Chapter 2.
Eiji's parents looked at them curiously when he hastened through their living room, his hand placed on his cheek. There was no way he wanted to discuss what had happened with them and he quickly went up the stairs. He went into his old room, closed the door behind him and sunk against it with a sigh.
He moved his hand from the wound and saw blood dripping from it, a little bit diluted by the water. He still could not believe what had happened. Oishi, who was always smiling at him, who always gave him whatever he wanted and who always looked at him so tenderly, had hit through his own aquarium. Oishi could have done serious damage and he was lucky to just get away with a scratch like this.
"Jerk!" he muttered as he hit the ground with his fist. Until just half an hour ago his life had seemed so good. There had been nothing he had wanted to change about it, but now it had turned out Oishi had felt miserable. More than that; Oishi felt resentment against him, something he had never noticed. Eiji didn't know what felt more like betrayal; the fact that he hit him or that he had made him believe everything was fine when it actually wasn't. There was no way he was going to stay with that bastard anymore. He was going to show him he wouldn't let him get away with something like this.
Abruptly he jumped up and run downstairs. Maybe his father would want to help him move his stuff back tomorrow.
The next school day Oishi felt like he was in a daze. He had staid up the whole night thinking. Remembering how surprised Eiji had reacted when he had accused him of infidelity now made him doubt he was guilty. But at that moment. he had felt so tired and stressed and then Inui had called and then that Kimura. He clenched his fists as he passed the tennis courts.
If only he had controlled himself and spoken with him after he had thought things through. Eiji had never shown up at school and he couldn't bring himself to face that smiling Kimura at practice. With his pocket phone he called in sick for his work and left for his home. Maybe Eiji had returned by now and he could apologize.
But when he opened the door he knew the redhead wasn't there. Worse; all his belongings were now gone as well. Only the toothpaste he had bought a few days ago was still in the bathroom. He knew now Eiji was really, really angry and he sunk down on the couch defeated. He could have blinded him if the splinter had scratched his face a little higher. The frame of the aquarium was still standing there; the few fish he had been able to save were swimming in a pathetic can. But he was too nervous to sit for long and started pacing the room back and forth. It only made him feel more frustrated. He was just about to ring up Eiji when the doorbell went. With a quick jump he was up and opened the door. His face fell when he saw it was not Eiji but Fuji standing there, his usual smile plastered on his face.
"Hi Oishi, can I come in?" Confused by this sudden visit he nodded and held the door for him. Fuji sat down, without even raising an eyebrow at the broken aquarium.
''Would you like something to drink?" Oishi asked, but it was answered with a polite shake of the head. Oishi then sat down next to him and looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Say, isn't Eiji here?" Oishi looked away and rubbed his hands together.
"We had a fight." Fuji cocked his head to the side, his eyes still closed.
"Ah, we were afraid of that, Inui told me he about your phone call." A little annoyed Oishi shifted on the couch. It was like Inui had set up a network of people to meddle in their life. But Fuji seemed undisturbed and continued smiling.
"You must not conclude anything from what he said, Oishi. He never saw them do anything inappropriate, only that they always hung out together. And you know how Inui gets, he just wants to know everything." Oishi nodded, he had figured out that much by now.
"Eiji's not the type to stray. He would first break up and only then go to another. He's far too honest."
"We've broken up now," said Oishi nervously. Fuji's words made him think he was now probably going to run to Kimura. Fuji looked at the aquarium for a moment.
"You're far too tensed up, Oishi. You seem to be almost overwrought. That's when you start acting erratic." Oishi sighed and squeezed his hands even further together.
"That guy. Kimura, was saying things, that made me think..." Fuji nodded encouragingly.
"Like what?"
"Like that he tasted him and... things like that." Fuji's gaze unnerved him, like it always had when he had his eyes open.
"You need some time to calm down, Oishi."
"I can't! I have to work and I am behind with my homework! And now that Eiji's gone I probably have to take on another job, for his parents won't help pay the bill anymore and..." He stopped when Fuji reached for his pocket and took out money. A lot of money. 70.000 yen to be precise. Oishi looked up at him beyond surprised. He had always known Fuji had wealthy parents, but...
"This should help you out a little, am I right?" Oishi moved away from the offered money.
"I can't accept that!" Fuji smiled.
"Of course you can. It's nothing."
"But..."
"Don't worry. Just remember you owe me one. I can always use you when I do my bid to become prime minister." When he saw Oishi's startled expression he smiled again.
"Just kidding of course. You can always pay me back later." But Oishi wasn't so sure he was kidding. Still he could really use the money and took it from his hands finally.
