Chapter 3
It's been a week since the last occurrence with Haru. During that week, thoughts of the previous event have been wandering Yamaken's mind and practically sweeping his emotions in a tornado; feelings for Shizuku and feelings for Haru. He knew he liked Shizuku, but his feelings for Haru was growingly questionable. Perhaps it was the fact that Haru was so much like a reckless puppy, or maybe it was his child-like way of caring. Something about him stood out.
He decided to brush the troublesome thought aside when suddenly Iyo, his younger sister, burst into his room. Her hair was neatly on one side of her shoulder and she was dressed and postured like a lady, but Yamaken knew that behind her pretty face stored most of the unpleasant expressions and her words were even worse.
"How many times did I tell you not to come into my room like that?" Yamaken turned abruptly towards the door and heaved an impatient breathe. It took every bit of strength in him to keep the least good will when speaking to his sister. Iyo was drowned in her own self esteem, he was fine with when she conceited herself through most things, but when she compared herself to Shizuku, it drove him mad.
The girl gave a sheepish, "humph." and crossed her arms, "Iyo doesn't know what Yama-Kun is talking about. Iyo is just here to talk about some things."
Yamaken eyed his sister cautiously before nodding his head in slight annoyance, "What is it now? And if you're going to address me by my name, say it right." Knowing Iyo, she could be planning anything that will be a nuisance, not that she wasn't already a nuisance for just barging in like that Yamaken thought.
Iyo rolled her eyes and huffed, "Is it true?"
"Is what true?" Yamaken grew more agitated by the minute. He hated it when she finished sentences in a trivial way.
"When you were away that night, you weren't actually with your group of measly friends." Iyo began to speak more slowly, "Don't you even try to tell me otherwise, I asked them, and they said they didn't see you all day that week."
Time slowly ticked off at Yamaken's last nerve but he managed to somewhat keep calm about his nosy sister, "What are you trying to imply?"
"That - ...you, you." Iyo clenched her fist tighter as she fought for the right words, "I was on your phone the day after you came back. Someone sent you a message but you weren't home so I thought I'd take a peek. Some girl named Yūzan was asking you how was your night with Haru, and how she heard things through the phone that night, and how-." She swallowed hard, "...Yama-Kun, do you like boys? If that's the case, Iyo won't let you have Haru!."
Yamaken stood there shocked and lost for words. Me? Like boys? The fact that she thought Yūzan was a girl didn't even bother him, but this? He had enough with it.
"Gee Yama-Kun, Iyo knew you liked girls like that plain Shizuku, but Iyo thinks you liking the same person Iyo does is more troubling. It's not fair! And you - that night..."
"Get out, Iyo." Yamaken raised his voice. There it is again, "And leave Shizuko out of this."
The younger Yamaguchi was startled by the sudden loudness and furrowed her brows, stomping out of the room, her lemon-blonde hair whipped off her shoulder as she briskly turned her head, leaving ribbons of yellow trailing behind her.
He slumped back into his seat, disturbed and uncomfortable. For the longest time, Yamaken just sat staring at the blank page of his opened notebook until reality dawned on him and he decided it best to go out on a stroll and forget about things more naturally.
The fresh Autumn air that hit him through the door felt refreshing. He liked how the dried leaves crackled beneath each step he took, and the whistling of the wind was constant, yet peaceful. Everything looked like a never ending world of golden trees and piles of leaves. It was the same; over and over and over again. That was the problem though, everything looked the same. And before he knew it, he was lost. He would never admit it though, his pride prevented him from doing so.
It was only a matter of time before I found my way back, that's what ran through his mind each time. Of coarse, he was never right just as many. He just continued following whichever direction bared the most interesting scene to look at in the Autumn day. It was all in all beautiful.
"Oh, what is this." A voice jumped up from behind him.
No he thought, it can't be.
A male of similar appearance to Haru stepped in front of him, and Yamaken felt himself shrink back into his shoes. He never had a decent past with Yūzan, and being alone with him didn't make things any better.
"Yūzan, hello." Yamaken muttered, trying to be the slightest bit interested. If Yūzan knew you felt as much as a little bit uncomfortable, he'll fool with you.
"Just a simple hello? Ah, well, I'll treasure this moment dearly where you didn't have that unpleasant look on your face at my presence." Yūzan's cheeky smile seemed to make Yamaken want to disappear all the more.
"If that's all you had to say then I'll be going now." Yamaken was quick to make his leave when Yūzan's arms seemed to wrap around his neck.
He turned around to find a childish look on Yūzan's face, "Awe, why the hurry? Going to see Haru, are you?"
