Boys... will be boys ;)
OMG OMG! -running around in circles- I have made it to 100 reviews for the first time ever! -convulsing- I SO DON'T DESERVE THEM BUT ASUDHWUBFEJKB!? -faints- You guys rock so hard! like, I wish I could give you all a hug! -sends an unhealthy load of virtual sweets instead-
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Kazahaya wasn't sure what he was doing, standing about 15 feet from Rikuo, outside, in the backyard of the latter's house. It was the day before the school closed for Thanksgiving break. A five day vacation. Half the campus had already been missing, students skipping their classes to get an early start traveling home. Classes were over today though, so technically, break started now.
Rikuo stared down Kazahaya like he was a lion about to pounce on his prey, a white and black ball underneath his right foot. Kazahaya swallowed, unsure of how to stand or prepare himself, he kept his eyes on Rikuo, putting on his best game face.
"Ready?"
Oh, and Kurogane was playing too.
"I think I want to back out," Kazahaya admitted, not looking next to him, where Kurogane was standing. When he offered to help Rikuo train, he meant... help Rikuo train. He didn't need two soccer jocks schooling him in the sport. If Kazahaya had known Kurogane would have seen the duo head outside and join in, he would have asked Fai to come along as well... Kazahaya wondered how Fai would fair in this setup. Probably better than him... Kurogane shouldn't even have been here. Kazahaya saw his duffel bag in the living room, stuffed to the brim, along side a backpack, similarly packed.
"Oh come on, this was your idea," Rikuo proclaimed. "Besides, you got Kurogane on your team, you'll be fine."
Kazahaya grumbled. The only reason this was his idea was to get Rikuo's mind away from teasing him, a quick recall in a moment of panic. Kazahaya was famous for impulsive decisions. And even though he should have gotten over it, Kurogane still gave Kazahaya the creeps. He didn't understand what Fai saw in the guy.
"Yeah, Kazahaya, don't be scared," Kurogane leered. Kazahaya frowned, sighing.
"I'll show you..." Kazahaya growled under his breath.
Rikuo waited a moment longer, then started the game by kicking the ball up high in the air. Kurogane and Rikuo raced to get it before it hit the ground, leaving Kazahaya standing like an idiot. Okay, so Kazahaya knew the basic idea of this game; get the ball into the opponent's goal. But when it came to getting the game started and then actually getting the ball into netted goal, well, Kazahaya admitted to himself that he was a little lost on that... and probably should have told Rikuo.
Kurogane managed to get the ball by jumping and leaning back simultaneously, letting the ball roll down his chest. Using his knee, he bounced it in the air once more, turning away from Rikuo and kicking it at Kazahaya.
Kazahaya panicked briefly, almost using his hands to catch the ball, when he remembered that hands were off limits in soccer, and attempted to catch the ball with his legs. It must've not looked too graceful, but at least he now had the ball at his feet.
"Run, Kudo!" That was Kurogane, blocking Rikuo, who was trying to get at the ball.
Kazahaya wasn't sure where the line was drawn between American football and soccer, but he was pretty sure man handling was cause for a yellow flag in this particular game. Oh well.
Juggling the ball in between your feet wasn't as hard as it looked, the process was just slow going. Luckily Kazahaya's gym classes all had to endure indoor soccer games as part of the curriculum, so he knew what he was doing, kind of, minus the actual rules. He didn't pay much attention in P.E., the class was his lowest in academic scores.
Kazahaya kept his head down, watching the ball move between his feet and concentrating on moving as fast as he could.
"You're going the wrong way!" Kurogane yelled.
Of course, Kazahaya thought sarcastically. Putting aside his embarrassment and turning around, giving the ball a hard kick so it passed the tangled men in the middle of the small backyard and, more importantly, closer to the opponent's goal.
He heard Rikuo laughing as he ran past him to catch up to the ball. Just as he passed him however, he felt a hand clamp around his ankle and he was promptly yanked to the ground, face first.
"Ugh..." Kazahaya whipped his head around to glare at Rikuo, who had let go of his leg and managed to shove Kurogane off him. Kazahaya's eyes widened as he scrambled up, remembering that he needed to get back to the task at hand; trying to make himself look less like a fool than he was doing. Oh, and not let Rikuo get the ball.
