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S m a l l W o r l d E h ?
"Long time no see!"
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Something in the back of his head told him that it was probably a good idea to turn off the water. The sound of the rushing fluid splashing into the white sink before spiraling down into the dark abyss below a constant. Yet as the Ishida boy brushed his teeth he couldn't find it in him to break the idle trance. Blink his dull blue eyes away from the haggard expression that's was watching him. Without the loud buzz zipping around his head the blonde's face was rather void of any dominant emotion. More or less a bland mask of reluctant wakefulness. Those fine kept brows lay straight over his half lidded eyes. His almost olive complexion was still flushed a light red hue from heavy sleep. Yamato's gold locks lay askew atop his head. Not quite primped for the day but not completely ignored. At least he had bothered to run a comb through it this morning, had been sane enough to apply gel to the bristles as he did so. Any attempts to get the back of his hair to lay smooth were dismissed. For some reason it was determined to flay in outward curls! Spikes that flipped out instead of resting in its usual manner. Whatevers, not like he had any clients coming in today anyways.
His average morning routines often went like this. From the time Yamato rolled out of bed to the moment where he was standing outside of his little apartment, fondling for the right key...he was silent. Content to prolong the peace as long as possible before the obnoxious hazards of the day weaseled through his Yama-bubble. Which today would luckily consist of nothing but leisurely errands.
When the retired musician had first started his in home, or in apartment, business Yamato had promised himself Sundays off if he could help it. Truth be told though that against his conscious mind he found himself pacing back and forth in his office humming out tunes. It was a small spare bedroom that Yamato was currently converting into a work space. He had been fortunate enough to be graced with bout of excellent luck when requesting information on the complex. Apparently his landlord was fretting over the fact that she was unable to rent out the flat. During the conversation it came into light that she had been forced to refurbish over half of the apartment once the last occupants had left. To put it frank, Yamato denied any further detail and just chalked it up to the results of a couple of hooligans rooming together through their college years. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him right? That's what the man was banking on at least when he had signed the year long lease for this place. It wasn't much to laugh at really. Considering the only closed off rooms he had was the restroom, a bland white tiled oblong room with a shower thank god. His personal bedroom with walk in closet included, and of course the spare which was dubbing as his office. Yamato had not sought out a roommate nor did he want to so the extra was his to do what he pleased with. The rest of the quaint apartment was of course the open living room with blended into a kitchenette area that also mingled with a dinning room. Which lacked any real furnishings quite yet aside from the little table, as well as a futon and various other things of course. Having only moved into his new living space three weeks back Yamato was still in the process of unpacking his things. Things that he was beginning to think had been snatched up by a nonexistent creature. Such as the mythical sock pixie , always taking but your left instead of the fool pair! It seemed he could never find something when he really needed it.
That was on his list of things to purchase today as well. New socks..among various other things such as toiletries, a new utensil set, and just for the heck of it some extra shirts if not jeans. The fall season was upon Osaka and if the chilly mornings weren't enough then perhaps the department sales on scarfs were?
Once he was satisfied with his exterior appearance Yamato made to leave. Going for a quick pit stop by the kitchen to finish off the rest of his caffeinated beverage. "Note to self, find a decent coffee pot." he grumbled, blanching at the stale flavor of his microwaved coffee. It tasted hideous! Though it probably didn't help that he had forgotten about it for a good hour. Throwing caution to the wind he tilted his head back and swallowed down the rest of the dark concoction with a short cough. Shaking his head back and forth at the cold liquid Yamato rinsed the blue cup under the hot faucet and left it to dry upside down in the bottom of the sink for later. He hadn't exactly moved out of his father's dwelling with all of the extra accessories. Little things like that were sort of over looked when you were stuffing as many things as you could into your dad's junky blue automobile while still attempting to leave room for yourself. A challenge all on its own. Thankfully he only lived on the second floor so there hadn't been to much..struggling. Doing a once over through the flat he made sure everything was locked up tight, lights were off, and there was a minimal amount of tripping over boxes before he finally made it to the door. Which he opened for a quick test run. Yup, cool enough for a scarf at least. Kicking the barrier closed Yamato snatched the extra clothing from the hangers on the right side of the door. Taking care to slip into his plain black collared coat while wrapping a deep chocolate brown scarf around his neck. Only pausing to situate it into a comfortable position the male sighed. This was for the best. He had to get out today or else it would be all the way until next weekend before he was motivated enough to do it again. And he wasn't sure that he was going to stomach eating from the same plastic fork set or rubbing himself down with the few towels he had. Beside how was he supposed to properly clean things without a small army of wash clothes?
