Electric Heart (Kou)

[Cecil Martel]

A light evening breeze wafted its way through the fair grounds, gently rustling the leaves of the local trees and bringing with it a faint aroma of roses that gradually grew stronger the deeper one ventured into the park’s depths until the scent became almost overbearing. It was unseasonably mild for February, even warm; a fact that most of the crowd in constant movement beneath the black arch marking Rosen Vale’s entrance seemed to appreciate. As far as they eye could see, pairs - and sometimes even trios - of men and women of every possible combination walked together, side by side and hand in hand, nearly all of them dressed lightly to enjoy the weather to its fullest as they strolled through the laughter-filled air.

Cecil leaned back and breathed it all in with a smile, closing his eyes in contentment despite the nervous flutter tickling at the inside of his stomach. With one arm draped across the bench’s back while the other rested on his lap, he might have looked completely relaxed, were it not for his fingers tapping away restlessly against the dark fabric covering his knee. Like the majority of today’s park visitors, he was decked out in warmer weather clothing: a black jacket covered his white button-down shirt, untucked from his matching black pants to balance out the overall formal look and lend it a more carefree air, a decision he had wrestled with several times before finally setting out in mid-afternoon, even going as far as untucking and retucking it several times along the way before he settled on this rumpled formal-casual mix. Which was odd, because he knew that he had never cared this much about looking “right” before, but at the same time he was well aware of the reason for it. After all, who wouldn’t want to make the right impression on their first date?

It still feels weird saying that, he thought with a chuckle, a thrill of anticipation running through him and giving a quick squeeze to his heart as a light chuckle escaped his lips. First date. Well, technically he had hung out with his boyfriend - yet another unfamiliar term, but one he smiled at every time his thoughts ran across it - plenty of times since confessing how he felt, but as much as he loved movie nights spent on Kouhei’s couch and dinners at his apartment with just the two of them - well, plus the Pokémon - they had never been on an actual date before. And for good reason, because there was far more to worry about with this than just whether he looked good for Kou or not. For all he knew, there could be Epispect patrols roaming the park under cover, and the Zoroark gijinka’s illegal status meant that they would always be taking a risk when going anywhere public. But while the last thing Ceci wanted to do was throw Kou in harm’s way, he also wanted to do something special for him today...and then he spotted the flier for Rosen Vale while out on a stroll one day and it hit him: what better way to spend their first Valentine’s Day since the other’s disappearance than at the place where they finally found each other again? It was perfect, and not just for the sentimental value, for while there might very well be Epispect agents out here, there were so many couples that there was no way they could possibly stop and check everyone’s IDs.

It wasn’t guaranteed safety, but it was as close as they could get and Cecil was willing to take his chances if it meant making Kou’s day special. That, in the end, was what really mattered, what always had.

Opening his eyes, the blond cast a softer smile skyward, orange eyes lighting up as they watched the dimming sky but his mind was miles away and years in the past. Growing up, he had never really understood much about the holiday. Teachers, including his mom, always claimed it was supposed to be for celebrating those dear to your heart - friends and family, in those days - but to a child, what does that mean but an excuse to eat as much chocolate and candy hearts as you can get while going through the cards from their mandatory exchanges and trying to find all the ones with the cool characters on them. It was how he and Kou had spent their time after school those days, curled up on one or the other’s floor and sorting through candy, trading here or there and eating themselves into a giggling sugar-high mess. The only thing remarkable about it was the way Kou’s face would light up when he gave him his, and even if it was no different from the ones he gave the rest of the class, Ceci always tried to make sure he wrote neatly and saved the best candy to staple to his friend’s card. Of course, after a few years they stopped being a requirement, and as cliques and teams formed up the number each received each year dwindled...but they still saved them for each other, even if some people scrunched their noses up at two boys exchanging cards.

Then...then Kou left, and the exchanges stopped. For the first year, it felt as unfamiliar as it did lonely and he caught himself halfway through writing one before he remembered that there would be no sending it. In the end, he’d kept it anyway - it was probably still under his bed somewhere buried in all that mess - as well as the next year's. But time marched on, and his hopes dulled. He hung out with his high school friends, averting his eyes and laughing to “do that somewhere else” when the couples in the group he floated around started with their shameless flirting, and he even passed around bags of candy, but it was never quite the same.

And it still wasn’t the same, only this time it was for a much happier reason. This year, they weren’t celebrating the holiday just as friends but something more, and instead of sour candy hearts stapled to a card printed with Pidoves touching beaks or Pidgey huddled together lovingly he had sent Ayna ahead with a small bag of chocolates and a simple burgundy-colored card instead, inscribed with the following message in silver:

“Kou,
I’ve been writing ‘be mine, valentine’ to you for years, but I’ve only realized how fitting those words are today.
I want you to be mine, not just today, but always.
So much that saying it just isn’t enough.
I want to show you.
I’ll be at Rosen Vale at 7:00 this evening. So let’s make some good memories.”

- love, Cecil

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(He would die of embarrassment before admitting he stole his little cousin’s gel pen to write it)

Mailing that was his first order of business this morning, and Ayna had finally returned home about noon, free of his parcel and begging for head scratches and looking no worse for his flight into questionable territory - needless to say, he got all he asked for and more, and spent the rest of the day slowly munching on a stack of treats. As for Ceci, well, here he was...he had no watch on him, but he could hear mumbles of “five to seven” from passerby, along with a few mumbles of pity or amusement, wondering if he’d been stood up. No, he thought with a shake of his head, Kou wouldn’t do that. And he believed every word of it, even though he threaded a nervous hand through his ever spiky locks, stopping only to adjust his hair band slightly, still combating the Beautiflies in his stomach. No, Kou would be here, and when arrived he would be pulled into as tight hug as Ceci could manage, one sure to silence all those gossipy pedestrians.

