Maki and Kōga can talk actually?

Maki stepped in front of the luxurious building. He had teleported here, all motivated after Himari's suggestions. Being here though was harder, than expected. This inner feeling of anxiety, he hated it.

It's for the job, he repeated in his head. He took out his phone and dialed Kōga. It was quite late, but there might be a chance that Kōga was not partying, right?

Kōga's voice was sharp this time.

"What do you want?"

Maki felt a bit of pain in his heart. He replied coolly,

"We need to talk, can I come in?"

"So you decided, that on Sunday evening after 10, I will be home, sleeping and waiting for you, or what?"

"I don't know, I just needed to see you."

"Oh really?" Koga sounded mad? "*Needed* to see me? Why?"

"It's... work-related."

"What?!" he heard Koga sigh, "Whatever, you can teleport here."

"So you are h-..."

Kōga hung up. Maki looked at his phone, eyes wide. He smiled because it meant that Koga a) did not party as much as one would think, b) was alone. So he breathed out and teleported in front of his door. The fox stood there, door wide open, waiting. He wore his usual home attire - a silk robe (today a violet one), lots of jewelry in place. He grinned and said,

"As expected, mister politeness." His voice full of sarcasm, "I told you, you could teleport inside, yet here you are, a true gentleman." He threw his hand around, leaving to the kitchen. Maki stood there for a second, his expression looked cold, while inside he was screaming, about how nervous he was, and how cute those ears were moving on Koga's head. He entered, took his shoes off, then silently closed the door. He heard Koga ask him:

"So, what do you want? Tell me fast, and leave, okay?"

"Well," Maki stepped into the living room, "I wanted, firstly, to ask you about the power, and next, I have a question for you."

Kōga took his time, pouring coffee into two cups. Maki noticed that, and felt some warmth building up. Meanwhile, Kōga turned to him, "You can have some coffee if you want," smiling fakely," Suit yourself, I am going to sit on the sofa, I am very tired, you see."

"Okay, " Maki went to take the cup, without noticing the undertones of Kōga's annoyance.

"Hey, you will ask me questions, or what?" Kōga seemed impatient.

"Oh, K-, fox, of course. We can start with you talking about the power"

Maki came up to him, holding the cup awkwardly. He didn't know where to sit, so he chose the furthest away place on the couch possible.

"Don't you see it yourself?" He articulated with his hand, " It's clearly the ancient thing, we don't even have these types of auras anymore. And exactly because of that, everyone wants it. It's really weak around her, so it's not interesting for yokai like you and me, however, if someone is weak, eating her would help them to evolve or heal faster. Her power seems to hold a lot of energy, and if she had her full potential, she would be powerful as hell. Maybe some think they can use her small amount of power and cultivate it, I don't know. I would believe they would not be able to. Maybe she could, though." He paused and glanced at Maki, "That's all I know."

"Okay, got it. Sounds interesting, will investigate further."

Koga rolled his eyes. "You are so boring, it kills me."

"Why?" Maki looked at him.

"Why you ask? You never even fully understand what is wrong with what you are saying. It's hard to read your intentions sometimes!"

"It's hard to read your intentions!" Maki surprised himself, but he couldn't stop now, "You flirt with me, and then... then..."

"What?" Koga was so done with this conversation.

"Then I see you kissing a guy!" Maki was so embarrassed he turned his head away.

Koga turned to him "What? Were you spying on me?"

Maki replied, head turned away still, "Of course not. I have things to do."

"Okay... well, I am not obliged to explain myself, as I am a free person, and we barely know each other anyway..."

"Yes, but you have to explain to me this, " Maki rapidly moved closer to Koga, took his drawing out of his pocket, showing it in the other's face, "how are you kissing with the person, who works for the serial killer?"

Koga's smile twisted, he took the drawing and expected it. "Looks nice, drew it yourself? I see you had a good look at him, huh?"

Now it was Maki's turn to be angry. "What are you saying? You knew?"

"Of course I knew, " He threw the paper on the table, "You forgot that I see things when I touch people?"

"So you..."

"The more I touch, the bigger the chance I will see something. I had to start seeing him, after. I saw him talking to that creep in one of my visions."

"Was the kiss necessary though?"

Koga jumped up, "What do you care," he turned away. "It's not like you have any say in this. Maybe I liked how he looked. Or maybe, I wanted to be kissed by someone." He glanced back at Maki, who looked miserable, sitting there on the couch alone, the cup still in his hand. "Listen, honey, I think you should go now," his voice became softer, "I will investigate him, which means I can not be seen with you, since he fought you, right?"

"How did you know?" Maki looked up, "You saw that, and decided not to tell me?"

"Hey, there was no time... And I knew there was no chance you wouldn't do the same thing..."

"Yes, maybe I would've avoided being stabbed in the shoulder with a cursed knife!" Maki stood up. "You are right, we should not be seen together, I will leave now. Please let me know if you find something useful. I will not bother you then." He frowned.

"Wait!" Koga touched his hand, which made Maki shiver a bit.

"What do you want?" He almost cried out.

"I... Can you stay for a coffee at least? I mean it's already so late, that I can't really go out, but I am kinda bored, so..."

"So I have to babysit you or what?"

"No, we can, uh, maybe we can watch a movie?" Koga turned on the smart tv that he had in the room, still holding Maki's hand. Maki turned to the light, surprised at how he missed it. Koga looked a bit flustered, "What are you usually watching?"

"Em... I watch..." His mind went blank, and some weird anime pictures flew by. He shook his head, "You can choose, I will watch what you like!" Maki didn't quite get why he stayed, but, on the other hand, he wanted to spend some time together with Koga, so...

