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Part 1
By Ladyglen
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Store after store after store. One piled up on top of another. Kiosks lining the center aisle. Offering more goods than one could possibly imagine. Everything under the sun. Even a birthday gift for a good friend? Hopefully.
Bright colors. Fake plants. Garbage cans, benches, railings, stairs, and escalators. Lots and lots of glass. Signs screaming to attract customers. Got to be able to find something here.
"No. Absolutely not! Geez, I can't believe they still make those things. I don't care if they are kinda cute. Ryo doesn't even have a rear view mirror to hang fuzzy dice off of. He rides a bike, remember? Come on, let's get *out* of this place."
Out of the novelty shop, back into the stream of people. So many people. Seems more packed than the number of cars in the parking lot warranted. Young, old. A mother pushing her sleeping babe in a stroller. Another dragging her screaming, protesting toddler past the toy store. Two old men sitting on one of the center aisle benches talking and laughing. People hurrying, people strolling. Two teens, probably no more than 16, sitting so close on another bench sharing an ice cream cone.
"Nope, nope, nope. Keep moving. I know they're adorable, but a puppy isn't the answer either. Are you kidding? White Blaze would probably have it for lunch."
Move past the pet shop. The puppies in the display window *are* adorable. So are the kittens, but White Blaze would definitely protest one of those. Guess Ryo doesn't need a pet, not when he has so much more in that tiger.
"Whoa, where...? Get back here. Not the bookstore. You know Ryo isn't a reader like you are. Some of us have lives. If you'd get your nose out of your books more often, we'd probably not be rushing around the mall like maniacs at practically the last minute looking for a birthday present."
All right, no bookstore. And you call chasing after the bad guys and saving the world not having a life? Besides, it's not the last minute. There's still a week left before the party. But what about...
"What would Ryo do with a matched set of luggage? It's not as if he travels a lot, and when he does, he just throws a change of clothing into a duffle. Come on, I know just the store. Let's get moving again before we get stepped on."
Another toy store. A card shop. A camera store. No, not that place. Can't imagine Ryo piercing his nose or his belly button. Figurines, no. Children's clothes store, no. CDs? Guess not. A train store? Neat. Almost hesitate, but no. That idea would probably be shot down as well.
"Here we are. We've got to be able to find something in here."
A men's clothing store? An upscale men's clothing store. All right, clothes it is. So many racks. Well, it's August, it's hot. A guy can't have enough t-shirts and shorts, can he?
"God, you're hopeless. Those have got to be the most hideous shorts I've ever seen. Shorts are all right, but how about something a little tighter, or maybe black? I mean, can you really see Ryo in baggy, neon plaid? The only thing those would be good for would be as part of a Halloween costume."
Oookaay, shorts go back on the rack. They're not *that* bad. Someone must buy them if the store carries them, right? Well, guess they are that bad. More racks. More shelves. Shoes? They carry shoes? God, they've already got winter jackets out. It's the middle of summer and they've got parkas sitting next to the shorts. Fashion makes no sense. Socks? No, nothing more impersonal except underwear. Well, not all underwear, but Ryo's not the one I'd give *that* kind to. More tees. Jeans? No, he's got millions of pairs of jeans.
Wait. A. Minute. A beacon of deep red nearly hidden behind yet another rack of shorts. Hmmm. A red the same color as his armor. Long sleeves, button up, so soft. Where's... Turn and hold up the latest offering so he can pass judgment.
"Now, I like that. Hm, silk? Perfect. That's a shirt worthy of me. He'll love it. You've just redeemed yourself. Hey, let's see if we can find a pair of black jeans to go with it."
Hmmm. They have one in emerald. But June's gone already. Oh well. Now, where? Oh, there's the black jeans. They *will* look good together. Dodge the racks to get to the register. Not even as expensive as one would think. Finally, present out of the way. What a relief.
"Got your wallet? Good. You want to get a soda or something before we go?"
