Transaction

Disclaimer: Bleh.

Author’s Notes: Good morning all. Today may be a little more crazy than I had planned on. It's snowing out (yay!) but I also have a friend who needs a bit of help and wound up crashing here last night. So, I'm not sure how things are planning on going, but I'm going to be there for him either way. I'll miss an update for that.

Whew! So, who was all hot and bother from last chapter? Mmhm. I love drama. A lot! And the sequel is going... swimmingly to say the least. lol Insanty continues to ensue on the sequel. So, as we get to the end of this story, look out for the next one. I'm going to put down all the info for it that I can at the very end of the last chapter. And, hopefully, we'll be able to get the first chapter of that up almost right away.

Here's to hoping! Enjoy!
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Transaction
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Chapter Forty-Three
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Haido had been up all night researching Anime Conventions near by and ones happening recently. He had wanted to get started right away, and this was the only way to make it work. Finally he'd found something. It was an hour out, but it was fairly big and the reviews said it was worth the wait.

Stifling a yawn, he got up from the computer, back and arms cracking as he headed to the shower. He dried and changed (having no time to sleep really) and grabbed his keys, heading out to his car.

Keiko had informed him where Kenji lived, so all he had to do was stop there and propose the idea... somehow, he had to make it seem like it was all from his head. So Keiko wasn't caught up in this.

He pulled up to Kenji's apartment complex, he climbed out of the car, taking up the printed information on the Con and locating Kenji's apartment, knocking.

He wondered if it was too early for the other man. Honestly, it wasn't that early... only nine o clock. This thing started at ten.

Kenji liked to sleep. No, he loved to sleep, and it had become a habit to sleep early when he knew Taki would show up at his apartment at seven every morning to wake him up. He had tried to stay up later, knowing that he wouldn't be waking up in the morning, but had still fallen asleep just after nine.

And because of that, he'd woken up at eight. Eight! He wasn't going to work, and he'd woken up at eight.

He was disgusted with himself, and tried to make himself sleep for half an hour. Finally, a little after eight thirty, he'd hauled himself from bed and into the shower.

If he was going to be awake, he might as well do something.

He was pulling on his shirt when he heard the door, and tugged it over his head. He hadn't had a chance to brush his hair, or put on socks, but he was mostly clothed, and he didn't feel to bad answering the door in his state.

Kenji's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Haido, who looked... tired, but at least awake. "Hi!" He'd thought Haido would call him. He didn't know the other man knew where he lived.

Haido smiled at Kenji, keeping his lips pressed tight to try and keep in a yawn, but it didn't work. He covered his mouth yawning widely, bordering on a slight squeaking noise.

"Sorry... was up late," he apologized, laughing a little. "Can I come in? I have something to show you."

He had to admit, he was a little excited about it. He had a chance to see Kenji, and actually time to spend with him. He was going to make sure it was good and fun for both of them. Haido swore to himself he was going to be far more attentive this time around.

Kenji nodded, brow furrowing a little in confusion. Still, he stepped back to let Haido in, shutting the door behind him. "What is it?" He asked all child-like curiosity quite intent on what Haido wanted to show him.

He wanted to know. He really, really, really did. It didn't seem to matter to him anymore that his hair was drying in knots, though it certainly would when it came time to brush it out.

And he knew that, yes, he should offer Haido coffee, or at least show him into the kitchen so he could make some while he brushed his hair and finished getting dressed. But Kenji had always been horrible with his manners, far more suited for informality then traditionalism.

Haido stepped in, removing his shoes in a rush out of habit. He fiddled with the papers in hand, before handing them over. Now he felt foolish, trying to suggest such a thing. It was so... simple.

"Uh... it's not too far... and I figured it might be... fun."

It wasn't that Haido didn't like anime... he just wasn't a fanatic who dressed up weird and paraded around all day. He was actually quite worried about what to expect at this thing if Kenji wanted to go.

"If you want to do something else... I mean, this was just a thought," Haido said with a shrug.

Looking down at the papers, Kenji didn't take the time to thoroughly read them. His eyes were wide again, and the smile that stole over his face. He didn't seem at all aware of Haido's uncertainty.

"We have to go to this." He decided with finality, looking up from the papers to smile at Haido.

He didn't have a costume, no, but he didn't care. Not a bit. He wanted to go, look at other people’s costumes, and marvel at the time it must have taken to make them... He didn't care if he went in jeans and the oldest t-shirt he owned, but he wanted to go.

They had to.

Haido felt relieved inside when Kenji smiled at him. Alright, so he'd done something right. He made sure to thank Keiko profusely when this was all over and tensions had settled.

"It starts in an hour, and it takes an hour to get up there, give or take traffic," he explained. "I figured we'd get some things together for the long ride" things to keep Kenji amused "and then spend the most of the day there."

Nodding enthusiastically, Kenji paused and glanced at the bathroom. Hair, socks, shoes... Jacket! Maybe some music, because he couldn't take a trip without music.

Ooh, Iceman. His God.

"Um... The kitchen's in there," He gestured behind him toward an arched doorway with no door. It was obvious it was the kitchen by the refrigerator in the background and the tile on the floor. "I need to finish getting dressed, and if you wanted coffee or something, I've got plenty."

Because that was all he could really make.

"Thanks," Haido said with a nod.

Coffee sounded good. A nap sounded better, but coffee was good. So was breakfast, but fast-food never hurt anyone. At least Kenji was excited about going and wanted to go. With him even! Haido wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Already out of his shoes, he stepped by Kenji and headed into the kitchen. He felt like he needed to make enough coffee to choke a horse. The weight of sleeplessness was on him and it was heavy. Especially in his eyes. He just wasn't a late night person, he guessed.

