The Promises of Tomorrow.
DISCLAIMER - Don't own 'em, don't sue.
Chapter 2: Luck
Wednesday 15th April
Dear Diary,
Are Wednesdays supposed to be lucky? You know, I mean Friday 13th is considered unlucky by Western cultures, pay day is supposed to be lucky for any culture but is there an actual 'Lucky Day'? Maybe its an individual thing like lucky numbers. . .well anyway, I've decided today is my lucky day. . .which would make 15 my lucky number. . .and April my lucky month. Who's the lucky guy? That would be Touya (Kinomoto-san) - or maybe it's me, yeah I guess I'm the lucky guy, sorry, I'm babbling, I'm happy. . .can't you tell? Being on first name basis with Touya (Touya, Touya, Touya :o) is just one reason I'm on cloud nine;
FLASHBACK
"Hoeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"Nani?-umph!" Yukito's arms wind milled for a moment as the air was ruthlessly knocked out of his lungs before he managed to catch hold of whatever speeding bullet and careened into him and had the other hand held ready to make contact with the pavement hopefully before his face did. Fortunately at that moment an invisible parachute seemed to make him weightless and pull him back up where he could regain his balance. He breathed in slowly and looked down to the young girl pressing her face into his side.
"Daijobu desu ka?" (Are you alright?)
The reply was muffled in his blazer. "H-hai."
He prised her arms from his waist and when he knelt down to her level found that she had her eyes screwed shut.
"Are you sure?" He asked gently.
Slowly the eyes opened to reveal emerald green saucers of tearful contrition. "Gomen nasai. . .watashite-."
"You are very fast on those roller blades."
The young girl focused on him properly looking a little awestruck. "A- arigatou."
He smiled and began dusting off the little grey pinafore she was wearing. "I will watch where I am going next time."
She blushed. "Demo-."
"Kaijuu!" An exasperated shout made her look up and scowl, the next thing Yukito heard was a set of bike breaks shrieking slightly at a sudden stop. "What have you done now?"
"Oniichan, kaijuu ja nai!"
Yukito listened keenly, I know that voice. He looked up. . .up and up and up very long, jean encased legs that could belong to few people but-. "Ohayou Kinomoto-kun."
"Ahhh, you again, the kaijuu's new victim I see."
The little girl looked shamefaced which made Yukito feel bad.
"Iie." He said. "Not at all. I dropped my books and she tripped over one of them, she was just helping me pick them back up weren't you uh. . .?
"Sakura." She supplied instantly.
He smiled broadly. "That name suits you far more than 'kaijuu' Sakura-chan. Domo for your help."
Touya raised his dark eyebrows. "So she was helping you?"
Yukito didn't quite meet the intense gaze as he nodded vigorously and crossed his fingers behind his back.
The blue gaze narrowed slightly. "Then I guess I'll help too."
"Arigatou." The grey haired youth mumbled and waited a moment before stooping to gather his stuff-.
// HA! You thought we'd bend at the same time and wack our heads together right? No way, how many times have I seen that in a movie? Nope I waited. . .Touya has a distinctive way of moving, slowly and carefully but. . .well please don't laugh if I say it's almost balletic. . .it is! //
Yukito held his bag open as the other youth and his sister slid the books back in.
"Do you usually walk to school this way?" Sakura asked.
"Hai." He replied zipping his satchel.
"You can walk with us!" The girl gushed with sweet enthusiasm.
Touya was a little more pragmatic. "How's he going to keep up kaijuu?"
"Oh. . .don't you have a bike?" He shook his head. ". . .You can go on the back of oniichan's!"
Her brother retrieved his bike while rolling his eyes. "Hop on then." He told Yukito.
Climbing on gingerly the grey haired boy settled his hands on the broad shoulders that had yet to be grown into.
"Ready?" Touya asked his passenger.
"Hai."
// - and then we were off, they say you never forget how to ride a bike and I *know* I can ride one I just can't remember 'how' or 'where' I learned at the moment, I guess it's 'cause changing schools is so stressful, you forget the simplest things. Did I mention the birthmark on the back of Touya's neck? Not only is it a pale pink colour but its almost heart shaped! He's very strong too and he smells nice.//
They parted with Sakura outside the first school building.