Kazahaya pumped his arms as he ran, surprising himself at his speed, and just a little impressed that Rikuo had yet to pass him. Sure, he felt Rikuo's presence behind him, chasing him, futility trying to catch up, but he hadn't gotten close. So there. Kazahaya almost turned his head to see Rikuo's reaction, but wanted to prove he was a valuable asset in this game, and most importantly, make up for the embarrassing moment when he was heading the wrong way.
A grin stretched across his lips as Kazahaya reached the ball, giving it one last powerful kick, sending it flying into the small netted goal. He stopped running to watch the ball fly and suddenly felt a body hit him, hard. He was sent to the ground yet again with a great 'oof,' from him and Rikuo.
A parade of insults and insinuations stormed through Kazahaya's brain, but all he could manage to spit of of his mouth was groans... and grass. He muttered death threats, trying to push himself up, and Rikuo off.
"What was that?" Rikuo groaned. Kazahaya felt his body turn warm. Rikuo's lips were right on his neck, but were gone soon after as Rikuo slowly began pulling himself up.
"I said... I'll kill you!" Kazahaya spat, wiggling. Suddenly a greater weight was pressed down on him, Rikuo pressed flushed and not too snugly anew against his back side. Kazahaya couldn't breathe. He heard Kurogane's low chuckling from above and Rikuo begin to cuss him out.
"The fuck Kuro? Get off!" Rikuo sounded genuinely pissed off.
"Just thought I'd join in on the fun," Kurogane seemed to sneer, but he did roll off. Rikuo followed shortly after, sitting up and stepping over Kazahaya, who inhaled deeply for his oxygen deprived lungs. He wondered if he had suffered any broken bones.
"... Did I miss something?"
The three boys looked up simultaneously to see Fai standing next to the back of the house, a stuffed garbage bag slung over his shoulder. His never fading smile as wide as ever, now with dubious undertones. There was also a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Hey, Fai," Kurogane got up quickly, taking long strides up to the newcomer, putting a hand on his shoulder and pushing him to face the other way. Fai followed along, mumbling something and protesting a little.
"Bye, Kazahaya!" Fai yelled over his shoulder. Kurogane took his black garbage bag from him, scolding him about his lack of proper packing material before they disappeared to the front of the house.
"... I will never understand those two," Rikuo muttered after a silence.
Kazahaya grumbled, pulling himself up to a sitting position. "Yeah, I'm fine, by the way. Thanks for asking." He wiped his face, looking at his hand afterward and scowling at the dirt he brought back.
"Hey, you're the one that stopped abruptly. Not my fault I crash landed into you," Rikuo smirked when Kazahaya turned his head to scowl at him. "Thanks for cushioning my fall though."
Kazahaya tackled Rikuo.
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It began to rain shortly after, ending soccer practice early and forcing the boys back inside the house. Rikuo offered to make coffee, to which Kazahaya politely declined, but tea would be nice.
"How do you run so fast?" Rikuo asked seriously while they sat on the couch, each with their preferred beverage. "It's almost feline the way you sprint," he grinned.
Kazahaya shook his head in mild irritation, narrowing his eyes as he watched Rikuo fiddle with the remote control. He didn't feel like arguing, so he answered seriously. "Practice. I just like to run."
"Yeah, it's good exercise..." Rikuo trailed off. The room went silent for a moment, the only sounds emanating were the low TV and the rain on the roof.
"Feel more 'in shape'?" Kazahaya tried to make conversation, rubbing his hands around the warm mug.
Rikuo shrugged. "Getting there... we can play more tomorrow, if you like. But only if the grass is dry," he gave up with finding something to watch and hit a button on the remote that made the screen turn blue. "Do you play Halo?" Rikuo was standing up as he said this.
Kazahaya knew of the game, knew what Rikuo was turning on was an Xbox, but had never played Halo... in fact...
"I don't play... much video games," Kazahaya didn't need Rikuo to know that the extent of his "game" knowledge was puzzles and chess. It wasn't his fault though, Kazahaya's parent's didn't allow modern things into the house such as video games or TV... it would distract him and his sister from their constant training and classes.
"Oh, well," Rikuo unraveled two complicated looking controllers, already plugged into the console. "You'll learn," he turned back and gave Kazahaya a grin. Kazahaya groaned. He had a feeling he was about to get his ass handed to him.
