Lost and Found

Confession

Mineko's POV

"I'm heading out now, Kyo-San". I said, gathering my keys and shoving them into my bag.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with? I'm sure Kaoru wouldn't mind?" I watched as Kyo piped up from his spot on my makeshift dining room chair, which just so happened to be three stacked boxes on top of each other.

"No, that's alright...I don't want to impose." I shrugged my shoulders, satisfied with his answer.

"Okay...and please, make yourself at home!" It's only been a few days since he's been here, and I can tell he's slightly awkward—which does make sense considering we did just meet.

I can't put my fingers on it, but in these short few days together, I feel safe and comfortable around him.

"See ya." I said before letting myself out of my tiny apartment. The train ride to the restaurant was relatively smooth so far. I found myself thinking back to when I first met Kaoru. We met four months prior—I was on my way to the grocery store to pick up some last minute items for my mom. It was dads birthday and she forgot some ingredients for his cake.

When I approached the baking aisle, I was reaching for a pan and it slipped out of my hands. Of course, Kaoru was behind me and picked it up. I shyly thanked him, embarrassed for my clumsiness.

He immediately noticed my camera which is almost always strapped around my neck.

We struck up a conversation for a few minutes in the grocery aisle. I remember him being super interested in wanting to see my work. We exchanged e-mails and the rest is pretty much history.

My freelance work officially would be paying off. Leave it to me to find someone in a store, a rockstar no less, that wanted to hire me a month later.

I never imaged I'd be here, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't stroke my ego a little bit.

The train conductors voice pulls me out of my reminiscing, letting me know it's my stop, and I quickly stand up to exit the train.

"Hey, Kaoru!" I smile, waving to him. I approach the table he's sitting at.

He gets up from his seat, nodding his head toward me. "Thanks for coming out tonight. I know you're probably busy setting up your new space."

I shook my head, "Please...you're the reason I could even afford to move out so soon in the first place!" I said whilst taking a seat. He chuckled at my semi-joke, and followed suit, slowly settling back into his chair.

The band's management felt it necessary to give me a signing bonus that was deposited into my account shortly after our meeting at the restaurant the other day.

Although I do have a sneaky suspicion it was Kaorus doing...

"We're just glad to know you've agreed...I'm glad." He smiled again, placing a menu in front of me. "Touring for months is exhausting, but rewarding in a sense—just be prepared for any eventuality."

I raised my eyebrow at him. 'What does he mean by that?'

As if reading my mind, he continued. "You may need to invest in some good earplugs since most nights you'll be right in front of the barricade during our shows." I nodded my head in understanding.

"Oh!" He snapped his fingers, "And don't forget your backstage pass. That's happened one too many times to our other staff." He paused trying to gauge my reaction.

"Hmm...what else?" Kaoru pondered. I took a sip of my water.

"Oh! I'm sure you will also grow tired of seeing us, hearing us complain, sometimes argue, and also I can't forget the occasional band camaraderie and shenanigans we get ourselves into." Kaoru paused again.