Don't Look Now

Chapter 1

An old lightbulb sparked to life in an old basement which acted as a wine cellar. A faint light flickered from the ceiling. Light, quick footsteps echoed in the dark room as Koushi moved downstairs.

Sugawara Koushi is a rare mixture of attractiveness, intelligence and innocence. He stood in the chilly basement in an outfit that outlined his slender body. His gentle, hazel-brown eyes moved across the empty room and came to rest on a rack of wine bottles that covered one entire wall.

The gray-haired male walked toward the bottles. His fingertips slid over the labels then he eventually stopped when he found just the right one. A gentle smile became visible as he took it out of the rack.

Koushi decided to leave, but then he paused. The gray headed male turned and stared at the shadowy basement. Indeed, it's an unsettling place. He stood very still and watched his breath form a tiny cloud in the cold air. Becoming visibly uncomfortable, Koushi rushed for the staircase, each step faster than the next. He climbed out of the basement then turned off the light switch and closed the cellar door.

After entering the living room with the bottle on his hand, he sat next to his brown-haired partner who was eating on the couch. "It's getting cold, wear your sweater, Daichi," he said. The man placed his take-out Chinese food on a small table in front of him and slipped on the sweater that laid on the sofa.

Like Koushi, Daichi is already in his late twenties. He had thick, brown hair and striking, intelligent eyes that squint from years of intense study. His charming, easy-going smile spread across his face as he pointed at a huge frame across the room. "That's one fine frame," he said, with a hint of sarcasm, while he chewed on his food. An encased certificate was propped up on another chair, printed on an aged parchment-type paper, the wood on its edges a polished mahogany.

"Do you know how important this is? I'm going to read it for you, doctor," Koushi teased, then cleared his throat as he prepared for a playful speech. He grabbed the mounted document, leaned forward his seat and read the certificate out loud as Daichi chuckled.

"In recognition for his outstanding achievement in the field of child psychology, his dedication to his work, and his continuing efforts to improve the quality of life for countless children and their families, the City of Tokyo proudly bestows upon its son, Dr. Sawamura Daichi... That's you..." Koushi paused to give his fiancé a mischievous grin then countinued, "the Mayor's Citation for Professional Excellence, given on this day, 27th of June, two thousand and eighteen" Koushi read with a grin on his face, as if trying to playfully mock Daichi. "Oh wow, they called you their son," he teased. Koushi placed the frame back on the chair and opened the bottle of wine.

"We can keep that in the bathroom," Daichi jokingly replied. His ashen-haired partner poured some wine on his glass.

"No, for real..." Koushi became serious as he continued, "This is an important night for us. Finally, someone is recognizing the sacrifices you made. That you have put everything second, including me, for those families they're talking about."

The doctor drank all the wine in the glass then placed the empty vessel on a nearby table. "Did I put my job before you?" Daichi asked as he held Koushi's face gently. "I'm sorry," he played softly with Koushi's face as the latter took his hand and held them steadily.

"It's okay," Koushi answered with reassurance. "They say you have a gift. Your gift teaches children how to be strong in situations where most adults would piss on themselves." He leaned toward Daichi and held him in a warm embrace. "I'm proud of you, love..."

"Wait, why are we hugging again?" the young doctor teased his fiancé while the embrace became tighter.

Koshi suddenly let go of the hug and gently punched his partner's chest, "Nothing!"