And handed to him it was. Rikuo seemed to be enjoying his handicap, finding Kazahaya no mater where he hid, and miraculously evading every single bullet, plasma bolt and projectile aimed in his direction.
"Man, you suck," Rikuo chuckled as the boys sat on the start screen, waiting for the next match.
Kazahaya held back a sigh. "Yeah well, I don't exactly have the time to play games..."
"I make time," Rikuo said offhandedly, thumbing the control stick back and forth distractedly.
"And then your grades suffer..." Kazahaya mumbled smugly. Rikuo turned, giving him a childish look.
"Hey, I'm passing all my classes," Rikuo sounded matter-of-fact. Kazahaya smirked.
"That's right, I forgot that Cs are considered passing."
Rikuo scoffed. "Wow, you are the biggest nerd I have ever met." But he was smiling. Kazahaya felt his heart stutter. He blushed, turning his head to stare at his controller to hide his pink face. It was funny how Rikuo's genuine smile elicited such a reaction out of the smaller teen.
As the next match started, Kazahaya getting more used to the controls and actually managing to land hits on Rikuo, the latter started speaking again.
"So, how come you didn't go home for break?" He asked, his eyes still glued to the screen.
Kazahaya bit his bottom lip, ignoring the question for a bit until he noticed Rikuo turn his head slightly in his direction.
"Ah, my family doesn't exactly get along well," Kazahaya answered honestly, vaguely.
"Not even on Thanksgiving?" Kazahaya heard the confusion in Rikuo's voice.
Kazahaya shook his head slightly, getting his character into a land vehicle. "Not even at Christmas..."
Rikuo paused the game. Kazahaya blinked, his hands going slack on the controller and looking over at Rikuo.
"What?"
Rikuo's eyebrows were furled, concern evident. "Really? You guys don't celebrate holidays? Or..."
"Uh..." Kazahaya looked to the side, feeling slightly uncomfortable speaking of his family. "I guess not. We don't give each other gifts or do anything special... we never have."
Kazahaya tapped his finger on one of the buttons, looking at the space between Rikuo and him, unable to see the mixed emotions contorting Rikuo's face.
"That's... really sad, Kaza."
Kazahaya looked up just in time to see Rikuo lick his lips, drawing his eyes to those wet lips. Kaza... that's the first time Rikuo has called my name informally.
Kazahaya looked away before he was caught staring at Rikuo's mouth. "It's okay, I'm used to it," he shrugged.
The room became quiet, the rain was letting up.
"Um..." Kazahaya tried to turn the conversation before Rikuo asked him anything else. But the only thing that was in his mind now was...
"How come you're not going home?" He didn't mean to sound prodding, but Kazahaya was curious.
Rikuo answered quickly, finally looking back at the TV. "No reason."
Kazahaya raised an eyebrow, about to question it further, but Rikuo had un-paused the game, forcing his attention back on his virtual driving.
It aggravated Kazahaya that, although he was vague answering Rikuo, at least he had answered the question. He frowned, gripping his controller hard, hearing the plastic creak in his hold. He wasn't selfish, just curious. Rikuo didn't have to act like a jerk just cos he didn't want to talk about something.
An hour had passed before the tension in the room became too much and Kazahaya excused himself, saying some bullshit about how he was tired and "really, I need to shower anyway, so..."
Kazahaya might have been imagining it, but Rikuo looked relieved.
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The next day was better. The sun was shining, eradicating any evidence of yesterdays rain, and Kazahaya got to sleep in. He had almost forgotten what it had felt like to be lazy, lounge in bed without anything planned for the day. But laying awake in bed also brought about thoughts, questions, day dreams...
Kazahaya thought about Rikuo. Thought about why he had avoided Kazahaya's innocent question. If it was something personal, why did Rikuo feel the need to hide it? I mean...
Kazahaya snuggled his face further into his pillow. He had told Rikuo he was gay, he had trusted him with such private information. Kazahaya thought he deserved some kind of compensation... not that he thought it was mandatory... just worth while. What could be more secretive... embarrassing or emotional, that Rikuo felt he had to keep it from his friend?