Out of the store. Turn deeper into the mall, farther away from the car. The food court is even more crowded than the rest of the place. Get the sodas, find a table. Kind of nice. Easy to pretend this is more than just a shopping trip.
"Glad you're done, now we can concentrate on the party. You going to take anyone?"
You. Love to take you. Wonder what you'd think of that?
"I don't know who I'm going to ask yet, but... hel-lo. Would you look at that. Think that skirt can get any shorter?"
If it did, she might as well not wear anything. What? He's standing. Aw, don't call her over.
"Oi, Mika, over here."
"Sage! It's been, like, for-e-ver. What are you *doing* here? Oh, hi Rowen."
Flutter, flutter, gush, squeal. Bat your eyelashes. God, it's disgusting.
"Oh, we just had to find a birthday present. How've you been?"
"Pretty good, but I'm better now that I've seen you."
Gah, think I'm gonna puke. How can he *like* this simpering little...?
"Listen Sage, I was just going upstairs to meet Akika and catch that new horror pic they're playing. Wanna come? You can keep me safe from all the monsters."
Not again. Never fails.
"I don't know, Mika."
"Rowen can come too."
*Don't* do me any favors. God, can she whine more pathetically?
"Rowen?"
"Why don't you two just go ahead, Sage. We're done, and I wanted to get to the library anyway." No way I can stomach watching her clutch at him for an entire movie.
"Are you sure?"
Gee, an actual hesitation? Will wonders never cease? Hell, that's not fair and you know it. Try not to sigh, just show him a smile. "Sure. Go 'head." Wish he'd turn *that* particular smile on me for a different reason.
"Thanks, Rowen."
Ever the gentleman, he's offering her his arm. Now I *know* I'm gonna puke. "Thanks for coming with me, Sage."
"What? Oh, anytime, Rowen. See you later."
"Yeah, later. Have fun." Sage was already turning away, arm in arm with the girl, and didn't hear Rowen's soft comment.
Rowen watched them go, internally wincing when the girl slid her hand down Sage's arm to clasp his hand. It actually hurt to watch that blond head bend close to the girl's dark one as Sage whispered something that made her giggle.
Why? Why did it seem as if every single time they went out together, Sage ended up with a girl? It wasn't as if they were out on a date together, but Rowen still felt as if he'd been dumped. Every single time. There just seemed to be too many of them for him to compete. Sage never noticed him that way.
They had a special relationship, all of them did. They'd been through so much together, had forged unbreakable bonds, but while those bonds went beyond friendship, Rowen was unsure that they would stretch in the direction he wished. Were they truly unbreakable, or would those bonds shatter if he ever voiced his desire to be more than just friends with Sage?
Rowen watched as the two figures grew small with distance, finally disappearing from view into the elevator that led up to the theater. Finally, he gathered up his packages, and holding them tightly to his side, he headed back the way they'd come. The brightness of the mall was no longer friendly, the closeness of the people, the couples, no longer happy, but mocking.
Maybe he *would* go to the library. At least he always knew where he stood with his books. But he could still wish... Rowen let loose a soft snort of disgust. Sometimes he wished he could just shut off his brain.
Subdued, Rowen walked until he was outside of the shop where they'd found Ryo's birthday gift. He stopped in the middle of the aisle, letting the other shoppers flow around him like water flows around a rock jutting out of a stream. Finally, he allowed himself to be lured back inside, making his way through the maze of clothing racks until he stood before the particular one where he'd found Ryo's shirt.
Maybe the manufacturer intended the silk shirts to be worn for Christmas, since they were only offered in red and green. Probably not, since it was way too early in the season. Rowen stood staring at the bright, cheerful colors for a few minutes, then made his decision. That green matched Sage's armor just as well as the red one matched Ryo's, and Sage had seemed to like the shirts so much. Rowen shuffled through the hangers until he found one he thought would fit. Sage's birthday might be two months past, but he could always save it for Christmas. Smiling a little sadly, but smiling none-the-less, Rowen turned away and made his way to the register.
on to Part 2
back to the Gazebo
