Strangers on the Bus
- Forbidden Romances -
By: Lil' Amethyst Angel
Warnings: Slight swearing, slight violence, AU, shounen-ai, and possible OOC.
Pairings: Yuzuriha/Kusanagi, Karen/Seiichiro, Subaru/Seishirou, Sorata/Arashi
'It was beautiful the way her silky hair would frame her warm face. I loved the way her eyes sparkled when she had a sneaky idea to get me and Seishirou together. Her laugh was so musical. Her smile alone brightened my day. I miss her...so very much.' Subaru sighed as he lightly touched the grey headstone in front of him. 'I let her die. I let her be killed! I could have saved her, but I didn't. I failed her.'
Subaru felt a tear wet his eye, but he did not let it drop. He could never allow that. He hadn't cried since his dear Hokuto had died. Subaru's thoughts drifted to the memories of his sister. She truly was the best sister. When he told her about Seishirou being in a gang she never tried to force him to leave his beloved. Hokuto always put his happiness before everything, at the same time keeping his well-being in mind. She protected him, even if it meant giving up everything for him.
Subaru thought back to an incident with the gang Seishirou was in. Seishirou is kind of like their go-to guy when they want someone murdered. He's basically an assassin. Subaru shuddered at the thought. Subaru valued life and hated the fact that his lover took it from some and destroyed others'. Subaru's memory flashed through his mind once again. It was of when he stood up to a few top guys in Seishirou's gang, hurting them, while trying to protect a girl they were trying to kill. She was an innocent and they just wanted some kicks. Subaru couldn't let that happen, so he fought them and beat them...badly. Needless to say, they were furious. Seishirou was sent to kill him. Subaru accepted this and would not run. When he confided in Hokuto she smiled in sad acceptance. At the time, Subaru didn't understand the look on his sister's lovely face. Today he wished he had paid more thought to his sister's strange behavior. That night, when Seishirou came to kill him, Subaru wasn't there, but Hokuto was. Earlier that night, she had drugged Subaru, so he would sleep, and she went to his apartment. When Seishirou did come he was not surprised to find her. That night she died. She sacrificed herself for Subaru, who she would forever hold most dear in her heart.
Hokuto wanted Subaru to live, to be happy. Subaru remembered the last thing his sister had said to him before he passed out, "My dear Subaru, please remember to always follow your heart." Subaru traced the letters on Hokuto's tombstone.
"I'm sorry, Hokuto. I can't follow my heart anymore, for it has shattered long ago." He placed a single pure, white rose on her grave and left.
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Kamui grimaced at his reflection in the mirror. The cut didn't looks so bad, but a dark blue bruise had formed over his cheek from when the thug had punched him yesterday.
"At least it matches my uniform." Kamui grumbled sarcastically.
Upon entering the kitchen Kamui tripped over Sorata, who was on his way out.
"Oh, sorry 'bout that, Kamui." Sorata said, steadying the boy. When he got a better look at Kamui's face his eyes widened. "Kamui, what happened to your face?"
"Nothing. Just a fight." Kamui tried to brush him off. Kamui started to push past the other male, but was stopped by a firm hand wrapping around his arm. The next thing he knew he was being dragged to the table and pushed gently into a chair.
"I'll bet you didn't tend properly to that cut on your head did you?" Sorata questioned softly. He took out some bottles from one of the cupboards and brought a cloth over to Kamui. Sorata drizzled some of the disinfectant on the cloth and dabbed lightly at Kamui's forehead. Kamui winced slightly at the stinging sensation.
"You shouldn't try to be so tough all of the time." Sorata said, not unkindly. Noticing Kamui's glower he sighed. "It wouldn't kill you to lighten up now and then."
Kamui looked so young at that moment that Sorata couldn't help but smile. Kamui's uniform was slightly ruffled, he was blushing slightly at how Sorata was taking care of him, and was sprawled awkwardly (but cutely) over the chair that he had been placed in. Sorata didn't like the idea of Kamui getting into fights. With is small frame and air of vulnerability it wouldn't surprise him if Kamui was bullied. Not that he doubted that the kid could take care of himself, he just didn't like to see bruises marring that lovely face.
"That's it. You're sitting with Arashi and me and lunch. You need to be more sociable. And before you object, I won't take no for an answer. So unless you want me stalking you all through lunch and harassing you until you sit with us, I suggest you agree now." Kamui didn't get a chance to protest as he was dragged out of the house by Sorata and the two started on their way to school.
