RP Log: Oishi & Ryoma
Date: Sunday, Dec. 24. Really frikking early in the morning.
Rating: PG
Summary: Oshi makes Ryoma get up at 4am as part of his birthday present.
Oishi frowned as he looked at the overstuffed bag. It wasn't elegant at all, and the bow on top made it look like a decorated Easter egg, but it would have to do. This wasn't the real present, after all...
Oishi his bundle happily down the empty street. It was very, very, very early. So early it could very well be considered late -- 4 am, and exactly the time that Oishi had asked Ryoma to wake up and wait for him on his birthday. He chuckled to himself, wondering if Ryoma would sleep at all that night.
Oishi hefted his bundle up to Ryoma and Kaidoh's apartment door and very softly knocked. "Happy birthday!" He called through the door.
Ryoma jerked awake at the knock. Damn it, he hadn't meant to fall asleep. He'd figured he'd just stay awake all night, since Oishi wanted him up at 4am. He glanced at the clock. Yep, 4am. Which meant that was Oishi at the door.
He hauled himself off the couch and padded to the door, feet dragging a little as he walked. He reached for the knob and opened the door, other hand covering a yawn.
"Why so freaking early, Shuu?" he mumbled sleepily.
Oishi was in the door in a moment, carefully lifting Ryoma up into a hug. "Happy birthday, love," he said, still softly. "You can sleep in the taxi. I'm sorry we're so early, but we've got somewhere to be at 5 AM...and it's a distance away."
He held the big puffy bag out to Ryoma and grinned. "This isn't your real present, but it's necessary."
Ryoma blinked when he opened the bag, his head tilting curiously. A parka...gloves, scarf... "Am I really gonna need all this?" he asked, slipping the parka on. OOohh warm. Yeah, he was definitely sleeping in the taxi. He'd be too warm to stay awake, between the parka and Oishi's body heat.
He stuffed the gloves in the parka's pockets and loosely tossed the scarf around his neck. He could bundle up more once they got to...wherever it was they were going.
"Where are we going, anyway?"
"Downstairs," Oishi said promptly, with a slightly wicked gleam in his usually kindly eyes. He was bundled up himself...and had a rather hefty backpack on his back. "Are you all ready?"
Oishi gave Ryoma a moment to pull his things together, and they trecked down the stairs to wait for the taxi.
It was there in a moment, and then they were in the back seat, snuggled close. "You know where you're heading, right?" Oishi asked the driver.
"Yep! You two are in for a bit of a drive! But we'll get there on time," the driver said cheerfully.
Oishi opened up his backpack and got out a thermos. "Tea," he said, smiling at Ryoma. "Ponta for later." He poured out a cup and held it to his boyfriend.
Ryoma took the cup and held it between his hands, letting the warmth from the tea seep into his fingers.
"You're such a tease," he commented, lifting the cup to his lips and sipping.
And that backpack....was driving Ryoma mad with curiosity. But he knew better than to ask. Asking would only get him teased more.
He finished the cup of tea and handed it back to Oishi, then proceeded to use Oishi as a pillow, his eyes closing. He probably wouldn't actually fall asleep, but he'd drift in and out a little, which would help him be not so tired later.
Oishi held Ryoma close. They'd both been busy with work -- and Oishi had extra responsibilities at the shelter during the Christmas season -- so his body was fairly aching for a chance to get near Ryoma. But this wasn't the time to listen to his own selfish needs; it was Ryoma's birthday, and Oishi was so excited about his surprise...
Oishi nestled his nose down into Ryoma's sweet smelling hair and smiled, cuddling him. And then he remembered to ask something. "Do you get motion sick?" Oishi asked, "because I've got motion sickness pills, just in case."
Oishi held Ryoma close. They'd both been busy with work -- and Oishi had extra responsibilities at the shelter during the Christmas season -- so his body was fairly aching for a chance to get near Ryoma. But this wasn't the time to listen to his own selfish needs; it was Ryoma's birthday, and Oishi was so excited about his surprise...
