If this were a horror movie, Nagihiko would have used the excuse to invite Kukai over to his house to pick up the 'left behind' phone to kill him or something. Fortunately, it's not, and even if he were a psycho killer, Kukai'd probably be the last person he'd cannibalize/sacrifice/serial kill/all of the above.
If he hadn't known everyone else would be out, having their own plans, he would have brought the phone to school with him. Instead, knowing he'd have the big house to himself, he 'forgot' it.
So, after various forms of practice, they're reaching the front gate.
"I kept it plugged in, but I turned it off. No idea how many texts you got." He'd counted a couple before a grumpy undertone of jealousy had him power it down lest he chuck it at the wall. "Hope you didn't miss too many date--ug."
He'd tried the gate, but of course, locked. He scales the wall with the ease of someone who's done it for years before opening it and letting Kukai in.
Kukai, of course, has never thought Nagihiko was a serial killer or cannibal or anything. It's not like he'd ever considered it. Maybe when he first discovered the whole thing about Nadeshiko, in the first moments. But that was more 'a little insane'. Then again, who wasn't a little insane? So, he was more than happy to come visit Nagihiko. Besides, smooches.
Kukai's standing outside the gate, watching Nagihiko for a moment. "Um. Yeah, thank you. I appreciate it. I've been looking for the silly thing everywhere." He sighs. "I got so mad at somebody recently for losing theirs, and now I feel like a real dickbag. And... no, didn't miss any dates at all, really." That grumpy undertone is a thing, though, and it makes Kukai a little nervous.
He watches Nagi climb the wall, then grins and steps inside the door. "Thank you a lot, hon. So... what do you wanna do today?"
He's not sure whether his cheeks are pink because he made Kukai feel like a dickbag or because he called him 'hun.' After a split second of internal debate, he decides it's because of both. "Well, everything got pretty chaotic near the end, there. So no one can really blame you."
Temari, who's been silent, whispers, "No one can blame him because you took it!"
Fortunately, it's a soft whisper in his ear. Unless Daichi or Kukai suddenly gained super hearing, he's pretty sure he can't be accused of being a psycho stalker.
Because he isn't! Just because he's a little jealous doesn't invalidate his worry! And maybe jealousy isn't the right word. It's just, even now, they're a bit undefined and that limbo has him on edge.
And of course, the worry that he's also just another text in Kukai's phone.
Still, hon, and he's making a good show of not grinning like a complete idiot.
"Well, no one will be home until late. Mother and Father are out of town. Romantic incursions where all they'll be doing is holding hands and playing solitaire together. Aunty's relaxing at a hotel." He grumble mutters. "Probably enjoying those awesome tubs hmph."
Okay, he may be a little jealous over that.
Still, as he opens the front door and toes off his shoes, and flutters his eyelashes in feigned innocence. "You could stay for dinner if you want. I'll even cook~."
Kukai smiles at Nagihiko and then sighs. "Yeah. Everything's been so crazy lately. I don't even know what's going on." He sees Temari whisper in Nagi's ear but doesn't think anything about it, which is good, and doesn't hear it either. He can tell Nagi's a little jealous right now, though, which is... a little unnerving. So, he resolves to be as good as he can be as he follows him inside.
"I dunno. Holding hands and playing solitaire can be fun... I.. guess?" He rubs his chin. "Doesn't sound fun. Maybe we'll figure it out one day, or it'll just be weird forever. And Aunty's gone?" He lets out a breath. "Not that I don't like your aunt, you understand, but..."
Kukai removes his shoes as well as he enters and grins at those fluttering eyelashes, then ooohs at the idea of Nagihiko cooking. "Oh man. That sounds great. Yes, please!"
Nagihiko shrugs. "To be honest, I've been out of the loop with just about everything. It seems it's harder to get back in the loop when you've been out of it for awhile."
He gets flustered when Kukai thinks he's being literal. "They're not...really doing that. I just...come on, man, they're my parents." He gives a shivering shudder. "And yep, Aunty can be scary."
This time he does beam, happy that Kukai likes his cooking. Grabbing his hand, Nagihiko pulls him along. "Good, because by the time I'm done, if I start now, I'll be starving."
In the kitchen, he lets go of the hand to spin around before leaning against the island. "Okay, what are you in the mood for?"
