Moonrise

~*~ One Year Later ~*~

“Thank you,” Tetsu said as he handed over several books to their last customers. “Come back again soon.”
“Oh, we will,” the lady said with a gleam in her eye; her friend was blatantly staring. “This shop is too adorable not to visit again.”
“Much appreciated,” he replied with a smile. He looked past them at Kei, who rolled his eyes.
“Have a good evening,” Kei said, holding the door for them as they left.
“Thank you!” they replied without looking back.

Kei closed the door and locked it, started pulling down the shades on the door and windows, closed curtains, and tidied up, while Tetsu opened the antique register and started counting the money. It was routine, and could be considered mundane, but Tetsu loved it as much as Kei did.

They’d been co-owners of the shop for a year now, and Tetsu found it fun and interesting, which he never expected. He was often the face their customers saw when they opened early in the morning, while Kei would be the one they saw before the shop closed late at night. He was the more sociable of them both, so he would chat with their customers, and Kei would quietly help them find books and serve them tea and snacks if they intended to use the chairs and tables. Kei took care of publicity and put ads in the local newspaper and created a web page on the internet. Their little shop eventually gained a bigger clientele, and not surprisingly, most of them were women.

“You don’t even try to charm them, but they flock in here to see you,” Kei said cheekily from where he was reshelving books. “Lady-killer.”
“That’s because I’m good-looking,” Tetsu replied, looking rather smug.
Kei’s eyebrows shot up. “Debatable.”
“Oh really? I seem to remember you saying I’m handsome as sin.”
“Not even once!”
“Last night, Sunday morning, while we were at the store on Tuesday…”
Kei snorted. “I honestly can’t believe you keep track of that.”
“You’d be surprised what I keep track of.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Which basically means you don’t keep track.”

Tetsu laughed, put the money in the safe box and rounded the counter, walking slowly to where Kei was replacing books on the shelves. He caged his fiance in with his arms, and leaned forward so that his chest was against Kei’s back, and he whispered in his ear.

“I keep track of many things,” he said, his lips lightly brushing the shell of Kei’s ear, and his voice pitched low. He felt him shiver and smiled. “I keep track of your smiles, your laughs, the way you hum to yourself when you’re putting up books.” He pressed in further. “More importantly, I keep track of your shivers, your moans, and what makes you cry out when you…”
“Tetsu?”
“Yeah?”
Kei put the books he was holding in a death grip down, and turned so that they faced each other, and no space between them. He snaked his hands up under Tetsu’s shirt, sliding his hands up and up, over heated skin. Tetsu groaned, but kept his eyes locked on Kei’s.
“Let’s go to bed.”
“No argument here.”
“Since when do you argue about it?”
“Smartass.”
“Glad you’re keeping up.”
“In more ways than one,” Tetsu growled, and then kept Kei from replying by kissing him into silence.

~*~ Two Years Later ~*~

"Can you see anything?"
"Not through a sleep mask, and all the strips of fabric..."
A soft laugh and a quick kiss. "Okay, then. No peeking, either."
"Mmhmm... can I get another kiss?"
"Don't push your luck."
"Stingyshima."
"No using high school nicknames, Kitty Cat."
“I detect a new rule, and a new nickname.”
“Only one is temporary. How did you even find out about that nickname? Hinata was the only one to use it.”
“Noya told me.”
“I should have known.”
"Accurate, though."
“Shut up. We’re almost there.”

Kei smiled brilliantly at his perfectly blindfolded fiance, stole another kiss, and then sat back in his seat. They'd just been informed by the pilot that they were ten minutes from landing, and his excitement was increasing. He saved up for an entire year for this trip, and Tetsu's mom had helped (even after Kei insisted she didn't).

Even the quilting club had chipped in, or rather, they took over completely. Planning, making calls, and probably calling in years-old favors from other quilting clubs. Those meddling biddies were all still patting themselves on their backs for engineering his and Tetsu's first meeting two years ago. Which, of course, happened to be another, all-expenses paid trip. To Kyoto. As the grand prize for their raffle at the neighborhood carnival.

