School never passes fast enough when you're anticipating something. Kinda like a car ride, it always seems to take forever to get where you're going and an instant to remember where you've been. Wednesday, the day Daisuke and I got stuck after school, seems like only yesterday while the dance creeps like a tortuous. Even though today is Friday, and the dance is only a few hours from now. I kinda get goose bumps just thinking about it. Our first Junior High dance and it's just Daisuke and me! I mean Daisuke, Hikari and me.
One thing is for sure, no matter how soon or far away anything is or becomes, I haven't been able to keep him out of my thoughts. But if his eyes that are dancing in my thoughts are just the makings of some perverted crush, last nights dream has all the makings of a full-blown obsession.
We were at the dance and Hikari had gone off with a group of girls from class to the bathroom. Girls. Always going in groups, even in dreams. Anyway though, so it was just me and Daisuke and this song started to play. He looked at me with a sad sort of smile and said that the song's lyrics reminded him of us. I started to hear them, the words louder than the music itself till no instruments accompanied the silky message that floated off black cloaked speakers.
"What did I ever do to you, that you should treat me this way. Is it such a crime for an angel to speak his mind? In time I'll try to shed some light. If I were a big boy I wouldn't cry but since I'm not a big boy, I have to cry."
I looked over and he was crying. Then, just as the music had died out, so did the dance. Suddenly only we were there, alone in darkness.
"I love you, Takeru."
My heart skipped a beat and I jerked back with surprise. He turned away from me and looked as though he would bolt from the room but I grabbed him, turned him around in my arms and kissed away his tears, licking the salty sweet drops that were blessed enough to fall from those burgundy eyes. I felt it and tasted everything. It was more like reality than a dream.
"I love you, Daisuke." I said as I pulled him impossibly closer, feeling his warm body close to mine and arms captured between our chests. I leaned forward, his eyes closed to slits as our lips brushed sending sparks though me.
But I woke up to the sound of the vacuum cleaner just before we truly kissed. I could have passed the whole thing off as guilt for being mean and saying bad things and maybe told my self it was just my minds way of atoning for that guilt. But when I woke up I felt alone and scared. I wanted it to be real. I was depressed that it had only been a dream. And the lyrics played on in my mind. And I've never heard the song.
But that was hours ago. It's almost seven now. Dance starts at eight and Yamato will be by any creeping minute from now. Had the dance been at the school we could have just walked but as it is, there are too many students for that. So instead of having it in the gymnasium, the school rents a recreation center for the night. There tend to be so many dark corners and broom closets in them though. That's where Yamato and Taichi's jobs come in. Oh god, what would Yamato say if he caught me in a dark corner with Daisuke! Why am I even thinking things like that? I worry too much. I usually like to call it being cautious but I draw the line at stressing over what oni-chan thinks. That's worrying.
I hear the doorbell right and Mom looks in on me in my room before answering the door. I can tell already that it's time to go. One more look over in the mirror was I'm off to greet Yamato as well. He's dressed to the nines with his hair ruggedly fashioned in the same 'cool dude' style he's popular for. The black silk shirt and the skin shaping black pants are a predictable combination as well. In fact, he looks like he just got out from band practice. You know what they say, music is 1% talent and 99% sex appeal.
"Hey kiddo." He greets, as always. It's the curse and the blessing of being the younger sibling. The blessing being that he's the one taking me to the dance, not Mom. Sure, there are a lot of other things but right now, that's all I'm thinking about.
"Hey, Yamato. The others waiting in the car?"
He shook his head, "Nah, Taichi called and said it was taking Hikari longer than anticipated to be ready and that I should pick you and Daisuke up before heading over there."
I gave Mom a quick hug and grabbed my coat. Yamato waved at her and we left. That was it then. My night has started! That's what I thought at least until I saw his car. He'd told me about it, said it was a classic. I agree. It was a classic. A very out of shape, rusty looking classic that you'd find in the impound lot.
"Are you sure that thing's safe?" I asked. He gave me a noggie in response. Good ol' Yamato. I got in though without further jibes at the age or stability of the automobile and we started out towards Daisuke's apartments. I made sure my seatbelt was on extra tight as Yamato pulled out into the street in front of a sky blue truck.
Again the ageless waiting seemed to fall over Japan, as if God had somehow decided to torcher me and only me on this night. What lucky numbers do you have to pick for that to happen?