"Ja Tsukishiro-san!" She called, Yukito waved back with one hand as her brother sped away.
Within minutes Touya stopped and his passenger swung himself off the back of his bike so he could prop it at the usual spot.
"I'm very grateful for the lift Kinomoto-kun."
Touya grunted and started walking towards the entrance, uncertain as to whether he'd just received a brush off Yukito ran after him and trotted for a bit to keep up with the longer stride. It seemed he hadn't been dismissed because the other boy slowed down.
It was while they were walking into the building together that Yukito became aware of a strange phenomenon. Everyone was smiling at him, greeting at him. . .iie, they must be looking at Kinomoto.
"Touya!"
I thought so.
"Tsukishiro-kun!"
"O-ohayou." He stuttered, responding to a sea of faces and similar calls. His cool companion was far more used to the attention as he nodded his acknowledgments.
Registration that morning was a blur. Everyone wanted to know everything about Yukito but upon finding he had very few answers to the questions he steered them around and eventually they were discussing one girl's aspirations to join the Women's Basketball Team.
"But I'm hopeless." She giggled and looked from beneath her lashes in a coy glance completely lost on Yukito. "You were so amazing yesterday, do you think you could give me some lessons. . .?"
The new boy laughed gently and was about to agree when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, well *covering* his shoulder actually.
"Registration's over Tsukishiro-kun, I'll show you to your class."
"Hmm?" He grinned gratefully. "Arigatou Kinomoto-kun!"
The girl backed down, like everyone else she thought Touya Kinomoto was the hottest student in the high school but the look he was giving her froze the flirtatious smile she'd been about to offer both boys.
"Um. . .um, I'd better be going too, sayonara!"
Yukito bounced out of his seat and hummed while he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "That nice girl asked me for basketball lessons, imagine that."
Touya grunted noncommittally and led the way.
The taller youth walked him to his first class silently, silently that is until Yukito smiled his goodbye.
"Tsukishiro-kun?"
He poked his head back out the door. "Hmmm?"
"About my little sister *helping* you. . .you're a terrible liar." Without another word but with the faintest of smiles he walked away-.
// He knew all along! That's what you get for telling lies. . .maybe he saw me cross my fingers.//
The next time Yukito saw the solitary Kinomoto boy was that afternoon at lunch.
The canteen was half empty because of the lovely weather outside where the rest of the students were eating.
The dinner lady watched him like a hawk as he loaded his tray while the others in the queue became restless at the delay and began peering over his shoulder. Many glances were exchanged as they watched him heap food on the plastic tray. He gave the dinner lady a bright smile and walked away completely missing the slightly flustered look that came over her.
"Tsukishiro-kun! Come sit with us." Someone called from across the room. He scanned it briefly until he found the owner of the voice then moved towards it.
A chair was already set out for him as he placed his tray down carefully. "Arigatou, please call me Yukito."
The others smiled at him a little bemused at the size of his meal but too polite to remark on it. He started chewing a Nikuman and looked around.
"Why is Kinomoto-kun sat on his own?"
A boy with a pierced eyebrow answered him. "He prefers it that way, Touya's a nice guy he just likes his privacy."
Yukito pursed his lips. "Would you mind if I went and kept him company?" he asked the same youth.
"Not at all but-." A blond girl interrupted him.
"- he'll send you straight back." Her voice conveyed personal experience of the rejection.
"Hmm, well I think I'll give it a try anyway." He stood and inclined his head politely. "Arigatou gozaimasu." He gathered his food. "Ja!" he called.
"Sayonara." Several voices returned and then the accompanying pairs of eyes pinned on the lone student and the new boy approaching him.
When he reached his destination Yukito stood patiently but expectantly. "Would you mind if I sat with you?"
Touya looked at him for a moment, he knew the youth had just come from the table in the corner which was actually the only full one in the entire canteen so there were plenty of seat available. He nodded his acquiescence.
"Domo." Yukito said and settled down.
