Note: This story is a continuation of a challenge response fic I wrote titled, "Putting a Name to a Face." I recommend you read that first. When I wrote the original, I intended for it to be a one-shot but it has evolved to be some sort of glorified, prologue for this story.

Chapter 1 – Second Meetings

A small amount of light – a mishmash of florescent street lamps, neon shop signs, and halogen headlights – managed to filter through the drawn curtains and into the makeshift bedroom situated above the area's most recently established drugstore. The man stretched out on the bed, usually the kind to prefer complete darkness, on this night, was unbothered by the intrusion. Unbothered because on his nightstand rested a small rectangular card that marked the beginning of the most important relationship of his life.

There was light enough to distinguish the paper from the table, if not to actually make out what was written. It made no difference. The man gave a small smile to the unreadable letters – an idea was beginning to take shape. Soon enough, the smile overtook his features, because while it was one thing to be patient, it was quite another to blindly let opportunity pass by.

He had been told to rest and yet Saiga felt compelled instead to unpack the boxes that had been littering the floor of his new apartment for the better part of a week. The fact that the phone still needed to be set up playing no small part in the sudden motivation. It was ironic really, but several boxes had their entire contents removed in order to find the proper container – next time he would pack the boxes in a logical arrangement instead of randomly tossing in anything that fit.

Once found, the phone was set up next to the couch where he was somewhat inclined to stay now that he had located his target. And wasn't it customary to test things like this out once they were hooked up? His receipt from earlier in the day would surely have the pharmacy phone number… He dismissed the idea. He had already made his bid. Now was the time for patience.

Instead of making his call, Saiga surveyed the mess created by retrieving the phone. This was far worse than random boxes strewn about the place. Nothing that had been immediately essential had been left packed away. Now, books and office supplies, dish towels and kitchen cleaner, that small kit he kept needles and thread in – everyone should, at the very least, be able to replace a missing button – along with a myriad of other items, all of them crowded the floor making it hard to even move around. His motivation kicked back in then because what kind of place was this for entertaining guests? Never mind that he was still sick.

When he decided it was time to be finished for the night it was already well past midnight. Sleep usually came easy but despite the late hour and the exhaustion that comes naturally with being sick all week, quality rest eluded him. He couldn't help but think that he would certainly rest easy if he were lying next to a certain pharmacy manager. But then, maybe that fell into the "cheating" category. There was only one other meaning such a comment could have but the chances of a brand new acquaintance knowing that were slim – though enough to make his latest romantic interest even more intriguing.

The first time the phone rang, he was just stepping out of the shower and had to rush into the living room, dripping wet and with his towel barely held closed by his left hand, to answer. The effort went unrewarded. On the other end of the line was a obnoxiously perky woman. "Good morning sir and congratulations on your new home! I have an exciting off—"

The second caller was a man, but not the one he was hoping for. It must have been a creditor because he had one hell of a time convincing the man that while, yes, this was his home, no, he was not Nakamura Okita and no, he had no idea of how to reach him.

The third call was for him but he really hadn't been too worried about the loose door

hinge anyway, it did work as it was. They could fix it any time and it wouldn't make a bit of difference to him. It was not as though he actually had to be there to let the repair men inside.

When the phone rang for a fourth time he was already in the living room – looking over a letter that he had read enough times to memorize – and he wondered if it was really even worth the effort to turn around to grab the receiver. He should have signed up for caller ID. Or maybe he should just get a cellular phone and be done with it.

He answered.

"Saiga-san, this is Kakei from Green Drugstore. You remember?"

As casually as though it hadn't been thoughts of this man and his seemingly off hand comments that had kept him from a good nights rest, he said, "I never forget a pretty face."

"I'm calling to see if you are following my advise. Do you feel any better today?"

"I'm feeling better by the moment." He replied in a tone that left no room for misunderstanding the cause of his sudden burst of health.

"You don't have a fever do you? If you have the flu and let it go, it could turn to pneumonia. I don't want to see you back at the store for antibiotics."

What the hell was this? They were supposed to be setting up a date – or at the very least, flirting – anything but discussing his health issues. Undaunted, he kept his head in the game. "Maybe not for a prescription, but I certainly would enjoy seeing you again."

