~Gestures~ A Japan x Reader One Shot

Lightning raged across the dark night sky as the loud clap of following thunder resounded in your ears. You clutched
the sides of your favorite jacket and pulled the hood over your head, awaiting the harsh sting of raindrops that would
begin falling. As if on cue, the storm clouds opened and unleashed their wrath on the city. You walked alone along
the side of the busy Tokyo streets, the bright lights providing your vision on your journey to absolutely nowhere.
This day had started out just like any other. You awoke to the repetitive sound of your dreaded alarm, dragged
yourself out of your warm bed and cringed as your feet hit the cold hardwood floor. Then you prepared yourself for
work, grabbed a banana on the way out and sprinted to your job.

The day continued without any change in its normal routine. Until lunch break came. You were sitting at your desk,
immersed in your work when your supervisor knocked on the side of your cubicle. You turned in your swivel chair and
gave him a huge smile.
He ran his fingers through his hair as he sighed. "Look, (f/n), this isn't easy to say, but the big bosses have done
budget cuts in our department. I'm afraid that I have to let you go. Please, gather your things and don't hesitate to
call me if you need references." He quickly turned and left you to soak in the news alone. Your smile turned to a
frown. Thoughts of worry began to flow through your mind as tears began to brim in your eyes. You quietly packed up
your things and left the office in a hurry. The walk home seemed longer this time, giving you more time to feed the
overwhelming thoughts that plagued your mind. The clouds began to gather, darkening by the second.

You trudged up the winding staircase until you reached the apartment you shared with your fiancee. You put the key
in the slot and stopped as you heard a noise. You placed your ear up to the door. Rage filled your eyes as you realized
what kind of noise that was. Throwing the door open with a force you didn't know you had, you stormed into the
apartment and to your bedroom. Expecting the worst, you slowly opened the door. Your fiancee lay in your bed with
another woman. Your worst fear being realized, you buried your face in your hands and ran out the door, turning
your back on everything that reminded you of this dreadful place.

As you continued down the concrete roads, there was no stopping all the thoughts running through your mind. There
was no telling what difference there was between your tears and the rain anymore. You walked to a small park and
sat down on the ground besides the pond. You curled your knees up to your chest as you watched the drops fall in the
pond and cause tiny ripples to spread throughout the lagoon. You reflected on today's events and felt the need to cry
again, but couldn't. It felt like all of your tears had already dried up and there was nothing left to cry. You just sat on
the muddy ground, the sweet sting of the rain the least of your problems.
"Excuse me," a soft voice said behind you. Turning slowly, you saw a young man with jet black hair holding a black
umbrella. He had the deepest chocolate brown eyes you'd ever seen. He smiled and cocked his head slightly as he
spoke. "Konnichiwa. My name is Kiku."
You returned the smile with a fake one of your own. "I'm (f/n)."
He placed his umbrella over your head, shielding you from the harsh rain. "Can I take you somewhere, (f/n)-chan?
You'll catch a cold if you stay out in the rain much longer."
Just then, a chill ran down your spine and you let out a small sneeze. Kiku handed you a small pack of tissues from
his jacket pocket which you took without regret. "I.. don't really have anywhere to go.." you admitted to him in shame.
He frowned, a slight tint of melancholy hidden in the curves of his lips. "Then, I'd like to put you in a hotel tonight, if
you'll let me."
Just then your stomach growled loudly, making its presence known.
"And buy you dinner," he added chuckling.
Your eyes remained fixed on him in bewilderment. You couldn't believe this was happening.
"I'll take your offer, Kiku. But I'd like to pay you back when I get the chance."
"Apologies (f/n)-chan," he replied. "But that is unnecessary." He held out his hand to you and helped you off the
muddy ground.
You smiled as you followed him towards the heart of the city.

Kiku held the umbrella so it fully covered you and he himself was drenched. You felt extremely bad, but he had
insisted upon it. He led you to a quaint little inn that almost seemed as though it didn't belong in the center of
Tokyo. He held the door as he ushered you in first. The heat of the foyer hit you like a brick and began to circulate
through your being like a flood. As you showered yourself in the warmth of the place, Kiku got rooms for the both of
you and silk robes for you to change into. He showed you to your room and handed you a key and your robe. You
bowed slightly before entering your room. You changed quickly and tried to do something with your tangled wet hair.
You settled on just pulling it back into a messy bun and glanced at yourself once more before exiting your room. Kiku
was waiting patiently outside for you.
"Shall we?" he asked, gesturing towards his room where he'd already had your meal delivered. You nodded excitedly
and went into his room to begin eating. He joined you on the mat where you shared a meal of salted salmon and white
rice. For most of the meal, the room held a heavy silence until Kiku broke it.
"(F/n)-chan, I normally don't ask, but are you engaged?" he asked nodding towards your ring.
You glanced down at the piece of worthless metal and ripped it off your finger as though it contained poison. You got
up and discarded it into the trash.
"No.. I'm not anymore, Kiku. I'd forgotten I still had that on," you breathed as you turned to finish your meal. Images
burned into your mind of the man you'd thought to be your faithful companion and lover filled your thoughts and
suddenly, the food didn't appeal to you.
"I don't feel very well, Kiku. I think I will just go lie down in my room," you said, turning your back to him.
"Wait, (f/n)-chan!" he exclaimed but you had left the room, leaving a very confused Kiku alone.

