Author's note: This is based in Clamp's Clamp Campus Detectives.
Many thanks to my... ummm... reviewe, Elihice. Yay, Elihice! I would have two others but I was a fool and gave them the whole thing at once and thus only got one for the whole fic. Who knew I would only have Elihice, not that there's anything wrong with Elihice, quite the contrary. She's read I think all my fics here. Again, YAY Elihice! Ah, well enough of my ramblings and in with the show.
Hope you like it Elihice. lol
This story contains Shounen Ai (two guys in love). If you find that icky or otherwise have problems with that, that's between you and your sexual identity issues. Don't bother me with it, you've been aptly warned.
Oh and of course I own none of these characters, save my three terrors. If I did, I wouldn't be posting here now would I?
Damage
Nokoru was walking through the gardens on his way back to the counsel room when he came upon Ayashiko san "entertaining" several young ladies. He lounged on a bench while they hovered over him and it brought a sour expression to Nokoru's face.
Certainly they weren't treating him any differently than they had him, it was Ayashiko san's behavior that infuriated him. There he sat, chuckling and flirting in the most egregious way. He watched as the criminal leaned forward to whisper something in a girl's ear suggestively only to turn to the girl to his left who had just lit a cigarette. Ayashiko san laid a hand on her thigh and ran it higher than Nokoru found acceptable while he took the cigarette from her mouth. A breath away from her, he took a deep pull from it with a lecherous grin on his face.
Taking in a full breath, Ayashiko san didn't exhale but instead drew the girl to him and kissed her deeply. Nokoru felt the blood rise to his face and his pulse filled his ears in a quick rage. Eventually he released her and the sigh she released was a cloud of smoke Ayashiko san had passed to her. As the other girls giggled, one of the more daring (the one to his right) grasped his collar and drew him to her in another kiss. The rogue made no complaints and eagerly took what was offered, and more, running his hand up her skirt.
Nokoru could not stand this a moment longer and headed towards them, barely able to keep from shouting, "Ayashiko san. May I speak with you in private?"
The office was massive and grand, like all things in the Clamp Campus Kumi had seen. It all seemed a bit over done to him. The chandeliers, the plush carpets, the three story windows, and there was the all mighty Kaichou taking his throne with a massive oak desk to shield him from Kumi's taint. A vicious smirk slid across Kumi's lips as he nonchalantly took a seat on the sofa and took a pull from the cigarette he had claimed.
"You look very pleased with yourself, Ayashiko san," he stated flatly, staring at him.
Kumi's grin deepened. "Why of course I am. I'm always pleased with myself, but you..." he took a pull from the cigarette. "You don't seem very happy, Kaichou."
He watched the cultured man twitch barely but compose himself again. "I was not aware you smoked."
Kumi took another pull, enjoying watching the man attempt to derail him. The Kaichou was a worthwhile opponent. "I do upon occasion, same can be said for drinking. I'm a social indulger," he said as he released the smoke. "You seemed less than pleased with me before."
"If you're referring to just now at the garden, yes, I was certainly less than happy with your behavior with those young women."
"Oh really?" he asked, an eyebrow drawing up in curiosity. "That's funny to me." He leaned back to stare at the ceiling while he took another drag. "I would think you were spiteful of my stepping in your little harem here, but of all the lovely ladies I've encountered here, they've all been consistent in saying that you never... tiptoe through the tulips... as it were."
"I am a gentleman!" Nokoru replied loudly, but Ayashiko laughed carelessly. "Oh really?! You don't say? Let me get this... um... straight," he said finally, gesturing with his cigarette, making swirls with the smoke above him with that sickening grin that made Nokoru's blood boil. "You have hundreds of beautiful... intelligent... rich women throwing themselves at you on a daily basis... and you're... a gentlemen?" He laughed again before considering. "I would use a different word, but maybe that's a regional thing," he added off handedly.
Nokoru was too furious to reply and the man's last statements left him flustered in a different way. Either way, Ayashiko continued. "A gentlemen...? Well, perhaps it's that they didn't interest you..."
"They are all wonderful! How could I-" he started but Ayashiko again took the reigns from him.
"Wonderful, yes, but perhaps they just..." he took a long pull from the cigarette again and savored the flavor before replying. "...weren't what you were looking for," he said letting the smoke drift from his mouth languidly. "Maybe you..." he stood up, crushing the cigarette out as he went. "...are looking for something else. Something with a different... flavor." Nokoru's angry expression faded to confusion as Ayashiko made his way towards his desk.
"I have absolutely no idea what you're getting at, and I'll thank you to retake your seat."
