Disclamer: I don't own DRRR! or any of the characters other than a few OCs I also apologies for the year long delay
The graphite lines scratched the paper below. They formed one long curving line on the page to connect two others. The paper now depicts a skeletal model for a manga character. Its figure is slim with thin arms and legs, but their chest is flat carrying broader shoulders and had a more angular jaw. It was positioned standing facing the artist while holding something in its right hand.
That artist was Tsukishima Heiwajima during his lunch break. He was sitting with Erika and Walker, but decided to tone them out for a moment to focus on his sketch. Androgynous characters were usually his favorite to draw. Back home he would always have Michio guess whether the character he drew as a male or a female. Sometimes he would accuse Tsuki for just switching the gender since he could, but the blonde would always answer, "Then it's a trap," to his friend's annoyance. But he really wanted to make this character well developed for when he decides to make his own manga. This time the character is a male and he wanted him to have a young look but a wise and calm personality. Perhaps make him the protagonist, or at least the main character.
Now what kind of clothes would he be wearing? I'm thinking robes if I'm doing fantasy, but maybe baggy clothes if I'm doing modern day. Okay, now hair and face, not to mention color scheme…
"Say Tsuki-Tsuki, are you making fan art?" Walker asked as he loomed over his shoulder.
"Huh, oh uh n-n-no, i-it's an O-OC."
"Oooo really! I wanna see!" Erika stood up and and peered over the table to see. "Ohh nice. Is it a guy? He could totally be an uke if it was in a BL! His slender form would totally make him submissive."
"Karisawa-chan, not every OC should be involved in yaoi. It's also rare for a mangaka to be male and write BL. Besides, it's Tsuki's character, and I'm sure he wasn't planning on that."
"A-A-Actually I d-d-don't mind B-BL. I-I am o-okay with m-making one s-s-someday," Tsuki answered honestly. He had some exposure to yaoi fanart as a kid accidentally from looking up his favorite character from a video game. So he was used to the idea of same sex couples; even having a few ships of his own. To him they are the exact same as a normal couple. Also Tsugaru was in a steady relationship with his boyfriend and he was pretty sure Delic said he was either bi or pan, so even if he was homophobic, he couldn't avoid it around the brothers who love and support him with his own problems. But it does make him question his own orientation.
"Ehh really?" Walker asked with as surprised of a face you can see. Meanwhile Erika was bouncing in her chair with excitement.
"OMG really! So you're a fudanshi?"
"I-I c-c-can't say t-th-that. I-I still prefer read st-st-straight r-romances. B-But I d-d-don't mind them," he stuttered. He isn't surprised that his speech hasn't improved around the otaku duo. They're outgoingness is overstimulating. Being with anyone other than family and close friends makes him stutter to no end. The only exception is Hachimenroppi Orihara. Sure he considers him as a friend, but the feeling seemed one-sided, until recently.
After school a few nights back, Tsuki checked his text messages to find one from the raven asking to meet him Saturday afternoon, which was tomorrow. He was excited that Roppi asked him rather than the other way around. He wanted them to meet up as well, but he didn't want to burden him. After finding out that the older was unemployed, he didn't want to bother him. But if he is asking him for a meet up, it could mean that he is okay now, right? But he is curious about why the sudden desire to talk. It's not like the raven to contact him first. Mostly Tsuki would call him whenever he's lost. He did mention a while ago that he was told to make friends. Could it be that he's just ensuring that we are just to get that person off his case? Well I still would like to meet up. We haven't physically met since then and there's still a lot of mystery behind him.
He then remember his conversation with Virus that same night. His online chat buddy was also looking to meet up with someone and needed some help with it. It must be a coincident. With it being October, the weather is starting to turn and the air is getting colder. These next few weeks will be the last of the warm season and most people would like to cherish it. With both of these, it makes me feel like I'll be… going… on a… d-d-d-
No! Absolutely not Brain! I hardly know him, don't jump to conclusions!
"Whaa!" Erika's sudden shout brought him out of his thoughts. There was spilled juice bottle on the table and its contents spilled near their stuff. The trio start to both clean up and protect their valuables. "That was weird, I didn't even touch it."
"Me neither," Walker added.
