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6:30 pm
It was a dark and stormy night...
No no, it was summer and the sun refused to go down before eight o’clock. But it was stormy. The forecasts called for it to be the worst storm in over 35 years. And whether or not Megumi chose to believe their predictions, the slamming of wind against his windows was confirmation enough.
The occurrence of a major thunderstorm barely after moving into his new place wasn’t a surprise. Once he commenced his grand speech on independence and refusing to accept any more familial blood money, he figured the long-line of Zenin ancestors would curse his ungratefulness the moment he left. Megumi knew what he wanted, he was on the right path, and the universe smiled. Right before throwing him a massive curveball.
The cheap screen used to keep the rain out was losing its battle, and the repairs weren't going to be pretty for his finances. He said a small prayer for it to hold while setting out his dinner. As enticing as the tussle could become, he turned towards his TV instead.
Television was a treat back home. Children were expected to read when not studying, and if the TV was on, it was replaying the tragic events of the day in slow, horrific detail. Megumi never understood the human desire for blood and tragedy packaged in a 2 minute news segment, and he cowered from the screen whenever it was on. But once in a while the TV was for family, and his dad made sure to include the kids.
Every Christmas, he'd wake Megumi up and gently bring him to the TV room in the estate. There, his cousins were already seated, bright eyed despite the lack of sleep. The roster for the evening was never a surprise, it was always the dubbed Charlie Brown Christmas special followed by My Neighbor Totoro, but the ephemeral joy of the impromptu screening lasted all year until the next holiday showing. A fading memory of his mom handing him snicker-doodles laid among the others, a little scrap of an otherwise forgotten weekend. His dad insisted she made cinnamon rolls though.
Buying a tv for himself was a life-changing experience, and watching it shut-off suddenly set his insides on fire. Megumi's apartment was thrust into a pitch black as thunder cracked violently outside. His heart began to beat rapidly, and the desire to curl into a fetal position started to stem in panic.
Hey kid…
Even when not around, the voice of his father rang through clearly. The thunder grew stronger in the dark and shook the house to its core. He reached further for the voice.
Count to ten, blink three times, and exhale .
There was a metal flashlight nesting among the books in his coffee table. A small thing Toji had snuck into his son’s moving boxes.
you know...for emergencies.
Maybe he could've stayed a little longer.
He remembered that his cousin had an affinity for scented candles, which meant everyone around her must have at least five from her favorite brand. Three beachy coconut dreams and two strawberry sorbet swirls sat on top of his plate cabinet. The matches sat in the second drawer to the right with the knives, and he went about setting up his new light system.
His townhouse was soon replete with tropical aromas, and a strong sense of nausea fell onto Megumi. It wouldn’t do him well to get sick now when the only way to see where his Bathroom was was with one of those stupid candles.
Deep Breaths...Count to three
He noticed with disappointment that the window screen had lost its battle against nature. Brave soldier, thank you for your service. With a deep sigh, he fell back into his chair and decided to wait it out. The power, if everything went smoothly, would come back on in the next hour and a half. But with this storm, he wouldn't be surprised if it took all night.
Maybe the storm will vanish, just a quick little drizzle into the night.
A sharp noise sounded on his door, startling Megumi from his chair. The strong taps against the wood continued, eventually crescendoing into hard knocks. He pushed himself up with deep irritation and went to open the door.
"Fuck off."
"Oh wow you're alive! Also kinda rude."
Yuuji Itadori. Resident of the lower part of the townhouse. Nicest fucking human to walk the earth, and the last thing Megumi expected to be on his front door tonight.
"I uh...uhm, why wouldn't I be alive?"
"Dude you were screaming bloody murder literally two minutes ago." The poor man was soaked. His usually vibrant peach locks stuck to the sides of his head with a papier-mâché type consistency. He shivered as he leaned on the side of Megumi's doorway. The yellow inside-out hoodie clung to his body in the rain, outlining a sturdy figure. His breathing was labored, while his eyes still carried concern in spite of Megumi's hostile welcome.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you. I thought you were someone else."
