Chapter Text
The sunset that evening was beautiful, but Natsuki was distracted by the close proximity of his thigh to Yuki’s as their legs rested over the edge of the small stone jetty. Had he been with just about anyone else, he would have turned his eyes from them in order to appreciate the way the colours shimmered over the surface of the water, but this was Yuki.
Since Akira and Haru had left (Japan and the Earth respectively), Natsuki and Yuki spent most of their fishing time with each other; Yuki still had a lot to learn, and Natsuki was perfectly content to teach, but he hadn't counted on how much he would have grown to enjoy Yuki's company without anyone else around. Natsuki took a deep breath. If he moved his thigh just half an inch to the right….
"We should head back soon," Yuki said after muffling a yawn, "before it gets dark."
"Can we stay like this, just for a few minutes?" Natsuki asked. He wasn't ready to say goodnight yet, because then things would end the same way they did every time they went fishing together - with Yuki walking Natsuki home and then jogging away with a friendly wave. It had taken Natsuki a painfully long time to realise he wanted more than just a friendly wave, but now he'd finally realised he didn't want to let the evening slip away like all the ones that had come before.
"Sorry, I promised Grandma I'd be home early to help her with dinner," Yuki smiled apologetically and Natsuki was really thankful that he was sitting down; because it was the sort of smile that made his knees wobble.
Yuki rested his fishing rod on the jetty next to him and started to stand up. Natsuki instinctively reached out for Yuki's wrist, body moving before his brain could catch up. Yuki was obviously confused, but he let himself be gently tugged back down to the ground.
"What's the matter?" Yuki asked, obviously puzzled.
"I....." was all Natsuki could manage. What if he said it wrong and Yuki got the wrong idea? What if Yuki outright rejected him and their friendship was ruined? What if Yuki was disgusted by him? Natsuki's mind was going a mile a minute, refusing to slow down. When he closed his eyes he saw Yuki running away from him over and over again, a fear that had been eating away at him since he realised the depth of the feelings he had for his best friend. Natsuki was terrified, but he had to know if there was even a small chance that Yuki could reciprocate. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
"I can't say it," he said, so softly that he wondered if Yuki could even hear him over the sound of the small waves breaking against the jetty. He looked at Yuki then, and let himself be lost in confused smoke grey eyes.
Natsuki took a deep breah then leaned over slowly. Yuki didn't lean away. When he covered Yuki's lips with his own, Natsuki thought he must be dreaming for sure, because Yuki wasn't pulling away in disgust. Yuki wasn't exactly kissing back, but he obviously wasn't repulsed. Natsuki thought his heart would beat right out of his chest. Was it Yuki's first kiss?
I hope he's not disappointed that it's with me.
When Yuki's lips pressed back against his, Natsuki decided that, yes, he was definitely dreaming.
Unfortunately, a fish with horrifically bad timing chose that moment to bite Yuki's lure. Soft lips were torn away and Natsuki was left with nothing but the cool early winter air against his mouth. Natsuki had never hated a fish so much in his life, but he couldn't help grinning as he watched his friend reel it in anyway.
A short while later, as they reached Natsuki's home, Yuki silently pulled Natsuki into a secluded alleyway, pushed him gently against a wall and kissed him. By the time they parted, the sky was dark and Yuki's face was bathed in shadow but Natsuki could tell he was smiling.