They Called Upon A Midnight Buzzed
Call II: Hirokazu
Damn, I thought spiked punch was a good thing...I didn't even know the crap was spiked until I started feeling dizzy. Kenta's tipsy, I'm...really, really buzzed but...Not quite drunk but getting there, you know? Jen was more drunk than I was when the scene went down...
Takato was totally wasted! ...I think. I couldn't really tell, he was crying so much. I figured it was likely he was at least a little drunk when he fell over after Jen tried to help him up, we barely caught him and...Yeah, he had to wasted, he could barely make out the word "thanks."
...Exactly what the hell happened? I mean, Juri freaked out over something, Ruki's more pissed than I've ever seen (which is sayin' something) and Jen just took Takato back to his place. And I've NEVER seen Takato cry like that, and this is Takato we're talking about! Takato isn't much of a crybaby anymore but... ...He can get emotional. I don't think it's a bad thing, we don't tease him about it anymore and we'll shut up anyone who does. It's not cool. Especially since Takato's a really awesome friend, he'd do anything for us.
When it happened, Jen, Kenta and I were in the other room, joking around and stuff. We heard shouting, a lot of pissed off shouting and then this...this...SCREAM! I-I thought someone was being killed!
When we got there, Takato was on the floor, bawling with RUKI of all people trying to calm him down. WITH A HUG! Jen was with her on the floor to help Takato before Kenta and I even knew what was going on, Jen looked really worried. After Jen joined her, Ruki looks to Jen and says, "Help him, I need to kill Juri" and passed him off to Jen. Ruki showing genuine concern for another human being...
...I wanted to check and see if Takato had been stabbed or something. I mean, that was...unexpected. The "kill Juri" thing, unexpected but...Not as unexpected.
Ruki came back after a couple minutes with Ryou. They said Juri "pulled some serious shit on Takato" and they were going on a manhunt. They didn't say what happened, they...kinda implied it was personal for Takato, something he wanted to keep secret. Takato managed to get out a "thanks" for Ruki... ...And she...told him "I'm with you, Takato. Don't be upset." ...That...made things officially scary.
Anyway, Jen took Takato back to his place. He didn't want Takato's parents to see him like this. Jen's family is in China for the holidays, he's watching their apartment. He said Takato can take his time to calm down there. We're waiting at Ruki's place for news. Ruki and Ryou are on their search for Juri...
...Something serious went down and... ...I'm confused and really scared for Takato right now...
Kenta's sipping a bottled water. "I've never seen Ruki that pissed." He finally says. He's been quiet since Takato left. I know he feels really bad for him.
I nod. "Yeah, and this is Ruki we're talking about." We're both sitting on a couple cushions around a table, eating some of the leftover food and drinking what we're pretty sure doesn't have booze. Ruki sort of insisted we could eat whatever food was left (she figured it'd go to waste otherwise, but...damn, Ruki's being super-nice this Christmas) while we waited, she even made sure we got the non-alcoholic drinks before leaving. "So, what do you think it was?"
Kenta shrugs. "Whatever it was, Takato didn't want Juri to tell anyone. And then she told Ruki and Ryou."
"...Damn...I didn't know Juri had that in her."
"She must be that kind of drunk. I mean, everyone-" Kenta's cell phone goes off. "Crap, hold on... ...It's Juri." He answers. "...Juri? What the hell happened? ...Uh-huh... J-Juri, Takato isn't like tha- ...W-Wait...What? Juri...Wh-Why the hell are you telling me this?" His jaw falls and, after a moment or two, he starts to look so angry. "...You...You BITCH! You have no right to do this! No fucking right! How...How could you do this to Takato? Don't you DARE tell another person, got it? ...Wh-Why am I so pissed? You...You...You're doing this to Takato, for one! I mean, all he's done for you, Juri, and..." Kenta screams into his phone, just this...scream of rage. Sort of like the scream from before, except...more angry. a lot more angry.
...Holy shit...Scratch Ruki, I've never seen KENTA this pissed. H-He's shaking, I mean, freaking shaking with rage here! He called JURI a bitch...Kenta's the last person who would ever say that to Juri...I mean, these days, if he's not hanging out with me, he's hanging out with Juri. They're really-No, they were really close...
...What the hell's going on? Juri, what's...gotten into you? Aside from booze, I mean.