"I-I haven't m-moved," Tsuki chimed in.
"You're nowhere near it Tsuki," Walker noted. But spectacled blonde looked at the bottle. He remembered where it was, to the right of Erika, who was sitting in front of Walker, who is on his right. The bottle tipped towards them. Could it be…
"Well whatever, the only harm with spilled juice is that I can't drink it anymore. That's why you mustn't cry over spilled juice," Erika optimistically quoted with a smile.
"Isn't it never cry over spilled milk?" Walker corrected.
"Well if you're Edward Elric then you should be cheering for spilled milk. But too bad for him, milk is delicious."
"E-Either way, i-it c-c-can be d-dangerous if it s-st-started flying t-towards you," Tsuki added. He had a feeling as to why the bottle tipped towards them.
But now wasn't the time for him to think about trivial happenings such as that, he needed to focus on how he should act around the raven tomorrow and think of good conversation questions. He wasn't much for small talk, and he figure Roppi isn't either being a misanthrope. Whenever he thought up of one, he would jot it down so he can look it over in the morning.
After his last period, he entered the loud hall of chatty students to visit his locker and looks over what he would need for his assignments. He dropped two of his notebooks off and reached out to grab another. But before he could, a heavy banging and a high pitched scream nearby, like someone had hit the floor. He turned around and finds a female on the floor. Looming over her were three male jocks who was laughing at her.
"That's what you get you snitch!" The middle guy jeered, making a huge scene. The female looks ready to burst into tears, but held a strong face as she glares at them.
"Whatever, you shouldn't have been involved with her. What did she do to you?" she argued.
"Still acting tough, huh? Well do you really know your friend that well?" He questioned calmly, still keeping his smirk plastered onto his face. "She's not as innocent and sweet as you might think."
He's not as innocent as you think… he is…
"Stop it," Tsuki projected as he walked in between the two. He didn't know what he was doing, but those words kept echoing in his head once they were said. His instincts kicked in and his adrenaline was pumping. The group of guys focused on him, probably thought he was a good nerd to pick on.
"And you are?" The guy on the right asked.
"Just a student like you, but acting more his age," Tsuki mocked. Oooh that sounded really cool, definitely keeping a note of that for a line.
"Hey, aren't you that new transfer student from a month ago?" the left male mentioned.
"Yeah…" the middle guy pondering. "You had a famous last name, right? What was it… Hiroka, no. Hinata? Hajima? Aha, Heiwajima! So, you related to Shizuo, right?"
"Perhaps I am, but at least we treat ladies with respect and stand up to bullies." The males react as he suspected, angered, but not ready to strike yet; well the guys in the back were. The middle guy balls up his fists like he's ready to punch him. This is probably gonna hurt, but someone needs to stand up against him. Tsuki took off his glasses knowing that they will aim for his face and puts them in his vest pocket. "I don't want to fight or get too involved, but this is straight out bullying. What are you, middle schoolers?"
SMACK! CRASH!
The guy just punched him in the face. He crashed onto the floor holding onto his left eye.
"You may act tough like him, but you got nothing on him. You better watch out Heiwajima, because I'm gonna make you wish you stayed at your old school," he declared and walked off. His buddies seemed reluctant, granted everything looks very blurry at the moment, but followed anyway.
Believe me, it will take a lot to make me go back there. He'd be watching me after what happened. But one thing's for sure, I didn't think you were aiming directly for my eye.
"Are you an idiot?" he heard the female who was on the receiving end insult. "You may be new here, but didn't learn not to meddle in other people's business."
"Y-Yes, I did. B-B-But would it have been b-better if I had ignored it and let you g-get harassed?" She seemed taken aback by the statement, but still put on a brave face.
"Well welcome to Tokyo, no one gives a shit." She got up and brushed off her knees of the floor's dirt. She turned around, was about to walk away. "Umm… thanks," and she left.
"Wow Tsuki-Tsuki, you were really acting like a protagonist." Said blond turned around to see a blurry image of Erika coming out of the crowd; surprisingly, she isn't with Walker.
"Gee thanks for standing up for me…" Tsuki's sarcastically thanked as he held his effended eye, his voice unwavered due to annoyance. The fujoshi helped him up to his feet and they started walking towards the nurses room.