Ayashiko stopped for a moment as if considering him, sizing him up. "Oh? Do I make you nervous?"
Shocked at this claim, Nokoru shook his head. "No, not at all." He was getting less and less comfortable with his line of questioning and his proximity.
"Then why is there a tremor in your voice?" he asked coyly as he rounded the corner of the desk.
"Th-there isn't," he said quickly but immediately cursed himself as he jumped from his chair. "I don't know what you think you're doing but that is entirely close enough!" But Ayashiko only smirked and moved closer, as Nokoru found himself backed into a wall.
"Oh?" he asked innocently as he closed the gap between them, looking down at Nokoru with his dark eyes. The blonde was suddenly (and not for the first time) acutely aware of how stunning he was: the deep burnished skin, dark hair, and eyes seeming like obsidian pools. Ayashiko's body wasn't as muscled as many others', but rather was lean and toned, as someone who enjoys exercise but doesn't focus on it solely. He locked him in his gaze and Nokoru was a deer caught in the glare.
"I... I'll summon security-" he started prying his eyes from him to head back to the desk, but before he could Ayashiko brought an arm up to block him and another to block his other escape. Again, Nokoru looked up at him helplessly, feeling his face grow hot. "I... "
"Maybe you're just looking... for something they can't give..." he trailed off as he dipped his face down to Nokoru's.
Nokoru pressed back against the wall as hard as he could but as the gambler grew so very close, Nokoru closed his eyes and held his breath; his body heat on Nokoru's skin, Nokoru barely kept from trembling, ripped between the want to hit him as hard as he could for destroying his beautiful school and the desire to feel arms around him and a mouth against his. This degenerate wasn't perfect, beautiful Suoh: not his quiet, powerful protector, and not what he wanted, but he was there when no one else ever had been (would ever be), so close he could breath him.
That was good enough wasn't it?
But no sooner had the thought passed through his mind that he realized that he'd had his eyes shut tight too long. He reopened them to find Ayashiko already on the other side of the desk and heading out the door. "You should really get yourself a man, Kaichou!" he called back as he went. "You stay pent up like that and you're gonna explode... or accost a stranger on the street," he added with a laugh as he let the doors swing shut behind him.
The rage welled up with a speed and ferocity that Nokoru couldn't combat and with a furious yell he threw a stapler at the doors as hard as he could before he collapsed on the floor and sobbed with his knees drawn up. He'd played him like a fool, strung him along for laugh and then dropped him. He felt raw and bare, stripped down and thrown naked onto the floor for Ayashiko to laugh at.
Kumi got back to their flat and set his books down quietly. Tamae still wasn't feeling well after the incident with that stuffed shirt a few days before and they were both on eggshells till he was back to normal. The memory of the strutting peacock and his claims of nobility brought a heat to his blood but Kumi quickly got himself under control. Tamae couldn't take any strong emotions when he was like this.
They'd never seen him this bad and Jun'ko was visibly terrified (a wonder of nature to see on the face of the emotionless number cruncher). Sadly, Jun'ko had been born without a personality, or so they teased at him, but he was simply more stoic than most brick walls. Tamae's distress had brought out Jun'ko protectiveness and worry. Thankfully even these emotions were dim and unobtrusive to Tamae; Kumi's weren't.
Just inside the entranceway, Kumi sat on the mat, in the spot Tamae had made when they'd moved in. While the entire apartment was warded, this one patch wasn't, so anything that went on here was outside of Tamae's range if he was within the ward. It was an alcove of sorts, a place for Kumi to cool off his high-energy emotions so that Tamae could rest easily around him if Tamae was having a bad day (or vice a versa). Doing as he had since he'd started to live with Tamae, he sat down on the mat and focused on releasing the intense emotions so that he was calm and undisruptive to the ill psychic. Normally it took only a few moments after so many years, but the Kaichou had riled him badly and it took longer. After almost fifteen minutes he finally stood up, and upon taking a deep breath, stepped into the ward.
He, Tamae had told him repeatedly, had the magical gifts of a mushroom, so it took something as involved as the ward on the apartment for him to feel even the slightest feathery touch, when someone who knew what they were doing would have felt like they were walking through a wall of water. He wasn't as dense as Jun'ko, but still rather worthless about such things. All he knew was that it bothered Tamae and that was really all he needed to know.
"How's everyone doing?" he asked as he stuck his head in the bedroom.
"Better, thank you," Tamae replied, lifting his head a little from Jun'ko lap. He'd been so distressed he didn't want to be alone so he and Jun'ko took turns watching him during the day so they both managed to get to class occasionally, though Jun'ko had taken two day shifts in a row, insisting that he couldn't care less if he was expelled. As Tamae laid his head back down, Jun'ko brushed his auburn hair back from his face.