Watching Haido walk past, Kenji felt the first, brief flash of confusion. How had Haido found out where he lived? When Taki came to pick him up, Haido was never with him... And really, an anime con couldn't be just a guess. A lot of people didn't like anime...

But he was shrugging it off, turning away from the door and moving through his apartment to get back to the bathroom. He didn't think about it as he brushed out his hair and put on socks, grabbed a jacket instead of a sweater, and left his bedroom to join Haido in the kitchen.

He wanted some coffee before they left. He'd have to ask Haido about some music, too.

By the time Kenji had finished primping, Haido was sitting at the little table with a mug full of coffee. On the counter, there was a pot of the same, and still hot. He sipped at it casually, not really enjoying the taste, but trying to be hopeful about the caffeine it was promising. Haido saw Kenji come in over the rim of the mug and smiled.

"I thought you might want some too," he said, pointing to the counter where another mug sat next to the pot. He didn't pour it out it would've cooled by now.

Haido had decided that Kenji didn't have to know that he didn't like anime. Or that he didn't want to go to a convention. After all, it was just something to do. A simple coincidence of interests, right?

So long as he wasn't asked any questions about it...

Unlike most people, Kenji didn't have one particular mug he used constantly. He had three, and they were the only three he owned. There wasn't one he used more then the other, because he used them all. So, there was no minute-long drama about Haido using his cup.

They were ALL his cups.

Taking the mug, he poured himself some coffee and leaned against the counter, looking over at Haido. He couldn't help but smile. Really, it was just so... sweet. He hadn't thought Haido would take him to his first convention during his week. It hadn't even occurred to him.

"Thanks." Taking a sip, Kenji didn't wince as it burned the tip of his tongue. He was so used to gulping down scalding coffee that he hardly noticed it anymore. "Do you have any CDs in your car?"

Haido was glad that Kenji was smiling. He must be doing something right. Finally.

"Yeah. Just a little bit of everything. Even some music from the States," he said with a small amount of pride. Haido couldn't help it, he enjoyed having a few rarities to pass around.

He did like Japanese music, but there was something intuiting about American music. Haido's English wasn't flawless, his accent wasn't as heavy as some, and he could understand it fluently, but he could always enjoy just good sounding music. Mostly he just turned off his brain to listen, so he wasn't focusing on the words. The music was good and the singing sounded like pretty noise.

"Really?" Kenji looked surprised, eyes widened over his cup. Music was his forte. He'd never been good at anything else, but he hadn't strayed far from his own language, not even in his music. He'd always been interested in it, though, especially listening to Iceman.

They littered their lyrics with English. It was just so cool.

"Like what?" He was going to bring along the Gate albums, definitely, but he wanted to listen to Haido's music, too. He was really interested in it, and he wanted to see how different it was.

"A little of what's popular over there now," Haido said. "Some underground things I've found. And a little bit of the older stuff. I like the different groups they have, although this one called Death Metal is kinda freaky. Sounds like belching sometimes."

He laughed a bit when he'd come across a few bands with really interesting names, but they he hadn't even been able to figure out what they were saying! And half the time, the music wasn't so good. It sounded like a bunch of noises slamming together.

"But a lot of it is really... smooth, almost. Not too fast, not too slow."

"That sounds cool." Kenji was drinking his coffee faster than he should have been, but he didn't mind the burn. After awhile, it just seemed normal with coffee, and he couldn't make himself drink it any other way.

Keiko still gave him weird looks about it.

"We should listen to it on the drive." He finished his cup, setting it down in the sink and rinsing it out. He slipped his hands into his pockets to wait around for Haido to finish, more then willing.

How could he ask Haido to hurry up when he was doing this? It was really just... It didn't seem possible.

He was still angry, still hoarding that deep down hurt, but it didn't seem as important. He hoped that maybe, they could operate like normal people today instead of ripping each other's heads off.

Haido saw the bit of eagerness in Kenji's movements and got up to empty out the rest of his mug. He'd drank a good portion, leaving that nasty taste in his mouth. He rinsed it like Kenji had (it would be rude not to do as the host had done) and set it in the sink.

"Sure. I've got two books worth of CDs, you can take your pick from those," he offered, no longer feeling as tired. "So, are we ready to go?"

Haido tried to act excited. He made sure to smile pleasantly and try not to show that he was in every completely untrusting of this entire setting.

"Yeah. Just let me... grab some CDs..." Kenji was leaving the kitchen, picking up his jacket from where he'd dropped it over a low backed chair. He pushed aside empty jewel cases when he reached a bookshelf, bumping them into books that looked as if they hadn't been opened for years.

They hadn't, either. Kenji had all but stopped reading when he decided he was finished with school.

He pulled out one of the few albums that was in its original case. The first Gate album. He liked all of Iceman's music, so he felt comfortable enough picking one without looking at it and leaving.

"Let's go."

Haido peered at the CD in Kenji's hand as they slipped on their shoes. Iceman. Good choice! He liked them, couldn't say he actually loved them. He was into music, but hadn't been able to say he loved anything in specific really.

Kinda went with his life.

"I'm driving, and there's only one rule," Haido said. "Don't whine about having to go to the bathroom, or me driving too fast."

With that, he held the door open for Kenji and walked out after.
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Author's Notes: Oh, poor little Haido and his not aware of Cons. We were really evil with this. You'll see next chapter.

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~Subby