First night
Chapter one: lovers under the moonlight
The cool breeze of the night blew gently through the dark streets of Shohoku village, carrying the joyous laughs and songs, which emitted from a small inn at the corner of a deserted street. In that inn a rather boisterous stag party was being held. Everybody was singing, dancing, laughing, drinking and most importantly congratulating a handsome young man, who sat in the middle of the room surrounded by his friends.
"So Sendoh" one of the young men asked jokingly "how do you feel and tonight is your last night as the handsome pixie bachelor of Shohoku?"
"Well…Mitsui" Sendoh rubbed the back of his neck embarrassed, a fade redness appeared on his checks "I feel great…it's the most wonderful feeling in the world!"
"I still can't believe that Sendoh Akira's wedding is tomorrow," a young man with brown short hair exclaimed, "This seems like the end of the world!"
"Yeah" Mitsui chuckled "especially after he has flirted with every girl in the village."
"I haven't" Sendoh protested.
"Yes, you have…yes, you have…yes, you have" Mitsui continued his teasing. "Yes, you have…PIXIE"
"Hey…guys" a black-haired man cut their jokes short "stop teasing him…can't you see that he is blushing like hell!"
"I'm NOT blushing, Kosh" Sendoh protested, irritated.
"Yes, you ARE Sendoh Akira" Koshino teased "and your face is redder than a tomato"
Everybody laughed happily as Sendoh's face became redder and redder from all the teasing he was getting.
"By the way Sendoh" Mitsui said, "You haven't told us yet how your pretty boyfriend managed to keep your heart under his charm for so long?"
"Hey…don't call him pretty!" Sendoh sent annoyed glares to his mocking friend.
"What Sendoh? Jealous already?" Koshino laughed "Mitsui is telling the truth…Rukawa IS pretty…and that what's made you notice him at the first place."
Sendoh blushed slightly before he said "That's true…but then I've discovered lots of things about him other than his beauty."
"Oh, yeah…like what?" the brown-haired man asked.
"Well, Fujima" Sendoh smiled warmly "he is pure, innocent, quiet, shy, tenderhearted and very friable"
Everyone was listening raised an eyebrow or dropped his jaw.
"You are talking about Rukawa Kaede…right?" Mitsui asked, miffed "The Rukawa Kaede..? Tall guy, with the black messy hair and icy blue eyes which reminds you of a fox?"
"Yeah…that's the one I was talking about" Sendoh smiled at his friends' shocked faces.
"Well, Sendoh, nothing from what you've just said resembles Rukawa except maybe for the quietness thing!!" Fujima exclaimed.
"You shouldn't judge from appearances only, Fujima" a voice said from behind "especially on people's character."
They turned around to be greeted by the smiling face of Ryota Miyagi the inn's owner.
"Miyagi, finally you've decided to join us!" Sendoh exclaimed happily.
"Sorry for being late, but I had some business, which I had to attend to."
"It's OK Miyagi" Mitsui put one hand on the man's shoulder "You're here now."
"So you were talking about little Kaede-kun, ne?"
"Yup…and they didn't believe what I've said about him" Sendoh answered, sweeping his eyes across his crowd of friends as Miyagi taped his chin in thought.
"As Fujima had said nothing resembles Rukawa" Koshino explained.
"That's because you guys don't know him well " Miyagi said, "Kaede doesn't open himself to people *sigh* me myself couldn't gain his trust easily"
"But now he sees you as an elder brother, Miyagi" Sendoh stated.
"Well…it was hard to make him feels that way even with Ayako's help" Miyagi sighed.
"Being Rukawa's sister and only relative, surely she had provided good chances for you to get closer to him…am I right?" Mitsui filled a glass of wine for Miyagi.
"Yeah…she had" Miyagi took the glass from his friend "and I'm glad she did. Kaede-kun is wonderful person once you get to know him better"
"Which non of you guys has the chance to do so" Sendoh grinned proudly, "Except me, of course"
Everyone sweatdropped.
"We're talking about Rukawa, and he isn't even here" Koshino sighed "Why didn't you bring him with you, Miyagi?"
"I haven't seen him since the afternoon, I don't know where he might be?" Miyagi paused trying to remember something "I think Ayako said something about meeting you, Sendoh?"
Everyone looked at Sendoh, who narrowed his eyebrows slightly and said, "I did meet him this afternoon, and asked him if he was coming tonight or not."
"So, is he coming?" Fujima asked.