Kei had to admit, the club footing an all-expenses paid trip to Australia (for two weeks!) was a little much. He wasn’t even sure how they managed it, considering the cost. Of course, he asked. Of course, they told him nothing. It would not surprise him in the least if they were all secret agents or something. Maybe there was an International League of Quilting Club Matchmakers… or something. Fanciful thinking. Kei chuckled to himself, Living with Tetsu for the last two years had worn off on him. He lifted Tetsu’s hand and kissed it.

“I must have won the lottery.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Three kisses, so far, in the last thirty minutes.”
“I’ve kissed you lots of times before!”
“Not in public.”
“We’re the only ones on the plane.”
“Not including the pilot, co-pilot, flight attendants…”
“None of them saw us.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
“Tetsu?”
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
“Make me.”

And Kei did make him. Their kiss lasted nearly as long as it took for them to land. Who even cared if they were seen?

Matchmakers, indeed.
Oh, but he was thankful. Incredibly so.

"Oh, no, dear. Let us help you! You just keep an eye on your little bookshop."
"A trip to Australia? I know just the place! Let me just make a few calls. You go spend time with your man."
“You keep saving your money, dear, so you can buy whatever you want. Oh look, Tetsu’s here for you!”
"Let us take care of the planning, dear. If we need anything specific, we'll get in touch, okay?"
"Oh! I have another gift idea, too! But, nevermind dear. Shoo, shoo!"

So, now he had in his carry on an overstuffed packet with the resort name, their reservation confirmation, suggested itineraries, coupons for food, tickets for nearby attractions, and numerous other things that the ladies thought they'd need. In his shoulder bag, he carried their cash cards, tickets and passports.

In another suitcase, he'd brought two quilts. One the ladies had made for the festival the year Tetsu and he met, and was given to them as part of their grand prize trip to Kyoto. The other was a brand new quilt, beach themed, of course. Perfect for their trip. Kei adored it. Tetsu was going to love it.

After somehow making it through customs, retrieving their luggage, and walking slowly through the concourse to the taxis, all with Tetsu blindfolded but laughing and having fun, they stood at the entrance of the small, private, resort the ladies sent them to. Kei quietly spoke to the attendant, in passable English, and their bags were taken away to their bungalow.

Once Kei secured the keys and the resort's welcome packet (with even more stuff!), he led Tetsu carefully along a boardwalk path until he came to the perfect stopping place. The ladies had told him of the beauty of this place, and they hadn't lied. It was suspicious how they knew of it in the first place, but right now Kei didn’t care. He took a few moments to take it all in, smirking when Tetsu huffed and tsked.

"Kei, I still can't see anything."
"I should hope not."
"I mean, if you're going to keep me blindfolded the whole time we’re here..."
"Your idea is not without merit."
"Tease."
"You love it."
"Yeah. I do."
Kei laughed and watched Tetsu’s face. He was trying to figure it out on his own. And he would; it wasn’t that hard to figure out. Still, he didn’t know where the beach was, just that it was out of the country.
"First impressions?"
"Well, I'm glad we're somewhere warm, and the breeze is refreshing. You brought me to the beach?"
"Yeah, but not just any beach."
"I mean we did fly almost ten hours to get here."
"You slept most of the way."
"I'm surprised you didn't."
"I'm too excited. You ready?"
"Ready for my Moonshine's Valentine's Day surprise?" Dramatic pause, and then a deadpan, "I guess so."

Kei laughed softly, leaned in and stole another lingering kiss, and then slipped behind Tetsu. Reaching up, he untied the two strips of cloth, and carefully removed the mask.
"Don't open your eyes too fast," he warned gently. "It's still early afternoon here, and very bright."
"Okay."

Kei moved back to the front so he could see Tetsu's reaction. And he was well rewarded. His fiance had an almost childlike wonder for new places, once he got over the initial nervousness of being in a new place. With his eyes finally open, that wonder was plain on his face.

Tetsu's eyes flitted over everything: the crystal clear blue water, white sands, gently swaying palm trees, and the rest of the boardwalk that led to their temporary home for the next two weeks. The bungalow was about the size of their two-bedroom flat in Tokyo, maybe slightly larger, but it was secluded, and absolutely perfect.