Notes: I will table this later. :'D Also, throwing in an Absol Egg x1 (50% shiny chance) 1/10 and a Gastly Egg x1 1/10. [/blockquote][/size][/justify]

[Kouhei Makoto]

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[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i45.tinypic.com/2ebxptw.gif); webkit-border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 6px;] My heart's beating faster Sick of being tired and sick of waiting I know what I'm after. [STYLE= width: 350px; background-image: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/tables/ricepaper-hue-pink.jpg); -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; border: 4px solid B22222; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman; color: #000000; padding: 5px; float: left; margin-left: 3px; margin-bottom: 5px]The morning, for Kou, had started like any other - he woke up as the sun rose higher in the sky, the light leaking through the blinds to touch his skin, red eyes opening to squint with a small groan. Sliding out from under the blankets, rubbing at the back of his head with an attempt to try and pull himself further from the dream world with a halfheartedly stifled yawn, Kou stood from the bed to dress himself enough to drag himself from his room. Stepping from his room into the hallway, Kou shut the door to his room behind him to lumber into his kitchen, eyes spotting the coffee pot with gratitude before filling it and turning it on, allowing the comforting scent of brewing coffee to fill his tiny apartment. Before long, Kou found himself sitting in his living room with a cup of coffee (with cream and sugar, mind you), and a small plate with a pastry sitting before him. It wasn’t much of a breakfast, Kou knew this… but what did it matter when you didn’t have to entertain guests? It wasn’t often that he had company, after all. Occasionally he had Cecil in the mornings, and on those mornings he would take his time and make a well-rounded breakfast, carefully planned and cooked to make sure it would be enjoyed by the other. He enjoyed cooking, in all honesty… but not when it was just himself. He would often eat at the Rocket headquarters to avoid cooking, no matter how terrible the food looked or smelled. In all honesty, the food there really wasn’t all that bad, despite how it may have appeared. A tap at the sliding glass door to his tiny balcony pulled the Zoroark gijinka from his thoughts, his head jerking toward the door, startled by the sudden noise. Even in a place such as the slums, things were relatively quiet for him in his apartment – of course, it helped that he hid his door away – but even for his balcony, rarely did he get any interference. However, at the sight of the Pidgey and the items clamped in its talons, a small smile tugged at the corner of Kouhei’s lips. Standing, walking over to the sliding glass door, setting his cup of coffee on the table next to it, he unlocked and slid it open, allowing the tiny bird inside. Holding his arm out for the bird to land on, he took the small bag and the letter, placing it next to the cup of coffee before whispering words of thanks to the Pidgey, placing a few affectionate scratches to his head before sending him on his way, knowing that the pokemon wasn’t too comfortable in this part of the city. Once the pokemon was on his way and the door was shut and locked once more, Kou turned toward the bag and the letter, opening it to scan the words with a pleased gaze, his smile only growing at what he read. “Tonight at seven, hm?” Eyes flashed to the clock with his words, the bright red lettering reading 9:00… he still had a lot of time… which was good for the boy, he knew he would need to look nice, his normal clothing wouldn’t be able to cut it. Setting the letter back down, Kou quickly finished his ‘breakfast’ and move into the bathroom, peeling the pants he had slid on not too long ago to take a shower, letting his thoughts race as the warm water beat down on his skin, heart beating with an excited rhythm. Tonight was special, it had to be special. Of course, Kouhei had spent many nights with Cecil before, eating dinner, watching movies, cuddling and just in general having fun and spending time together but… this was different. This was the first time the two would be having a public outing… an actual date, and it sent butterflies fluttering around in his stomach. It was something that made him forget his struggles with his illegal DNA, not giving a care to the world if he were to clash with Epispect or not. After all, he knew what he was getting into when he struck the bargain with the Team Rocket leader, every hour, waking or sleeping, would be a gamble on his life – and so far he had been lucky to strike it well. And any moment spent with Cecil made the gamble absolutely worth it, tonight would be proof of that. Stepping from the shower, toweling himself off, Kouhei wandered back into his room to stand before his closet, staring at the clothing that hung from hangers and were folded into little cupboards – a rather unamused look on his face. Sure, the boy was pretty good with fashion, even he would admit to that… but not with formal fashion. Not to mention that all of his clothing seemed to have a single color scheme to them… red and black. Sighing, he grabbed a few things and shifted to a spot before his mirror, slipping on each bit of clothing piece by piece, taking them off and switching them out until he found a combination that he was pleased with. The winning selection, a sleek pair of tight fitting black pants that clung to his hips, tucked into black, knee high boots with maroon accents that buckled at the top. A maroon button up (certainly NOT tucked into his pants), the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, the top few buttons undone to comfortably display his chest and dermal, a black tie loosely done around the shirts collar, the knot just below the last button he had done up – a black vest hid the bottom of the tie, it’s three maroon buttons buttoned to fit around his stomach… and of course, his signature collar finishing up the display. It wasn’t what he was used to, but it had enough of his own flare to be comfortable while still being formal. After positioning his clothes several times over, making sure everything was as perfect as he could get it, those butterflies only fluttering faster with the nervous feeling ebbing away at his heart, Kou left it at that and left his room, heading toward the door with a swift movement to grab his wallet and slide it into his back pocket. After all… Cecil wasn’t the only one who wanted to make an impression tonight. Nodding to the Houndoom curled on his couch, the pokemon quickly leaping off to follow his trainer, Kou left his apartment, locking the door behind him, knowing well that his illusion would wear off after he passed a certain point – while he had remarkable illusion skills… they were nothing compared to that of a legitimate Zoroark. “There’s still an hour until I have to be there…” the teen muttered with a glance to his phone, the Houndoom listening intently, “I should stop off and get something… hopefully it won’t take too long…” Of course, Kou knew exactly what he was out to pick up… but there was no way that he would find what he was after in the slums. Being the fox he was, Kouhei knew his way around the streets and all the shortcuts, and it was times like this where he could certainly use that to his advantage. Picking up speed, running down an alleyway, Mythos close on his tail, the two leaped onto a commercial dumpster, boots and paws creating a dull thud as they hit simultaneously before pushing off once more, sending the two up onto a fire escape. Without wasting a moment, both gijinka and pokemon dashed up the metal steps which brought them to the roof top… and to a stunt which most people wouldn’t even consider doing. Heading toward the edge of the building, the pair kept their speed and jumped, sending themselves from one roof top to the next with a well-practiced technique, having done this quite often – after all, it was the safest and quickest way to make one’s way around the city. From roof top to roof top, they quickly found themselves in the upper class district, leaping down the fire escapes to land on the concrete below in a clatter of heels and claws, panting to catch their breath, a smile on Kou’s face as he glanced at his partner. ”That never gets old.” Standing, smoothing the wrinkles in his clothing, the boy walked from the alley they had come to, glancing around for the desired shop. Seven twenty… they were cutting it close, he would have to make his selection quickly and beat it… he didn’t want to keep Cecil waiting… or have him think that he ditched out on him. Spotting and walking to the store he desired, he was welcomed with the scent of warm chocolates of all types as he opened the door, humming in pleasure, Mythos at his side licking his maw. Returning the greeting the clerk gave him, he headed toward one of the walls displaying product, holding up an occasional, single wrapped chocolate, only to have the Houndoom at his side shake his head. Chocolate after chocolate was shot down in this fashion until the boy held up a marbled white and milk chocolate chocolate truffle in the shape of a heart, which received a nod. Smiling, Kou pulled six of the approved chocolates from the basket and proceeded to pay for them, the cashier wrapping them in a white lace bag, tying it shut with a red silk ribbon. With prize in tow, Kou left the building and shot another glance at his phone. Seven forty five. Shit. “C’mon, we don’t have time to waste…” Tucking the chocolates into a pocket in his vest and taking off once more in a fashion similar to before, Kou and Mythos moved to the roof tops to carry themselves across the city, landing outside of the park shortly after seven… and leaving one Zoroark gijinka feeling rather down about it. In any other circumstance, Kou would never have been late, and the fact that he was late to something so special stirred something within him. He could only hope that the reason he turned up late would please the blond once he felt it was time to give it to him. “ Thanks boy… but now it’s time for me to do this alone from here on out.”, and a quick flash of red light pulled the Houndoom back into his pokeball, which was quickly hidden away with the others to his belt. Slowly, Kou walked along the side of the park, checking himself over one last time, straightening wrinkles once more and making sure every little detail was as perfect as he could get it, each step sending those butterflies fluttering harder and harder to the point where the teen felt he’d go insane. Stopping just before the corner, Kou took in a deep breath, running a hand through his hair to try and compose himself. Why was he so nervous? It was only a date… in public… with the person he had loved for so long and was finally able to give his heart to… okay, maybe he had plenty of reason to be nervous. He didn’t want to make Cecil embarrassed in public or be that date that everyone talked about for months to come in jest. He wanted to give Ceci something to be proud of, create a memory that the two could look back on for years to come and smile on… and, as sappy as it was, to return to and relive those memories perhaps on future dates. With one last, deep breath, Kou finally stepped around the corner, red eyes giving the area a good one over. Couples strode, hand in hand, up to and through the elaborate and romanticized front gate, distant sounds of music and closer muffled whispers and speech drifted through the air, aiding nothing in his attempts to calm his speeding heart. And then they found him, the boy who invited him here, the boy who practically owned him at this point, his date. “Ceci…” He spoke, the name falling fondly from his tongue, however wavering his tone may be with nervousness and shame, raising a hand to scratch at the back of his head with his steps closer to the other. His gaze quickly fell along with his hand, the boy shifting from foot to foot as he continued to speak, “I-I’m sorry it took me so long…” I really hope you’re not mad… Of course, he couldn’t tell the boy the reason why he was late… that was a surprise after all… he would find out later, right? If all went according to plan, that is. [/style] [/style] [style=float: right; background-image: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/Shin/Shin78_zpsdee04d45.png); height: 100px; width: 100px; border: 4px solid B22222; -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; text-align: center; v-align: top; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 3px] [/style]

