Chapter Nine :: The Day We Met

Ichirou waited patiently in his dressing room with Ryan sitting there beside him. Ryan and Kenji had been allowed in once Ichirou's hair and makeup were done and Ichirou couldn't hide his nervousness about what was next going to occur. Taking a deep breath he looked down before feeling a comforting hand on his shoulder, "I'm sure it'll be fine," Ryan assured him.

Ten Months Earlier

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Arielle said to the fifteen year old Ichirou as they sat together in their first year classroom. Seiji Fuwa had just given Ichirou a warning that if he were to get on his bad side there would be trouble. Ichirou had even been given a black eye for just being a Hizuri. He didn't really understand what he had done wrong but things had been this way ever since he had started high school and because Seiji had such an innocent image no one would believe Ichirou about this. "Just talk to Fuwa-san," Arielle advised.

Ichirou looked at her trying to stare her down. He had had nothing against Seiji until he started getting beat up by his friends. Now it was the family rivalry all over again. "I guess," he shrugged before looking around. Because he kept getting bruises and black eyes everyone thought that he was dangerous and so the only real friend that he had was Arielle.

"Class," the teacher said as she stood at the front of the room, "I'd like to welcome a new member to our class, Hartman Ryan-san," she said pronouncing his name slowly, "He's new here from America and he'll be joining our school. I trust you to make sure he feels welcome."

Ryan bowed at that, "Name's Hartman-san," he said smoothly and casually, "I'm fifteen. I like singing and watching movies and listening to other people's music. I play the guitar and the piano. My Japanese is not excellent but I hope to be able to improve. Please take care of me," he said with a bow as the other student's started to whisper.

"Isn't this that son of the really rich guy?" one girl asked

"It's that international singer who got the number one spot for a couple of weeks in America" another girl said impressed.

Ryan smiled weakly as the teacher gestured to his seat next to Ichirou. "Hey," he smiled at Ichirou ignoring the black eye.

"Hello," Ichirou said nervously bowing his head, he knew he was recognizable and should exert some confidence, but he was a humble, quiet, sweet person who never really did anything wrong. "Welcome to the class," he added.

"Good to be here," Ryan said before catching people staring at him, he chuckled awkwardly, "Guess a Gaijin's going to be stigmatized here," he whispered before bowing his head defeated.

Present Time

"Hey" Ryan smiled at his boyfriend waking Ichirou up from his memories, "You okay?" he tried to ask before Ichirou nodded. Ryan looked at the time, it was still fifteen minutes until Ichirou would be introduced but at the same time it was nine in the morning. He grinned teasingly at his boyfriend, "Ichi did you eat breakfast today?" he asked

"I feel like if I ate I'd be sick," Ichirou replied.

Ryan paused and nodded, "I made you a bento for later though," he told his boyfriend with a pat on the shoulder as Kenji looked at them interested by their reactions and then laughed inwardly at why Ichirou was so nervous. Things would be difficult anyway but the teenager should be applauded for his confidence in coming out.

Nine Months, Three Weeks Earlier

Ichirou walked by the outside garden area where it was usually secluded, he sat down on a bench and looked at his bruised arm that had been slammed against the wall by Itachi, one of the guys who hung around Seiji. He sighed in defeat, why wouldn't Arielle believe him? The two of them had been friends for over three years and yet she wouldn't believe that Seiji Fuwa and his friends were literally beating the crap out of him.

"Need something for that?" Ryan asked as he sat alone on the opposite bench. There was something different about this American, it would seem that he could make lots of friends and yet at the same time it felt like he was hiding something to Ichirou.

Ichirou blinked but shook his head, "Nah...if it still hurts I'll go to the nurse," he said weakly as Ryan paused. Putting down his bento he made his way over to Ichirou and held out a hand, "Roll up your sleeve," he half ordered, half advised the black haired boy, "Let me take a look,"

"Why?" Ichirou asked, "It's not broken."

"But if it's bruised won't that show when you model?" Ryan continued concerned, "Come on let me take a look,"

"Are you that interested in my body?" Ichirou asked and Ryan chuckled, "You take an interest in other guys' bodies?"