You laid on the floor, eyes wide open, staring blankly into the large full moon that was easily viewed from your room.
The storm had finally ceased and the night was clear and pure. You slid open the double door and slipped outside to
the small patio. You gazed at the innumerable amount of stars that filled the night sky. There was a quiet knock at
the door. As you turned, Kiku appeared. "(F/n)-chan? I came to check on you. I was worried you might be sick from
how you acted at dinner."
"I'm here, Kiku" you said as you waved, signaling him to come to the patio. Kiku stepped out and sat down beside you.
It was him again, who broke the silence. "(F/n)-chan, I want to apologize. It was not my business to ask, and I know it
made you uncomfortable."
"It's alright. I don't mind saying it, I just didn't think it was polite to bring it up. Besides," you beamed at him.
"You've done so much for me, and you don't even know me. You deserve to ask what you want."
His cheeks flushed pink. "You can tell me whatever you want to, I'd be more than happy to listen."
You took a deep breath as you recounted the events of today for him. When it came to your now ex-fiancee, you began
to tear up. You felt a light touch on your hand and realized that Kiku had placed his on top of yours, but his eyes
refused to meet yours. Your tear filled eyes could barely make out the expression on his face, but you smiled a real
smile at him for the first time today. He noticed it out of the corner of his eye.
"Forgive my intrusion, (f/n)-chan, but I must ask," he turned towards you, his muddy eyes filled with questions. "Do
you have anyone else here in Tokyo?"
Your gaze moved from his eyes to the hardwood patio paneling and shook your head no. "I came here to Tokyo
because I was transferred from my home town. I basically came here just to work, and now.. I have nothing."
Kiku fixed his eyes on your whimpering form, his heart breaking for you, a girl he found being drenched by the rain
and now, this cruel world. You felt his fingers gently lift your chin so you were facing him with shameful tear filled
eyes. The grooves of his lips curved into a polite smile as he used his other hand to wipe your tears away. This, this
was all you wanted, all you needed. You didn't need someone to tell you that everything was going to be okay, or for
them to just assist in building up your anger and sadness. You needed someone who was willing to show it to you..
You knew that it was a miracle that you met this man with the black umbrella in the rain.
He then removed his hands, his eyes never leaving your gaze. "I should probably leave you to get some sleep," he said
slowly getting up. You followed him, showing him to the door. Before he left, you instinctively reached out and
hugged him, catching him off guard.
"You know, Kiku," you whispered. "You know exactly what to say without even having to say it. Thank you."
He blinked in surprise and slowly returned your hug. His eyes flashed to the a small work badge on the dresser and
instantly his stomach turned. He broke apart from you, and bowed politely as he hurried to his room.

You shut the door, contemplating the recent events. You sighed a sigh of relief and laid down to sleep. Despite
everything that had happened, today could not have come to a more perfect close. Smiling, you fell into a deep worry
free slumber.

Kiku sat on the patio deck in his room, sipping his tea quietly. It had definitely surprised him when you hugged him
but, that's not what irked at his thoughts. It was that work badge.. He sighed deeply.
"My suggestion to budget cuts cost (f/n)-chan her job.. I need to make this right," he said to no one in particular.

You woke up well rested. After showering, you knocked on Kiku's door. There was no reply so you shrugged your
shoulders and walked past the front desk.
"Excuse me, Miss," the lady at the front desk called.
You turned and saw she held a small note in her hand. "A man left this for you."
A little puzzled, you walked up to the desk and took it gently out of her hand.
"I do hope you will enjoy your stay here," she replied before she turned her back to you and continued her work.
At this point, you were thoroughly and utterly confused so you tore open the letter.

 (F/n)-chan,
I apologize for having to leave so soon but I have some business to attend to. I've paid for you to stay for two weeks.
Please, make sure you enjoy your stay. I've enclosed my phone number if you need anything else. Please, don't
hesitate to call me.
                    Kiku Honda

Your lips curled into a sweet smile as you thought, "Actions really do speak louder than words, and it's a good thing
you aren't much for conversation, Kiku."