A/N: Yaa, I'm late uploading this chapter too _ I'm really really sorry, but I have a good excuse- Exams + Orchestra Performance + Dance Perfomrance = (X_X)
In any case, I do have some illustrations planned for this chapter...they're just not...finished yet..
Edit: I have the first of two illustrations up on deviantArt~ I hope you all like it^^
Right so-Warnings: yaoi, light swearing~
Kisu Yori mo Hayaku
Chapter 9: Fireworks
~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~Alfred F. Jones~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~
"You'll have to wait until summer break for the continuation of this."
…is what my husband/teacher had told me.
So I waited anxiously for summer break—
And finally—
When the supposedly exciting summer break was supposed to begin—
~.::*::.~
"Unqualified." Arthur announced curtly at the end of class; the tone of his voice caused me to freeze up.
He smiled maliciously as he held out my end-of-semester History exam so I could see the 30 percent failing score on it. I gulped and shrank back slightly to get away from the menacing aura that was surrounding the History teacher that also happened to be the man I was married to. It was just like me to fail my husband's class.
"Make-up classes," he said shortly as one of his eyebrows twitched in irritation, "and a make-up exam."
~.::*::.~
That's how I ended up with a literal mountain of homework…
And that's not even the least of it.
I was forced to go back to school during the break…
And I couldn't even complain…'cause it was all my fault.
~.::*::.~
"I'm home."
"…Welcome back…" I responded, tugging down on the hem of my shirt fruitlessly.
"Artie's clothes are so big!" Matt exclaimed.
Out of all of my classes, I only failed the History exam; Because of that, Arthur decreed that I'd have to go through some sort of punishment other than the extra homework and classes. So during the evening following the day that I got back my exam…t-the one order that I just had to follow was to…was to wear one of Arthur's business shirts…with my boxers…
And that was it.
For once, I cursed the fact that I was a good inch taller than him; the lower hem of the shirt reached just far enough to cover my boxers completely…but just barely.
Now if this wasn't cruel and unusual punishment I don't know what was.
Trying to make me feel better, Matt had dressed up in the same way, but thanks to his height, the shirt was practically a dress on him. The lower hem nearly reached his knees and his hands had disappeared under the cuffs. In his excitement to get his customary "welcome-home" hug from Arthur, the sleeves flopped around comically.
As Arthur effortlessly picked up Matt, he looked at me with a wicked smirk.
"I will be helping you take that off right?"
"HELL NO!"
~.::*::.~
Yes…
It was true that our feelings surged during the seaside camp
But did he really have to go and say something like that?
…and so bluntly too?
Yet…even though I noticed that the distance between us lessened…
For some reason my childish side steadily became more worried,
Because now it would be harder to keep up this act.
~.::*::.~
I idly flipped through the first packet of extra homework on my side of the desk in the guest room. Frowning at the amount of reading that had to be done, I just sighed and got to work.
Early on, Arthur had cleaned off half of the desk so I could work there on days that I had more homework than usual. He had even kept two chairs there for us to use. I remembered that there were plenty of nights when I had purposely put off my homework so I could stay up late with Arthur, otherwise I could finish it all before Arthur came home.
But I studied alone that night. The guilt gnawed at my mind for failing the exam and it caused me to go through the work much more slowly than usual.
I guess it's part of the punishment, isn't it? I thought as I scribbled down one answer after another. I was still wearing Arthur's shirt as I did the work—and I had to admit: It was way too distracting.
"Alfred. Don't move."
I suddenly heard his voice whisper by my ear as his hands fell on my shoulders. Jumping slightly, my shoulders tensed up and my fingers curled around my pencil nervously. I then heard a little jingle as Arthur slipped something around my neck.
"There, done." Arthur said, satisfied.
I looked down to see my chain with the marriage ring around it. I lifted it delicately, in amazement; I could hardly believe that I had it again, all this time I thought that it was still stuck in those rocks or fallen out into the ocean.
"Matthew found it. Try not to lose it next time, hmm?" Arthur kept one hand around my shoulders and came around the chair so I could see his face. Ah, now that soft smile was a fine contrast to his evil smirk earlier.
Flushing I looked away from him, and towards my ring again, "Yeah…I'll have to thank him later."
"Also…"
Gah—where did that soft smile go? It had been corrupted by a slightly evil glint.
"There still another week of classes left. In order to continue that, please work hard on your studies."
Or else… I added silently.