"Well I would, but I don't wanna get kicked out of the school with how I would have helped." A part of me doesn't want to know what she was going to do "Also I don't wanna get in trouble with Nishimura-kun. He has a bigger bromance with the Dean's Son than Oowada and Ishimaru after a steamy hot sauna. But unlike the Ishimaru, he will bend to rules."
"H-He isn't p-p-part of a bik-ker gang, r-right?" Tsuki asked, going along with the reference.
"Nah, not a biker gang, but maybe some of the other gangs around here. Like the Dollars."
"Th-The colorless gang, right? I-If they are c-c-colorless, h-how do other m-members know each other?" Erika put her hand to her chin and looked upward as they walked.
"Hmm, I guess that's the whole point of Dollars. They can be part of something greater, connected with more people anonymously with similar interests through forums. They also had that rally a few months ago, and it was like watching a colony of ants taking on a wasp, and then a spider comes to kill the wasp." Kill!? Celty did what!?
"You s-sound like you're t-t-talking from experience. Kariasawa-san, are y-you one of them?" She stopped in her tracks, and I looked back to her. She gently held the tip of her newsboy cap and tilted her head downward. She was wearing a playful smirk.
"Hehhehheh, so you have found out my identity, all according to keikaku!"
"Karisawa-san… please be serious here."
"Okay okay, gosh your seriousness turns on and off like a switch. It's very intriguing though," she sighed with a smile and shrug. She then got closer to the blond's ear. "But yes, I'm part of the Dollars, so is Walker, Dotachin, and Saburo. I even heard Shizu-chan and the Black Rider are members too. But don't tell anyone, or I'll write your name in my Death Note."
Shizuo-san and Celty-san are also members of the Dollars? Maybe I should ask them about it.
After a trip to the nurses office, Tsukishima finds out that he is fine, but will probably get a black eye. Had the punch delivered more force and he could have permanently blinded that eye. I am glad it's just that, but I am worried what Shizuo-san would do once he finds out how I got this and who gave it to me. He would probably pay a personal visit and then punch him harder in the face.
Kadota heard about the incident from Erika, so he told Saburo to bring Tsuki home; not trusting him to get home safely without getting lost. Meanwhile in the back, he tried to explain to his stronger cousin how he got injured and did his best to console him, but after not responding to his texts after 10 minutes, he assumed Shizuo's phone is just a bunch of scrap metal on the pavement.
The blond laid his head back and pressed the ice pack against his eye. He hopes it doesn't look bad tomorrow. Who knows what Roppi would say or do once he sees that. I hope he doesn't think I'm a troublemaker. I'm just a pacifist. I also can't stand bullying, I had enough of that in high school. Speaking of Roppi-san, where should we meet up? Maybe a cafe? Most likely somewhere quiet. He then remembers his conversation with Virus. He suggested a food court, but is that the best place? There weren't many malls where he was from, so a normal hang out place for him was maybe a small plaza and a cafe. He only said food court since its the big city and he wasn't sure if there were any good cafes around here. He would have to ask Shizuo or Celty later. He would as the van gang, but most likely Erika and Walker would suggest a maid cafe; definitely not somewhere to go to for a first meet up, especially for Roppi.
But he would have to do that after he gets the former bartender to stop badgering him about his eye and not commit some kind of murder.
"Tsukishima Heiwajima, what happened? Who was the bastard who did this? I'll-"
"Sh-Shizuo-s-san, please c-c-calm down first. I-I'll explain everything!" he yelled as he stood in the doorway, he hasn't even taken his shoes off.
"Calm down? Calm down! Someone punched you in the face Tsuki, how can I be CALM!"
"I WAS ASKING FOR IT!" The sudden yell from the usual quiet male made the other stop.
"Explain." Once he was finally let into the apartment, the two sat in the living room as Tsuki explained the entire scenario. He didn't give a name since he assumed that Shizuo would leave midway through the conversation to throw him across the district.
"So that's why he punched me. I stopped him from bullying another student and he was mad about that, so he got physical." Shizuo took a long drag from his cigarette as he processed the event.
