The Search
Seiryuu Girl: Now, this is going to be a fairly long authors note, because I have to explain what I'm doing. Well, this is a sequel to SR. It's set about six months after the exchange trip and is still about Tobias and Akira and their love. Seeing as I'm mean, they have a much bigger obstacle than Mia this time. Both Tobias and Mia have discovered their powers and all their memories.
Disclaimer: I don't own FY.
Tobias checked through the mail listlessly.
"Bill... bill... bill... catalogue... one of those stupid raffles that cost about fifteen dollars to enter and you never win... bill... that's all," he said to himself, sorting through the letters. "As usual, nothing for me."
"Tobias, anything for me?" Mia asked brightly. It was her birthday in a few days, and she was expecting cards from relatives that she'd never met but still sent her money every year.
"No. Unless you want a bill," said Tobias.
"Seiryuu, Tobias, I thought Ryuuen would get you out of this stupid depression," swore Mia. "Seriously, you he hasn't dumped you, has he?"
"No, he hasn't," said Tobias, not really wanting to talk about it.
"Then be happy! He's cute, he's sweet, and he likes you, even though he knows who you were!" Mia said.
"Is my private life any of your business?" Tobias questioned rhetorically.
Mia answered anyway. "You being depressed is. Don't think Mum and Dad haven't noticed. They have."
"Well, good for them, they can imagine things as well. I'm not depressed, I'm very happy. Really," Tobias said, smiling. "See? Not depressed."
"If you say so," Mia said. The issue of Akira had brought the twins closer together. After the boy gone back to Japan, Mia had comforted Tobias. She had been changed a lot, she was now doing her best at school, and Jenna had become her best friend.
"I do say so," Tobias said. He went into his room and slammed the door.
Sitting down on his bed, Tobias let his tears flow without restraint. He had loved Akira with all his heart, and for so long he'd believed the other teenager had loved him too.
"What crap," he whispered to himself. "How could anyone love me?"
"I wouldn't say it was too difficult," a voice said from the window. Tobias looked around quickly to see the ever-smiling face of Ryuuen there. Not exactly who he had hoped for.
"Hi Ryuu-chan," Tobias said, smiling weakly.
"Hey, Tobias, what's got you so upset?" Ryuuen asked, climbing in through the open window.
"Nothing..." lied Tobias pathetically.
"Sure, I believe that. Really, it isn't *still* that bastard, is it?" inquired Ryuuen.
"He wasn't a bastard," said Tobias. His tears had started again.
"Look, Tobias, no offence to your taste, but he was. I mean, I understand that you were in love with him. I understand that he had to go back. But to never write? Never contact you ever again? That makes a bastard in my opinion," said Ryuuen.
"He must have a reason," Tobias said. He was starting to not even believe it himself.
"Yeah, he used you. He thought 'oh, there's a cute guy, probably easy to get in bed'. He used you and then he dumped you. You know it. He was Nakago, after all," said Ryuuen, wrapping his arm around Tobias' shoulders comfortingly.
Tobias pushed him away. "I was Tomo, Ryuuen. Am I a perverted, masochistic creep?"
"No, you're not. But you do like that awful opera stuff, and the make-up. You have some of his qualities," Ryuuen stated. "Just the same as I'm partly Nuriko."
"Yeah, you have the self-sacrificing crap down pat," Tobias said sharply. "Look, Ryuuen, you're great, but find yourself a better boyfriend. Someone who loves you."
"But I love you, Tobias. You need someone to love you, and it's not going to be Akira. He's gone, and he probably still laughs to all his friends about that idiot back in Australia," Ryuuen said harshly.
Tobias realised that this was probably true, but he didn't want to hear it. "Look, Ryuuen, leave me alone. I don't want to hear that I'm being stupid. I get it all the time."
Ryuuen didn't protest, he simply kissed Tobias on the cheek and climbed out the window. "Think about it, Tobias," he said, by way of goodbye.
Tobias did think about it, but every time he tried to convince himself that Akira had never loved him, he remembered the boy's beautiful eyes and delighted smile when Tobias had told him for the first ever time he loved him. The first kiss... the first time Tobias had ever made love...
Why can't I forget? he asked in his mind. What's wrong with me? Akira never loved me, he lied to me! He made me feel like this. It's all his fault!
"It's all your fault," Tobias whispered to the framed picture he had beside his bed.
Liza Henderson sat up late at night, worrying about her son. She couldn't imagine the hurt the boy was going through. She had been through her share of relationships, but never had she been subjected to anything like Tobias' pain. The only thing she could think of that would help was seeing Akira, and that was a hopeless cause, wasn't it?
"Isn't it?" she asked.
"Isn't what?" her husband asked. Apparently he had not been sleeping either.
"Well, I was thinking, Mark, and I realised that perhaps the only way to help Tobias is for him to see Akira again..." Liza explained.
"Yes, I know that. But that's a hopeless cause," said Mark.
"That's what I thought... but isn't worthwhile to try? Just to make sure it isn't impossible." Liza fixed her husband with a questioning stare.
