Facing Truth 2
It's been a few months since everyone found out Yamaguchi's feelings for Tsukishima. Since Yamaguchi had been rejected, he tried his hardest to spend this time trying to find someone else to love. Someone who would help him forget his feelings for the blond male. Thankfully for him there were other gay males in the school and he was able to befriend them. One of the males were a 1st year named Sato Ikki. The two of them instantly became friends and talked and texted each other constantly, until they finally decided to begin dating. Yamaguchi was hesitantly to tell his friends, despite them being so supportive of him. He was just nervously happy, and unfortunately for him, Hinata was surprisingly able to see the difference in his mood. The first years were practicing together away from the others when Hinata decided to ask Yamaguchi about why he was different.
"So why do you seem different today?" Hinata questioned the freckled boy, who gasped out of shock from him suddenly speaking up.
"Well, um..." Yamaguchi hesitantly began. He wasn't sure if he really wanted to tell them or not, but Hinata was giving him the look that he really wanted to know about it, so he was forced to. "Well, I actually have a boyfriend now." He mumbled as he began to blush slightly and look at the volleyball in his hands.
"Huh?" The other three replied; Kageyama and Hinata surprised and Tsukishima mildly interested.
"Oh, so you mean the guy, Sato, you have been talking to a lot?" Hinata questioned, happy for his friend. Yamaguchi nodded his head, confirming that the boy he had talked to them about was now his boyfriend. He had mentioned Sato a few times to Kageyama and Hinata, however he never really mentioned him to Tsukishima.
"Oh, that's cool." Kageyama noted as he picked up a volleyball.
"What do you think about it Tsukishima?" Hinata inquired as he looked up at the taller male.
"Can we just get back to practice?" The blond responded clearly annoyed for some reason. He wasn't sure why, but when he heard that Yamaguchi was dating someone he didn't even know about, it really bothered him. He began to feel something weird, and he wanted to forget about it. So at Tsukishima's wishes, they returned to practicing. Yamaguchi's relationship status wasn't brought back up until it was time for them all to head home.
"Tsukki, I wont be walking home with you today. Sato and I are going out on a date." Yamaguchi informed his friend. He just nodded his head and began walking home as if it didn't bother him, but deep down inside, it was bothering a part of him.
After that day the time Yamaguchi spent with Tsukishima dwindled down slowly. The two hardly were able to talk since Sato was also in their classes. He was even able to convince Yamaguchi to skip a few practices along with taking him places after so he and Tsukishima couldn't walk home together. He even didn't like it when Yamaguchi spoke to any of the guys from the volleyball club. Tsukishima was beginning to be annoyed with Sato ruling over Yamaguchi's life, as the freckled boy seemed to be happy but it was clear that he wasn't always happy with being forced to avoid his friends. Everything became too much when Tsukishima and Yamaguchi were assigned to be partners to work on a school project. Sato clearly didn't like it, so when Yamaguchi left the room after class to go to the bathroom before meeting back up with Tsukishima so they could go to practice, Sato made his move.
"Tsukki, change partners with me." Sato sweetly requested, however the underlying threat was clear to the blond male. Well actually they were both blond, however Sato had blue eyes and was only Yamaguchi's height, so they didn't look too similar.
"What?" Tsukishima demanded, irritated that this guy had approached him.
"I don't want you anywhere near Yamaguchi. He is mine not yours. Don't even look at him. Do you understand you over salted french fry?" Sato growled, leaning into Tsukishima's face threatening him. Tsukishima stood up and glared down at the boy.
"Are you seriously trying to threaten me? I refuse to switch, so go away." Tsukishima responded as he showed the boy he wasn't going to be intimidated by him. When Sato made no move to walk away, he waved him away to show he was done speaking with the other blond, which made Sato furious. However before he could say anything, Yamaguchi walked back into the room. Sato glared at Tsukishima before intercepting Yamaguchi and pulling him out of the room, with both of their bags so Yamaguchi didn't even get a chance to speak with Tsukishima.
"So, where is Yamaguchi? He said he was going to be here today." Daichi questioned once volleyball practice started. He was asking everyone, but he directed it to Tsukishima.
