waters to shame...

Lowering his drink to the counter, he takes in what you have to say... He's a little hurt that you do not seem to recognize him... After all, it was you who saved him... Invited him into your home until he established his own place... Then you disappeared... It is normal for dragons to do this when bearing their young... But you never returned... Never brought him the child that he had so gently whispered to and befriended what it was still developing in the egg... The child that he selfishly manipulated fate for so that he could have someone to share his life with since you insisted on going with that other dragon instead of accepting his affections...

He doesn't know what to do... Do he reveal himself? Does he stay silent? He mulls it over quickly before looking into your eyes, his own crimson irises looking like rubies, before answering softly in a voice that sounds about like warm caramel oozing out of milk chocolate, "No I am not human little water dragon..."

You look said... He wonders what has happened to you that changed you from the happy, vibrant boy that was compelled to rescue him from a dingy little shrine to this sloppy nearly incoherent person... Your shoulders seem weighed down with the heaviness of the world and your eyes seem tainted with a sadness that doesn't belong in such a vibrant person... But he lets you talk... He's not the type to talk a lot and perhaps you need to talk rather then listen...

Being called as such while looking more to those red eyes, Yuuki's eyes had to widen to focus his sight while looking to the male beside him. The blurred image sharpened as that voice seemed to begin registering in his mind and once the image sharpened, he gasped, dropping the glass and wasn't able to speak for a solid minute. The bar went silent for a good few moments as he stared at Hiro, the moisture building in those vibrant blue pools set in Yuuki's head which immediately began pouring down his face. He felt a mixture of shame, terror, anger, sadness all mingled into one package and he didn't know to which way he was going to head, the alcohol making certain that it was going to come out in one way or another, very jumbled.

"...Hiro." was all he could manage through a broken voice, his body began to shudder and his hand raised to cover his mouth as a waitress rushed over, sweeping the broken glass into a pan and rushing off. "...I lost you...I lost them all..." he began quietly sobbing as he sank to his knees right there in the middle of the bar. At this point, he didn't care who was in the bar or who overheard him, but he was giong to explain to the other all that had happened. He saw the hurt in the kirin's eyes and felt tight in his chest. "Mako disappeared after Ikuma was born...the twin you were always speaking to died...Ikuma is no longer on this plane, he is training with my father and the Elders...I'm the only one left behind here. They all....left...." the Kirin's presence near Yuuki had him completely humbled, a total mess upon the rug that he loathed at the moment.

"I'm sorry..." was all he could spill through the tears that now was clouding his vision instead of the alcohol. It truly felt that way...that everyone had left him. The depression and sadness that flooded over the water dragon was enough to put him into hiding for so long, he barely even remembered himself.

At first he just watches you, not sure what to do... He has never had to comfort anyone... Dry anyone's tears... The idea seems alien and frightening to him... But it's your words that shock him... You lost his child? The one that he... And suddenly the guilt is overwhelming... He caused this... All of this... He selfishness is what caused you to lose the baby... And by consequence, everything else felt apart, all because he had to screw with fate... He had though something so small wouldn't matter... Just speaking to the child... befriending it... But... He should have know that it would not be that simple...

As you cry he sighs and tilts back the whiskey in one gulp before turning towards you and putting a gentle hand on the back of your neck and massaging your spine with deft fingers... "Little dragon... I am so sorry for the pain I've caused you... I spoke.... I spoke too much to the child... I should have left it be... I was lonely and selfish and tried to... influence him..."

He takes a soft breath and continues, "I wish I had known how much pain it was going to cause you... I never wanted you to feel this kind of pain... I only wanted you to be happy..."

Of course he too had wanted to be happy... And that want has caused you more pain then he every imagined it... The probably with being a Kirin is that, they are not all-knowing... The future they see is cloudy and open to interpretation... He had no way of knowing that this chain of events would be cause by his actions... Not until it was too late to change anything...

As he watches you cry he wonders if you could ever forgive him... If it had even occurred to you that your precious child had died because of the Kirin's curse... You so small and fragile, his heart aches to try and comfort you, but even so he just doesn't know how to help you... What to say to try and make up for what he's done... Surely there's nothing he could ever do to make things even...