"Think you can eat something? I can make us some ramen or such," Kumi asked.
Tamae nodded. "Sure. Just make sure it's bland."
"Sure thing," he said with a smile and headed for the kitchen.
Kumi started pulling down the noodles and the pot when he paused. Struck with an idea he ducked his head into the bottom, cupboard and lo,w and behold they did have some potatoes. With a smirk, Kumi yanked the bag up and pulled out seven to scrub.
Tamae's father had come over while stationed in the army and though Tamae had been out of that house for years now, he still had grown up with some different foods (a few of which they could stand). One of his favorite things they'd tried under penalty of death (they'd touch it no other way): chicken noodle soup over mashed potatoes. Once they'd buckled down and tried it, they found it was quite good and got a long lecture from Tamae about how they should try things once and a while.
Kumi had learned a lot of western dishes for Tamae over the years and he thought he was pretty good at it, all and all. Mashed potatoes had been a breeze: smash them and add milk and butter. As for the chicken noodle soup, that was basically egg soup with chicken instead of eggs with some udon thrown in. It was far from a hard meal and it hopefully would brighten Tamae's day.
Nokoru sat leaning against the tree and watching the sunlight filter down, letting the calm of the early winter day wash over him, through him. The park wasn't a part of the Clamp Campus; Akira had suggested he spend some time away from the grounds to breathe. He was aware of the way his friends' attitude towards him had changed, treating him as a fragile bit of glass that could shatter at any moment. He knew, it was all very obvious; he just couldn't do anything about it.
That day with Ayashiko san, Suoh had found him crying behind his desk, exactly where the bastard had left him. 'Nokoru...?' he'd asked softly, making Nokoru jump. He'd tried his best to brush it off and act normally but Suoh wouldn't have it and knelt down with him and asked what was wrong.
As horrible as he had just felt, to even consider Suoh knowing what had happened, the humiliation... Whatever had been left of his self control fell apart and he threw his arms around the bodyguard's neck and sobbed into his shoulder. Suoh could do little else but hold him and try to comfort the hysterical man. It had taken hours to still him, they told him (his memory of the event was blurry and smeared together) and Akira had arrived just before he passed out from exhaustion.
He'd woken up the next day in his bed, the two of them having carried him home after he had collapsed.
He picked a stray leaf from the blanket around him and looked at it before letting it fall. Somewhere just out of his sight, he knew Suoh was watching. These days he was never very far away. Nokoru was getting the feeling they had him on a suicide watch of sorts. Of course suicide was far from consideration, but that wouldn't stop them from worrying.
They only saw the disintegration of the school as the cause for the crippling depression that had laid claim to him, but Nokoru knew the rest of it. If it was only the school he could probably cope, but Ayashiko's words had rung true: loneliness was eating him alive and was a noose that had him trapped. He'd been able to deal before, focusing everything into his school, but now he was losing that, even. The fact that his only two friends knew how miserable he was only made it worse.
He was happily wallowing in his own unhappiness when he heard the sound of feet shuffling through the leaves. The steps were too idle and unfocused to be Suoh and he was getting to his feet when he saw Dubhain san round the path. "Oh! Kaichou." He seemed to consider leaving, holding his hands together almost defensively.
Nokoru pulled back himself, fearful of hurting the psychic again. "Hello, Dubhain san. How are you feeling?"
"I'm much better, thank you. You don't have to worry, Kaichou," he explained, showing his hands to be covered with gloves.
Nokoru sighed and nodded, "I'm so very sorry about that."
"No, no, you shouldn't be. That wasn't your fault. I mean that." He stepped forward and sat down on the grass beside him. "How are you?" he asked, giving him that worried expression he'd grown to hate.
"I'm fine. I'm..." His attempt at hiding his state was a lost cause and he sighed deeply before turning back to Dubhain san. "You're so kind... Please, could you make me understand why you stay with Ayashiko san?" Nokoru didn't try to hide the desperation in his voice. His only hope was to understand the engineer of his destruction to some how stop him.
Dubhain gave a sigh of his own and considered his reply. He seemed about to about to close up again, but Nokoru wouldn't give in. He had to understand this. "I've already found that you and Ayashiko san are lovers." At that Dubhain san quickly looked back at him. "I didn't mean that, when I asked. I meant, well, why him? Of all the men or women in the world, why are you with him. Surely it's not just that he's attractive..."