Kukai grumps. "I got forcefully blown out of the loop. And I can't find some of the people I've been looking for. I guess I'm gonna have to just patrol constantly and see what I can come up with."
There is a small oh that comes from him a moment ago. "Oh. I never... sorry. I didn't think about it. You know. And yeah, scary." The beaming smile from Nagi does help, though, and he follows the smaller, purple haired boy through the house. "Oooh, ok. Do you need any help or anything?" He frowns, thinking about the menu. "I can eat almost anything, but I've been stuck on sushi lately. What else can you think of besides that?"
His eyebrows draw together in confusion. "You were? Why?" He rolls his eyes. "Yes, because exhausting yourself is the answer."
He lets the subject about his parents drop, because yech, and instead focuses on food.
"Well, you could help me with cutting things. And no suchi, hmm?" He opens the fridge, then looks through the cupboards. After a moment of looking around, he shakes his head. "Nope, sorry, we only have stuff to make sushi with." A beat, then he turns and sticks his tongue out. "If you believe that, I get to tease you for the next year."
He claps his hands together and begins pulling out some beef, vegetables, and noodles. Out comes two cutting boards, a few knives, and of course, a wok and a pot.
"Okay, it may be simple, but hey. It also makes great leftovers. Unless you want something else. Here, cut these?"
Kukai grumbles and then shakes his head. "I dunno why. Like, Sachiko? Gone missing. The Prism Keepers? Around but practically invisible. I feel like I've been thrown out of the loop. And I'm not gonna exhaust myself any more than I was before I went into the hospital."
Kukai skips the parents thing and then blinks at Nagi. "...You are such a brat." He grins. "How am I ever going to know when you're really telling me the truth, then?"
He gets a kitchen knife and takes one of the cutting boards, then takes some of the vegetables and begins carefully cutting them into pieces. "This sounds great. Sure, gimme a minute." He chops slowly but with good precision.
He watches for a moment before slicing the beef into small cubes. He's faster, but only from having done this often, and pretty soon he's oiled the wok and has the meat sizzling. His stomach growls as he adds seasoning.
He sighs and shakes his head. "Maybe the Keepers are laying low?" And of course, he's a bit frustrated at himself because he's not even in a position to even guess with any accuracy.
Kukai cubes the vegetables and then slides them over to Nagi to add as he wants. "Maybe? I think it's just 'I haven't seen them' for a while. And there's a bunch of other people I'm not even thinking about, I'm sure. But if we haven't heard any word of something bad happening to them, I guess it's ok."
He leans over Nagi's shoulder, watching him cook. "That smells awesome. Thank you."
He adds the vegetables, different kinds at different times, a definite method to his madness. "That could be. I mean, it's really hard not to notice the sailor people are having a crisis, and I've not seen any of them."
As he puts on the noodles, he angles his head so he could look at Kukai, who is very close and smells really nice. "You're welcome. If I didn't fear us going on a hunger-induced rampage, I would have made something more elaborate, though."
There is another noise from Kukai. "I'd really like to help them but so far I'm batting a zero on 'magical gardening'. Still, though." He looks at Nagi. "You should come on patrol with me some night."
Kukai laughs and nods at the wok, which looks and smells fantastic, but not enough to mask whatever the faint, sweet scent Nagi is wearing. "It's fine. Most of the time at home it's 'I bought dinner, come eat!'"
Nagihiko shrugs. "I don't think you'd need to be a gardener to help, Kukai. I'm...pretty sure there's some on that team who've likely never planted anything before."
He turns a bit again and grins. "Well, I would, but somebody never tells me when they go."
You know, like when that somebody was a dumbass and got himself in the hospital...
He laughs, but only because he can see it. One of the Souma brothers carting home enough food to feed a small army. He wonders what that looks like to whoever's behind the cash register. "Well, take-out's delicious. I can still come over and cook for you lot on occasion. You could always say I owe you a favor."
Kukai looks over at Nagi and grins. His nose might be just a bit longer. "I'm making a joke. I know that." He laughs. "Well I would have, but I seem to have lost my phone. When I've got it back, I'll make more phone calls."
Kukai hmms, thinking. "What kind of favor, though? Because someone will ask, you know they will. ... Or maybe not. If they think you're coming to cook again, they might be smart enough to be quiet."