The hand on the back of Yuuki's neck was alien to him, he nearly flinched at the touch until those fingertips ran along the base of his skull and down the tense muscle there, his head lowering with the now dark hair falling into his vision, those salty tears dropping to the edges of his pants. Upon hearing those words that Hiro tried to influence the twin, his head snapped up and stared at the Kirin for a good few moments before smacking away his hand, saddened anger raised in his body, trying to contain the scales that itched to surface.

"How c-could....you do this..." his sobs coming out more swiftly than before, that anger mixed with sorrow simply was not a good combination. "You o-only wanted to be happy...but you mingled with the affairs of a dragon?" his hand reaching up swiftly to clutch at his chest, his heart had literally sent a chilling pain through his chest. Oh yes, he was sobering up now, much quicker than he could have imagined.

"I waited for you...I wanted you to be a part of our lives...I brought you in...and y-you..." his breathing became erratic, pulsating through his eardrums was his heartbeat that sped up more than he could handle in this human body, this disgusting vessel that he loathed so much to be trapped in. Holding onto his chest a bit more, he leaned over as his free hand shot to the floor, trying to hold himself up as his head lowered more so, he couldn't handle the pain he was feeling at that moment; something that humans had called true heart break.

Yuuki couldn't hold himself up any longer, it was too much to bear as he leaned forward again, laying on the floor of the bar and hyperventilating. Within moments of doing such, his vision had blacked out, passing out on the floor at Hiro's feet and where he had no idea truly where he was.

Hiro flinched at the dragon's anger and tried hard not to obey his instinct to inform you that he has every right to meddle in the affairs of dragons if he so wishes... He is after all a kirin... One who changes fate... Even dragons are not exempt from fate as you have found out... But regardless of his instinct he bites his tongue and just watches you with sad, old eyes...

When you black out, he gently kneels down and brushes your hair from your face before scooping you up into his arms and taking you back to his home... In the cab, he rests your head on his lap, stroking your hair and tracing the tear tracks on your cheeks, his heart aching with guilt and shame...

When he reaches home, he carries you to his bed and undressed you, throwing the alcohol smelling clothes in a hamper before washing you gently with a warm cloth and dressing you in one of his own robes...

When he tucks you into his bed, surrounding you with his smell, he gently brushes your hair away from your forehead and kisses the soft skin, whispering "I am so sorry little dragon... Can you ever forgive an old man for his weakness?"

As he pulls away a tear finds it's way to your forehead and he quickly brushes it away before leaving the room and going to his backyard where he had his shrine recreated... As he removes his shoes and ritually washes his hands and feet before entering the shrine he contemplates the situation... He kneels in front of the doors, looking out and sighing softly before relaxing his body and entering a state a meditation... He hopes the gods will grant him wisdom and tranquility in this matter though he knows he doesn't deserve it...

Yuuki was, at the point of passing out, completely and utterly intoxicated. His tony body that he was using barely could hold liquor whereas he knew his dragon form could have...but it would not have been healthy in the least. Hey, this body was only temporary right? So whether it was healthy or not didn't make much of a difference. Especially now that he felt he had nothing to lose any longer. His mate was gone. His ward was gone. As far as he knew any more, he was the only dragon left on this plane and it caused him to ache. Even as he slept in that strange bed, he cried in his sleep, the salt tears soaking into the pillow under his head. He had to wash his own pillows almost nightly from waking up with damp pillows and it was gross to him. Yuuki had definitely changed from the happy young dragon he was, who once danced in the rain without a care; to a dragon that hid inside buildings, only standing in a shower when he needed water. Oceans didn't appeal to him any longer, no matter how much he missed them. The same went for ponds, lakes, anywhere that was nature and running water. They all had new meaning to him. HE could get swept away and never see his son again...or his mate...if he ever returned.

Soon enough he began waking, the sensation of pure silk against his sensitive skin send a shiver up his back and to his tail had it been out in the open, though it had suddenly dawned on him as his eyes opened - that he was not at home - and these were not his clothing. Sitting straight up in the bed, he glanced around for a split second as it hit him like a ton of bricks. That hangover. Groaning loudly as he held his head in his hands, he sank back into the bed, under the blankets more while taking a pillow and putting it over his head. While he had done so, he checked himself under the robe for any sign of any kind of intercourse, and there was no trace of it. Good, he hadn't been touched. His hand sliding up the silk as he laid in the bed, he took the pillow slowly from his face, his eyes squinting as he looked over his surroundings...that soon looked familiar. These were the Kirin's belongings, he remembered half of them from when Hiro was in his home. Letting out a soft sigh with another loud groan, his hand raised to rub his temples, closing his eyes again.