The words trailed off as Dubhain waved him silent with a warm smile. "Kumi and I? No, no, no." He seemed barely able to stop from giggling. "Oh sure I had a massive crush on him once (me and half of the school...) but no, we're not lovers. Kumi's as straight as they come. My god, you can't get him away from girls. Money and girls, the loves of his life... and in that order, too," he finished with a laugh. It was so good natured Nokoru had to join him.
"But then why," he asked the red head, "have you been living with him all this time. I assumed by that and they way you were towards each other, and the way he behaved..."
Dubhain san was shaking his head but stopped at the last part. "Behaved? What did he do that made you think we were together?" he asked with such an innocently confused expression that it reminded him vividly of Akira.
And like Akira some how he knew the precisely wrong question to ask. Nokoru's face grew hot and he stared at his hands. "Oh, it wasn't so much-, well I guess I-, it doesn't matter really." He tried his best to wave it off but Dubhain pressed on.
"Did he say something to you? Did he do something?" When he asked the "do" Nokoru could swear the glow of the blush on his cheeks were so brilliant, the glare was blurring his eyes. "Oh that dirty bastard!" he exclaimed, uprooting the similarities to Akira with his curses. "I swear, sometimes he's too much! I mean he finds a little soft spot and just digs! I'll beat him over the head with his skillet, shifty, smooth talking fucker!" He snorted in displeasure and then calmed as he looked back to Nokoru. "I'm so sorry, Kaichou. He has many fine qualities but he can be the cruelest person if he's angry. I'm just thankful he doesn't have my gifts, I shudder to think what he'd do." He tentatively reached out and patted his shoulder (the many layers of cloth in-between an ample shield). "He shouldn't have done that to you... That was beyond uncalled for," he whispered. It was at this point that Nokoru realized that Dubhain wasn't guessing from previous experience, but knew precisely what had happened.
"How...? He told you? He-"
"No, no," Dubhain replied quickly and tapped the side of his head, "I'm very sorry. I didn't intend to pry... well not a lot... but when I asked further the images just sprang out of you." Nokoru curled up again, wrapping his arms around his drawn up legs. Now more people knew of his humiliation. "Oh don't be upset. I'm so sorry, I won't tell a soul, I promise.
"I wish I could tell you that that wasn't like Kumi but I'm afraid it is. He's vicious when he's angry."
"But why-?"
"Because you went after Jun'ko and I... and my episode. You weren't responsible for the last and you couldn't have known how sensitive of areas you stomping on for the first, but Kumi is rarely cool and rational unless money is involved. He felt us threatened and nothing will enrage him worse. You saw him at his very worst I'm afraid…. and I apologize."
Nokoru nodded and wiped away a few tears that had sprung up as Dubhain continued. "I'll kick him as soon as I get home," he promised with a wide smile and thought of something else. "Even better, I'll have Jun'ko kick him. Far more effective," he commented with a cheerful giggle. Nokoru even had to join him again.
As they quieted, Nokoru pursued his question again. "So, then, why do you live with him?"
Again, Dubhain seemed ready to stop, to run... but he spoke. "Because he took me in... ordered me in, more accurately," he added with a fond smile.
"What do you mean? Didn't you have a home?" he asked sincerely worried. Another's problems were always more pressing than his own.
Dubhain's face grew very sad and pained as he shook his head. "No. No I didn't. I had a house I stayed at, but I didn't have a home. I had people who raised me, related to me, gave birth to me, but I didn't have a family either... I..." he paused a moment, trying to find the right words and then smiled through the forming tears. "Kumi would say that the gods thought it would be funny to dump me with fucking rats instead of with my real family, thinking I should have to work for my home rather than start off with it." He looked up at Nokoru and smiled. "He can be so damn sweet can't he?" He laughed and continued after taking a deep breath.
"My birth family were Christian and they didn't appreciate my gifts. They called me 'possessed' and 'demonic'. They called me a monster sent to test their faith." Nokoru was so appalled by what he heard he could do little but sit with a sympathetic face as he continued.
"I met Kumi and Jun'ko when we started seventh grade. He was so bright and loud and alive... He was the sun: all heat and fire... The fact that he was beautiful was yet another thing I felt instinctively and had to conceal at all costs from my family." His small, slightly freckled face darkened again for a moment. "He heard rumors that I was a psychic and flat out asked, fascinated by it and I was too sun struck to lie," he added with a laugh. "But he didn't get odd about it. Once he saw it was real it was nothing extraordinary, it was just me. Anything I did was just me." He touched a hand to his chest and smiled again.
