Author's notes and warning: I'm going for a less sappy story this time around. Well, I'll try anyway. Unfortunately, I'm totally sappy, so this will be hard…but doable! I don't normally do well with too many characters, as I tend to lose focus but having tried my hand in multiple couples in 'Irreplaceable' and managed somewhat…I will try writing a bit of Hotohori and Nuriko (sap) as well as Chichiri and Tasuki (less sap) story. My first time at writing H/N fic…let me know what you think?
I think you know how I like my Chichiri by now…strong…in this story, um…maybe too strong? I don't know; tell me?
You know how some incredibly well thought out and well planned stories don't get the boys together in the first couple of chapters? You know to build background plot, set-up story line, introduce characters, etc…? Well, this isn't one of them. Heh heh heh… I'm an impatient soul…the boys are meeting this chapter! Okay?
Violence, minor gay bashing, foul language, and some warm fuzzy feelings up ahead…(waff, from the author as she thinks about Chichiri…. wipes drool Gomen…)
Disclaimer: Not mine…
Songs of the Heart – Chapter One: The Meeting
By Moonraven
"Hotohori-chan! Oh, yes! Harder…please…" panted one delicate young man as he writhe on the picnic blanket.
"NURIKO NO BAKA!" Tasuki yelled at his friend. "You are SO fucked up man!" He looked around the park to make sure no one heard Nuriko's near explicit sleep talking; no one was around. He shook his head and yanked none too gently on the thick black braid.
With a surprised yelp, Nuriko jerked up on the blanket and pulled his braid free, holding it protectively as he blinked repeatedly. A disappointed look clouded his pretty face as he realized that it was yet again another dream.
"Shit, Nuri, why don't you fucking tell him already?" Tasuki gave his friend a scowl. "Then maybe you can help me write the next song rather than dream about him?" He motioned to the note pad pointedly.
"Ah! Sorry, Tas-chan!" Nuriko grabbed the pad instantly, beaming an apologetic smile at his friend. "There's nothing to tell." He flipped a few pages and flopped down on his stomach, chewing thoughtfully on the end of the pencil.
"Like hell, there isn't." Tasuki yanked the long braid again, earning a glare from Nuriko. "You've been giving him the 'eye' ever since I've know you. And now you fucking dream…that kind of dreams with him? Nothing to tell, my ass."
Nuriko looked down silently at the pad in front of him. "He's like you, Tas-chan, he doesn't swing that way. If he finds out, he'll hate me."
"How do you know?" Tasuki asked almost impatiently. "You've been friends since…forever! He'll never hate you."
"Yeah, friends. Not lovers." He sighed then turned sharply towards Tasuki. "Swear you'll never tell."
"No such thing, man." Tasuki flashed his friend a fanged grin, full of mischief. "You'll never know when it'll come in handy."
"I can beat the crap out of you, Tasuki!" Nuriko warned, eyes twinkling in return.
"Hmph! You and what army?" Tasuki snorted, knowing full well that Nuriko needed only his fist. The boy's got some major right hook, not to mention an incredible strength, uncommon in someone so small.
Nuriko held up his right hand and wiggled his fingers. "Hmm…these, care to try?"
Tasuki pounced, catching the smaller man off guard and tickled him in his sides. Nuriko squealed and doubled over, trying to escape the assaulting hands as peels of laughter escaped his lips.
"Give up?" Tasuki asked, grinning wickedly.
"You cheated!" Panted Nuriko, but his time for an entirely different reason than the dream. Tasuki resumed his attack and Nuriko tried rolling away, resulting in both the men tumbling down the gentle grassy slope.
When they stopped rolling, Nuriko was pinned under Tasuki, still laughing, tears rolling down his face.
"Careful, Tas-chan, one of your many conquests might see us. How will you ever explain it?" Nuriko teased his friend.
Tasuki didn't bother getting off the smaller man. "Shit, man, the whole fucking world knows I'm straight and that we're just friends…now if Hotohori-chan saw us…" He wiggled his brows suggestively.
Nuriko squealed some more and giggled as he shoved Tasuki off him. "Baka…"
"Aw…looky here, guys. A couple o' queers." A burly voiced sounded to their right and Tasuki whipped his head around in surprise.
"What ever shall we do?" Another voice chimed in, clearly contemptuous.
Nuriko looked around nervously. He could put up a good fight if necessary but there were quite a few of them. Damn! Did they stumble on the whole soccer team or something?
