-----
Part 2
Page 2
The Youkai King replaced the phone on the receiver
and held it there, closing his eyes.
He waited three seconds.
"And off she goes," he said appreciatively.
"You always were good at reading him," Dokugakuji
said dutifully, lacing up his shoes.
"No, not really. That came towards the end."
"I meant comparatively. I've just never seen it
in practice until now." He stood up. "Come on. We're going to be late."
To his almost-surprise, Kougaiji followed without
any more objection. He stopped only long enough to get a good look at Dokugakuji's
front, smoothing out a crease in the collar of his robe and straightening
the beads of his earring. And, as an afterthought, the king reached up
on tip-toe to straighten some spikes of the man's hair with his claws.
This was habitual, because both men refused to be
in a room with a mirror, much less use one. Five hundred years was a long
time to get honest with each other's appearances. When Dokugakuji was done
getting his treatment, he turned it on his partner, though there wasn't
quite as much to do. Kougaiji just didn't seem to get unkempt. It might've
just been an unconscious exertion of power, but probably it was a natural
gift.
He did straighten the white streak. Well, because.
On an impulse he leaned down and kissed him, something
he hadn't done in a while either. Because.
Dokugakuji wasn't exactly sure what he expected
out of it. Kougaiji fell into it readily and reciprocated just as unthinkingly
as his lover had started sorting his hair into place. There was no passion
in it. There rarely was these days. Doku probably wouldn't have even spotted
it if it had sneaked in somewhere.
To anyone else, they must look like such a loving
couple.
To, say, Shushma, one of their secretaries who had
walked in through the open door of their suite, head in a folder of paperwork
and going, "Your highness, I got those trade reports you reque-- Oh." She
stammered a little. "I'll-- just-- wait outside, okay?"
They noted her only absently, as she was retreating,
and Kougaiji broke off the embrace. "We'll be late," he repeated. "Come
on. Let's go."
"Not concerned for your hobby calling?"
"Oh, she should be at that a while..."
-----