"You wanna know why I'm pissed? I'm gay, too! So, yeah, if you have a problem with Takato, you have a problem with me! Merry fucking Christmas, Juri! Don't talk to me ever again!" He hangs up, slamming his cell phone on the table with a growl...and suddenly his eyes go wide, he looks to me. "...Shit...Um...I-I..." His cheeks turn a shade of red.
...I don't think he realized I would have heard that "I'm gay, too" portion. ...Wow, Kenta...
W-Wait...Gay, too...? Th-That's what Juri's so pissed about? That Takato's gay? What the hell, Juri? Wh-Who gives a shit? And...Takato's so freakin' nice, to YOU especially! And you're pulling this on Christmas, too? ...Damn it, Juri...
"...She's...outting Takato?" I ask, I...I want to be wrong, I don't want to believe Juri of all people can do this to Takato. Also, best to...focus on Takato first. Not that I have any problem with this news about Kenta! I-I just didn't expect him to out himself like that.
Kenta nods, his eyes still wide. "Y-Yeah...H-He...didn't like her back or something and...She thinks he was leading her on and... ...H-He was drunk enough to let it slip that he was gay..." Kenta sighs. "...She's telling everyone..."
"...I can't believe it..." ...Juri, how could you do this to Takato? I mean...This is so damn low. I-I didn't think you were capable of anything like this. You're...usually so nice.
"I-I think it's...less to hurt Takato and more to rant about how he 'led her on' for all these years. She needs to vent or something, but she's wasted. Completely wasted. I-I could barely understand her she was so drunk and so pissed..." Kenta looks away, nervously.
"...And...You're gay, too?" ...I should let him know I don't have a problem with it.
Kenta leans forward on the table, groaning. "...I'm going to kill whoever spiked the punch." Look out, Ryou...I think it was him. Ruki didn't do it, I know that much. Kenta and I sure as hell didn't, plus Ryou's always carrying something on him in that flask of his...
"Dude, it's okay," I say. "I don't have a problem with you or Takato." It's obvious why Juri pissed him off so much. I mean...Wow...
"...Thanks." Kenta gives me a half-smile, it looks a little forced. "I-I...I'm sorry I never told you."
"Hey, it's up to you," I shrug. "I know why you'd keep it a secret, Kenta. I-I would, too. But...Given how Ruki and Ryou are out on a Juri hunt right now, I don't think they'd have a problem. And Takato definitely wouldn't."
"That just leaves Jen..." Kenta shrugs. "I-I think we should warn Takato about Juri."
"On it." I reach for my phone and dial Takato's cell.
"This is Takato's cell phone. I can't take your call, sorry. Please leave a message at the beep."
"Hey, Takato. We, um, heard what happened. We're cool with it, okay? Kenta and I. Juri's just freakin' evil right now. I'm sorry for what happened, but...We're behind you one hundred percent. You're our best friend and we're happy if you're happy. Try to have a Merry Christmas." I hang up. "Got his voice mail."
"...Call Jen but don't tell him if he doesn't know," Kenta says.
"What?"
"...Takato should...be able to tell at least one person on his own," Kenta says. "If Jen doesn't know what Juri's telling everyone, tell him it's something Takato should tell him on his own. Please?"
I nod. I get what he's saying. "...All right. I'll call him right now." I dial Jen's number.
"...Hirokazu? Any news?"
"Did Juri call you?" I ask.
"No, why?"
"Look, Jen...Juri's doing something really, really evil right now. If she calls you, don't answer it, don't let her tell you why she's pissed at Takato. Just... ...Look, tell Takato that we're so sorry. She's telling everyone and we're pissed at her for it. Not him. We're behind Takato, no matter what. Especially Kenta."
"...Okay...But why can't I know what she's telling everyone?"
"Kenta thinks Takato should, um, have control over one person finding out. Tell him you still don't know and that...he should tell you. Not Juri or anyone else. We're so freakin' sorry. But, we're with him. He's still our friend, no matter what. Okay?" I say...I...I actually wipe away a tear, I try to make it look like I'm scratching my cheek. I-I feel so bad for Takato right now. ...How could you do this to him, Juri? ...There are so many things wrong with this scenario...So, so wrong...
"I-I understand. I'll tell him. Thanks, Hirokazu-kun."
"How's he doing?"
"He's been quiet ever since...I think he's trying to avoid any more, um 'verbal slip ups.' He's just nodding or shaking his head and sometimes crying. ...I told him he's staying here as long as he needs to and that I want him to feel better. I-I've never seen him like this." Jen's voice cracks a little near the end. "I'm really worried, especially for the fact Juri is the one making him like this." Jen sounds almost short of crying...