~.::*::.~
The end of the week…
Arthur stood before the class just before the last bell was about to ring. Practically every student was counting down the seconds until they could run out of this make-up class.
"Alright, congratulations on finishing the make-up exam." He smiled brightly as he looked over at me before adding, "Who would have known that Mr. Jones was able to finish his homework so quickly?"
I glared up at him tiredly from where I had laid my head down on the desk. To say I was exhausted was to put it very lightly. Arthur had practically made me stay up the entire night, every night to finish the cruel amount of homework he had assigned. I swear he gave me more than anyone else just out of spite.
~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~Toris Lorinaitis~.::*::.~
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While make-up classes were going on the volleyball club had arranged to have a few summer practises. Things were going well as usual and that morning, in my opinion, was particularly pleasant. We were practicing right outside the class where Jones was taking extra classes in History. Now that their exam seemed to have finished, the windows were opened. I wanted to go over and talk to him but there was no way I could sneak out of practice.
Thankfully Feliks finally called for a 10 minute break. Within a few moments I realized that his mind was on a similar track to mine because he had gone over to the open windows to get Jones's attention.
"Like, What's up Alfred?" I heard him greet the taller blond.
"Ah, Morning Feliks." Jones came up to the window, he was smiling, but he looked awfully tired. However Feliks didn't seem to notice.
"Are you, like, going to see the fireworks? I heard that they're, like, going to be so totally amazing!" Feliks was practically bouncing; he loved this summer festival.
"Well…I dunno…"
"Seriously…? C'mon! It's this weekend! Everyone from our class is, like, going to be there!"
Suddenly the nice view of the conversation was ruined as I saw Mr. Kirkland step up to the window as well.
I tuned out what he said, but he did look rather excited about the festival. I frowned as he smiled and talked animatedly with Jones. Tightening my grip on a volleyball, my arm decided to act on its own and in a split second the ball was hurtling towards the window—aimed straight for Mr. Kirkland.
However just as it went past Feliks and through the window, Mr. Kirkland leaned back as well as pushed Jones away from the balls trajectory. Damn…he was turned away when I had thrown it! How could he tell that the ball was heading towards him? Before Feliks or Jones turned to see who had thrown the ball, I was sent a sharp glare from my teacher. Frowning I glared back before pretending to be flustered before going up to the window to stand next to Feliks.
"Sorry!"
"Geez Toris, like, watch where you're throwing that!" Feliks scolded.
"That's right! What happened to your aim?" Jones added tossing back the ball to me.
Before I could answer him Mr. Kirkland spoke up and diverted Jones's attention, "It's alright Mr. Jones. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you: I can take those assignments from you now."
"Oh, Okay. You sure?"
"Yep."
As I watched their little exchange my mind went back to that night at the seaside camp. I was sure that I saw it—that night, by the shore, they were embracing each other. If Feliks hadn't literally dragged me away in my speechless state, I would have gone down there to demand an explanation from Mr. Kirkland.
When I first heard about Mr. Kirkland's history…about his being a delinquent while in school…I really didn't understand it much and I didn't think on it for long. But I was now sure that it must have been like this—
Mr. Kirkland was just playing around with Jones!
"Jones!" I called out as Mr. Kirkland walked away.
"Hm?"
Boldly I took both of his hands in mine and clasped them tightly, "If you're having any problems, come find me! I can give you advice!"
Suddenly a combination of Jones pulling his hands away with Feliks tugging on my hands forced me to step back from the window. Jones exchanged a glance with Feliks and just frowned.
"So, like, anyway~ Are you, like, going to see the fireworks?" Feliks took over the conversation. I didn't miss the annoyed puff of his cheeks as well as how tightly he had my wrist in his grip.
~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~Alfred F. Jones~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~
Hmm…The fireworks huh?
~.::*::.~
"You're not going? You should though, have some fun." Arthur said as he sat next to me at the dining table after dinner. He was helping Matt out with some homework.
"Hm…but it's such a waste of money…so nah" I replied, thinking about the fact that Arthur was the one who paid for all extra expenses…it kept nagging my guilty conscious…
Arthur protested with some sort of energy I couldn't explain, "What? Don't you realize that a teenager's youth is priceless?"
I looked away from him and straight ahead instead; there really was no point in going because…
"…You know Arthur…If I had to go, I'd only want to go with you." The willful words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them…I really needed to work on this mind-to-mouth filter thing.