Slowly but surely, Hiro also began to wake... He had gone so deep into thought that he didn't realize how much time had passed until he felt the presence of another supernatural... All supernatural beings are sensitive to each other in one way or another, and as Yuuki began to stir, Hiro felt the familiar disturbance in the air that let him know another being was in his territory...

Standing up and wincing a bit as his knees creeked in protest, Hiro stretched his body and exitted the shrine, slipping on his shoes and making his way back to the house... There's no screaming or crashing which to him means one of two things... Either you're emotionally catatonic or you've forgotten what he confessed and he'll have to tell you again... Honestly he doesn't relish either option, but he has to do something... He can't hide in his own backyard... And in a way he doesn't want to... In a way he wants to make this work despite how difficult it is likely to be...

Opening the door and stepping into the house, he once again removes his shoes andggowe to the kitchen, getting a large glass of water before walking to his bedroom... He puts his hand on the door but hesitates and then knocks gently, calling out to you "May I please come in?"

Even if it's his room, it's polite to announce himself rather just barging in...

Yes...yes it was slowly returning to him, the things Hiro had told him. The twin of the pair of eggs he birthed was dead because of the Kirin. Anger flared for a moment, but the kindness in him subsided that rage, thinking back to just how alone Hiro was then. It took Yuuki this long to realize that being in a home with a mated pair of dragons couldn't have been pleasant. Finding another Kirin was rare, if not unheard of, and there was almost no chance of Hiro finding a mate of his own. Tears came forward again as he thought about it longer, and at that moment, he heard the knock on the door, his brows furrowing and meeting together in confusion. This was his house, why did he not simply walk in?

"Come in..." he spoke softly, in his usual voice, not the drunken bother which he was last night. Yuuki's hair was now black as night, the blonde was no more as he had changed so much since then. His depression had sunk in so deeply that even his own heart had become smaller, more quiet and beat for no one but his son anymore. If he knew of a way to rid of himself, Yuuki would have done so by now. If it wasn't for the fear of his Father and for his son's well being...he would have done it the moment that Suzune never returned, nor his ward Mako.

Looking up to see Hiro, Yuuki nodded softly and wiped at his face with the over-sized silk robe, his now black hair long and cascading over his chest and back, some of it hanging over his face. "Yes, I do remember our conversation and no, I should not have reacted that way." he took a heavy long sigh and continued, "I realize that Kirins have a right to become involved in even the Gods' lives, and...I know why you wanted to have my twin son as a companion. You were so....so lonely, I can understand why you did it. Kirin have such a slim chance of meeting and mating with another Kirin...my father told me all of this." his hand clasped together and rested in his lap, looking down to his hands as his face seemed to not stop being damp all the time. At one point he remembered when he had cried the first time...and it was so foreign to him that he thought he was leaking. Now, it just seemed to be a non-stop waterfall that he couldn't control nor stop, especially lately.

"Hiro...did...you ever find a mate of your own?" his brilliant ice blue orbs raised then, looking to the Kirin with his gentle eyes, something he always had possessed, and now that he was not drunk, he was his normal depressed self. He was set on the fact that now that Suzune was gone, or so he believed, he would no longer find a mate of his kind, nor would another want to be with him. A used up dragon, washed up and no longer interested in frolicking in water as he once did.

Hiro opened the door and strode in, freezing and looking on guard when the dragon mentioned that he remembered... But the next words caused him to look less guarded and more unreadable... He perhaps looks a bit emotionless actually... But he cannot help himself... He is unsure how to react to your words... He knows he is wrong and does not understand how you can put your resentment aside like this there... To be the cause of your child's death it would make much more sense for you to bear bitter hatred and resentment towards him for as long as you breath... Not merely forgive him because you acknowledge that he had completely selfish reasons for trying to bond with a child who's fate hadn't yet been been decided...