The tall youths reply was low and gruff. "Do itashi mashite." (You're welcome)
Touya looked once at his companions tray. . .once, then twice and then because he liked to be certain there was no other alternative before he spoke he looked a third time.
"Got enough food there?"
Yukito giggled and licked his fingers. "I eat a lot."
Mahogany eyes raked his diminutive form. "Where do you put it all?"
"The basketball court." He grinned.
After a minute of intense speculation Touya smiled back. "I wanted to tell you yesterday that. . ."
"Nani?"
"You know. . ."
"Iie, I don't."
"Well, you were really. . .really. . ."
"Hmmm?" The Snow Bunny struggled to contain a chuckle. "Is it so hard to say?"
"You were good."
The compliment was short and rather abrupt but it made Yukito warm all over, if possible the smile he displayed was wider than usual.
"Arigatou Kinomoto-kun." The other youth was staring determinedly at his plate when Yukito suddenly reached into his bag and pulled out his snack. A rabbit shaped cookie, home made. "Here." He slid it under Touya's gaze. "For you."
He watched the football captain finger the treat. "For me. . ."
"Hai, you've been so nice to me."
Touya ducked his head further so his bangs swept his high cheekbones and covered his eyes. Reaching to his own food he picked up the blueberry muffin and silently gave it to Yukito whose eyes shone.
"Kinomoto-ku-."
"Call me Touya."
Yukito beamed. "You're so kind." Then a miracle happened, the serious boy blushed, coupled with his tan it was a dusky plum colour rather than a pale rose but it made the stern feature look very beautiful.
"Onegai. . .will you call me Yukito then Toya?" The youth finally looked up.
"Say that again. . ." Yukito's face was blank. "My name." He prompted.
"Toya."
"The way you say my it. . .'tousan took me to England once when Sakura was still a baby, that's how they pronounced my name there. . .have you ever lived in England?"
"Iie, never." Yukito replied with certainty.
"Strange." Touya muttered his eyes fixed on the new boy. "Where did you transfer from?"
"You mean my old school?"
"Hai."
"You mean the name of the town?"
"Hai." The dark gaze was intensifying.
"Oh. . .well it wasn't far from here."
He watched the eyebrows rise further and he realised he wasn't answering the question. . .then he realised he didn't know the answer.
"Do you think I could walk home with you?"
The tanned youth accepted the subject shift. "I can give you a lift on the back of my bike again, in fact I have another bike back home I could lend you."
"Really?" Yukito's amber eyes were wide and shining.
"Sure, I can't adjust the seat high enough to ride it anymore anyway."
"That would be wonderful Toya!"
The serious boy smiled. "I'll meet you at the end of the school drive when the bell rings okay?"
"Hai!"
For the rest of their lunch break Yukito chatted to his new friend and didn't mind that Touya preferred to listen rather than talk himself. Across the dining hall at the table he had first joined the occupants were gaping at him.
"Touya actually let him stay!" The blond girl shrieked.
"Touya actually spoke!" The boy with the pierced eyebrow gasped.
"Touya actually smiled. . ." Gushed a new arrival, a girl with an elaborate French twist to her hair.
Touya. . .and Yukito. They were going to keep on eyes on *that* relationship!
You didn't need to know his deepest darkest secrets (the existence of which was seriously doubted) to know that Yukito was the perfect student, well behaved and respectful, the kind that *never* got called to the principals office, but there he was, seated at the opposite side of the large desk in a seat designed to make good posture a torturous lesson.
But the man behind the desk didn't seem angry with him, on the contrary he was smiling and talking. . .Yukito tuned in suddenly.
"-We place all new transfer students in intermediate sets until we can measure their abilities and discern whether they need to be moved down or up a level in each of their subjects. I have all your assignments here and the teachers that have yet to set homework have assured me they believe you are fully capable of managing in the top set and I'd rather move you now before you become to settled."
"Top set for everything?"
"That's right, on a trial basis of course and if you feel overwhelmed please come and speak to me."
"Top set for everything?" He repeated.
The principal smiled. "Indeed, there are only a handful of students who share that position."
Yukito listened to the rapid list of several names but only heard one.
