"Want him SOOOO bad, don't you!"
"Can't stop thinking about him, can you freak…"
"But he'll never want you, will he - what a shame…somebody probably told him that boys like girls you queer!"
As soon as Omi shut the practice room door behind him, he knew he was in for trouble. Of all the wastes of space in the school, these guys wasted the most space..
"Get lost Masafumi!"
Omi tried to push past them and get out of there, but one of them grabbed the hood of his sweater and pulled him back. The Takatori brothers, Masafumi and Hirofumi, were the worst people Omi could remember ever meeting. It wasn't like they were just mean and stupid, like Oda and Kase, the two other guys that hung around them, either - they were malicious and cruel, and hideously clever with it, which only meant they could do more harm…
But only to those who let it get to them, of course. Omi had never been bothered by what people said either about or to him, and the Takatori's were no exception - their sidekicks, however, were known to be fond of beating people up - on the command of Masafumi and Hirofumi, who, to add insult to unfortunately quite often literal injury, were Ouka's cousins.
"People like you shouldn't be allowed," Masafumi drawled lazily as Omi struggled to get out of Oda's grip. "It's not…" His eyes narrowed and he smirked. "…natural."
"Yeah!" Kase sniggered. "People like you go to hell!"
"See you there!!" Omi spat, and kicked back at what he hoped was Oda's leg with all his strength, hearing a disturbing thud as his heel met the taller boy's shin.
"FUCK!" Oda yelled and let go of Omi, as he had hoped. He tried to sprint for it and groaned in frustration as he was caught again, this time by Kase - at least, he thought with some grim satisfaction, as he watched Oda clutching his leg and cursing, he had managed to cause one of them some pain..
"Tough little thing, aren't you?" Hirofumi sneered, and before Omi even knew what was happening he had punched him in the stomach, hard.
He cried out in pain, and bit his lip. What to do? How could he possibly get out of this?
"Ah…we'll be off then," Hirofumi said slowly, and he and his brother stalked off, leaving Omi with Kase and Oda, who would no doubt not be merciful.
"Oh, and remember!" Masafumi stopped and called back. "All's fair in…" He grinned evilly at Omi. "Love…and war… That's quite a nasty kick he gave you, Oda."
With that they were gone, and Omi's heart sank. He had fought back as well as he could by instinct…but kicking Oda like that, he'd just been making more trouble for himself…why couldn't he have realised that at the time? He'd probably get beaten up even more severely if there was some reason for it…
Oda was on his feet now, standing in front of Omi with his fists clenched. He was so tall… Omi would stand NO chance against him, even if he hadn't still been held back by Kase…
"Just remember, queer, everything we do to you you deserve!" Oda said. He couldn't really believe that, could he? Was he that narrow-minded? That unbelievably stupid?
Omi forgot his last thoughts as Oda hit him round the head so hard he thought he might black out. He couldn't fall over, Kase was holding him up anyway…
"Leave me alone.." he muttered feebly, head spinning.
Another strong fist to his stomach had him doubling over, and he only realised as he fell to his hands and knees that Kase had let go… Now they were both going to set on him…
"STOP IT!"
Omi heard a voice, familiar but never before angry… No more blows, his defender had given him temporary relief at least…
Omi lifted his head. It was Nagi. Kase and Oda were laughing at him, but Omi had never seen him look so furious…
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
"What, you his boyfriend then?"
Nagi just glared at them, and Omi willed him to get out of here, get someone who could help.. Nagi was even smaller than he was, and had even less of a chance against these two bullies…
"Well I tell you what, gay-boy, you watch while we beat him up, then we'll get you too!" Kase yelled, kicking Omi as hard as he could. Omi tried not to cry out but it hurt so much…
"STOP IT NOW!" Nagi screamed, and Omi watched in shock and utter disbelief, thinking that hit to the head must've done more damage than it seemed as the boy's eyes glowed with a weird red light.
"Hey what the hell?" Omi heard Oda's voice above him and looked up just in time to see both him and Kase go flying across the corridor.
"How…" he whispered. "Nagi, what did you…?" Nagi had rushed to his side, and pulled him to his feet, looking fearfully over at the two thugs who were getting to their feet once more. Omi stared from him to them and to him again, dazed and a little frightened.
"Come on. Come ON Omi, I can't do that again so soon…"
Nagi had grabbed his hand, and tried to pull him down the corridor, but before they had got anywhere, they had been caught up with by the two faster boys.
"What the fuck kind of freak are you?" one of them said to Nagi, looking freaked out but not afraid - not afraid enough to stay away from them, at any rate.
"You're even more fucking weird than HE is! You both belong in a…"
"I'll do it again!" Nagi threatened, but he looked too exhausted ever to do anything again, and didn't even sound convincing enough to take in these two idiots…
Omi still couldn't believe that this was happening, that that had just happened…
"Just leave as alone!" he cried angrily, desperate to get out of this somehow, and knowing whatever he said would make no difference.. He was going to get beaten up anyway…but now Nagi was too… "You have no right to…"
"Oh, no right…" Both of them laughed stupidly. Omi suddenly didn't know which were worse - extremely clever people like the Takatoris, or unbelievably stupid idiots like these who did their bidding in the most violent way they could think of…
Kase grabbed Nagi's arm and yanked him away from Omi, who felt so angry and frustrated that there was nothing he could do to stop them doing this…nothing he could do…but he had no choice…
"GET OFF HIM!" he yelled and somehow got past Oda to Kase, kicking and punching him as much as he could but to no avail. Oda grabbed him again, and he managed to scratch his face but not a lot more.
