Going By the Books
By: Chibi-chan
Author Notes:
I don't own the characters/series.
This is dedicated to anyone who likes these two together.
So far, this is Tala + Max coupling. But in future chapters it will be Tala × Max × Rei; Kai +/× Takao.
Don't like? Don't read.
Quick note – Max, Takao, and Kyoujyu are fifteen where as Rei, Tala, and Kai are sixteen.
Warnings:
Shounen-ai/Future yaoi
AU (Alternate Universe)
Slight to mild language
Key:
"…" denotes dialogue
Going By the Books
part i
*
Mizuhara Max was a fifteen-year-old first year in one of Japan's finest (they even had a dormitory building on campus!) all-boys high schools with blonde hair and big, blue eyes. He was cute – people said it was the freckles that dimpled across the bridge of his nose – openly bisexual (though most people didn't think anything of it, because Max was always playful with everyone), had friends whom he could count on, and got decent grades in his studies.
He yawned as he lay comfortably on his morning-made futon, the covers feeling soft under him. School had been dismissed almost an hour ago and he just got changed into a more casual pair of clothes. But instead of doing what he agreed to do, he had flopped on his futon to take a small time to reflect.
What he really should have been doing Max was walking out of his dorm to meet Tala and Rei near the entrance of the building. The three of them were going to meet up with Kai, Takao, and hopefully Kyoujyu – if the other didn't have any club meetings after school today – at the local ice cream place.
Even though Max loved ice cream with all of his being, he couldn't help feel a bit tired at the moment. School had been especially draining – who knew there was going to be a hard pop quiz in his World History class.
He sighed. Even though some of his grades bordered failure at times, he had never actually gotten a mark that bad. Max desperately hoped he did well on it. Even if he wasn't near his family except on holiday vacations, the least he could do to show his appreciation was to get passing grades on what he did.
And God knows he wracked his brain out trying to figure out some of the answers that went to the most weird of questions. But the only big one that bothered him was the ending one. I mean, what kind off-topic essay question was it where you had to imagine yourself as a leader wanting rice that your none-to-friendly neighboring country had stole away from you and you had to try and get it back diplomatically by making a written statement to be sent to them?
Max had made up many statements, but each time they sounded bad. His worst probably had to be the questioning of "Will work for rice?" Max had prayed that his last and final statement sounded okay and would deem acceptable. It took him half of the testing period to come up with something suitable, asking for the country's leader to have a meeting with him so they could discuss a proposition.
Hopefully, it would be enough. But the teacher was a real stickler at times.
Rubbing his eyes, trying to remove some of the oncoming stress, Max looked then up at the white ceiling that greeted him. He brought his forearm to rest over his face afterwards. "I better get up now…I don't want Tala to break the door open." Max mumbled thoughtfully to himself, some of the words muffled by his limb as he knew quite well of his friend's "temper."
With a sigh, he pushed himself up from his futon and stretched. The hem of his dark blue shirt tickled his stomach as it was raised from the action. Bringing his hands down, they rested on his stomach. He felt a small rumble come forth.
Max guessed his stomach was more ready to go and eat ice cream than he was at the moment.
Shrugging, Max grabbed his light jacket off the back of his computer chair and was out of his room, the door swing shut with a small schnick sound.
*
Walking briskly to the exit slash entrance of the building, Max opened the large door and stepped outside. He shivered lightly as a cool wind blew past him – glad that he brought his jacket now.
The blonde blinked when he took a glance to his left to find no trace of his friends then shifted to the right and got presented with the same result.
Max frowned, he was sure they had said the date was for today…or was it tomorrow…or…
Oh, there they were. Both of them only a small way from where he was standing, they were at the small center fountain that was on the campus grounds.
Scratching his temple, he surveyed the scene, a little surprised that they still hadn't acknowledged his presence even though only a few yards away. But then again…they were in that position: backs facing each other, one with a sour look and the other with an angry one. Obviously they were too interested in ignoring one another to see him.
Ah, couldn't they ever get along…
Honestly, there were always either fighting over the stupidest thing or acting like the other hadn't been born on the face of the Earth.
Sometimes, Max thought they didn't go too far with their quarrels
because they had a common friend with one another – him – and he guessed that
they felt obligated to at least tolerate each other when he was present.
Max shook his head glad that Kai, Takao, and Kyoujyu never behaved like this. He carefully made his way down the stairs towards them, hands in his pockets.
"Hey, you guys. I thought you were going to wait for me by the door." Max stopped in front of the two and tilted his head to the side.
Rei was about to reply, his eyes lighting up as he saw that Max had come, but was cut off swiftly by Tala moving forward, annoyance marked all over his face. He took a couple steps up to Max and poked him on the forehead a little harder than needed. "Ch', you were supposed to be down here ten minutes ago."
Gingerly rubbing where Tala poked him, Max stuck his tongue out childishly before crossing his arms over his chest. "Touché." Turning to Rei and shunning Tala for fun, he let a smile come forth. "Rei, let's get going to the parlor before Takao eats the whole place out of business!"