"Touya!" He called from the school drive.
The boy stopped beside him silently and Yukito hopped on.
As it turned out Touya's house was only an extra minutes ride from his own. Yukito stood awkwardly as the taller boy propped his bike against a wall and led him towards the front door. He'd expected to have to wait in the genkan but Touya motioned him to follow so he slipped of his shoes and did just that.
The Kinomoto household was very modern, especially compared to the Tsukishiro residence, there were no decorated screens and Yukito suspected they slept in beds rather than simply a futon on a tatami floor.
"I just need to get the garage keys." Touya said as he led him into the dining area.
Everywhere Yukito looked there were stylish photographs of an engaging young woman in a variety of costumes and settings. She had hair longer than he had ever seen before, he tried not to stare but-.
"That's okaasan, she's dead now."
Yukito nodded slowly and examined the image the boy passed to him. "She looks very kind." He murmured and handed the silver frame back to the other youth carefully. Touya took it but was still staring at him. "Nani?"
"You are strange." The petite student blinked. "You're the first person to not say 'I'm sorry' and instead of saying 'she was very beautiful' you say 'she looks very kind'."
"Well her beauty was not all that she was but her kindness must have been a large part of her beauty."
That tiny smile again. "It was."
"Your father raised you and your sister on his own?"
The youth nodded proudly. "I'll never know how he found the strength to think of anything but his own grief."
"Hai. . .it hurts to lose someone you love."
Touya looked at him sharply. "You had someone special?"
Yukito paused in his reply, his automatic denial, somehow the churning emotion in his stomach contradicted him. He closed his eyes. "Someone special. . ." He nodded slowly. When he opened his eyes again Touya was still staring at him.
"Does it ever stop hurting?"
Yukito wouldn't have recognised the bleak expression that hovered in his eyes. "If it's a true love. . .never." He stated.
"Then I'm glad what I had was not such a love."
"How did you lose yours?"
The strong jaw clenched. "She left."
"Death or desertion, both leave scars." Yukito could hardly believe he was saying such negative words. . .no matter how true they were. His listener nodded.
"Hai. . ." He didn't bother to look down as he changed the subject. "Would you like to stay for dinner tomorrow?"
"I would like that Toya."
"So would I. . ."
The snow Bunny looked up but the taller boy was determinedly not looking at him, attempting to hide his smile and failing.
"Ah, there they are." Touya dangled the illusive keys. "Shall we get you some transport then Yuki?"
//Yes, that's what he calls me now, I think it's to tease me for the way I say his name, but it doesn't work, I love it.//
Touya showed Yukito around his house proving the Snow Bunny's theory right. . .this family did indeed sleep in beds.
When they ended up on the front lawn his guide spoke up. "That's about it, I think after this you owe me a tour of your home."
"Any time Toya." He knew his home would seem cold and empty compared to this one but he was at least proud of his garden. "Arigatou for lending me the bike, I'll take good care of it." He sensed it was time to leave.
Touya thrust his hand in his pockets. "Do you want to meet me and the kaijuu tomorrow morning?"
"That would be wonderful."
"Same place?" Yukito nodded enthusiastically. "I'll see you there then."
"That's a da- promise." He amended immediately feeling a blush invade his cheeks but thankfully Touya ignored the slip.
//I rode home before his sister returned from baton practice, the bike is practically new but I can see how it would be too small for someone as big as Touya. I'm going to have to find a way to thank him but first - I'M GOING TO HAVE DINNER WITH HIS FAMILY! You'll have to wait and see what happens Diary, I promise I'll tell you every thing tomorrow. . .//
Genkan = lower level porch.
Futon = bedroll type thing we see at Yukito's house.
Tatami = straw-matted floor.
* Uh! God I hate this chapter but there wasn't a lot of alternative, this irritatingly pointless parade towards the inevitable is necessary. . .apparently.
CLAMP and Nelbaka in cahoots;
CLAMP 1: "We could let Touya and Yukito declare their love this episode."
CLAMP 2: "Or not. . ."
Nelvana Lackey: "T-Touya and. . .Yukito? T-t-together?"