Tasuki got up slowly and stood over Nuriko protectively. This didn't bode well with the smaller man and after rolling his eyes; Nuriko came to stand next to his friend.
"Look! The fags wanted to play!" A tall large man who easily stood a foot taller than Tasuki said as he elbowed his friend enthusiastically. "I think we should play with 'em or maybe teach 'em to keep their fucking sickness at home!" The rest of the group laughed along with him.
Tasuki turned to Nuriko and whispered fiercely. "When I give you the go, run for it!"
Nuriko stared at him in horror. "Are you nuts?" He whispered back just a vehemently. "There're at least ten of them! I'm NOT leaving you."
"Nuri…" He growled but was cut off as he felt a hard blow to the side of his head.
"Tasuki!" Nuriko yelled his friend's name as he saw Tasuki went down. He stooped over Tasuki's stunned body and was yanked sharply to the left by his hair. Nuriko yelped in pain as he reached for his braid when another thug slammed a fist into his gut. His breath knocked out of him, Nuriko doubled over in pain as he crouched beside his friend.
Tasuki swore under his breath. With lightning speed, he launched himself at the ruffian who had hit Nuriko. The large man fell, not knowing what hit him. Tasuki whirled around; ready to take down the next guy…then froze. As did all the thugs.
Not ten feet away from them stood a man dressed completely in black. He was tall and lean. Black turtle neck sweater clung to his toned chest and tucked neatly into a snug black jeans. He had short brown hair that fell in an unruly bang across his face. His one visible eye glared at them coldly, as if daring them to continue in his presence. He didn't move, he didn't say a word. He didn't have to. Everything about him screamed control and cold fury. Tasuki wasn't sure if the anger was directed at him or at the thugs, it felt more like it was generally there for the mass. The man had one hand clamped loosely on the strap of his backpack that he had slung over one shoulder while his other hand was shoved into his jeans pocket.
Tasuki shivered at the sight of the stranger. A sense of familiarity washed over him though he wasn't sure why. He'd certainly never met the man but there was something about his posture, about that gleam in his one eye…then the wind blew. Tasuki caught his breath. Underneath the thick bangs, the man had a scar across the left side of his face, where his left eye should be…he had only one good eye…
A strange aching lump formed in Tasuki's chest and stomach. What was this he was feeling? Who was this man? He was vaguely aware of Nuriko standing and moving to his right elbow. His small friend was also watching the strange man in black.
"Hey, Akio, that's the guy, man." One of the thugs whispered to the other. Tasuki looked sharply at them and was surprised to find fear written across their faces.
"What guy?" The man called Akio asked, clearly irritated. A couple of his men gathered around him and they whispered among themselves.
"It can't be!" Akio nearly shouted. "Besides, don't cha wanna know if the rumors were true?" He said with a smirk. "C'mon, Yoshio! There's more of us!"
"He was outnumbered that time too!" The man called Yoshio answered, slowly backing away. The others murmured their agreement as they too began moving back.
"Ya wimps!" Akio yelled at his gang and paused when the strange man in black began walking along the path towards them.
The man could just be going along on his business, thought Tasuki in amusement. After all, they were standing next to the path he was walking on. It's not like he was coming towards THEM.
As the man moved closer, Akio lost his nerve and he too ran the way his friends had gone. Nuriko burst out laughing at the sight of ten or so grown men running like rabbits from the one man. He glanced back to the man to say his thanks when he caught that icy glare. Nuriko swallowed hard and the words stopped cold in his throat.
The man then ignored them and continued along the path, walking right pass them, without as much as a glance.
"Hey, wait a minute." Tasuki called as he ran after the man. The man ignored him and continued walking.
"Hey! I just want to say thanks, man." Tasuki ran across the path and stopped in front of the man. If the silent man wanted to continue without acknowledging him, he would have to walk right over the redhead.
The man stopped and stared at Tasuki blandly. Tasuki bristled. He would have preferred that cold glare; it implied at least that the redhead was worthy of SOME emotion.
The man continued to stare at Tasuki silently. They were the same height thought Tasuki was slightly huskier. He shouldn't feel inferior, yet…what was it about this man…?
Tasuki cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Er…thanks, man."
The man frowned then glanced indifferently at Nuriko, then back at the redhead.
"Get a room." The man said evenly and made a move to start walking again.
