Domani, despite the amount of time he had spent in Japan, had never taken the time to visit Tokyo Tower. So when Nikado had suggested he take a day to check it out, the Italian didn't think much of it. It certainly was worth the time, Domani thought to himself as he peered out the window with all the excitement of a little kid, circling around and peering at the various points the signs directed visitors to. It was truly a marvel of technology, and provided an unbelievable view of the entire surrounding area.
So preoccupied with the view was he, that he didn't notice the voice speaking to him until it was coupled with a soft touch on his arm. "Excuse me...you're Genoa-san, aren't you?"
Domani turned distractedly to the speaker, and nearly jumped out of his skin. "I'm sorry, did I startle you?" the shorter man asked in his usual soft tone, green eyes looking up at him shyly from under a plain baseball cap.
"J--" Domani shook his head firmly; there was no logical reason he'd know Jun's name yet. "You just surprised me, that's all. Were you looking for me?"
Jun bowed his head slightly. "I'm Jun Watanabe; Professor Nikado suggested I might find you here," he said softly.
Ah, that was it. Domani wasn't sure whether to hurt the other god, or perhaps kiss him. "Yes, Nikado has a remarkable talent for keeping track of my whereabouts," Domani laughed, not quite willing to admit how easily Nikado had set them up, again. "So why is it you were looking for me, Watanabe-san?"
"Er...." Jun blanked momentarily, not expecting the question. "That is...." Remembering the book in his bag, he quickly pulled it out. "Oh, yes! Nikado-sensei said you helped him with this book," he said, holding it out. "I thought it was very interesting. Are you a historian as well?"
Domani forced himself not to jump at the appearance of the book, relaxing slightly as it seemed that Jun took its contents for fiction. Good, he doesn't think I'm Janus, Domani thought to himself. "Primarily of art, but I've done a fair bit of study in the classic mythologies."
The younger man relaxed slightly at the answer. Good, he doesn't think I'm crazy, Jun thought to himself. "So, where is it that you got your inspiration for this?"Now it was Domani's turn to scramble for an answer. "Oh, um, pieces here and there. Mostly Italian folklore, oral tradition," he lied hastily.
"That's right, the Roman mythologies originated in Italy," Jun remembered, feeling a little disappointed. Maybe he did just have an active imagination. Domani seemed to have just written what he had heard. For a moment, he wanted to flee the older man's company and the tower altogether, but then he chided himself for being rude. "So, you're from Italy?"
"Oh, yes," Domani gushed immediately, "I hail from Venice, Italy, a most charming town! It is simply gorgeous, I must say if you ever get the chance, you should visit--" Except that he had, twice, although he wouldn't ever remember it. That thought sobered him a bit.
Jun suddenly felt like he'd stepped on a sensitive topic. "Oh, uh, Genoa-san, have you eaten yet? Perhaps if you've got the time, you might care for a quick meal?" he suggested quickly, pointing to the tower's restaurant.
"Sure, I would be honored," Domani replied warmly, letting Jun lead the way.
From a position against the wall, a newspaper folded up, revealing Nikado's annoyed expression. "For heaven's sake, Domani, you Italians invented carpe dium," he grumbled, picking up his cup of coffee to move into a better position to observe.
Domani watched Jun from behind as the model led them over to the restaurant and secured a table. As was usual when the model was out in public, his noticeable lavendar hair was tucked inside a baseball cap, and Domani couldn't help but smile at the habit, toying for a moment with the idea of stealing the cap.
How long had it been since the two of them were together, facing the troubles from the world of Saturn and the gods together? Here he was, so close, and yet Domani found himself unable to touch the other man or speak, for Jun was still a stranger.
"Genoa-san?" Jun had noticed the other man staring at him, with a bit of discomfort. "Are you all right?"
Domani blinked and turned his attention back to his lunch companion with a sheepish smile. "I was just thinking you looked familiar...." Unable to resist the urge any longer, he snatched the cap neatly off Jun's head, grinning as the model's lavendar ponytail cascaded down. "Watanabe-san, was it?" He grinned in triumph.
Jun blushed a bit, making a halfhearted attempt to get the cap back. "I've been found out, it seems. You've heard of me?"
"Oh, yes," Domani began gushing again, "why, I've seen your picture in magazines so many times I've lost count! Your work is simply amazing, Jun. To be so well-known at your young age, and your photos are truly works of art!" His mind drifted briefly to the collection of magazines Jun had sent him before Favonius had approached the model.
Jun ducked his head modestly, toying nervously with a lock of hair since his hat was removed. "I'm glad you think so. I do try to bring something enjoyable to those who see the pictures. That's what entertainment is about." He eyed the cap. Domani didn't seem interested in giving it back. "So, what is it that you do, Genoa-san?"
"I do a bit of antique work," the Italian explained, "largely in European and Japanese pieces. I travel a bit too much to do much more than freelance and consulting work, but I used to own a shop."
"That sounds nice," Jun complimented. "I would have liked to see it. Does your niece help you with that?"
Domani regarded him with some surprise, and Jun lowered his gaze in embarrassment. "I stopped by your apartment once, but you weren't there. Your landlady mentioned you had a niece that traveled with you."
Nikado sighed to himself as he watched the conversation continue. Thankfully, there were no more awkward pauses, but the tone was still terribly formal, and forget about any snogging. He considered helping the process along with a spilled drink or perhaps a well-timed shove when his eye caught something unusual across the area, that of a pair of strange yellow eyes. "Ah, crap," he sighed to himself, tucking the paper under one arm and tossing the cold coffee in the trash.
In her quest not to be seen by the pair, the teenaged girl was rather obvious, hiding behind a round trash can. "Excuse me, miss," a worker spoke to her gently, "I'd like to change that trash, if you don't mind."
"Shhh," she hissed at him loudly. "Can't you see I'm hiding?"
"Found you~," Nikado declared cheerily as he picked up the girl by the waist, setting her aside so the worker could access the trash can again. "Sorry about that, sir, she isn't very good at hide-and-seek." The girl huffed indignantly.
"It's all right," his eyes slid to the girl again. "Erm...she has quite...um, unique eyes."
"I told her purple contacts would be a much better match," Nikado sighed putting a hand to his face before taking the girl's arm firmly, pulling her away. "Right, off we go."
She scowled as he quickly dragged her away to an outside balcony. "Chiron, honey, didn't we have this conversation before? You're not to go off on your own without me or Janus. And what did I tell you about your eyes?"
She scowled at the older man, clearly displeased. "There's a mortal talking to Janus. Why? Who is he?"
Nikado laughed at her cross expression, patting her on the head. "He's just an old friend of Janus's. Let them be for a bit."
Chiron continued to pout, squirming under Nikado's hand. "He's not a god, he can't be that old."
The historian chuckled, going for a swift distraction. "There's a crepe shop downstairs. How about we get some?"
"Yay!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck.
Although the woman with dark brown eyes hadn't shown up the morning he had been with Domani, she had appeared regularly after that. After none of his family or coworkers had been able to spot the elusive stalker, Jun began to wonder if he was merely losing his mind. It would fit perfectly with the continuing nightmares that seemed real but couldn't possibly be so.
Slowly, he began to withdraw from the world, gradually cutting down on his work assignments and preferring to stay in his room, where the woman couldn't find him and hopefully the dreams wouldn't come if he stayed awake. Mariko especially was concerned, and tried to gently coax some answers out of him, but after a while Jun just didn't have any responses. He had given up on insisting he was all right.
Well, that certainly hadn't taken too long, Jeanne mused to herself. Now he was just where she wanted him.
