Okay, in this chapter, we will be meeting the villain of this fic. His identity will probably come as a surprise to none of you, but I hope you find him as much of a creeper as I do. This chapter, like the others, is for grown-ups only.

Thank you for all the lovely and kind reviews. I know there aren't a whole lot of us in this fandom,why, I don't know, but it means a lot to me that you guys are reading this and taking the time to encourage me.

Any of you unaware of the farewell-photobook project for Hamao Kyousuke, contact red_celtic_rose on LJ or Princess Serenity-chan here at for details. Please do join us, I think Mao will love it.

I do not own Takumi-kun, there would be at least 20 movies if I did.

MORE AWFUL THAN MEN
Chapter 3 - Before The World Was Made

"So, did I miss anything interesting?" Gii asked, as he made another unsuccessful attempt to open his locker.

"You're hopeless, let me do it. Only you would miss the first week of high school."

"Hey, whenever I come back to Japan, I need time to acclimate. Otherwise I forget to bow."

"Why did you come back, anyway?" Akaike asked as he worked the combination lock. "Didn't you say American schools are easier?"

"Yeah, but Father's dead set on me going to a Japanese university. No party schools for me." Gii pushed back his well-gelled hair. "You know what? In schools in the States, students don't have to clean up anything. They have people for that."

"It builds character, and a playboy like you needs it. Here."

Pouting, Gii dropped a book into the locker. "Why do you call me that? I've never even dated anyone!"

"Because you would be, if you weren't pining for your imaginary friend."

"Takumi isn't imaginary, you've seen the picture. I just haven't found him yet. That's the real reason I keep returning to Japan."

"We have a Takumi in our class, maybe he can act as a replacement. I hear he's really jumpy, though, doesn't like anyone near him." Akaike nodded across the hall, to their far left. "He's over there with his roommate, I think, Katakura something."

Gii looked, and the color left his face. The boy he stared at was leaning against the metal-lined wall, talking softly to his friend and looking uncomfortable each time someone passed close by. Akaike said Gii's name, shook him, but it was several seconds before he spoke.

"Shouzou...it's him."

"What?"

"My soul mate, the violinist, my Takumi, it's him." Gii touched the wall to steady himself.

"Seriously? How sure are you? It's been a long time."

"I'd know him anywhere." Gii smiled, and a tear trailed down his cheek, surprising Akaike, who'd never seen him cry. "My God, Shouzou. He was so cute then, but look at him now. He's beautiful."

The boy was very pretty, Akaike noticed, even a straight guy like himself could admit that. Sure enough, he was getting the same looks always-handsome Gii did, and was just as oblivious to them. A second-year jock named Nozaki indicated Takumi and made a crude gesture, laughing with his friends. Katakura innocuously touched the boy's shoulder, apologizing when he jumped.

"He's hurt," Gii croaked out, "still hurt, by what I don't know, but he's still sad. I've got to fix him."

He started to head in Takumi's direction, only to have Akaike pull him back and hold him still with a strength he'd never known the other boy to possess. His eyes were serious, a match for Gii's lovesick desperation.

"Let me go, Shouzou."

"You are not going over there."

"You don't understand!" Gii wailed, though they both kept their voices low. "He's my soul mate!"

"And you saw how he just reacted to a friendly touch. How do you think a declaration of love will affect him?"

Gii said nothing, but stopped struggling.

"He's in no condition to deal with you, Gii. I know you. You can't hold back your feelings, won't be able to if you start talking to him."

"But - "

"What are the odds he remembers you, much less feels what you do? I don't know what's wrong with him either, but he won't be able to handle you."

"But I want to be near him. I have to be near him, at least."

"Yeah? Could you bear to be his friend and nothing else? Can you, as of right now, keep your hands off of him?"

Gii's silence was answer enough.

"Just wait," Akaike advised. "Maybe he'll get comfortable here and his phobia will dissipate. But until you can handle the chance of him rejecting you, you need to stay away. If you don't, you could make him worse."

Gii's shoulders slumped. "I...I don't want to hurt him. Shouzou, what could have made him like this?"

Akaike shrugged. He had a guess, but it was too awful to think of, and nothing Gii would want to hear.

"He seems to be getting along with his roommate. They're both from normal families, upper middle-class, so that probably helps."

"I wonder if he still plays the violin. He made such beautiful music." There were practically stars in Gii's eyes. "Isn't he perfect?"

Akaike sighed. "I see you're going to be harder to live with than ever. Maybe I should request a different roommate."