Oishi nestled his nose down into Ryoma's sweet smelling hair and smiled, cuddling him. And then he remembered to ask something. "Do you get motion sick?" Oishi asked, "because I've got motion sickness pills, just in case."
Ahhh...Ryoma.
Oishi kissed him softly on the ear and caught the cab driver winking at him in the rearview mirror. Oh right, they weren't alone, and unlike some of his friends, he had a little more couth than to make out with Ryoma in front of some poor unsuspecting cab driver.
"Sleep for a little while," Oishi said, gently cradling his lover. "We're almost there."
He watched out the window, too excited to sleep himself. It was still hours until sunrise, but the moon hung low on the horizon. It was probably the moon that set their departure time, Oishi pondered. The moon and tides.
Ryoma fell asleep after a little while, and Oishi watched his young lover napping in his arms. He felt a sudden wash of love...Ryoma looked even younger when he was curled up on Oishi like that. Oishi touched Ryoma's soft skin very lightly with his fingertips, nestled his head against Ryoma's, and before he knew it was asleep too.
Only to awaken to the sound of gulls.
"We're here, Oishi-san," the cab driver said cheerfully. Oishi handed him a fair bit of cash. "We'll be back by 2 pm, if you'll wait for us?"
The cab driver nodded. Oishi gently tickled Ryoma awake and pointed out the window.
"Next, we get on that."
They were parked on a busy, bustling dock, with ships of many sizes preparing to set sail on the morning tide. Oishi pointed to a medium-sized vessel with a crew bustling around it. Not a sailboat, but a steamer -- with a small crowd of people sitting on deck, dressed as warmly as they could to withstand the sea air.
Ryoma blinked and rubbed his eyes, trying to stifle a yawn. He glanced around. Right. Taxi. Going...somewhere...
He followed the line of Oishi's finger, trying to see what he was pointing at.
Blinked again. "A boat?"
Ryoma was totally confused. Why on earth would they be getting on a boat? And where was the boat going to take them? He was confident he wasn't going to be kidnapped....well. Pretty confident.
Oishi grinned and pulled Ryoma on board. There was a small glass room on deck with a few comfortable couches and a table -- it would keep them warm until they went out on the deck. Oishi settled them into one of the couches and smiled at Ryoma with some excitement.
Soon, the bustle of the sailors and other passengers settled down, and with a loud toot of the horn, the boat began to move. Oishi watched as they set sail into the still-dark night, the moon shining a silver trail down onto the water. "Isn't it beautiful?" Oishi commented, staring at the moon.
But the moment of peace didn't last long.
The captain came onto the radio. "We have a sighting to the southeast!"
The boat swung in the water, and with a rush, hurried on its way over the gentle swells.
"Have you guessed it yet?" Oishi grinned. "And want breakfast? I brought bento for us both."
Ryoma nodded. It really was beautiful like that, the moon getting lower on the horizon, reflecting off the water.
"I'm still clueless," he admitted, his stomach growling and answering the question about breakfast.
"Sighting of what?" He couldn't figure out for the life of him what could be so exciting that the captain would announce it over the radio like that.
As long as it wasn't an iceberg, because for some reason, this felt a little like the Titanic. He REALLY hoped their little trip would have a better ending.
Oishi grinned and got out the bento. He surreptitiously took one of the motion sickness tablets -- oy. His stomach calmed down after a moment, and he laid out the omlet and sausages and homefried potatoes. He'd learned to make western-style breakfast for Ryoma's sake.
Handed Ryoma chopsticks, and then looked up.
The sky in front and a bit to their left was glowing. The water was pink at the edges, and a small burst of light turned the whole sky a brilliant shade of dark pink, gradating through all of the colors of the rainbow to the deep indigo still to their right. In answer, the moon touched the edge of the water, trailing its glowing white path toward the sun.
"Ryoma..." Oishi pointed to the sunrise and moonset...
And stared, breakfast forgotten.