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Kusanagi stood by the bulletin board in the hall, putting up a sign-up sheet for a new club. He heaved a sigh. The next period would start soon. That meant having to see Yuzuriha. Kusanagi admitted to himself that when it came to girls, and this beauty in particular, he was a coward. Kusanagi was startled from his thoughts by the voice of the very person he was thinking about.
"Hi, Daisuke. How are you liking visual arts? I heard you switched from drama." Yuzuriha probed a classmate. She was standing around the corner from Kusanagi.
"Oh, it's good, thanks. Um, I was wondering, if you would, maybe, like you go out with me, like, on a date sometime?" Daisuke asked hopefully. Kusanagi felt jealousy rising in him. He wished that he could be able to ask Yuzuriha out. He wished he was allowed to love her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Daisuke." Kusanagi was surprised when she declined. "It's just there's someone else I like." Yuzuriha continued. Kusanagi smiled at that. He didn't want to be too presumptuous, but with the way the girl was talking yesterday, he had a pretty good idea of who she did like.
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Fuuma walked through the halls to the school cafeteria. He was in a good mood today, after talking to Sorata the night before. Fuuma decided he would not give up on Kamui and was determined to become his friend once more. Kamui was more precious to him than he would ever admit.
"Hey, Mr. Team Captain, over here!" Sorata waved Fuuma over to a table he was sitting at in the cafeteria. Fuuma grinned at the nickname Sorata insisted on calling him.
"Hey, Sorata." Fuuma noticed the lack of Sorata's girlfriend, whom he usually clings to. "Where's Arashi?"
Sorata pointed behind him. Fuuma turned and couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. Arashi was dragging an obviously exasperated and distressed Kamui to their table. His eyes just screamed, 'save me from the psychotic girl'. Seeing Fuuma, Kamui stiffened slightly, but plopped down next to him anyway. Arashi took a seat across from the two, beside her lover.
"How were your morning classes, Kamui?" Sorata asked. He really didn't want Kamui to sit there silently for the whole lunch period, and he knew that he would if Sorata didn't get him talking.
"Fine."
Sorata blinked. Well, that didn't work as well as he thought. Sorata decided to take another approach. "Where's that book you're always carrying around, Dante's....something?"
Kamui looked uncomfortable. "I leant it to someone."
"Oh. Who?" Sorata pushed.
"Kotori." Came the mumbled reply. Kamui had run into Kotori again that morning and leant her the book, when she once again showed interest in it. He didn't mind parting with it, even if it was his favorite. He had the full Divine Comedy at home, anyway.
Fuuma was surprised. He didn't know his sister had talked to Kamui since that first day. Not to mention, Kamui had just referred to Kotori by her first name.
"Oh? You sly dog, flirting with Mr. Team Captain's sister were you?" Sorata smirked at the way Kamui started sputtering. "You know, there're quite a few guys who would like to go out with someone as sweet and pretty as Kotori. You'll have a lot of competition." Kamui just continued to stumble over nonsensical words.
Fuuma laughed along with Sorata. Kamui really was adorable. A pink shade tinted his cheeks as he tried to deny Sorata's teasing accusations. The rest of lunch went well. Kamui eventually loosened up and joined in the conversation, if only a bit.
"I should be getting to my next class." Arashi stood up gracefully.
"I'll walk you. See y'all later." Sorata said. Fuuma said goodbye and turned back to Kamui once they left. He saw darkening bruise and cut Kamui sported. He had been itching to ask Kamui about it all through lunch, but didn't want to make Kamui even more uncomfortable in front of the others.
"What happened to your face? Y'know the last time I saw you like that, you had fallen out of a tree after rescuing Kotori's hat from the top." Fuuma prodded gently.
"I got into a fight." Kamui lied. Fuuma frowned at the thought of anyone hurting someone so precious to him.
"If anyone gives you trouble, you can come to me."
"I can take care of myself. I'm not some weak little kid." Kamui shot back.
"I know, but I want to protect you." Fuuma said seriously, looking into Kamui's sparkling eyes. Kamui started at that. Fuuma wanted to protect him? He always had when they were younger, but Kamui was trying so hard to push him away and was being so cold to him. Why would Fuuma still want to be his protector? Kamui's pushed the doubts out of his mind. Fuuma, his dear and beloved friend, his brother, still cared for him. The thought warmed Kamui and gave him some much needed support. He let a rare smile grace his lips. Fuuma was very pleased with the response. He had missed that charming smile so much. The two were brought out of their little daze by Yuuto, the basketball coach, calling Fuuma for practice. Though, reluctant to leave, Fuuma does so, after softly touching Kamui's hand in a sign of friendship.