"So. You looking forward to your big night?"
I nodded, looking out the window and counting mile markers.
"Look like you've got it bad."
"Nani?" I looked over at him and saw a mischievous glow in his face and it wasn't the reflection beams of the car in front of us.
"You know. IT." He said as if stressing the word would make it's meaning any more clear. Somehow though, it did.
"Oh. Why do you say that?"
"Just look at you!" he said, slightly prided, "My baby brother is all grown up and falling in love."
I tried to ignore him but a blush crept into my face despite my efforts. "knock it off, man."
The car had stopped but I was so intent on hiding my red face that I hadn't noticed. I did however notice the hand that fell onto my shoulder and seize a started yelp from me.
Yamato laughed and I saw that it was not his hand. Through the rearview mirror I saw Him. Daisuke had discarded the goggles for the night and his eyes look like they had been lightly lined with a faint coal haze. It made him look even more stunning.
"Sorry about that, Takeru, didn't mean to sneak up on you like that." He smiled and scooted into the back seat. My cheeks were even redder now from embarrassment.
"You okay, Takeru? You look a little warm?"
I glanced at Yamato with content and opened up the front passenger door, "I think I'll move to the back. There's a lot of hot air up here."
Yamato smiled at me as if his small victory had out balanced anything I could possibly say. Shutting the door with more force than required I moved into the back and sat by Daisuke.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
"Girls." I said with a shrug. He caught amazingly quick and gave a sly wink that only triggered more blushing on my part. Seeing him after that dream was really doing something to me.
"Well, I think we've given her enough time to get ready so let's head on out to the Kamia's, huh?"
"I don't know," Daisuke said, leaning back with his arms folded behind his head, "Wouldn't it be nice to just have a boy's night out?"
Yes it would. Only not with my brother in the car. Wait, what am I saying? What am I thinking? I don't mean to sound hormonal but whatever it is that I was thinking, I'm thinking I still want to think it.
"Sure. We'll go pick up Taichi and then I'll leave Hikari up to you two to deal with while we make a run for it."
"Point taken." I said before the conversation turned to Hikari. As long as she isn't here, I can think that it's just me and Daisuke going to the dance. I just wish this moment would last forever. And as I hear the squealing tires, I think that maybe it will.
Before I know what's going on, I feel it. I see the glass as it shatters and I watch the side cave in. I see sparks as the car glides across the road on its rims. Most of all I see the SUV that we careen in front of as we sail into the opposite lane. I feel Daisuke's hand on mine, squeezing it and pulling it close. I hear Yamato screaming, all of us screaming deftly as if to ward off the vehicle. I feel another hard hit and I'm upside down. Then right side up. Then upside down. Then right side up. Then upside down and we turn and turn like a record on a turntable. The ceiling is caving in us, the metal digs into my head and I duck, pulling my chin to my chest. We stop spinning and I hear more noises, not my screaming but yelling, people gathered around yelling at us. I can hear them ask if we're alive but I can't open my mouth. I can't feel anything.
"Takeru?"
Yamato! Are you okay? Are you hurt bad?
"Takeru, can you hear me?"
Yamato, I'm okay! I'm here!
"Oh God, don't take my little brother. God, please. TAKERU! Answer me!"
He's crying. Can't he hear me? I'm trying to tell him I'm okay. Yamato, stop crying, please! I'm right here! I'm okay. I wish I could see him. He's only in the front seat but the caved in ceiling is blocking the vision. I can't see anything in front of me. I can't feel anything. I can feel the pressure though, the steel that presses against my side, the awkward angle of my legs, and the vise like grip on my hand.
Daisuke.
I turn my head carefully, the awkward angle limiting my range of motion. I can see him just out of my right eye though. His eyes are closed. I can't see how bad he looks. I can hear the dripping of blood though. I hope it's mine.
I squeeze his hand as best I can, my muscles sore from being jousted and tossed about. He doesn't stir. I realize now how cold his hand feels, or is that the steal of the car around us? His grip doesn't seem so solid around my hand. The longer I concentrate on the feeling in my hand I find I can't feel him holding my hand at all. It's my vise like grip that links us together.
Daisuke?
