Day 3 [Kageyama Ryu aka Sakuraiba]
25 12 days of fiction Day 3
Title: Mystery after work
Pairing: Kageyama (butler sho)/ Ryu (bartender Aiba)
Rating: Pg-13
Ryu took customer’s glasses from the bar and put them on. The customer dind’t notice right away, but when he did he frantically searched the bar and dfloor unti he looked up with eyww squinting, he must really be blind without them Ryu chuckled. “They fit me perfectly”.
“You really shouldn’t wear them”. The man's voice quivered. He was a regular always dressed to the nines and Ryu was only trying to loosen the man up.
But he had done it now he never meant to anger the man, “I’m terribly sorry sir I was only trying to cheer you up.” Ryu made a motion to remove the glasses, but ended up knocking over a bottle of wine in his haste. Everything in the room seemed to be spinning. Ryu lurched forward and the customer caught him from across the bar.
The man sighed, “I was trying to warn you that it is not good for your eyees or your inner ear balance to wear another person's spectacles.”
Ryu nodded pulling the offending specs from his face and letting his arms drop to the bar to steady himself. But for some reason the man was still holding onto him.
Ryu took the time to really look at the man in front of him, his hair was slicked back, shirt starched to perfection and suit free of any wrinkles. He had a hankerchief folded expertly tucked inside his suit pocket and yet here he was leaning over a bar to steady a late night worker. Ryu laughedt it was so surreal. The customer must have thought he was laughing at him for his prolonged concern, but he didn if he was he didn’t let it show on his face, a true professional.
“Thank you for your concern... sir, allow me to make you another drunink on the house for the indiscretion, I was saving this one for the upcoming bartender competition so please give your honest impression of the taste” Ryu bowed.
“The name's Kageyama and the fault was my own for not even noticing a playful gesture from the most accommpilished bartender in Japan.”
Ryu clutched the bottle thatof orange juice he was about to pour. “You know who I am?”
“But of course milady raves about your delicious mixed drinks, she will not settle for anything less than the best.” Kageyama removed his spectacles and began to wipe them with his hankerchief, undoubtedly trying to remove any fingerprints that Ryu left when he handled them careflessly. Perhaps he should make him two drinks.
“youre lady? Forgive me for being so direct but what is it that you do?” Could he be a host?
“My profession is that of a butler, but I’ve always wanted to be a detective.” Kageyama laughed after the confession but Ryu detected that maybe it wasn't a joke.
“Really? Then maybe you can help me solve a mystery. When I came in this morning there was broken glass and the bottles of alcohol were moved around but it appears that nothing has been stolen, the drawers were full of cash too.”
Kageyama listened intently, pausing to sip his drink every know and then without saying a word until Ryu finished. Perhaps he had insulted him wiby asking him to solve this bizarre and seemingly unimportant mystery. After all nothing was taken. “Have you written down the recipe for this drink?”
Ryu let out a breathe he didn’t know he was holding, “Yes I keep it in the pantry,” he smiled. “Does that mean you like it?”
“It’s the best drink I’ve had in my life, but I’m surprised you couldn’t figure out such a simple crime.”
“Excuse me?” Ryu thought it was an unfair accusation, afterall he made a living mixing drinks not solving crimes. Especially, when nothing had been stolven.
“Check the pantry for your recipes.” Ryu looked at Kageyama warily but did so.
“Their gone! All of them. My life's work!” Ryu buried his head in his hands. What was he going to do now, sure he had the majority of them memorized but who was stealing off of him!
“Don’t worry. You said earlier that you were preparing for a competition, If you give me a list of the competitors I’m sure I can find out who did this!”
Ryu leaned across the table and looked straight into kageyama’s eyes. “Will you really help me?”
Kageyama removed his glasses again and wiped them, for the first time he looked a bit frazzled and ryu couldn’t figure out why, but he blinked and the confident look was back on Kageyama’s face Maybe he had just imagined it.
“I can get you the list," Ryu said, "but it’s at my house.”
“Let’s go.” Kageyama looked determined to solve the crime. Apparently he wasn’t kidding when he said he walways wanted to be a detective.
“Now?””
“Yes now unless you have to work, in which case I can wait.”
“My shift ends in 30 minutes.”
“I’ll wait for you outside.”
***
Ryu led the way to his house. The flag above the corner store flapped vigorously. Leaves scuttled across the sidewalk in front of them until they where pulled upward in a cyclonic gust. Kageyama followed Ryu onto the pier with his well polished boots. His shoes clacked softly on the wooded surface.