"It was less than a year after we met that he found the bruises on me, and by found I mean he grabbed a pair of scissors and cut down the back of my shirt. It's very hard to keep someone from taking off your shirt when someone does that," he added matter-of-factly. "Kumi's a firm believer in being direct.
"There wasn't any shouting or demands or questions. He just looked at them and pulled me close. I don't know how long I cried in the empty home-ec room, but when I was done, him and Jun'ko helped me up and I wore Kumi's shirt out of the school. (No one seemed to think it odd that he was leaving school wearing his blazer without a shirt, but that's Kumi for you.)
"He took me back to his home and told the maid that she should make up the cot I slept on when I stayed but that she didn't need to worry about putting it away any time soon, because I was staying from now on. I tried to argue but he wouldn't hear it and the maid certainly didn't object. When Kumi decided something that was it. He told me to go upstairs and get everything situated, and he and Jun'ko would be back.
"Jun'ko said that Kumi walked straight into my parents home and started packing my things. When they tried to stop him he told them he'd found the bruises and that they had two options, they could either let me go quietly and continue with their lives, or... he would destroy them. His father held a lot of sway in the town and Kumi's... connections made him dangerous in and of himself. He promised to ruin them utterly and see them in jail for what they'd done. Needless to say, they let him take whatever he wanted."
Dubhain wrapped his arms around himself. "They came back and Kumi threw me a welcome home party, just for the three of us. We ate ourselves sick with cake and ice cream and Kumi snatched a bottle of Plum wine from the kitchen. I woke up the next day around one-ish (a school day mind you) and found Jun'ko passed out next to me and Kumi half way draped across my legs and Jun'ko's." Dubhain san's small face lit up with a grin. "His face was right at Jun'ko's feet and he kept making faces in his sleep." He giggled lightly, recalling the memory and shook his head. "I was home. He's my family, they both are and I couldn't ask for a better one."
Nokoru nodded, unable to keep from smiling with him. He couldn't imagine growing up in that nightmare; it was little wonder that he was attached to Ayashiko. Apparently he was exactly what Dubhain claimed him to be, a creature of extremes. "You know," he started again. "I tried looking for them once (my family), a couple years ago. I was curious what my parents had been doing.
"The thing you have to remember with Kumi, is that his word with business is unshakable. He would never break a bargain, ever. But in other matters... he'll turn on a promise in a heartbeat and never think twice about it, if he feels justified.
"I found my parents living with cousins of my mother. Kumi had seen to it that my father lost his job and the banks foreclosed on their house. Their life savings had vanished from their accounts over-night and debts appeared out of nowhere. Barely six months after he took me away, they were destitute. They'd lived with my grandparents for a bit but when their business had suddenly became threatened my parents moved to another relative and then another. Last I heard they were moving to my father's family in America."
Nokoru shook his head. As deplorable as he found his parents, he wasn't sure if he could pursue someone to the point of attacking those who unwittingly sheltered them. He understood Dubhain's comment that he was like the sun, but somehow Nokoru found a storm more fitting. Dark, powerful, able to rain down life giving water or strike down hapless mortals with lightning. The suddenness of his cruelty and the depth of his gentleness seemed to only fit with a storm, and he had a feeling that Dubhain san wasn't simply telling his this for the sake of conversation. Nokoru got the feeling he was being warned. "Dubhain san, I must ask: can you try to convince Ayashiko san to leave the campus? I won't pursue him, he'll be free to do whatever he likes elsewhere, just so long as he leaves my school."
Dubhain san shook his head. "Why does it matter so much? We're not hurting anyone, we're not bringing in violence or drugs and we don't do enough to cause anyone to do more than they can," he stated, careful of his wording.
"Your hurting the school itself," he pleaded, trying to make him see. "This place was a fine place, free of your business until you three came."
Again, Dubhain san shook his head, "Of course it wasn't. People are by nature imperfect. We haven't brought anything here that wasn't already here, we just... organized it. Why does it bother you so? You've worked yourself up to the point that you're ill; the pain coming from you is suffocating."
"Of course it is!" he snapped back, though careful to keep his voice down so as to not alarm Suoh (wherever he was watching from). "This school is my life and you three are destroying it. Its all I have, and there may have been some before you came but now its choking out the goodness and integrity of the school like a kudzu vine let loose in a garden. You're killing it..." He brushed at his face as tears began to fall again. The frequency of his crying was infuriating to him but he was no longer able to stop it.
"No, no..." Dubhain san said quietly, extending a tissue to him. "All you have? That's not a way to live. A school is stone and brick, you can't use it to fill up your life. That's not healthy. You should find someone to fill that void, not use a bunch of buildings," he stated but Nokoru shook his head.