Scooping up his wallet Yamato tucked it along with his phone into the back pockets of his black jeans. Sucking in a deep breath the man stepped out into the surprisingly brisk air. He struggled but for a moment to jingle his house key loose before successfully locking up the place. It was bitter but the sun was out, giving the world a fresh look.
The blonde took no time in retreating to the elevator. Bouncing back and forth on the balls of his feet while he waited only to slip into the hot box as soon as the metal doors popped open. While there was another inhabitant already inside Yamato made no move to start conversation with her. A short girl probably around her late twenties he assumed. Jet black hair framing her round cheeked face, set with almost moss green colored eyes. Deep like the forest and as untamed as one. If he recalled correctly she lived a few doors down from his own. Probably returning home from a café run by the looks of it, her gloved hands occupied with two steaming cups of coffee doubled with a bag of sweets. She offered a light smile as he sauntered into his usual place. "Morning bright eyes." she chirped, her glossy lips spreading into a light smile that reminded him of a certain someone. A certain someone who was lavished with a shock of burgundy hair and an appetite for all that was pretty..in the way of boys at least. A smile that was predatory but kind all on the same page. Yamato nodded his head in return. "You getting off uhh..."..
"Hikai! But yes, i'm jumping off here thank you." she giggled at the way he struggled with the remembrance of her name. Obviously not offended by it in the least. They stared at each other for a tense moment. His eyes flickering with anxiety and hers flashing with a vibrant spark that left him squirming. They both jumped with the doors shifted. Easing closed when no one made a move to leave. Yamato reached his arm out to stop it, offering to hold the door open. "Thank you!" she repeated, ducking her head in thanks which he returned with a flustered "your welcome."
"Don't be a stranger now." she teased with a laugh. He smiled at that, "Right, i'll try and keep the stranger danger to a minimum." her reply was cut off however once the doors finally slid closed.
The rest of the ride downstairs was quiet of course. Why he didn't take the stairs he didn't know considering it wasn't to far of a walk. Right, because its warm in there? he supplied once the sliding doors to the lobby pushed open. The initial blast was enough to raise goose bumps, force him to shiver. But once he had passed through the threshold and was out onto the sidewalk he found that it wasn't to bad. The gale whipping through the enclosed quarters wasn't as wicked now that he was out in the open. In fact it was pleasant! Cool enough to warrant his attire but not nearly hot enough to go without. Adopting a comfortable pace Yamato took the time to pull out his phone again. There was nothing more irritating then making plans and having someone butt into them by asking you to do something else. Drawing his thumb across the screen in a design eerily similar to that of his old insignia he was greeted thankfully with an empty inbox. Good...
Either there wasn't anyone in his list of contacts who were up yet, or they just weren't willing to get out and brave the crowd on the national day of rest. Whichever the case Yamato wasn't going to question it twice. Instead he pulled up a place map app and promptly searched for the nearest clothing department. From the looks of it there were two in a rather close proximity to his apartment complex. None to surprising considering Osaka was always bursting with no forms of life. Homes were but a convenient walk away from hole in the wall restaurants and entrainment facilities. In fact his own was but a block down from what most people could consider a main street. His personal district more or less centered around the Mitsui Outlet Park. Cafe's and little stores based around furnishing. It made him feel old...
Glancing over the screen one more time Yamato tucked away his cell and walked the rest of the way without it. Luckily he arrived without much incident. Waiting patiently for a women with a rather..loaded cart to pass through the entrance before he himself broke in. The temperature change was shocking but welcomed all the same. Warm from indoor unites Yamato loosened up his scarf until he was only looped around his neck once. "Morning! Welcome!" was everyone bursting with an unnatural amount of energy this morning? Yamato squinted against the distance towards a petite women. Her color coded uniform suggesting she was probably under the title of cashier though in this case playing the role as a host. "If you have any question please don't hesitate to ask." she assured, breaking the ice with a warm hearted smile. "Sure, ill have to keep that in mind. Thanks." pleased with his reply the girl returned to her previous tasks. Which consisted of nothing more then greeting the next person to walk through the door. It dawned on Yamato but a moment later that he actually hadn't ventured into the place yet. Causing him to pause in his advance into the store. A quick glance to both his left and his right proved to his squabbling mind that...it was rather big. Puckering his lips in a frown the boy sighed. "Actually..uh ma'am. Where is the men's department again?" it was shocking how fast she could divert her attention. Jumping from the vivid colors casting through the speck free glass behind to the blonde in a second. Almost like a dog when it was called with a whistle. He made sure to close his slacked jaw. "I forget.." he shrugged, not that he could forget seeing as how he had never been in the place of course. She seemed to by the cheap excuse though. Nodding her head with understanding the name tagless girl pointed. Standing on her toes and lifting her index finger to direct his gaze to the far right of the store. "There dear, you'll find everything you need in that sector." He could of slapped his own forehead at his idiocy. The dark letters sat raised from the wall could be seen from here, bold and dark it read something along the lines of "Men's"....
