44 Capture

It occurred to Keigo in the elevator that he never thought there would be a day when he would actually look forward to coming home. Looking back, with hindsight and no denial, he had tried everything he could to avoid returning to this empty, massive penthouse.

He worked all night, slept with faceless strangers, downed alcohol at his club - anything but coming back and having the space screaming at him how truly alone he had become.

He had always known as well, that the place was an empty shell. There was nothing personal to grace it.

Now, he could feel the anticipation as he arrived at the door. It was late and Kaoru was likely getting ready for bed.

Keigo could picture his lover's nightly routine. Little things which Kaoru didn't even notice. He checked if all the lights were off. He planned for breakfast the next morning religiously and informed Keigo. So Keigo knew that they were having croissants from the new bakery around the corner tomorrow. Kaoru always, for reasons unknown to Keigo, bid the plants in his study goodnight.

It was all very endearing.

When he entered their home tonight though, the lights were on.

Curious. Keigo decided against announcing himself and tossed his jacket onto the couch before padding upstairs.

He could hear rustling noises as he approached their bedroom.

The door was opened and the sight bewildered him.

He cleared his throat.

Kaoru jumped and swung around. "K-Keigo!"

"What are you doing?" Keigo asked and tried to swallow his laughter.

Those dark eyes darted to the clock on the bedstand. "I forgot the time!"

"Besides that." Keigo walked towards him and surveyed the clothes folded in neat piles on their bed. A suitcase laid open on the floor.

Kaoru blushed. "Packing for our trip."

They were, finally, years late, going to the springs that weekend. That was three days away.

Kaoru admitted sheepishly, "I'm just excited about it."

God, his lover was endearing as fuck. Keigo needed to guard his heart against being turned into a useless puddle of mess.

"You're so cute," he murmured and leaned in to kiss Kaoru's forehead.

"I'm not usually so vain about what I wear," Kaoru said despondently.

"My superb influence," Keigo told him smugly.

"It is definitely your influence," Kaoru muttered before exclaiming, "Oh, I should clear these up now!"

"Take your time," Keigo assured him. "I'll shower. And I still have to finish a couple of things for work."

"Do you want some tea?" Kaoru asked.

"If you're making it for me," Keigo teased.

Kaoru nudged his ribs and Keigo chuckled.

He was going to remove his tie and head to the bathroom when an object stood out amidst the piles of clothes.

A book. The collection of poems which Kaoru had illustrated for.

"Reading for the trip?"

To his surprise, Kaoru's flush deepened.

After a moment, Kaoru picked it up and leafed through the pages before stopping at a specific page.

A whisper. "I was going to show you this weekend but…"

Keigo took the book from Kaoru's hand, piqued and bemused.

He was not one for poetry. While people found beauty and comfort in them, poetry remained letters and words on pages which confounded him.

The poem staring at him remained elusive. Until he saw the significance of the design.

The illustration was a vast sky, with the clouds blending in, creating a never-ending horizon.

But it was the color.

So familiar. Where had he seen it?

When realization dawned upon him, Keigo felt his heart stilled.

He read the words again. Carefully. They spoke of love. Not the dramatic declarations he had seen in Shakespearean plays. Not the emotional outpour in an opera's aria.

Quiet, beautiful, unyielding love which would last.

He knew now that the colors on the page were not simply blue. It was the exact shade he saw every time he looked at a mirror.

Kaoru spoke first, shy and just a bit unsure, "I-I'm not good with words."

Keigo understood.

He laid the book down gently before drawing Kaoru in. Holding him as preciously as he could.

In his arms, Kaoru felt like warmth and contentment. Concepts which were alien to him until their paths crossed.

There was no substitution for happiness.

"I want you to know. Always," Kaoru murmured against his chest.

Keigo's mind travelled back to that moment in time when he saw a stranger amidst excess and uninhibition. He was captivated then.

He would never stop being enthralled.

"You captured me," Keigo whispered fiercely into Kaoru's ear. "And I will never allow you to let me go."