That is actually the key... Kirin's have every right to manipulate fate, and usually there are no consequences because they are tinkering with the fate of someone who willingly permits it... But it is the highest of taboos to tinker with babies... Their fate is still undetermined and to influence it is considered one of the most unforgivable sins his kind can commit... When Kirin were more common then they are in the current time, a kirin could be put to death for influencing a child's fate, the crime was that serious...

Shaking his head slightly, Hiro padded gracefully over to Yuuki saying softly, "Do not be so quick to forgive me... My reasons were selfish... I could not have..."

He trailed off and then continued, "I wanted a companion and I let that desire interfere with fate... It is a disgraceful sin... Kharma will not likely forgive me for this and neither should you... I only brought you here because I was concerned for your safety... Had you been someplace safe I would have left you be so you never have to see me again..."

Hiro extended the glass of water to the dragon and then looked away, "My loneliness was... a small inconsequential thing... Heart ache can be ignored... Even numbed... But I can't bring back your son... I cannot bring back your mate or your ward... I cannot bring your family back to you... Those things are not in my power... And I made you give them up so that I would have someone to make me less lonely..."

Lowering his arm after the glass is safely in your hand, he whispers with a soft, pained smile, "Does this place look like two happy people live here?"

It doesn't... It's peaceful and homey... But it's too clean... Too perfect... There is only one pair of shoes by the door, only one mug by the coffee pot, only one tooth brush in the holder... The home is sterile... Like the room of a hotel or brand new apartment... There is nothing to indicate that this house is truly lived in... It is a just place where he sleeps, not one that he looks forward to coming back to.

Sighing heavily he walks back towards the door of the bed room and says politely, veiling his sadness with protocol, "I am sorry for disturbing your rest... If you need anything please summon me..."

Taking the glass after Hiro spilled out his guilt, Yuuki sat there on the bed for a moment, speechless...until the Kirin tried to leave. "Hiro. No running." taking a sip of the water and setting it down to the table. "You are carrying way more guilt than you should. Is it not the Kirin's nature to be naturally neutral in his dealings? Yes...my son is dead...my other is away...my ward is missing and my mate is gone. It does not mean that life stops here. It goes on and through the pain, life has to continue, no matter how difficult, painful, or heartbreaking it is. You should be forgiven...because others should be given that chance. Who is to say they are evil, should not be trusted, would do it again? No one would know unless given that chance. What if they changed, learned from their mistakes, know they did wrong..."

His eyes lifting to gaze to the Kirin caringly. "Hiro...you were lonely and those who are lonely cling to desperate measures. You were scared. You were in that musty shrine for ages before I came...and brought you into a happy family's home. I am sure that hurt...and I myself was inconsiderate for that." He took another drink of water, setting it back down. "Hiro...you could have left me behind...I'm not worth that much anymore to be taken care of and rescued. " his eyes lowered as he looked to his robes, shaking his head with a sigh. "I should get going soon. I don't...mean to bring up so many memories...or upset." his eyes watering softly as his legs swung over the edge of the bed, standing slowly as he rubbed his forehead, shaking his head. I'm not the same dragon you knew, Hiro...."

Hiro paused for a moment and then turned around, looking into the dragon's eyes and coming close, his body imposing compared to Yuuki's... After being freed, his body began to heal and return to it's prime... He was never large... But he is shapely and strong, while managing to look delicate, and at the moment all of that size is in Yuuki's space...

"Yuuki... Yes it is in my nature to be neutral, but for there to be neutrality, there has to be morality... I can neither side with good or evil... especially in matters that concern myself..."

Leaning close, Hiro looked into the dragon's eyes and sought answers, wanting to tell you that it was because he couldn't have you that he chose your son... There was no love for Yuuki's son... At least not yet... he had hoped that love would develop over time and that he find a companion that way... But fate had right punished him for his attempt to manipulate fate...

Hiro reached out and touched the dragon's face, looking concerned at the tear tracks on the dragon's skin before questioning, "You're worth everything to me... You're my savior... and I ruined your life as thanks for it... I do not understand why you cannot see that I deserve to be hated by you... You rescued me and then invited me into your home when you could just have passed me by or left me to fend for myself... Even if I was lonely, what right did I have to ruin yours when you showed me such kindness..."

The kirin sighed heavily, sounding tired and then continued, "And I am not the same Kirin... as time passes we change... Even the Gods are not exempt from this..."

