_open: New Arrival

[azariel]

Azariel saw Izar's reaction almost before Need fell to the ground. He crouched and swept his arm in a wide arc, creating a black cloak of shadows that enveloped the both of them.

"Not dead yet," he said, "you have to find me first."

Azariel stood stock still, listening. His hearing was heightened from years of training, and as soon as he heard the beat of Izar's wings, he slipped quietly to the spot beneath him. He reached up for Izar's ankle, readying himself to pull him down.

He finally dismissed the shadows, ready for a nice rest and exchange of words. Azariel watching the arrow arc, and smiled; Izar's skills had indeed improved since the last time he'd sparred with him.

"I am glad our skills are close, old friend," he agreed. He would hope to never need to attack Izar with the intent to kill.

Azariel smiled, and a warm feeling passed through him as he saw Izar place his carving on top of the bookshelf. He tried to hide his pride and instead turned, examining the appartment.

He gladly accepted the water, and took a few sips, watching Izar's reaction. He remembered Izar's phobia, but he'd never learned the reason behind it, or asked about it, because he didn't want to prod. Izar had his secrets, just like Azariel did.

His fist clenched slightly at the mention of Izar's boyfriend, and he paused in thought. Much of him wanted to spend the afternoon catching up with his old friend, but a small part of him wanted to meet this Masinori and see if he was worthy of Izar...or if Azariel still had any chance. Azariel shrugged, making a quick decision.

"Call him," he said, "I'd love to meet this man who's stolen my little pigeon's heart."

He smiled and ruffled Izar's hair as he walked further into the appartment, looking around.

[izar]

Izar smiled, "Still hiding in shadows, Az?" He laughed, "I learned a new trick since you've been gone." He closed his eyes and reached out and everything was created with the wind, he could sense where everything and everyone was and to the sharpest detail. Azariel would feel the wind and guess. Without opening his eyes he sensed Azariel's movement and dropped down almost on him. He caught the loosed arrow and opened his eyes placing it back in the quiver. He grinned, "What do you think? Cool, huh?" He smiled largely, he was so happy that his old friend was back in town and not only that but they seemed to not have changed, either of them, at least not too much.

Izar nodded in agreement and smiled, "Me too I hope it never goes beyond friendly combat." He would hate that, he didn't even know if he could deliver a killing blow to his best friend. He kicked the door open and placed the carving on the shelf. He admired it for a moment then crossed his arms recalling his scars. Seeing Azariel really brought back memories, he had never bothered to find out why Izar was afraid of water and that worked just fine for him, it wasn't a time he wanted to remember.

He gave him the water and shook his head feeling a chill run up his spine. Izar smiled, he missed his old nickname. As much as it annoyed him it was nice to hear again. "I've been experimenting," Izar said proudly and dug for something. "Tada, "He pulled out a plate of deformed cookies. "I really think I got it this time." He ignored the fact that they wouldn't come off of the pan and clawed one off using the spatula and mutilating it even more. "Here, try it," he looked at him expectantly. He really thought he had it that time, the last ones he had made were rock hard and then the next had come out black, the next just exploded, but hopefully the only thing that would happen for these was that they were sticking to the pan.

He went back to the phone and dialed the number that he now knew by heart. It rang a few times then Masinori answered, "Hey, an old friend showed up, I want you to meet him. Do you have plans? Can you come over?" He asked brightly leaning against the wall and doodling as he spoke. A quirk of his, he drew things when he talked on the phone. He went to the window dropping his pen and wandering. He leaned out and watched the sylphs and the owls. He absently touched Need's hilt then placed her over the mantel and dropped th quiver and arrows in their place.

[masinorimoriyama]

((Thanks for inviting me ^.^))

“Yeah, mhmm.” Masinori said absently. He wasn’t even sure what Aoi was talking about at that particular moment. It seemed like he hadn’t stopped talking from the moment they left the house. Maybe it was because it was their first time really hanging out alone. Eventually all of his words just kind of ran together and stopped making sense. Masinori just didn’t care or have any interest in what he had to say. He didn’t want to pretend they were still best friends after all this time, and he didn’t want to reminisce. “Masinori, are you listening?” He blinked back to reality and his mind did backflips. Shit, what was he saying? The last I remember he was talking about something stupid that happened in junior high… “Which one do you like?” He repeated. Oh, saved. “I don’t know, this is girl stuff.” Masinori replied. He was holding up baby blankets and looked flustered or insulted when he said it. He looked like a girl too.

Masinori’s cell phone started to vibrate, and he fumbled in his pocket for it, thankful for the distraction. “Hey an old friend showed up, I want you to meet him.” Izar said immediately. “Nori-chan! You’re on the phone, we’re supposed to be baby shopping!” “Do you have plans? Can you come over?” Further proof that Izar was an angel disguised as a human. “Yes, thank God. I’m going crazy, baby shopping with Aoi. It‘s almost worse than torture. Is it ok if he comes too?” It was kind of ironic that he knew what it was like to be tortured. He knew Aoi would probably be disappointed that they were cutting the shopping trip short, but any excuse to see Izar was a good excuse. Plus the man was always teetering on the edge of his last nerve. Half the time he behaved like a teenage girl, which consequently Masinori hated teenage girls, and he tried to remember if he’d always been like that. But maybe he’d blocked out the memory of his existence for so long that it was impossible to remember. “We’re going to Izar’s, he has some friend he wants me to meet and you’re coming.” Masinori informed him, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket and pulling him to the checkout counter.