Gii, busy gazing in adoration, didn't seem to hear. He was taking in Takumi's height, increased since their first meeting, the warm eyes, the kissable mouth, the flawless skin. Adorableness transformed into something ethereally lovely, purity incarnate. He even seemed to glow, to radiate a natural light despite his obvious tension. Looks never mattered much to Gii and would never be what he loved most about Takumi, but he couldn't deny that the boy's appearance was enchanting.

Gii's reverie was rudely interrupted. A large third-year had approached Takumi, who was clearly close to panic. The older teenager leaned in close, obviously making some srt of proposition, and used his arms to block Takumi from escaping. Katakura objected to this and was dismissively shoved away. Takumi shrank back, whispering pleas to be left alone. Gii quickly headed toward them, ignoring Akaike's hiss of his name.

"Leave him alone."

"Or what? Get lost, I'm just asking him out."

"He's not interested, and you're scaring him. Get away from him before I make you."

The third-year turned around, and his sneer quickly vanished. "Are you...Saki Giichi?"

"I am."

A short bow. "Terazuma Keruka. I hope we can be friends during my last year here."

"I'll consider it, if you promise to stay away from him."

Terazuma frowned, but nodded, and mumbled an apology to Takumi before walking away. Gii looked at his love, held back the impulse to wrap his arms around him. Takumi looked so scared and vulnerable, but once he'd calmed and caught his breath, he met Gii's eyes, and a beautiful but chilling coldness froze his expression. He looked like he was erecting a wall around his heart that nothing could break.

"Are you okay?" Silence, a hint of confusion.

Toshihisa was there in an instant. "Please excuse my friend, Saki-kun, he's not good with people. Come on, Takumi."

Glancing back one more time in puzzlement, Takumi walked away. As Gii watched sadly, Akaike came up behind him and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Shouzou, he doesn't remember me."

"He only knew you for a few moments, and you've grown. It doesn't mean anything." Akaike sighed. "You see? Right now, he can't even take you on as a friend."

"But I need to protect him."

"Let me handle that. You know I have a knack for sniffing out trouble. I'll keep an eye on him, two eyes when I can spare them both."

"Would you really do that for me, Shouzou?"

"Of course. You're my best friend, so Hayama is like my brother-in-law."

"Hayama? Is that his family name?" Gii was thrilled to have finally learned the information he'd sought so long. "It's beautiful."

Akaike covered his eyes with his hand. "Yeah, this is gonna be fun."

tgtgtgtg

"And that's how it happened."

"Gii, I'm sorry I was so dismissive of you that day. I should have at least thanked you."

"Baby, it's okay. I know you were protecting your heart."

"Not anymore," Takumi murmured. "It's yours now."

"Takumi."

Just as they began to kiss, the door opened. Gii wouldn't let Takumi go right away this time; it was several moments before they looked over to find Misu sorting his books and sighing at them.

"At it again? I envy your stamina."

"At it? You have a dirty mind, Arata," Gii teased.

He received a cold glare. "You're in Japan, Saki. Speak properly or be silent."

Come to think of it, only Shinyouji-kun calls him by his given name, Takumi thought. He slipped away from Gii, who pouted and groped the air for him, and slowly approached his roommate.

"Ano, Misu-kun?"

"Yes, Hayama?" the elder boy answered in a gentler voice.

"I haven't seen Shinyouji-kun in a few days..."

"You must be grateful he's not bothering you."

"Actually, I'm worried. I was wondering if you know where he's been."

"Why should I?" Misu asked dismissively.

"Because...he's your..."

"Pet. Just a pet, if that. I've told you, we're not going out, so I have no reason to keep track of him. Just because you're in love doesn't mean I am."

"But you care about him, I know you do! Why can't you - "

"Hayama, drop it or I'll touch you."

Gii got up, hissing, "Try it, and you'll lose all your fingers."

Prompted more by Takumi's hurt expression than the threat, Misu sighed. "Sorry, Hayama. I'd rather just not discuss this."

"I...understand."

"I have class now, I'll leave you lovebirds alone."

Murmuring to Takumi that he'd be right back, Gii followed Misu into the hallway. "We need to get something straight."

"Straight? You?"

"Cut the bullshit. First you threaten to take Takumi from me, now you've obviously got touching him on your mind," Gii said angrily.

"It was a threat, not a come-on."

"I've seen you staring at him!"