...That doesn't really surprise me, though. Out of all of us, he's sort of the closest to Takato and, like I said, as soon as we stepped into the room Jen was by Takato's side with Ruki. He...sort of held him for a while after Ruki passed Takato to him. When Jen finds out what Juri's doing, it wouldn't surprise me if he got more pissed at her than Kenta.
"...Make sure knows everyone's still with him." I say. "Thanks for keeping an eye on him, Jen. Merry Christmas, dude, sorry for all this crap."
"Merry Christmas, I'll make sure Takato feels better. See you later." Jen hangs up, I hit the 'end' button on my phone.
"I take it Juri hasn't called Jen," Kenta says.
"Not yet and Takato's really upset. He's gone silent," I say. "I-I feel so bad for him right now."
"This is the sort of thing I've had nightmares about," Kenta sighs. "I mean, in one night...One slip up and now everyone knows. And he has no control over it. That's...why I think he should be the one to tell Jen, especially with Jen being his best friend and all."
"Y-Yeah, I can't even imagine how-" My cell phone goes off. "...I-I don't know this number..." I say, looking at the display.
"Answer it, might be Ruki or Ryou on a pay phone or something." Kenta shrugs. "If it's Juri, tell her I hate her."
"Will do," I say before I answer. "...Hello?"
"Hirokazu, this is Takato's Mother..." ...Juri, you bitch...
My jaw falls, I look to Kenta. I...I think he knows who I'm talking to just from my expression. M-Maybe...she's just calling to check up on things. I'll play dumb for now. "O-Oh, um... Hey...What's the occasion? You...wishing me a Merry Christmas? Ha ha! Thanks! Merry Christmas to you, too! And a Happy New Year!"
"...Is Juri telling everyone?" ...Damn it, Juri...H-How could you do this to Takato?
"D-Depends...What's Juri telling everyone?" ...Please, no...Even I know this is the last thing any gay teen wants...
"...That my son is gay." Juri, I am going to see to it personally that you get coal for the rest of your life. I-I am so pissed at you right now.
No use...hiding it. "...Yeah, she's...She's telling everyone, kinda." I sigh. "L-Look, um...I-I don't know how you took the news but-"
"We're not upset, Hirokazu. Not at Takato at least. Juri is another story..." Thank the Gods...It's a Christmas miracle! "Is Takato there? Is he okay?" I look to Kenta, I give him a quick thumbs up, smiling...
He lets out a sigh of relief, just his expression tells me how scared he was for Takato. Kenta...I know you're going to be a huge help to Takato after all this. I mean, you're my best friend ever and you're always there for me, so I know you'll be there for Takato. And you'll be able to help him better than any of us can. You're...You're awesome, dude. My gay best friend is awesome.
Still...This...isn't going to be easy, but I'm going to do as much damage control as I can. F-From the sound of things, there isn't much but...
...Juri, this is so low. I-I can't believe you would do this to Takato...
Ori's Notes:
And we have Hirokazu's POV...He's always fun for POV fics, like Kenta. I rank Kenta as the most fun, though...I don't know why. Jianliang's my second favorite, even though I do his POV the most...
Regarding Kenta, as I'm sure you've noticed I ALWAYS make him gay in my fics. Always. I simply cannot picture him as straight and, like I said before, if Kenta ever appears\is mentioned in my fics: He's gay. No exceptions, even if it's not a slash fic. I can't even see him as bi. Kenta's gay! And, of course, I mean all of this as a good thing. Kenta's sort of grown on me lately, he's becoming one of my favorite Tamers characters.
Anyway, hope you're enjoying this so far. And sorry Juri fans. I swear, I'm going somewhere with this. This is NOT a Juri-bashing fic!
Taiki's Notes:
I might have had a chuckle at how Kenta outted himself but I was shocked by how he reacted to Juri! Then again, I can't say I blame him. This is incredibly low for Juri. I cannot fathom her reasoning in this and I feel so bad for Takato.
Well, not so bad as his parents and friends are accepting of him, it seems. Jenrya, too! Right, Ori?
Right?
Ori?
Ori, it's Christmas! Y-You wouldn't! You WOULDN'T!
-Taiki Matsuki
UPDATE: Just letting you all know, there's a new poll on the profile - What pairings do you want to see in the future? Please vote!