People are prying through the metal with giant steal claws. I can see the streetlights. There are so many noises and voices. Somebody tell me if Daisuke's all right. Yamato, play me a song to make the sadness go away. My head hurts so much, 'ni-chan. I hear you. I hear you. I'm okay, I'm all right, I'm… alive….
One thing is for sure, no matter how soon or far away anything is or becomes, I haven't been able to keep him out of my thoughts. But if his eyes that are dancing in my thoughts are just the makings of some perverted crush, last nights dream has all the makings of a full-blown obsession.
We were at the dance and Hikari had gone off with a group of girls from class to the bathroom. Girls. Always going in groups, even in dreams. Anyway though, so it was just me and Daisuke and this song started to play. He looked at me with a sad sort of smile and said that the song's lyrics reminded him of us. I started to hear them, the words louder than the music itself till no instruments accompanied the silky message that floated off black cloaked speakers.
"What did I ever do to you, that you should treat me this way. Is it such a crime for an angel to speak his mind? In time I'll try to shed some light. If I were a big boy I wouldn't cry but since I'm not a big boy, I have to cry."
I looked over and he was crying. Then, just as the music had died out, so did the dance. Suddenly only we were there, alone in darkness.
"I love you, Takeru."
My heart skipped a beat and I jerked back with surprise. He turned away from me and looked as though he would bolt from the room but I grabbed him, turned him around in my arms and kissed away his tears, licking the salty sweet drops that were blessed enough to fall from those burgundy eyes. I felt it and tasted everything. It was more like reality than a dream.
"I love you, Daisuke." I said as I pulled him impossibly closer, feeling his warm body close to mine and arms captured between our chests. I leaned forward, his eyes closed to slits as our lips brushed sending sparks though me.
But I woke up to the sound of the vacuum cleaner just before we truly kissed. I could have passed the whole thing off as guilt for being mean and saying bad things and maybe told my self it was just my minds way of atoning for that guilt. But when I woke up I felt alone and scared. I wanted it to be real. I was depressed that it had only been a dream. And the lyrics played on in my mind. And I've never heard the song.
But that was hours ago. It's almost seven now. Dance starts at eight and Yamato will be by any creeping minute from now. Had the dance been at the school we could have just walked but as it is, there are too many students for that. So instead of having it in the gymnasium, the school rents a recreation center for the night. There tend to be so many dark corners and broom closets in them though. That's where Yamato and Taichi's jobs come in. Oh god, what would Yamato say if he caught me in a dark corner with Daisuke! Why am I even thinking things like that? I worry too much. I usually like to call it being cautious but I draw the line at stressing over what oni-chan thinks. That's worrying.
I hear the doorbell right and Mom looks in on me in my room before answering the door. I can tell already that it's time to go. One more look over in the mirror was I'm off to greet Yamato as well. He's dressed to the nines with his hair ruggedly fashioned in the same 'cool dude' style he's popular for. The black silk shirt and the skin shaping black pants are a predictable combination as well. In fact, he looks like he just got out from band practice. You know what they say, music is 1% talent and 99% sex appeal.
"Hey kiddo." He greets, as always. It's the curse and the blessing of being the younger sibling. The blessing being that he's the one taking me to the dance, not Mom. Sure, there are a lot of other things but right now, that's all I'm thinking about.
"Hey, Yamato. The others waiting in the car?"
He shook his head, "Nah, Taichi called and said it was taking Hikari longer than anticipated to be ready and that I should pick you and Daisuke up before heading over there."
I gave Mom a quick hug and grabbed my coat. Yamato waved at her and we left. That was it then. My night has started! That's what I thought at least until I saw his car. He'd told me about it, said it was a classic. I agree. It was a classic. A very out of shape, rusty looking classic that you'd find in the impound lot.
"Are you sure that thing's safe?" I asked. He gave me a noggie in response. Good ol' Yamato. I got in though without further jibes at the age or stability of the automobile and we started out towards Daisuke's apartments. I made sure my seatbelt was on extra tight as Yamato pulled out into the street in front of a sky blue truck.
Again the ageless waiting seemed to fall over Japan, as if God had somehow decided to torcher me and only me on this night. What lucky numbers do you have to pick for that to happen?
"So. You looking forward to your big night?"
I nodded, looking out the window and counting mile markers.
"Look like you've got it bad."
