Takanori had always hated being the new kid in school. Growing up, his dad's job had kept them moving around a lot. He had finally gotten a promotion and they had stopped bouncing around three years ago. Taka had finally had a chance to make real friends and had even started dating at the end of the last school year. Everything had finally fallen into place and he was happy.
Then the first week of fall classes had started and it had all blown up in his face. He'd been out on a date and the entire soccer team had shown up at the ice cream parlor and started harrassing them. They had thrown out their sundae and left, hoping to avoid serious conflict for once. Taka still had a few bruises from the last time they'd been attacked. The team had followed them and continued calling them every lame insult in their limited vocabulary.
The couple had gone into the parking garage where they had parked and almost made it safely to the car before the team reached them. Taka was getting used to being their punching bag after the last three months but this time it was different. He could smell the alcohol on the breath of the team captain as he screamed in Taka's face.
Then the beat down had started and he could barely catch his breath. After what felt like hours the beating had stopped and he had lifted his head, looking for Ando, needing to see how he was. Ando had just barely given him a thumbs up, their signal that they had survived, when the second part of the attack had started.
Sometime during the next few hours of being alternately raped and beaten Ando and Taka had both lost conciousness. They had been left, beaten, bloody and broken, to die in the parking garage. A young couple had found them after a late movie had let out and they had been rushed to the hospital.
Ando had never regained conciousness and died from his injuries. Taka had woken up after a week and told the police what had happened. Not that anything much would ever be done about it. The soccer captain was the son of the police cheif and said that he and his team had never entered the parking garage. He swore after leaving the ice cream parlor, the only place with witnesses, that he and his friends had gone to a park.
Taka's family wasn't much better, not wanting to admit their son was gay, they had kicked him out for falsely accusing the team. His aunt had come from the city rescued him though. She had made sure he got caught up on the school work he missed when he was in the hospital. She had packed all his belongings since he was no longer allowed in his home. The she had moved him in with her and now he was in a new school again.
He sighed as he awkwardly opened the door to his first class with his left hand. His right arm was still in a cast after having to be reset a second time last week. The teacher had smiled as he came in and made him introduce himself to the rest of the class. He stood there stiffly in front of the room full of strangers and gave his name but didn't say any more. Finally the teacher told him to take a seat that was thankfully in the back of class.
For the most part the other students left him alone during class since they had a very busy day. He was glad when lunch time finally came around until he noticed that half the class stayed there to eat. He shrugged his bag over his uninjured shoulder and headed out to find a quiet place to eat. The lunchroom was out with so many people in it and even the library here was crowded. Why did this school have to be so damned big?
It was really too cold to sit outside but he found a fairly sheltered area far enough away from the sports area that he could eat alone. He had just started eating when a shadow fell across his lunch. Looking up he groaned inwardly when he saw that the student at the front of the group was holding a soccer ball.
"Hey new kid," the boy said as he bounced the ball off his knee. "Hand over your lunch and get lost."
"Are you serious?" Taka squeaked.
"Did you hear the little mouse?" the captain laughed. "Hand it over mousie."
"Just leave me alone, alright," Taka said as he closed his eyes and held out the box lunch his aunt had made him.
"Maybe we will, maybe we won't," he said as he took the box.
"Hey! Give the new kid back his lunch, Toshi!" a new voice called.
"Take a hike Yuu. This isn't any of the baseball teams concern."
"Cut the crap. Give him back his lunch or you won't be eating anything that doesn't fit through a straw for the rest of the year," the owner of the new voice said as he grabbed the captain by his shirt.
"This isn't over, Yuu," Toshi said as he dropped the box in front of Taka.
"It is if you want to keep playing soccer. I suggest you all clear out. Now."
"Let's go before Yuu starts flipping tables already, Toshi," one of the other soccer players said.
"Whatever." Toshi and the others turned around and walked away.
"You okay there kid?" Yuu asked when the others were out of sight.
"Yeah, thanks," Taka said wishing he was invisible.
"I'm Yuu, but I'll bet you figured that part out already. What's your name?"
"Takanori."
"Nice to meet you Takanori. Most of the soccer team isn't so bad but when they're all together like that they just follow Toshi's lead. He's the one you have to watch out for. If he sees anybody on their own he feels this compulsion or something to mess with them. If you stick a little closer to the school and in sight of others you'll be fine."
"You talk a lot," Taka said and instantly wished he hadn't. This guy had just helped him and he was being really rude. "Sorry."