Tasuki and Nuriko gasped in unison. Tasuki's face reddened and he stood his ground. "What the hell? It ain't like that!" He shouted his outraged and managed to get within inches of the stranger's face. He had such a beautiful face… What the hell…? Tasuki shook himself mentally and backed away as if he was struck.
The man's frown deepened though he stood his ground. His one brown eye searched Tasuki's golden ones closely. Then he moved around Tasuki, off the path and circled back on after he had passed the fuming redhead.
"Fuck!" Tasuki yelled out his frustration. Who the hell did that man think he was? Tasuki managed to get in front of the man again. "Wait a minute here! It's not what you think! We're not like…THAT!"
The man's seemingly perpetual frown deepened yet again. He let out a sigh. Tasuki was surprised; it was the first time the man had shown any kind of emotion that hadn't belong to an ice cube.
"I don't care." He said shortly then took a deep breath. When he looked at Tasuki again, his eye was expressionless. Mr. Freeze was back. "Get out of my way."
Tasuki felt a sharp pain somewhere in his chest. What did it matter? The stranger was right in a way. Why should the man care either way? Why was he trying so hard to convince this heartless enigma that he was not with Nuriko?
Tasuki stepped slightly to the side and looked anywhere but at the man. "Yeah, sure."
The man gave him an amused look before passing him. Tasuki didn't move far enough away and the man didn't bother walking off the path to avoid physical contact. The stranger's elbow brushed against Tasuki chest and the redhead's breath hitched in his throat. The scent and feel of the man filled Tasuki's senses and he nearly loss his balance. His breaths came in short pants as he stared after the man. Who the hell was he? Why did the cold bastard have such an affect on him?
"Ne, Tasuki." Nuriko called from where he stood. "Who was that guy?" He too was staring after the stranger.
"I don't know. Nuri." He answered, eyes never leaving the strong broad back. "I don't know."
Nuriko walked over to his friend and gave him a worried look. "Tasuki? What's the matter? You looked like you've seen a ghost or something."
Tasuki looked back at his friend and shook his head. "What a fucking jerk. C'mon, Nuri, let's get back to our stuff. He turned to look in the direction the man had gone and gave a disappointed sigh when he saw that the man had disappeared.
"Tasuki! Something IS wrong. Do you know the guy?" Nuriko jogged along next to him, determined to get answers from his red head friend.
"No." He said, yet something told him that wasn't true…
"Did you see how scared those guys were?" Nuriko continued as he frowned in thought. "I wondered what happened when he was 'outnumbered that time'.
"I don't know and to coin his phrase, 'I don't care'!" Tasuki grumbled and hurried to get his pack.
Nuriko watched his friend closely and gave a little smile. "Careful, Tasuki-chan. If you keep this up, I might think that you are taken with our gallant rescuer." He teased.
Tasuki turned to him abruptly, red faced. "Don't even tease about shit like that!" Tasuki grated between gritted teeth. "I ain't gay, Nuriko! You should know better than that!"
Nuriko blinked blankly at his best friend. They had teased each other since grade school; Tasuki had NEVER reacted like that. He looked in the direction the stranger had disappeared in and frowned. Who was that man?
Tasuki fumed silently, very angry with himself. He should never have yelled at Nuriko like that but something in what Nuriko had said irked him to no end. Why? This was not the first time Nuriko had said something like that to him. Why did it bother him so much now?
Why couldn't he get rid of the haunting image of that face?
Why did he want so bad to run after the man and…and…
Tasuki growled ferociously and grabbed his stuff, not waiting for Nuriko to finish getting his, he marched toward the parking with every intention of forgetting the tall enigmatic stranger.
Nuriko followed his friend thoughtfully. HE, on the other hand, had every intention of finding out who the stranger was.
TBC..?
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Moonraven's note:
Wai Wai! What do you think of it so far? I know it's short, but I did post two chapters, although the first one was just some info on Gravitation. I just wanted to know what you think so far…if you liked it. I was really nervous about writing this story.
If you were familiar with Gravitation you'd know that Eiri Yuki is pretty much the same way when he first met Shuuichi. Very cold. I happen to think that is SO INCREDIBLY SEXY in a man!!! I just had to write that for Chichiri! I didn't have him insulting Tasuki like Yuki did to poor little Shuuichi though. But I was tempted…
My first time writing Nuriko (not counting that bit in 'Once Upon a Dream')…did I do okay so far, you think? *Cringe at the thought of doing Hotohori…*
Feed back, feed back…onegai…