“Here we are, home sweet home.”
Kageyama looked at the little vessal bobbing pitifully on one side, “You live in a houseboat?”
“Well done Sherlock. Now would you like to come inside?” Ryu opened the door and took his shoes on at the entranceway.
“It’s actually quite roomy and warmer than I thought ti would be.”
Ryu smiled, “ I winterproofed and sealed it up myself. Now let me get you that list of competitors.”
Ryu bent over to ruffle through some drawers, and when he turned around Kageyama gaze seemed to be fixed at where he had just been bending over, but he took off his glasses to wipe them when Ryu turned around. Ryu shrugged and walked across the boat to give Kageyama the list when the boat rocked violently. Ryu, stuck in the middle of the home, had nothing to grab onto, fell headlong into Kageyama who caught him with his arms whether he wasnted to or not. Ryu felt like he had the wind knocked out of him from the forced hug. “I’m sorry sometimes when it’s windy…”
“I understand.” Kageyama cleared his throat and once again he returned his glasses to his face after cleaning them. “Now the list.”
“Of course.” Ryu handed it over quickly and waited for him to speak. Several minutes later Kageyama did.
“I’ll need all the information you have on these suspects. I shall return tomorrow.”
“That’s so kind of you, but really you don’t have to.” Ryu, felt incredibly guilty. Here he was in his house with an attractive man who he had already fallen for on and now he was taking up his precious time after work to solve a stupid mystery in which nothing expensive was taken.
“I told you I wanted to be a detective remember? Please let me indulge myself just this once.”
Ryu smiled and nodded. “Tomorrow then.”
***
Ryu met with Kageyama the next day and the day after that. It finally got the the point where he couldn’t remember the time when he didn't meet him after work. Time after time Ryu went over the names, personalities, and quirks of his competitors. As compensation for the work Kageyama was doing for him, Ryu always gave him free drinks and tested out new recipes on him. Today he was meeting Kageyama at his own home for the first time.
Ryu followed the directions written in the finest handwriting he had ever seen to a house so large Ryu almsot mistook it for a hotel.
Ryu rang at the gate and Kageyama’s familiar voice asked who it was he answered. “It’s Ryu.”
“You’re early.” Were the only words Ryu heard outside, before the gates swung open. He walked inside and Kageyama greeted him in jeans and a sweatervest. The image was so odd, Ryu had only ever seen him in a suit or tuxedo.
“This house is huge.”
“I’ll be sure pass along the compliment to milady."
Is it ok for me to be here?” Ryu asked as Kageyama took his coat.
“But of course. I do live here.”
He lived there with the lady of the house. Ryu suddenly felt more dizzy than when he put on Kageyama’s glasses at the bar.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes” Ryu laughed it off, “I just must not be used to a house that doesn’t sway reverse seasickness you know haha.” Ryu cringed at the absurd lie and looked around the room. “What’s with the cut out!”
Kageyama’s face went from concerned to very serious, “That’s Queen Q and I’m afraid I can’t allow you to make fun of her.”
“I’m a big fan of that show too.”
“You are? Have you seen the episode where she…”
Kageyama went on and on about the character like an excited child. Ryu was so amused that he barely heard the words coming out of Kageyama’s plump lips. Ryu sighed.
Kageyama stopped his animated chatterings, “Whats wrong?”
Ryu couldn’t take it, he didn’t think he would get this jealous. He knew Kageyama lived with the woman he was a butler for but actually being here made his blood boil. The cardboard cut out he could take, but a real life woman. “For such a great detective you sure are daft!” Ryo shouted.
Kageyama looked dumbfounded. Ryu stomped out of the room and slammed the door.
***
Ryu received 50 text messages and 30 calls from Kageyama over the next few weeks, but he couldn't bring himself to answer or look at any of the messages. He was so embarrassed. Maybe It was better to break off their relationship now. Break it off, they’d never even been together, Ryu mentally scolded himself.
The bells on the bar door chimed and Ryu said his greeting to the customer with an artificial smile. It shattered instantly when he recognized the the customer. Kageyama.
“Listen I’m really busy with all the customers as you can see so I can’t talk tonight.” Ryu tried his best to be blunt.
“Fine, I’ll wait.”
Ryu worked the rest of the night painfully aware that he was being watched from the corner of the bar. At closing, half past 2am, he finally gave in. “What do you want?”