"I have friendship in Suoh and Akira and that's more than I thought I'd ever have. There will never be anything more than that. Not for me."
Dubhain's face was the picture of concern and he started to talk but a voice behind him called out. "Tamae? Tamae are you alright?" He looked back to see Kameko san come around the same bend that Dubhain san had. "Oh. Good afternoon, Kaichou," he said with a bow. Nokoru had to admit that these two were certainly the nicest and most polite criminals he'd ever met. They seemed genuinely kind (unlike other criminals that had been putting on polite airs). That was perhaps the most frustrating thing about them, with the exception of Ayashiko san, they were people he might have befriended on other circumstances.
"Good afternoon."
"I'm fine Jun'ko, don't worry. I found the Kaichou here and we've been talking." Dubhain's face broke in the purest smile he'd seen him wear at the sight of Kameko san and Nokoru thought he saw a slight smile find the face of the number cruncher as well.
"That's good, though we had better be going or we'll be late to meet Kumi."
"Oh?" He looked down at his wrist though no watch was there. "Where's my watch?" he asked as he looked at his other, just as bare wrist.
"You forgot it at home again. It's 5:47," he stated as he reached down to help Dubhain san up.
Accepting the hand, the perplexed expression gave way to realization. "That's right. I realized it was gone in fifth period-"
"Third." Kameko san corrected automatically.
"Third, that's right. It's good you have such a good memory, Jun'ko." Nokoru had to cover his face with his fan to keep from showing his grin. Dubhain san seemed a bit absent minded, and this assumption was proved as he stood and Nokoru happened to notice that his socks were of two completely different colors. Of all the times that Suoh had called him scatterbrained, he'd never been guilty of doing that. "I hope you have a good evening, Kaichou."
"I as well to both of you," he said properly, thankful that his tears had stopped before Kameko san had appeared. They'd gotten around the bend and the sounds of their feet were receding (one steady set along with a lighter irregular set that seemed to be skipping by the sound) when Suoh appeared behind him. Nokoru commented to the silent ninja, "They seem nice."
Suoh only nodded and asked, "Are you ready to leave for dinner, or would you like to stay longer?"
Nokoru shook his head and looked up Suoh's dark face. "No, lets be on our way. We don't' want to ruin Akira's dinner." He started to stand but Suoh reached down and wrapped an arm around his shoulders and helped him up. For a moment, Nokoru let himself indulge in the warmth of Suoh's embrace before he was brought up to stand properly. By will he didn't think he had anymore, he moved from Suoh's body and kept his expression of friendship. "You should find someone to fill that void, not use a bunch of buildings," he'd said, but Nokoru knew the futility in the notion. What he wanted couldn't be his, so an empty bed and a life spent on brick and stone was his only option. He was only deeply thankful that Suoh had found someone he loved so dearly and someday Nokoru would get the pleasure of playing with his and Akira's children.
"Suoh..." he began, thinking of something. "You've been with me so much lately, have you had time to spend with Nagisa jo lately?"
Suoh's face darkened in thought for second before he answered. "I've spoken with her for ample amounts time. I'm sure she's fine."
"Suoh!" he admonished, coming to a deep stop. "That's no way to treat a young lady. She's your fiancé and you should treat her as such," he explained shortly. Sometimes Suoh astounded him, but no matter; he wouldn't let Suoh threaten his own happiness with his workaholism. "Why don't you go see her this evening, after dinner. I'm sure she'd love to see you."
"I'm sure she has plans," he stated flatly.
Nokoru sighed. "Well, then call her and see if she has plans. I'm sure she'd rather spend her evening with you anyway. Oh, I have an idea," he stated, reopening his fan with a flourish. "Akira always cooks enough to feed an army, lets call Nagisa jo and Utako jo and invite them to eat with us. That way you're still by my side but you get to spend time with your neglected fiancé." Suoh started to comment but Nokoru talked over him, "You surprise me, that you would let such a fine lady wait for you while you goof off with your friends. Here, I'll call her, myself."
Suoh reached to stop him but Nokoru slapped his hand with his fan, a clear sign that he didn't intend to be stopped and Suoh sigh in resignation. "Azuya residence," came Nagisa san's timid voice.
"Hello, this is Nokoru. How are you?"
"Oh!" she said suddenly and then calmed down. "Oh, hello, Kaichou. How are you?" The jump was apparently due to her hearing of his troubles and a look at Suoh's pensive expression confirmed that he had been speaking to her about it. He wasn't very bothered by it, she was his fiancé after all so who else would he speak to about it.