"NAGI!" he shouted, fighting Oda as best he could and watching in horror as Kase slammed his friend into the wall. "USE YOUR POWER AGAIN!"
"Can't.." Nagi called weakly, dark eyes filled with despair. "Too soon…too tired… I'm sorry I couldn't…"
"OMI!" Omi's heart leapt as he heard Ken's voice.
Ken would save him.
But that was just a stupid illogical thing to think. Ken was no match for them either, even though he would want to help them…
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" Ken shouted. "LEAVE THEM ALONE RIGHT NOW!!"
"Fuck it! That guy's a teacher!" Kase yelled to Oda, and Omi watched with relief as Kase let go of Nagi and backed off.
"So what!?!" Oda pushed Omi so hard that he fell to the floor. "Look at him, he's pathetic, he's not even a real teacher anyway…" He gave Omi a spiteful kick to his knee.
"Naw man, I'm off!" Kase yelled and Omi heard his footsteps running away. Oda yanked him to his feet.
"No such luck!" he sneered, twisting one of Omi's arms behind his back.
His arm was going to break…it hurt so much…
"Ken.." he whimpered, watching as Ken ran towards them, looking so different, so intensely angry…
"Oh god do something!" he heard Nagi say quietly.
"Is it him?" Oda demanded, wrenching his arm. "Is it him, who you can't stop thinking about, who you want so badly?" he shouted so Ken could hear. Omi squeezed his eyes shut, ashamed that he could feel tears threatening to spill.
What was Ken going to do? What could he do?
"Get OFF HIM!"
Oda let go of him suddenly, staggering back a little. Ken had kicked him strongly in the side, and he looked more than a little shocked and very, very mad.
"I'll fucking kill you!" he yelled, and charged back towards them, but Ken must have been much stronger than he looked - as Oda got nearer, he swung his fist and sent him flying with a hit to the head.
"Ken…" Omi groaned, and Ken kneeled down by his side.
"Omi, oh god, are you alright?"
"You're losing your fucking job, 'Ken'," Oda yelled as he ran off. "Not meant to hit us, are you!!"
Ken ignored him and helped Omi to sit up, frowning in concern as he inspected his bruised cheek. Omi knew he must look a state but now was really not the time to worry about it.
"Nagi.." he said. "Are you alright?"
Nagi walked slowly over and sat down by him too, nodding.
"Will you lose your job?" Omi asked, biting his lip.
"You should both go to the first aid room now," Ken said, ignoring his question. "But you're OK, you're both OK, that's what matters…"
Nagi and Omi stood up with Ken's assistance, and Nagi, worn out but mostly unhurt, headed off in the direction of the first aid room. Ken and Omi followed, but at a distance, Ken supporting Omi with an arm around his waist that Omi knew he would be thrilling at if he didn't hurt all over…
"Ken, you'll get in so much trouble, you shouldn't have….done that."
"What was I supposed to do?" Ken said, as if it was obvious, peering at him. "Nothing while that bastard hurt you? I couldn't!"
He stopped walking, and Omi stared at him in surprise, still acutely aware of how beautiful he was…
"Omi, I don't care if I get into trouble, I don't care if I do lose my job, as long as you're OK, I don't care!" Then, to Omi's amazement, he pulled him into a secure, though gentle, embrace. "Omi…" he muttered, and Omi was sure Ken could feel his pulse racing… He'd forgotten about the bruises and the pain…
"Ken," he whispered back without really thinking. Ken jumped back suddenly, and stared at him in horror.
"What am I…I'm…" He was blushing adorably, muttering to himself… "I mean, come on, we have to go to the…the place, uhm, yes, let's go…"
He looked as if he wanted to run away, but remembered that he had been helping Omi to walk along, and blushed still more as he put his arm around the slender boy's waist once again. Omi put his own arm around Ken's strong shoulders.
Oh this was nice…
When they reached the first aid room, Nagi was already there, being checked for concussion by the nurse - walls and people don't mix! she said sternly, shaking her head as he protested that it wasn't his fault!
When they came in, the nurse gasped and quickly came over to inspect Omi. Ken watched uneasily as she made him bend his arm and flex his fingers, and put analgesic cream on his bruises, and tutted about bullying in schools.
"Someone should do something about it!" she said, ignoring Omi's little "ow"s of protest as she prodded at the knee Oda had kicked. (Omi had been very embarrassed when she made him take off his jeans in front of Ken, but he had done so and was now sat shyly in his boxers) "It's just not…"
The door opened.
"Headmaster!" she exclaimed as Mr Eiri entered the room. He was young for a headteacher, and known for his harshness. "I was just thinking, you should rethink your policy on bullying and…"
"And I was just thinking, Nurse Ayeka, that you should rethink your policy on telling me what to do," he said icily. He glared at Ken, and Omi shuddered, trying not to look at Oda and Kase who were smirking at him from the doorway.
The headmaster was not here to check they were alright.
TBC