A/N: A little WIP meant for Christmas but since I'm busy, started early on. Dirty Pair. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Disclaimer: Original names, characters and places don't belong to me. I don't own anything except the general ridiculous plot-less plot and OC(s), if any. Yadablah.
-scence.
It was either to make or to break.
for: shattered. illusions. Merry Christmas, gaki.
Reminiscence
It was a Christmas gathering of old that he had been forced to attend. Mukahi Gakuto couldn't be bothered to try and figure out how in Kami-sama's name Atobe had managed to track him down and get him to attend this damned party. The answers to both were glaringly obvious. The first because money almost always opened mouths and if it didn't the right sort of leverage would; Atobe had both. The second was because he had been coerced into attending.
As to how he had been coerced was an experience he rather not think about. It was too embarrassing and… let's just leave it as an experience he would like not to repeat.
How the mighty had fallen.
Looking upon the queer tableau the room and its occupants presented, Gakuto sat down on a step of the grand stair, sprawled out as though he never left. That was sheer habit.
He had, of course, faced the indignation of his old teammates when they had seen him earlier. Gakuto couldn't blame them. No, not even Shishido. He had told Ohtori to stop restraining his… significant other, and took the tongue lashing that was given meekly. He had deserved it, he knew. After all, he was the one who turned tail and fled after junior high, for fear of his best friend and doubles partner finding out about his crush on him. He took the tongue lashing because he deserved it – and because he secretly hoped it would get him out of explaining why he left.
Now, he lazily surveyed the room. The presences present were nearly the same as always. Atobe hadn't been bluffing when he said he intended to gather the 'best of our year.' Gakuto mused.
Rikkaidai was there in full force, with exception of their Wall. Their volley specialist was with their brat. The Trickster and Gentleman, the Platinum Pair, as inseparable as ever – Pain flashed at that: why couldn't that be him and Yuushi? The Emperor was being a stone by the salad table, effectively scaring everyone away from it. Well, he could serve as deterrence to anorexic significant others in the party then.
The Master and the Child of God were mingling out of the Rikkai circle though – in what he termed Seigaku waters. The former was talking with Inui and the latter with Echizen. He watched in surprise as the boy nicknamed Prince flushed and tugged down his trademark cap. His companion let out a smile, one that was easy to read. Gakuto looked skeptical. So that's how things ran then.
Tezuka stood off to one side, a girl tugging on his arm. She was lively compared to his stoniness. Probably significant other, Gakuto classified.
Fuji Syuusuke was exchanging words behind a smiling façade with Mizuki Hajime. Fuji Yuuta, the former's little brother, looked extremely uncomfortable. It seemed like the elder Fuji was still the same then.
Another former St. Rudolphian was present, trying to cool the fires but having the opposite result. Gakuto couldn't remember his name but for the fact that he liked to say the phrase 'dane' more than Echizens liked their 'mada mada dane/daze/dana' and Fuji Syuusuke his 'saa…' put together.
Momoshiro, Kaidoh and Kamio of Fudomine were having a three-way argument. Momoshiro's date, Tachibana Ann, had just given up on trying to chill them out and taken to her brother and Shinji Ibu's side. The latter, he remembered, had a tendency to rant and ramble making circles while doing so.
Seigaku's other power player was missing. Kawamura Takashi of the Burning Mode had gone into the family business, or so he had heard… somewhere and was obviously unable to make it today.
He felt another pang as he saw the Golden Pair catch up with Echizen. Kikumaru, his old rival, glomping the still smaller person even as Oishi smiled indulgently before rescuing Echizen from his other half, under duress from a dangerous smile off Echizen's significant other.
This was yet another pair that had played together and only grown closer.
Seigaku, Rikkaidai, some St. Rudolph and Fudomine by extension… And finally, Hyotei.
Atobe's presence could be felt, even though he was across the room, now speaking to the Salad Man.
Kabaji was, as always, following him, a sleeping Jiroh on his shoulder.
Shishido and Ohtori were nowhere to be seen – probably making out somewhere.
Hiyoshi was absent that he knew: Atobe had been bitching about it earlier. He had only yet to have spotted Yuushi. Thankfully.
Looking at the tableau, he could almost believe they were in the past again. Except for the fact he lacked that comforting presence that was innately Yuushi at his shoulder, letting him criticize the whole room, even throwing in a new perspective once in a while. Otherwise, just listening to him talk.
Ignoring that 'slight' difference, he saw the room as it was in the past.
Jiroh was awake and bouncing around Marui Bunta, going all 'sugoi' over something as Rikkaidai's volley specialist attempted to hide politely behind his doubles partner, Jackal Kuwahara, nicknamed the Iron Wall of Defense. The Demon-Brat of Rikkai was there, also pestering his senpai – for candy because he was bored.
The Gentleman and Trickster had been to a side close by, being very different from normal. Niou was polite. Yagyuu was obnoxious. He had later found out they were practicing their switch while not changing appearances. They had forgotten.
Sanada had dominated the salad bar again, with Yanagi by his side. Their captain had been absent then and they had been just standing there in silent companionship. He had noticed Yanagi's eyes flicking to Inui for a moment before turning back and then again. For a guy with perpetually closed eyes, it had been surprisingly easy to see where he was looking.
Atobe had been talking to Tezuka, Kabaji by his side; Hiyoshi's excuses hadn't kept him upset for long, after all. The three were making their way to where Sanada and Yanagi stood when sounds of a loud argument took his attention.
Kamio was fighting with Momoshiro. Tachibana Ann stood between them, her brother and Shinji each pulling them apart for fear of them hurting her. The fighting pair had resorted to yelling then, causing the ruckus.
In a barely lit balcony off the side, Shishido and Ohtori were unperturbed by the noise. If he squinted, Gakuto could see them making out. They obviously didn't quite care about appearances. Or at least, he amended; it was more likely that Shishido didn't care while Ohtori tried to protest. 'Tried' being the operative term. The guy was too stubborn, really.
Sweeping the room for something interesting, Gakuto noticed Kaidoh talking to Inui, serious expression on both faces. Inui was gesturing. It looked like they were talking of training menus. Boring.
Now, that was more interesting: Fuji was arguing with Mizuki. His otouto was looking awkward and embarrassed as a nervous Kawamura tried diverting his friend while a duck-like person he vaguely remembered from St. Rudolph's tried to do the same to Mizuki. It obviously didn't work.
A familiar sight caught his eye: Echizen was with the Golden Pair. Kikumaru having taken hold of the smaller boy. Oishi only smiled before saving Echizen before he went blue. Gakuto still wondered how he could stand Kikumaru just being so close to others. Didn't he get the least bit jealous? Possessive?
His unseeing eyes swept over the room, lingering on the corner he and Yuushi would share for their observation. It was never really established but more of a space that was grown in to. Gakuto would be standing, hopping around trying to see. Yuushi would be lounging against some piece of furniture as he took in the room at his height advantage. At times, when Gakuto got fed up, he'd just jump on to his partner to see. Yuushi's innate sense of balance always saved them both.
The world faded back to normal then.
But when Gakuto's eyes refocused on the familiar little corner that he had always called 'theirs,' it wasn't fond reminiscence that swept through him. It was nothing but painful evanescence.
A/N: The reason for the title '-scence' is the fact that all chapter titles end with it, that's all. I meant it to be something mushy but fitting; but somehow, this looked better. Anyway, please R&R! -iirse