They paid for the things Aoi picked out, with little to no help from Masinori, and headed for Izar’s. The day was suddenly improving a great deal. He couldn’t even hear anything Aoi was saying anymore. He automatically parked and headed up to the apartment, glamorous Aoi in tow, he knew it like the back of his hand by now. Masinori knocked, and stood at the door, a small smile creeping over his face as they waited. When it finally swung open, he lunged at Izar and threw his arms around him. It was kind of becoming their inside joke to do that. He placed a big kiss on his head and cooed enthusiastically, then finally released him with a big cheesy grin. “Hi.” He said, looking into Izar’s deep silver eyes. It was so much nicer than baby shopping.

[aoi]

((Please pretend that half the time Aoi is either speaking Japanese or really indecipherable English.))

“The sensei was so pissed at you. And so was that girl…what was her name? It was a mean trick really.” Aoi couldn’t help but gush as he memories from childhood flooded his mind. It felt surprisingly good to remember them. But the person he was remembering, and the person who stood in front of him now seemed like two different people entirely. Masi has been so fun and mischievous when they were young. So much more pleasant and friendly. The man who was currently baby shopping with him was cold as ice. He seemed to have no expression on his face at all, and perhaps not a thought in his mind. It was like shopping with a big nicely dressed wall. And right now, Aoi really could’ve used a good friend. He was having a hard time adjusting to France and missed his home. “I’m not sure if I should pick a gender neutral color or not, what do you think of this one?” Aoi held up the blankets and Masinori just blinked at him. “Masinori, are you even listening? Which one do you like?” He asked again.

“I don’t know this is girl stuff.” Aoi frowned, slightly sticking out his lip gloss covered lower lip and feeling stupid for wearing lip gloss at all. When Masinori did speak to him, it had to be comments like that. Comments that made him feel like complete shit. I’m not really girly, I could kick his ass. Just because I’m shopping for my kid and I happen to wear makeup…” He sighed and set the blankets down. He didn’t think he looked like a girl, this was the popular style where he was from. Loads of guys wore makeup and clothes like this. It wasn’t his fault Masinori was a struck up French infested jerk now. He turned to see Masinori was on his cell phone now, and immediately objected, “Nori-chan, you’re on the phone? We’re supposed to be baby shopping!” Hear that, even my voice is deeper than yours. He thought. “We’re going to Izar’s, he has some friend he wants me to meet and you’re coming.” And just like that, Masinori was pulling the sleeve of his long H.Naoto jacket. ((I’m recently obsessed with this clothing line))

It was a jagged black knit jacket that had words and skulls printed all over it, along with bondage straps, lace, tons of random things, rips, shreds, ect. Under it he had a white ruffly dress shirt and black pants. Concealed under the jacket was his katana. His honey colors hair was straight and flipped out on the ends, sort of spikey in back, and hanging in his face. His eyes were adorned with mascara, eyeliner that accentuated his eyes, and silver eyeshadow. It felt good to not be covered in mud, water, and other such things. Now that they were settled someplace he could take pride in his appearance again. After paying for the items they picked out, he followed Masinori out to Odille’s car. “Are you nervous that Izar has another man over and that’s why you’re rushing off?” Aoi laughed at his own joke. “I swear if you two aren’t together twenty four seven you can’t function normally.” He watched the landscape go by as they went to Izar’s apartment. He hadn’t really seen him since they’d gotten back, but Masinori was always rushing off to be with him. And it wasn’t that Aoi minded, he just wished Masinori would give him a chance, that they could resolve their difference and at least be on good terms.

As they waited for Izar to answer the door, Aoi noticed a smirk on Masinori’s face. He blinked curiously at him. The statuesque features had changed for the first time. He didn’t seem to smile around anyone, especially not him. “Oooh, Nori-chan, your face moves? I thought maybe you had gotten botox and had to stay very still.” He snickered. “Do you only smile for Izaru-kun or do you just hate my company that much?” He said seriously. But before Masinori could dignify his sad question with an answer, the door swung open and he watched him launch into Izar’s arms. He smiled despite himself. Whatever Masinori had experienced to make him so cold and cruel, when this man was around, the frost completely melted away like it had never been there. Masinori became the child again, the friend that he missed so much. He was glad the old Nori-chan was in there somewhere and that at least someone got to be acquainted with him. After a few moments he stepped into the apartment after him, casually bowing to Izar as he entered.

((I hope it's not confusing/tiresome that I have been making double posts with multiple characters. Let me know and I'll send Aoi home to Hotaru and Odille >.<))