Hiro gently put his hands on Yuuki's shoulders and pushed him back down on to the bed, before gently smoothing a lock of black hair behind the dragon's ear, "I have no right to ask this... But... I do not wish to think of you getting into situations like the one last night... It is not much to offer and I'm certain you would rather not live with the one responsible for your child's death, but... if you would like to stay here... with me... I would like that..."

The look on Hiro's features was calming, yet again the Kiein captured Yuuki's attention, paying close mind to the words chosen, his eyes widening a touch. Each word coming from the other stirred so many emotions that the young dragon felt like he was riding a rollercoaster. His own body was what it was when he first re-met the Kirin, however, it was more lean, as if the thinner male had lost weight. Stress and depression had claimed many humans this way, and rarely took an immortal, but it did Yuuki.

"How can I be worth that much to you? I brought pain into your life without realizing it." he was pressed down to sit again as he bit his lip softly, nodding gently. His own apartment was dingy, empty and without that flow of life. This is how he lost his desire to be someone, something important. He knew his son felt him to be someone needed in his life and honestly, Yuuki was waiting for Ikuma to come of age so that Yuuki could fall into the ocean as sea foam and never be heard of again. Hiro had more in his eyes than he let on however, and Yuuki's eyes lifted to glance to the Kirin with storm-hued eyes. "Who was it you wanted then, Hiro?"

Hiro paused for a moment and then sat down, thinking about how to answer the young dragon's question... Should he tell the truth and make you feel more guilty or lie and dig his grave further... There didn't seem to be any option that didn't involve hurting in some way so he looks into your eyes, ruby meeting aquamarine, and says softly, "That pain is still... Very fresh... I am not ready to talk about it yet..."

Even to him it sounded like he was avoiding the question, but he didn't want to hurt Yuuki anymore and if that meant trying to keep his distance then so be it...

"O-oh...I see." he nodded gently, looking down to his hands as they clasped together. He didn't understand the Kirin now...where he was confessing everything, how his son died...everything...he still wouldn't tell him who he loved then. It seemed a little....odd to the young dragon. He hadn't pieced it together yet, but this was apparently how it was going to happen. So they were going to live in the same space together yet there were secrets untold.

"I will...I will do my best to stay out of your way and...I will be quiet, you won't even know I am here...but you can feel me. I won't...I won't leave you behind." he nodded gently and stood, walking towards the bathroom and dropping his robes, turning on the water as he stepped into the tub, wriggling his toes gently as they reached the porcelain coating, and reaching over, turning on the shower. He wouldn't go out to the ocean anymore or play in the rain, but showers were another thing. He could stand in it in privacy and release his emotions, let the water wash it all away until another day.

While standing in the shower, his scales slowly flipped one over the other, showing at least that part of himself on sparse areas of his body as the water hit his sensitive flesh and scales which were new again, gasping for a moment and letting out an exhaled breath, his hands pressing to the wall before him as he leaned forward, the dark mass of long satin draped around his face and over his ears which stuck out like two white pearls from his hair...his face curling together as he began sobbing quietly, his head lowering more as his tears matched that of the water in the shower....washing it away...he had to wash it away.

Hiro sighed softly and looked down at the floor... He could tell that he had hurt the dragon's feelings somewhat, but he hadn't really lied... He wasn't ready to confess those kinds of feelings... As the clothes rustled next to him, Hiro lifted his head and watched Yuuki move before saying softly, "If I didn't want to know you were here... Why would I invite you to stay?"

The fact that the dragon felt he had to stay out of the way confused Hiro and he wondered why Yuuki felt that way when he had already pointed out that Hiro was lonely and wanted companionship... But none-the-less, Hiro shrugged his shoulders and left the room after Yuuki disappeared into the shower and wandered to the kitchen to prepare a meal...

Hiro realized with some degree of dismay that he would probably need to start buying some sort of meat for the sea dragon... Probably fish... After all he doubted that Yuuki was (Or was interested in becoming) a vegetarian like he was... But for the time being the dragon would have to go meatless... Taking greens from the refrigerator, along with fresh veggies, the kirin started to make lunch... Greens with cucumbers, ripe red tomatoes, bright yellow slivers of pepper, black olives, crumbled feta cheese and chopped walnuts...