Kazahaya gnawed on his lip, calling Rikuo and himself "friends" still felt strange in his mind. But he knew it was true. Rikuo wouldn't let himself be so close to the eccentric blonde if he hadn't found some kind of favor in his classmate.
He turned on his side, taking his watch from the night stand and checking the time: a little past eleven. Kazahaya sat up, rubbing the crusty stuff from his eyes and letting a yawn tear through his throat. As he slumped out of bed and making his way lazily to the bathroom, he put critical thinking on the back burner.
Perhaps Kazahaya was thinking too hard on the subject... he was prone to make things harder than they seemed. But that didn't mean he could keep the nagging feeling that something was up with Rikuo out of his brain...
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Kazahaya knocked on the front door of Rikuo's house around noon, swaying back and forth on his feet.
He waited a minute, hearing nothing inside, and gave another series of knocks, a little louder than before. After a few seconds, he heard a distant yelp and a curse. Kazahaya swallowed. He didn't want to intrude...
His mind went blank though, after he heard the lock clicking and the door swinging open, as he stood in front of a half naked Rikuo...
Again... Kazahaya tried not to stare, but knew Rikuo probably caught his gaze as it focused on the draw string to his green plaid pajama pants and up his naked torso, taking half a second longer than necessary on the outline of his muscles and chest, before finally meeting dull green, half lidded eyes.
Thankfully Rikuo spoke first. Kazahaya didn't think his mouth would function in his current state of being.
"Whaddya want?" He slurred, sniffing and wiping his face with the hand that wasn't on the door.
Kazahaya swallowed hard, trying to decide whether Rikuo was more sexy or cute in the morning.
"B-breakfast, actually..." Kazahaya mumbled the last part. This wasn't something he normally did; beg for food. But the cafeteria was closed for break, and all Kazahaya had with him was fruit bars and snacks. His stomach had been growling with a vengeance since he awoke, and Kazahaya couldn't wait any longer. He thought coming here at noon would be more than enough time to let Rikuo get out of bed.
Rikuo grumbled something, stepping away from the door and extending a long brown arm. Kazahaya bowed his head slightly in thanks as he tried to walk past Rikuo as naturally as he could. He tripped over his own feet though, stumbling, but managing to stay off the floor. Because all he wanted to do was continue ogling Rikuo. How could a teenage boy look so perfect? So beautiful...
"Want cereal?" Rikuo shut the door, walking past Kazahaya and into the kitchen. He hadn't missed the teasing leer Rikuo managed to slip into his tone.
Kazahaya stopped, getting a good look at Rikuo's bare back, how his shoulder blades seemed to sink in the center, the slight indent at his waist, not really curvature, as he walked, his pants hanging just low enough...
Suddenly Kazahaya wished Rikuo would put a shirt on.
"Sure..." Kazahaya kept his jacket on as he hesitantly followed Rikuo into the kitchen, fingering the bottom hems.
"Sorry I woke you up," Kazahaya continued, standing awkwardly at the fridge, looking at the magnets and papers stuck to it.
Rikuo made a grunt like he didn't really care, preparing coffee.
Kazahaya shifted nervously from side to side, fiddling with his hair and keeping his eyes off Rikuo. This was ridiculous. It was ridiculous the effect Rikuo had on Kazahaya. In gym class, when he would change, the sight of the other boys didn't make him waver, didn't cause him to do a double take. Sure, sometimes he'd walk in on a guy naked in the shower, and he would get flustered, quickly excusing himself... but he thought that was pretty natural for a closet case like himself.
Rikuo had noticed his shuffling and cocked an eyebrow. "Well help yourself. Cereal is on top of the fridge... bowls," here he nodded to the cabinet in front of him. "And milk is obviously in there," he looked at Kazahaya again.
"Yeah, okay. Thanks..." Kazahaya shook his head when Rikuo turned to stare at the coffee pot filling up once more. He tried to think about other things... exams coming up, the paper he needed to write for AP English... orange juice...
He pulled out the milk, setting it on the counter and stepping back to examine the selection of cold cereal above him. Rikuo moved in his peripheral vision and Kazahaya regretted looking over instantly, but couldn't take his eyes away from the sight.
Rikuo had his arms high in the air, stretching, popping his back, his torso extending wonderfully. The muscles in his biceps quivered when he linked his fingers together and cracked them loudly while he stretched.
