Disclaimer: Mine! Mine! All mine! .......Not.
Title: Carnival Kisses (2/?)
Author: lorien
Pairings (in this part): more Hotohori+Nuriko (aren't they kawaii? *g*), mention of Mitsukake+another mystery pairing (!!!) and, uh...I think we're getting a *tad* closer to Tamahome+? (hehehe)
by lorien
"...then she totally blew me off to talk to Nakago! And to ask him out, no less!" Tamahome gritted his teeth. "I mean, just because the guy is cool, good-looking, tall, smart..." ranted the gray-eyed boy.
Hotohori and Nuriko, sprawled comfortably on the huge sofas in Tamahome and Nuriko's apartment while Tamahome paced in front of them, exchanged a glance.
"...funny, nice, bloody perfect..."
At this point, the door of the apartment swung open to admit Tasuki and Chichiri, both good friends of the three boys, just in time for them to hear the tail end of Tamahome's rant.
Tasuki blinked, pushing his unruly flame-coloured fringe out of his eyes. "What, he's @#)% talking about Miaka again?"
"No!" snapped Tamahome, swinging round to glare at the two newcomers. "I'm $%* talking about Nakago!" Then his eyes widened, and he abruptly clapped his hand over his mouth, scowling at Tasuki. "I'm starting to talk like you...this can't be good."
"What the @()$ is that supposed to mean?!"
The aqua-haired boy sighed. "Nevermind."
"Nakago...isn't he the captain of the soccer team or something no da?" mused Chichiri.
"Yep," Tasuki nodded in confirmation. "Ol' Naka-boy's our $*# captain, all right." Tasuki was in the school's soccer team as well.
Tamahome mumbled under his breath.
"So why were you talking about Nakago, of all people, no da?" Chichiri asked, toying with a lock of blue hair as he sat down on the carpeted floor, Tasuki flopping down beside him.
"Miaka likes him," responded the gray-eyed boy grumpily.
"Oh."
"Yes, oh." Tamahome sighed.
Getting up, Tasuki got himself a beer from the fridge, and tossed another one to Tamahome.
"Thanks." Tamahome tossed back the entire can in a few gulps. "I needed that."
Nuriko switched on the TV, and the five boys sat around in relatively comfortable quiet for a while, eating chips and channel surfing, until Hotohori, one arm slung about Nuriko's shoulders, broke the silence.
"By the way...does anyone know where Mitsukake and Chiriko are?" Mitsukake was another member of their clique, an aspiring medical student; Chiriko was his young, and very smart, cousin. All seven of the boys usually gathered at Tamahome and Nuriko's apartment after school to hang out, since it was large, and comfortable.
"Chiriko's at one of his computer classes," responded Chichiri. "but I'm not sure where Mitsukake is no da."
"He's gone to meet some )$@% girl," mumbled Tasuki indistinctly around a mouthful of chips. "That maroon-haired cheerleader girl in your class, what's her !$%# name...?"
"You mean...Soi?" Nuriko goggled. "Mitsukake's got a date with Soi?!"
Hotohori looked surprised too. "Isn't she the cheerleader? I didn't think she was his type..."
Nuriko grinned. "We'll grill him about it later..."
"Even Mitsukake - who spends all his time studying - gets a date with a pretty girl," Tamahome groaned and buried his head in his hands. "What's wrong with me?!?"
"You could go for someone other than Miaka, Tama-chan...there are lots of girls in our school who have crushes on you, you know!" Nuriko pointed out.
"@)%# knows why," added Tasuki helpfully.
"Hey!"
The flame-haired boy yelped and ducked behind Chichiri as a cushion flew at him, courtesy of Tamahome.
"Daaaa!" wailed Chichiri, as the cushion hit him in the face. Picking it up, he tossed it back at Tamahome.
"Pillow fight!" yelled Nuriko, grabbing a cushion off the sofa and pouncing on his friends, dragging a surprised Hotohori off the sofa with him.
"...and then he trailed a finger down my face and told me that he liked the 'cute, blue-haired' type! Man..."
The five boys had finally settled down after their impromptu pillow fight, and Tamahome was now recounting to his friends his encounter with Nakago while he'd been looking for Nuriko.
"Hmm..." Nuriko grinned.
"Blue hair..." Tamahome eyed Chichiri's blue rooster-style bangs speculatively. "You'd better watch out for Nakago."
"I don't think I'm the one he's after, no da!" replied Chichiri cheekily, with a big grin.
Tasuki, Hotohori and Nuriko snickered, as Tamahome scowled. "Why me?" he sighed.
"Oh, I don't know...because you're cute?" Nuriko laughed merrily.
"That was a rhetorical question!!"
"I know."
"......"
"Aww, c'mon, Tama-chan, don't sulk!" cajoled Nuriko. After a moment's thought, the violet-eyed boy continued. "I know what'll make you forget about Miaka - the carnival's opening tonight, right? Let's all go, make it a guys' night out...it'll take your mind off things!"
"I don't know, Nuri'...I don't really feel like going out tonight..." Tamahome sighed.
"I think it's a good idea," supplied Hotohori. "It's been a while since the bunch of us have had a guys' night out."
"But...a guys' night out at a )%#(( carnival?!?" demanded Tasuki dubiously.
"Why not?" said Chichiri. "It's something new...it'll be fun no da."
"Well..." Tasuki conceded, still looking dubious.
"C'mon, Tamahome..."
"You guys go...I don't really feel like it..."
"Tamaaaa-chan!"
"Tamahome..."
Tasuki summed it up for all of them, succintly. "Tamahome, you will @%$# go out with us tonight and you will %#)( have fun 'cos we're all going to %*## make sure that you do!"
There was a surprised silence.
The gray-eyed boy rolled his eyes. "With such a persuasive invitation...how could I refuse?"
The flame-haired boy grinned smugly as Nuriko cheered, and Hotohori and Chichiri chuckled.
TBC...