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Fushiguro Megumi looked down at his phone screen and frowned when he noted the time.
His date was late.
Internally he sighed, but outwardly he just bit his bottom lip as he went through the motions of unlocking his phone and opening up his messenger app. The chat window showed no new activity. Not one new message from the person he had been awaiting, it was starting to become a recurring event for their dates.
He was being too harsh, it was only their third attempt on their first date after all. They had to cancel each time because the man he had been chatting with online had been called away because of work.
Working in law was a very demanding field; his date had told him at the beginning of their chats and would constantly remind him in their chat about how he would dragged into meetings upon meetings, at the last minute, and had so much work to do just to make sure the defense he was working on was sound for court.
As an adult Megumi understood the constant demands of such a career, but that still didn’t mean he didn’t desire to see his chat come alive with those three dots to let him know the other man was there or at least thinking of him. Instead he was left with the usual white stillness for hours that was usually followed by a few minute barrage of apologies and then the man devolging all the things that had gone wrong or annoyed him about his day before Megumi could reply in that few minute window before the hours long radio silence would hit.
It was his current state at that moment.
No messages had come in and he was getting worried that this was just going to be a repeat of the other failed dates and he was going to get stood up. Again.
He took a sip from his glass of water as he turned his attention back to the menu on his table, to take his mind off the time, even though he had already chosen his meal. He had chosen the restaurant he sat in, made a reservation for a table for two, he even chose a descriptive outfit for his date to notice him when he made the date. He even let his friend help him with his appearance, wanting to make an effort as it had been so long since he had dated and he really wanted things to work. But he’d be a liar if he didn’t admit he was getting tired of all the rescheduling and the long hours of silence.
He just wanted to go on dates, meet new people, and maybe find a connection. Was that truly such an abhorrent venture?
A screech of a laugh drew him out of his thoughts and he turned his head to his right to a table a few tables away where a group of women were laughing. The trio all had their phones out and the constant flashes told him they were taking pictures and just loudly having a good time.
He found himself relaxing at the scene; the people across from him were just relaxing and enjoying their own company. It helped put things in perspective and stopped his catastrophizing spiral.
Maybe he was just being judgemental, with a quick look to confirm the time, his date was only a few several minutes late. Third time’s the charm as they say. The other was probably on his way and if he was patient he was sure Ryom–
“I am so sorry I am late! And made you wait so long!” A gruff voice made Megumi jump in his seat and he looked up just in time to see a man settle into the chair across from him. “A client was being difficult and refused to hand over necessary information for his case.”
The man was dressed in a well fitted gray business suit and white dress shirt that did everything to show off the well defined muscles of his upper body. His hair was pink and slicked back in a manner that showed off the attractive sharp features of his face, features that were covered in sharp lined tattoos. Even from across the table he could tell that the man was taller than him as he watched him settle into the high backed cushioned chair, Megumi couldn’t help but swallow at that realization. He was very glad he had waited as the other finished getting settled and crimson eyes fell on him, he watched as a small smile grew on the other’s lips.
Seeing the corners of that smile begin to downturn made him remember himself and he sat a little straighter and finally replied.
“Uhh–It’s alright!” He said awestruck as he shoved his phone back into his pocket. “You were only late by a few minutes, it’s nothing to worry about, I know how demanding your profession can be.” Megumi flashed him a small smile as he laid his hands on the table, he really didn’t want to ruin their first date in the first few minutes, by getting hung up on the time.
The other’s smile grew as he finished his statement and Megumi felt his chest warm at the accomplishment.
“Thank you for the consideration.” His date purred as his face relaxed. “But punctuality is an important thing and making a lovely person like you wait is definitely in need of an apology, sweetheart .”
His face burned at the use of the nickname and he covered up a cough by grabbing his glass of water and taking a sip, his face felt warm. His date never acted like this during their chats, it was an interesting discovery that his date was such a flirt, he hadn’t remembered the last time he had blushed or received such a compliment.
“It’s fine really…” He coughed around his drink and looked up at the other examining him.
He had only been in his physical presence for a few moments, but Megumi had already started to doubt if the man seated across from him was his date.
