Disclaimer: Standard Disclaimer – I don't own these hot bishies I so love manipulating
This is a Shounen-Ai, AU fic (ie: there is gayness and it is set in some other time and place other than Shinjuuku, Tokyo, 1988-present)
Onto the story!
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A Tale
By Sanada Mirako
Chapter 3: Fireflies
The days during that week didn't seem to have a beginning or end; they all blurred and merged with each other to create a space of time in which I was happier that I had ever been in all my years of existence. A time of beauty, and magic; of opening my eyes when I looked out, and seeing more detail in one leaf than one could possibly hope to pick out in a painting. Of daffodils, and the intoxication that comes when you're truly a free person.
Ryo had off-handedly remarked that the night would be unusually clear, and one thing led to another. It ended up that I was to sneak out of the house that night, and meet him on the other side of the stone wall. I pleaded ill that night to my family, and asked for leave to my room before sneaking out. No one in my house ever entered the room of a sick person – the chances of catching the illness proved too risky to see said person. I left the house fairly confident that I would never be seen, and met Ryo at the appointed place, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline once I leapt over the wall.
" You certainly took a while to get here." Ryo smiled lazily at me, idly chewing a piece of mint.
I smirked, " Well I didn't know you'd come this early." Indeed, it was early. The sun had barely set, and the sky was just turning inky black.
" Perfect time for what we're gonna do." Ryo perked my interest, and when he left, I followed him as if it was second nature, taking enough time to slip a small package of bread and butter into his thin hand. Ryo's grateful smile to me spoke in greater volumes than words could have. We trekked through the woods for a good hour, and the penetrating darkness began to frighten me. The trees cast shadows that looked like half-rotted hands of the dead, reaching out greedily to pluck the life out of unwary travelers. I unconsciously reached for Ryo's hand, holding it firmly for comfort, and some of the bravery he showed when faced with the red-eyed demons that lurked in the gloomy shadows, untouched by the moonlight. Ryo, sensing my fear, wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulders, and flashed a warm smile that lit up those dark crevices in the forest, and suddenly, I wasn't so scared anymore. " Almost there, Cye. It's just behind that weeping willow."
" Okay, Ryo." When we reached the weeping willow, Ryo was first to go through. I gasped suddenly, feeling so vulnerable under the tree, and quickly joined him on the other side. What I saw on the other side was so beautiful that even now I can recall exactly how it was like. It was a wild meadow; the moonlight tipped the long grasses a green-silver, and the daffodils and wildflowers sparkled in the clear night. It was all so vivid and unreal that I felt I was walking into the land of Fairies. Fireflies flew lazily in the night, flickering on and off and looking to me like stars fallen to earth. " Ryo, what are those things? That light up?"
Ryo smiled at my apparent lack of knowledge, " They're fireflies, Cye. I think they're magical or something. I've been trying to catch one for years now, but whenever I'm sure I got one, it disappears or something." Ryo smiled sheepishly. My eye however, was already trained on a light right in front of Ryo's nose.
" Keep still, Ryo." As quick as I could, I clapped my hands over it, and felt inwardly pleased for no particular reason, but when I opened my hand to see my captive, it wasn't there. My face fell, and Ryo laughed uproariously at my rather disconsolate expression.
" Cye, I told you. They're magic or something. You can't catch them."
" Yeah? Well watch me. I'll catch one, or my name isn't Cye Mouri." I began to leap erratically, trying, and failing, to catch those little pieces of heaven that so resembled the untouchable stars above us.
" Cye!" Ryo groaned good-naturedly before trying to chase me down, and stop bothering what he believed to be animals as magical as unicorns, and phoenixes. He kept shouting that the flies would turn me into a toad, or some other unlikable animal. He finally did end up catching me; running me down before leaping suicidally and ramming headlong into me, causing the both of us to fall. I grunted as Ryo rolled off of me, laughing so hard that tears sprung to his eyes. Wiping my own, and trying to catch the breath that was so effectively knocked out of me, I managed to chuckle weakly. We lay there, tired and winded, staring up at the stars that twinkled good-naturedly down at us. I turned my head to the side, watching Ryo, and letting the long grasses tickly my cheek. Ryo fit so perfectly in this garden of Eden. Wild, and headstrong; untamed like the mountains, as passionate as flames, and at the same time, as ephemeral-seeming as this place we were in. Glowing in the pale moonlight, he resembled a fairy, come to Earth only for a week, and in the morning, disappear with this enchanted land. He turned to look at me with his bright, blue eyes, at the same time sad and happy, reflecting in those sapphire orbs both pain, and joy. " Um, Cye…" His eyes pleaded an inability to properly express an idea, something that meant a lot to him. I cocked my head, waiting for him to say something, when his lips brushed against mine. He shrugged helplessly, grinning sheepishly, and I smiled gently in return. In that moment all our secrets were laid out and accepted without either of us having to say a word. That is how close our minds had become. Ryo silently moved over, " Do you know constellations?" I shook my head no, and he took my hand, and began tracing them out, " That's Orion's Belt, and that's the Big Dipper. There's also a Little Dipper. And that's Gemini, the twins…" I sighed contentedly, and rested against Ryo's warm shoulder, watching our hands trace through the stars together, tan on pale white.
" Mmm…Ryo?"
" Yes, love?"
" Promise you won't go away? I don't want to be by myself anymore."
Ryo smiled, " I promise, love. I won't ever leave you."
I smiled, " Ryo?"
" Yes, love?"
" I love you."
" I love you too."
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Yeah, yeah….I've been gone for like, that long, and come out with this sugar-coated thingy? For those who love sugar….aww….and for those who don't, don't worry, there's lots in store for 'em…*evil eyes*
I think they seem older in this chapter….they don't really act 13. But hey, blame it on the fact that in those days, when you were 14 u were considered an adult. ^_^ Anywayz, Ja, and don't forget to review………pwease?!?!? If not, then I'll start putting a min. limit (3 reviews or I don't write)…..*rethinks that* actually, nevermind…I'm not sure if people would not write a review just to make me stop. *accusatory glare* review!!!!!! Make me feel warm and fuzzy!!!!! ^__^
~Sanada Mirako~