DISCLAIMER - Don't own 'em, don't sue.
Chapter 2: Luck
Wednesday 15th April
Dear Diary,
Are Wednesdays supposed to be lucky? You know, I mean Friday 13th is considered unlucky by Western cultures, pay day is supposed to be lucky for any culture but is there an actual 'Lucky Day'? Maybe its an individual thing like lucky numbers. . .well anyway, I've decided today is my lucky day. . .which would make 15 my lucky number. . .and April my lucky month. Who's the lucky guy? That would be Touya (Kinomoto-san) - or maybe it's me, yeah I guess I'm the lucky guy, sorry, I'm babbling, I'm happy. . .can't you tell? Being on first name basis with Touya (Touya, Touya, Touya :o) is just one reason I'm on cloud nine;
FLASHBACK
"Hoeeeeeeeeeeee!"
"Nani?-umph!" Yukito's arms wind milled for a moment as the air was ruthlessly knocked out of his lungs before he managed to catch hold of whatever speeding bullet and careened into him and had the other hand held ready to make contact with the pavement hopefully before his face did. Fortunately at that moment an invisible parachute seemed to make him weightless and pull him back up where he could regain his balance. He breathed in slowly and looked down to the young girl pressing her face into his side.
"Daijobu desu ka?" (Are you alright?)
The reply was muffled in his blazer. "H-hai."
He prised her arms from his waist and when he knelt down to her level found that she had her eyes screwed shut.
"Are you sure?" He asked gently.
Slowly the eyes opened to reveal emerald green saucers of tearful contrition. "Gomen nasai. . .watashite-."
"You are very fast on those roller blades."
The young girl focused on him properly looking a little awestruck. "A- arigatou."
He smiled and began dusting off the little grey pinafore she was wearing. "I will watch where I am going next time."
She blushed. "Demo-."
"Kaijuu!" An exasperated shout made her look up and scowl, the next thing Yukito heard was a set of bike breaks shrieking slightly at a sudden stop. "What have you done now?"
"Oniichan, kaijuu ja nai!"
Yukito listened keenly, I know that voice. He looked up. . .up and up and up very long, jean encased legs that could belong to few people but-. "Ohayou Kinomoto-kun."
"Ahhh, you again, the kaijuu's new victim I see."
The little girl looked shamefaced which made Yukito feel bad.
"Iie." He said. "Not at all. I dropped my books and she tripped over one of them, she was just helping me pick them back up weren't you uh. . .?
"Sakura." She supplied instantly.
He smiled broadly. "That name suits you far more than 'kaijuu' Sakura-chan. Domo for your help."
Touya raised his dark eyebrows. "So she was helping you?"
Yukito didn't quite meet the intense gaze as he nodded vigorously and crossed his fingers behind his back.
The blue gaze narrowed slightly. "Then I guess I'll help too."
"Arigatou." The grey haired youth mumbled and waited a moment before stooping to gather his stuff-.
// HA! You thought we'd bend at the same time and wack our heads together right? No way, how many times have I seen that in a movie? Nope I waited. . .Touya has a distinctive way of moving, slowly and carefully but. . .well please don't laugh if I say it's almost balletic. . .it is! //
Yukito held his bag open as the other youth and his sister slid the books back in.
"Do you usually walk to school this way?" Sakura asked.
"Hai." He replied zipping his satchel.
"You can walk with us!" The girl gushed with sweet enthusiasm.
Touya was a little more pragmatic. "How's he going to keep up kaijuu?"
"Oh. . .don't you have a bike?" He shook his head. ". . .You can go on the back of oniichan's!"
Her brother retrieved his bike while rolling his eyes. "Hop on then." He told Yukito.
Climbing on gingerly the grey haired boy settled his hands on the broad shoulders that had yet to be grown into.
"Ready?" Touya asked his passenger.
"Hai."
// - and then we were off, they say you never forget how to ride a bike and I *know* I can ride one I just can't remember 'how' or 'where' I learned at the moment, I guess it's 'cause changing schools is so stressful, you forget the simplest things. Did I mention the birthmark on the back of Touya's neck? Not only is it a pale pink colour but its almost heart shaped! He's very strong too and he smells nice.//
They parted with Sakura outside the first school building.
