Disclaimer: If I owned Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu Love, Ryuu x Io would be canon! Then again, who said it isn't...
Before the age of twelve, Io Naruko had never felt any true fear. He never expected that something so small could frighten him so. Really, he never thought that anything would frighten him more than a decrease in stocks, so of course he was very surprised to learn that a certain pink-haired boy could twist his mind around as much as he did.
It happened to be the only summer that his parents had ever sent him away to a summer camp (one that was not in a different country, that is), and he didn't know exactly what to expect. He didn't know whether it was going to be calm and carefree, as advertised, or dirty and panicked – the kind of camp where the campers were all unwilling teenagers and the leaders would secretly smoke behind the latrines. It was just his luck that it happened to be the later of the two.
It wasn't really that bad at first. No one really spoke to him – though they made fun of him behind his back – and, of course, the leaders couldn't care what he did. While the other boys played sports, pranks and made dirty jokes on the second, Io found himself with his calculator, notebook and laptop, trying very hard to get wifi from around the camp.
It was the last trip of the summer before the camp let out, and Io was rather excited to learn that it was coming to an end. At least, he was before he learned that the last trip was a camping trip in the woods in which he and four other boys would be sharing one small tent, while all of the other campers divided themselves amongst their friends. He was very afraid.
He patiently watched as the other campers began putting up their tents, looking around every few minutes, checking for a head of pink hair amidst the others. Ryuu always ran off somewhere when he had the chance, enjoying every bit of the no-rules statement that seemed to apply throughout the camp. He laughed, ran around, even talked to some of the other boys. Io admired him for that.
Ryuu was the main reason that he even chose this camp to begin with. Io had never spent very much time with his friend during his summers, so, before he turned thirteen, he wanted to spend his last summer as a child with his best friend, even if only for a few weeks. Plus, Ryuu was worth it.
He was the best friend in the world, Io thought.
Once night finally fell, Io found himself trying very hard to sleep while all of the other tenants of his tent chatted away, laughing at their own innuendos and odd jokes. Io slammed his face against his pillow as many times as he could before he sat up and climbed out of the tent, unnoticed or ignored by the laughing boys. It wasn't even the noise and talking that bothered him, really. It was what they were talking about.
Not knowing exactly where he was supposed to go now, in the middle of the night, he set off to a nearby brook, only a few short strides away from their campsite. He moved passed a collection of tree branches and thick bushes until he found himself in the tiny hidden clearing concealing the brook from the trashed campers.
"What are you doing here?" Io jolted at the sound of his pink-haired friend's voice, unknown to him that Ryuu was pacing around the clearing, holding his cellphone up towards the sky.
"I should be asking you the same thing," Io said , shivering to the slight summer breeze.
"Well, I heard someone say that you could get internet nearby, and, well, it is a campsite after all, so I decided to check it out," Ryuu said, waving his pink phone at Io. "No luck."
Io laughed. Ryuu could never be without his phone for too long.
"Your turn," Ryuu said.
"Um..." Io began, "The guys in my tent were being very loud and, well, they also began talking about all the girls they've been with." Io could feel himself turning red.
"They are older," Ryuu said, not noticing Io's blushing expression.
"I know, it's just kind of awkward," Io said, feeling even more embarrassed.
"Oh," Ryuu said, finally noticing Io's embarrassment. "Haven't you ever... kissed anyone?"
Io looked down at his feet, unable to meet Ryuu's eyes. Why was he so embarrassed? It's not as if everyone has been kissed at his age anyway. "No."
Ryuu moved a little bit closer to Io, moving his hand to Io's shoulder. For some reason, Io couldn't help but notice how warm his shoulder suddenly felt.
"That's alright," he said and moved to meet Io's eyes. "I haven't either, you know."
"But," Io said, "You're always surrounded by girls. You're always texting them and talking about them."
"Yes, but texting is not the same as kissing, you know." Ryuu smiled and gestured to his phone once more.
"So, you've never done anything with a girl?" Io inquired, not knowing where this conversation could be going.
Ryuu's hand slowly began rubbing Io's shoulder, trying to comfort him, but instead, Io's face seemed to only get redder and redder. "Nope," he finally said.
Io turned to face him, noticing that his cheeks were also beginning to get a little pink. "That's alright," Io said. "You should be comfortable with the girls that you kiss," he whispered, shyly.
Ryuu turned him around so that they were both facing each other. "That's true," he said and smiled.
"I'm just afraid that I won't be any good when the time comes," Io said in a quite voice once more. He suddenly felt really aware of how close he and Ryuu were standing.
