A/N: Hey guys~ Thanks again for the support. I'm pretty sure that I've grown into the habit of posting at night, cause I love reading in the dark.. Anyways~ Thanks for all the reviews, PMs, encouragement and whatnot & don't judge me too hard, I get embarrassed too! Just an fyi, things will get darker soon (not yet), so if you think this is just fluff, you wrong. You've been warned, but now back 2 the story. Enjoy!
-Ryan Sensei
At the gate of the large white mansion, the name AKABANE is printed in gold letters on a black plaque. Karma pushed the unlocked gate effortlessly, and pulled out a silver key from his pocket, while Nagisa followed closely behind him.
After unlocking the black door, Karma took a step into the house and holds the door for Nagisa. Of course no one's home… Karma silently thinks to himself.
"It's not much, but whatever. Right now it's just me, you, and Cursed... My dog."
While listening, Nagisa removed his shoes as Karma continued to speak, and closed the door behind them.
"Hehe. I like your dog's name, what type is he?"
"Thanks, I named him. He's a german shepherd with a great nose." Karma says with pink dusted cheeks, switching on the lights. Nagisa was then able to see the house's extravagance.
White flooring with a well arranged assortment of different colored walls, and framed pictures; truly a dream house.
"For 'not much' this sure is amazing!" Nagisa states, looking around, impressed.
"I guess… I'm not sure if it's all that great, I mean nobody in this house actually cared enough to design it themselves. My parents hired some foreigner... Anyways, let's go up to my room since there's towels there to dry ourselves off. We can work a bit on the project up there," the redhead suggests.
The two quickly climbed the stairs, and entered Karma's room. The room had a different vibe from the other rooms, but it suited Karma.
Karma's room consisted of a desk, a filled bookcase, a small table and closet, a gaming area, a bed and an attached bathroom. Compared to the rest of the house, this room seemed out of place, it seemed... Normal. Well, Karma normal.
"Nagisa you can sit at the table, next to all the spices I've collected, and look at the project ideas I have in my notebook, while I go get us some towels." The taller teens says, walking off to his bathroom.
Compared to the rest of the house, Karma's room is surprisingly normal... ish. The house is so immaculate that it's perfect, almost abnormally so... But why does it feel like something's out of place, or missing I guess? I don't know, it seems kinda- cold... Nagisa thought to himself.
Shaking the thoughts away, the teal haired teen briefly looked through Karma's idea journal; the thoughts put into them were obvious, and elaborately planned out. They were at college- no, maybe higher level ideas.
As expected of Karma, this is amazing. I need to make sure not to be a burden, so I guess I'll just have to help him in any way I can...
As Karma re-entered the room, he came back with two white towels. One hung behind his neck, resting on his shoulders, and the other in hand. As he sat down next to Nagisa, his eyes glanced at the back of the small boy's neck again.
Water droplets slowly converged together ontop of blue strands of hair, and formed larger droplets of water; each weighing down on the strands. Their weight, causing them to roll down the back of the small boy's pure white neck.
Watching the water slowly roll down the porcelain skin, aroused Karma, and out of embarrassment, he plopped the towel over Nagisa's head, covering his vision.
Instinctively, Nagisa panicked, as he frantically removed the object placed on his head.
"Ah! Huh? A.. towel?... Oh, Karma, it was just you."
"Yup, the one and only. So what'd you think of the ideas?" Karma grinned with his arms folded and chest pumped out. Clearly fond of his work.
Nagisa took out his hair elastics and used the towel to pat dry his hair down, and then draped the towel over his neck.
Each motion he made went in slow motion for Karma. His long hair beautifully framed his face, his long lashes slowly blinked as if awakening from a long slumber. As soon as Karma glanced down, he noticed the teal head's shirt became see-through thanks to the water. His face turned bright red as he tried to focus his gaze somewhere else, anywhere else. Plump rose lips began moving, and uttered words of praise to the taller teen. As much as he loved the praise, he could only think about how the lips probably tasted.
"It's really amazing! As expected of Karma, I'll make sure to do what I can to help. So I'll get the supplies, and anything else you might need…" Nagisa paused for a minute, His curiosity resurfacing, and this time, not bothering to suppress his thoughts.
"...Karma?"
"... Sorry, Hm?" Karma said, still in somewhat of a trance.
"I-is it just me or does your house seem a little.. I don't know empty... Or lonely, I guess? I know it sounds weird, but I just can't shake the vibes I'm getting..."
Karma paused for a moment looking down, making Nagisa immediately regret asking.
Look at me, causing trouble again, gosh can I get any weirder! Oka-san was right, I'm such a burden. I definitely I wasn't supposed to talk about that. I should change the subject... Nagisa thought.
After a few seconds, Karma, with his head still down, began speaking.
"The fact that my folks aren't home could be part of the reason, I… I don't really like to talk about my parents too much, but I don't know, I guess I wouldn't mind talking to you about it..."
"I'm sorry Karma! You don't have to force yourself! I was being insensitive, I'll jus-"
"No. I want to... I mean, since it's you..."
Nagisa suddenly stopped all unnecessary thoughts and gave Karma his 100% undivided attention.
Before speaking, the redhead breathed in, and looked off towards the distance, unable to maintain eye contact, and repositioned himself closer to Nagisa, unconsciously grabbing his hand for support.
