DANCING IN THE DARK

The soulful tune of Gackt�s �Juunigatsu no Love Song� [2] played melodiously in the background as Kuroda waited patiently at the cozy caf�.

There were not many customers on a Saturday, not as if all the sleepy waiters minded anyway.

As Kuroda appreciated the music from the stereo, his daily work pressure took its usual toll on him and he felt himself being lulled into a dreamless slumber.

It was only god-knows-how-long after that he felt himself being gently shaken awake by a concerned-looking waiter.

�Ano, Kuroda-san� it�s past midnight�and we�re about to close up��

Kuroda blinked a little to disperse the haze in front of his eyes.

As he refocused and took a quick glance at the watch, he realized that indeed, it was already 17 minutes after 12 MN.

�Er, Kuroda-san�also�the person you were waiting for ne, we�re sorry, but he didn�t appear�� the waiter mumbled in apology.

He flashed the timid staff a warm smile of thanks before sighing and moved himself onto the misty streets.

Although midnight in Japan was still fairly noisy and bustling with activity, Kuroda felt only a dull silence around him.

Remembering that he had instructed Fujimoto not to fetch him, he wrinkled his nose a little as he figured out where the subway station was.

Clothed in only his usual apparel of dark stiff collared shirt and pants with only a long black coat in this glazy winter, he did not mind the chilling cold as he wandered in his own thoughts.

--

Nuriko and Yamada both stole looks at the stoic Ryu as they stayed seated on the plastic seats of the underground train.

�Is it really ok to miss the appointment?� Nuriko broke the silence by asking.

�Yeah�after all, someone wrote a letter ne�� Yamada hinted as he prodded the still guy beside him.

�Look guys�I paid for dinner. So shut up.� Ryu�s facial features defrosted as he turned his familiar glare on his 2 buddies.

�Well hello? We tried to push you to go to the damn caf� instead remember? You offered to pay!� Nuriko looked slightly offended.

�We�ve reached.� Ryu rose to get out as the subway stopped at the station nearest to the Dance Academy.

As the gates opened, Ryu glanced up to find himself gazing into the sharp and gleaming eyes of Kuroda Masaya.

As people jostled to alight and board the train, the tall pair in and out of the subway train stood in the middle of the gates in stoned silence, staring at one another.

�Dammit, Keiin-kun, get off the train! You�re blocking the entrance!� Nuriko complained when Ryu did not budge a centimeter.

Yamada obligingly gave Ryu one hard shove, sending the surprised guy flying out of the train onto the platform, toppling onto and on top of Kuroda.

�Er�oops?� Yamada grinned sheepishly.

Nuriko observed curiously the flush aflame on Ryu�s back neck and ears. A delicate eybrow cocked.

�Sorry�� Ryu said lowly as he pulled Kuroda up and quickly let go of the latter�s hand.

Nuriko�s other eyebrow shot up to join the other as Kuroda looked at Ryu intently.

�Why didn�t you come?� Ryu closed his eyes at the inevitable question.

Nuriko sighed and reached a hand over open to shut Yamada�s dropped jaw. [3]

�I didn�t feel like I wanted to.� Ryu shot back defensively as his eyes fluttered open again.

�I see�� Kuroda�s eyes and tone carried more than a lilt of resigned disappointment that sent waves of guilty panic through Ryu.

As Kuroda lowered his gaze, Ryu asked quickly, �Why are you taking the subway? Don�t you have a chauffeur?�

�Nah, I gave him the day off.� Kuroda replied with a cordial smile.

Ryu grew more and more uncomfortable as 4 eyes observed the scene with much interest.

�Let me introduce�Kuroda-san, this are my friends, Nuriko Lin and Yamada Gen �guys, this is�� Ryu swallowed a little, �Kuroda Masaya.�

Kuroda flashed both a friendly smile as the other 2 nodded in acknowledgement.

�So�I guess I wouldn�t be seeing you again then, Ryu-san.� Kuroda continued casually. The next and last train was arriving and the familiar rumbling was heard.

Nuriko and Yamada stepped away and gestured to Ryu that they would go up the escalator first.

�Sayonara, Ryu-san.� Kuroda raised his hand in a polite wave and turned to board the approaching train.

Ryu looked on helplessly with clenched fists. His consciousness put up a fierce struggle but his heart betrayed him as he grabbed Kuroda�s arm before the famous entrepreneur entered the train carriage.

He rattled off a series of numbers and said breathlessly, �Remember that. It�s my cell phone number. I trust that you�ll call. Please.�

Kuroda felt stirrings of hope as he nodded wordlessly, unable to reject those pleading eyes.
Ryu swept around and sprinted off.

--

Having a natural memory for figures, Kuroda had of course, committed the numbers to memory [4].

A delighted grin played at his lips as he enjoyed the feeling of euphoria sweeping over him.

He lounged comfortably on his wide and soft bed covered with silk sheets and velvet pillows. For Kuroda Masaya, was someone unafraid to spend cash to satisfy his pleasures.

As he keyed in the numbers and saved them into his own mobile, he whispered, �It wouldn�t be long before you�ll hear from me, Keiin-kun��

--

From the previous chapter:

[1] The term, �best-friend-not� was coined after I got offended by a harmless comment in M-chan�s fic�lol�

From this chapter:

[2] LOL I couldn�t resist! If Fi-chan and Auryn-imouto see this, you guys should get it� *winks* Also the song I listened to when I wrote Chapter 5. Really awesome ne�I am searching for the English versh� *sighs*

[3] Oh yeah�jaw-dropping. I used to do that a lot before I reverted to bouncing during IMing�as I told Fi-chan before. Also�my cousin Murasaki once made me burst into hysterical laughter with her dumb antics�yeah, she can do the opening and closing thingy with utter conviction.

[4] Yeah I know�what a feat.

Chapter 7