Sometimes
Disclaimer: Hott and Obata's. Not mine.
Rating: K+ (as alwasy, for concept)
Part one: Sometimes, Isumi didn't want to be the calm, soft-mannered person everyone knew him to be. But "sometimes" isn't right now. Two-part drabble, IsumiWaya.
Isumi Shinichiro was used to being the oldest. At home, he had to be the understanding and responsible older brother. At school, while he wasn't the most popular guy around, he was still respected for the gentle charisma he radiated; everyone spoke respectfully and kindly to him, consciously or otherwise. Things didn't seem to work any other way.
Among the insei, he was always "Isumi-san," if not "Isumi-senpai." Most of the insei respected him for his superior go skills, others because of their age difference, and some simply because they couldn't imagine leaving off the honorific for he who was a natural leader among the class.
Some people thought Isumi didn't notice how much influence he had. It was ridiculous. There was no way he could ignore it, not unless he was blind as Shindou. But Isumi wasn't Shindou, and he knew -- he understood that youths looked up to him, while elders approved and expected much from his promising talents. He was an ideal, an ideal that he presented to them all without having to force himself, an ideal that they all accepted.
There were always some people who didn't like him, but that was just how the world worked. Like Mashiba. Isumi tried not to think of the young pro too much; the strange bitterness he rarely felt always surfaced when he thought of the cocky arrogance Mashiba flaunted.
But he tried not to worry too much about people like that, because the world was larger than such pettiness -- and because he was Isumi.
Still, sometimes, he wondered what it was like to be someone else. Certainly, Isumi enjoyed being his friendly self, enjoyed being around other who appreciated his nature. His soft manner was natural -- there was nothing forced about the way he acted; it was just who he was. Most of the time, it was rewarding to see their admiration and unconscious reverance.
There were always those "sometimes" when he imagined himself as someone else, living a different life.
Then, there was today.
He hadn't expected the day to end like this. Honestly, who did? A sane person did not wake up and prepare for a Saturday that looked like any other, and expect that he would end in the empty lobby of the institution building in the evening, kissing his best friend.
But when he felt Waya's arm slide around his waist, drawing him closer, all he knew what that it felt right. Everything suddenly fell into place, perhaps not in the neat, steady way he had imagined, but the puzzle came together all the same. The hesitant twinges of emotion that had passed through him for the past few years blossomed and were recognized.
He loved Waya, and always would. He didn't believe in destiny, but this was something too perfect to be mere coincidence. Perhaps some pieces were still missing, but for the moment, it was perfect.
He leaned closer, deepening the hesitant kiss.
For now, Isumi didn't care that they were in a public (albeit empty) building, or that hell would be a picnic compared to what he'd get from his parents if they ever found out. Waya's long bangs tickled his cheeks, the softness of his skin invaded his senses, and all he could do was concentrate on was the sudden rush of feeling that made the world spin.
Sometimes, Isumi wanted to be someone else.
Right now, he wouldn't dream of wanting to be anywhere except where he was, with Waya in his arms.
Sometimes, being yourself is the greatest reward of all.
Mmn. You know you love this pairing. ((wink)) Heh. Well, part two's coming soon, if things go as planned. Hope you enjoyed reading!