"He's nice to look at," Misu said bluntly. "So are paintings. I don't steal them, and I don't plan to steal Hayama from you. I only said that to get you off your ass and make you re-claim your much better half. I want Hayama to be happy, that's all, and for some reason I don't understand, you do that for him better than I could."

"So it's Shinyouji, then."

Silence.

"If he were a painting, would you feel safe enough to love him?"

With that, Misu turned and left, for perhaps the first time leaving an unanswered question.

tgtgtgtg

Takumi knocked somewhat heavily on the door, almost disappointed when a voice called to him to come in. What would he tell Shinyouji if the boy asked about Misu? Takumi hated to lie, but he hated the thought of hurting a friend more. Taking a deep breath, he entered, and found Shinyouji sitting up in bed, wearing pajamas and looking pale but fairly cheerful.

"Hi, Hayama-senpai, sit down."

"Shinyouji-kun, where have you been? I was worried."

"I'm one of the first to get the flu that's been going around. I've been ordered to stay in bed, so I don't spread it around. If I have to go out for some reason, I have to wear this," the younger boy said, holding up a white mask. "I heard that first-year Kokura threw up all over the language arts corridor."

"I heard that too."

"Poor guy. This isn't the worst flu I've had, but it's close. Oh, Hayama-senpai, you might want to put on a mask while you're in here."

"Don't worry, I never get the flu."

Shinyouji laughed. "My roommate is like that too, and he hates masks anyway. It's funny, I never used to get sick either. I was always the one to take care of my family when they got the flu. My parents and my little sister, Kotoko. She's seven."

Takumi smiled. "She must be cute. I used to wish I had a sister."

"Does Hayama-senpai have any brothers?"

The smile quickly faded. "I had one, but he died several years ago."

"I'm sorry."

"By then, we weren't close."

"Well, you can have my sister. She's a pain, always drawing on my bedroom walls."

"When I was little, I once finger-painted all my brother's homework," Takumi said. He had never told anyone about this.

"Wow! Did you get in huge trouble?"

"No, Niisan hid what I did from my parents and re-did each paper. They never found out."

"He did that even though you weren't close? He must have really loved you."

"I think he did," Takumi said slowly, "in his own way. How is kendo going?"

"I'm really going to lose my edge, being stuck in bed like this. But you should have seen it," Shinyouji said excitedly. "During my last match, against a third-year, I knocked the bokken out of his hands so hard it flew through a paper screen, and he was so surprised, he fell down. It was like something out of a manga. Have you ever thought of trying kendo, Hayama-senpai?"

I can't stand violence, of any kind. "I'm too clumsy, I'd be awful at it."

"You're lucky Shidou doesn't make you join at least one club, like most high schools do. It's funny, that's one of the reasons I tested for Shidou, before I got into kendo."

"What were the other reasons?"

Shinyouji smiled mischievously. "I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

"...all right. My mother and I don't get along, and my father is overprotective. I needed to get away from them. And there are no crowds around here, I thought it would help my phobia."

Shinyouji opened his mouth, then closed it, clearly thinking better about what he wanted to say. "My parents argue all the time. They're getting a divorce and fighting over me and my sister, so I mostly spent time with my grandmother. But ultimately, I had to get away. And then...I met Arata-san."

Takumi winced, but hid it well enough. "How did you meet?"

"It was strange. He thought I cheated on my entrance exam, although I didn't, but he didn't tell on me. I thought he would, though, and while I was outside afterward, all my fear and sadness came to the surface. Arata-san's friend Sagara-senpai found me crying, and Arata-san took me to the dining hall for soup. I think I was already falling for him, as cold as he was and is to me."

Shinyouji laughed ruefully. "I all but demanded to know how to write his family name. He finally told me, and said he'd tell me his given name if I got into Shidou."

"And he did."

"Yeah, he found me on my first day and helped me carry my bags to my room. Once we were alone, he patted my head and told me. I was head over heels by then. I'd never wanted so much to kiss someone."

"I think I know the feeling," Takumi murmured.

Shinyouji flashed a wide grin. "I heard you and Gii-senpai are public again, congratulations. What's it like?"

"Strange. The other students are suddenly being nice."

"They want to survive, don't they? Haven't you seen the looks Gii gives the ones who stare at you?"

"Even Gii can't make them stop hating me, however they behave."

"Senpai, they don't all stare because they hate you."

"Eh?"

Shinyouji felt a warm sort of amusement at the naive reply. Even though Takumi was older than him, he was so cutely innocent. No wonder Gii was so protective.