"I'm not sure, I didn't even see him in the halls." Hinata worriedly responded.
"He was pulled away by his boyfriend." Tsukishima informed the group, sounding as uninterested as he usually did, even though inside he was irritated.
"Again? Fine, but give him my warning. He will start to be in trouble if he doesn't begin to return to practice. Morning practice isn't enough." The captain told the blond boy. After that practice went on like usual and the group got ready to head outside to run. Before going off to run, Tsukishima decided to use the bathroom. When he entered the boys' bathroom, he was shocked. On the floor was Yamaguchi with bruises on his arms and a few on his face. A few wounds were bleeding, making it look like he was beaten pretty badly.
"Tadashi!" Tsukishima rushed to his side and moved him so he could see all of his wounds. "Tadashi, are you... what happened?" He held Yamaguchi and gently shook him until he woke up. He was surprisingly worried in that moment and was showing it.
"Tsukki?" Yamaguchi gasped out as he choked on his words.
"What happened to you?" Tsukishima demanded, however there was a gentle feel to it.
"Sato... he got angry that I'm working with you on a project. He told me that the only way to make him feel better was to have sex with him, but when I told him that I didn't want to have sex with someone I've only recently started dating, he attacked me. That was the last thing I can remember. I don't even know how I got here..." Yamaguchi explained in between his choked sobs as tears began to flow.
"That bastard." Tsukishima hissed under his breath. "I'll go get the nurse-"
"No! Please Tsukki, stay here with me. I'm afraid to be alone right now." Yamaguchi pleaded, clinging to his best friend. Tsukishima nodded his head and pulled Yamaguchi to his body more to hold him as he began to sob once more. Tsukishima knew that Yamaguchi needed him now, so he'd be there for him, even if it seemed out of character for him to be like this. However Yamaguchi is a precious friend for Tsukishima even if he doesn't show it often, plus, the feeling that Tsukishima was hiding deep down inside was begin to push up further despite his attempts to block it.
Eventually the others in the volleyball club began to search for the blond when he never returned. The two were found still in the bathroom on the floor huddled together. With the other's help, Yamaguchi was taken to the nurses office where she treated him for the wounds she could treat. The principal was informed on what had happened to him and this parents were called to pick him up. For Yamaguchi's safety, he was told to go to the hospital and stay home a few days to heal. Until his parents arrived, and all through the treatment and questioning, Yamaguchi clung to Tsukishima and never let go, even once.
The next day Sato didn't go to school. He was found in his home dead. He had committed suicide by stabbing into his neck, causing himself to bleed out in his bath tub. The note he left behind said he did it because Yamaguchi was cheating on him with every other guy in school and didn't love him anymore. When the already hurt freckled boy found out about the note, he became even more upset and needed to continue skipping school for a few more days.
It was an entire two weeks that Yamaguchi spent away from school, and when he returned everyone was kind to him. Even those who were originally mean or rude to him over being gay, were kind. Everyone felt terrible for him after going such a thing with someone he thought he knew. However Yamaguchi was still on edge and didn't want anyone to touch him, and if something did, he would slightly begin to panic. The only exception was Tsukishima. Whenever he was able to, he clung to him or kept very close to him. Tsukishima didn't seem to be annoyed with it, he actually seemed like he wanted the freckled boy close by so he could watch over him. Even though he was okay enough for school, a few deep bruises remained, and he wasn't able to participate in volleyball practice. However he still wanted to be around Tsukishima, so he sat with Yachi on the sidelines to watch the practicing go on like usual.
"Hey Yamaguchi! How are you? It's great to see you back here." Hinata called out as he bounced over to the boy.
"I'm okay." Yamaguchi hesitantly responded. It was the first time in awhile he was able to talk to his friend, as Sato hadn't allowed him to do so.
"That's good, so what's up with you and Tsukishima? You guys are closer than usual."
"Well, he's probably just being nice. I'm sure he'll be like he used to be when I'm better."