"Well sorry to that person if they bothered you that much. But are you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah." His neighbor wasn't convinced. Yuuji pushed himself off the wall and into Megumi's apartment.
"Why does it smell like a coconut tree had sex with strawberry shortcake?" Megumi sputtered.
"You can't just walk into someone else's house like that-"
"Oh your power’s out too? Yeah this area isn't really known for it's electrical sustainability. Have you been able to eat anything? If not that's cool because I have some extra udon I didn't touch and this soup looks kinda cold." Yuuji had started to tour the apartment and investigate the little pieces of Megumi's life set around.
They had met a total of two times. Once when Megumi moved in and was given a housewarming gift by said new neighbor. And two, when he fell on his face in front of his stairs just as Yuuji came back from a jog. it's not that he didn't want to interact with him, he seemed nice enough. But Megumi had already met two amazing people since he came here, and that's enough friends for the time being.
But Yuuji was getting water all over his carpet, and he already made one rude impression.
"Sure."
7:05 pm
Megumi wasn't sure what to expect when he entered the other man's apartment, but it was definitely not Phantom of the Opera on vinyl.
"Yeah sorry my brother's a big fan and I- I was just keeping the record warm for him." His guest burst out laughing.
"Hey! this is a fucking masterpiece that your rude self could never understand!"
He led them to his small kitchen and escaped for a moment to change his shirt. Yuuji's house had what Megumi decided was a soft aura to it. Through his limited vision, he noticed a warm beige hue covered the walls while fluffy pillows laid around the dining table. Warm red and yellow tones colored the rest of the decor in his apartment. He imagined this is what those shacks of apartments overlooking the Eiffel tower were like. Simple yet inviting, in honor of their inhabitant.
Yuuji brought over their Udon and lit extra candles around the table. Unlike the strong scent of Mai's brand, his were a light cotton and lavender blend; complimenting the cozy aura of his house. Yet, no matter how nice he thought the apartment was, it still wasn't his. And Megumi grew anxious sitting across from the man.
"I feel like we got off on the wrong foot." By now the raven-head was stuffing his face and desperately trying to avoid eye contact. The power would be back on any minute now, and he could say his goodbyes and pretend this never happened.
"Or maybe you got off on the wrong foot, seeing that you fell on your face." He choked on his noodles. This is gonna be a long night.
Megumi swallowed. "I...guess I did. Sorry about that and hitting your stairs."
"I mean don't apologize to me, you did hit your jaw pretty hard. How is it by the way?"
"I mean it's better-" A rough hand reached across the table and gripped his chin. He tilted Megumi's head to the left to further examine the injured spot. A rush of heat flooded up his face as a finger traced the crevice left from the incident. Yuuji let out a low hiss.
"Man I’m really sorry, on the bright side, your face is really small." He shook Megumi's chin gently before he let go. "Girls kill for this chin." To his slight disappointment, the hand didn’t return to further Yuuji’s point.
"Thanks I guess..."
"Those lashes too. Your eyes are really nice." The two stared at each other for a moment. Deep blue against caramel. Megumi decided then that it wasn't the decor that made Yuuji’s apartment so inviting.
"So do you get them threaded or is it like jojoba oil?"
7:45 pm
Megumi was certain that he was staring at the ugliest cooler ever created. It was a tacky neon green that bled into the warmth of Yuuji's space, creating an awkward contrast. It's owner explained how this was the "god-forbid cooler." Where "god-forbid" someone decided to throw an emergency party and no one was able to get enough alcohol in time.
"How do you have an emergency party?"
"You know how when your friend has a shitty day at work and their girlfriend just dumped them and they really need a pick-me-up? So you call up your friends and say 'guys we need to help him out." Yuuji was scurrying through his apartment to find more of those soft candles. His guest mentioned off-handedly how the smell was calming, and he'd been on a mission ever since.