"That is admirable of you, but you need to take care of yourself too. I know i can take the hits because I heal faster and my body's used to it. But you're body isn't the same as mine. So you can't be the hero of every situation."
"I know. He just said something that… really didn't sit right with me."
"Did it remind you of…"
"Yeah. I know I'm not physically strong, but I can't stand for bullying. I didn't transfer from my old school just to see it all again. I'm sorry I made you worry."
"It's fine now. Just know that if he starts harassing you, I'd gladly come over and knock some sense into him."
"I'm good for now Shizuo-san. Besides, I have Karisawa-san and Yumasaki-san during school, and Kadota-san afterwards. You should worry about your job."
"If you say so. But don't hesitate." The spectacled blond nodded in agreement. The both decided that they should get dinner started, but the bodyguard refused to let the him cook since his eye needed to rest. Tsuki was going to argue, but an uncomfortable shift in one of his contacts made him excuse himself to the bathroom.
Great. It's stuck behind my eye. This is one of the downsides to wearing contacts too. Well, time to flush it out… this is gonna hurt…
A painful time in the bathroom later, Tsuki finally came out, his contacts off to rest both of his eyes. The table was already set and two plates of pork chops with rice and seared broccoli.
"Thanks for the food," they both said as they put their hands together and started eating. Man, didn't realize how hungry I was. Wait… Food! I still need to know where I'm taking Roppi-san! "Um Shizuo-san, do you know a nice quiet place to hang out?"
"Hmm? An hang out place?" the former bartender asked.
"Yeah, I-I told you about meeting R-Roppi-san t-t-tomorrow."
"You sure you wanna go with that eye?" The spectacles blond nodded. He made a promise to meet up, and he is committing, injured or not. Shizuo crossed his arms and pondered. "There is a cafe nearby that's pretty okay. And a few fast food places that aren't too far away." Okay, I got options. "But if you ask me, I'd let Hachimenroppi pick a place. I know usually you're more lenient on what you eat, but he's a little more picky. Not surprised since he's related to that damn flea."
"Okay, thanks for the advice." The two of them continued conversing about more places the two can do together tomorrow, as well as each other's day aside from the incident. But one question always seemed to bother Tsuki, "I've been meaning to ask, why do you hate Izaya Orihara much?" He knew this was a very touchy subject for him? But no one is telling him anything, even Kadota and Celty is tight-lipped about it. Shizuo bent his metal chopsticks through the fist he made.
"The bastard just pisses me off so damn much! Thinking he's all high and mighty just cause he thinks he's so smart. And he also just reeks of trouble and thinks he can play god of Ikebukuro. And that goddamn pet name he just chose for me just makes me want to ring his neck out every time I see his smug face!" Shizuo then mutters a string of the word "kill" while he crosses his arms.
"I-I see, now I know. Thank you Shizuo-san. Sorry for bring it up," Tsuki apologized as he bended the chopsticks back to as straight as they can. "But you aren't bothered by Roppi-san? I heard they look alike." After letting out a sigh, Shizuo sits back up.
"Nah, they may look alike, but he's more tolerable than Izaya. Hachimenroppi is pretty much the exact opposite of him. But he also doesn't like being around others, always keeping to himself. I wouldn't mind having a sit down with him like you're doing, but he doesn't like sticking around for too long. So I'm actually surprised that you were able to get to befriend him to the point you can call him "Roppi". He actually doesn't like the nickname too much and corrects everyone on it, even his cousins."
Roppi-san lets me call him that, even now? And he even let me continue reaching out to him? Why am I different? I'm not someone special to him. Should I ask him tomorrow? Or would that offend him?
After he got ready for the night, Tsuki hopped onto his laptop and chatted with his online friends, as well as ask Celty a possible place to bring the raven. The courier did suggest going to a park to maybe sit down and relax. There were a lot of options on places to eat there as well, but she couldn't tell him which places were good since she's not always around when she eating. He even relayed some of these options to Virus, who seemed nervous for his own meetup tomorrow. He couldn't blame him, he did explain that he doesn't have many friends either. He almost sounds like… nah it can't be. It's probably a coincidence. I'm sure there are a lot of lonely people here.