"But if Tobias finds Akira hates him, won't he be hurt even more?" Mr Henderson asked.
"I don't think so. You see, what Tobias is upset about is the disappointment. Every weekday ever since Akira left he's been checking the mail to see if he's gotten a letter. Every time he's been disappointed. Every time, Mark. He doesn't know what's going on, and that's why he's depressed. It's not the rejection that's hurting him, it's the not knowing whether he's rejected or not," said Mrs Henderson.
"Why doesn't he just give up? That Ryuuen boy he's going out with is nice, and he loves Tobias," commented Mark.
"He doesn't give up because you can't choose who you fall in love with. Tobias loved Akira, and he still does, even if those feelings weren't returned. Ryuuen is great, you're right. But Ryuuen isn't Akira, and that's Tobias' problem. No one is Akira but Akira," sighed Liza.
"You're going on with your psychologist talk again," Mark remarked.
"Sorry. What I mean is Tobias wants every boy to be like Akira. Ryuuen has come closest, that's why they're still together," explained Liza. "It's a subconscious thing. Happens a lot. People tend to model later relationships on their first love, especially if they still love that person."
"So you mean if you left, I'd go around looking for someone like you?" questioned Mark.
"Yes."
"Don't go. There aren't enough yous for me to find another one," joked Mr Henderson.
"I wasn't intending on leaving. I think that perhaps we could... push Tobias in the right direction. Perhaps... suggest he go to Japan?" Liza said.
"Go to Japan?" Mr Henderson asked in shock. "We were talking about that?"
"Of course. How else is he going to find Akira? In the phone book?"
"I guess not... we don't have enough money for that though," said Mark in a worried tone.
"No... maybe Tobias can get a job," suggested Liza.
"A job? Where? I'm not having him working at McDonalds or anything," said Mr Henderson. He was a chef, and hated take-away shops.
"I wouldn't even think about it! No... maybe we can get the money from our savings account..." Mrs Henderson mused.
"The one we were keeping for a holiday around the world when the kids leave home?" Mark asked, amazed that his wife would be willing to sacrifice this.
"Yes. I think that Tobias' mental health is more important than a holiday. He could be suicidal, for all we know," said Mrs Henderson.
Her husband bit his lip. "You're right. Do you want to tell him tomorrow?"
"No, no. He won't go if we suggest it. We have to put the idea into his head, so he thinks he thought of it. That way he'll want to go," Tobias' mother said. Her husband nodded in agreement.
Seiryuu Girl: Now, this is going to be a fairly long authors note, because I have to explain what I'm doing. Well, this is a sequel to SR. It's set about six months after the exchange trip and is still about Tobias and Akira and their love. Seeing as I'm mean, they have a much bigger obstacle than Mia this time. Both Tobias and Mia have discovered their powers and all their memories.
Disclaimer: I don't own FY.
Tobias checked through the mail listlessly.
"Bill... bill... bill... catalogue... one of those stupid raffles that cost about fifteen dollars to enter and you never win... bill... that's all," he said to himself, sorting through the letters. "As usual, nothing for me."
"Tobias, anything for me?" Mia asked brightly. It was her birthday in a few days, and she was expecting cards from relatives that she'd never met but still sent her money every year.
"No. Unless you want a bill," said Tobias.
"Seiryuu, Tobias, I thought Ryuuen would get you out of this stupid depression," swore Mia. "Seriously, you he hasn't dumped you, has he?"
"No, he hasn't," said Tobias, not really wanting to talk about it.
"Then be happy! He's cute, he's sweet, and he likes you, even though he knows who you were!" Mia said.
"Is my private life any of your business?" Tobias questioned rhetorically.
Mia answered anyway. "You being depressed is. Don't think Mum and Dad haven't noticed. They have."
"Well, good for them, they can imagine things as well. I'm not depressed, I'm very happy. Really," Tobias said, smiling. "See? Not depressed."
"If you say so," Mia said. The issue of Akira had brought the twins closer together. After the boy gone back to Japan, Mia had comforted Tobias. She had been changed a lot, she was now doing her best at school, and Jenna had become her best friend.
"I do say so," Tobias said. He went into his room and slammed the door.
Sitting down on his bed, Tobias let his tears flow without restraint. He had loved Akira with all his heart, and for so long he'd believed the other teenager had loved him too.
"What crap," he whispered to himself. "How could anyone love me?"
"I wouldn't say it was too difficult," a voice said from the window. Tobias looked around quickly to see the ever-smiling face of Ryuuen there. Not exactly who he had hoped for.
"Hi Ryuu-chan," Tobias said, smiling weakly.
"Hey, Tobias, what's got you so upset?" Ryuuen asked, climbing in through the open window.
"Nothing..." lied Tobias pathetically.
"Sure, I believe that. Really, it isn't *still* that bastard, is it?" inquired Ryuuen.
"He wasn't a bastard," said Tobias. His tears had started again.