"And the thing is, during this call you guys plan to go to a place that's like, out in the middle of nowhere like camping right? So you bring the guys out to the forest and you're setting up the party and you're calling some friends of a friend and then you realize.... oh my god, where's the alcohol?" He found the other candles in a drawer next to the sink. A large smile stretched across his face as Megumi rolled his eyes.
"I don't see why you guys can't just go out and get some really quickly-"
"Because there's no time you need to keep up. So you're stressed cause there's no alcohol and then boom! " He steps a foot onto the cooler; posing like a dignified explorer.
"You got everything you need in here."
"That whole thing seems ridiculously complicated." Yuuji let out a chagrin-filled scoff and left the cooler to kneel beside Megumi. It had all the alcohol one might need for any situation. There were wine coolers for a more "elaborate" get together. Two bottles of champagne for a “celebrating occasion” alongside stronger beers for a more " serious type of night” -you know, like, when your friend just lost his job and really needs to drown himself in alcohol but not literally cause you're kinda concerned for his well being." He reached for the champagne.
A soft pop rang through the dark room. Yuuji poured the bubbly liquid into two flutes and handed Megumi his glass. His host initiated a small saluting gesture with their drinks.
"What are we celebrating?" Yuuji pursed his lips. He kneeled, deep in thought, and then leaned in towards Megumi for another salute.
"To the largest fucking storm in 35 years that led us to new friends."
8:23 pm
Drinking with Yuuji was oddly relaxing. He relished in the feeling of relaxed muscles and lazy laughs. The buzz from the champagne was also nice since it didn't leave him with that head-crushing sickness other alcohol did.
But yet, the feeling to restrain was still there, too tightened to be loosened by champagne. He wanted to indulge Yuuji's attempts at conversation, but not all the way.
"So how long have you been in the area?" His host was reclined almost all the way onto his pillows, stretching long legs onto the cooler's sides.
"Only a few months."
"For real?" Megumi nodded.
"I've been in this area my whole life I think." That didn't make sense. Yuuji seemed too adventurous for the area. He had seen the locals around here, most of them couldn't have been older than 36. These were starter homes. Little places to get on your feet when you're finally getting your life together, but it wasn't somewhere to raise a child. There were no playgrounds, no schools, and the sidewalks were too narrow for any kid to play on.
"My parents got a divorce when I was 2, and I haven't seen my mom since." The drink sloshed in the glass as he spun it, deep in memories.
"I know you probably get that this area isn't super kid friendly. It's where up-and-coming workforce people live, but it's not too bad. Because everyone’s a bit younger they can tolerate little kids more, and my dad was good at making friends. Well, alliances ." He got up and headed into the kitchen with their glasses.
"Do you want anything else to eat?"
"No it's ok, thanks." His host nodded.
"So even if the closest school was 30-sum minutes away, we got along. I always liked the area, it's quiet." He came back to the cooler and reached in for another beer. Glancing over his shoulder back at Megumi, he raised an eyebrow.
"You like Asahi?"
"Never tried it."
Yuuji let out a dramatic gasp. He grabbed a second bottle and shoved it into the raven-head's hand.
"Dude this is like the ambrosia of all popular beers. I had Corona once in the states and it doesn't fucking compare. Here." He took the bottle back and bit the cap, lifting the metal with his molars.
"Oh my god how...can you even do that, is that sanitary?"
'Who gives a shit, yolo." He was given the bottle and did another saluting ceremony with Yuuji. His host took a long swig, lowering the bottle to see Megumi’s still full.
"It's not gonna kill you man."
"I know I'm just, I'm just preparing myself..."
"You want me to do it?"
Megumi squeaked. "huh?" Yuuji giggled, a freaking giggle .
"I'm kidding, but seriously try it." And Megumi did. He expected that sour wheat flavor that turned his insides out to slide down his throat, but was thrown off by it’s sweeter aftertaste. it was in rapid succession, yet his next swing didn't have the same sickening effect.