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i45.tinypic.com/2ebxptw.gif); webkit-border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 6px;][STYLE=width: 467px; background: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/tables/ricepaper-hue-pink.jpg); margin-left: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; border: #B22222 solid 4px; padding: 5px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; color: #000000;]✔ Credits;; Ryuuin ✔ Tags;; Cecil ✔ Notes;; First real date, eh? Boy Kou has some plans then~ I… am also SO SORRY that this went over 2k words ;3; ✔ Please view in chrome!

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Save me cause I'm falling

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[Cecil Martel]

While there was no doubt in Cecil’s mind that Kouhei would definitely show up, the more time crept by at a snail’s pace, the more the anxiety bubbling in the blonde’s stomach threatened to burst. Tapping his foot, the Pidgeot gijinka cast another look around the surrounding area in search of that familiar face, nose scrunched and orange eyes narrowed as he used his raptor-sharp vision to scope out the area; he’d been repeating the same process for a while now as his pre-date jitters slowly gave way to a deeper worry, one that the boy felt rearing its ugly head often these days, though he tried to brush it off around the person in question. What if some thugs thought they could get the drop on Kou for some reason and picked a fight? Or worse, what if he ran into an Epispect agent on the way here and was running through the city in a mad race to ditch his would-be murderer before it was too late while Ceci was just sitting here doing nothing the whole time?