Ryoma glared a little at the chopsticks he was handed. He still hadn't perfected using them, but he was getting better with Kaidoh's cooking.
He stabbed a piece of the omelet and ate it, chewing when Oishi pointed again.
He looked up...
...and really wished he'd even thought of bringing his camera. The sky was....absolutely beautiful. Ryoma doubted he'd ever see anything like it again in his life.
"It's beautiful..." he whispered, awe evident in his voice.
Oishi grinned at the expression on Ryoma's face. Hopefully this would just get better.
They ate while the sun rose, coating the wave tops in red and casting deep indigo shadows into their depths, a brilliant spectacle of sun and sky and water.
And then, toward the end of breakfast, the captain came onto the loudspeaker again.
"Everyone on deck!"
Oishi grinned and held out a hand to Ryoma. "This is your present," he said, eyes shining. He hoped it would be as lovely as he'd been imagining.
Ryoma stared out at the sea. Little waves, beautifully reflected colors from the sunrise, but little else.
And then it happened.
An enormous whale emerged from the water, lifting itself up, up... And then crashed back down, making a huge splash. A moment later, another whale leaped and fell, hard enough and close enough to the boat that Ryoma felt a little bit of sea water spray across his face.
A whole herd of whales, jumping out of the water only to splash back in again.
Ryoma had no words for how beautiful it was.
Oishi wrapped his arms around his fluffy-coated boyfriend, hugging them both to keep warm in the cold wind off of the sea. He stared into the ocean, watching the early morning sun coating the waves and spray with glittering droplets -- and then, stared with wide eyes as the whales played...
They danced in the water. They were huge -- and yet, somehow, could heft themselves up out of the water's surface entirely to spin in the air before dropping onto their backs, sheets of spray rising from the water.
Around them, the other people on the boat were exclaiming in amazement, and Oishi was too. It was the first time he'd seen such a thing.
"Happy birthday," Oishi murmured into Ryoma's ear. "I'm so glad I get to see this with you."
Ryoma smiled, nestling back against Oishi. This...truly had to be the best thing he'd ever gotten,for any occasion. Let alone his birthday.
He smiled up at Oishi, kissed his chin. "Thank you, Shuu." He stood on his tiptoes and kissed Oishi lightly, then grinned and thwapped the older man's coat.
"You should've told me to bring my camera," he smiled.
Sheepishly, Oishi pulled his digital camera out of his coat and handed it to Ryoma.
"Quick, while they're still swimming. I forgot...too busy watching." Oishi grinned.
Ryoma's smile was worth all of it.
The boat circled slowly as the whales played, swimming beneath them in the glittering water, leaping into the air...
Ryoma grinned and turned his back on the whales just long enough to get a picture of the moon before it completely disappeared. Then he whirled back around and snapped a shot of the sunrise, before going absolutely shutter-happy and taking lots of shots of the whales as they swam and jumped and splashed...
He'd have to make a whole album dedicated to this day and the man who gave it to him.
Oishi stood to the side of Ryoma as he took all those pictures, one hand firmly on the back of Ryoma's jacket so that he wouldn't get blown away by the strong wind from the sea. It was amazing -- it was glorious, all of those whales leaping in the clear air...
And then, the whales seemed to have their fill of play, and as one turned and swam below the boat and away.
As they left, a lone whale surfaced, a long spume of water spouting out of its head, almost like a wave goodbye.
Oishi neatly snitched his camera back and turned Ryoma around. Pointed the camera at both of them, and took a picture with the whale spout in the distance.
Ryoma was smiling his biggest when Oishi snapped the picture of him. He regretted, a little, that he hadn't thought of doing that with Oishi...
Ryoma stared at the scenery a moment. Still gorgeous...and it would make the perfect background...
He grabbed the camera back and turned to one of the other people on the boat, asking them to take a picture of him and Oishi. The person agreed, and Ryoma handed over the camera, then ran back to his boyfriend's side.
The stranger took their picture and handed the camera back to Ryoma.
