Disclaimers: All characters belong to rightful owners.
Story concieved by Lee.


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"Mm. Tell me about it!" Sam agreed readily from around the bulge in his cheek caused by his own sour apple lolly. Stuffing the rest of his candy stash into his pocket, he stretched his arms over his head before again groping for Kisoku's hand. "I just _love_ the milk candy she sells and I can only ever find it there..."

"What more could a guy ask for?" Tilting his head back, he sucked thoughtfully at his candy for a long moment before replying grinningly. "How about Willy atop one of the booths at the pizza place, covered in candy and holding a slice of pizza in offering?"

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Despite the fact that the girl had recognized him, he had a hunch that *she* wasn't one of this legion of fans he supposedly had - he just couldn't imagine this serious, grave-faced little girl getting all giggly and gushy over a local musician... or anyone else, for that matter.

Pretending to give her question serious thought, Lukas scowled thoughtfully. "Me mind a pretty lady bein' concerned 'bout my health?" he asked teasingly, "Why'd I mind somethin' like that?"

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Letting himself be shepherded without any further comment, Muneca grinned at the novelty of having someone escort him and, deciding to just enjoy it instead of worrying over his stupid male pride, he leaned against the back elevator wall. Of course, he now had a shitload of free time on his hands--as he wasn't planning on returning back to Barano's till he absolutely _had_ to do so--and nothing with which to fill it. Still, no reason to take it out on an innocent lackey. Maybe he'd cut the guy a break, after all.

"Hey." He spoke quietly as he tilted his head toward 'Jeeves'. "Y'know, I've just had an idea. Why don't you go out, grab a cup of coffee, then, when the time comes go back to get Tesu. We can just give this whole giving me a ride thing a miss."

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Finn raised his eyebrows at Mune's suggestion, "If that's what you'd prefer," he said, shrugging. "Or I can drop you somewhere else - it really doesn't matter to me."

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"Hmm...that does sound tempting." Kisoku tapped his chin thoughtfully. "But then...I wouldn't have a best friend in the mix! Well, not unless you like sharing. And as they say, sharing is caring!"

The boy couldn't help but grin. He closed the small distance between their bodies by resting his head on the other's shoulder. "Y'know...I can't wait for Christmas...should we do a group grab-bag or something? No, well, that's kinda silly. There's only 3 of us. We should have a spending limit too, right? I mean, not that I'm being cheap. I just don't want either of you guys pissed at me. Maybe we could give each other artsy gifts and stuff!"

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"That's an idea." Mune nodded to this and, tipping his head, he exited the elevator as it came to the ground floor. "Do you know where Bethlehem Park is?"

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"Well, I suppose if the lady weren't so pretty, that'd be another matter altogether," Sophia murmured dryly, then relented and tried to sweeten her comment. "But no, nevermind, you do seem like a nice person. Ah--" she hadn't yet introduced herself, had she? "I'm Sophia Corazon, by the way. Nice to meet you. To be honest, I don't think I've ever heard your music, but you do seem like a very popular band; I've heard you mentioned before." Yes, even before Dana started her somewhat pathetic fixation on this Lukas.

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"Hey, I have no problem with sharing." Sam grinned broadly and shook his head. "Especially if it means that I'll get my sempai in the mix!"

"Hey, I'd have no problems with a grab bag, spending limit, or artsy gifts." He shrugged easily and, lifting a hand, he idly played with a bit of Kisoku's hair. "Like I said before, neither you nor Lukie have to get me anything. In fact, just giftwrapping yourselves'd be the best gift ever."

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Finn nodded, following Mune out of the elevator and into the empty lobby. "I believe so." He gestured toward a side corridor leading to the parking garage before turning down it himself, leading Mune to Ausar's sedan.

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"Just drop me there, then." Muneca nodded as he slipped into the passenger's seat and, smiling at the general luxury, he chuckled softly to himself.

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"Well, I guess we can let Lukes decide about spending limit and whatever. He's more or less the boss anyway." Kisoku shrugged, snuggling against the other. "And I would wrap myself up, but I'm pretty sure that I already gave you my body before..."

He smiled, remembering fondly their second Valentine's Day together...they had been so young then! After the moment of nostalgia had passed, guilt started to sink in. Anytime the subject of their relationship came up, Kisoku immediately felt the twisting, wringing sting of guilt. He couldn't be sure how Sam really felt about the whole situation, but Kisoku was usually careful to avoid the subject. Not that Sam minded it. They both seemed equally conscious of the piece of their lives that was being ignored, and neither really objected to the silence.