Kazahaya's jaw hit the floor, and his body almost went with it.
And the day didn't get any better.
After breakfast and waiting for Rikuo to shower (imagining Rikuo naked, water dripping off his perfect body...) and then receiving some strange, knowing glances from Rikuo, Kazahaya decided it was time to head outside and play some one-on-one soccer, rather exuberantly.
Kazahaya tossed the ball between his hands, walking to the end of the yard, feeling Rikuo's eyes on him as he moved... much more awake after coffee and a shower. Which Kazahaya was grateful for. Rikuo was just an unguarded... hot mess in the morning.
Staring at the goal in front of him, Kazahaya focused on the activities that were about to take place... and tried to come up with a solid game plan this time. It was obvious Rikuo liked to play dirty, Kazahaya would have to come up with a few tricks of his own if he wanted to beat Rikuo.
Halfway into the game, however, Kazahaya was cussing, losing his cool, sweating like it was summer temperatures, and not 40 something degrees Fahrenheit. Rikuo was so stupid. Kazahaya snarled and called flags but Rikuo just laughed, enjoying himself and Kazahaya's reactions.
"Is this how you play during real games?" Kazahaya spat after Rikuo had wrestled him down to the ground to stop him from getting the ball in his net.
"Of course not," Rikuo panted, excited. He had the ball under his foot now and Kazahaya was still on the ground, fuming. "You're an exception."
Kazahaya didn't know why he continued to play, but he did, still managing to get a few goals in, congratulating himself each time, and being sure to rub it in Rikuo's face each time. After a few hours of hard playing, however, Kazahaya had been losing his stamina, slowing down, kicks becoming weaker. He wasn't used to this much physical activity, and it was taking a strain on his body. He bent over slightly, hands on his knees, catching his breath while Rikuo juggled the ball, heading in his direction.
Rikuo looked spent too, but he still kept going, pushing himself, and his kicks were still powerful. Kazahaya only guessed this because seconds later, while he had stopped to catch his breath, Rikuo had misinterpreted a kick, sending it flying at his head instead of the goal. Kazahaya heard Rikuo yell something before he saw the ball hurtling toward his eyes and then blackness.
Kazahaya groaned, rubbing his eyes and temple, where he was feeling a throbbing pain then opened his eyes, startling himself as he looked around.
He was in a kitchen, but not Rikuo's. This one was bigger, cleaner, more homely. He looked down and touched the back of a wooden chair, but not really feeling it.
"Rikuo..."
Kazahaya looked up, seeing a lady in the archway that led into the kitchen. She had a basket of clothes in her hands. She walked past him through another archway. Kazahaya noticed her long black hair flowing behind her, slightly tangled and dancing along her hips.
"Did you check for eggs?" She asked from the room she was in. Her voice was light, friendly, and far away...
Kazahaya heard himself say "yes," but it didn't sound like him.
She returned empty handed. Kazahaya couldn't bring himself to look into her eyes, even though he tried. He had always been taught respect, to always look people in the eye when you regard them. It was odd, straining. Painful.
He saw her smile though. She said something else, but it was hazy, and before he knew it, the scene had shifted, changed. Suddenly the kitchen was darker, the sun gone, and red everywhere. Kazahaya heard himself scream in a horrifying way when he realized it was blood. Fresh blood, dripping off the cabinets, smeared on the walls. In a moment of panic his eyes briefly scanned the floor, not finding bodies, but what looked like human remains... But again, the screaming wasn't his voice. He moved to the entrance to the kitchen, racing to the foyer, screaming a name over and over again.
"Tsukiko!"
Kazahaya's eyes snapped open. He sat up in a frenzy, arms flailing and grabbing onto something, gripping tightly. When he heard a loud gasp, his eyes darted to the side, seeing Rikuo inches from his face, his eyes wide and shaking.
Kazahaya realized dully that it was Rikuo he currently had a death grip on, but he couldn't bring himself to release him.
"Ri-"
"What did you say?" Rikuo asked quietly, a rasp in his voice. Kazahaya looked down, they were on Rikuo's bed. He felt his vision become blurry for some reason.
"I..." Kazahaya's mouth worked uselessly.
"What did you say?" Rikuo almost yelled, bringing his hands up and shaking Kazahaya's shoulders.
Kazahaya cried.