Calm down, Cecil! He admonished himself with a groan, running another worrying hand through his spiky blonde locks as if by doing so he could extract the troubled thoughts from his head before they continued even further down this spiral of worry. He knew that Kou could take care of himself - he’d been doing just that for the past few years, after all, and while it was by no means an easy life to live, the dark-haired boy pulled through anyway. If not, then Ceci wouldn’t be sitting here right now fretting over it, why was precisely why the other would show up eventually, to hell with whoever or whatever might get in his way. He knew how to get around Aether while avoiding most of the danger that plagued the city, and when all else failed the illegal could without a doubt outrun or outfight any thug or hunter, though the latter thought had the Pidgeot gijinka twitching forward in his seat, leaning his left hand on his knee and his right reaching for his necklace - oh, but wait, he’d left that at home today. Damn it. Sighing, he hung his head, trying once more not to give into his by now quite visible anxiety. Normally when something bothered him, the boy would play with the little feather he wore around his neck, running the soft edges in between his fingers to keep his hands and, to a lesser extent, his mind occupied. And when even that failed to calm his nerves, he would either climb out his window and run off to find some Pokémon to fight or wait until he was far away enough from the house to stir up a Hurricane. Something about the wind roaring around him, lashing at his skin and howling through the trees calmed him down, almost as if by conjuring a storm on the outside, whatever one was brewing inside would slowly dissipate.

Unfortunately, neither of those was an option right now in this crowded public space, but...just a little playing around with the wind wouldn’t actually hurt anyone, he concluded with a smirk. With a deep breath, the boy reached out and felt the air around him, the unseasonably pleasant breeze curling around his body almost playfully, brushing against his cheek much as Ayna did when the Pidgey craved attention. It might seem strange at first that he always attributed such things as emotion and attitude to lifeless air currents, but ever since he’d first begun exploring his abilities as a gijinka, Ceci chose to think that it was just as much a living thing as he was - albeit one he could twist and bend to his own will with the proper coaxing, just as he did now with a quick curl of his finger a glint in his eye. Immediately, a stronger breeze raced through the gates, scattering rose petals and leaving a few of the girls nearby “kyaa-ing” and trying to keep their skirts from flying up in their wake, much to their dates’ amusement or - occasionally - disappointment. He took it all in with an airy chuckle, but despite the scandalized looks on the girls’ faces and the laughs and cheers from a few members of the crowd, there was still something missing, for lack of a better way to explain it. Fooling around with the wind usually made him feel at least a bit better, but while it was good for a laugh or two, his heart just wasn’t into it this time around.

With a defeated sigh, Cecil lowered his gaze to the ground in front of him, his gaze locked onto the sidewalk without truly seeing it at all, his thoughts already turning back to what he really wanted - even needed - right now: a boy with hair as dark as the arch dancing teasingly on the edge of his vision and sparking false alarms, the red of the roses twining their way up its sides blooming pale and boring in comparison to the crimson eyes currently haunting his thoughts. It seemed like no matter where he looked, everything reminded him of the absent boy who held his heart somehow. Even clenching his hand to steady his nerves left it feeling strangely empty, lacking the warmth of another’s in his grasp that Ceci so desired right now. No, he realized with drooping shoulders and an uneasy shift in his seat, until he had Kouhei there in front of him, silencing this rampant uneasiness humming through his veins was impossible.

Another handful of minutes dragged by, sending him through a constant loop of anxiety; he would look around for Kou and, finding no sight of him, resign himself to fidgeting and waiting for a little while longer as each passing second stretched out into a short eternity. Ever flash of black or red in the crowd snapped his gaze up for a moment, heart racing in hope before he drooped again in defeat, silently cursing how everything seemed to echo the colors he associated with his treasured Zoroark today. Finally, though, something else caught his attention, buying the teen a moment of distraction: the glowing screen of a passing girl’s cell phone, pulled out of her purse to text a quick lie to her parents about where she was this evening. Ceci chuckled weakly at that, his telescopic vision “zooming in” to catch the blushing girl’s insistence that she was just having a “single’s awareness” party with some friends. No doubt her girlfriend found it just as amusing with how she seemed to be biting the inside of one of her cheeks to keep from giggling out loud before leaning over and pressing a kiss to the other’s forehead and tugging her toward the roped-off section of the park with a warm smile.

It was cute, that Ceci admitted wholeheartedly as he watched them go with a longing look, wishing that he could do the same with Kou. But the scene also tugged at his heart once more because of how watching someone have to lie to their parents in order to be with the one they loved hit close to home. He was well aware the he and Kou danced on thin ice with this budding relationship of theirs with his old man working for Epispect, the same people who would stop at nothing to snuff out his boyfriend’s life if they had the chance. He was lucky - ha! He never thought that he would actually think those words - that his father’s guard duties kept him practically living in that eyesore of a building and hadn’t been home even once since that fateful night when his son stumbled across Kou and, soon after, right into love. Oh, his aunt and uncle knew he was in a relationship as he had to confess that he was seeing someone after the first time he’d disappeared to spend the night at Kou’s house with only a hastily sent text to warn them that he could not make it home that night, but while they at least seemed happy for him, the fear that his dad would somehow find out just who Kou was and turn him over to his would-be executioners tore at the blonde’s heart like a knife.