Yamaken's face grew red as he almost shouted 'no', but said it more calmly, "I'm just wandering the neighbourhood, I should be going back soon." He just wanted to get away as soon as possible, without trouble.
"If that's so then why don't you and I go get something sweet to eat? There's a bakery shop just around the corner. I could even walk you home afterwards seeing as you're lost."
"I'm not lost!"
Yūzan grinned sheepishly, "Touchy as ever, I see. How cute, your ears are red." He reached his fingers for the Yamaguchi's tender ears and smiled again, face close to Yamaken's. He pulled away almost instantly and slapped away Yūzan's hands.
Realizing his rational action, he stammered, "S-sorry."
"No, it's quite my fault. Mr. Touchy doesn't like being touched. Let me treat you to something sweet then, alright?" A devious look filled his eyes, "Now, how 'bout that bakery I mentioned earlier?"
"Yeah, sure." Yamaken muttered and followed side by side Yūzan who kept constantly talking of the many sweets he should try at the bakery.
Yamaken took a seat at one of the tables as Yūzan went to order the food. Truthfully, he would have refused to come if it wasn't for what his sister had said. Maybe it's just a little bit true, he thought to himself, would it be selfish of me to test that theory?
"Yamaken, you seem troubled." Yūzan appeared with two plates of strawberry cake in both hands and a box of sweets under one arm.
"It's nothing, I'm just tired."
"Yamaken, you know you're not that good of a liar. You've been looking like you ate some bad chocolate and couldn't get it back out either end. In a much more simple manner, you look constipated." Yūzan chuckled.
The blonde raised an eyebrow and lightened his face, "Y'know, your choice of wording things aren't as sweet-looking as you appear to be." Yamaken almost choked when he thought through what he just said.
"Hmm... you think I look sweet?" Yūzan leaned over the table closer to Yamaken.
"I mean, you're always smiling and you act like a child, and you don't normally think those words to come from a child, so-" Yamaken's words were then cut off when Yūzan's lips pressed against his. He could already feel the heat rise to his face and his feelings getting mixed up into a storm again. What do I do? His mind went blank for a moment, then his hands clenched onto Yūzan's shoulders and pushed him away.
Yūzan's eyes met his, "I'm not a child, Yamaken. In fact, that's the least I could have done." His eyes suddenly transitioned back to the childish glow and he smiled his cheeky smile, "Do I taste just as sweet as I look?"
Yamaken didn't know how to respond. His thoughts were all mixed up and he felt funny inside, all that was clear was that he liked it. Yūzan did in fact taste sweet, which only made him grow much more red. And the fact that Yūzan can quickly change from young and innocent natured to a dark, murky person, made him strangely excited. Maybe he did like boys, but his feelings for Shizuku hadn't changed and he had absolutely no feelings for Yūzan.
Yamaken opened his mouth to speak, "Yūzan, you bastard." Yamaken was perplexed because those words didn't come from his mouth. He felt a force pull him out of his seat, and this feeling felt familiar. His thoughts rolled back to when he was thrown into the wall - Haru.
"Well, what a surprise to see you here, Haru." Yūzan chuckled, "Would you like some sweets?"
"Quit the act, I saw what you did. I won't let you have my friend." Haru's vicious appearance began distracting the other customers. Soon enough, everyone was taking peeks and eavesdropping at the scene.
Haru stepped forward with his fist in the air, and by impulse, Yamaken grabbed Haru's hand and pulled his fist away in desperate attempt to stop things from getting out of hand. He quickly yanked Haru by the ear and dragged him outside.
Haru threw a glare at Yamaken who only rolled his eyes and started aimlessly walking away before someone decided to call the cops.
"You're too reckless." Yamaken finally said matter-of-factly, and crossed his arms.
"But you know what he did." Haru grumbled, yanking at the blonde's sleeve.
"Yes, but what happened was none of your business to intrude. If I felt the need to punch him, I would have. You didn't need to do that for me."
"But, you're my friend." Haru's voice lowered and he stopped walking. Yamaken shut his eyes for a moment to decide what to do next.
So, he just wrapped his arm around the male that was much bigger than himself and, just as quiet, said, "I know."
Just when he was about to end the hug, Haru squeezed in tighter, a smile on both faces.
A/N: It's been almost a year. Oh dear, Jeevas. let me face palm and sulk in my corner. So, I was originally going to forget about this fan fiction completely, but I thought it'd be fun to tease you guys and pop up with another chapter. Yeah, I also know I ruined Yūzan's sweet innocence .-.
Warning - chapter four will probably be for another six months.