"So…sorry." I finished and almost immediately I heard Arthur's soft sigh. It wasn't a disappointed sigh…it sounded more amused than anything else.
" Honestly…you're too cute" I twitched, he was really using that adjective often. Suddenly I felt a hand curl around my cheek, and turn my face to look over at him.
"But, If you want to go together, there'll still be an opportunity later right? Just because you're married to me, doesn't mean that I want you to lose out on any 16-year-old memories."
Ah…that's true; why did he always have to be so right? And so mature?
I pouted in defeat; well I would be going over to Feliks and everyone the next day to confirm my going to the festival.
"Ah!" Arthur said suddenly, "But first you'll have to finish two-thirds of your homework!"
Darn it…
~.::*::.~
Geez…it was times like these…
Whenever I saw Arthur acting like an adult…
I realized how insignificant my 16-year-old self was.
~.::*::.~
On the day of the fireworks…Francis had gotten a hold of me, supposedly to take advantage of this chance to change my wardrobe. No matter how I protested, he insisted that I needed a bit more flair…
And flair is exactly what he gave…
I personally thought the outfit was ridiculous at first, black jeans coupled with a single studded belt that was tilted off of my hip ever so slightly, a thin black shirt that clung to all of my torso's contours, and to finish it off he equipped me with a sleeveless white jacket where the bottom hem didn't go beneath my waist line…rather it was around my belly button.
Yes I thought the outfit was completely ridiculous…until I saw Arthur's blush when I finally got out of Francis's fashion-obsessed hands. His examining gaze caused me to fluster slightly and stutter out,
"Eh..How…How is it?"
"I think it's really cool!" Matt exclaimed, running up to me as Arthur's face darkened ever so slightly as he turned towards Francis with a calm smile.
France grinned proudly, "How is it Arthur? My friend helped me find it—oof!"
Swiftly Arthur had grabbed Francis's collar and punched him in the stomach while I was distracted by Matt.
By the time I looked up I was able to see Arthur wringing Francis by his collar and growling, "You've made him too attractive. Just who do you want looking at him, Huh?"
Francis cowered slightly, "No—It's just because the clothing material's good…so…"
My, what a fierce husband…
I did not just think that.
Luckily my train of thought derailed as Arthur finally realized I was standing there staring at him and Francis. Pulling away from Francis he brought out a slightly forced smile.
"…It's very nice Alfred. Go on!" The smile became broader…and yet I still felt no inclination to go watch the fireworks without him.
Even so my feet started moving down the street and away from Arthur.
~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~Arthur Kirkland~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~
I sighed heavily as I saw Alfred disappear down the street, however just as I was about to turn back towards the flat, I felt a slight tug on my sleeve. I looked down at Matthew, who was looking at me worriedly.
"…Artie, you actually…" He started hesitantly, "…You wanted to go with Alfie right?"
I bit my lip at first then smiled at how easily this child was able to see right through me, just like Gwin.
~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~Alfred F. Jones~.::*::.~
~.::*::.~
I had held back what I truly wanted to say…
I wanted him to come with me…but…
~.::*::.~
I hate this! Out relationship's a secret so of course we can't go out together! I…I need to be more mature! I thought as I ran down the now crowded streets that were lined with stalls filled with games and merchandise. On the way to the meeting place where I was supposed to find Feliks, Toris, and a few others from our class, I noticed a particularly bright stall that had a number of masks. I especially noted a rather happy one with thick eyebrows that reminded me of Arthur. But at the thought of Arthur, I felt a small pang of sadness in my chest. Shaking my head I was relieved when I heard Feliks's voice calling out for me.
Just as I found the group, Feliks felt the need to profusely compliment my clothing, as did Raivis and Eduard. Many of the other boys and the members of the girl's volleyball team, I found, were rather quiet and many of them seemed rather flushed. Huh, I wondered if they had been out in the sun a bit too long that day…It was the summer festival after all, maybe the heat had gotten to them. Of course… the heat kinda didn't explain how most of them—especially Toris—were avoiding looking at me.
"Like, seriously, where did you get those clothes? Did someone special get them for you?" Feliks cocked one eyebrow suggestively, and I blushed.
"Eh…not really…Francis decided to take over my wardrobe." I responded.
Feliks looked visibly disappointed for a moment then decided to bring me over to Toris for a different conversation.