Before his thoughts could spiral any further, something wet trickled down his palm, pulling the teen out of his thoughts and back to the present. With a wince, he opened his hand, the sting of stretching skin warning him what he would find even before he saw the thin line of blood dripping from the crescent-shaped cuts on his skin from where his nails bit into the flesh when he clenched his fist too tightly. Annoyance flashed in the boy’s eyes, both at himself, for getting so worked up just from waiting and at the fact that he couldn’t just wipe the blood off on his shirt as he would normally do, for his tendency to scratch himself was exactly why he tried to keep his hands occupied when nervous. Okay, that’s as good a sign as any that I really need to chill the hell out, he thought as he raised his hand to his mouth, quickly lapping the ruby-red droplets from his skin, wincing slightly at their metallic tang. In an attempt to clear his head, he tried to focus on the facts instead of the vicious “what-ifs” trying to whisper in his ear...so what did he know for certain so far? Only that Kou was running a little late; the girl’s cell phone screen read 7:10 when he checked, which only seemed to drive home the point that he was panicking over nothing...his date was barely late at all, it was only the anxiety that made every minute drag on far longer than it should. See? He’ll be fine. If...if it gets to be past eight and he still hasn’t shown, then I’ll go looking for him. The Pidgeot gijinka decided, still gazing at his palm when another faint breeze kicked up, tousling his blonde locks and carrying with it the enchanting sound of his name, spoken by a voice that had become almost as familiar; the very one he longed to hear.

Immediately the boy’s head snapped up to find the source of the voice, eyes immediately brightening when they settled on the very subject of his troubled thoughts, heart soaring when he realized that this was no trick of his mind but really, truly Kouhei standing there, nervously shifting his weight where he stood in a way that Cecil felt heart wrenchingly adorable. But the staring did not last long, and in the space of a few frantic heartbeats the boy jumped up and flung his arms around the other with an excited cry of the other’s nickname on his lips. “Kou!” I’m so glad you’re here, thank Arceus you’re safe! With a grin he nuzzled against the Rocket, breathing in his faintly cinnamon-tinted scent and holding him close, taking a moment just to savor the warmth of the other boy in his arms. For that moment, no one else in the park mattered to him, much less existed, until he reluctantly loosened his grip and ran his hands from Kou’s shoulders down his arms and to his hands, cheeks tinted a light pink as he dropped the injured one to his side and interlaced the other’s fingers with Kou’s. It felt strangely intimate, holding on to him in public like this, but he couldn’t stop smiling for a moment, even as the other apologized for being late. “No, it’s fine, I promise. Everyone runs a little late sometimes.” He reassured his boyfriend, rubbing comforting circles over the palm of Kou’s hand with his thumb, trying his best to soothe any worries still clinging to him. “We should probably get going, though - I can’t wait to see what’s actually on the other side!”

With a light tug, Ceci pulled Kou into the crowd, only remembering them now - there sure were a lot of people here today, and he wondered if his date would like it more if they found somewhere off to the side once they were through the arch, looming closer and closer as they walked together. The black and red, crimson petals standing out like rubies against the arch’s dark surface, once more reminded him of the gijinka walking hand in hand with him, and he turned to the other with that ever-present grin, excitement glinting in the Pidgeot’s bright orange eyes. “You know, I kept thinking of you every time I caught sight of that arch. It’s like Valentine’s Day is an excuse for everyone in the city to steal your favorite color scheme or something. You look great, by the way.” A deeper blush crossed his cheeks as he glanced over the other’s outfit properly this time, trying to imprint it into his memory. The maroon of his shirt and the matching accents on his boots was more subtle than his usual colors, but it still mixed well with the black of his vest, tie, and pants, and he overall gave of a sharp-but-rumpled look. It was, the blonde had to admit, a damn good choice of clothing, and he couldn’t help but be a little distracted by the tie - begging to be tugged on, pulling the other closer - and the flash of the other’s piercing, avian instincts telling him to go for the shiny object. But he resisted the call of both, and instead returned his gaze to Kou’s and gave his hand a light squeeze before realizing with a jolt that they had already left the arch behind.

Taking a deep breath, cast a quick glance around the lantern lit area - oh man, they had Rapidashes pulling carriages out here? Talk about a fairy-tale setting! - before turning back to Kou, practically bouncing where he stood, excited to get this night started but not sure what to do or where to go first. “So. I know I was the one who invited you, but is there anywhere you’d like to go first? I’m up for whatever you are!”

Notes: Still un-tabled. I'll get that after I sleep this time, promise. :'D Also, I am so, so sorry for the word vomit. I won't do it again. DX
Absol Egg x1 (50% shiny chance) 2/10
Gastly Egg x1 2/10.

[Kouhei Makoto]