"I'm good. I was calling to ask you to join Suoh, myself, Akira, and probably Utako jo for dinner at Akira's home. I know you haven't been able to see Suoh as much as you'd like and I apologize for that. I'm afraid I've been monopolizing him."
"That's perfectly alright. I understand that his work is important to him. As for dinner... I suppose that would be nice. I don't have any other plans for this evening. What time should I arrive?"
"Wonderful!" he said brightly, feeling more like himself with every moment (despite the labored silences in her voice). "We're supposed to be there in a half hour but I have a feeling we'll be late so no will be upset if you are, too. I apologize for the suddenness."
"That's alright. I'll be there."
"Good," he said with a smile before hanging up. "See? That wasn't hard was it?"
"I suppose..."
Nokoru huffed at his tone and proceeded to call Utako jo. This would be a fun evening, whether Suoh wanted it to be or not.
Kumi was running through some painfully boring chemistry when he dimly heard a pounding at his door. He looked back just in time to see Tamae open it and cover his ears from the music. "What? Is it a little loud for your delicate ears?" he asked with a laugh before turning down the volume.
"How do you stand that noise? And don't try and tell me its good, cus I've heard it. You don't even know what half of those people are saying for Christ's sake."
Kumi just laughed and patted the tiny red head. "Metal is the best when you don't understand the words, and anyway, German and Russian just fit metal too perfectly."
His explanation earned him a sigh from Tamae before he called back for Jun'ko. Kumi wasn't sure why he did, but as Jun'ko walked over to him, he just said, "Sorry," and cracked him over the head.
"Ow! What the fuck was that for?!" he demanded not of Jun'ko but the precog that had certainly put him up to it.
"That was for being an asshole to that poor man! Sometimes I really do wonder why I stick around you!" he stormed out of the room but Kumi knew by now that not only did Tamae expect to be followed but would become completely unmanageable if he didn't. (Kumi blamed it on him watching too many soaps.)
"What!? Who exactly was I an asshole to?" he asked in his pursuit but stopped just outside the door, surprised that Tamae had rounded on him so soon.
"The Kaichou of Clamp University division. You found an opening and you manipulated him!"
"Oh, please..."
"Oh, please, nothing! He's a very kind person and its-"
"Come off it! He's either a liar or so completely self deluded that it's scary. 'I'm a gentleman,' Bullshit! He stands there all high and special like he's this pinnacle of humanity for not laying hands on those hormone junkies that faun all over him, meanwhile I doubt he'd touch a woman if his life depended on it. I bet if those were men hanging on him, he wouldn't be a 'gentleman'."
"That's not the point."
"Then what is? We're not here to make friends and that guy is fucking with our business."
Tamae sighed and dropped down onto the sofa. "We were in business back home and we weren't making any mortal enemies."
"He's the one making it personal. Just because he can't get some dick, he's dumping all his-" but before he could continue Tamae hit him over the head with his slipper.
"That's not it, you simpleton. He's not horny, he's lonely. Well I'm sure he's horny too; he is human and young, but its affection he's craving, not a piece of ass. Some people do need more in their life, Kumi, believe it or not."
He made a dismissive sound and slouched back as Tamae continued. "He's shut himself up for some reason and convinced himself that the only thing he has is that damn school. You're pushing him too hard Kumi. The money isn't worth it."
That was all he could take. He stood up and looked at the red head like a stranger had just walked into his apartment. "Who are you? You're not Tamae, he would never say something like that. The money is always worth it!"
"No, this is too much," Jun'ko interjected from behind him. "Destroying a person isn't a reasonable price."
"Oh! So this is how it is!? You're both turning on me! That blonde haired pansy has sucked out your brains and sent you in here to drive me insane!"
"Kumi..." they said in unison but he continued his rant.
"We get this beautiful, luscious thing, just dropped into our laps, the promised land of milk and candy!"
"Honey," Tamae corrected, looking terribly unimpressed with Kumi's dramatics.
"A blessed, bountiful orchard of fruit begging to be picked, guarded by only an unhinged pillow biter and his two cronies... and you two want... to… stop? Are you insane?! Those buttered up, rich kids are eating out of our hands. Our hands!" He punctuated the statement by holding his hands out to them. "The profits we've made in only these months have been through the roof and you both know full well the stakes get higher as the school year winds down! The profits!" he pleaded to Tamae desperately, seeing his paradise pulling away from him, but Tamae just shook his head.
"We can make more than enough at our school, Kumi. Clamp is just icing on the cake."
Kumi let out a groan of frustration and flopped onto the chair dramatically. "You two are going to be the fucking death of me!" he cursed, jabbing a finger at them, before dropping his head into his hands. He sat there for a good while be fore he suddenly got up and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Tamae asked, following after.