Yuuji returned to his reclining position. "Seems pretty good."
"You know being here, do you think you can be successful?" Megumi didn't want to think of this place as permanent. He refused to do any major renovations to the apartment when he acquired it, for fear of falling in love. It was still too close to the Zenin estate for his liking.
"I mean, what defines success?" The question caught him off guard. The usual aplomb in Yuuji's voice had calmed, resigning to a more revered tone.
"Does success mean making money? Being rich? I'd argue my dad was successful even if he wasn't swimming in money." He had moved closer to Megumi a few moments ago. The stench of alcohol mixing in his throat was pungent, but his guest was too intrigued to care.
"He was left alone with two toddlers and lost the other part of the household income, so the odds were definitely stacked against him. My grandfather even suggested giving one of us up to ease expenses." The two of them had moved back to the small table near the kitchen; resting their chins on their forearms. Megumi enjoyed this side of Yuuji. A bit more melancholy with a drop of nostalgia. It was much more bearable than "in-your-face-your-house-fucking-smells" Yuuji.
"I kinda hoped he'd get rid of my brother. That guy was a fucking prick."
" Was? He passed then?."
"Oh god no, I just don't think prick is a strong enough word for what he is now." A soft chuckle fell from Megumi’s mouth, growing into a deep belly laugh. He was stunned. Was it even possible to laugh with that much of your body?
"It's nice to hear you laugh, I thought you'd just awkwardly smile the rest of the night." Yuuji earned a slap on the bicep for that. He laid his head back down on his forearms to continue.
"My dad knew he was crafty. He used to work a lot of odd jobs when he was younger and memorized each trade thoroughly. There were quite a few instances where money was tight, so he'd offer services to our neighbors. He'd fix a sink or a car, or paint someone's fence or replace a lightbulb for no monetary charge.’ The beer buzz was different to the champagne. Megumi wasn't in the same state of calm, but more so an idle body. He liked it, and he wanted to listen to Yuuji’s drawl a little longer.
“Instead, someone would have to make dinner for us a couple nights a week, or take my brother and I to school when dad needed to work earlier. My favorite was this one neighbor who had dad fix her headlights, and she bought us at least 10 years worth of hygiene products."
"He was successful in raising two independent and strong sons, and he eventually got a few pay raises. I'm proud of him, and I think he's a model for success. What about you?" Megumi knew his answer. He just wasn't sure if it was something he wanted to admit out loud. Compared to Yuuji’s dad, it was steeped in selfishness.
"I guess... for me success is getting away from my family." The words rolled off easily, but it was the first time he ever really said it to himself. There was the part of him that stuck through for his parents, that insisted on having a relationship with the greater part of his family. To him, the Zenin’s were nothing more than financial security and tradition. They were an established group of people that provided Megumi with anything he ever needed. But the want soon grew stronger than the need, and he knew he'd suffocate if he were to stay in that estate any longer.
"Growing in my career of course but, Independence? I think I'll feel successful when any connection I had to that place is severed." Why was he saying this? What did he owe to this stranger that he didn't to his cousins? His best friends? His father?
"Then that's how you measure success. And it can happen right here." Their bottles were empty by now, and Yuuji stretched his arms for two more. Biting the caps off savagely, he once more lightly tapped them. Although now his drunken haze caused some liquid to fall over the rim. They laughed quietly in the fading candle light.
"Cheers again, to success."
9:02 pm
Yuuji was contemplating breaking out the camping lanterns from his closet, but Megumi was afraid for his motor skills after chugging a wine color in under 25 seconds. (Not that Megumi hadn’t considered joining in himself.) They had instead settled on lighting the little tea candles from his utensil drawer.
They had settled in the living room with warm feet resting on top of the cooler. It had gotten significantly hotter since he arrived, and the two had stripped to tee shirts and boxers. Megumi liked the shirt Yuuji offered, it was an old band one that was dyed a washed out blue. He had trouble making out which band, but his host insisted it was an old Rolling Stones tee. Even though Megumi was certain he saw the Zeppelin ship floating in the front.