After placing the salad in the fridge, Hiro whipped up a dressing with lemon, vinegar and olive oil and then started setting the table... It makes him smile a bit to think that he will finally get to use more plates then just the one... Of man's modern inventions, the television had baffled him at first, until he found the food channel... And then he was in love... He adores food... It was always his favorite offering and it seemed to him that there were now more ways then ever to prepare delicious foods...

Looking down at the table, Hiro paused and then went to the bedroom, intending to knock on the bathroom door to let Yuuki know that food was ready, but when he walked in, the bathroom door was open and he could see right in... And given that his shower had a glass door, he could see all of the dragon's beautiful, naked body standing under the water... Hiro stared for a while longer then he meant, but he couldn't help himself... Finally he was able to tear his eyes away though and he looked down at the floor, clearing his throat to grab Yuuki's attention and then said, "I have made lunch... Please join me when you are finished in the shower..."

With that he turned away and returned to the kitchen to get himself a nice cool drink before the dragon came out of the bathroom and saw Hiro standing there looking lusty...

While in the shower and calming his sobs, his eyes opened to the water flowing under him, the drops of liquid falling from his cheeks hit the water below him in an opalescent shimmer, a scale dropping into the bathtub as he closed his eyes, shaking his head and raising it, tilting it back and squeezing the water from the humanoid hair he had slowly begun getting used to. Once the water washed away his sorrow, he felt a new skin emerge, letting out a soft sigh as the water hit his skin in every manner possible, making his full lips smile softly as his tongues slipped over his upper lip, capturing the water on his tongues. Although it had a chemical taste to it....to Yuuki at least, it felt pure, rinsing away the unnecessary emotion with a calming and serene flow.

Hearing Hiro's voice, his head turned slowly, not minding showing off his body in the least. Hell, he even felt seductive in this form, especially since he had once played in the rain naked and bare with glee...at that one point in his life. "I'm coming." he spoke in that gentle tone, turning off the water and once more squeezing out his hair again before shaking his body slightly to roll the water drops off his scales as they flipped one by one in a succession, staying on his body in full glamour. Stepping out, he began toweling off his pale skin, placing it over the edge of the shower's doors and stepping forward, gathering one of the robes to wrap around him with the tie, pulling it into an effortless knot that could easily be unraveled.

His bare feet padding against the soft cool floor, almost on his toes as he walked, his hair damp and left long until he stood at the door that lead into the kitchen, raising his arms and sliding his slender hands through the dark strands, moving his fingers deftly until they were pulled into an elegant sweep and fall, left in a bundle at the back of his head as stray strips of midnight black fell against his pale complexion, the aqua hues of his eyes brighter and sparkling with light gold specks. "I'm sorry, Hiro. Where were we? Ah, you made lunch yes?" a gentle smile slipping over his full lips as he tipped his head, staring at the Kirin.

Hiro eyed the other's appearance and cursed fate in his head... This was something like torment... Dangling what he had wanted years ago in front of his face but giving him the knowledge that it could never be his... He knew he didn't deserve that kind of happiness, but couldn't help it... A fantasy briefly flashed across his mind, and the vision of kissing the slivers of pale skin that peeked from beneath the robe, his hands sliding discreetly under folds of fabric to touch hidden skin... The notion raised goosebumps on his skin, but hiro was older and more in control of such things... He quickly lowered his gaze and smiled gently, gesturing to the table instead "yes... I apologize for the lack of meat... I do not eat meat, but I will start getting it... I know dragons require large amounts of protein...fish would be best for you right?"

Taking a seat at the table and gesturing for Yuuki to do the same, hiro took a delicate sip from his glass and then began to eat his lunch... Anything to distract him from these thoughts about the dragon... It was simply preposterous to think that that Yuuki would be up for that kind of confession... "did you enjoy your shower?"

Like many ancient beings his typical response to discomfort is to hide behind etiquette... Use the politeness as a sort od shield to keep himself from saying things that he shouldn't... But he can't help noticing things... Like how a hair falls loose here and there or how the bags under the dragons eyes have faded a bit... It frightens him to think that he is so aware of yuuki and things that pertain to the dragon...