Kageyama stood and handed him a piece of paper. Ryu took it and all that was written was the name Takemoto. “What’s this?”
“The name of the culprit who stole your recipes.”
“Thanks” Ryu said wiping down the bar. “If that’s all I have to lock up so you’ll have to leave.”
Kageyama took a step towards the bar then stopped, “I figure it out on the first day.”
Ryu couldn’t bare to have the butler in front of him, “What are you talking about.”
Kageyama slammed his fists down on the table, Ryu backed up. “Such a simple case of course I knew who did it from day one!”
“Then why…”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Kagayama scoffed, “I even introduced you to Q” Ryu wondered what Queen Q had to do with any of this but his mind was swirling at the possible implications.
“Let me get this straight” Ryu said tyring while trying to suppress any hope from surfacing. “Are you trying to say that you like me?”
“More than that!” Kageyama used the barstool as a foothold, and climbed onto the bar, “I love you Ryu.”
Ryu dropped the glass he had been cleaning and it shattered all across the floor, but he didn’t care because Kageyama’s lips were finally pressed against his own along with other body parts.
“Wait” Ryu reluctantly pulled back, after a rousing ten minutes. He ran his tongue across his lips were Kageyama had been just a seconds before, “Not here.” Ryu looked up in the corner of the room at the bar’s security camera.
Kageyama followed his gaze and grinned. “My place or yours?”
***
Ryu woke up to the smell of a full breakfast, eggs, bacon, biscuits and tea were brought to him on Kageyama’s bed on a sliver serving platter. “You shouldn’t have done this on your day off.”
Kageyama sat on the bed, “I’m sure I’ll think of a way for you to repay me,” Ryu didn’t like the way Kageyama grinned perversly as he said this, but he was always up for trying new things.
“Kageyama,”
“The food is not to your liking?”
“It’s not that. The food is delicious but why is Queen Q wearing a blindfold?”
“She is a lady afterall.” Kageyama removed his glasses, a gesture that Ryo now knew showed his nervousness, "I couldn't allow her to see such arousing behavior from you."
Ryu blushed and sighed. He supposed Queen Q was one lady he’d have to get used to sharing Kageyama with, but a cardboard cutout he could live with if it meant Kageyama would be his.
Title: Mystery after work
Pairing: Kageyama (butler sho)/ Ryu (bartender Aiba)
Rating: Pg-13
Ryu took customer’s glasses from the bar and put them on. The customer dind’t notice right away, but when he did he frantically searched the bar and dfloor unti he looked up with eyww squinting, he must really be blind without them Ryu chuckled. “They fit me perfectly”.
“You really shouldn’t wear them”. The man's voice quivered. He was a regular always dressed to the nines and Ryu was only trying to loosen the man up.
But he had done it now he never meant to anger the man, “I’m terribly sorry sir I was only trying to cheer you up.” Ryu made a motion to remove the glasses, but ended up knocking over a bottle of wine in his haste. Everything in the room seemed to be spinning. Ryu lurched forward and the customer caught him from across the bar.
The man sighed, “I was trying to warn you that it is not good for your eyees or your inner ear balance to wear another person's spectacles.”
Ryu nodded pulling the offending specs from his face and letting his arms drop to the bar to steady himself. But for some reason the man was still holding onto him.
Ryu took the time to really look at the man in front of him, his hair was slicked back, shirt starched to perfection and suit free of any wrinkles. He had a hankerchief folded expertly tucked inside his suit pocket and yet here he was leaning over a bar to steady a late night worker. Ryu laughedt it was so surreal. The customer must have thought he was laughing at him for his prolonged concern, but he didn if he was he didn’t let it show on his face, a true professional.
“Thank you for your concern... sir, allow me to make you another drunink on the house for the indiscretion, I was saving this one for the upcoming bartender competition so please give your honest impression of the taste” Ryu bowed.
“The name's Kageyama and the fault was my own for not even noticing a playful gesture from the most accommpilished bartender in Japan.”
Ryu clutched the bottle thatof orange juice he was about to pour. “You know who I am?”
“But of course milady raves about your delicious mixed drinks, she will not settle for anything less than the best.” Kageyama removed his spectacles and began to wipe them with his hankerchief, undoubtedly trying to remove any fingerprints that Ryu left when he handled them careflessly. Perhaps he should make him two drinks.
“youre lady? Forgive me for being so direct but what is it that you do?” Could he be a host?
