#muranice

The evening, or rather night, starts feeling different about twenty minutes to midnight. Murasaki gets up from his spot on the couch. He lifts up Nice’s legs the tiniest bit and then just slides out from underneath them. Nice knows Murasaki can lift his whole body with one hand and sometimes it sends thrills down his spine.

But not tonight. They’ve got the routine down now, after several years of living together and at least a handful of New Years spent together. During their first year, they went to the shrine with everyone to listen to shrine bell being rung 108 times. It was very cold that year and Hajime soon began complaining that she was hungry so they didn’t even mention it the year after.

Instead, Murasaki starts brewing tea 20 minutes to midnight. Nice knows he’s got a few minutes left before he has to start moving and get things ready so he enjoys the end of the episode he’s currently watching. As the credits start rolling, he turns the TV off and sits up. He stretches and he knows Murasaki is glancing at him and catching the way his shirt reveals the tiniest bit of his stomach. Nice grins.

When Nice finally stands up, Murasaki pours hot water in two small thermos mugs. The tea will be finished just by the time they go outside. He digs under the couch until his fingers close around the familiar fabric of their spare blanket. If one of them ends up sleeping on the couch for some reason, they use this blanket.

Nice spreads the blanket and shakes it out two, three times before he walks over to their shared bed. They gave up on pretending they needed a second one very soon after settling in together. At first, Murasaki had permanently slept on the couch (he was the “intruder”, after all) but he soon complained that it was bad for his back and his spine. They discussed a second bed for a total of 40 minutes before they decided they did not have enough money and sharing Nice’s bed was the most efficient solution. It was awkward, at first, but once Murasaki had worked up the courage to kiss Nice everything felt natural.

Armed with three covers (they still have two blankets in their one bed because apparently Nice tends to be a hogger), Nice waits by the door until Murasaki throws away the tea bags and joins him with two steaming hot thermos mugs in his hands. They put on slippers in the entryway.

It’s five minutes to midnight.

They settle on the floor against the wall of their trailer. During their second New Year’s together they noticed that from the roof their home was set on they could perfectly see most of the countdown events that were illuminating the night sky with beautiful fireworks. 

Fireworks on New Year’s were still a rarity in Japan but the one at the Minato-mirai ferris wheel was just in their line of sight. And if they were really quite and the wind blew in the right direction, they could even hear the very faint bells of the shrines.

They put their thickest blanket on the floor to sit on it. It’s Nice’s blanket so tonight he’ll either have to use the one from the couch or cuddle up to Murasaki. They both know which option he’s going to choose.

Once they make sure not to get bladder infection or the likes from the cold floor, Murasaki takes the other two blankets from Nice and spreads his arms. He sits down, his arms still as far apart as possible. It’s cold again, this night. Even in the dark, they can see their breaths fog up. It’s never actually dark in Yokohama.

Nice sits down in front of Murasaki and as soon as his bum hits the floor, Murasaki’s arms wrap around him like wings of a bat. Or of a bird. Or a dragon that’s protecting its most precious treasure. Nice leans back against Murasaki’s chest, lets himself be pulled closer. It’s warm like this, wrapped in blankets and strong arms. Their breaths mix together in the cold night air.

They can see the big ferris wheel from where they’re sitting, so they can count down with the rest of the crowd. Nice watches the seconds tick by, then closes his eyes. Time seems to fly faster with every year that passes. Sometimes he wonders if his years last a little longer than other people’s, because of his Minimum. Does time pass for him faster or slower?

He wants to take a sip of his tea, but the mugs stand forgotten behind Murasaki’s back. It’s too comfortable and warm, so Nice can’t be bothered to move. Instead, he watches as the last few seconds of the old year pass as if they’re just like the seconds at any other time of the year. They probably are. Murasaki pulls him even tighter.

Together, they whisper the last parts of the countdown, “3, 2, 1.”

The sky lights up in countless colours. They hear the bangs a second after they see the fireworks go off. Nice thinks about how it would take him the same time to get from there to here. 

