Kai completed the last of his morning jumping jacks and sank to the bed behind him to rest for a moment. As he lay back on the bed his soft pink hair, normally worn in a waist-length braid, spread out to form a halo around his head. Fiery red eyes gazed lazily at the ceiling as he slowed his breathing and calmed his heartbeat. Kai knew from experience that it always paid off to stay in shape, especially when living with someone as active as his boyfriend, Sho. He kept his small frame in peak condition, which wasn't hard considering he never really ate much and exercised regularly. Not only did good fitness help him keep up with Sho but it also helped in other areas, as the well used bed beneath him attested to.
Breaking away from his thoughts, Kai propelled himself off the bed in order to get dressed. He was planning on making Sho's favorite breakfast today, Green Eggs and Ham. If he was going to cook anything, he needed to put clothes on first. Then again, maybe not... Kai put that thought away for later. Plenty of time to explore the possibilities of that later. First, he wanted food. Plus grease splatters from frying the ham would hurt a lot if they hit certain areas.
Kai pulled on a pair of loose fitting jeans and a plain t-shirt which he pulled randomly from his closet. Searching through his sock drawer, he came to a shocking conclusion. One of his beloved purple stripped orange socks was missing! He held the lone sock in his hand and rifled through the drawer again, hoping that he had merely overlooked it. Kai cursed as he came up empty again. Now where could that mischievous sock be?
Kai made a quick circuit of the room trying to see if the sock was laying in plain sight anywhere, but his effort was in vain. He searched through the large oak dresser he shared with Sho, but couldn't find the missing sock anywhere. It wasn't in their closet, under the bed, between the sheets, or in the desk. He glared at the blinking computer screen sitting on top of Sho's desk, thinking that the demonic piece of equipment might have eaten it to spite him but gave up that idea as ludicrous. No matter how much the computer hated him, it couldn't have eaten his sock. It had no mouth... or at least, not that he knew of anyways.
Kai put aside his ponderings of the demonic computer to continue the search for his missing sock. There was only one place left to look, but Kai was hesitant about searching there. Sho had never forbid him from looking in his bedside table's drawer, but Kai had always felt like he would be intruding if he did. Cautiously approaching the small table adorned with a bright pink lamp sporting a pink and green polka dotted lamp shade, Kai slowly opened the drawer.
Kai frowned in puzzlement as he noticed the drawer's two ordinary-seeming contents, a bottle of honey Body Lotion and a small leather bound book. Kai picked up the bottle and sniffed its contents. He'd never remembered Sho wearing anything resembling the scent from the mysterious bottle. Replacing the bottle he examined the book. Sho was never much of a reader, preferring instead to be either outside or sitting at his computer. Kai on the other hand had an extensive collection of books, but didn't recognize this one as one of his. Randomly opening the book somewhere in the middle, Kai read a few lines before hastily shutting it. Kai couldn't help the blush that spread across his face. He quickly replaced the book of naughty poetry and shut the drawer.
Resolving that the sock was not in the bedroom, Kai exited to search the rest of the small house but not before imparting a final glare at the computer screen. Simple piece of machinery my foot. Evil demon-spawn was more like it. One of these days he would manage to convince Sho that the thing was possessed.
A quick, thorough search of the house revealed that the sock was nowhere to be found. Deciding to try his last resource, Kai exited the house and headed towards the small stream that flowed through their expansive backyard. Sho liked to spend his free time fishing in the stream, and could often be found there no matter what the weather. Kai spent the few moments it took for him to walk between house and stream to examine his lover. Tall and wiry, Sho was a born athlete who excelled in all sports he tried, including swordsmanship. He had chin length black hair that had an endearing tendency to fall over his left eye at random intervals. Sho's eyes were a cool blue that matched his tan skin perfectly.
Despite how long they had been together, Kai was as in love with the older man now as when they had first met. Even though they were only three years apart in age, Sho always seemed so much more mature and calm than Kai. Kai on the other hand was energetic and impatient. It seemed like he could never sit still for more than a few minutes before he was zooming off to do something else. The only thing that could keep him still for very long was reading. Kai was often known to shut himself up in their library for hours on end reading a good book.
Sho gave no outward sign that he was aware of the other's approach, but Kai knew that wasn't the case. It was extremely rare for someone to sneak up on Sho without the other noticing long in advance. Standing slightly behind and to the left of Sho, Kai paused a moment to observe Sho's actions. He noticed that Sho was wearing the gloves that Kai had gotten him last Christmas that made his hands look bright red. He also noticed something odd about how Sho was fishing. "Umm, Sho... what's that you're using as bait?"
"Gummy worms. Why?" Sho continued fishing as if nothing was amiss.
"Shouldn't you be using Night Crawlers or something? I didn't think you could catch fish using candy."
Sho replied matter-of-factly, still intent on his fishing ling. "If you were a fish which would you want to eat?"
Kai thought about the choice for a moment. "Good point. Anyways, have you seen one of my purple stripped orange socks lying around anywhere? I'm missing one."
Sho reeled in his line and set it aside before turning to face his partner as he replied. "Can't say that I have. Did you look in the house?"
Kai frowned in puzzlement, trying to think of any place he could have overlooked. "Yeah, I looked all over but I couldn't find it."
"You didn't look in my bedside drawer, did you?"
Kai blushed furiously, avoiding the others gaze. "Yeah, I did but it wasn't in there."
Sho smiled widely and stated the obvious. "You're blushing."
Kai's blush deepened. "So?"
Sho stood to face Kai. "You don't want to know what either of the things in my drawer are for?"
"Quite alright." Kai turned away from Sho to head back to the house. Much as he'd like to find out, he still needed to find his missing sock. Before he could take more than a few steps, he was tackled from behind.
"Liar." Sho pronounced as Kai fell face first into a large muddy puddle.
Spitting out mud, Kai pushed the other off of him and glared at his grinning companion. "What was that for?"
"So that I had a reason to do this." Sho said as he picked up his dirty, confused companion and carried him into their bedroom. Depositing the other on the bed and Kai's clothes on the floor, Sho pulled out the contents of his drawer. Kai promptly forgot about the missing sock as Sho proceeded to show him exactly how one could use a bottle of honey Body Lotion and a book of naughty poetry.
Outside, a lonely sock waited among various pieces of fishing equipment to be returned to it's mate.
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As always, here's the challenge from the Original's Library Message Board that this story was a response to:
Write a story (no longer then 4 pages less is preferable, little longer if must be...)
And this story must revolve around one of the following items:
1. purple stripped orange Sock
2. pink and Green polka dotted lamp shade
3. gummy worms and Night Crawlers (large worms used for cat fishing or good for fishing except their so big you usually have to cut them in half cause they don't all fit on the hook...)
4. honey Body Lotion (grins)
5. green Eggs
6. red hands
7. muddy puddle
8. jumping jacks
9. book of naughty poetry
10. a blinking computer screen
Ok you only have to include one of those, but if you would like to use more then one go for it. The more the better. You can make it as silly or as stupid or whatever as you want. Tone and all that is up to you. Just have fun doing it. ^_~
Finished May 27, 2001