"Ja Tsukishiro-san!" She called, Yukito waved back with one hand as her brother sped away.
Within minutes Touya stopped and his passenger swung himself off the back of his bike so he could prop it at the usual spot.
"I'm very grateful for the lift Kinomoto-kun."
Touya grunted and started walking towards the entrance, uncertain as to whether he'd just received a brush off Yukito ran after him and trotted for a bit to keep up with the longer stride. It seemed he hadn't been dismissed because the other boy slowed down.
It was while they were walking into the building together that Yukito became aware of a strange phenomenon. Everyone was smiling at him, greeting at him. . .iie, they must be looking at Kinomoto.
"Touya!"
I thought so.
"Tsukishiro-kun!"
"O-ohayou." He stuttered, responding to a sea of faces and similar calls. His cool companion was far more used to the attention as he nodded his acknowledgments.
Registration that morning was a blur. Everyone wanted to know everything about Yukito but upon finding he had very few answers to the questions he steered them around and eventually they were discussing one girl's aspirations to join the Women's Basketball Team.
"But I'm hopeless." She giggled and looked from beneath her lashes in a coy glance completely lost on Yukito. "You were so amazing yesterday, do you think you could give me some lessons. . .?"
The new boy laughed gently and was about to agree when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, well *covering* his shoulder actually.
"Registration's over Tsukishiro-kun, I'll show you to your class."
"Hmm?" He grinned gratefully. "Arigatou Kinomoto-kun!"
The girl backed down, like everyone else she thought Touya Kinomoto was the hottest student in the high school but the look he was giving her froze the flirtatious smile she'd been about to offer both boys.
"Um. . .um, I'd better be going too, sayonara!"
Yukito bounced out of his seat and hummed while he slung his backpack over his shoulder. "That nice girl asked me for basketball lessons, imagine that."
Touya grunted noncommittally and led the way.
The taller youth walked him to his first class silently, silently that is until Yukito smiled his goodbye.
"Tsukishiro-kun?"
He poked his head back out the door. "Hmmm?"
"About my little sister *helping* you. . .you're a terrible liar." Without another word but with the faintest of smiles he walked away-.
// He knew all along! That's what you get for telling lies. . .maybe he saw me cross my fingers.//
The next time Yukito saw the solitary Kinomoto boy was that afternoon at lunch.
The canteen was half empty because of the lovely weather outside where the rest of the students were eating.
The dinner lady watched him like a hawk as he loaded his tray while the others in the queue became restless at the delay and began peering over his shoulder. Many glances were exchanged as they watched him heap food on the plastic tray. He gave the dinner lady a bright smile and walked away completely missing the slightly flustered look that came over her.
"Tsukishiro-kun! Come sit with us." Someone called from across the room. He scanned it briefly until he found the owner of the voice then moved towards it.
A chair was already set out for him as he placed his tray down carefully. "Arigatou, please call me Yukito."
The others smiled at him a little bemused at the size of his meal but too polite to remark on it. He started chewing a Nikuman and looked around.
"Why is Kinomoto-kun sat on his own?"
A boy with a pierced eyebrow answered him. "He prefers it that way, Touya's a nice guy he just likes his privacy."
Yukito pursed his lips. "Would you mind if I went and kept him company?" he asked the same youth.
"Not at all but-." A blond girl interrupted him.
"- he'll send you straight back." Her voice conveyed personal experience of the rejection.
"Hmm, well I think I'll give it a try anyway." He stood and inclined his head politely. "Arigatou gozaimasu." He gathered his food. "Ja!" he called.
"Sayonara." Several voices returned and then the accompanying pairs of eyes pinned on the lone student and the new boy approaching him.
When he reached his destination Yukito stood patiently but expectantly. "Would you mind if I sat with you?"
Touya looked at him for a moment, he knew the youth had just come from the table in the corner which was actually the only full one in the entire canteen so there were plenty of seat available. He nodded his acquiescence.
"Domo." Yukito said and settled down.