Way to make a first impression, fall for his cliché name sake. Ditsy blonde..
Put off by the silly mistake he slipped away. Striding down the right branch of the main desk towards the directed direction. He felt even more ridiculous once the tables advertising different comforter sets to shoes shifted into racks of dark collared shirts and slacks. "Smooth Ishida...smooth." he grumbled. Taking a moment to glance over a few bottoms before deciding it wasn't fit for his style. Well now that he was finally here he could at least start digging into his to do list. Tackling one task was no great accomplishment but it was one less thing he would have to do later this afternoon. Or next weekend...procrastination. It was a hard to shake habit that he couldn't remember for the life of him where he had picked it up.
Oh wait...from that guy.
No sooner had the blonde started grazing over the clothes for something he could find doable did something far less inanimate catch his attention, in the form of a high pitched giggle. What the hell?
Quirking his brow Yamato swiveled on his feet. Turning smoothly towards the general direction the sound had drifted up from. Somewhere amongst the business savvy area. Probably some spoiled punk flirting with an employee no doubt so he ignored it. Returning to the task of browsing.
"Are you trying to flatter me into buying this?" a conversation between two people was just that, a conversation between two people. But apparently the man in this pair didn't quite get the point of using an inside voice. Flattening his brows into a glare aimed at nothing but the horrendous price tag pinched between his fingers Yamato turned around again. "W-what? No, I just...uhh.." the female stammered, stumbling over her words for a moment. God he was such a eavesdropper, but call him crazy for that voice sounded..familiar.
"Cause it's totally working! I mean look at this handsome physique!" the first blurted, ignoring the way the employee had stuttered in favor of checking out his appearance. Yamato paused. Standing just behind a rack of clothes that for the life of him he couldn't focus on. Their existence wasn't important.
Well now he knew who belonged to that tone. If the boasting mannerisms wasn't enough of a hint then the clump of wild hair sitting atop the males head should of been the winning shot. Was that..
"Tai?!"
Upon hearing his name the man in question turned around. Abandoning his self absorbed study in the mirror with a airy "Huh?" like one might when answering someone they might of known was already there. But how could he? They hadn't seen each other in what..five years had it been? The separation was probably the cause of his former leaders reaction.
"Yamato?!" if his features weren't already bright enough the taller visibly sprouted. His playful gaze widening in complete shock, a smile that was genuinely happy to see him spread across his face. From ear to dopy ear. "Holy dancing priest!" he should of seen it coming really. Yamato blamed the extended absence from the other's company for this.
Completely forgetting his previous companion who took to slipping away rather quickly Yamato noted, Tai pounced. Taking a few lengthy strides to close the distance between the two and ending it with a full blown hug. Yamato coughed at the lose of breath as the brown haired male captured him in a restricted embrace. Geez, he was blind! And was that the primp material of an collared over coat? Yamato flailed his arms in an attempt to push the other off of him but failed miserably. Caught with his face pressed into the dark material of Tai's shirt. "I cant believe its you Ishida.." the smile was present in the soccer players voice even with out being able to see it.
Releasing his friend Tai stepped back, hooking his fingers into his hips. "Nice to see you to." he greeted, pressing his hands into the newly formed wrinkles on his shirt. With out an ounce of shame Tai soaked in the others appearance. Staring with his plain black tenis shoes, up the black pants, to the white V-neck shirt and finally to Yamato's face with a smooth roll of his warm honey laced chestnut eyes. "Well look at you! Your all grown up." he joked.
"I cant say the same for you Tai. God you look ridiculous.." he pointed out. Looking at the other for the first time since happening across him. It wasn''t all a lie. Tai hadn't changed much over the past few years. His hair was still as wild as ever. Half heartedly tamed by a deep blue head band which unlike his years exploring the frontier was adorned with a pair of black sunglasses. That toothy smile of his only seemed to improve his already enthusiastic manner. Splitting his strong face with a childish touch of joy. He was taller to. Probably standing over Yamato by at least an inch or two, lean from his years of soccer no doubt. Lucky b*****d..