"There, now I've got one with you, too," he grinned at Oishi, wrapping his arms around him.
Oishi hugged Ryoma back, and then shivered a little, very sheepishly.
"Ryoma. I...am freezing my butt off. Do you mind if we go back in and have some hot cocoa?" He'd brought all kinds of warm drinks, including a thermos of soup if he got too cold.
"You look like you aren't cold at all, though," Oishi said, smiling.
"I wasn't until you said something," Ryoma laughed a little, dragging Oishi back to the cabin. "I guess I was too excited to think about it the cold."
He sat down on the bench and snuggled down into his coat. "And this coat. Mmmm. Almost as good as body heat," he winked.
Oishi got out the thermos of hot cocoa and poured two cups with relief, warming his hands on the mug. And then, very shyly, pulled out a cupcake. He stuck a candle in it and lit it, laughing.
"Twenty four whole years old. Now you're only nine years younger than I am. For a little while."
Then, very softly, Oishi sang the birthday song and set the cupcake in front of Ryoma.
Ryoma couldn't stop himself from laughing. Who'd have ever thought a birthday could be this much fun?
He picked up the camera again and grinned, taking a picture of the cupcake. It was silly, and completely pointless, really, but... It was great.
He thought for a moment, then blew out the candle, making his own private wish.
The boat slowly turned them back to shore. This view was just as exciting -- the land rose on the horizon just like a sunrise, but this time a landrise. And soon the tall buildings of the city were visible in the distance, and other boats, and the smell of the sea turned into something that smelled more like the salt of the beach.
"One more picture," Oishi said, grinning. "If I can set it to timer..."
He set the camera down on top of a thermos, facing them both, and set the timer.
Pressed it, and as quickly as he could, pulled Ryoma into a soft, loving kiss.
*SNAP*
Recorded forever...
Ryoma smiled, resisting the urge to climb into Oishi's lap. He could do that later.
"Mmm... This...has got to be the best birthday ever," he purred.
He watched the land come closer and thought to himself that this was a day he'd never forget. And that, if it was possible, he loved Oishi even more than he had before.
They got to shore way too soon. The passengers all applauded the crew, who bowed back in response as the gangplank was lowered onto the dock. Oishi sighed. That had been way too swift... But he still had the rest of the day to spend with Ryoma.
The cab driver was there waiting to pick them up, smiling at them a little as they walked back, Oishi firmly gripping Ryoma's hand.
They got back into the cab, and Oishi dug in his bag for a moment. He handed Ryoma a small leather case.
"Er. It's another birthday present," Oishi said sheepishly. "I saw it and thought of you immediately."
Ryoma blinked and stared at Oishi a moment, one eyebrow raised. Then he turned to the case and opened it, his eyes going wide.
He flung himself at Oishi, hugging the man tightly, regardless of the cab driver.
"I love it," he grinned, cuddling his new iPod Nano. He had the urge to load it up with music and use it as soon as they got back.
Naaaah. He had Oishi all to himself for the day. No way he was going to let it go to waste.
With responses like that, it was going to be hard not to spoil Ryoma rotten. Oishi grinned at his young lover and spent the rest of the ride poking at the iPod with Ryoma.
And then Oishi hesitated a moment... "Ryoma... Is Kaidoh-san at your place today?" He blushed a little. How to say, I'd really like some privacy with you without sounding like a total perv...
Mmmm. Ryoma knew that blush.
"He's spending Christmas with his family, I think, so he shouldn't be," Ryoma replied, giving Oishi a knowing wink. They were on the same wavelength. It'd been a while since they'd last really gotten to enjoy each other.
And man...that would be a perfect way to spend the rest of an already amazing birthday.
Oishi blushed even harder at the wink, and laughed a little as they pulled up to Ryoma's place.
Oishi payed the driver and practically raced them up the stairs.
When Ryoma unlocked the door, Oishi stepped in and pulled Ryoma through with a firm grip, closed the door and trapped Ryoma neatly against it.