"But Gii-senapi is so cool, so sophisticated."

"Gii is?" Takumi knew what Gii was like happy and in private - playful, joking, a big kid at heart.

"Yeah, he's so intense. Scary, even, sometimes. I guess he has a reputation to uphold, with his status and everything. And he's probably used to not trusting people," Shinyouji mused. "I would guess a lot of people's interest in him is for his power and money."

Takumi thought of the first-year hangers-on, how Gii tolerated but tuned them out, and the distant friendships he maintained with some of the third-years. It must be hard for him. Gii's wealth meant nothing to Takumi, so it was always a surprise to remember it wasn't like that with most people. Maybe that's why he treasures Akaike-kun so much. He's one of the few who likes Gii for Gii.

"I didn't mean to make you sad, Senpai."

"No, I was just thinking. I wish I could shoulder some of that burden for Gii."

"But you do," Shinyouji insisted. "I heard Arata-san say that Gii is totally different when he's with you, not tense or distant or...what was it? Faintly miserable."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. I wish I had the kind of relationship you do."

Here goes nothing. Takumi took a deep breath. "Shinyouji-kun, just because Misu-kun hasn't been coming to visit you, that doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. I think Misu-kun is afraid of feeling something strongly, and especially expressing that feeling, so he hides behind a cold facade to guard his heart. I used to be that way myself, so I know how frightening it is to love someone despite yourself, despite all your terror at giving yourself to someone and being hurt. If you truly love Misu-kun, give him some time. I'm sure he'll open up to you if given enough chances."

"Thank you for your advice, Hayama-senapi, but you're mistaken about something. Arata-san has been visiting me, several times each day."

"Eh?" But he said -

"Yeah, he stops by between classes to force tea down my throat, and brings me soup at meal-times. If he insists on fluffing my pillows one more time today, I might crack and throw them at him. But..." Shinyouji beamed. "It's worth being sick to have him hover. If I could just get him to act so sweet in public, I'd have everything I want."

Misu-kun, so this is where you've been sneaking off to.

tgtgtgtg

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

"Absolutely. You need to study. Considering how smart you are, I can't believe how badly you've been doing in calculus."

Gii made a face. "I was great with algebra, I just don't like math. If Father didn't insist, I wouldn't have signed up for calculus. And if I hadn't wanted to be in all the same classes as you."

"Gii, you don't need to be with me every moment," Takumi said softly. "I'm just going to see Kandan-kun practice soccer. Anyway, everyone's been fake-nice to me since they found out about us."

"It's not all fake. You're very lovable."

"Only to you."

"Takumi, come sit with me for a minute."

The younger boy obeyed, and smiled as Gii's fingers caressed his cheek. It was still a little strange, how safe he felt at times like this.

"Your friends love you. Not as much as I do, but only because that's not possible. The students who dislike you just don't understand you. It's because they misinterpreted your jumpiness from the beginning. They thought you hated them."

"And I'm different."

"We have other students from normal families."

"That's not what I meant," Takumi whispered, looking at the floor. "I always thought maybe...that people could tell."

"Tell what?"

"That I'm soiled."

Gii lifted his chin gently, looking as close to angry as he ever got with Takumi. "Don't you say that. You're the purest thing I've ever known. What your brother did has nothing to do with you as a person. Knowing about him doesn't change my feelings for you in the slightest."

Smiling sadly, Takumi touched his hand. "Gii...why did you tell me you like me when you did?"

"I couldn't keep it in a second longer. You deserved to know why Takabayashi was targeting you, because he overheard me say to Shouzou that I love you, not like, love. And because we'd become roommates. Being so close to you was driving me crazy."

"I guess it was fate, that we happened to get roomed together."

"Actually, I bribed a secretary, but it was fate that she accepted."

"Gii! What did you give her?"

"New Ferrari. Can I get you one? Please?"

"No!"

Gii pouted. "You never let me buy you anything."

"I don't need anything but you."

Gii cupped Takumi's face in his hands. "You'll never get rid of me, in this lifetime or any other. I will spend eternity loving you, and hopefully longer. It will still never be enough."

"Gii..."

Gii kissed him, slowly and sweetly, running his thumbs over the smooth cheeks and pushing his fingers into the soft black hair. Takumi gave him a few moments before he pulled back, regretfully.

"I have to go, and you have to study."

"Yeah," Gii said glumly, "and I promised to help Shouzou with English."