"Nah, don't worry about it. I do tend to ramble on sometimes. Anyhow, if those guys ever give you any trouble find me. Shiroyama Yuu, fourth year student, pitcher for the schools baseball team and all around cool guy."
"Uh, sure, I'll keep that in mind."
"See you 'round Takanori," Yuu said as he turned and left. "And remember, close to the building and in sight of help."
Takanori gathered his things and took the upperclass members advice and found a less isolated spot to finish his lunch. Thankfully none of the other students decided to bother him and he ate in relative peace. It had to be the soccer team that singled him out on his first day he thought dejectedly. So much for a fresh start, it seemed like he was right back where he had started only this time there was no Ando by his side.
After he finished eating he shoved the box back into his satchel and headed slowly inside. He didn't really want to sit in the classroom with his fellow students but he wanted to avoid the soccer team. The class was the lesser of two evils so he headed back feeling slightly sick.
Maybe he should have taken more time off from school but that would have meant taking an extra semester or two at the end of his final year. It was difficult enough being the shortest kid in his year and he was dreading what would happen if the students here learned he was gay. He'd just have to ignore the part of him that was lonely until after he graduated he knew.
It was going to be a long few years but he wasn't going to take the chance and become a willing target ever again. He wasn't even sure if he'd be able let anybody close enough to him after what had happened. He tried to push the memories away before they took hold of him but when he saw Toshi and some of the other boys from earlier it was impossible.
Taka started to shake as they noticed him and headed in his direction. He wanted to turn and run but his body wouldn't listen and he stood frozen in fear. His stomach churned and he thought he might throw up there in the middle of the school. Maybe if he was really lucky he would choke and not have to endure any further humiliation.
"Hey new kid," Toshi said as he stopped a few feet in front of Taka. "Where's your hero now?"
Taka couldn't make a single sound as he tried hard not to embarass himself by bursting into tears.
"Nothing to say little mouse? Not even a single squeak?" he sneered.
"Come on Toshi, this is boring," one of the other boys said.
"Shut up Akira. The fun parts coming any second now. Kid looks like he's about to piss himself."
Please don't let that happen, Taka silently begged.
"Yeah, that sure sounds like fun to me," another boy said, sounding bored.
"Look at him, Kouyou. He's so scared that I'm surprised he's not crying for his mommy to help him. Go ahead little mouse, call for your mommy," Toshi said as he started to circle Taka.
"What the hell is wrong with you Toshi?" Yuu said as he came up unseen behind the soccer team. "Can't you leave this kid alone for more than five minutes? Or is this how you always find a date?"
"Fuck off Yuu, just because you swing that way doesn't mean I do. Besides, kid here looks like he's barely out of diapers. Too bad since he probably could use one right about now," Toshi laughed.
"Real mature, Toshi," Yuu said as he eyed Taka. "Leave him alone or I'll be having a long talk with your coach."
"You open your big mouth to Coach again and you'll regret it Mr. I'm So Damned Special. I'm sick of you sticking your nose in my business."
"So you make it your business to harass new first year students?"
"What if I do? You gonna do anything about it or just be a snitch bitch like always?"
"Walk away Toshi. Last warning."
"I'm so scared. Help me guys, Yuu's gonna lecture me to death."
It happened so fast that Taka wasn't even sure he saw what took place. One second Yuu and Toshi were staring each other down. The next Toshi was pinned against the wall with his arm twisted behind his back. The more he fought against the hold, the higher Yuu pushed the other boys hand.
"Get off me, Yuu," Toshi demanded.
"Apologize to Takanori or I will break your damned arm."
"I'm not apologizing to that little, ow owowowowowow. Sorry Takanori. Sorry. Now let me go dammit."
"Say it like you mean it Toshi."
"I already said sorry to the little runt. Ow mother fucking hell Yuu!" Toshi screamed as the pressure on his arm increased until there was a sickening snap. "You broke my arm! Holy shit you broke my fucking arm!"
"I said say it like you mean it Toshi," Yuu repeated in a deadly voice, continuing to push against the injured arm.
"I am deeply sorry for everything Takanori. Owowowow. Please forgive me for being a jerk. Come on Yuu let me go already."
"What the hell is going on here?"
"Coach!" Toshi cried in relief. "Yuu attacked me and I think he broke my arm!"
"Is this true Yuu?" the coach asked.
"I didn't attack him, sir. I was merely defending Takanori there from being harassed for the second time today."