Then, he feels pressure against the back of his neck. Murasaki plants feather-light kisses against the skin, where Nice knows he knows he likes it best. Nice keeps his eyes on the fireworks as he leans a tad forward to give Murasaki better access.

“Happy New Year,” Murasaki mumbles and Nice can feel it on his skin as much as he can hear it. He smiles and turns around to meet Murasaki halfway. 

Murasaki looks back over his shoulder. He sighs. “Thanks to a certain someone buying a concert ticket we’re kind of tight on money this month, so I’m going to help Master at Nowhere. Apparently there’s a bachelorette party tonight and he needs people, so Art and I are helping out. I told you yesterday, didn’t I?”

Murasaki doesn’t wait for Nice to reply before he closes the door behind himself. The muted sound of Nice yelling, “What do you mean, a bachelorette party?” leaves him smiling as he makes his way to the bar.

Art is already at Nowhere when Murasaki arrives. He simply waves as a greeting and Murasaki notices that he's on the phone.

“Yes, I'll have an eye on him,” Art tells whoever is on the phone while Murasaki changes into a waiter uniform. “But don't you think he's old enough to take care of himself?”

Murasaki notices Art’s eyes on him soon and raises his eyebrows in question but Art simply chuckles. He says, “Yes, yes, I know he can be soft on women but I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean anything to him.”

Slowly, it dawns on him who Art might be talking to. He sighs.

“No, I really don't think I can take care of it by myself, there's a reason Master asked both of us for help. You want me to tell him to keep his hands off the women?” Art chuckles again with a glint in his eyes. “Why don't you tell him yourself? He's right next to me,” he says.

The accusing shout of “Art!” is so loud that Murasaki can hear it through the speaker pressed against Art's ear. Then, the line cuts off without a warning.

Murasaki and Art simply look at each other for a moment until the former sighs again. “I'm really sorry about him.”

“Oh, don't mind. I know how he is.” Art laughs and puts his phone in his locker. “But maybe next time you should tell him about a job like this beforehand.”

They join Master on the bar floor to help him prepare.

“I did tell him but he was probably busy watching TV or playing a game when I did,” Murasaki says and sighs yet again.

“I don't know what's going on but you're sighing an awful lot for someone your age,” Master chimes in and, because Murasaki doesn't feel like explaining that he's dating his rival-slash-partner-slash-roommate, this marks the end of the conversation.

As it turns out, Murasaki really does have to keep his guard up.

After the second round of sake, the soon-to-be bride goes into matchmaking mode. She keeps leaning over to the two young women to her sides—probably the bridesmaids—and whispers, “Emi, you like glasses, right? Go talk to the tall one. Or wait, I'll call him over in a sec. And Yuri, you're into the mysterious type, aren't you? That one with the smile looks like he could kill you in your sleep. You should go for that.” Except when she speaks it's more of a stage-whisper and everyone can hear her clearly. Her friends—Emi and Yuri, apparently—keep apologising for her.

Louder, the woman adds, “Waiters, more sake please.”

After two more rounds of sake, Birthday and Radio suddenly arrive in police uniforms. Ten minutes later the uniforms are off, the women are cheering loudly and Ratio looks like he's going to burst into flames from the embarrassment.

Murasaki can feel a headache approaching.

The bride keeps getting more aggressive in her matchmaking, too. By the time they leave she not only left her friends’ phone numbers all over the place, she also asked several times for Murasaki’s and Art’s numbers and even addresses. At least her friends keep getting more and more embarrassed, especially when Murasaki politely declines yet another offer with the words, “I'm sorry, miss, but I'm actually taken.”

Murasaki lets out a relieved sigh when all the women finally put on their coats and jackets. Art sends him an empathetic smile. In the one second the lets his guard down, arms wrap around his neck and a pair of lips presses against his cheek.