If Kei had thought ahead, he'd have taken a picture of this moment. Instead, he watched the way Tetsu smiled brightly, how a touch of pink colored his cheekbones, the way the wind played with his soft dark hair, and the way his beautiful gray eyes glowed. He might have missed his opportunity to take a picture, but the memory would last forever.

"Oh my god, Kei! It's beautiful!"
"I knew you'd like it."
"I love it! And we're here for two weeks?!"
"Yeah, well... I had a little help."
"Mom?"
"Yeah. I was working on plans when she dropped by. She figured it out, and kinda took over."
"Which means, the others quickly followed suit."
"Yeah. They insisted. In fact, once they started helping, everything was taken out of my hands. This is more their doing than mine."
"But it was your idea."
"Yeah."
"It's perfect! The perfect idea, and perfect place for our honeymoon."
"I thought so too... wait. What?"
"Our honeymoon."
"I heard you. I don't remember getting married."
"That's because it hasn't happened. Yet."
"Tetsu..."
"Plus, won't Mom and her gaggle of friends be surprised?"
Kei blinked, and then started laughing. "You know they'll be mad at us for not inviting them. We can't."
"Oh, but we can!"
"I get that. But, your mom..."
"Will eventually understand. Don't you see? They literally gave us the perfect opportunity! All we really need is someone to officiate. Everything else has been taken care of. They might be mad for a little while, but they'll be happy even more."

Tetsu looked so hopeful, and so happy, that Kei really couldn't say no. How could he? His fiance was right, after all. The ladies had given them the perfect opportunity to get married. The best part was, they didn't have to stress out planning it themselves. It really was perfect!

"Say yes, Kei."
"What, again?"
Tetsu nodded, biting his lip. Almost exactly like he did the day he proposed. He took a few steps forward, then turned and stood in front of Kei, leaning in to touch their foreheads together.
"I love you, you know."
"Yeah. I love you, too."
"Marry me?"
"You asked me that already."
They were both smiling softly at each other.
"Well, I'm asking again. Here, in this little paradise that's ours for two weeks. Marry Me?"
"I'll think about it."
"KEI!!"
"Oh, alright. Yes, I'll marry you. You big sap."
"You're just as sappy."
"I am not!"
"Are too."
"Are not. Prove it!"
"You had the most brilliant idea ever for a Valentine's vacation," Tetsu said as he pulled back. "Night before last, you surprised me by closing the shop early, and ordering a full three course meal. All by candlelight, I might add. Oh! And the camellias. Mustn't forget those."
A charming shade of pink colored Kei's cheeks and Tetsu was lost.
"I loved every moment, Moonshine. Now, let's go inside and find someone to officiate."
"What, now?"
"Why not? Once we're married and official and everything, we can spend the rest of our two weeks like we want."
"You're very persuasive when you want something, you know."
"Yes, I am. I want you. All of you. For the rest of our lives."
"Big sap."
"I'm your big sap. Get used to it."
"I already am."
"Besides. You want me, too."
Kei shrugged. "Maybe."
"Oh, you do."
"Maybe a little."
"Tease."

Later that night, while the newlyweds were in bed doing newlywed things, both their phones lit up with new messages.

[Suga] "Congratulations!"
[Hoshiumi] "What he said."
[Oikawa] "About time, losers!"
[Yachi] "We want pictures!"
[Kaori] “We want LOTS of pictures!”
[Noya] "I’m Kei’s best man! We need a do-over!"
[Akaashi] "Consider yourselves warned!"
[Bokuto] "Thinking you could get married without us there?"
[Eita] "Rude."

They soon found out that Yuki Kuroo knew just what her son would suggest to his fiance - well, husband, now - if given the perfect opportunity. And that she'd told not only her club, but also Kei’s parents, and all their friends, as well. All their efforts combined resulted in the newlyweds’ trip and subsequent, not-so-secret, elopement.

"Think we'll even be able to really surprise her?" Tetsu asked as they shared breakfast in bed.
"Never in a million years. And I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Kei replied.
“Neither would I, Moonshine. Neither would I.”

//Fin