"Thanks!" Fuji left then, leaving Oishi just a little calmer. But the way Eiji had gone still went through his head again and again. He knew he was angry enough to slam the door in his face if he would call at his house. Maybe Fuji was right and he needed some time off. It might be best to deal with Eiji when he might be able to forgive easier. He rang up his uncle in the hospital. Maybe they would let him stay in their small house in Kyoto for a while.
- - -
When Eiji passed the room of his vice-principal at school, he saw to his surprise that Oishi was standing there. He glanced through the glass door. A mere week ago he could never believe Oishi would be sent to the vice- principal for something, but now he didn't know he knew him so well after all. They were discussing something and he saw her handing him a form. Quickly he walked away, he didn't want Oishi to see him glare at him.
The last couple of days he had done a great job in ignoring him. And since he now knew Kimura was interested in him that way he had tried to avoid him as well. But the moment he had seen Oishi pass by the gates of the tennis courts he had started talking with the Kimura amicably. He wanted Oishi to know he was not going to let him decide with whom he talked just because he would be jealous. But hurt look on his former lover's eyes before he walked away caught him by surprise. He wanted to run after him and comfort him, but right at that moment Kimura had asked him if something was wrong and he had shaken his head. The rest of the practice he had trouble concentrating and he was glad when he was finally going into the direction of his parents' house.
"You're still fighting?" Momo asked.
"Yes," he said annoyed, kicking away a small plastic bag on the sidewalk.
"Aw come on, make up. Oishi hasn't been to practice for days," the younger boy said while munching on something indefinable.
"Mind your own business," Eiji replied grumpily.
"Eyh! No need to take it out on me. You're both just stubborn." Maybe that was true. Eiji was never one to be angry long, but what Oishi had done really shocked him. Part of him still could not believe it and he refused to let Momo's sad stories about how Oishi was doing get to him.
The next day however his cell phone rang when he was making a milk shake. He looked at the screen and saw it was Fuji.
"Hey?" he said a little surprised. He hadn't spoken to him in a while.
"Hello Eiji, how are you doing?" the soft voice replied.
"Fine," he answered.
"That's good to hear. Very good," Fuji said. Something about his tone of voice made him cautious. This was Fuji after all.
"And you?" he asked, just to say something.
"Good, very good as well. Nice that we both feel so good, eh?" Eiji nodded in the phone confused, then realized Fuji could not see this.
"Yes."
"Unfortunately Oishi isn't doing so well, I'm afraid." Eiji bit in his lip, he should have known this was why he called.
"I wouldn't know," he said curtly.
"Ah, but it's because of you that he feels like that." Eiji took up the milk shake and bit in the straw.
"He was the one who was angry and said I was cheating and hit me through glass and pretended everything was fine! Now don't try to make me feel guilty," he yelled in the phone, then took a nervous sip from the shake. Fuji seemed not in the least disturbed by his rant.
"Why did you think he pretended, Eiji?"
"Huh?" But Fuji staid quiet to allow him a moment to think.
"I don't know!" Eiji let out and waved the shake to put force behind his words.
"Don't you think he pretended because he didn't want to make you worry? It was only when Kimura told him you were being naughty with him that he snapped," Fuji said, not without an emphasis on the word naughty.
"Kimura.What!?" Eiji almost dropped the milk shake.
"Yes, he only couldn't continue living like that when he thought he was losing you," Fuji continued.
"What did Kimura say to him?!"
"I don't know exactly. I think you should ask Oishi," Fuji said. That Kimura.! He was always being so nice, but now behind his back. He could hardly believe it, if he had really done that he was going to snap his neck.
"I have to hang up," Eiji said, anger boiling inside him.
"Is all right. See you around, Eiji," Fuji said sweetly, clearly he had reached his goal.
"Bye."
Eiji sat down in the living room and looked on as his sister was carrying something heavy inside. Oishi didn't want him to worry. Oishi had hit him. Oishi had been so angry because of what Kimura said, not just because he was insanely making things up. Fuji wanted him to talk to Oishi. But he was still angry. Oishi was not doing well.
"Argh!!!" He jumped up, but his sister only glanced at him for a second. She was very used to his sudden outbursts of emotions and just continued moving a heavy looking box around. Eiji ran to the hall and took his coat, then went outside.
He ran the way up till the home he had shared with Oishi until such a little while ago. Then he took his key out of his pocket when he entered the street, ran for the door, put in the key. To his surprise he realized it didn't fit. He looked at the key, but it was definitely the right one. Infuriated that Oishi had changed the locks he banged on the door, but no one answered. The window was closed, but the strange thing was that the curtain was away.
"Shu?" He walked around the house, but none of its windows had curtains anymore. With a bad feeling in his stomach he left the street and went for the house of Oishi's parents. It was quite a distance and he was panting when he finally arrived there. He pushed the bell and waited for Oishi to come and open the door. But it was not Oishi who answered but his mother. Her face set when she recognized him.
