"Don't you think you've had enough?"
"Fuck off Riji, I'm not in the mood for your bullshit."
"Wow, no need to bite my head off." Slipping into the vacant seat next to his shorter friend, he nudged him a bit with his elbow. "Hey, what's up?"
"The fucking sky."
Frowning and snagging the glass before the pink haired male could have more, he slid it out of reach and motioned the bartender to cut him off. "Cut the shit Haru. You've been acting like a bastard since you set foot in here tonight. What's wrong?"
Glaring at the older male, Haruichi pulled out a cigarette and spun so his back was to the bar, lighting it and propping his elbows behind him on the polished wood. "My parents are worried about me and have decided that my problems would be sorted out if they shipped me off to Tokyo for high school."
Riji plucked the lit cigarette from the younger males hand and took a deep drag before handing it back. "Your brother."
"Ah." Using his free hand to comb back his bangs, he snorted. "Apparently they decided that he could fix whatever's wrong."
"What are you, a fucking android?" Resting his head on his hand, he shook his head. "Didn't all this shit happen because of your brother?"
"Yep."
"And they think that sending you to the bastard who caused this will help fix it?"
"Yep."
"Damn. Did you tell them it was a stupid idea?" Haruichi rolled his head and stared at his friend, who shook his head and snorted slightly. "Right. Stupid question. And?"
Taking another drag, Haruichi tilted his head back and exhaled through his nose. Waving the cigarette in the air, he spoke in a mocking tone, "You won't talk to us, and this all started when he left. We're worried about you. I think being around your brother again will be good for you. Just like old times."
Riji just shook his head and motioned the bartender for two glasses. "Well shit. So you're off to Tokyo then?"
Crushing the lit end of the cigarette into the ash tray and picking up his drink, raising it toward his friend in thanks, Haruichi nodded. "Everything's already been decided. I'm off first thing in the morning two weeks from now. I'm supposed to meet Aniki at the train station in Tokyo near the school so he can make sure I don't try and wander off or get into trouble before I get to the school."
The two lapsed into silence for a while until Riji leaned over and grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen from behind the bar, ignoring the glare from the bartender. "Alright, look. My uncle just opened a new place in Tokyo a few months ago. I have some friends who like to hang around there, and I'll see about going up to help out with the business. You need to get away from the shit, you go there. Tell 'em I sent you. I'll call up my uncle and let him know you're a friend. You won't have a problem getting in. He'll even put you up for the night if you need it."
Taking the paper with the address on it, Haruichi nodded his thanks as he stuffed it into his pocket. "Thanks Riji."
Grinning at his friend, Riji put an arm around his neck. "Hey, I know you've had it rough here, and seeing the dick who made it happen is bound to be upsetting. You're a good friend who knows how to keep his mouth shut and kick ass. If we don't look out for each other, who will?"
Snorting, Haruichi brought the glass back up to his lips. "Who indeed?" He muttered angrily, taking a large swig. Riji pulled his arm back and took a swig of his own drink. He could understand why his younger friend was so upset.
Haruichi's older brother, Ryousuke, was the reason the two of them even met. He may not have been the direct cause, but it didn't change the fact that when Haruichi needed his older brother the most, he wasn't there.
While Riji hadn't been there firsthand, he'd heard all about it from others around town. Apparently a few months after Ryousuke had left for Tokyo, some of the bastards on the baseball team decided that they were losing all the time because one of the better players, Ryousuke, hadn't joined that year. Apparently they were talking shit and Haruichi just happened to come up, giving them something to focus their anger at losing on.
Everyone in town knew it wouldn't make a difference if Ryousuke had joined the team that year. They all just sucked, and didn't practice any harder than they had to. Riji had heard of the fight that ensued about a month later. A few of the stupider bastards had ganged up on Haruichi on his way home, and decided that he needed to be taught a lesson for driving his brother away and thereby making the team lose.
It didn't end well for the small pink haired male.
It was a few months after that when Riji had his first meeting with said male. Of course, he'd heard the rumors about the fight, but didn't actually connect it until Haruichi had finally let slip how he'd gotten dragged into the world they lived in. By then, Riji and Haruichi had known each other for about a year and half, and at times Riji felt that Haruichi was like a brother.
Draining his glass, Riji stood up and places some bills on the bar to cover both their drinks before grabbing Haruichi's arm and towing him out the door. "Alright, now you've really had enough. You're bad enough sober, but you're a fucking nightmare when drunk."
"Like you're any better," Haruichi muttered as he stumbled along after his friend. "'Sides, I'm not drunk yet." The past two and half years with Riji and company had taught Haruichi to hold his alcohol better than most. He hadn't been much of a lightweight at the beginning, but the stuff he'd had shoved down his throat upped his tolerance level at the expense of many hangovers and oh so much teasing.
"Yeah, but any longer and you would be. I wasn't gonna haul your drunk ass out of there. Now come on, you can crash at my place tonight."
Haruichi didn't say anything, but stumbled along as he tried to keep up with his friend's longer strides. He wouldn't say anything, but he was glad that he'd met Riji. The older male was probably the first real friend he had in this town, and if it wasn't for him, Haruichi might not have survived this long. He might still be angry and punching anyone who passed by at the wrong time.
Ducking his head to hide a small smile, he stopped suddenly and jerked Riji's arm back. Waiting for him to stop, he kicked his shin hard enough to bruise before walking forward on his own. "You walk to fast, fucking bastard."
"You little shit. See if I let you stay tonight then." They both knew it was an empty threat. Riji shook out his leg before walking quickly to catch up with the pink haired male, slapping the back of his head with a smile. Eyeing the male next to him with a sly smile, Riji asked, "So, does your brother know about any of these problems of yours?"
Snorting in amusement, Haruichi shook his head. "Please. He only sees what he wants to see. I'm pretty sure he still thinks I'm the same innocent, needy, shy little brother he left behind three years ago."
Riji barked out a laugh. "He's in for a surprise then, isn't he?"
Haruichi raised an eyebrow. "What's the disgusting grin for?"
Riji just smiled wider. "I know a way you can both show him you've changed and probably piss him off at the same time."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
/
So let me know what you think!