Sometimes Apart, Eventually Together (Hirano's Birthday Drabble)

Kagiura's days started with noticing his beloved slip out of their bed after a four-tone beep signaled the bath was filled and warm. Like any other day, he lazily extended his arm to bring his boyfriend back to bed, cuddle a little more before starting the day.

"Mnn." Kagi gathered himself and rose, stretching before following Hirano.

A red circle on the calendar hanging on the wall catches his eye. He stopped in his tracks.

It was Hirano's birthday.

Kagiura felt his heart do a backflip. He washed his face on the kitchen basin and put on an apron, gathering the materials for breakfast while listening to the sound of running water in the other room.

When Hirano stepped back into the room, he was dutifully simmering vegetables on a pot.

"Morning, Akki."

"G-good morning, Hirano-san!"

"Why do you sound so nervous?" His beloved asked with a disarming smile, eyes bright and clear like a midnight cloudless sky.

Kagiura tried to keep his gaze from slipping to his boyfriend's lower half, a pair of tacky colorful underwear hanging on his boyfriend's hips. Heat rose to his face, recalling the previous night.

Hirano didn't wait for an answer before wrapping his arms around the blushing mess making their breakfast that had turned back to the boiling pot. "How's your waist?"

"It's okay. Just a little sore." Kagiura shuddered pleasantly as his lover tenderly massaged on his lower back.

"Great! Don't strain yourself too much."

Every day was like a dream: waking up in the same room as his beloved, eating breakfast with his beloved. It was the married-like life Kagiura wished for when he was younger. Part of him understood it was a blessing to be living it.

While Hirano took care of the dishes, Kagiura slipped to the bath. There shouldn't be a problem with his present, he mused in the bathtub, grabbing the small plastic puppy floating on the water. It was a cute Shiba lying on its tummy with a funny expression.

'Hirano-san hadn't mentioned his birthday, so perhaps he's forgotten as usual.' Kagiura had spent preparing the present for so long. He HAD to tell Niibashi of his boyfriend's reaction to his friend's work.

'Hirano-san will love it. I'm sure of it.'

Hirano set the dryer down, giving Kagi's brown hair one last ruffle before raising from the bed. As he slipped off, Kagiura, sitting on the floor between his legs, grabbed his white sleeve. Hirano's deep blue eyes fell on his.

"What's up?" Kagiura felt his heart skip a beat. He sent a signal to wait before digging out a package wrapped in brown paper from the closet, secured with fiber thread. Turning back to his vigilant boyfriend, he presented the packet.

"Happy birthday, Taiga-san."

Hirano took the bundle with a wide gaze. "Can I open it?"

Kagiura nodded.

The sound of ruffling paper filled their silence. Hirano revealed the piece of clothing and spread it out on top of his knees. It was a midnight blue jacket, form suspiciously familiar. It was open, with no button or zipper. The cloth was of good quality, sturdy, and soft to the touch. Hirano could keep circling the essential elements, but his favorite thing, what he couldn't tear his eyes away from, was mundane and biased: a pair of golden dragons with silver-grey borders that would clash like beasts at the front if only the sides met.

"Akki. . . this. . ." Hirano could feel the power, the danger wafting from the cloth, baring its fangs against any possible wearer with a mighty, body-numbing roar, unyielding to be dominated. Its master must pose a stronger presence, anyone less would be devoured until not even bones were left.

'That feeling was in the right place. It's who I am.'

Hirano stared at his partner and recalled their intimacy, his lover's pants, and wanton calls from the night before. With his confidence renewed and his heart settled, he wordlessly held his partner's waist closer.

Kagiura yelped, then bent over to catch his boyfriend's words.

"You. . . " Hirano started, covering his eyes and wiping at the corners. "You know me well. Even yesterday--"

"Yesterday?"

"It's fine. We don't have to talk about it right now," he said in between giggles. "Thank you, Akki, this is an amazing present."

When Hirano opened his eyes, Akira was gazing up at him, slipped from his lazy grasp at some point, smiling like a cheery mutt.

"Taiga-san~!"

Hirano had the urge to pamper that innocent dazzling expression. Loving words died on Hirano's throat as well as the desire to make out until his needy partner looked wrecked. He didn't have Akki's honest and impulsive disposition and Hirano had learned not to dwell on it, instead focus on working around it. He snaked his hand around Kagiura's shoulder and caressed his soft cheekbones, then lowered himself and hugged the beanpole, his arm around the neck, and surprised him with a messy kiss.

"Dinner at 6?" Hirano asked, bouncing back on his heels. He strode to his wardrobe and hung the jacket on an empty hanger before slipping the hook on the knob.

Kagiura stuttered a reply. "Um, c-can I go see you?!"

"I don't know when I'll be out. I'll meet you at the place. Don't forget to send me the directions!" He pointed at Kagi before turning to the door.

Kagiura followed like a puppy, suppressing the urge to capture this beauty in front of him in his arms and never let go. He wanted to be with this person forever. One day, he'll ask for Hirano's hand in marriage. For now, he'll make do with a promise to see each other soon.