He rolls his eyes a bit at that. "Of course. Good joke. Mmm-hmmm." His eyes grow sly. "You better."
His face doesn't get pink at that question, no sirree. "Well, ah, maybe...you..." He laughs a bit. "I'm sure we'll think of something."
Kukai laughs and then shrugs. "I will, every day, I promise." He winks, but then does laugh as Nagi goes pink! "Yeah, something."
He looks over into the wok again. "It already smells so good. Maybe that's just the meat."
He arcs an eyebrow. "Everyday, huh? Does this mean I get to pinch you if you miss a day?"
He wouldn't, but he's still amused at the thought.
He flips and stirs the meat and vegetables, pausing every now and then to check on the noodles. "Well, mostly. Part of its the spices."
While it wasn't done, the meat was still cooked enough to eat. He spoons up a little and turns to offer it. "It's not quite there."
Kukai laughs and then shrugs. "Well, maybe? I'll try to remember. And no. No pinching." He glares at the purple-haired boy.
He looks at the wok, watching Nagi stir and cook the meat and vegetables, leaning on the counter nearby, then waves off the bite. "Well it's ok, cook it till it's ready. I can wait for a minute. Kinda." He grins. "If you hurry."
His response to the glare is to flutters his eyelashes again, eyes growing large before he gets back to work.
When Kukai refuses the bit, Nagihiko shrugs and takes it for himself.
Maybe he exaggerates his yummy noises, but only a lot. "So good!"
Kukai hmphs at that fluttering eyelash, staying in his leaning spot on the counter and finally standing up. It only takes a few moments for him to get over being mad at Nagihiko, anyway.
He looks over at the window as a breeze blows through the room and huhs. "Looks like the wind's picking up. You can smell the ocean from here." And then Nagi eats the morsel and makes very interesting noises, and to hide his blush Kukai turns to go look out the window. "Do you want me to leave this open?"
When the noodles aren't quite done, he pours out the water and throws throws them in the wok. Some more sauce, half dashes of spices for just a hint of their flavor and barely a pinch of ginger and he's back to stirring.
He pauses to breathe in the breeze, enjoying the salty scent on the air. "No, its fine for now. Unless it bothers you."
He likes the air when its like this. It adds a special flavor to his house.
Soon the stove is off and he covers the wok to let it stand for just a few. While waiting, he leans against the counter beside Kukai, well in his bubble. "Just a few minutes longer."
Kukai looks out of the window for a moment, then he returns to the counter to watch the vegetables and noodles and meat being stirred and mixed in the wok. "No, I like it."
Then the wok is off, and Nagihiko is very up close to him. Which is fine, he hasn't had a change to hug the purple haired dancer yet today, and after he'd finished cooking he seemed a lot less angry or stressed. So up come Kukai's arms, trying to go around Nagi's middle. "Thank you for cooking. It was amazing to watch."
As Kukai's arm sneaks around his waist, Nagihiko leans against the taller boy. "It's fine, really. Cooking relaxes me."
When he looks up at Kukai, he's fighting a grin and tries to look like Serious Business. "But if you suggest I cook when I'm mad at you, I'll kick your butt."
Kukai holds Nagihiko close for a moment, and leans down, burying his nose into that finely washed and conditioned hair, hugging him and probably being as close to him as he's ever been to anyone. "I..." He leans back, looking down at Nagihiko, one eyebrow raising. "Well I mean you gotta eat even when you're mad at me, and you don't want my butt to be in that many pieces, do you?" He's got an awfully cocky grin on his face.
This time, both his eyebrows raise and he's still grinning. His eyes almost sparkle with mischief. "Why, Kukai Souma. Are you implying you intend to have me angry a lot?"
Kukai hmms and leans against the counter, hugging Nagi close and grinning. "Weeelll... I mean, I figured a steady balance between infuriated and dopey-lovey would be fun, yeah, sure." That grin is absolutely too wide at this point.
"Oh really?" Yep, still grinning, and maybe now his cheeks are a bit pink. (Not just because of 'dopey-lovey.' But, well, Kukai's seen him angry. It's not pretty.)
Still, making him blush just won't do! He finds revenge by poking Kukai's sides. "If you're not careful, I'll make sure I'm never angry again."
Kukai grins back, arms linked around Nagi's lower back, and then lets out a yelp, wiggling away from those pokes. He's apparently very ticklish! "Aie! OK, fine, fine, I'll be careful! Jeez!"