"Look, Tobias, no offence to your taste, but he was. I mean, I understand that you were in love with him. I understand that he had to go back. But to never write? Never contact you ever again? That makes a bastard in my opinion," said Ryuuen.
"He must have a reason," Tobias said. He was starting to not even believe it himself.
"Yeah, he used you. He thought 'oh, there's a cute guy, probably easy to get in bed'. He used you and then he dumped you. You know it. He was Nakago, after all," said Ryuuen, wrapping his arm around Tobias' shoulders comfortingly.
Tobias pushed him away. "I was Tomo, Ryuuen. Am I a perverted, masochistic creep?"
"No, you're not. But you do like that awful opera stuff, and the make-up. You have some of his qualities," Ryuuen stated. "Just the same as I'm partly Nuriko."
"Yeah, you have the self-sacrificing crap down pat," Tobias said sharply. "Look, Ryuuen, you're great, but find yourself a better boyfriend. Someone who loves you."
"But I love you, Tobias. You need someone to love you, and it's not going to be Akira. He's gone, and he probably still laughs to all his friends about that idiot back in Australia," Ryuuen said harshly.
Tobias realised that this was probably true, but he didn't want to hear it. "Look, Ryuuen, leave me alone. I don't want to hear that I'm being stupid. I get it all the time."
Ryuuen didn't protest, he simply kissed Tobias on the cheek and climbed out the window. "Think about it, Tobias," he said, by way of goodbye.
Tobias did think about it, but every time he tried to convince himself that Akira had never loved him, he remembered the boy's beautiful eyes and delighted smile when Tobias had told him for the first ever time he loved him. The first kiss... the first time Tobias had ever made love...
Why can't I forget? he asked in his mind. What's wrong with me? Akira never loved me, he lied to me! He made me feel like this. It's all his fault!
"It's all your fault," Tobias whispered to the framed picture he had beside his bed.
Liza Henderson sat up late at night, worrying about her son. She couldn't imagine the hurt the boy was going through. She had been through her share of relationships, but never had she been subjected to anything like Tobias' pain. The only thing she could think of that would help was seeing Akira, and that was a hopeless cause, wasn't it?
"Isn't it?" she asked.
"Isn't what?" her husband asked. Apparently he had not been sleeping either.
"Well, I was thinking, Mark, and I realised that perhaps the only way to help Tobias is for him to see Akira again..." Liza explained.
"Yes, I know that. But that's a hopeless cause," said Mark.
"That's what I thought... but isn't worthwhile to try? Just to make sure it isn't impossible." Liza fixed her husband with a questioning stare.
"But if Tobias finds Akira hates him, won't he be hurt even more?" Mr Henderson asked.
"I don't think so. You see, what Tobias is upset about is the disappointment. Every weekday ever since Akira left he's been checking the mail to see if he's gotten a letter. Every time he's been disappointed. Every time, Mark. He doesn't know what's going on, and that's why he's depressed. It's not the rejection that's hurting him, it's the not knowing whether he's rejected or not," said Mrs Henderson.
"Why doesn't he just give up? That Ryuuen boy he's going out with is nice, and he loves Tobias," commented Mark.
"He doesn't give up because you can't choose who you fall in love with. Tobias loved Akira, and he still does, even if those feelings weren't returned. Ryuuen is great, you're right. But Ryuuen isn't Akira, and that's Tobias' problem. No one is Akira but Akira," sighed Liza.
"You're going on with your psychologist talk again," Mark remarked.
"Sorry. What I mean is Tobias wants every boy to be like Akira. Ryuuen has come closest, that's why they're still together," explained Liza. "It's a subconscious thing. Happens a lot. People tend to model later relationships on their first love, especially if they still love that person."
"So you mean if you left, I'd go around looking for someone like you?" questioned Mark.
"Yes."
"Don't go. There aren't enough yous for me to find another one," joked Mr Henderson.
"I wasn't intending on leaving. I think that perhaps we could... push Tobias in the right direction. Perhaps... suggest he go to Japan?" Liza said.
"Go to Japan?" Mr Henderson asked in shock. "We were talking about that?"
"Of course. How else is he going to find Akira? In the phone book?"
"I guess not... we don't have enough money for that though," said Mark in a worried tone.
"No... maybe Tobias can get a job," suggested Liza.
"A job? Where? I'm not having him working at McDonalds or anything," said Mr Henderson. He was a chef, and hated take-away shops.
"I wouldn't even think about it! No... maybe we can get the money from our savings account..." Mrs Henderson mused.
"The one we were keeping for a holiday around the world when the kids leave home?" Mark asked, amazed that his wife would be willing to sacrifice this.
"Yes. I think that Tobias' mental health is more important than a holiday. He could be suicidal, for all we know," said Mrs Henderson.
Her husband bit his lip. "You're right. Do you want to tell him tomorrow?"
"No, no. He won't go if we suggest it. We have to put the idea into his head, so he thinks he thought of it. That way he'll want to go," Tobias' mother said. Her husband nodded in agreement.