"Now," Oishi said, voice husky and happy, "About thanking me..."
Rating: PG
Summary: Oshi makes Ryoma get up at 4am as part of his birthday present.
Oishi frowned as he looked at the overstuffed bag. It wasn't elegant at all, and the bow on top made it look like a decorated Easter egg, but it would have to do. This wasn't the real present, after all...
Oishi his bundle happily down the empty street. It was very, very, very early. So early it could very well be considered late -- 4 am, and exactly the time that Oishi had asked Ryoma to wake up and wait for him on his birthday. He chuckled to himself, wondering if Ryoma would sleep at all that night.
Oishi hefted his bundle up to Ryoma and Kaidoh's apartment door and very softly knocked. "Happy birthday!" He called through the door.
Ryoma jerked awake at the knock. Damn it, he hadn't meant to fall asleep. He'd figured he'd just stay awake all night, since Oishi wanted him up at 4am. He glanced at the clock. Yep, 4am. Which meant that was Oishi at the door.
He hauled himself off the couch and padded to the door, feet dragging a little as he walked. He reached for the knob and opened the door, other hand covering a yawn.
"Why so freaking early, Shuu?" he mumbled sleepily.
Oishi was in the door in a moment, carefully lifting Ryoma up into a hug. "Happy birthday, love," he said, still softly. "You can sleep in the taxi. I'm sorry we're so early, but we've got somewhere to be at 5 AM...and it's a distance away."
He held the big puffy bag out to Ryoma and grinned. "This isn't your real present, but it's necessary."
Ryoma blinked when he opened the bag, his head tilting curiously. A parka...gloves, scarf... "Am I really gonna need all this?" he asked, slipping the parka on. OOohh warm. Yeah, he was definitely sleeping in the taxi. He'd be too warm to stay awake, between the parka and Oishi's body heat.
He stuffed the gloves in the parka's pockets and loosely tossed the scarf around his neck. He could bundle up more once they got to...wherever it was they were going.
"Where are we going, anyway?"
"Downstairs," Oishi said promptly, with a slightly wicked gleam in his usually kindly eyes. He was bundled up himself...and had a rather hefty backpack on his back. "Are you all ready?"
Oishi gave Ryoma a moment to pull his things together, and they trecked down the stairs to wait for the taxi.
It was there in a moment, and then they were in the back seat, snuggled close. "You know where you're heading, right?" Oishi asked the driver.
"Yep! You two are in for a bit of a drive! But we'll get there on time," the driver said cheerfully.
Oishi opened up his backpack and got out a thermos. "Tea," he said, smiling at Ryoma. "Ponta for later." He poured out a cup and held it to his boyfriend.
Ryoma took the cup and held it between his hands, letting the warmth from the tea seep into his fingers.
"You're such a tease," he commented, lifting the cup to his lips and sipping.
And that backpack....was driving Ryoma mad with curiosity. But he knew better than to ask. Asking would only get him teased more.
He finished the cup of tea and handed it back to Oishi, then proceeded to use Oishi as a pillow, his eyes closing. He probably wouldn't actually fall asleep, but he'd drift in and out a little, which would help him be not so tired later.
Oishi held Ryoma close. They'd both been busy with work -- and Oishi had extra responsibilities at the shelter during the Christmas season -- so his body was fairly aching for a chance to get near Ryoma. But this wasn't the time to listen to his own selfish needs; it was Ryoma's birthday, and Oishi was so excited about his surprise...
Oishi nestled his nose down into Ryoma's sweet smelling hair and smiled, cuddling him. And then he remembered to ask something. "Do you get motion sick?" Oishi asked, "because I've got motion sickness pills, just in case."
Oishi held Ryoma close. They'd both been busy with work -- and Oishi had extra responsibilities at the shelter during the Christmas season -- so his body was fairly aching for a chance to get near Ryoma. But this wasn't the time to listen to his own selfish needs; it was Ryoma's birthday, and Oishi was so excited about his surprise...