He tries to extricate him from those pokes and looks over at the wok. "Think it's ready yet?"
One last poke for good measure, but only because Kukai protested so hard!
"Yeah, should be." When he pulls away to check, he decides Kukai's warmth is preferable to the sudden chill he feels. He peeks inside the wok and takes a deep breath. "Ahhh. Yep, it's ready."
To prove it, he fans the lid over the wok and toward Kukai before setting it down to pull out some bowls and chopsticks.
Kukai awks and rubs his sides, grinning at Nagi and grinning weakly. "Heheh... um. Hmm." He feels that chill as well, but it's all right, he'll be warm again soon enough. "Awesome." He leans over towards the lid, his stomach grumbling loudly. "Man, now I'm starving. And thirsty - what do you have to drink?"
Two rather large bowls are dished out because, well, teenagers. "Yeah. There's some drinks in the fridge, you can go peek. If you don't want anything from there, there's water, and, well, tea."
He sets both bowls down, and goes to the fridge, opening it and looking inside. "Oooo, soft drink. We rarely have those."
He stands to one side so Kukai can look in. "When drinks are sorted,you wanna eat here or elsewhere?"
Kukai grins. "That sounds really good. Soft drinks, I mean." He laughs. "I gotta be careful but then again I run constantly, so... Do you just not drink that sort of thing because you have to stay slender?"
He hmms, looking around the kitchen for a moment, then looks back at Nagi. "I'll eat wherever. Where do you wanna eat?"
He gives a soft snort as he pulls out two cans of Pepsi. "Not really? It doesn't exactly sit well when I practice. I tend to drink a lot of water and juice when I'm not drinking tea. But every once in awhile."
He hands one of the cans to Kukai before also handing over a bowl. His own in hand, he thinks for a moment. Then he perks up. "The media room! I don't think I've taken you there, before."
It doesn't help that while still cleaned up, Nagihiko's room is less...inviting at the moment.
Kukai takes one of the cans and sits down, nodding. "I don't drink it when I've got practice or a game or something hard to do physical, but otherwise it's nice. Lots of juice."
He takes a bowl and hmms, looking at Nagi for a moment. "No, I haven't heard of that either. That sounds fun!"
Nagihiko shrugs and leads the way! "It's mostly just a place to go and relax. Watch something or listen to music." He turns and walks backwards for a moment, grinning. "Though the couch is huge and so comfortable."
Kukai grins and follows Nagihiko through the house. "Is it a good place to cuddle and maybe even smooch?" He looks around at the halls as they walk, thinking. "You know, that's a question. I don't even know what sort of music or movies or anything you like."
His cheeks warm as he turns back around.. "Of course."
His voice is light, but a part of him wonders if this will be the last bit of smooching they do. Besides, even if its for Kukai he's doing it, tomorrow could end up with a lot of people hating a lot of people.
They reach a door with a sign that requests the door remain shut. Soundproofing and all that.
Shifting the Pepsi to the crook of his elbow, he pushes the door open. When Kukai enters, Nagihiko dutifully closes it until he feels the latch catch.
It's not a huge room, but one wall is nearly covered by electronics. The couch and chairs are pulled back enough so that the large screen doesn't hurt anyone's eyes.
He sits, setting his bowl on the coffee table. The couch is large and L-shaped, and the cushions practically swallow a person when they sit down.
"I don't like war movies. Well, if it's before the turn of the century, sometimes. But recent? No, too realistic."
He tries to think. "I like movies that...basically just take you out of reality for awhile."
Kukai grins, seeing those pink cheeks. They're cute on Nagihiko, and always nice to see. That light voice is lovely and it always makes him happy to hear.
He follows Nagi towards the room, admiring the purple-haired boy from behind, until he enters the room and looks around. "Oh my gaaah. How in the name of crap..." He looks around. "How do you have all this. It's incredible." He sets his bowl down besides Nagihiko's, then grins. "It's amazing, like you."
He pulls Nagihiko into him and kisses his cheek as they sit down. "Mmm. It's soft and awesome. I've never sat in a couch like this. Movies, huh? I like comedies and action movies and heartwarming stuff and I can get with a romance, if it's funny." He cuddles Nagi in. "Yeah, I like that too. We do good together."