As he laid on his bed, the red-eyed blond was texting the raven on the details for tomorrow.
Me: Are you sure you dont want me to meet you somewhere
Roppi-san: It's fine, the last thing we need is for you to get lost again. I'll just come pick you up.
Me: Okay Roppi san
Me: I'll see you at 11:30
Roppi-san: See you then.
Me: Oh and Roppi san
Me: Thank you for inviting me, Good Night There was a long pause before he got a reply.
Roppi-san: Don't mention is. Good Night.
Tsuki couldn't help but smile when he saw that response. He locks his phone and puts it on his desk next to his glasses. Even though he is concerned that his injury would look bad to Roppi, his excitement bubbled up inside him for what is in store tomorrow. He hoped everything goes well, and hope that he and the raven will have a closer bond afterwards and learn more about each other. His mind filled with anticipation and thought of a good outcome. But he also hoped that knowing his luck, this don't turn for the worst.
"Hey Tsuki! Tsukishima~" the brown haired boy about his height called as he waved a hand in front of his face. His green eyes stared back at his own with colored contacts. His best friend, Michio Jikoshin, smirked when the said blond blinked a few times and looked up at him.
"Huh? Oh Michi. Sorry were you saying something?" He sat up in his chair and adjusted his tie the school made them wear.
"No, you were just looking like a dork and stared off into space again." Both boys were sitting in their high school classroom. They were lucky to be in the same class again, not many other students hang around either of them. But they've been friends since primary school, so they always just stuck around for each other.
"S-Sorry. I guess I was lost in thought. Or something… Anyway, what's up?"
"Well tomorrow is Saturday, so I was wondering if you wanna hang out tonight. We could swing by the arcade or check out the bookstore for some more manga. Anything."
"We'll see, I may wanna head home to drop my stuff off, but maybe after."
"Again, can't you just carry your bag with you?" Michio always asks for them to hang out after school. But everytime, Tsuki would want to go home first.
"Sorry, I know it's annoying, but I want to make sure that my drawings are safe. And if we go to an arcade, it would get annoying picking it up and putting it down just to want to play something. That and my mom is a bit more strict about curfew and knowing where everyone is." It was a true, but the real reason is extremely personal; he couldn't even tell him.
"Jeez, you're so superstitious. But whatever, something's better than nothing I guess. We hardly hang out nowadays and you always seem busy," Michio answered with a sigh.
"I know and I'm sorry. But my parents are really pushing me go to college, and that means good grades."
"I mean fair. We wouldn't want the next best manga artist to miss his opportunity because he didn't go to college."
"Hey, don't give me too much credit. I'm not that good," Tsuki complained. Michio slung an arm over his shoulder and poked as his cheek.
"Come on Tsuki, you're too modest. Your amazing!" They both laugh as the blond tries to balance the both of them on his chair. The bell rang to tell everyone that lunch is over and that class is about to begin; for him it's English.
This subject came easy to him, everyone else seems to have a problem with grammar and vocabulary. The teacher knew that he was proficient in the language, so he doesn't pay him too much mind if he starts scribbling in his sketchbook. Luckily for him, the rest of their school day went by just as smoothly. The final bell ran and everyone hurried out of the school building to smell the freedom. Tsukishima and Michio both started walking across the courtyard.
"You sure you can't just go right now?" Michio asked.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry. But you know how strict my mom is," Tsuki answered.
"Hmm, i guess I'll go home too. I'll swing by after i drop my bag."
"No no, I'll go to you. You're on the way so it would save you the walk." Tsuki corrected. The both continued to walk and talking until they hit the intersection where they part ways. "I'll give you a call when I'm on my way over. I'm not sure how long she will keep me."
"Alright then, I'll see you in a bit." They both wave and parted ways. The distance between them isn't far, a fifteen minutes walk at most. Those fifteen minutes gave the blond some time to clear his head, and also pass an old manor, owned by a family that has watched this small town for generations. One of Tsugaru's close friends is actually part of this family, he always complains about how boring it is since he doesn't have anyone of the same age living with him. But he doesn't have the heart to bad talk them since he said everyone is kind and he loves his home, despite feeling too big for a small family. He never met the family other than the friend, but the manor is a good reference Tsuki may use for a setting if he actually does follow his dreams to be a manga artist.