“I’m grateful, you agreed to meet with me.” His date continued to flash him a grin and leaned forward on the table. “I know we had to cancel our first few outings, but I am entranced to finally see you face to face, Fushigu–”
“Hello there, may I get you a menu, sir?” A waitress interrupted him as she flashed them both a smile and placed down a glass of water and cutlery in front of his date who turned his attention towards her.
The woman also brought him out of his trance and he remembered where they were, he fumbled for a moment as he placed his glass down and silently admonished himself as he realized he hadn’t offered his own menu to the other man as soon as he sat down.
“Actually, I’m ready to order if my date is?” The pink haired man answered, turning his attention back to Megumi. “I took a look at the menu while I made my way here.”
He could only blink at the man, before nodding that he was ready. He had been surprised at the other’s statement because in their chats the other had always said he hated planning things ahead of time wanting to live in the moment as he had put it.
Their waitress nodded and pulled out a small notepad as she turned to look at him, wearing that same smile and looking at him expectantly.
“Umm,” Megumi took a moment to look back at his menu, he remembered choosing his meal but everything had just left him off balance and he forgot what he had originally decided on. “I’ll have the Teriyaki Tofu and another water please.” He handed over his menu.
“Nice, I’ll have the Katsudon and a rum and coke.” His date said turning to the waitress, who flashed them a smile before walking away from their table.
Silence hung between them, but it wasn’t awkward, it was everything far from it. Megumi felt comfortable under the other man’s gaze as he looked him up and down from over the rim of the glass that he drank from, his sleeve falling back to reveal more tattoos around his wrist. He didn’t remember the man noting them on his profile, he wasn’t complaining, but it did continue to throw him for a loop, Ryomagi was definitely different in person.
“I’m really happy you told me how to find you.” Ryomagi said after he swallowed and put the glass down. “It made everything so much easier with you telling me to look for dark hair, a white shirt, and a green scarf, but if you had told me to also look for the prettiest person in the restaurant it would have made it even easier.” He finished with a wicked grin as his ravenous crimson eyes met his emerald ones dead on.
Well that made all of his doubts fly away that this was his date and any thoughts on him surviving this first date.
--
“I can’t believe he said that to you and an entire courtroom.” Megumi covered his mouth as he let out a laugh.
“That bonehead really did!” His date chuckled as he recounted him with a story of him in a courtroom. “If the man had just paid more attention to his Lefts and his Rights he might not have made such a fool of himself and mixed up who his defendant was in the photos used, he had been so pompous throughout his deliberation. It had been a pleasure taking that man and his client down.” He leaned back in his seat, his glass in hand and a sharp smile on his lips.
He couldn’t help but nod at the sentiment.
“Defending animal abusers like them definitely makes that guy lose any sympathy points from me.” Megumi said before he placed another bite of his meal in his mouth.
Everything had been going so well since his date had arrived, the man was so interesting and he had such a way with telling stories and he seemed to be just as interested in him and his own stories.
“His defense was as poor as his attitude. You should check to see if the shelter you work with ended up using their services. They might be entitled to some of the settlement.” He nodded at the other’s advice.
“I’ll do that, thank you.” The shelter he volunteered at did outsource a lot of their grooming work and suppliers he would definitely be mentioning this to his manager.
“Make sure to pass my number onto them if they need any help,” Megumi nodded as he took another sip from his glass. “I’m really surprised that you volunteer your time the way that you do, you hardly mentioned it when we chatted online."
He blinked at the statement. It was true he never really got much of a chance to speak about himself during their chats, what with the other’s mammoth text complaints about his day, but he was sure he mentioned it twice or at least once during the beginning of their communication. The dogs he helped to take care of were a favorite talkingpoint of his.
“It’s a pleasant one, truly.” His date said quickly, the confusion must have been clear on his face. “I apologize if I missed it.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Megumi said as the other’s smile fell. “Things get lost when you are just chatting on text. I’m not expecting you to remember everything I’ve ever sent you. I mean I didn’t even know you were an attorney, you mentioned you worked in law but I had no idea what your job title was until you told me.”
His date blinked at him at the admission, however he smiled after a few moments.
“That’s a relief.” The smile was warm and soft again. “There was a lot of texting going on when we were just using a chat screen. It’s much easier to talk to you face to face and I enjoy it much more.”
Megumi’s chest grew even warmer as the other took another sip from his glass.