The tall youths reply was low and gruff. "Do itashi mashite." (You're welcome)
Touya looked once at his companions tray. . .once, then twice and then because he liked to be certain there was no other alternative before he spoke he looked a third time.
"Got enough food there?"
Yukito giggled and licked his fingers. "I eat a lot."
Mahogany eyes raked his diminutive form. "Where do you put it all?"
"The basketball court." He grinned.
After a minute of intense speculation Touya smiled back. "I wanted to tell you yesterday that. . ."
"Nani?"
"You know. . ."
"Iie, I don't."
"Well, you were really. . .really. . ."
"Hmmm?" The Snow Bunny struggled to contain a chuckle. "Is it so hard to say?"
"You were good."
The compliment was short and rather abrupt but it made Yukito warm all over, if possible the smile he displayed was wider than usual.
"Arigatou Kinomoto-kun." The other youth was staring determinedly at his plate when Yukito suddenly reached into his bag and pulled out his snack. A rabbit shaped cookie, home made. "Here." He slid it under Touya's gaze. "For you."
He watched the football captain finger the treat. "For me. . ."
"Hai, you've been so nice to me."
Touya ducked his head further so his bangs swept his high cheekbones and covered his eyes. Reaching to his own food he picked up the blueberry muffin and silently gave it to Yukito whose eyes shone.
"Kinomoto-ku-."
"Call me Touya."
Yukito beamed. "You're so kind." Then a miracle happened, the serious boy blushed, coupled with his tan it was a dusky plum colour rather than a pale rose but it made the stern feature look very beautiful.
"Onegai. . .will you call me Yukito then Toya?" The youth finally looked up.
"Say that again. . ." Yukito's face was blank. "My name." He prompted.
"Toya."
"The way you say my it. . .'tousan took me to England once when Sakura was still a baby, that's how they pronounced my name there. . .have you ever lived in England?"
"Iie, never." Yukito replied with certainty.
"Strange." Touya muttered his eyes fixed on the new boy. "Where did you transfer from?"
"You mean my old school?"
"Hai."
"You mean the name of the town?"
"Hai." The dark gaze was intensifying.
"Oh. . .well it wasn't far from here."
He watched the eyebrows rise further and he realised he wasn't answering the question. . .then he realised he didn't know the answer.
"Do you think I could walk home with you?"
The tanned youth accepted the subject shift. "I can give you a lift on the back of my bike again, in fact I have another bike back home I could lend you."
"Really?" Yukito's amber eyes were wide and shining.
"Sure, I can't adjust the seat high enough to ride it anymore anyway."
"That would be wonderful Toya!"
The serious boy smiled. "I'll meet you at the end of the school drive when the bell rings okay?"
"Hai!"
For the rest of their lunch break Yukito chatted to his new friend and didn't mind that Touya preferred to listen rather than talk himself. Across the dining hall at the table he had first joined the occupants were gaping at him.
"Touya actually let him stay!" The blond girl shrieked.
"Touya actually spoke!" The boy with the pierced eyebrow gasped.
"Touya actually smiled. . ." Gushed a new arrival, a girl with an elaborate French twist to her hair.
Touya. . .and Yukito. They were going to keep on eyes on *that* relationship!
You didn't need to know his deepest darkest secrets (the existence of which was seriously doubted) to know that Yukito was the perfect student, well behaved and respectful, the kind that *never* got called to the principals office, but there he was, seated at the opposite side of the large desk in a seat designed to make good posture a torturous lesson.
But the man behind the desk didn't seem angry with him, on the contrary he was smiling and talking. . .Yukito tuned in suddenly.
"-We place all new transfer students in intermediate sets until we can measure their abilities and discern whether they need to be moved down or up a level in each of their subjects. I have all your assignments here and the teachers that have yet to set homework have assured me they believe you are fully capable of managing in the top set and I'd rather move you now before you become to settled."
"Top set for everything?"
"That's right, on a trial basis of course and if you feel overwhelmed please come and speak to me."
"Top set for everything?" He repeated.
The principal smiled. "Indeed, there are only a handful of students who share that position."
Yukito listened to the rapid list of several names but only heard one.