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[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i45.tinypic.com/2ebxptw.gif); webkit-border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; -moz-border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; border-radius: 20px 20px 0px 0px; padding: 6px;] My heart's beating faster Sick of being tired and sick of waiting I know what I'm after. [STYLE= width: 350px; background-image: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/tables/ricepaper-hue-pink.jpg); -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; border: 4px solid B22222; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; font-family: times new roman; color: #000000; padding: 5px; float: left; margin-left: 3px; margin-bottom: 5px]Those few seconds between the uttering of the blond's name and that very same blond noticing him seemed to drag by, his heartbeat pounding uncomfortably in his ears. But when those golden eyes fell on him, something seemed to release, a weight lifted off his shoulders, that simple expression Cecil wore melting it away, taking with it the fears that his love would be angry or upset with him for running late... he could only imagine the thoughts that the boy might have been thinking after the clock struck seven and Kou hadn't turned up. Even if it was for a surprise that he hoped the blond would enjoy, what kind of boyfriend kept their date waiting on their first date... he was, more than likely, just a disappointment at this point, wasn't he? That look of despair on his love's face only moments before certainly didn't help that idea. But as Cecil leaped up from the bench in a hurry and practically threw himself at Kou, he couldn't help that spur of hope that maybe, just maybe he wasn't. With a cry of his familiar nickname falling from the boy's lips, arms wrapping around him and recieving a warm, welcoming nuzzle (that he couldn't help but to return, by the way), Kou felt all those previous worries fade away as he allowed his arms to slip around the Pidgeot gijinka's waist, pulling him close. For the moments that their bodies were pressed together in a warm hug, he allowed his eyes to slide closed, a soft smile forming on his lips at this oddly peaceful moment. It felt good to forget about all his troubles, worries and dangers, feeling safe and, for once, wanted in the arms of his boyfriend. For those few moments... everything felt right. However, as quickly as the moment came, it was gone as Cecil released his hold on the raven haired teen, taking a step back as his hands ran down his arms, Kou's resting on the hips of his, as he thought, beautiful lover. Yes, you heard it right. Kou had, for awhile now, thought of the blond as beautiful, gorgeous even... as sappy as that was, and as embarrassed as he was to admit it aloud, knowing that Cecil would be quick to retort... but even now, dressed as he was in an outfit was quite the contrast from what he normally wore, Kou would dare to describe him as breathtaking - and so he thought with a deepening blush. Contenting himself with listening to the other speak, making sure to keep that smile on - though it was easy on such an occasion as this - Kou was more than happy to intertwine his fingers with Cecil's, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. Of course... he had noticed that odd drop of his other hand, and the coppery scent of blood, however light, did meet his nose. Following rather like a puppy - which was an odd thought for the teen, be as it were with the DNA that ran through his veins - at the tug toward the arch that the blond gave him, the soothing motions he gave certainly taking the desired effect, the Zoroark gijinka felt strangely light, his heart picking up speed from excitement and nervousness. This was their first real date... he wanted to do anything but disappoint his love... it was a time to make memories, special memories that they would talk about for years to come and, perhaps, even reminiscence as they traced their very steps they would make today later on. And, if anything was to be said about the expression that Ceci wore when he turned to look at him with that excited grin, Kou knew the night would deliver to them what they were looking for - his smile contagious enough to spread even to Kou's lips. "I'm sorry again... I really didn't mean to keep you waiting..." he couldn't help but to utter an apology once more at the mention of the arch reminding the blond of himself, but he certainly hadn't finished his thoughts... that is, until the compliment registered in his mind, "I-... T-thank you..." It wasn't something that the raven-haired teen was used to, a compliment given where it was actually meant to be given... or actually even meant as a compliment at all. He was used to screams of how terrifying his pranks or illusions were - which was something he, personally, took as a compliment... but this... this made his heart soar, that blush returning rather deeply as such. But, it wasn't only he who looked good, if anything... and he wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to tell the other just what was on his mind about that outfit, "And you... you look..." Drawing his lower lip into his mouth, as he so often did in worry or thought, Kou chewed on it as he searched for the perfect word to describe the blond without embarrassing him or undermining the way he looked... and there was only one, one word that left his lips as a whisper, "Amazing..." Allowing his own eyes to run over the other, down, back up, then down again, they stopped only at the hand as he not only remembered the way it was dropped before hand, but the awkward way it was kept away from contact now. "... Hey..." With a slight tilt of his head, Kou stopped, pulling the boy back with a gentle tug of the hand in his own before reaching for Cecil's other hand, grasping it gently. As he brought the hand closer into view, the metallic scent of blood only grew stronger, to which the smile on his face slowly began to fade... falling all together as he saw the source of the scent, a source which sent a wave of worry running through his being. Without a word, Kou let instinct kick in - paying no mind to the couples walking around them - and brought the hand to his lips, lapping at the small incisions the blond's nails had previously made with closed eyes. Continuing this action until he was satisfied that the small wounds were indeed no longer bleeding and that all the blood had been wiped away by his tongue, the metallic taste sending a shiver down his spine, Kou finally looked up at Cecil with a knowing look. He had inadvertently caused them due to running late, causing worry to the most important person in his life. Licking his lips, Kouhei allowed the blonds hand to fall back to his side, still holding on reassuringly to his other, refusing to let go for the time being. "The important part is that we're both here now... together... right?" he questioned, more rhetorically than anything else, "I'll make it up to you... I promise..." With that, the boy flashed another smile at the blond, tugging him along once more, not allowing their date to fall into darkness, no... he did that enough on his own. Red eyes glanced around as they moved, looking for anything the two may be able to do...while there was a lot that could be done, Kou wanted something special. They could go for a ride in a carriage later when less people were doing so if Cecil so wished it, get something to eat or drink as they did so maybe. But as they walked along, Kou noticed something - there were several unoccupied dance floors, and with that, an idea sparked in his mind, a mischievous smile forming. Finally releasing his hold on Cecil's hand, Kou made a rather sharp and sudden turn onto one of the empty floors, his boots clicking on the black and white marble, the music's beat steady and loud in his ears, bringing a subtle laugh out of the boy. Spinning on his heels, he gave the Pidgeot gijinka a large, warm smile, holding a hand out to him - a silent, begging offer to join him, "Come... It'll be just the two of us... I promise." [/style] [/style] [style=float: right; background-image: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/Shin/Shin78_zpsdee04d45.png); height: 100px; width: 100px; border: 4px solid B22222; -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; text-align: center; v-align: top; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 3px] [/style]

[atrb=style, background-image: url(http://i45.tinypic.com/2ebxptw.gif); webkit-border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; border-radius: 0px 0px 20px 20px; padding: 6px;][STYLE=width: 467px; background: url(http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g368/RyuujinYoukai/tables/ricepaper-hue-pink.jpg); margin-left: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 20px; -moz-border-radius: 20px; border-radius: 20px; border: #B22222 solid 4px; padding: 5px; font-family: times new roman; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; color: #000000;]✔ Credits;; Ryuuin ✔ Tags;; Cecil ✔ Notes;; Meh... sorry this is so bad. And I'm sorry if some words are missing L's... my L key is sticking something terribad tonight. ✔ Please view in chrome!