Oishi nestled his nose down into Ryoma's sweet smelling hair and smiled, cuddling him. And then he remembered to ask something. "Do you get motion sick?" Oishi asked, "because I've got motion sickness pills, just in case."
Ahhh...Ryoma.
Oishi kissed him softly on the ear and caught the cab driver winking at him in the rearview mirror. Oh right, they weren't alone, and unlike some of his friends, he had a little more couth than to make out with Ryoma in front of some poor unsuspecting cab driver.
"Sleep for a little while," Oishi said, gently cradling his lover. "We're almost there."
He watched out the window, too excited to sleep himself. It was still hours until sunrise, but the moon hung low on the horizon. It was probably the moon that set their departure time, Oishi pondered. The moon and tides.
Ryoma fell asleep after a little while, and Oishi watched his young lover napping in his arms. He felt a sudden wash of love...Ryoma looked even younger when he was curled up on Oishi like that. Oishi touched Ryoma's soft skin very lightly with his fingertips, nestled his head against Ryoma's, and before he knew it was asleep too.
Only to awaken to the sound of gulls.
"We're here, Oishi-san," the cab driver said cheerfully. Oishi handed him a fair bit of cash. "We'll be back by 2 pm, if you'll wait for us?"
The cab driver nodded. Oishi gently tickled Ryoma awake and pointed out the window.
"Next, we get on that."
They were parked on a busy, bustling dock, with ships of many sizes preparing to set sail on the morning tide. Oishi pointed to a medium-sized vessel with a crew bustling around it. Not a sailboat, but a steamer -- with a small crowd of people sitting on deck, dressed as warmly as they could to withstand the sea air.
Ryoma blinked and rubbed his eyes, trying to stifle a yawn. He glanced around. Right. Taxi. Going...somewhere...
He followed the line of Oishi's finger, trying to see what he was pointing at.
Blinked again. "A boat?"
Ryoma was totally confused. Why on earth would they be getting on a boat? And where was the boat going to take them? He was confident he wasn't going to be kidnapped....well. Pretty confident.
Oishi grinned and pulled Ryoma on board. There was a small glass room on deck with a few comfortable couches and a table -- it would keep them warm until they went out on the deck. Oishi settled them into one of the couches and smiled at Ryoma with some excitement.
Soon, the bustle of the sailors and other passengers settled down, and with a loud toot of the horn, the boat began to move. Oishi watched as they set sail into the still-dark night, the moon shining a silver trail down onto the water. "Isn't it beautiful?" Oishi commented, staring at the moon.
But the moment of peace didn't last long.
The captain came onto the radio. "We have a sighting to the southeast!"
The boat swung in the water, and with a rush, hurried on its way over the gentle swells.
"Have you guessed it yet?" Oishi grinned. "And want breakfast? I brought bento for us both."
Ryoma nodded. It really was beautiful like that, the moon getting lower on the horizon, reflecting off the water.
"I'm still clueless," he admitted, his stomach growling and answering the question about breakfast.
"Sighting of what?" He couldn't figure out for the life of him what could be so exciting that the captain would announce it over the radio like that.
As long as it wasn't an iceberg, because for some reason, this felt a little like the Titanic. He REALLY hoped their little trip would have a better ending.
Oishi grinned and got out the bento. He surreptitiously took one of the motion sickness tablets -- oy. His stomach calmed down after a moment, and he laid out the omlet and sausages and homefried potatoes. He'd learned to make western-style breakfast for Ryoma's sake.
Handed Ryoma chopsticks, and then looked up.
The sky in front and a bit to their left was glowing. The water was pink at the edges, and a small burst of light turned the whole sky a brilliant shade of dark pink, gradating through all of the colors of the rainbow to the deep indigo still to their right. In answer, the moon touched the edge of the water, trailing its glowing white path toward the sun.
"Ryoma..." Oishi pointed to the sunrise and moonset...
And stared, breakfast forgotten.
Ryoma glared a little at the chopsticks he was handed. He still hadn't perfected using them, but he was getting better with Kaidoh's cooking.