"Touya!" He called from the school drive.
The boy stopped beside him silently and Yukito hopped on.
As it turned out Touya's house was only an extra minutes ride from his own. Yukito stood awkwardly as the taller boy propped his bike against a wall and led him towards the front door. He'd expected to have to wait in the genkan but Touya motioned him to follow so he slipped of his shoes and did just that.
The Kinomoto household was very modern, especially compared to the Tsukishiro residence, there were no decorated screens and Yukito suspected they slept in beds rather than simply a futon on a tatami floor.
"I just need to get the garage keys." Touya said as he led him into the dining area.
Everywhere Yukito looked there were stylish photographs of an engaging young woman in a variety of costumes and settings. She had hair longer than he had ever seen before, he tried not to stare but-.
"That's okaasan, she's dead now."
Yukito nodded slowly and examined the image the boy passed to him. "She looks very kind." He murmured and handed the silver frame back to the other youth carefully. Touya took it but was still staring at him. "Nani?"
"You are strange." The petite student blinked. "You're the first person to not say 'I'm sorry' and instead of saying 'she was very beautiful' you say 'she looks very kind'."
"Well her beauty was not all that she was but her kindness must have been a large part of her beauty."
That tiny smile again. "It was."
"Your father raised you and your sister on his own?"
The youth nodded proudly. "I'll never know how he found the strength to think of anything but his own grief."
"Hai. . .it hurts to lose someone you love."
Touya looked at him sharply. "You had someone special?"
Yukito paused in his reply, his automatic denial, somehow the churning emotion in his stomach contradicted him. He closed his eyes. "Someone special. . ." He nodded slowly. When he opened his eyes again Touya was still staring at him.
"Does it ever stop hurting?"
Yukito wouldn't have recognised the bleak expression that hovered in his eyes. "If it's a true love. . .never." He stated.
"Then I'm glad what I had was not such a love."
"How did you lose yours?"
The strong jaw clenched. "She left."
"Death or desertion, both leave scars." Yukito could hardly believe he was saying such negative words. . .no matter how true they were. His listener nodded.
"Hai. . ." He didn't bother to look down as he changed the subject. "Would you like to stay for dinner tomorrow?"
"I would like that Toya."
"So would I. . ."
The snow Bunny looked up but the taller boy was determinedly not looking at him, attempting to hide his smile and failing.
"Ah, there they are." Touya dangled the illusive keys. "Shall we get you some transport then Yuki?"
//Yes, that's what he calls me now, I think it's to tease me for the way I say his name, but it doesn't work, I love it.//
Touya showed Yukito around his house proving the Snow Bunny's theory right. . .this family did indeed sleep in beds.
When they ended up on the front lawn his guide spoke up. "That's about it, I think after this you owe me a tour of your home."
"Any time Toya." He knew his home would seem cold and empty compared to this one but he was at least proud of his garden. "Arigatou for lending me the bike, I'll take good care of it." He sensed it was time to leave.
Touya thrust his hand in his pockets. "Do you want to meet me and the kaijuu tomorrow morning?"
"That would be wonderful."
"Same place?" Yukito nodded enthusiastically. "I'll see you there then."
"That's a da- promise." He amended immediately feeling a blush invade his cheeks but thankfully Touya ignored the slip.
//I rode home before his sister returned from baton practice, the bike is practically new but I can see how it would be too small for someone as big as Touya. I'm going to have to find a way to thank him but first - I'M GOING TO HAVE DINNER WITH HIS FAMILY! You'll have to wait and see what happens Diary, I promise I'll tell you every thing tomorrow. . .//
Genkan = lower level porch.
Futon = bedroll type thing we see at Yukito's house.
Tatami = straw-matted floor.
* Uh! God I hate this chapter but there wasn't a lot of alternative, this irritatingly pointless parade towards the inevitable is necessary. . .apparently.
CLAMP and Nelbaka in cahoots;
CLAMP 1: "We could let Touya and Yukito declare their love this episode."
CLAMP 2: "Or not. . ."
Nelvana Lackey: "T-Touya and. . .Yukito? T-t-together?"