When he finally got home, Daisuke was sitting in the kitchen with his headphones on, and his mother reading a book in the living room. She was a blonde woman of age 53. Even so, she doesn't look a day over 40. Her brown eyes were focused on the pages she was reading until he opened the front door. She was wearing light purple shawl and a loose fitted shirt. Her legs were kicked up on the coffee table, showing her jeans.
"I'm home," Tsuki called out. His mother turned to his direction.
"Tsuki, welcome home. How was school today?" she greeted back. Daisuke was too busy bobbing his head to some music in his headphones to hear and notice him.
"It was good, we had a surprise math quiz, but I think it went well," he answered as he puts his bag down in front of his older brother. That was enough to get his brother to finally notice him.
"Oh, Tsuki-Tsuki, your back," he said while pulling his headphones off.
"Thanks Bro. Oh, Michi-kun just asked to hang out at the arcade for a little bit. Can I go?" Tsuki asked.
"You know the drill little brother," the older male reminded. The both turned to their mother for her answer. She was pondering, a finger against her lower lip.
"Well, I suppose you can go now. You've been good with school, and we wouldn't want him to wait on you."
"Really? I really go now?" Tsuki asked excitedly. Normally, he is expected to do his chores before he could go out.
"Of course, just remember to get home before dark," she confirmed with a smile.
"Hey, you told me I couldn't yesterday!" Daisuke complained as the spectacled little brother started to head to his room to get ready and empty his school bag.
"That's because Tsuki actually keeps his promises about meeting curfew and finishes his chores once he gets back, Daisuke," she debuted.
The younger blond left to his room to drop off his stuff before his brother could come up with a counter argument. He sat down at his desk and emptied out his bag. His notebooks were placed on his desk with him, and his sketchbook and pencil box were tossed onto his bed for his usual nighttime doodling. When everything was empty from his bag, he sets it on the chair and slipped his phone out of his pocket, texting Michio that he got out of chores and that he is on his way. A couple minutes later, his best friend sent a smiley face and says he's also getting ready as well. With that confirmation, he straightened his uniform and made sure he had his wallet in his pocket. Last time he went out to do some supplies shopping, he left it in his school bag and had to run back home to grab it; luckily the store owner was kind to him to not harass him too much about it. Once he was all straightened up, he grabbed his favorite white scarf Michio got him for his birthday.
It's not cold outside, heck it is almost summer. But Tsuki likes having the scarf around his neck, even if he looks weird with it on. It helps him stand out a little since lots of people his age were dying their hair blond so his natural hair color stopped becoming special. Even though he's not an attention hog, Tsuki always wanted to have lots of good friends and be noticed as him, not Tsugaru's or Daisuke's kid brother. It's the usual struggle for the youngest, but that didn't stop him.
He left the house after announcing his departure and headed to his best friend's place. Instead, he saw him at the intersection the parted from.
"Geez, can't you be any slower?" He humorly asked.
"Sorry, my mom and Daisuke got in a mini argument in the kitchen. But whatever, we finally get to hang out now," he answered honestly. "So where to first?"
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving!" the brunette answered.
"Food sounds good right about. Let's go!" The walked down the road back the inner part of the town. For the rest of the day, they spent time in the local arcade and the bookstore perusing through mostly manga and light novels, and some fantasy books. Tsuki kept his promise to his mother, and returned before dark, with another manga book to his collection. By the time he was ready for bed, he hopped on his computer and continued talking with him. He really was glad that his had a supportive friend who is fun to hang out with.
Oh my god I am bad. I am so sorry for not updating this for a year. A lot happened and I got busy really quick. It also did not help that I had both writer's block and switched my fandom interest for a long while. I am afraid that I don't have a more set schedule to update the chapters to this story. However, I am thinking about publishing another fanfic to the fandom I did switch to; may not start for a while though. But yes, I am sorry for the wait and I hope that going through a little bit of Tsuki's memory with his best friend will help accommodate for this a little. I will be continuing this story, so do not think it will discontinue; I just need some time to get my bearings.
Have a good rest of your day.