"I thought Akaike-kun's English was good."

"It is, he just sucks at verbs. It's kind of hilarious." Gii switched to English. "I love you, baby."

"Aishiteru, Gii."

He watched Takumi go, tensed from the faint alarm he was feeling. Always felt, to some extent, when he had to trust the unpredictable world with his reason for existing.

tgtgtgtg

The spring day was perfect for being outdoors, Takumi thought as he reached the warm field. Summer weather, especially June, made him uneasy, but something about the awakening of flowers made him feel reborn. Clean, even, far from the spoiled thing he often thought of himself as.

Niisan used to pick flowers with me, he thought, and shook it away as Kandan approached in his soccer uniform.

"Hayama-senpai, I'm so glad you could make it! We're about to start our practice game. We used to divide into two teams, but our new assistant coach had another idea. He's having us play as individuals, so only goals we each make count toward our score."

"That makes sense. I suppose it makes you work harder if you don't have a team to count on."

"Yeah! I'll introduce you. Coach! Please come meet my friend."

A tall man in a referee uniform set down a clipboard and turned around. As he approached, Takumi's blood ran cold. Nausea surged up in his stomach, but instead of heaving, he froze.

"Hayama Takumi, meet Nozaki Daisuke."

"We're acquainted," Nozaki said with a predatory smile. "Get lost, chibi, I need to talk to your senpai."

"But - "

"Go." Once Kandan had disappeared, Nozaki came closer, and Takumi staggered back. "Hi, baby. Miss me?"

"D-Don't call me that."

"Right, that's Saki's thing. Even though I could satisfy you better than him."

"What are you doing here?"

"Taking a year off before university. I have good memories here. You're shaking. Do you remember too?"

"Remember?" Takumi was trembling hard, close to tears. "You tried to r-rape me."

"I would have made sure you liked it. I'm very good. And you're so frigid, a nice fuck was just what you needed." Nozaki reached a hand out, only to have it slapped away. "Have you put out for Saki? I hear he's the only one allowed to touch you."

"Don't talk about Gii."

"Has he gotten under your clothes, at least? I dream about it, you know. Undressing you slowly, getting you hot and needy with my hands, then sinking into you like hot water. You cry and writhe, and that makes it better."

Takumi's eyes overflowed, vision blurred. "Sh-Shut up."

"I imagine my mouth all over you, my tongue penetrating you, tying you up and fucking you with toys until you beg to come. You're what I came back here for, to have another go at you. Don't you want to find out how good I can make you feel?"

"S-Stop, please." "Takumi, I'll make you feel so good."

"You're breathing heavy. Just like in my fantasies."

Nozaki touched his cheek, and Takumi tried to stumble away, only to have his arm grabbed. The practice game had begun, and they were a good distance away, standing in the shadow of a bleacher. Takumi could not have cried out for help, even if someone had been close. He wanted either to die to escape this, or hide in Gii's arms, preferably the latter.

"No!"

"Come on. Kiss me, and I'll make you forget all about Saki."

tgtgtgtg

"I don't get this at all."

"That's okay, it's an irregular verb."

"I can never remember when it's 'is' and when it's 'are.'"

Gii scribbled in katakana as he spoke. "It's 'is' with he, she, and it, 'are' with we, they, and you."

"Okay..."

"And 'am' with I."

"This is completely illogical," Akaike groaned. "How do American kids learn this?"

"That's how they feel about kanji."

"Fair enough. I still wish more of them would learn Japanese, so we didn't have to all learn English."

"Americans don't like foreign languages. Here, try this one."

"I can never remember which form ends in 's.'"

"It's 'I run,' 'She/he runs,' 'We run,' 'You run,' 'They run.' I know, you just have to memorize it and go by what sounds right."

"It all sounds insane. Our verb system at least makes sense."

Gii's phone rang from his jeans pocket. He took it out while smiling and murmuring to himself, "If you keep tempting me, Takumi, I'll have to take you right on this desk."

"Well, that's victim-blamey of you. I suppose if Hayama were a girl in a short skirt, you'd think it's your right to jump him. Her."

"Hmm, it's not Takumi. Hello?"

"Gii-senpai, I think you should come here, quickly."

"Kandan, what's wrong?" Gii jumped up. "Is it Takumi?"

"Our new coach is talking to him, and he looks really scared."

"Who is this guy?"

A murderous expression crossed Gii's face, and he ran with a speed he'd not attempted for anyone's sake but Takumi's.

To be continued.