He did in fact notice the slight tension and hesitation in Hiro, and had to smile a little more about it. Things such as flights of fantasy and fleeting emotional thoughts did not escape the dragon's senses, they rarely did. Raising his hand to slightly brush a strand of hair behind his ears with those lithe fingers, his eyes raised to glance at the Kirin then to the table. "Yes, I do like fish very much, however, I will gladly prepare it instead. I know how you feel about living creatures and it is commendable." that kind smile still on his lips as he walked with the other to the table, his hand raising to brush over Hiro's slightly built chest with barely a touch. Being so close to Hiro, Yuuki knew that the scent of his recent shower with Sandalwood soap and a floral rinse for his hair had lingered, turning to seat himself, looking to the meal set out for him.

"This looks delicious, Hiro~" he stated, sitting up a bit straighter, clapping his hands together lightly. "Itadakimasu!" he smiled warmly, beginning to dig into the salad eagerly with small bites, enjoying the first bite, savoring it. The question coming of his shower. His chewing slowed and covered his mouth so he could finish it before speaking. "It was refreshing. A good start for a cleansing, though I do wish it were inside and out." the meaning a bit of a double entendre as he lowered his gaze. "I did enjoy it enough, thank you Hiro." being bold, he decided to add in a little comment of his own as he stuck the fork gently into the greens as he spoke. "So, did you enjoy the view?" his eyes lifting to the Kirin, taking a bite of the food while swirling his tongue around the greens before gathering them behind closing full lips and sliding out an empty fork soon after.

Hiro tilted his head to glance at the dragon, his red looking unreadable... He can sense you've changed much... but is it possible that his little innocent dragon is no longer the sweet little one that he knew then? Perhaps Yuuki had become away of his physical appearance and the affect that sad appearance could have on others?

Mulling these thoughts over in his head, watched the other as he ate, being able to smell the clean scent from across the table, Hiro ate and watched the other, wondering what exactly the young dragon now wanted from him... Was it compassion??? Was it companionship??? Was it just sex???

Whatever it wasn't Hiro wasn't entirely sure he was ready for it... That isn't to say that he wasn't physically ready... No even after 200 years he's fairly certain he can perform competently... But he doesn't know if he's emotionally ready for that sort of thing... He had wanted you so badly then... But if you're offering yourself to him now, he's not sure that he could actually say yes... As he watches you, he has to resist looking deeper...

There's a reason his eyes are red... The strands of fate that bind all humans together in a complex web of connections and meetings are red... But only the strand that binds lovers connects from the ring finger... And he's frightened to look for yours... He doesn't want to see where it goes... Doesn't want to see who you're meant to be with... Because once the strand appears it can never be cut... Not even the Morai can sever the lover's strand... It connects people even in death...

The cruel trick on the Kirin is that they cannot see their own fate strands... They are beyond the control of fate... It is why Kirin finding a mate is so extraordinary... It is the only strand of fate they can see and it only appears after their mate accepts them... If the strand never appears, then love isn't meant to be... From a young age, kirin are taught that expecting a mate is silly... They should just accept that they are meant to be solitary and be grateful if a mate presents itself...

Snapping his attention back to the dragon, Hiro nodded tersely and said, "Thank you... The idea of touching meat is... Not easy for me... But I know you need it..."

When you ask about him enjoying the view, his eyes dart to Yuuki's face, his expression not changing in the slightest... "I apologize for my staring... I had not realized the door was open..."

But not wanting to offend the dragon, Hiro added without missing a beat, "However you have a beautiful body... You are the kind of beauty that inspires masterpieces... It was an honor to look at it even briefly..."

Nevermind that he had wanted to do more then stare... He had wanted to touch it... Caress it... Make it tremble beneath his touches... But still he holds back from Yuuki... He can never know... The dragon can never know that he killed the child not for love, but because Hiro had wanted it as a replacement for him... Finishing his salad and then taking another sip of his juice, Hiro raised his eyes to look at Yuuki before saying "I always read after my meal... Would you care to join me?"

Yup... must be tormenting himself... He has another fleeting vision of the dragon and himself, curled together on the couch, book discarded on the floor, long limbs tangled together and skin pressed to skin... As he kisses Yuuki's skin and presses into his body, the dragon's face contorts with pleasure as he whispers softly that he loves Hiro...