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Seiichiro Aoki sat at his desk going over his second period English essays. He suddenly felt two hands covering his eyes.
"Guess who." A silky voice whispered in his ear. Recognizing the voice, he smiles.
"The most beautiful woman alive." The hands leave his face and a woman comes into view. Her hair bounces around her shoulders and she's grinning.
"You sweet-talker you. I bet you say that to all the girls." She said playfully.
"Hello, Karen." She smiled again.
"Good afternoon, Seiichiro. I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner tonight?" She asked. Seiichirou frowned.
"I'm sorry, Karen. My wife's sister is coming over and she wants us to have dinner together." Seiichiro felt guilty for having to turn Karen down, especially for another woman. Even if Karen was the "other woman" he loved her very much. The problem was, he also loved his wife and daughter. They had a relatively happy marriage, besides the growing distance between them. Seiichiro just couldn't help falling in love with Karen when he met her. After working together for a few months things eventually escalated.
"It's alright. I understand." Karen smiled sadly.
"I'm sorry." He repeated.
"It's fine, really. Well, I should be getting back to my class. The bell is going to go soon."
As Seiishiro watched his love exit he felt even more guilty. He knew he had unintentionally hurt Karen. Just being with his wife hurt her, but she never mentioned it. She did understand. She did accept it. And that made it all the worse when he caused her pain.
Once Karen reached her classroom she let her happy façade drop. Sometimes she wondered what if she had met Seiishiro before he got married, before he met his wife. She wondered if he could ever leave his wife and daughter. She wondered what would happen if she asked him to leave. But 'what ifs' and 'could have beens' were pointless. It didn't change the now. It couldn't change what things were and what things are. Karen accepted this. She accepted that she could never openly be with the one she loved. She knew she was doing something that was considered wrong. She didn't care. Karen loved Seiishiro and he loved her. They may not have had the ideal relationship, but they were happy and that's all that mattered.
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Kamui was on his way to the bus stop when he felt a hand touch his arm delicately. He whipped around only to find Kotori. The girl's hair was blowing freely in the wind and the sun cast a halo around her golden waves. An angel. That's the first thought that entered Kamui's mind.
"Hi, Kamui." Kotori chirped.
"Hi." He smiled back. Encouraged by his reaction, Kotori continued.
"Would you like to go for some ice-cream with me?" Kamui was about to decline when he looked into her begging eyes. He couldn't resist.
"Alright. But I'm paying." He grumbled. Kotori beams.
After getting their ice-cream the two head to the park. After a while of eating in silence Kotori spoke up.
"I'm sorry about your mother." She wasn't looking at him. Kamui stopped eating/
"It's okay." Came the strained reply.
"No, it's not okay. I know what it feels like." Kamui looked away from the girl.
He thought about how Kotori was right, she did know what it was like. Her mother had died too. That was the reason he and his mother had left Tokyo to begin with. Kamui's and Kotori's mothers were very good friends, closer than sisters really. When Kotori's mother died of heart failure his mother couldn't take it the memories that were left in this place and moved away with Kamui.
"If you need to talk, I'll be here." Kotori said, drawing Kamui from his thoughts. "I should go before Fuuma gets worried." With that said they part ways.
It had, in fact, gotten quite late, Kamui noted. The park was practically deserted. Continuing on his way home, Kamui is knocked off guard by a rough shove. When he looked up he was faced with three burly men.
'Holy fuck, are they everywhere? Are they like stalking me or something?' Kamui thought, extremely pissed off. Before he has time to think anymore he is being held down by two while the other punches, kicks, smacks, and basically beats the shit out of him. After what seemed like hours to the suffering boy, the gangsters finally stopped their assault. One of the men bent down and lifted Kamui's chin slightly to face him.
"It would be such a same for such a pretty little girl to get hurt just for associating with scum like you." Kamui caught the blunt threat, but was too hurt and tired to react. The men smirked triumphantly and left. Kamui slumped further to the ground, holding his bruised side and while blood ran down his chin from his lip.
To Be Continued
Author's Note: Thanks for reading. And to all my reviewers, I love you! Now, please continue on to that little button (you know the one) and review! ;)