"Nani?" I looked over at him and saw a mischievous glow in his face and it wasn't the reflection beams of the car in front of us.
"You know. IT." He said as if stressing the word would make it's meaning any more clear. Somehow though, it did.
"Oh. Why do you say that?"
"Just look at you!" he said, slightly prided, "My baby brother is all grown up and falling in love."
I tried to ignore him but a blush crept into my face despite my efforts. "knock it off, man."
The car had stopped but I was so intent on hiding my red face that I hadn't noticed. I did however notice the hand that fell onto my shoulder and seize a started yelp from me.
Yamato laughed and I saw that it was not his hand. Through the rearview mirror I saw Him. Daisuke had discarded the goggles for the night and his eyes look like they had been lightly lined with a faint coal haze. It made him look even more stunning.
"Sorry about that, Takeru, didn't mean to sneak up on you like that." He smiled and scooted into the back seat. My cheeks were even redder now from embarrassment.
"You okay, Takeru? You look a little warm?"
I glanced at Yamato with content and opened up the front passenger door, "I think I'll move to the back. There's a lot of hot air up here."
Yamato smiled at me as if his small victory had out balanced anything I could possibly say. Shutting the door with more force than required I moved into the back and sat by Daisuke.
"Where are the others?" he asked.
"Girls." I said with a shrug. He caught amazingly quick and gave a sly wink that only triggered more blushing on my part. Seeing him after that dream was really doing something to me.
"Well, I think we've given her enough time to get ready so let's head on out to the Kamia's, huh?"
"I don't know," Daisuke said, leaning back with his arms folded behind his head, "Wouldn't it be nice to just have a boy's night out?"
Yes it would. Only not with my brother in the car. Wait, what am I saying? What am I thinking? I don't mean to sound hormonal but whatever it is that I was thinking, I'm thinking I still want to think it.
"Sure. We'll go pick up Taichi and then I'll leave Hikari up to you two to deal with while we make a run for it."
"Point taken." I said before the conversation turned to Hikari. As long as she isn't here, I can think that it's just me and Daisuke going to the dance. I just wish this moment would last forever. And as I hear the squealing tires, I think that maybe it will.
Before I know what's going on, I feel it. I see the glass as it shatters and I watch the side cave in. I see sparks as the car glides across the road on its rims. Most of all I see the SUV that we careen in front of as we sail into the opposite lane. I feel Daisuke's hand on mine, squeezing it and pulling it close. I hear Yamato screaming, all of us screaming deftly as if to ward off the vehicle. I feel another hard hit and I'm upside down. Then right side up. Then upside down. Then right side up. Then upside down and we turn and turn like a record on a turntable. The ceiling is caving in us, the metal digs into my head and I duck, pulling my chin to my chest. We stop spinning and I hear more noises, not my screaming but yelling, people gathered around yelling at us. I can hear them ask if we're alive but I can't open my mouth. I can't feel anything.
"Takeru?"
Yamato! Are you okay? Are you hurt bad?
"Takeru, can you hear me?"
Yamato, I'm okay! I'm here!
"Oh God, don't take my little brother. God, please. TAKERU! Answer me!"
He's crying. Can't he hear me? I'm trying to tell him I'm okay. Yamato, stop crying, please! I'm right here! I'm okay. I wish I could see him. He's only in the front seat but the caved in ceiling is blocking the vision. I can't see anything in front of me. I can't feel anything. I can feel the pressure though, the steel that presses against my side, the awkward angle of my legs, and the vise like grip on my hand.
Daisuke.
I turn my head carefully, the awkward angle limiting my range of motion. I can see him just out of my right eye though. His eyes are closed. I can't see how bad he looks. I can hear the dripping of blood though. I hope it's mine.
I squeeze his hand as best I can, my muscles sore from being jousted and tossed about. He doesn't stir. I realize now how cold his hand feels, or is that the steal of the car around us? His grip doesn't seem so solid around my hand. The longer I concentrate on the feeling in my hand I find I can't feel him holding my hand at all. It's my vise like grip that links us together.
Daisuke?
People are prying through the metal with giant steal claws. I can see the streetlights. There are so many noises and voices. Somebody tell me if Daisuke's all right. Yamato, play me a song to make the sadness go away. My head hurts so much, 'ni-chan. I hear you. I hear you. I'm okay, I'm all right, I'm… alive….