Beastars: A Symphony of Life

Chapter 63: A Demon During the Day, the Devil at Night

"That was a subpar performance," Shoon said as they left the theater.

"I thought it was terrible," Shoji remarked, teasing the hybrid.

"You think everything I love is terrible," the animal laughed.

"Not true," he said. "There are plenty of things you love that I like as well."

"Name one," Shoon requested.

"Your taste in music," he answered.

"Yeah I guess," the hybrid said. "But that's it?"

"You asked me to name one," Shoji said. "So I named one."

Shoon laughed and Shoji hugged him tighter when they stepped out into the night air. It wasn't cold, but he didn't want to lose him in the crowd. The opera had actually been enjoyable, and wasn't as bad as Shoji thought. He still had no idea what the entire plot was but he could see why it was Shoon's favorite. Lots of twists and turns that required an eye and ear for detail to understand, violence, romance, a mind-bending supernatural element, and a tragic ending, though he had said the ending wasn't as tragic as the ending to The Blue Eyed Figurehead, but this was a very close second. If Shoji saw it again, he would probably be able to piece the complete story together. But he'd have to sit through hours of mind numbing opera again, and that was something he couldn't do.

"Next time bring me some ear plugs," Shoji said. "That way I can zone out and get some sleep."

"Okay," Shoon said.

"So where to now?" he asked.

"Where do you think?" the hybrid asked.

"Already!?" he exclaimed, grabbing his boyfriend's black digital watch. It was indeed late. Wow, that opera had been long. Taken the whole second half of the day actually.

"A rather uneventful day," the hybrid said with a smile. "Which I guess is good, given the circumstances."

"No, that's boring," Shoji whined, playfully hanging off the hybrid's frame.

"Well then it's a good thing we're going home isn't it?" Shoon laughed, grabbing the canine and swinging him up into a hug. Shoji joined in his laugh and the two pressed their foreheads together. Shoon went to kiss him, but the pure animal stopped him by grabbing his nose with his hand.

"Save it for later," he said, teasing him with a lick to the nose. Shoon carried him the rest of the way to the motorcycle and sat him down on the passenger's seat. He swung on after unlocking the bike and revved the engine as they sped back towards The Drusk. The hybrid pulled his motorcycle into the alley and hid it behind the usual dumpster as Shoji slammed his fist on the door. The guard opened it and let the two in.

The club was loud and vibrant as ever. The bass of the music boomed in Shoji's ears and he felt the vibrations through the ground. The lights spun and danced with the tempo and lyrics of the song. Being the party animal he was, he couldn't help the feeling in his chest as his heart beat with the rhythm of the main floor. In all honesty, he preferred the secret basement level, but the lights up here were so pretty he couldn't help but be mesmerized. If the light display from up here were brought downstairs, it would've been heaven.

"I'm going to get a drink first," Shoon said. "Anything for you?"

"No," he said with a smile. "Saving my appetite."

The hybrid returned the smile.

"Be right back," he said.

Shoji watched him seamlessly blend into the crowd on his way up to the bar. Losing eye contact, the jackal fully embraced the music. He stepped in time, and twisted his body with the beat. He became lost in the moment and became completely oblivious to everyone around him. He seemed to become one with the music and no one took notice of him because everyone was doing the same thing in their own way. He only stopped when he smelled an all too familiar scent.