"I'm sure that you'll be great!" Ryuu smiled. He began to blush a darker shade of pink, so that his cheeks matched his hair. "Y-you know," he stammered, "W-we could, I mean, like, practice." He suddenly turned bright red and began to look around and laugh oddly. "I, well, I just thought that maybe we might as well get this whole 'first kiss' business over with, you know. It's not like it would mean anything, since we're two guys and all." He turned back to Io, who was staring at him with intense curiosity.
"Kind of like an experiment?" Io suggested. Neither of them were gay, after all, so it's not as though it would actually be a real kiss – just practice for the real thing.
"Yes, something like that," Ryuu said and shrugged. He placed his hand on Io's neck, then slowly traced it up his neck with just the tips of his fingers brushing the light, supple skin of Io's throat. Io gulped, feeling the heat off of Ryuu's fingertips burn like fire in its wake, spreading all across his body.
That's odd, he thought to himself. Just moments ago, he was shivering and now, he felt as though he was going to burn down at any second. Why did Ryuu's hand, his touch, feel so good? At the same time, why did it feel so wrong?
No, he told himself. This is just an experiment, just practice.
"Do you want to? Get it over with, I mean," Ryuu asked again and smiled out of embarrassment.
"It's just an experiment," was all that Io said, unknown to him whether he was warning Ryuu, giving him the answer, or assuring himself. He guess all three.
Ryuu gulped as well, as he slowly began trailing his hand up to Io's cheek with light touches. Io, unable to hold it in any longer, let out a tiny, quiet sigh, hoping that Ryuu hadn't heard it. Ryuu gave no indication to doing so, his hand finally pausing on Io's blushing cheek.
He slowly lowered himself to meet Io's eyes, their lips hovering only an inch apart. Ryuu shut is eyes as he closed the gap between them and his lips met Io's. Io, shocked at first, closed his eyes as well and leaned forward into the kiss, feeling the warmth and softness of Ryuu's pale pink lips. In that very moment, he wanted just a little bit more. He wanted Ryuu to open his mouth just a little bit, he wanted him to lick his bottom lip and demand entrance. He wanted Ryuu.
Finally, after what seemed like hours and had them both gasping for air, they broke apart, both obviously embarrassed. Ryuu recovered quickly, wiping the confusion off of his face and replacing it with an expression of ease and joy. Io suddenly felt cold without the warmth of the other boy pressed against him. He shivered, but not at the lack of warmth. How could he be thinking of his best friend in that way? He, the perfect son with the perfect life, he did not want to be a pervert. But, how could it be wrong when it felt so right?
"Well, that was easier than I though. See, now you won't be afraid about your next kiss anymore!" Ryuu called out brightly.
Io nodded. "Yes, exactly. Thanks. I hope that wasn't too hard on you," he said, without noticing the innuendo. As soon as the words left his lips, he regreted them and wanted nothing more than to take them back. He, Io Naruko, was actually regretful – this was a whole night of firsts.
"No, it was fine. Now I won't be scared anymore either and can kiss all the girls I want." Ryuu smiled charmingly, already taking out his pink phone to look through his contacts.
For the first time in his life, Io felt genuinely afraid. He didn't know what to say or do or think. He was lost and he was afraid. He was afraid of his pink-haired, girly best friend.
Io groaned loudly as he tumbled out of bed and on the floor. He slowly got up and began patting down his hair. Mornings like this only meant one thing – he had a nightmare. He sat down on his bed as his memories of last night's dream began to come back to him.
"Why am I dreaming about that now?" he asked himself out loud. "That happened four years ago. It shouldn't even matter anymore," he said to himself. He reached over to his nightstand and pulled off his laptop. Might as well brighten up his morning after that dreadful night by viewing the status of a few stocks. Io smiled, satisfied that, as always, they were only increasing. Maybe this day would not be so bad. After all, one stupid dream about something that happened so long ago – something that meant nothing, really – should not be able to ruin his day so easily.
He felt blood rushing to his cheeks as he recalled last night's dream. The feeling of his best friend's hands on his arms, on his throat, on his cheek. Ryuu's pink hair brushing against his nose lightly as their lips touched, his breath growing closer and closer to Io's skin before closing the tiny gap between the two of them.
For a second, he thought of what else could have happened had they not broken apart, had they decided to take it a step forward. He imagined the two of them breaking apart for a moment, slowly beginning to move away from each other when, suddenly, their eyes would meet, their hands would find each other once more and their lips would touch. Suddenly, Io imagined Ryuu, biting on his bottom lip, demanding entrance inside, which Io allowed. He thought that he could practically feel Ryuu's tongue slipping past his lips, just as Io's tongue began to slip into his. Their tongues intertwined, feeling parts of each other that Io had never thought that they would.