Emi and Yuri, the possible bridesmaids, pull the bride off before she can launch herself at Art as well. The bride, whose name Murasaki never actually caught, giggles into her sleeve and while all the guests spill out into the street, Emi and Yuri repeatedly apologise into their friend's place until they close the door and Nowhere is quiet.

Murasaki is kind of glad that at least the soon-to-be bride probably won't remember anything the next day.

Together with Master and Art, Murasaki cleans and tidies up the floor. By the time he finally steps outside on his way home, the sun is starting to paint the sky in soft pastel colours.

He takes a deep breath.

The cool air soothes his headache so that by the time he unlocks the door to his and Nice’s trailer it’s nothing more than a bit of unpleasant pressure. He can’t wait to just fall into bed and sleep until noon.

Murasaki’s mood dramatically changes as soon as he opens the door.

On the couch sits Nice, glaring at whatever he's watching on the TV—it can't be anything valuable considering the time. Murasaki’s head starts throbbing again but he does his best to stay calm when he says, “Nice, why are you still awake?”

Nice looks up as if he's only just noticed him but Murasaki knows better. He's being too nonchalant to be casual.

“Welcome home,” Nice says and there's an accusing tone to it. Murasaki glances at the bed, but he sighs and moves to sit next to Nice on the cushions.

Murasaki says, “I'm home,” and it's obviously what Nice wanted to hear, judging by the way he finally leans in against his shoulder and nudges him.

“My favourite show was on so I lost track of the time,” Nice lies but Murasaki just hums as if he believes him. He puts an arm around Nice's shoulders and gently pats his head and they quietly sit for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company.

Moments like this don't happen often with Nice as a partner so Murasaki basks in the gentleness of the situation. He can feel himself drift off to sleep when Nice suddenly sniffs at him. The throbbing in Murasaki’s head instantly gets worse.

“You reek of women's perfume,” Nice says and for a second it's just that—a statement left in the room.

But then Nice looks up at him for the first time since he came home. His eyes focus on Murasaki’s cheek. “What's this?” he asks and a shiver runs down Murasaki’s spine.

Murasaki quietly mourns his sleep-time as he tries to come up with an explanation that doesn't sound too much like an excuse.

He decides to just go for the truth after all and says, “The bride got really drunk and wanted to set me up with her friend- Don't look like that, of course I said I'm taken. Anyway, in the end she just planted that on me. She was honestly wasted.”

Nice considers him for a moment and then some more. Murasaki doesn't know what Nice is looking for in him but it seems he doesn't find it. Instead he asks, “That's it?”

Murasaki chuckles at the ridiculousness of Nice's hidden accusation. “Of course it's true,” he confirms and pulls him closer by his shoulder. “Can we go to bed now? I'm damn tired.”

Nice narrows his eyes again. “Because dealing with those annoying women was exhausting?” he asks.

Murasaki smiles and presses a soft kiss to Nice's lips. Nice kisses back and at the same time they pull back. Murasaki is still amazed even after all the time they've known each other how much they're in sync sometimes. He gets off the couch and finally answers, “Because dealing with those annoying women was exhausting.”

Nice grins at him and grabs his hand to pull him towards their bed.

They undress—on their own at first but soon switch to each other, mingling kisses with their practiced touches. Finally, Murasaki goes to turn off the lights and they slip under the covers. Without words their bodies move so that Nice's back is pressed against Murasaki’s chest.

Murasaki nuzzles Nice's hair for a moment and takes in the familiar scent. Something strange mixes into it. Murasaki wrinkles his nose and mumbles, “This perfume really smells awful.”

“You better shower first thing in the morning. And we probably have to change the sheets,” Nice huffs. He presses closer against Murasaki’s chest.

Murasaki chuckles, “You mean I have to change them, right?” but wraps his arm around the slender waist in front of him and starts rubbing small circles into the skin he finds there.

He gently kisses Nice's neck and whispers, “Good night, Nice.” There's no reply and a second later he notices that Nice's breaths are already slow and even.