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"That's right, petite," Lukas answered agreeably, "Can't get much more shallow 'n me.. If the lady ain't pretty, then *she* might as well walk out an' say 'how do' to that Buick." He didn't really mean that, of course, but for some odd reason he felt the urge to try and at least surprise a laugh from the girl - she seemed *much* too serious for a... what? 10 year old? 11, maybe?

"Good to meet you too, Sophia," he replied, "You seem like a pretty nice person, too - what with savin' my life 'n all," he teased. At the mention of Wingless' popularity, he shrugged, "I guess we are, for a local band..." Making a rather wry face, he added, "I just wish our music was more popular..."

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"Yea. You've definitely given yourself to me before..." Sam smiled softly at the memory of countless nights when they were together, happy in each other's arms, but of course, these same were soon overwhelmed by the memory of their breakup...the time afterward when all was so akward..the nights he'd cried himself to sleep..that one night when he'd found his father's perscription pills in the medicine cabinet...

Burying his face in Kisoku's hair, he immediately fought these thoughts down. No. He didn't think of them, anymore. He ignored them. They didn't exist. Not at all. Just like the dreams, they weren't even real... not in the slightest.

"Still, you know..." He forced himself to comment brightly as he withdrew his face from its soft sanctuary. "I could never _ever_ get tired of that gift..."

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Finn nodded, starting the ignition and backing the sedan out of the parking space before steering the car out of the garage. After a reasonably short, and extremely quiet drive (Finn's not much of a talker), he pulled the sedan to a stop near the park entrance.

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"Hey, thanks for the ride." Mune called as he slid out of the car. Ducking a bit, he glanced curiously to Finn, then, tilting his head, he shrugged. "If you remember to, tell Tesu thanks from me for the ride and all."

Slamming the door behind himself, he wandered through the holly tangled gates into the Park itself. Of course, less than two steps inside, he was already accosted by horribly cheerful carols sung by a group of wandering carollers. Dear god. They were looking at him--not suprising, considering, but still. Maybe if he paid them off...

Reaching into his coat pocket, he seized the first bill he found--a fifty--and, without so much as looking at it, he stuffed it into the little collection basket/bucket thing one of the annoying singers were carrying. Of course, they seemed very impressed by this, but Muneca just moved on before much could be said.

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Finn nodded mutely at Mune's request, and after the boy had walked off in the direction of the park entrance, threw the sedan into gear, peeling out of the parking lot as he headed back to the office building where the party was being held.

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"Well, few people do..." Kisoku giggled, doing his part to lighten the air. He sighed a little at the loss of that familiar warmth atop is head. "But lucky lucky you! You get to share my pleasant company all the time!"

The pizza place was drawing nearer. When Kisoku saw it's green and red neon sign, flickering in the distance, he couldn't help but be filled with anxious anticipation. He sped up his place, tugging Sam along for the ride. "We're almost there! This is going to be fun fun fun!"

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"Of course it'll be fun!" Sam giggled as he happily moved to match Kisoku's increased pace. "When has getting pizza with your Sammy ever _not_ been fun?"

"Still, I don't know why I bother..." He sighed mock-heavily as he held the door to the pizza place for his friend. "It's obvious Willy's going to succumb to you any day now..."

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Happy Willy McWilkins, the boy who almost always had a smile on his face, had this same smile on his face as he heard the bell on the door announce a customer.

"Welcome to Giorgio's Pi--"

The smile, and indeed all color, drained away from his face.

"WILLIKINS!!!!" Kisoku grinned, tackling the blonde-haired, freckle- faced teen. Here he stayed, sitting atop the younger boy's stomach. He leaned over, so that their faces were indeed quite close. With a satisfying slurp and POP, Kisoku pulled the strawberry lollipop from his mouth. "And how is my favorite bus boy doing on this fine day? I do hope your day has been... eventful..."

He wrapped his tongue around the colorful pop again, dragging it in the most painful slow way back into his mouth. The boy beneath him, through some sheer act of will, managed to squirm away from him. He leapt up to his feet, blushing and stammering. "I-if, y-y-you want to b-b-buy puh-puh-pizza, gotothefrontregister!"

He turned away from the two boys and went about the busy work of wiping down tables.

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"Ne, sempai! He thinks we want to buy _pizza_..." Sam purred as he slinked over to the newly turned away Willy. Melding himself to the poor busboy's body, he leaned over in similar fashion, so as to murmur directly to the other's ear. "Really, there's something here _so_ much tastier...."

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