"Saturday store hours are 9:00 to noon and 1:00 to 5:00. Now if you'll excuse me, a customer needs my attention." The man on the other line hung up before Saiga could get another word out.

He glared at the phone, as though it were the device's fault that the man on the other end of the line was being stubborn, before returning it to the charger. He asked to see him again and all he got was store hours? Maybe he shouldn't have challenged the man – he had seemed interested yesterday. But if those were the hours Kakei was working, then he had lunch from noon to one – plenty of time for a meal with a new acquaintance. Or maybe that had been the point all along.

Of course, following that logic, he was free for dinner as well, but Saiga didn't want to push too hard too soon. Kakei hardly seemed the kind to be intimidated but sometimes it was best to let the pursued believe they were in control.

When Saiga arrived at Green Drugstore the next day, a sign in the window already displayed the message Be Back at One where the time was noted though the used of an artificial clock. The door, however, remained unlocked. He walked right in and headed to the back where he had seen a short hallway the last time he was in the store. As he had suspected, at the end of the hall was an office. His unofficial lunch date was sitting behind a desk shuffling through what looked like dreadfully boring business papers.

He spoke up. "Lunch time should be spent eating and relaxing, not working."

Any fear that he had misinterpreted the phone call vanished when the man put on that slight smile that he seemed so fond of and replied, "You're right. Unfortunately," and here, the man eyed a small refrigerator in the corner of the office, "I have no appetite for leftovers."

"I suppose I could be… persuaded into sharing some of mine." He raised the bento box and tempted, "Made fresh this morning."

The man's eyes brightened and that slight smile grew by a hair, but what he said was, "I'm not sure that it would be proper for me to accept food from a random customer."

"You're in the habit of making house calls to random customers?"

The pharmacist made no verbal indication that he would acquiesce, but after a moment, simply stood and moved over to sit in an arm chair while indicating for Saiga to take the couch. He could only wonder for now about the seemingly large amount of comfortable seating. Most offices he had been in only had, well, office furniture. It was possible that this was used as the break room – though that would be strange as well – but he still had yet to see additional employees and, despite the lack of proof, Saiga doubted there were any. Maybe he would be able to learn something over lunch – find out if this store was more than an odd little pharmacy with a pretty manager. Not that there needed to be something like that for Saiga to maintain his interest, but if there were…

Saiga took the offered seat and began to unpack the lunches he had brought. His cooking never had been poor, though there was nothing special about it either. When you only cook for yourself, there isn't much incentive to go out of the way. Maybe with practice, his presentation would improve.

Neither made mention of the extra pair of chopsticks or the fact that the amount of food was obviously more than any one person could eat alone.

It was something of an awkward meal in Saiga's opinion. A casual observer would have said that they were merely two people eating lunch at the same time and place, and for the sake of not being rude, conversed while they were at it. They carried a pleasant enough conversation but the topics were mundane. Any time the conversation turned toward an interesting or remotely personal direction, Kakei would skillfully guide them back to what seemed to be a predetermined list of safe topics.

The one piece of truly personal information he managed to scrap up was that running this drugstore had been some sort childhood dream for the other man. A dream that had only become a reality a few months ago.

More than once during lunch he had to break away to cough, though he really was feeling better than he had the last time he was in the store. The cough was loud but not disgusting, as it had been two days ago. During one such instance, when the bento box was nearly empty, Kakei took the opportunity to slip out of the room. He returned only moments later and held his hand out to his lunch companion.

"Here, take this. It'll help with your cough." Kakei's tone was warmer than it had been at any time so far today and the druggist was making an open study of his features. Saiga wasn't above using medicine as a way to further his purposes – not when it made the other man look at him like that – so he accepted the miniature cup without hesitation. He downed its contents, making sure to get every last drop by way of his tongue – a motion he took great pains to ensure that Kakei noticed – and resisted the urge to ruin the effect by chasing the foul liquid with tea.

His trusting gesture was well received. Kakei's smile seemed broader than before – no, was definitely broader than before.

It wasn't long before he began to suspect there was a problem. Kakei, it turned out, had a twisted sense of humor.

Author's Notes: Thanks to everyone who requested a continuation. I had general ideas for this story even before I posted "Putting a Name to a Face" but without your encouragement, I mostly likely wouldn't have put those ideas to use.