He began to imagine Ryuu's hands running over his shoulders, slowly rubbing them before moving them lower, onto Io's back. He could feel his back beginning to heat up at the thought of Ryuu's hands running against it, moving lower. They seemed to find their way down his back and up his shirt, pressing skin on skin. His hands would feel like flames, Io knew.
Io let out a tiny sigh and immediately regretted it. Io Naruko does not sigh, especially when thinking of another man! No, he's calm and composed – not vulnerable and hormonal. How could he let something like this happen? And yet, he couldn't help but let his mind wander back to his fantasy. The imaginary feeling of Ryuu's hands on his bare back.
It seems... good, he thought, though he knew it was the complete opposite. He wasn't gay, after all, and nor was Ryuu. He was always texting girls and talking about how they all love him, which of course was obvious. He was kind, gentile, cute, and, on top of that, he was charming. Really, what girl wouldn't want him?
Images of his best friend began to flash in Io's mind. Ryuu, as he smiled at a classmate or laughed at a joke. Ryuu, as he tried so hard to impress all of the other boys at their school each month for the Pretty Boy contest. The look on his face when he realized that he got another vote in his favor. And then, suddenly, the images began to change. Ryuu in his swimming trunks. Ryuu in the changing room after gym class. Ryuu at the bathhouse.
"No!" Io exclaimed sharply. He was not going to be one of those perverted friends who you can't even go to a bathhouse with, fearing that he'll stare at you parts the entire time. It's normal for teenage boys to think of their friends like that after such crazy dreams. People have these thoughts all the time. It's not like Io's were any different or special.
Suddenly, as if noticing for the first time today that it was a school day, Io snapped his attention to the alarm clock on his night stand. He had turned his alarm off so that he good get a nice rest the previous night. That didn't really work out as well as he thought it would.
Damn, he thought as he quickly rushed to his bathroom. He was going to be late again! He realized then that today was not going to be a good day after all.
"It had to be that stupid alarm clock," Io mumbled to himself. There was no other explanation for him to have had that dream last night and to have woken up so late. He was pretty sure that the alarm clock was out to get revenge for all of the times he's smacked it back to sleep.
He quickly plopped down in his seat, just one minute before the class would start. He was so close to being late that morning. It was only because of his limousine that he was able to make it to school with a minute to spare.
Just as he settled down in his seat, someone sat down in the chair ahead of him and turned to face him.
"You were almost late this morning!" Ryuu chanted happily in front of Io.
"So? You are late all the time," Io said and rolled his eyes.
"Exactly! But you're not me. So, what made you almost late then?" Ryuu raised his eyebrows.
"A problem with my account that I had to fix. I had to stay up all night," Io lied, hoping that Ryuu couldn't notice the tiny blush that was spreading on his face.
"Oh, money. Of course. What else is new?" Ryuu said and smiled. Io tried very hard not to notice how his smile always made his entire face brighten up. "So, have you heard the news?"
"What news?" That was odd. Io was certain that he always knew everything that went on around him. That was his job – to know and compare the status of his surroundings and think of how to use them to make money. It was more fun than it sounded – in his eyes, anyway.
"The trip to Paris. The school is sponsoring a fair and students who make the most money during the fair can participate in a trip to Paris!" Ryuu said happily and grinned.
Make the most money. Making the most money was Io's golden rule. He lived by the vow to make more money! He didn't really care that much over a trip to Paris, but the opportunity to compete in making money in a short amount of time made Io shiver with joy.
"I knew you'd love it! They announced it this morning," said an overly excited Ryuu, now noticing his friend's matching expression. "So, then, we can both participate! The stands are supposed to be in groups of two or three, so I thought maybe you could be my partner? I mean, I heard that French girls are supposed to be really hot, so -"
"Alright," Io cut him off and smiled, already calculating the most efficient ways to make the most amounts of money. With Ryuu in the picture, he suddenly had a whole other range of possible sales techniques.
"Somehow, I feel like I just signed myself a death wish," Ryuu said warily, watching the expression Io's face change from that of excitement to calculating, which was very rarely a good – or very safe, for that matter – sign.
"Yes, I think you have," Io said with a light smiled. The joy of making money was such an underrated one. Alright, alright, so maybe the favor of one day can't be judged simply by a terrible morning, Io decided. So far, at least one good thing has come out of today.
A/N: This is my first fan fiction (that I've published, anyway), and I just really wanted to write something for this anime because I think that it deserves more recognition than it receives. I know that the prologue wasn't exactly great, but I hope that it wasn't too awful.
So, anyway, I am already writing the next chapter and, if anyone notices any mistakes in my writing, please tell me so that I can fix them! ^-^