Another blush! How annoying.
He manages to shrug. "Well, it's more Father's than mine."
He snuggles in and just listens for a moment. The guilt of what he's going to do tomorrow...increases.
But for now he tries to push it down as he looks up at Kukai. "I've never seen many romantic comedies. Mother usually prefers the tragedies, and those always make me sad."
Kukai grins and then nods. "Yeah, but your dad wouldn't have some of the things he does if it wasn't for your dancing, I bet. You know?" He strokes Nagi's cheek and smiles, then nods. "We should watch one, then? We can eat and snuggle and laugh and smooch some."
He leans into Kukai's fingers, cheeks pink again. "Well, you can't forget his students."
While its true that if this were ballet he'd be the prima, it's not something he actively realizes. Being in makeup on stage helps, too.
He nods, eyes bright with amusement. "Okay. But you know better what's a romantic comedy and what's not." He reaches over to pick up the remote and hands it to Kukai. "Though, I do admit that last one sounds a bit more appealing."
Kukai grins and then snuggles in closer to Nagihiko, arms around him. "You're the best of his students. You know that, right?" He hmms, taking the remote and beginning to flick through the channels. "Hmmmmmm...." After a few minutes he settles on a movie and then reaches over, picking up his bowl. "OK!"
He shrugs, but his smile is pleased. He reaches over for his own bowl, taking a bite and looking up at Kukai to see if he likes it.
Kukai takes a few experimental bites, then ooohs and takes more bites, nomming away happily. "Oooh... this is amazing! Thank you so much!" He is eating quite rapidly, munching. If he had a tail it'd be wagging. "Mmph." He grins, trying not to get any sauce on the couch.
The couch may be clean, but.
"I'm glad you like it." He reaches up and wipes away that small dab of sauce on his cheek.
He settles in, feet on the couch and Kukai a comfortable perch. He looks toward the movie and five seconds in he realizes he's going to be lost for the duration.
Kukai erks as Nagihiko reaches up and strokes his mouth. For a moment he thinks about something naughty and before he can get away has Nagi's finger in his mouth, kissing it for a moment. He waggles his eyebrows and grins before releasing it, leaning back, quite happy with himself and his rotten behavior.
To make up for it he makes a lovely cushion for leaning in against.
There'd been shivers, of course. And while he's watching the screen and eating, he occasionally bites his lip.
About halfway through the bowl, he sets it down and takes a sip of the Pepsi. The carbonation tingles through him, giving a nice shiver rolling down his spine.
Done, he turns so he's facing Kukai, well in his personal space as he leans against his shoulder and looks at him.
And he bites his lip, because, well, smooches were promised.
It's a lucky thing in a way that while Kukai is eating and watching the movie he's not looking over at Nagihiko. Otherwise each of those lip bites would involve smooches somewhere.
He hmms as Nagi leans in, setting the bowl down and looking down at him for a moment~
He doesn't remember the next few moments but he has his lips pressed in against Nagi's, kissing him deeply and passionately, arms around his midsection and holding him close. It is a very, very good kiss.
In those first few whirlwind moments, Nagihiko can only really just hang on. One leg is over Kukai's legs, the other tucked in behind him.
If there are moments where his kisses are a little more hungry than normal, if, in the rare time he pulls away for breath his eyes are intense, he can't really be blamed. Part of him knows that there's a chance this won't be happening after tomorrow.
It seems like Kukai's always hungry. For food, for affection, for Na-kun to be this close up against him so he can taste his lips and feel the warmth of his small form. Even after Kukai 'wakes up' he holds the kiss for a moment longer, then wraps his arms in against Nagihiko's lower back and hugs him closer. "Mm..."
One hand circles around Nagi's back as he grins, kissing his cheek for a moment. "Well if you taste like noodles, I certainly do too. Sorry.." He smiles, then reaches up, petting over Nagi's cheek, not really saying anything, just enjoying his time with the lovely boy. "You make me happy..."
He snorts as he brushes his nose against Kukai's temple. "Well, I kind of expected that going in."
A hand comes up to wrap around Kukai's wrist. Not to pull his hand away, but to hold on as he leans into it.
Despite the guilt that surfaces from those words he smiles. There's so much he could say here, all of it true, but considering what's to come.
So instead, he leans back in, lips brushing over Kukai's.