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Save me cause I'm falling

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[Cecil Martel]

As they walked hand in hand past other couples and under the arch, Cecil paid them no heed...how could he, when every fiber of his being was so completely focused on Kou's hand in his, warm and so, so alive there, blowing away any lingering doubts that all of this - the sun, the wind, and Kou's bright smile most of all - was a dream. At that moment, with rampant joy coursing through his body, he felt more energized than ever before, unable to shake the grin from his face. But why would he, when he was enjoying his boyfriend's company so much? While he knew that the sentiment was cheesy beyond belief, he still felt that this was all so magical, and though they jostled past other pairs as they walked the Pidgeot gijinka barely noticed their presence beyond bright swaths of color at the corner of his vision, blurred and distant thanks to this filter love put between the two of them and the rest of the living world. No, his mind was stuck on the one walking with him, and the blond kept sneaking - badly, I might add - glances at his date, his heart fluttering at the sight of him there. It was amazing how just having the other there affected him; his waist and arms still tingled lightly in memory of the other's touch, the blush never leaving his face no matter how many times he gazed over his shoulder at Kou, though he slowed gradually so that he wasn't practically dragging the other in his barely-contained excitement. Even so, as they walked he kept a light spring in his step, eager to meet whatever the evening brought and certain that it would leave them with a set of memories they would treasure forever.

He, for one, was already planning to look back on just being able to hold hands like this in public, something he was already growing fond of - it was such a simple thing, yet it made him happy just being able to show off a little, drag Kou out into the sunlight for a little while so long as the other didn't mind...although, at this point of the day, that wouldn't last long. His grin softened to something a little more personal, a warm smile touching his lips as he mused that it was a good thing that this place was so well lit or else, given his difficulties with seeing at night, the shadows would no doubt prevent him from seeing his love's face. And on an outing like this, that was one thing the bird keeper was not going to stand for, even with Kou there to keep him from getting lost in the night this time. It was both kind of funny and rather touching how they guided each other that way...he did his best to keep Kou from slipping into the darkness of his own mind, and Kou's superior night vision would keep him from getting lost in the literal darkness after the sun dipped beneath the horizon.

Perhaps it was a bit arrogant of him to think that he could protect the crimson-eyed teen from anything, especially the shadows that had plagued him forever, but Ceci couldn't banish the desire to keep him safe in whatever way he could...and that, to the young trainer, included safeguarding him from worries. Sure, it was pretty hypocritical for him to feel that way after how he'd let his imagination run wild earlier and he knew it, but leaving the other to wallow in guilt without at least trying to make him feel better? Nope, not going to happen - that was just not how the blond worked. So when he apologized once more, instead of just leaving it be to hang heavily in the air between them, he gave the other's hand a returning squeeze and stroked the skin beneath his thumb once more reassuringly. "Seriously, don't worry about it. You're here now, aren't you?" He insisted, words earnest as he looked back into his lover's eyes once more, any anxiety from the wait long gone now that they were both here...if there was any that hadn't vanished like a puff of smoke on the wind the instant he laid eyes on the Rocket, it melted away the moment the other had held him close. "I'm really glad you're with me." Such a simple statement, practically a whisper after the lighthearted, energetic words he spilled out so quickly before, it nonetheless spoke volumes about what he felt for the other boy. While he could fit the statement to today exactly, there was an unspoken but clearly intended meaning there: I'm glad you're mine. "And you're welcome! ...though, now that I think about it, I should be thanking you since I get to see you all dressed up like this." And just like that, he easily switched back to his lively speech, teasing his love lightly with another (and rather flirty, or as close as the airhead could come to it intentionally) compliment, giving him another approving look - his fingers itched to grab at the tie, to pull him even closer, but he behaved himself - before he turned his attention to the path ahead once more, though there was no disguising the upward turn of his lips in another grin.

Especially when Kou's next comment had his attention snapping back to the dark-type, eyes widening in surprise as he looked at other, blush deepening once more. A-amazing?! He thought to himself, not quite understanding what the other was seeing that was special enough to warrant an amazing, especially when standing side by side with him...still, he didn't deny it outright, his heart giving a happy jolt at the compliment. Even if he wasn't sure about this whole "formal" thing, Kou still thought he looked good? Before he could stop the sound, he gave a pleased chirp, squeezing the other's hand once more as his grin returned, stomach flipping as he spoke. "I don't think I'm that great...not like you. But I'm glad you like the clothes!" The boy chuckled, before he caught sight of how the other had pulled his lower lip into his mouth and realized Kou was worrying at it again. It wasn't the worst nervous habit to have, but it had to hurt sometimes, and Ceci frowned inwardly at the sight, though he managed to hold his grin up anyway. Only a small sting of pain as he flexed his free hand prevented him from reaching up to brush his thumb of across the chewed skin to check for blood, reminding the teen that his boyfriend wasn't the only one here with a bad habit. The last thing he wanted to do was to give the other more of a reason to worry that lip, so he instead kept the hand at his side as they walked on, hoping that Kou wouldn't notice.