He also enjoyed talking to the other face to face, he felt like he had learned so much more about the other in the past half hour than he had in the week and a half of chat messages they had exchanged. It was a delight and so much more than he had expected from a first date, he was so happy he had agreed to their third attempt and success. The urge for a second date had already started to grow strong.
“Alright, enough of that.” His date’s smile was sharp and pleasant. “Tell me more about your soon to be adopted dogs Kuro and Shiro.”
“They are not my soon to be adopted dogs.” Megumi laughed and tried to hide his blush.
Kuro and Shiro, were two dogs that his shelter had adopted from a group of rescued and recovered fight dogs. The two dogs were large and beautiful, each one coloured after their namesake, and were very healthy and smart animals, but both dogs had visible scarring on both their faces showing their history. This helped in putting both dogs in the running for longest residents of the shelter, which was a terrible shame as both animals were the biggest cuddle bugs and affectionate dogs he’d ever had the pleasure of interacting with. He truly did love both animals and believed he had made a connection with the two, unfortunately…
“I don’t think I’d be a good enough fit for them.” He grabbed his glass thankful that there had been a few sips left in it and it saved him from continuing.
“Why would you say that?” His date settled his chin on his interlocked hands and gazed at him like his next words would be the most interesting answer he would ever receive.
Megumi stayed silent. He looked away and swished the remnants of his drink around in his glass.
“I just worry I might not be enough to give them the care they deserve.” Both dogs didn’t have much in behavioral issues, which was a miracle given their past, but both dogs still needed help and attention he wished he could give. He just didn’t want to have the dogs settle for him and he give them only subpar support when someone better could come along and provide them with better care.
“I think you could give them the support they need and more.” Green eyes opened wide as they turned to stare at blazing and examining crimson. “You clearly love these two animals and with the few pictures and videos you showed me it’s clear those two dogs love you, I believe you’d be very good for them.”
Megumi blinked as the other continued.
“You actually know their history and you still approached them and managed to make a connection." He couldn't turn away from those deep crimson pools even if he wanted to. "A bond like that can be more healing than the best care for some, and animals. You’d definitely be deligiant with their care, giving it the seriousness they deserve, and prepared for it given your experience working with animals like them. Also your hesitation is another reason for why you'd be a great provider, you’re not blinded to their needs by your emotions and a sob story making you jump into things head first and without knowing what you’d be getting into, instead you are pragmatic about what their care could entail. I feel just by looking at you and how you spoke so highly of them that you could give them the home and life they deserve, don’t sell yourself short."
Megumi released a breath he hadn't even known he'd been holding as the man finished his little speech of encouragement and truth. The man was right he'd seen it happen a few times where people who came into their shelter looking for the oldest and most mistreated dog to care for, because they saw an inspirational video online, only to return the animal after a week or so because they couldn't handle the reality of the care needed and expected the dog to behave like the one in the video after a few short days.
He always felt sad whenever an animal was brought back like that. The saddest thing was watching a dog wait by a door hoping for their new owner to come back only for the sad realization to dawn on them that they'd been abandoned, again. He swore he'd never do that to an animal, he'd seen first hand how detrimental it can be and it was the last thing he wanted for Kuro and Shiro.
So didn't that mean he'd be the one to avoid it, the multiple open and reread tabs on his phone about how to treat rescues and dogs with behavioral issues and the man across from him said yes.
He blinked as he realized he had been even changing his apartment to be better suited for the two dogs and even watching his neighborhood, noting when other dogs were being taken on walks and watched how the owners would handle the animals. He had started changing his life on the off chance he could take care of them so what was he waiting for?
He looked at his date who's serious look had morphed into a carefree smile, the man must have noticed when he made his realization.
"I think you might be onto something." Megumi smiled back at the other.
"Of course I am." The man settled back into his chair like a king noting a fact. "I am an amazing judge of character and it’s helped me in the courtroom as well as outside of it. If your landlord has a problem about animals in your home let me know and I'll defend you at a reduced rate." The smile the attorney flashed him was coy and self assured and made him want to play along.
"Oh, a reduced rate?" Megumi shot back in what he hoped was a coy manner. "Surely, I couldn't make you do that, hot shot attorney -sama, is there something else I could do to make up the payment?" He batted his eyelashes at the other.
The grip the man had on his glass was worrying as he was sure he saw a crack appear in it.