The power out meant no wifi, but Yuuji had one movie downloaded on his ipad.
"So don't laugh."
"I promise I won't."
"...It's Mamma Mia."
Oh, but it was tempting to do so.
"I can see your nails digging into your palm to stop you from laughing." Megumi exhaled and let it out.
“It's just I never would've taken you to be into musicals.” Yuuji’s eyes narrowed in, and Megumi’s heart ceased motion. Had he insulted his host for good this time? Would he be thrown out into his own dark apartment and be left to know that whatever champagne buzzed scented-candle evening he had here was lost forever?
"Do you wanna know a secret?"
"If you tell me will you not kill me?"
"huh?"
"Nevermind." Yuuji stretched back across the pillows to set up the movie.
"I was a theatre kid."
" No."
"Yes." A drunken grin grew across his face. Honestly, Megumi could see it. He imagined Yuuji was a powerful tenor in the shows. One of those kids who studied acting outside of school and was always a shoe in for the lead.
"So do you still sing and stuff?" His host’s face twisted.
" Sing? oh no no no I was a choreographer."
huh?
"Yeah, I was the dance captain of the shows and choreographed them in my last two years. We never did a lot of dance heavy shows but there was always a big number." He emphasized the big with his hands. It was cute, the animated Yuuji from two hours ago had returned. Leaving Megumi enthralled in a way he wasn’t sure he’d ever been.
"I mean look at these abs, you think singers have these? Well they probably do cause there's an image to maintain but still ." He tugged up his shirt to show off, not knowing how already familiar with his physique his neighbor was
"You wanna touch them?"
" HUH?" It was like talking to a little kid who just got a puppy. Wide brown eyes filled with pride stared back at Megumi.
There were options of course, a set path paved with two distinct roads.
He would say no and end this, the movie was playing in the background, and he'd be lying if he said the music wasn't exciting. Yuuji would understand. He'd regard him with a 'suit yourself' and put his shirt back down. Easy as that. The air would be ripe with awkward tension and nervous dialogue afterwards, but nothing would’ve happened.
It was still raining outside though, and it’d be a bitch to walk those 12 seconds back to his apartment.
"So?"
"Yeah I'll touch them."
9:05 pm
Megumi was lost in the feeling of warm flesh and drunken kisses. He loved the feeling as warm honey pooled in his stomach the more he leaned in. By now, The music faded into the background, and shared breaths took center stage.
10:03 pm
"Are you fucking wolverine or something?"
"I just work with wolves sometimes."
"Dude this isn't even a hickey this is a straight up bite-mark ."
"You're really not calling me dude when I had my tongue down your throat?"
"I'm never giving you alcohol again, what happened to my rude quiet neighbor?"
"I'm not rude! I just didn't know who you were when you knocked."
"Close enough."
10:15 pm
"What's something you're scared to tell people?"
They had found their way back to the living room. Legs intertwined and Megumi wrapped in the other's arms. He grabbed the rest of the champagne and drank slowly from the source. Yuuji tapped his shoulder and held out his hands for the bottle.
His other hand was occupied tracing the bone peeking from Megumi’s hip, and the raven-head ran his own finger's over the vein lines. Unlike his cousins, Megumi wasn't fond of sunlight. It burned deeply and left ugly red marks along his exposed skin. It worked out in the favor of the Zenin's who watched him, and they fed him book after book to keep him preoccupied. Staring at their entwined hands, he grew envious of Yuuji’s deep olive tone, kissed by sunlight many times over. The contrast was annoying, and it made his condition even more poignant.
"I have vitamin d deficiency." A sharp snort sounded against his neck
"Oh so I can't laugh at you liking musicals but you get to make fun of my very serious medical condition?"
"How does that even happen? Are you allergic to sunlight or something?"
"No I just... I never went outside that much when I was young." Silence took over the room, and he felt Yuuji shift behind him.