Sendoh shook his head "No, Fujima…You know how much he hates noisy parties, so we agreed on….OH MY GOD" Sendoh jerked from his seat and rushed towards to the door "SORRY GUYS…I HAVE TO GO NOW…BYE AND THANKS A LOT"
The young men raised an eyebrow at Sendoh's sudden behavior.
"But…where is he going?" Fujima finally recovered from his shock.
"No one can guess what a love-stuck Sendoh would do" Mitsui sighed "especially in the night before his wedding"
"Something tells me, Mitsui that you know where Sendoh is going right now?" Koshino looked at his friend suspiciously.
"Me?!!" Mitsui gave Koshino the most innocent look "I don't know where he's going"
"Really?" Koshino focused his eyes on Mitsui's.
"OK, OK…I do know where Sendoh is going" Mitsui finally gave up "He went to meet Rukawa at the lake…satisfied?"
"Boy…he really can't stand being away from him for a long time, can he?" Fujima asked.
"Well…this is only at the beginning, wait until their honeymoon ends…they won't even look to each other…right Miyagi?" Mitsui winked.
"Hey…what that supposed to mean?" Miyagi glared at him.
"Don't listen to him, Miyagi" Fujima placed his hand on Miyagi's shoulder "He's just teasing you…we all know that Ayako glances at you from time to time"
"FUJIMA"
"Stop it guys…anyway, I don't think that Sendoh and Rukawa's love will become weak someday" Koshino assured his friends "I've known Sendoh since childhood and I've never seen him serious about anything like now…their love is real and strong"
"Well…all we could do is hoping that they'll be happy" Miyagi said.
"And drink this wonderful wine" Mitsui grinned, raising his glass "to the happy couple… Sendoh and Rukawa"
Everyone sweatdropped.
*****
Sendoh ran as fast as he could through the dark streets towards the lake near the forest. //Man, I hope I'm not very late…how could I forget something like this? I hope he's not angry//.
Sendoh slowed down as he reached the small lake. A warm smile appeared on his face as his eyes spotted in the dim moonlight a figure sitting by the lake, leaning his back on a big Sakura tree. Sendoh walked towards the figure slowly, trying not to make any sound. When he was just about to surprise his waiting lover, Rukawa asked him quietly "So how was the party?"
Sendoh smiled and sat near him "Before the party, I'm sorry for being late"
"It's OK" Rukawa answered, "I understand…it's your party after all, so how was it?"
"First, it's not my party…it's ours. Second, the party could have been greater if you had joined us. Everyone was asking me about you. They wanted to see you"
"You know how much I hate noisy parties, Akira"
"I know…that's why I wanted to spend the rest of the night here…with you, snow"
Rukawa chuckled "You haven't called me that for a long time"
"Really?" Sendoh raised an eyebrow mockingly "I thought you hated this name"
"Not from you" Rukawa smiled at his lover and leaned his head on Sendoh's shoulder watching the moon's reflection in the lake "Tomorrow is our wedding" he said dreamily "I still can't believe it…I feel like I'm in a wonderful dream and I don't want to wake up"
Sendoh embraced his lover "Then I'll be sure that you'll never wake up, snow"
Rukawa pulled away and looked at him fondly "I love you Akira…I love you more than anything in this world…I can't imagine how my life would be without you"
Sendoh took Rukawa's face between his palms and smiled warmly "I love too, Kaede and I'll do whatever it takes to make you happy…I promise"
Hearing these words coming from Sendoh's lips, tears slowly started to fall on Rukawa's checks.
"Kaede?!! What's happen?" Sendoh asked worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing" Rukawa whispered, "I'm overjoyed, I guess…I…I…I love you, Akira"
Sendoh wiped Rukawa's crystal tears with his thumb and took the younger man in his arms protectively. "I'll always be there for you, my love" Sendoh buried his face in Rukawa's silky hair, "I'll always protect you from everything might harm you or make you sad…I won't allowed these precious tears to fall down from sadness EVER…I'll protect you with my life, Kaede" Rukawa snuggled closer, burying his face even more in Sendoh's chest, and Sendoh could hear the soft sobs coming out from him. He was happy…in fact, he has never been happy since a long time. And now, having Sendoh by his side, he doesn't need anything more. After a few minutes, Rukawa looked up at Sendoh and said "I'll always be yours, Akira… Nothing in this world can ever take me from you…I'll always be yours" Sendoh smiled, his eyes were full of love for the young man in his arms. Responding to the quiet, romantic atmosphere around them, the two young lovers got closer to each other and met in a fondly kiss under the moonlight. T.B.C.