"I'm sure we could come to a pleasurable arrangement…" His date purred darkly and made him shudder.
An infernal jingle broke them out of the sensual spell that had been cast and made Megumi jump. Another damned jingle had him realizing the sound had come from his own pocket, he forgot to set it to silent mode. His blush changed to embarrassment and he gave his date an apologetic smile before he took out his phone as another jingle sounded.
He didn't receive many text messages and his friends knew he was on a date and to only contact him in an emergency. For a fluttering moment his heart beat increased in panic, his mind already spiraling down a list of catastrophes that could have befallen his loved ones until he saw the screen and his heart stopped.
There on his lockscreen was a notification showing his chat with Ryomagi and showed the text messages he had become disparagingly familiar with:
I am so sorry.
I can't make it to our date.
Can we reschedule for another day?
He felt like his eyes were about to fall out of his sockets as he stared at his phone. It has to be a prank or maybe a misscheduled automatic text, because his date Ryomagi had been sitting with him for the last forty-five minutes.
A new message appeared with more apologies.
He looked from his phone to his date and then back in shock, there was no way any of this was happening. He blinked and hoped, willed even, that when he opened his eyes again the messages would be gone; he opened his eyes and the messages were still there.
"Is something the matter?" Megumi's wide green eyes looked at the man sitting across from him, who looked back at him worried.
He opened his mouth to speak, but a screeched growl and the sudden feeling of something cool falling onto his head had him shutting his mouth.
"How dare you !" A woman screeched. "I'll have you arrested for impersonation!"
"Fushiguri!!" The man across from him yelled and rose to his feet looking at Megumi with concern and reaching out to him. "Are you alright?"
He froze. That was not his name.
" I'm Fushiguri!!" Both men turned and looked at the woman, she was dressed in a deep blue sundress, with a small red coat over her shoulders and had large designer sunglasses on top of her head. She was a very attractive and tall woman, she was the type that would turn heads walking down the street, with long dark hair. Her dark eyes scrunched up in a blazing glare, completely directed at him.
Megumi was the first to look away from her and back to his phone, he then looked up at his perfect date who was still staring at the woman, who made him a dripping mess. He felt himself deflate, of course the other was too good to be true. Of course he couldn't be his date, his phone chirped again like the sound of a nail being driven into a coffin.
He hung his head in shame.
"You're Fushiguri…?" The man across from him asked.
"That's what I've been saying!" He heard her stamp her foot beside him as the conversation above him continued. "I can't believe you fell for this impersonator!"
"Why aren't you wearing any of the clothes you said you would be wearing in your message, Fushiguri ?" The man growled out.
"I had to change into something else because of the weather and the lighting in this place." The woman continued not seeming to care about the other's growl or rising anger. "The last thing I need is to look washed out in any of my pics. Duh!"
"Why didn't you tell me any of this…?"
"I figured you'd be smart enough to figure it out and besides my sunglasses are green." He heard the eyeroll after that statement. "That should have been enough, to realize it was me. Now come on, I've been waiting for over an hour with my friends, you still owe me this date and you are so paying for everyone's drinks for making us all wait for so long. I don't know how you could confuse me for this loser!"
Her voice had kept rising and Megumi didn't need to look up to notice that everyone's attention had been glued to their table. He wished he could just disappear.
A small voice in his head wondered how the woman could have missed the man across from him though. If she had paid a bit of attention during the hour she had been waiting, it wouldn't have been hard to figure out this had been her date as they were only a couple of tables away from each other.
Silence hung heavy over the table, he couldn't help but wonder what his punishment would be for making such a transgression.
“Leave now …” The two words were growled out with such vitriol and anger Megumi raced to turn to get his coat hanging off his chair. “Fushiguri!”
He froze in his seat.
Fushiguri on the other hand didn’t.
“Excuse me, Ryomen ?” Ryomen so that was the other’s name, it was a nice name. “You better be careful what you say next or else I will have you ruined!”
“I said: leave now Fushiguri.” The man across from him said calmly as he slowly rounded the table grabbing a cloth napkin. “And if you don’t I’ll make sure to have you brought to the fullest extent of the law for the assault I just witnessed you commit.” His voice and face were steady and calm but his eyes burned as he made his way over to Megumi, who sat stunned with his mouth wide open.