"Well let's go outside then." A strong hand gripped his thin wrist, and Megumi was dragged over to the front door.
"Wait wait, it's still raining outside." The door to Yuuji's apartment was slammed open. The rain was still pouring and drumming against the roof in a heavy rhythm. Thick black clouds were swarming the sky. But a sliver of moon slipped through the fluff, illuminating the first step by the apartment door. Megumi felt a slight shove into the light, and was held there by his shoulders.
Rough hands gripped skin while fat raindrops soaked through their clothes. Megumi’s body was shaken by large shivers, but he could feel the laughs that made their way through his teeth.
"Look-" Yuuji yelled over the rain, pulling his neighbor in for warmth.
"I know the moon is like, the way it is because of the sun, so maybe you don't need to stand out all day!" The wind was making its way into Yuuij's hair, creating a nest among his wavy strands. Moisture lined his handsome features and it made Megumi itch to wipe it off.
"Soak up the rays from the moon, you know, like a vampire or something."
"A vampire?"
"You are pretty fucking pale, maybe that's why I have your teeth marked into my neck." Another full laugh came from his mouth the more he leaned into Yuuji, desperate to catch all the words in his voice. The piece of moonlight slowly expanded with the parting clouds, and the two were soon engulfed in it. For the first time tonight, Megumi could clearly see his savior. Bathed in reflected sun-rays like the son of Helios he was.
10:37 pm
"Were you ever a pianist?" A drowsy Yuuji pondered. They had come back inside a few minutes earlier, freshly soaked under the rain and chillier without any power.
"No, why do you ask?"
"Your fingers." He picked up Megumi’'s hand and inspected the digits. His dad used to comment on how bony they were, his hands. How they look too much like a woman's.
"What about them?"
"They're-" He cut himself off with a yawn.
"They're good piano fingers. Long and elegant, I have these sausages instead." To explain, he held up his hand against Megumi's. A rough palm worn likely from years of activity sat against its bony counterpart. They were a similar size, but he was right. Yuuji's stout fingers ended before Megumi's. It was kinda cute, until he laced their hands together and a million butterflies let loose in Megumi's stomach.
His host blinked once...twice... and then gently rested his head on the guest's shoulder. Yuuji mumbled something into Megumi’s shirt.
"What?"
"Go to sleep...I'll make pancakes tomorrow."
11:25 pm
"Hey, wake up."
The raven-head opened his eyes slowly. Yuuji was still on top of him from when they fell asleep, but now strong arms caged him with urgency.
"What's wrong?"
"Did you blow out the candles in your apartment?"
12:03 pm
It was kinda funny. The killer of the beginning of his newfound Independence was a gift from a Zenin.
Thick red flames engulfed a quarter of Meugmi's apartment. At least five firefighters were swarming his house to try and tame the flames. It looked to be decreasing, but hardley. On the bright side, he hadn’t noticed when the rain stopped. Unfortunately for him, heavy unrestrained water pressure was probably what he needed.
Yuuji had wrapped them both in his thickest blanket and kept his arms tight around Megumi's waist. It was the warmest he'd felt all night, swaddled and watching his house burn.
"You know these places are probably haunted, think of it like a cleansing."
"They should've gone for your place first, at least give me the chance to attract bad energy."
"Hey! be lucky my apartment is still standing, you’ll need a place to stay for a little bit." He turned around in the man's arms, and finally saw his full face. A deep scar stretched it's way across his nose bridge and fell right under his eyes. He had round cheeks with soft lines beneath, and smile lines that stretched around his mouth. He broke out into a big grin that masked the uneasiness at his offer. With half of his new found life gone, Megumi didn’t think he had much to lose.
"Sure, we can go shopping to refill your emergency party cooler tomorrow too." Yuuji laughed, and the two faced the flames once more. A sudden flash came into Megumi's vision, and light flooded into his fire-filled house.
“Oh cool, the power's back on!"