He stabbed a piece of the omelet and ate it, chewing when Oishi pointed again.
He looked up...
...and really wished he'd even thought of bringing his camera. The sky was....absolutely beautiful. Ryoma doubted he'd ever see anything like it again in his life.
"It's beautiful..." he whispered, awe evident in his voice.
Oishi grinned at the expression on Ryoma's face. Hopefully this would just get better.
They ate while the sun rose, coating the wave tops in red and casting deep indigo shadows into their depths, a brilliant spectacle of sun and sky and water.
And then, toward the end of breakfast, the captain came onto the loudspeaker again.
"Everyone on deck!"
Oishi grinned and held out a hand to Ryoma. "This is your present," he said, eyes shining. He hoped it would be as lovely as he'd been imagining.
Ryoma stared out at the sea. Little waves, beautifully reflected colors from the sunrise, but little else.
And then it happened.
An enormous whale emerged from the water, lifting itself up, up... And then crashed back down, making a huge splash. A moment later, another whale leaped and fell, hard enough and close enough to the boat that Ryoma felt a little bit of sea water spray across his face.
A whole herd of whales, jumping out of the water only to splash back in again.
Ryoma had no words for how beautiful it was.
Oishi wrapped his arms around his fluffy-coated boyfriend, hugging them both to keep warm in the cold wind off of the sea. He stared into the ocean, watching the early morning sun coating the waves and spray with glittering droplets -- and then, stared with wide eyes as the whales played...
They danced in the water. They were huge -- and yet, somehow, could heft themselves up out of the water's surface entirely to spin in the air before dropping onto their backs, sheets of spray rising from the water.
Around them, the other people on the boat were exclaiming in amazement, and Oishi was too. It was the first time he'd seen such a thing.
"Happy birthday," Oishi murmured into Ryoma's ear. "I'm so glad I get to see this with you."
Ryoma smiled, nestling back against Oishi. This...truly had to be the best thing he'd ever gotten,for any occasion. Let alone his birthday.
He smiled up at Oishi, kissed his chin. "Thank you, Shuu." He stood on his tiptoes and kissed Oishi lightly, then grinned and thwapped the older man's coat.
"You should've told me to bring my camera," he smiled.
Sheepishly, Oishi pulled his digital camera out of his coat and handed it to Ryoma.
"Quick, while they're still swimming. I forgot...too busy watching." Oishi grinned.
Ryoma's smile was worth all of it.
The boat circled slowly as the whales played, swimming beneath them in the glittering water, leaping into the air...
Ryoma grinned and turned his back on the whales just long enough to get a picture of the moon before it completely disappeared. Then he whirled back around and snapped a shot of the sunrise, before going absolutely shutter-happy and taking lots of shots of the whales as they swam and jumped and splashed...
He'd have to make a whole album dedicated to this day and the man who gave it to him.
Oishi stood to the side of Ryoma as he took all those pictures, one hand firmly on the back of Ryoma's jacket so that he wouldn't get blown away by the strong wind from the sea. It was amazing -- it was glorious, all of those whales leaping in the clear air...
And then, the whales seemed to have their fill of play, and as one turned and swam below the boat and away.
As they left, a lone whale surfaced, a long spume of water spouting out of its head, almost like a wave goodbye.
Oishi neatly snitched his camera back and turned Ryoma around. Pointed the camera at both of them, and took a picture with the whale spout in the distance.
Ryoma was smiling his biggest when Oishi snapped the picture of him. He regretted, a little, that he hadn't thought of doing that with Oishi...
Ryoma stared at the scenery a moment. Still gorgeous...and it would make the perfect background...
He grabbed the camera back and turned to one of the other people on the boat, asking them to take a picture of him and Oishi. The person agreed, and Ryoma handed over the camera, then ran back to his boyfriend's side.
The stranger took their picture and handed the camera back to Ryoma.
"There, now I've got one with you, too," he grinned at Oishi, wrapping his arms around him.
