Chibijago! The Photo

Theme One: The Photo

Zane was the last to arrive at the coffee shop he was to meet the rest of his brothers. The Sunday afternoon more hectic than usual brought with it ill-mannered pedestrians lumbering about and a relentless sun that gave the circuits beneath his titanium body a slight twinge of discomfort. Needless to say that those anomalies posed enough of a bother to make even him somewhat temperamental. But in spite of the rather disconcerting trial the day brought, he was in a particularly good mood. For in his hand he gripped an envelope which contained pictures of a vacation expo Ayane and the other Kunoichi partook in a week prior.

"Oi Zane, you're late. Where've you been?" Kai greeted, being the first to see the tall Russian hybrid.

"Forgive me, brothers, but the photo develop workshop was quite busy. That is the reason for my tardiness," Zane replied courteously, taking a seat beside Cole at their usual booth.

"Don't sweat it, man" Jay chimed with his trademark grin. "You didn't miss much. We were just shooting the breeze until you got here."

"Are those them?" Cole asked, eyeing the envelope Zane carried curiously.

"Yes," Zane replied and removed the pictures from the manila pouch quickly. "These are the Kunoichi's vacation photographs they took while in Delcana."

The three men leaned over to inspect the photos as Zane placed them down on the table one by one. It was a real shame that the Ninja couldn't join their wives due to varying circumstances, but it was nice that their significant others managed to snag a break. Smiles and observations were passed around during the blatant ogling of the ladies in their swimwear. From the four of them playing beach volleyball to although innocent but provocative poses, the guys admired their mates swimmingly (pun intended).

However when Zane got to the last one, he stopped and frowned at it in bewilderment. He tried turning it multiple ways, but alas nothing could be done to help him determine what exactly he was looking at.

"Hmm…that's odd," he mumbled while still staring inquisitively at the photo in his hand. "Ayane said that I would particularly fancy the final photograph on the roll, but I can't discern what I am looking at."

He extended his hand further so that his surrounding brothers could see and judge.

"Yeah, it is kinda dark and blurry…" Cole said squinting at the snapshot, his own frown marring his features.

"Perhaps it is the eye of Jupiter?" Zane speculated and Kai shrugged.

"Or a piece of pepperoni?"

"Do you believe it may be an unidentified flying object?" Zane suddenly gaped with intrigue.

Cole rolled his eyes. "Yes Zane. It's a UFO cased closed."

Jay took a bite out of his blueberry muffin and glanced at the picture briefly before returning his attention back to his favorite pastry cake. "Okay, I'm not sure what you all are seeing, but that's a nipple shot."

"What!?"

"Say what?!"

Cole and Kai both exclaimed although Zane released a short gasp and retracted the picture from their prying eyes at blinding speed and flipped the picture before cradling it against his chest.

He blinked rapidly in astonishment. Could it truly be…?

"Ayane did that for you, man?" Kai gawked, eyes wide in disbelief.

Jay chuckled. "I remember when she used to be soooo shy," he slurred purposefully. "Now you've turned her into quite the little minx, Zane." The blue ninja wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at his flabbergasted brother.

"A-And you mistook it for a flying saucer!" Cole sniped with barely contained laughter.

Zane's eyebrow twitched, a small spark of electricity curving from the point of agitation. "All of you are to erase the image from your minds immediately!" He commanded, but his brothers continued to smirk and chortle, never shying away from an opportunity to tease, never, and now Zane was the chosen target for today's ribbing.

"Oi, maybe you can use it for the wallpaper on your laptop!" Kai crowed next, nearly causing Jay to choke on his muffin after his sudden guffaw. Zane sighed hopelessly and snuck a peek at the photo while his brothers proceeded with entertaining themselves at his expense.

His gaze softened and smoldered in both appreciation and euphoria, as it swept the though blackened backdrop but clearly rosebud protrusion displayed off-center. The thought of one of Ayane's most private of areas never crossed his mind when he first glanced at the photo but now that it has…it was oh so very blatantly distinguishable. Zane had memorized every dip in muscle, every curve and contour of his wife's delicious sun-kissed body over the years they've been married, and just the very thought of his usually meek and bashful angel doing this for him, made his Emotional Framework send tantalizing pulses of desire and adoration to his core, all for his love.

But…what could've provoked her to do this? It's true that Ayane had become more assertive concerning many different prospects…even the most sensuous ones, but to do something like this was completely outside her norm. Zane could just imagine his blushing wife…realizing only one shot was left on the roll and perhaps in a sudden burst of spontaneity and exhibitionism, snuck away to a darkened area of seclusion and dropped her top and hastily snapped a shot without bothering to adjust the focus or enable the flash.

Zane was absolutely…enamored.

"—yeah and it looked a bit perky, must've been cold at the time," Zane heard Cole induce with a heavy snicker.

Releasing another sigh, Zane pocketed his treasure and slid out of the booth to stand. He faced his pesky younger brothers and gathered a perfectly calculated portion of his power and then calmly almost serenely pointed his ice charged finger at them. A picturesque beam of winter shot from the tip and instantly crystallized and froze not only the entire booth but the three occupants as well.

Oops…

Stuck in awkward animations, the other three ninja cut their still movable eyeballs to their aggressor in shock. In blissful disregard to their plight, Zane called over a waiter.

"Yes, once my brothers have finished defrosting please bring over the following hot beverages to them: apple cider for the man in red there, hot chocolate for the one in blue, and for that gentleman with his mouth opened like a fish, your best Portuguese blend."

The young blond waiter glanced from Zane to the three perfect crystal statues as the latter called out which drink should go to which patron in silent attentiveness.

"Um…sure." He resigned dutifully.

The Ninja of Ice then gave his usual charming smile before turning on his heel and striding toward the exit with the poise of a prince. Oh yes, it was about time for Zane to blow this popsicle stand for he had a very…comely wife to return home to.