"Out! You two maybe willing to throw away a spot that could keep us obscenely wealthy for the rest of our lives, but I'm not! You want to go have a pity party for the golden child, go right ahead!"
"Kumi!?" Tamae called after him but before he could pursue, Kumi slammed the door behind himself.
The tires let out a piecing cry as he burned them across the asphalt. Ticked yellow lines flew beneath the sleek motorcycle; the whine of the wind over his helmet drowning out the angry horns of the motorist on either side of him.
Kumi was in no mood to wait in traffic or anything else right now and he tore through the streets at an insane rate, as if begging someone to dare to hit him. In the blind rage he was in he cared little for trivial things like traffic laws and safety, and he blew through the red light without blinking. What they hell was up with them?!
Why were the world's problems his to worry about, anyway? Since when was he god damn Amnesty International? Did he ever ask for handouts? Did he expect the world to bend to his needs? Did he ever ask for anything he hadn't worked for? Fuck no!
He worked damn hard for every cent he earned and he dared anyone to challenge that. Balancing the in take, judging the risks, managing the crowds, and handling the authorities. He did all of that on a daily basis. He'd been working since he was ten at this. Certainly he'd gotten the start up from his father but he'd been running solely on his own capital since ninth grade. He hadn't taken a yen from his father since then, how many ninth graders could say that. He had enough savings right now to provide for all three of them for a year, comfortably. How many eighteen year olds could claim that? Then there was Tamae.
When he'd brought him home his father was perfectly clear. If he wanted to take in strays, he had to take care of them, and he had. Since that day he'd supported him, paid for his clothes, his books, any extras, and a lot of his food. The only thing his family had provided was a roof over their heads. He'd paid for it all with his profits, and now tuition was in with that. What did they think he worked for his health? He gunned the throttle harder making the world a blur.
Sure he loved the work. The uncertainty, the danger, no other thrill came close, but it was still work and it had to be done. Did they think money came from the air? The profits they were pulling meant so much.
The only thing he still used from his father were the dummy corporations to filter his earnings. He had laid out the plans for three companies to handle their cash flow and let them get out on their own totally. He'd planned for that to take till two years after college, but the massive profits they were gaining from Clamp School could speed that up to three, maybe two years from now. They'd be set in that little time, but no. They wanted to save the world.
How was it his fault that some flake boxed himself in so tightly he couldn't find the door out? Why was it his job to walk away from a perfect opportunity just so that Wonderful sama was happy with his pathetic little life? Why was he the monster for wanting to do his job, damn it?!
It wasn't the money, he could deal with any set back, it was the fact that they so blissfully declared the money unimportant. If they suddenly didn't have money for the rent, for dinner, they'd care about it. 'The money isn't worth it.' What pretentious crap, they were as bad as the blonde. Their security, their safety didn't matter just so long as the Kaichou was blissful in his house of cards. Kumi slammed on the breaks hard and got off the bike fast, tearing the helmet off and throwing it as hard as he could. He didn't know where he was and he didn't care. Any passer by kept going fast and avoided making eye contact with the madman.
His near black eyes were narrowed dangerously as he silently fumed, clenching and unclenching his fists. A spike of rage hit and he swung hard at the tree to his right and pulled back to lay back against it, sliding down to the ground. He looked down at his hand, blood splashed across his dark knuckles and he sighed. He was thinking about the shitty situation around this when a white limo pulled up into a nearby house and through the fancy traditional gates. He paid it little mind and went back to his fuming and shortly after the car exited. The gates were just swinging closed when a girl came running out the limo, all dressed in traditional clothes.
The limo came to a halt and as she approached, the door to the rear swung open. Suddenly he knew why he recognized the girl, as henchman number one, Takamura, got out of the car. That was his girlfriend and who was the next one of the car but the lord and master himself.
Kumi made a face as he bowed to the girl and said something or another before she pulled her boyfriend aside. As they talked, Kumi made some mocking over voices from where he sat, but his focus was slowly pulled more to the Kaichou. He was staying back discreetly and watching the couple with a soft, wistful look on his face. His expression was somewhere between happy and sad and Kumi's angry expression started to soften despite his best efforts. For a moment the Kaichou's eyes narrowed as Takamura gave his fiancé a light kiss and as soon as Takamura turned back to him the sadness was gone and he was instantly all smiles. Sitting quietly, Kumi watched the two climb back into the car and pull away.
On the scattered leaves, Kumi leaned back to let his head rest against the hard bark and draped his right arm over his raised knees and stared into space.