Nagisa's blush rivaled Karma's hair, so he was greatful Karma wasn't paying him any attention.
Yeah, yeah, I can't deny it... I'm not sick. Nagisa thought with a chuckle, entwining their fingers together.
"My folks are financial day traders or something, I don't pay too close attention… But ever since I could remember, my family has always been 'too busy traveling'. My own parents, they don't really care about spending quality family time together, heck they barely even come to this house any more! To the point where it's practically just me living alone in this freaking house most of the time!"
Karma didn't realize how tightly he'd been squeezing Nagisa's hand until he heard a slight hum in pain. He didn't even realize he was holding the smaller teen's hand in the first place, and god did he love the feeling. He glanced at Nagisa, before lightening his grip, but not letting go of the frail hand and reverted back to his normal tone.
"... Sorry 'bout that… I got carried away... I don't know, it's just part of the reason why I don't say anything about these things, I get all emotional and crap. So, sorry again... Back to what I was saying, I actually had a few nannies living with me back as a kid. And me being my ador~able self, liked messing with them. Heh, you know, just pulling pranks here and there. Ah just thinking about their reactions kinda cracks me up... They'd always get pissed, and then they'd try to scold me- Maybe that's what I was after, maybe I wanted them to scold me, and give me a hug after to say 'it'll be alright', since my own parents were barely around to do it, who knows...
Well, that was until I realized just how desperate they were for a different client. They'd practically beg to be fired and leap for the chance of getting a better job offer. They didn't want to continuously keep watching after a- what did they say again... Oh yeah! 'a troublesome devil for a kid' like myself... It's pretty acurate now, hehe.
Looking back, I really do think that was part of the reason why I did all those pranks, was because I wanted someone's attention, since my shitty parents never gave theirs… Heh, but no matter how many nannies left, my parents would continuously hire new ones nannies. The cycle continued until I was old enough to take care of myself. So, one day, I got so fed up with the never ending cycle of betrayal that I told all the nannies that they could leave. I downright forced them to, because I didn't need them anymore. I even had to tell my parents too, so they wouldn't hire another greedy traitor, that was NOT a fun chat there... But I prefer it this way; I can do what I want, there's no rules, and I get to cook my own food! Which let me tell you, is way better than anything the nannies could've made me… So that's probably why it feels so empty. I mean knowing you, what you probably picked up on was the cold and lonely vibe of the house.
You see, a somewhat normal family decorates their house to their liking, right? Not my folks, they just left everything in the house, except for my room, to a complete stranger. All the decorations and furniture were put together by some famous house decorator. They payed good money, yet there's not any life or love in this house. It looks pretty at first, but that's all it is. Pretty. It's just me... oh, and the dog.
I'm used to it though. I get a weekly allowance, and freedom. I've learned the hard way to keep my distance from some people in general, especially if they're just gonna abandon and leave you again later... So that kind of turned into a un-cool backstory, but it's nothing really, you don't have to worry about it..."
How am I supposed to reply to that?! I was so blinded by the way he appears that I didn't even bother think to how he was actually feeling... And here I am making a big deal over petty things like being partner and umbrellas. I really am the worst... I've been so insensitive, when all this time… While he's been acting apathetic towards most things, putting up a bold front... He's just secretly closed off his heart from others, in fear of being alone again?! What the hell?! How has he been living all this time?! I've been around him so long and I've never noticed. If only there was something I could do for him... I mean, I can't change his past, but maybe.. Maybe I could say something now, In the present. Anything... Nagisa desperately thought.
Nagisa slowly raised to his knees, and hugged Karma from where he was sitting. Nagisa's head lied on top of the taller teen's for a few moments, and it stayed like that. Until Karma burrowed his head into the young boy's neck. Inhaling the intoxicatingly sweet scent of the teen, burrowing closer, holding back tighter, wanting more.
"It's not nothing, Karma!"
Nagisa's shout made Karma finally look directly back at at him. The two were now pulled slightly apart, but now face to face, confronting each other.
"I can't change the past, but I can promise that I won't ever leave you alone, and I will definitely never betray you." Nagisa began to blush harder and harder with each word, but maintained a firm gaze into the red head's eyes. "I'm not the kind to make promises and break them, so unless you really want me to leave you alone, I can, but I care too much about you so I reeeeeeally would hate that.." Nagisa said, with a cherubic smile.
Just then, for the first time in years, Karma Akabane began to cry. Clear beads of water continued to flow from the amber eyes.
"Ara? What the hell? Eh? I don't usually cry, so why the hell am I now?" Karma says as he wiped away the tears.
The roles were switched this time. Nagisa wasn't sure why, but he suddenly cupped Karma's face, to both boys' surprise, and wiped his few remaining tears with his thumbs, and licked them in a slow and unintentionally seductive motion.
"You're right, they are salty!" Nagisa said chuckling. He loved the way Karma felt under his touch, and wanted to do whatever it'd take to not have to see those tears again.
Karma's face was tinged a slight rouge color, and he stared wide eyed at Nagisa with embarrassment, and felt as if some of his burden was being lifted off his shoulders, thanks to the small boy.
It was then, that Karma realized his romantic feelings that he had for so damn long. The feelings he'd carried towards Nagisa. This time without a doubt, he had to make it clear before someone else would take him. He wouldn't run away this time.
Damn. I'm hopeless when it comes to Nagisa, I guess.