Fushiguri spat insults at the two of them but Ryomen just moved in front of her and knelt beside his seat, using the napkin to dab at any wet spots. She continued spitting curses at them before she stomped her foot and then turned back to her table.
“Come on girls! This place is ruined and I don’t want to be near these two losers!” She gave a humph and marched out the entrance of the restaurant.
The two other women raced after her, with one being stopped by a waiter, no doubt to pay the bill.
“I think you just helped me dodge a bullet.” His date said with a warm smile.
--
“I still can’t believe she threw her water on you!” Ryomen said as they walked along the street.
After Fushiguri had left the other man, Ryomen Sukuna as he later fully introduced himself, had done his best to towel him off and even escorted him to the bathroom after a few waiters offered him some towels.
When he left the bathroom he found the man waiting for him, he half expected the man to leave after the debacle that happened, with the remains of their meal in boxes and him having paid for both. Ryomen then left with him, saying he was so sorry for how the other person acted and that he wished to make sure Megumi got home safely.
“Yeah, it did seem a little extreme…” He agreed as they continued to walk.
“Extreme doesn’t even begin to describe it, I can’t believe that woman had the audacity to act like that.” He let out a long suffering sigh and ran his hand through his pink hair.
“How did you two even get to chatting?” Megumi couldn’t help but ask, the two of them seemed like such different individuals.
“I was given her chat handle through some work colleagues,” Ryomen said with a wistful look in his eyes. “They mentioned how the woman had a family member that worked in law and could understand the demands of a partner in the field. They suggested we might be a good match, they were clearly delusional.”
He nodded at that, it made sense and he turned his head to look anywhere but at his walking partner. The sun had already started to set and had painted the sky in lovely purples and pinks. It would have been a nice setting for the end of a romantic date, but he wasn’t sure if that’s what he had experienced.
The date itself had been perfect, the ending of the dinner notwithstanding, but the vibe and the connection he felt with the other was still the strongest he’d ever felt with another. He just wasn’t sure how the other felt about him, if everything that had followed had been tarnished by the realization of it all. He was just so unbalanced, leaving Megumi wanting to get home as fast as possible and at the same time not wanting their walk to end.
His chest still felt warm as he walked alongside the man he had been thankful had shown up as his date. If only he could be brave enough to express it. Unfortunately, they had reached his apartment building too quickly–or too slowly–he still wasn’t sure how he felt.
He came to a stop in front of his steps and the other man stopped a few steps ahead of him. They both stood there awkwardly, the previous ease had long left them, both holding white containers of unfinished food, neither looking directly at the other and just waiting for something.
It was now or never. Megumi thought and gathered all of his courage.
“I’m sorry for the confusion earlier but I was hoping…”
“I really would like to see you again!” they both said in unison.
They both turned to look at the other wide eyed. Megumi blinked and shifted, coming out of his surprise first.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?”
A blush danced across Ryomen’s face and his hand found the back of his head, his crimson eyes not meeting his own.
“I would like to see you again. I really enjoyed our little date. You are so interesting and I would like to learn more about you, and I hope the scene at the restaurant wasn’t something that turned you against me.” The man finished as his crimson eyes met his own green, uncertainty danced in those orbs.
His chest burst into warmth at the confession and felt himself relax.
He was about to give a reply when his phone buzzed and drew his attention, it was Ryomagi, he had already shifted from apologies to insults and blaming Megumi for his lack of a reply. He looked from his phone and back to the man standing before him and back at his phone, the messages were the final push he needed.
"My name is Fushiguro Megumi." He said as he quickly wrote a reply to the one who had been texting him before looking up at the other. "And I was wondering if you'd like to visit the shelter I work at and meet some of the dogs I work with." His smile had been small and hopeful.
"Fushiguro Megumi," Ryomen said his name like he had been tasting it. " Blessing huh? I must say you are very aptly named, you saved and blessed me today. I would be honored to visit your shelter with you and meet the animals you care so much about." The man stepped closer and his fingers cupped the other's cheek as he started to lean forward, a question in his eyes.
"It's a date." Megumi whispered and then leaned forward, crossing the small space between them to meet the other's lips as his answer.
The sun set on the two as they melted into a kiss. The phone in Megumi's hand had finally stopped buzzing as the three words stood stark and final, as his reply to Ryomagi. " We are over ."
The third time really was the charm.
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