The Chinese teenager nodded slowly and turned around on his heel, walking towards the entrance gate to the school, Max by his side.
Tala clenched his fist and turned around, eyes flashing angrily as he followed behind the two. Shit, sometimes Max really knew what buttons to push when he was bordering madness.
When he caught up to their steps, now walking on the other side of Max, Tala grumbled a bit loudly. "Idiot. I don't know why I put up with you."
Max laughed, hearing what the other said clearly, and nudged Tala in his side while side glancing at his other companion. "Hey Rei, I think Tala puts up with me because he secretly likes me." He grinned when he saw Tala snort and roll his eyes. The whole "secret liking" thing was a running joke that Max often liked to use between his friends if one of them ever got annoyed with him. It usually brought up interesting reactions, too.
Rei grinned. "I'm sure you're right, Max." He sent a sly look at the "victim," grin widening when he saw the balled fist return at its owner's side. Rei had known for sometime that Tala had a small crush on his blonde friend – but it was never too apparent because Tala almost always acted like a grouch to everyone…except he would usually tone it down with Max, but only barely.
Not a lot of people would notice it, but Rei was good at being observational when it came to these kind of things, especially if it involved a close friend. It wasn't that Tala was a sworn enemy or anything like that, but Rei had grown to dislike Tala to a certain degree and he could tell that it was reciprocated.
Maybe he was being overprotective of the all too naïve and innocent Max and the seemingly evil specimen of a teenager wanting him (i.e. Tala). But wasn't that called being a friend? Trying to want the absolute best for the person? He honestly didn't want Max with Tala and deep down he knew he wouldn't like it if they did get to together.
However, were his reasons because he wanted to protect Max from getting hurt from a person "like" Tala? Or was there more to it?
Rei didn't get time to dwell on the issue anymore because the next thing that he had stumbled over a hole on the sidewalk and Max was touching his arm, eyes filled with concern as they kept walking while Tala let out a low chuckle at the mishap.
"Are you alright? You were zoning out…" Max ignored Tala's amusement and trailed off uncomfortably, his eyes flashing with tenderness.
Rei blew a few stray bangs out of his eyes, gently pushing Max's hands off him. "I'm okay. Just thinking."
Max looked surprised for a second and in the blink of an eye, it disappeared, being replaced with a smile. "Oh, well then…be more careful next time. Can't have one of my friends falling and breaking some bones in their bodies because of a silly hole in the ground!"
Nodding at Max's kindness, Rei decided to keep his mind away from the whole Tala and Max issue for the time being. And that meant, he would brood over it when alone. Sounded like a good plan to him.
"And you."
Rei looked out of the corner of his eye, hearing Max's slightly upset voice, wagging a finger at Tala disapprovingly. He smirked inwardly.
"You shouldn't make fun at things like that, he could've gotten hurt." Max frowned at Tala as the taller boy raised an eyebrow questioningly at him before shrugging nonchalantly. The redhead couldn't really care less what happened to Rei. The guy liked to constantly butt into his time with Max.
"Shit, if you're going to have a heart attack about it, I'm sorry that I laughed, okay?" Tala's voice was laced with the normal annoyance and pushy aggression…but there was a little something else Rei just couldn't place. Almost ninety-nine percent of the time, Tala wouldn't apologize for doing anything to anyone – teachers included, probably his own parents, too. But he still apologized, albeit a bit roughly, to Max for the way he acted. The word "weird" didn't describe the situation well enough.
Max brightened at the words, knowing that was as the closest
he was going to get to sincere, and latched onto Tala's arm. "Thank you for saying you're sorry!" He nuzzled his face into the material of
Tala's black fleece pullover in delight and play. Max's eyes twinkled, blue eyes widening as he raised his face
back up to look at Tala. "See, you're
not an asshole like everyone says!"
Rei held in a laugh at the exclamation. Even though Max was being serious and truthful about what he said about Tala, it was still pretty funny to hear it be mentioned like that. But obviously Tala didn't think of it like that because the corner of his eye twitched visibly.
Letting out another snort, Tala swiftly and effectively pulled his arm away from Max's grasp. "I don't give a fu—"
"Hey! Ice cream place is close. Race
you two!" Max deliberately cut Tala off
on what he was going to say and started running off to the establishment that
was coming into view.
Taking one last look at the agitated look that had flourished back on Tala's
face once more, Rei shrugged his shoulders lightly and quickly ran after
Max. "Wait up! You got a head start, no fair!"
The redhead, on the other hand, kept his regular pace, not caring for the little game Max had issued only seconds ago. Tala shoved his hands in pockets, eyes narrowing at the overly decorated design of the local sweets place.
He wanted a damn cigarette.
*
+to be continued+
*
Author Notes:
This fic will probably go along quickly because I plan on keeping the parts pretty short (300-800 words, most likely). So this should be frequently updated. If it doesn't get updated at least once in two weeks, then it's a good indicator that my life and school have taken first priority.
Oh and history on how Tala and Max met will be explained in the future.