"Takanori huh? You new here?" the coach asked as he looked at the terrified boy. Taka couldn't answer he was shaking so badly. His huge eyes were swimming with tears and he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold them back.
"Are you alright Takanori?" the coach asked calmly. Getting no response he looked at the captain of his soccer team in disgust. "Yuu, please take Takanori to the infirmary while I deal with Toshi."
"Yes sir," Yuu said finally releasing the other boy. "Come on Takanori, let's get out of here."
When Taka still didn't respond Yuu put a hand on his shoulder and gently steered him away from the crowd that had gathered around them. He led the smaller boy to the other end of the school and into the nurses office. Seeing that she was away he took Taka into the quiet room behind the desk and helped him onto one of the beds.
Until he had seen him in the hallway, surounded by the soccer team, Yuu hadn't noticed how small Takanori was. He was so damn cute that Yuu couldn't decide whether he wanted to wrap him in a hug or kiss him senseless. Too bad he hadn't gotten any kind of vibe off Takanori saying he was even remotely interested. Normally he preferred guys who were a bit more, well more, but there was something appealing about the almost fragile looking boy.
When Takanori sat stiffly on the edge of the bed Yuu sighed and slipped the other boys shoes off for him. Still he sat unmoving and Yuu urged him lay back on the bed and covered him with a light blanket. He could see that Takanori will still shaking and that combined with the other boys silence was worrying him.
"Takanori? Hey, it's all over now. Toshi isn't going to bother you anymore okay?"
Taka could hear Yuu talking to him and he understood what the older boy was saying but he couldn't force any words to leave his lips. Instead, to his horror, he felt the tears he had been fighting against start to spill out.
"No, don't cry. No no no no no no no no no! I don't know what to do when somebody cries. Aww, come on Takanori, please don't cry," Yuu begged.
Unable to stop the flow of tears, Taka closed his eyes tight and wished he could disappear.
"It'll be okay, Takanori," Yuu said as he patted the other boys head awkwardly. He felt like an idiot but he didn't know what else to do and the nurse still hadn't come back. "Come on, cheer up. It's all over now."
Taka wanted to believe it was that easy but the past had taught him otherwise. The silent tears turned into sobs that made him curl up into a ball in an attempt to stop.
"Oh man," Yuu said as he started to panic. His mind raced as he tried to figure out what to do. At a loss he kicked off his own shoes and climbed onto the bed behind Takanori. He slid under the blanket and wrapped his arms around the smaller boys body pulling him close and held him there.
As Yuu's warmth spread through Taka's body he began to relax and was finally able to quit shaking. Sobs still poured out of him and he found himself rolling over and burying his face against Yuu's chest. The strong arms wrapped around him pressed him closer if possible and he felt safe for the first time in what felt like forever.
Finally Takanori's tears ran dry and he started drifting off to an exhausted sleep. Somewhere in the background he heard the bell ring, signaling that he had missed an entire class. However he couldn't bring himself to care at the moment. The voices in the hallway seemed so far away and unimportant to him. The sound of running feet and someone calling out for Yuu barely manage to penetrate his mind.
"Yuu? Are you still in here?" a voice called from the other room.
"Back here, Yutaka," Yuu called back.
"What happened, baby? All everybody was talking about was you and Toshi going at it and who the hell is that?"
"Relax, sweetie," he said as he sat up. "This is Takanori. He's new here and was Toshi's latest victim."
"And you're in bed with him why?"
"Toshi was in a really nasty mood today and poor Takanori here got the brunt of it. We're in the infirmary in the middle of the day, Yutaka, it's not like anything happened."
"It better not have," he said as he pulled Yuu to him for a kiss. "Why are you in the infirmary though?"
"The coach asked me to bring Takanori to see the nurse. She wasn't in so I stayed with him."
"Well you missed a really important lesson, baby. Come on, we can't be late for class."
"Yutaka, I'm not leaving him alone here."
"Give me a break, Yuu. This is high school, he should be able to look out for himself in the infirmary."
"Yutaka, green is not your color," Yuu teases as he kisses the boy now pouting in front of him. "Just go to class and I'll be there whenever the nurse gets back."
"Alright baby. I'll see you soon," Yutaka said stealing one last kiss before leaving. "Love you."
"Love you too."
Takanori lay silently on the bed during the entire exchange, pretending to sleep. He didn't know why it hurt to find out that Yuu had a boyfriend already. He had already decided that he'd just wait until he was out of school before he even tried dating again. But it had been nice to pretend, just for a minute, that he could be himself and it would be okay.