"Oh, okay then, how about we watch the best movie of all time? What do you think?" Koga finally let go, smiling.

"Okay, as you wish, I will watch it with you."

"In the Mood for Love than it is! Sit down, " he tagged Maki's elbow, to sit on the couch. Maki complied, however, a sharp pain went through him, and he cringed.

"Oh no, I am sorry," Koga seemed genuinely concerned, "it's this shoulder. Let me see, maybe we need to change the bandages."

"No need."

"No, no, please let me see it, you said yourself, it was a cursed knife..."

"Yes, and you could've prevented it!!" Maki teased him but with some annoyance in his voice.

Koga sat quietly for a moment, then said, "I am sorry. I hoped you would evade it. I don't know, I was afraid to call, and when I saw that he was involved with you, I was afraid he would find out I know you, so...I didn't tell you. And it sounds so stupid now." He looked up, only to see Maki smile. "What?"

"You are genuine this time. It's nice to see real you."

"Uh, whatever," he folded his hands, "if you don't want me to check the wound, then we can just start the movie."

Maki stood up, taking his sweater off, "No, we should totally check the wound. Kōga, I invite you to see what's there."

"Khm," Kōga looked at the wide muscular back, somehow Maki's long hair spread out on it, a beautiful sight. Wasn't it in a bun before? "You should sit down, I will take the bandages and antiseptic now." He went to the other room, which was dark, and clothed the door behind him.

Maki was left in the dimly lit room, the light from the TV painting the surroundings in a red hue. When the fox returned with the bandages, Maki switched the position, facing the windows. Kōga sat behind him. He gently unraveled the old bandages and put the hair on the other shoulder. Maki's brown hair was so silky, and beautiful, he didn't want to let go. Kōga closed his eyes for a moment, then started cleaning the wound with a cotton pad. The wound looked better, but not perfect, still healing. He put some ointment on top of it.

"I will- "

"The view-"

They spoke simultaneously. Maki feeling flustered, continued, "You should go first."

"Okay, I was saying that I will have to well... kinda hug you in order to cover the shoulder/your back with the bandages, I hope you don't mind..."

Maki cleared his throat, "No, it's okay, " he said in the most calm voice he could.

Koga started, and they went back to silence. He tried his best to be good and to not be inappropriate with his movements. "You were saying something there..."

"Uh, yes, The view from your apartment is very nice, you can see all of Tokyo from here. Especially at night, like this one, it seems so far away, yet so close, due to all the lights. "

"I guess, " Koga made another circle with the bandage, "I am not spending much time looking out of there."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I don't really care that much, I guess." He finished, "You can put your sweater back, it's done."

"Thank you!" Maki stood up, avoiding Koga's gaze, and put his sweater on. Realizing he had to turn around in order to sit, he asked, "Hey, do you want another coffee? I want some water."

"I can bring you some, sit down." Koga ran off, leaving him there, face the reddest it has ever been.

Maki sat on the couch demurely. Okay, I need to relax a bit, hopefully, in a moment my face won't be as red as it was before.

Momentarily Koga returned with a glass. "Here you are, should we see a movie now?"

"Are you sure you don't want to rest?" He took the glass avoiding turning all the way, thankfully Kōga was distracted withthe TV.

"No, it's fine let's see it. It's my favorite of all time."

"Then I have to stay. You are so secretive about yourself, maybe this will help me understand something about who you are."

"Oh, you'll see." Kōga turned his head, smiling genuinely. His hair was illuminated by the TV's red and blue tones. Blue lights were jumping in his eyes. His smile was so alluring, Maki swallowed water nervously. "Maki, I promise, there is no way one can not like this movie. I am happy to see it with you." He pressed the play button.

They started the movie, and Maki was mesmerized from the start. The colors, the music, the actors, the costumes. He couldn't take his eyes away from the cinematography. And the story. Everything looked perfect. Kōga was sitting next to him, captivated too. Sometimes he would glance at Maki, who didn't notice it. Kōga smiled to himself, Maki was the hardest to crack, but he wasn't evil or malicious. Rarerity.

Nobody dared to interrupt up until the movie finished. At this point, it was already a deep night. Maki looked at Kōga, "I think it's great. I loved everything about it!"

"Yes, I would never suggest a bad film, so just you know. You shall never be afraid to watch anything with me..." He saw Maki's expression change. "Oh, not that you should... " he added, "Of course, only if you want to."

"Well...I would love to, I have not seen many straight-couple films...Or films in general."

"OMG, for real? So you have a history of watching queer cinema?" Kōga clapped his hands. "Great, no need to watch Paris is Burning, I guess. I will show you the straight ones. Masterpieces throughout the years. I feel like you would love the musicals from old Hollywood."

What was this feeling? Kōga felt so free, and happy. He smiled all the time, he couldn't stop. Maki was getting more and more quiet.

"I...I might." Maki felt that this Kōga was so genuine, and likable. He truly didn't understand the need for the fake persona. He also had to suppress the urge to touch the ears.

Finally, Kōga stood up. "I guess you should go to sleep. For me it's the same, I have work tomorrow. And you just might get a phone call about a small photoshoot soon, too. We won't work together though, as you know about the other guy..." He touched the back of his head.

Maki followed, nodding, "I will go then. It's... it's been nice. I would love to see another movie with you."

"Oh," Kōga turned away, his voice getting arrogant again. "Leave now, it's too late for me to be walking around!"

"See you." Maki dissapeared, leaving the flustered fox alone.