“My profession is that of a butler, but I’ve always wanted to be a detective.” Kageyama laughed after the confession but Ryu detected that maybe it wasn't a joke.
“Really? Then maybe you can help me solve a mystery. When I came in this morning there was broken glass and the bottles of alcohol were moved around but it appears that nothing has been stolen, the drawers were full of cash too.”
Kageyama listened intently, pausing to sip his drink every know and then without saying a word until Ryu finished. Perhaps he had insulted him wiby asking him to solve this bizarre and seemingly unimportant mystery. After all nothing was taken. “Have you written down the recipe for this drink?”
Ryu let out a breathe he didn’t know he was holding, “Yes I keep it in the pantry,” he smiled. “Does that mean you like it?”
“It’s the best drink I’ve had in my life, but I’m surprised you couldn’t figure out such a simple crime.”
“Excuse me?” Ryu thought it was an unfair accusation, afterall he made a living mixing drinks not solving crimes. Especially, when nothing had been stolven.
“Check the pantry for your recipes.” Ryu looked at Kageyama warily but did so.
“Their gone! All of them. My life's work!” Ryu buried his head in his hands. What was he going to do now, sure he had the majority of them memorized but who was stealing off of him!
“Don’t worry. You said earlier that you were preparing for a competition, If you give me a list of the competitors I’m sure I can find out who did this!”
Ryu leaned across the table and looked straight into kageyama’s eyes. “Will you really help me?”
Kageyama removed his glasses again and wiped them, for the first time he looked a bit frazzled and ryu couldn’t figure out why, but he blinked and the confident look was back on Kageyama’s face Maybe he had just imagined it.
“I can get you the list," Ryu said, "but it’s at my house.”
“Let’s go.” Kageyama looked determined to solve the crime. Apparently he wasn’t kidding when he said he walways wanted to be a detective.
“Now?””
“Yes now unless you have to work, in which case I can wait.”
“My shift ends in 30 minutes.”
“I’ll wait for you outside.”
***
Ryu led the way to his house. The flag above the corner store flapped vigorously. Leaves scuttled across the sidewalk in front of them until they where pulled upward in a cyclonic gust. Kageyama followed Ryu onto the pier with his well polished boots. His shoes clacked softly on the wooded surface.
“Here we are, home sweet home.”
Kageyama looked at the little vessal bobbing pitifully on one side, “You live in a houseboat?”
“Well done Sherlock. Now would you like to come inside?” Ryu opened the door and took his shoes on at the entranceway.
“It’s actually quite roomy and warmer than I thought ti would be.”
Ryu smiled, “ I winterproofed and sealed it up myself. Now let me get you that list of competitors.”
Ryu bent over to ruffle through some drawers, and when he turned around Kageyama gaze seemed to be fixed at where he had just been bending over, but he took off his glasses to wipe them when Ryu turned around. Ryu shrugged and walked across the boat to give Kageyama the list when the boat rocked violently. Ryu, stuck in the middle of the home, had nothing to grab onto, fell headlong into Kageyama who caught him with his arms whether he wasnted to or not. Ryu felt like he had the wind knocked out of him from the forced hug. “I’m sorry sometimes when it’s windy…”
“I understand.” Kageyama cleared his throat and once again he returned his glasses to his face after cleaning them. “Now the list.”
“Of course.” Ryu handed it over quickly and waited for him to speak. Several minutes later Kageyama did.
“I’ll need all the information you have on these suspects. I shall return tomorrow.”
“That’s so kind of you, but really you don’t have to.” Ryu, felt incredibly guilty. Here he was in his house with an attractive man who he had already fallen for on and now he was taking up his precious time after work to solve a stupid mystery in which nothing expensive was taken.
“I told you I wanted to be a detective remember? Please let me indulge myself just this once.”
Ryu smiled and nodded. “Tomorrow then.”
***
Ryu met with Kageyama the next day and the day after that. It finally got the the point where he couldn’t remember the time when he didn't meet him after work. Time after time Ryu went over the names, personalities, and quirks of his competitors. As compensation for the work Kageyama was doing for him, Ryu always gave him free drinks and tested out new recipes on him. Today he was meeting Kageyama at his own home for the first time.
Ryu followed the directions written in the finest handwriting he had ever seen to a house so large Ryu almsot mistook it for a hotel.
Ryu rang at the gate and Kageyama’s familiar voice asked who it was he answered. “It’s Ryu.”