The stare was a bit discerning, but nothing that would roll off the scales of the dragon. He continued to eat the meal, humming with a bit of happiness at the flavor in eat bite, not minding any in the least the burrowing of the other's gaze. "You are more than welcome. I've always understood you and your kin, so it is perfectly natural that I care for what I feed from yes?" he gave a small smile, glancing up to the Kirin and back to his meal, his shoulders twisting slightly as his body shifted in his seat while enjoying the food prepared for him.

"Ah, I didn't mind it at all, Hiro. I knew you would not mind it, as you had seen a bit of it before, so it does not bother me in the slightest. This flesh and bone bag isn't so bad after getting used to it. It took time to understand its properties, but I became familiar with it." many times over, he had thought to himself, licking over his lips to remove the remainer of the dressing from his upper lip, setting down his fork as he had finished the salad.

Hearing the next words caused a slight flush over his pale skin. A masterpiece? He hadn't heard such words coming from someone's mouth, let alone a legend as Hiro was to his Elders, and someone as handsome as the kirin was to Yuuki. Looking to the napkin and smiling as he pressed it to his lips, taking off any remainder of food gently, he set it down on his plate and nodded gently. "I would like that very much." his head tilted, a few strands of the dark hair falling over his cheek.

Hiro smiles a bit, watching the dragon's motions... He imagined that delicate pink tongue on other places, but he quickly banished the thought... Wasn't a good idea to be entertaining those thoughts at all... Picking up his plate and Yuuki's he set them in the sink and then washed his hands before turning around filling his glass with juice again... Filling Yuuki's as well, he returns the juice to the fridge and then walks out of the kitchen, getting his book from the table and sitting down on the couch...

He's been reading through Dickens and Dumas lately... Right now he's on the Count of Monte Christo, which he heard was a crowning achievement in French literature... He does have to say, he quite likes it... The tragedy of it all if reminiscent of the classic Greek tales, and he honestly is quite intrigued by the study in human nature... Human nature makes him want to cheer for the Count... But his kirin half knows that revenge is not right... The count has no right to reap revenge on the relations of the ones who wrong him...

Smiling softly as he reads down the pages he gets himself a little lost in the words, his tail swishing periodically... The literature is even enough to keep him from thinking about Yuuki's body... But even with the literature, Yuuki still isn't far from his thoughts... He knows the dragon is close, and he wonders what kinds of literature the dragon likes... The Dragon after all grew up in this world, so surely he knows more about current (ish) literature then Hiro does... When Hiro last roamed free, Western literature hadn't reached the east yet, so reading about these different cultures and indulging in fine art is quite pleasurable for the kirin... The only thing that would make it more perfect is company...

Taking the glass of juice as he was given, he smiled and nodded his thanks, following Hiro where he sat and simply sat beside him, curling his lithe legs up to the side of him on the cushion, the parting of the robe moving just slightly as he shifted in his seat to get comfortable. While Hiro read, he stared forward, taking small sips of his juice in the quiet that he was rather enjoying. Peace, finally. He felt more at ease and calmed than his jaunts in clubs and in beds. It wasn't enjoyable to wake the following mornings and simply find his clothing to get the hell out of there before he was figured out. Here, he could be himself without worry and be appreciated.

Glancing towards the book Hiro was reading, he tilted his head and gave a soft voice over to the Kirin. "That is a rather good book. Revenge is not so sweet as he makes it out to be. Karma, in the end, is not pleasurable." he nodded gently, taking another drink of his juice, laying his head on Hiro's shoulder. "Is this what you do at night after the day has completed its cycle? Just...relax?" he didn't understand it as such, lately everything had been upside-down for the young dragon.

Hiro looked at the dragon briefly and smiled "yes... It is a fascinating tale of human nature.... We want so badly for him to win after what they did to him... and yes despite all his gains he lost his humanity... I'm reading it for the second time... It's quite intricate so I didnt want to miss anything..."

Continuing to read, hiro absent-mindedly reached over and looped his arm around the dragon, his hand resting on the dragon's waist like it's meant to be there... "oh? Yes this pretty much it... I'm sorry... Someone going as you are should be out having fun not sitting at home with an old man reading..."

Chuckling softly, hiro said softly, "if there's ever anything that you want to do just let me know... I'd like to do things you want to do... Not just things I like..."