Once we made sure everyone was there, we wandered around the booths, trying to win prizes and for the most part failing miserably. Yet I had to admit…I had fun. As I got caught up in the moment, I was able to forget that I didn't have Arthur beside me enjoying all of the game booths. I swear if he was here, I would have bought that mask, just so we could remember the occasion of course.
Time flew by as it normally likes to do while people have fun, until it was finally dark enough for the main event to start. Flares went up into the sky and I heard the characteristic deafening booms light up the air. Awed by the jumble of fiery colours my eyes were aimed up instead of around me.
When I finally looked down, I realized with as light shock that I was surrounded by strangers; there was literally no one I knew in sight. A sudden unreasonable bout of panic built up in my stomach as I looked and turned around slightly frantically and wondered just how in the world I didn't notice such a large crowd gather around me.
The fireworks continued, drowning out my words, "Where is everyone?"
"Hey! Over here! Jones!" I finally heard a familiar voice as I felt something firm and warm wrap around my hand.
I looked up from the hand that had caught my own and felt a wave of relief. "Toris! Thanks—I'm saved!"
"You okay?" He asked, just about as frantically as I was panicky.
"Yeah…and the others?" I asked.
"…Gone, I lost them too" He answered over the din, "But we've already set up a meeting place—"
He stopped abruptly as we both looked down at our intertwined hands. I wiggled my fingers ever so slightly…hoping he would let go. Briefly, thoughts of Feliks crossed my mind and I was about to pull my hand away completely when Toris finally spoke up again.
"There's a lot of people here and it's easy to get lost!...So…it's alright if we hold hands right?" He turned away as a few people in front of us cleared away, revealing a railing where the fireworks could easily be viewed. His grip on my hand tightened slightly as he looked up pointedly at the fireworks and I could feel a heavy emotion build up in the middle of my chest. Right at the very centre of my being…
Something…
Something like a ball of lead started to pile up there and I could suddenly feel my throat block up. I blinked furiously when Toris wasn't looking; something had begun to sting my eyes, blurring my view of the fireworks.
It didn't feel right…
Even for the sixteen-year-old me…
To be standing here…holding hands with Toris…
Hearing the fire works…
Being surrounded by this body heat…and wondrous odours from the food stalls…
All of it…together…just seemed to fade in quality in that moment. The booming clamour all around fell upon my deaf ears, the radiating light from the fireworks dimmed, the heat cooled and none of the food smells attracted me.
I suddenly felt the stupid impulse to let my frustrated feelings spill out and run down my cheeks, tear away from Toris's hand (within which mine just didn't seem to fit), and just run.
Run all the way back to the apartment.
Back to him.
Back to the person whose hand easily curled around my own.
Back to the person who could bring back to life all the wondrous noise and colour and smells of the festival.
Because all of this…made me wish that I was just with that person—
In my distracted state of mind I barely registered the person who was running towards me and Toris. It was someone wearing a mask that had surprisingly distinctive eyebrows. I dimly heard Toris call out my name as I felt my hand force itself out of his grasp. I was thrown over the shoulder of the masked man. Two strong arms wound around the back of my knees and my waist, securing me so I wouldn't fall as he continued to run. My eyes that were now staring down at the pavement in amazement, widened further as I heard my kidnapper speak.
"Terribly sorry," he called out to Toris, his strong accent muffled under the mask yet still clear as day, "But I'll be taking him away."
My heart skipped faster to match the pace of his legs as they led me away from the festival and Toris's shocked expression.
"Arth—" I started to call out, but then stopped myself quickly as my hands curled around the back of his shirt and instead said exactly the opposite of what I wanted him to do:
"Let me go!"
What I meant to say was:
"Never let me go!"
But that was too tacky; it was much easier to say the inverse.
~.::*::.~
Arthur refused to stop running until we suddenly found ourselves at the school and in one of the classes on the top floor.
"I wanted to come here…Where two people can watch the fireworks together." He explained breathlessly.
He had let me down on one of the desks by the window so when I turned around I found that the fireworks looked perfect outside the window. It twisted around slightly to see them as Arthur found his breath. He was leaning over me, with one hand planted on either side of me, and strongly gripping the sides of the desk.
"The view's perfect isn't it? Better than the one out by the railing…" Arthur spoke up again and I turned back to look at him…or more so the top of his head as he was still curved over the desk in exhaustion.
"Speaking of which," He changed the subject, "Why did you look like you were about to cry—Ouch!"