Unfortunately for the birdbrain, he severely underestimated his lover's keen senses, as Zoroark were still canine Pokémon and thus their sense of smell was quite a bit sharper than average...not to mention that when it came to him, Kou was always quick to pick up on things. So when he heard the other's questioning tone, he tried to play it off as nothing, to keep walking and not acknowledge that anything was wrong - because it wasn't - at least not at that moment. "Hm? What's up?" He asked, feigning innocence as he glanced around, suddenly very interested in observing the lanterns swinging to and fro from nearby tree branches, but it was too late. All it took was a gentle tug to stop him in his tracks, the pull on their joined hands turning him to face Kou as they stopped moving. Immediately, the flying-type tried to come up with some excuse to hide his hand, but any attempt at concentration went out the window as soon as he saw how damn cute the Rocket looked tilting his head like that, and Kou was able to lift his hand without enduring more than a feeble chirp of protest. This time, it was shame and not a playful sheepishness that had his cheeks turning a deep pink, ashamed for hurting his hand in the first place and that he'd tried to hide it from Kou, but...his eyes flickered to the other's, searching despite how badly he wished to keep his gaze fixed on the ground, he hadn't wanted to worry him. It was cruel of him, wanting to keep his pains concealed when he begged the other not to do the same, but he kept telling himself that this was different...he didn't want Kou to feel guilty or somehow responsible for it. Watching the serious look in the other's eyes, he opened his mouth to reassure the foxlike boy that it wasn't his fault, but before he could get a single sound out Kou closed his eyes and leaned down, lapping at the damaged skin carefully.

Moaning in public was more than just embarrassing - some might even think it disgusting - but the blond just couldn't stop the soft sound that left his lips as Kou "treated" his cuts with gentle licks, his face burning a fiercer red than ever before as he tried not to tremble from the soothing yet unsettling sensation, a light shiver running down his spine at the feel of the other's tongue dragging across his skin. But even as he squirmed slightly under the attention, he never asked him to stop, waiting patiently until he was done...and the look on the other's face when he finally halted his ministrations and glanced up at him with his breath-stealing eyes wrenched his heart painfully. Yet despite the guilt he saw lurking in those crimson depths, surprise overtook the blond when the next words he spoke were not of apology but reassurance. Blush fading slightly, he finally reached up to gently run his thumb across the other's worry-worn lip, his smile returning with more warmth than before, if possible. "Yeah...we've got each other, right here and right now, that's what matters." Humming cheerfully, he lets his hand wander to the other's cheek, caressing it lightly before dropping it to his side. It didn't sting nearly as much now, or perhaps he was just too distracted to notice. But with Kou flashing an absolutely stunning smile and tugging on his hand like that, how could he pay much attention to anything else? Grinning, he gave up on his worries and just followed the other, content to let him take the lead.

The further they walked, the more impressive the Vale's Valentine's Day display became. Not only were there flashy carriage rides - though those were a bit crowded for Ceci's taste at this time of day, meaning they'd probably have to wait in line for one, and he was thankful when Kou passed them by - but the streets were lined with stands of every type you could imagine. Cotton candy stands stood proudly right next to more substantial food stalls - ugh, that pretzel stand smelled great! - as well as other distractions. There were games, of course, though these appeared to stick to the Vale's romantic theme with little variations: a nearby ring-toss game featured large "engagement rings" thrown at bottles labeled as "love potions," and farther down the street the sharp-eyed Gijinka spotted a "Cupid Darts" stand, red and pink heart-shaped balloons stuck to a board exploding with a loud pop every time a customer managed to hit one with an "arrow of love." There was even what looked like a photo booth and numerous tent-covered tables selling all kinds of jewelry ranging from fancy rings to custom beaded name bracelets to appeal to the younger couples. Every inch of the place buzzed with activity, except for a few strangely empty floors, one which Kou suddenly steered them onto without warning, catching the Pidgeot by wide-eyed surprise as the other dropped his hand and he stepped onto the shining surface, the loud music pulsing around them from unseen source leading Ceci to recognize it for what it was - a dance floor, pristine black and white marble standing out against the greenery of their surroundings.

Watching the way Kou spins easily strikes something in Ceci, and it's not just awe at how smooth and easy he makes the movement look; he looks like he belongs out here, on the dance floor, and the sight reminds the Pidgeot gijinka with a jolt that no matter how happy he is to have the other as his own now, they had still been apart for a long time. This confident, smiling teen with his beckoning hand is a far cry from the kid he'd gone with - though not as dates, then - to his first and only-ever dance, who had been just as awkward there as he was. It's a silent reminder that there's a large chunk of Kou's life he doesn't know about, might never learn about completely because of painful things that likely lurk there - and how much more Kou knows than him now; how to dance, how to cook, how to fight, how to - no, not touching that one! Blushing, he shakes his head to clear it of his thoughts, smiling and shrugging off his jacket, setting it off to the side before he steps forward and takes the other's hand, because some things you just need to accept and move on. The distance between them, both the physical and that dealing with experience - is something to overcome, and Cecil's hand falls easily into Kou's as he accepts the other's invitation, giving it a tight squeeze. "Just the two of us? What, are you going to pull that trick with the Moltres again? Because that was amazing." He chuckles, though his words are honest...the skill Kou possessed with his powers was awe-inspiring, and he'd love a chance to see it again. But there's still something he has to admit to the other, shifting from foot to foot awkwardly and rubbing at the back of his head with his free hand. "So, uh, do you think you could...teach me? I don't - I never actually learned to dance."

Notes: I really will fix it this afternoon. Seriously this time. And sorry it's a few hours late. ;w; AndIliedaboutnotwordvomitingI'msorry.
Absol Egg x1 (50% shiny chance) 3/10
Gastly Egg x1 3/10.