"I don't know, when you were being taken away from him by that guy he always seemed really angry. When you weren't at practice he was more aggressive as if he was angry about it, and these past weeks that you weren't here, he constantly seemed to have his mind somewhere else. I think he was worried about you." Hinata told the boy as he sat down before continuing. "Also, I don't know if you know this, but when we found you two, he was clinging to you as much as you were to him. He didn't even want to let you do as we got you to the nurse. He looked like he wanted to kill someone and it freaked us out. We didn't know he could look like that." He then turned to look over where the blond boy was practicing and began to speak up once again. "He is also constantly watching you when you aren't looking at him. He's protecting you or maybe loves you, or something."
"Oh...um..." Yamaguchi wasn't sure what to say as he found no words to speak. He had to admit that Tsukishima just being nice wouldn't go that far, but he didn't really trust the orange haired boy's opinion as he wasn't the smartest guy around. He had a hard time believing that Tsukishima could possibly be in love with him since he did reject him when he found out Yamaguchi's feelings for him. However, the small glimmer of hope was now in Yamaguchi's heart.
"Get away from Yamaguchi, you idiot." The two looked to see Tsukishima now standing right in front of them. It shocked them both as neither noticed his approach. The tall blond glared down at Hinata, and the smaller boy recognized it as a threat and quickly ran off. "He wasn't a dumbass or anything was he?"
"No Tsukki, I'm alright." Yamaguchi chimed back, smiling at the boy in front of him. Tsukishima nodded and went back to what he was doing.
Once practice was over, the two began to walk home together like they used to. Yamaguchi was so glad to be around Tsukishima without needed to be scared again. He was too happy though as he wasn't watching where he was going and ended up tripping over a broken piece of road that stuck up oddly.
"Ah!" Yamaguchi cried out, nearly falling over. Thankfully, Tsukishima wrapped his arms around his waist to pull him backwards into him to keep him from falling.
"Be careful idiot." Tsukishima said slightly harsh, but it was clear he didn't mean it that way.
"Sorry Tsukki." Yamaguchi whimpered looking down at the ground in shame. Tsukishima sighed and let go of his waist, before grabbing his hand. He was looking in front of them and not at Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi however looked down at their hands and then at his friend questioningly.
"It'll be safer this way with you spacing out." Was all Tsukishima muttered to prevent Yamaguchi from actually asking any questions. That was how the two walked all the way to Yamaguchi's home. While they walked they were silent, but it was a comfortable silence. Once the two were in front of his house, they were both honestly reluctant to release each other's hands.
"Tsukki?" Yamaguchi looked up at Tsukishima, wondering why he wasn't letting go, since he knew why he himself wasn't letting go.
"Shut up Yamaguchi." Tsukishima made his point known by leaning over and pressing his lips on Yamaguchi's. The freckled boy blushed instantly, and hesitantly kissed back. To him it felt like lightning flew through his body, and it was amazing. The kiss ended shortly after that much to Yamaguchi's dismay. "See you tomorrow." Tsukishima quietly told the boy before turning away to head to his house.
Tsukishima wasn't sure why he actually just kissed his friend, but he had a feeling it was the same reason to why he held his hand and allowed him to cling to him. Tsukishima had begun to realize his own feelings for Yamaguchi. It had started when he found out Yamaguchi had a boyfriend, one that wasn't him. He had felt jealous at that time, which was a feeling that he rarely ever felt. Since he himself had only slowly begun to realize how he felt, he figured that showing Yamaguchi was easier than trying to explain them. Though he knew he'd have to do that eventually. All he knew for sure was in that moment, kissing Yamaguchi was right and felt amazingly right.
"Great, I'm starting to feel that type of feeling now..." Tsukishima complained to himseld as he laid in his bed that night. He wasn't sure how he was going to react when he could actually admit he was gay for Yamaguchi but he had a feeling that it would all be fine. He'd at least make sure that Yamaguchi would never have to go through the 'Sato Incident' with anyone else again. Tsukishima sighed to himself and wondered if any of that would have happened if he hadn't instantly rejected Yamaguchi that day. He almost wished that he would have took a few moments to actually think about it before speaking. At least things hadn't turned out as terrible as they could have, he would just have to work harder on telling his actual feelings instead of just rejecting things instantly, especially when it came to Yamaguchi.