Oishi hugged Ryoma back, and then shivered a little, very sheepishly.
"Ryoma. I...am freezing my butt off. Do you mind if we go back in and have some hot cocoa?" He'd brought all kinds of warm drinks, including a thermos of soup if he got too cold.
"You look like you aren't cold at all, though," Oishi said, smiling.
"I wasn't until you said something," Ryoma laughed a little, dragging Oishi back to the cabin. "I guess I was too excited to think about it the cold."
He sat down on the bench and snuggled down into his coat. "And this coat. Mmmm. Almost as good as body heat," he winked.
Oishi got out the thermos of hot cocoa and poured two cups with relief, warming his hands on the mug. And then, very shyly, pulled out a cupcake. He stuck a candle in it and lit it, laughing.
"Twenty four whole years old. Now you're only nine years younger than I am. For a little while."
Then, very softly, Oishi sang the birthday song and set the cupcake in front of Ryoma.
Ryoma couldn't stop himself from laughing. Who'd have ever thought a birthday could be this much fun?
He picked up the camera again and grinned, taking a picture of the cupcake. It was silly, and completely pointless, really, but... It was great.
He thought for a moment, then blew out the candle, making his own private wish.
The boat slowly turned them back to shore. This view was just as exciting -- the land rose on the horizon just like a sunrise, but this time a landrise. And soon the tall buildings of the city were visible in the distance, and other boats, and the smell of the sea turned into something that smelled more like the salt of the beach.
"One more picture," Oishi said, grinning. "If I can set it to timer..."
He set the camera down on top of a thermos, facing them both, and set the timer.
Pressed it, and as quickly as he could, pulled Ryoma into a soft, loving kiss.
*SNAP*
Recorded forever...
Ryoma smiled, resisting the urge to climb into Oishi's lap. He could do that later.
"Mmm... This...has got to be the best birthday ever," he purred.
He watched the land come closer and thought to himself that this was a day he'd never forget. And that, if it was possible, he loved Oishi even more than he had before.
They got to shore way too soon. The passengers all applauded the crew, who bowed back in response as the gangplank was lowered onto the dock. Oishi sighed. That had been way too swift... But he still had the rest of the day to spend with Ryoma.
The cab driver was there waiting to pick them up, smiling at them a little as they walked back, Oishi firmly gripping Ryoma's hand.
They got back into the cab, and Oishi dug in his bag for a moment. He handed Ryoma a small leather case.
"Er. It's another birthday present," Oishi said sheepishly. "I saw it and thought of you immediately."
Ryoma blinked and stared at Oishi a moment, one eyebrow raised. Then he turned to the case and opened it, his eyes going wide.
He flung himself at Oishi, hugging the man tightly, regardless of the cab driver.
"I love it," he grinned, cuddling his new iPod Nano. He had the urge to load it up with music and use it as soon as they got back.
Naaaah. He had Oishi all to himself for the day. No way he was going to let it go to waste.
With responses like that, it was going to be hard not to spoil Ryoma rotten. Oishi grinned at his young lover and spent the rest of the ride poking at the iPod with Ryoma.
And then Oishi hesitated a moment... "Ryoma... Is Kaidoh-san at your place today?" He blushed a little. How to say, I'd really like some privacy with you without sounding like a total perv...
Mmmm. Ryoma knew that blush.
"He's spending Christmas with his family, I think, so he shouldn't be," Ryoma replied, giving Oishi a knowing wink. They were on the same wavelength. It'd been a while since they'd last really gotten to enjoy each other.
And man...that would be a perfect way to spend the rest of an already amazing birthday.
Oishi blushed even harder at the wink, and laughed a little as they pulled up to Ryoma's place.
Oishi payed the driver and practically raced them up the stairs.
When Ryoma unlocked the door, Oishi stepped in and pulled Ryoma through with a firm grip, closed the door and trapped Ryoma neatly against it.
"Now," Oishi said, voice husky and happy, "About thanking me..."