"Actually yes I do," Ryan said honestly feeling a bond with Ichirou, "I'm gay," he said confidently. "I can trust you right? I've never told anyone before...well only some friends of mine in America."

"You're gay?" Ichirou asked in English before smiling, "That's cute."

"Cute?" Ryan asked before winking, "Now I'm not the feminine type," he teased, "but I'm confident in myself. Thing is it's not good in this school to stand out I'm thinking."

Ichirou took a deep breath before looking away and rolling up his sleeve to show the dark black bruise.

"Ouch!" Ryan said having a pained face and Ichirou looked at him.

"Come eat with me and Arielle next time," he offered as Ryan grinned at him.

"Thanks."

Present Day

Ryan looked at Ichirou and then sat down next to him, "I'm proud of you," he told his boyfriend, "You're standing up for something that is you and is me...I'm glad to call you my boyfriend," he whispered in Ichirou's ear.

"Will you two lovers be alright after this?" Kenji asked as the two of them looked at him in shock although Ryan was also amused as well.

"How...did...did everyone know?" Ichirou asked defensively as Kenji shook his head.

"I was trained by Yashiro Yukihito, top manager in Japan," Kenji told him, "Of course I know when to suspect something."

"Ah, the curse of Yukihito-san," Ryan laughed as Ichirou struggled to keep a straight face.

"So Yashiro-san knows, he and my dad have been talking about it behind my back!" he asked frustrated

"I don't think that's the case," Kenji added, "It's just easy to see change in mannerisms with someone you've worked with since they were thirteen."

Ichirou rolled his eyes as he drew back to his memories of Ryan in the early days of their friendship

Nine Months Ago

Ichirou felt Itachi's cold fingers dig into his neck and he struggled to breathe normally. His head was spinning and he knew that he needed help. Arielle wouldn't help him though, for one thing she wasn't here and for another she'd never connect it to Seiji that these things were happening to her friend.

"So you ready to die you fag?" Itachi asked as he stood around with two other guys. "Seiji sent me, too bad no one trusts you now. Think you're crying wolf...annoying isn't it?" he asked as Ichirou felt his movement restricted.

"I'm not gay," Ichirou whispered still wanting to hide what he knew very well about himself.

All of a sudden he heard a voice from behind them, "Get your disgusting hands off of him," another boy said and as Ichirou saw him approach he noticed it was Ryan. Ryan was his friend but he didn't want to get him into this kind of thing.

"Back off," Ryan warned showing an anger that could rival either of Ichirou's parents, "Hands off my friend,"

"Sort him out," Itachi said to the two guys as they approached Ryan.

"I don't think you want to do that," Ryan commented before the two older teenagers got closer. Punching one in the stomach followed next by a punch to the jaw he got one boy to stagger, the other he delivered a roundhouse kick at the same time showing that he knew how to fight."Now put him down," Ryan said slowly as Itachi did so.

"Got your little boyfriend to save you this time?" the second year mocked as Ichirou looked up at Ryan watching the two other guys leave after Itachi.

"Why did you do that?" Ichirou asked confused, "You could get suspended,"

"Isn't it natural to want to do things for the guy you like," Ryan said in Spanish knowing that Ichirou would understand that.

Ichirou paused before allowing a smile to spread on his face, "Ryan...will you go out on a date with me?" he continued in Spanish.

"I'd love to," Ryan replied offering his hand to Ichirou, "I always thought you were gay," he teased, "I have excellent gaydar"

Present Day

There was a knock on the door and one of the runners for the show was at the other side of the door. Ryan looked at Ichirou and wrapped his arms around the black haired boy's back, cuddling him tightly. "Don't worry about a thing, I'll always have your back." Ichirou nodded and so Ryan continued. "Don't be scared. I'll be waiting for you?"

"How come you're not showing any fear?" Ichirou asked, "It's your reputation too."

"Isn't it natural to want to do things for the guy you love?" Ryan asked back as Ichirou opened the door and walked out.

Note: So not as long as I thought, mainly because I cut it in half but I hope you still enjoyed it.