For the time being he was clad in surprisingly a clean cut suit of sorts. Black slacks draped low on his hips from the added weight of his fingers, covering his black socked toes. A button up white shirt was bordered with a black over coat and matched with a pristine tie. Over all it was far different then the baggy blue t-shirt and frayed khakis that Yamato was use to seeing him in. "Sheesh, way to be a kill joy. I thought I looked kickin' in this thing. the blonde ducked his head in mild glare but Tai merely laughed. It was all for fun..
"Anyways, how have you been? Haven't seen you in forever.." he repeated. How was he? Well to put it simply he was stuck in a rut following nothing but a comfortable routine that just refused to give him up buuut that was just a short summary. "Great." he blanched, "I mean, fine." that was a cliché answer. Tai didn't take notice over the other's broken reply. To busy with the task of removing his clothes. Glancing around his feet for his abandoned garments so he could change. "Well yea I assumed as much. You aren't dead at least." he commented with an air of play. Pinching a shirt between his fingers before frowning over the fact that it wasn't his but a discarded item left behind by some other customer. He tossed it over his shoulder.
"Or am I? I could be a ghoul of retardations past haunting you for all you know Tai." that earned a laugh from the other. A deep bellied one that had the brown haired male shaking his head at Yamato's antics. "Ok, I admit. Splurging half a paycheck on a game station was stupid but come on man. I had no cable." he defended, waving for Yama to follow him which he did. Stuffing his hands into his pockets the blonde paused. The soft click of a lock being snapped home echoed from the groups of doors."Some how i'm not surprised." he called, strolling slowly down the isle. "Speaking of surprising, whats with the get up?" he was curious. He was away for four years and the guy had a new choice of attire. "I'm a valued citizen now. Utility belt wasn't included though..damn shame to." he complained with a grunt from the door just to Yamato's right. The blonde chuckled lightly. His behavior was just as silly..
A short thud resounded from the door earned a look of amusement from the other waiting just outside. "But no, its for work. Gotta team meeting tomorrow, can you believe its corporate casual? Anyways.." he heaved, wrestling with something. Yamato found himself widening his eyes in minor annoyance when the Tai didn't continue right away. The boy to busy shifting out of the store's product and back into his own. He vaguely recognized the sound of a coat hanger clipping shut before the shuffling stopped and quite suddenly Tai reappeared. Pulling the stall back open again. Leaning against the frame on his elbow he grinned, "Wanna get lunch?" it was such a random question that he didn't have an answer for it right away.
Opening his mouth like a gaping fish the blonde struggled for a reply. It would take some molding to get himself back into the grove when it came to dealing with Tai. His choice of topic switching like the television channels no one cared to watch. They hadn't conversed in years he reminded himself and yet here they were. Acting like it was just another day at high school. "Don't answer all at once right." strong voice poking at Yamato's confused conscious with a stern poke. Or was that just Tai trying to get his attention again. The boy already squeezing past him with the black suit slung neatly over his left forearm. Making for the exit. "Sure, why not..i guess." lame. That was really lame...and a lameness that Tai wasn't blind to. "Uhh..you didn't have plans did you?" it wasn't a question out of petty behavior but one of simple curiosity. Yet it stung all the same to the blonde whose gaze shifted. Drifting from that strong face towards a downcast one angled to the left somewhere. A bitter moment of de javu struck his core. How many times had he heard those very same words? How many times had he canceled on their group activities or argued because of his choices. And all for inevitably nothing in the end..almost. Actually now that he was hear, faced with the same routine..it was almost funny. A cosmic joke of sorts. Yamato chuckled, looking back at the taller with a wry grin. "No, nothing that I can't shove back untill next weekend." This wasn't enough however. Tai quirked his brow at the underlining tone of something he couldn't quite place. "Sure?" he repeated. "Yea..yea I'm sure." he confirmed. Content with the response Tai laughed. His demeanor replacing the droopy with one of playful intent. Crooked smile returning.
"Great. We can catch up or something." he called back over his shoulder, pausing to wait for Yamato to catch up. A few paced steps later and they were walking shoulder to shoulder down the main isle. "Alright, i'll bite then." he agreed, getting take out would be nice. Something different then instant noodles at least. "Sheesh haven't even gotten to the first date yet and your already talking about eating m- oof!" his joke ended with a curt shove of said blondes elbow. They more or less made it to the counter in one piece..mostly.
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