Reflexively one of my hands had come up and whacked him upside the head. Surprised he straightened up and removed the mask to set it aside.
"This is all your fault!" I cried out, frustrated, "If you wanted to bring me here all along then you shouldn't have sent me off so happily! The 16-year-old me would have rather seen the fireworks with you rather than with my friends? How hard is it for you to realize that!"
I already knew that I wanted to spend as much time as I could with him…and only him…
Because it was impossible to predict the very last second…
The people you loved the most could be taken away when you least expected it…
That's why…
I wanted to be with him…I wanted him to see me…see me for who I was then…even if it was just a naïve, oblivious, and violent teen.
"I…Even though I never pay attention…I keep hoping that you'll see me as I am now…and accept that…even though I know that saying all of this is really childish—"
"I don't think of you as a child at all!" Arthur cut in sharply, his voice momentarily raised. I froze up and straightened up my back from where I sat on the desk.
"…You pay attention now then…" He said as he came closer, "Although I may seem mature…Didn't I still end up following you the entire evening? Didn't I still take you away from your friends?"
He was but three inches or so away now with one hand gently fit around my cheek. His gaze bored straight through me as he continued, "Do you understand Alfred? It's who you are now that's made me become this way."
He sighed then, and let his hands slip down to grip the sides of the desk again. Almost cautiously he let his forehead hover over my shoulder; his body rigidly arched around me…and yet not even daring to come closer, much less touch me.
"Don't move," he murmured softly, "Right now…I feel like I just might do something forceful…" He shook his head slightly. "I have no idea how to touch you…everything I've ever done before has gone wrong…"
I gulped as I felt just about everything get warmer, especially the classroom. It was much too hot…was it because of the summer air…or my flaming cheeks?
Still…I wanted to do this.
"Then…" I started, lightly touching one of his arms, and letting my other hand's fingertips graze his jaw, "Can I be the one to touch you?" As I said this I slowly let myself lean forward, it had gotten to the point where the just the tips of our noses had touched. All it took was another inch forward—
"JONES,AREYOUOKAY?"
And so the atmosphere shattered.
Huffing frantically after bursting into the room, Toris stood as Arthur and I jumped out of our skins and attempted to put as much distance between ourselves as possible.
The true source of the (to put it lightly) inconvenient interruption was Francis, who appeared at the doorway with Matthew in tow.
"I'm sorry Arthur! He called us through another student and forced me to spill everything."
I was ready to strangle him simple because of the way he managed to smile sheepishly as he quickly realized the scene he had just interrupted.
In an attempt to remedy the situation he turned his attention to Toris. "Look Tori~ Alfred's just fine! Artie wouldn't do anything vulgar in a classroom, he a teacher after all right?"
"Don't call me Tori!"
They continued to talk, but I tuned out and instead tried to restart my heart after it froze with Toris's arrival. I slumped over the desk as I sank into the chair. Suddenly I felt a light prodding at my arm and I tilted my head up ever so slightly to acknowledge Arthur.
"Hey, Alfred" He whispered, "Let's go somewhere further away next time okay?"
Well…at least
Summer break had only just barely begun—
Omake1:
Matthew Williams
In the end we got to see the fireworks in the classroom. I was standing at the window right next to Toris when I looked up at him and asked,
"Toris…You like Alfie don't you?"
Startled, he looked down at me, I smiled sweetly when I saw that his face had turned as red as Alfie's whenever Artie came too close.
He stumbled over his words, "I—I …Wha-d-d'ya mean? Me? Like J-Jones? Really?"
Later, when Toris wasn't looking, I glanced back to see Arthur staring over at Toris while Francis seemed to be fixing up Alfie's clothing—which I didn't see any point in doing; Alfie still looked fine. I then looked up at Toris briefly before looking back out at the fireworks.
Somehow, I felt a bit sorry for the volleyball player and I hope that he had someone that loved him twice as much as he liked Alfie.
Omake 2:
A conversation between Matthew and Francis
"Hah? Zose two still 'aven't kissed?" Francis exclaimed.
"Probably not…"
"What is zat idiot 'usband doing? Arthur really has too much self-control!"
A/N: Right, so a lot of you have been asking when these two are finally going to kiss. And to tell you the truth...I can't tell you that. xD
=_= I'm actually quite frustrated with them myself, but alas, it is the story, I'm trying to be patient as well. On a different note: As soon as i get the illustrations on DeviantArt, I'll put a note up at the top of the chapter^^