“You’re early.” Were the only words Ryu heard outside, before the gates swung open. He walked inside and Kageyama greeted him in jeans and a sweatervest. The image was so odd, Ryu had only ever seen him in a suit or tuxedo.
“This house is huge.”
“I’ll be sure pass along the compliment to milady."
Is it ok for me to be here?” Ryu asked as Kageyama took his coat.
“But of course. I do live here.”
He lived there with the lady of the house. Ryu suddenly felt more dizzy than when he put on Kageyama’s glasses at the bar.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes” Ryu laughed it off, “I just must not be used to a house that doesn’t sway reverse seasickness you know haha.” Ryu cringed at the absurd lie and looked around the room. “What’s with the cut out!”
Kageyama’s face went from concerned to very serious, “That’s Queen Q and I’m afraid I can’t allow you to make fun of her.”
“I’m a big fan of that show too.”
“You are? Have you seen the episode where she…”
Kageyama went on and on about the character like an excited child. Ryu was so amused that he barely heard the words coming out of Kageyama’s plump lips. Ryu sighed.
Kageyama stopped his animated chatterings, “Whats wrong?”
Ryu couldn’t take it, he didn’t think he would get this jealous. He knew Kageyama lived with the woman he was a butler for but actually being here made his blood boil. The cardboard cut out he could take, but a real life woman. “For such a great detective you sure are daft!” Ryo shouted.
Kageyama looked dumbfounded. Ryu stomped out of the room and slammed the door.
***
Ryu received 50 text messages and 30 calls from Kageyama over the next few weeks, but he couldn't bring himself to answer or look at any of the messages. He was so embarrassed. Maybe It was better to break off their relationship now. Break it off, they’d never even been together, Ryu mentally scolded himself.
The bells on the bar door chimed and Ryu said his greeting to the customer with an artificial smile. It shattered instantly when he recognized the the customer. Kageyama.
“Listen I’m really busy with all the customers as you can see so I can’t talk tonight.” Ryu tried his best to be blunt.
“Fine, I’ll wait.”
Ryu worked the rest of the night painfully aware that he was being watched from the corner of the bar. At closing, half past 2am, he finally gave in. “What do you want?”
Kageyama stood and handed him a piece of paper. Ryu took it and all that was written was the name Takemoto. “What’s this?”
“The name of the culprit who stole your recipes.”
“Thanks” Ryu said wiping down the bar. “If that’s all I have to lock up so you’ll have to leave.”
Kageyama took a step towards the bar then stopped, “I figure it out on the first day.”
Ryu couldn’t bare to have the butler in front of him, “What are you talking about.”
Kageyama slammed his fists down on the table, Ryu backed up. “Such a simple case of course I knew who did it from day one!”
“Then why…”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Kagayama scoffed, “I even introduced you to Q” Ryu wondered what Queen Q had to do with any of this but his mind was swirling at the possible implications.
“Let me get this straight” Ryu said tyring while trying to suppress any hope from surfacing. “Are you trying to say that you like me?”
“More than that!” Kageyama used the barstool as a foothold, and climbed onto the bar, “I love you Ryu.”
Ryu dropped the glass he had been cleaning and it shattered all across the floor, but he didn’t care because Kageyama’s lips were finally pressed against his own along with other body parts.
“Wait” Ryu reluctantly pulled back, after a rousing ten minutes. He ran his tongue across his lips were Kageyama had been just a seconds before, “Not here.” Ryu looked up in the corner of the room at the bar’s security camera.
Kageyama followed his gaze and grinned. “My place or yours?”
***
Ryu woke up to the smell of a full breakfast, eggs, bacon, biscuits and tea were brought to him on Kageyama’s bed on a sliver serving platter. “You shouldn’t have done this on your day off.”
Kageyama sat on the bed, “I’m sure I’ll think of a way for you to repay me,” Ryu didn’t like the way Kageyama grinned perversly as he said this, but he was always up for trying new things.
“Kageyama,”
“The food is not to your liking?”
“It’s not that. The food is delicious but why is Queen Q wearing a blindfold?”
“She is a lady afterall.” Kageyama removed his glasses, a gesture that Ryo now knew showed his nervousness, "I couldn't allow her to see such arousing behavior from you."
Ryu blushed and sighed. He supposed Queen Q was one lady he’d have to get used to sharing Kageyama with, but a cardboard cutout he could live with if it meant Kageyama would be his.