"Hi. Is. Oishi at home?" She shook her head, but said nothing.
"Ehm, you know when he's coming back?"
"He's out of town, Kikumaru-kun." This he had not expected.
"What!?. I mean."
"He's not coming back for a while, so you'd better go home." Eiji saw she was angry. Probably she blamed him for her son being unhappy.
"Can you please tell me when he comes back?" he said, using the tone of voice that always made people want to hug him. But not she. She seemed even more annoyed because of it.
"Just accept that it would never have worked out, Kikumaru-kun, you're both far too young. Okay, if you had been more like my son." She trailed of and looked away. It was clear she didn't blame his age so much as his character. Her words hurt Eiji, he had always thought she had liked him. But it was clear now she might never have. Maybe it was something else Oishi had protected him from. It was so unfair! It was not his fault that they had broken up. well, at least not most of it.
"Can I at least call him?" Finally she looked at him again.
"I don't think that would be wise," she said, gave a nod and closed the door. With no energy to run anymore Eiji just walked home. Where was Oishi? He was supposed to come to him and say he was sorry and buy him a stuffed animal to make it up to him, not moving away to who knows where? He rubbed his chin and glanced to the side. Had Oishi really been that unhappy all the time? Maybe it was his fault for not noticing as well, or maybe he had not want to notice... Strange how he suddenly thought this all over. If Oishi would have been here he might have said he had grown up a little.
But Oishi would have been wrong. Mature people wouldn't want to beat the crap out of their vice-captain right now.
TBC
Still very much in love with the golden pair, especially after Eiji being all sweet to Oishi in the Jyousei Shounan match. I will probably up the rating the next time, just so you know^^
Eiji's parents looked at them curiously when he hastened through their living room, his hand placed on his cheek. There was no way he wanted to discuss what had happened with them and he quickly went up the stairs. He went into his old room, closed the door behind him and sunk against it with a sigh.
He moved his hand from the wound and saw blood dripping from it, a little bit diluted by the water. He still could not believe what had happened. Oishi, who was always smiling at him, who always gave him whatever he wanted and who always looked at him so tenderly, had hit through his own aquarium. Oishi could have done serious damage and he was lucky to just get away with a scratch like this.
"Jerk!" he muttered as he hit the ground with his fist. Until just half an hour ago his life had seemed so good. There had been nothing he had wanted to change about it, but now it had turned out Oishi had felt miserable. More than that; Oishi felt resentment against him, something he had never noticed. Eiji didn't know what felt more like betrayal; the fact that he hit him or that he had made him believe everything was fine when it actually wasn't. There was no way he was going to stay with that bastard anymore. He was going to show him he wouldn't let him get away with something like this.
Abruptly he jumped up and run downstairs. Maybe his father would want to help him move his stuff back tomorrow.
The next school day Oishi felt like he was in a daze. He had staid up the whole night thinking. Remembering how surprised Eiji had reacted when he had accused him of infidelity now made him doubt he was guilty. But at that moment. he had felt so tired and stressed and then Inui had called and then that Kimura. He clenched his fists as he passed the tennis courts.
If only he had controlled himself and spoken with him after he had thought things through. Eiji had never shown up at school and he couldn't bring himself to face that smiling Kimura at practice. With his pocket phone he called in sick for his work and left for his home. Maybe Eiji had returned by now and he could apologize.
But when he opened the door he knew the redhead wasn't there. Worse; all his belongings were now gone as well. Only the toothpaste he had bought a few days ago was still in the bathroom. He knew now Eiji was really, really angry and he sunk down on the couch defeated. He could have blinded him if the splinter had scratched his face a little higher. The frame of the aquarium was still standing there; the few fish he had been able to save were swimming in a pathetic can. But he was too nervous to sit for long and started pacing the room back and forth. It only made him feel more frustrated. He was just about to ring up Eiji when the doorbell went. With a quick jump he was up and opened the door. His face fell when he saw it was not Eiji but Fuji standing there, his usual smile plastered on his face.
"Hi Oishi, can I come in?" Confused by this sudden visit he nodded and held the door for him. Fuji sat down, without even raising an eyebrow at the broken aquarium.
''Would you like something to drink?" Oishi asked, but it was answered with a polite shake of the head. Oishi then sat down next to him and looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Say, isn't Eiji here?" Oishi looked away and rubbed his hands together.
"We had a fight." Fuji cocked his head to the side, his eyes still closed.
"Ah, we were afraid of that, Inui told me he about your phone call." A little annoyed Oishi shifted on the couch. It was like Inui had set up a network of people to meddle in their life. But Fuji seemed undisturbed and continued smiling.
"You must not conclude anything from what he said, Oishi. He never saw them do anything inappropriate, only that they always hung out together. And you know how Inui gets, he just wants to know everything." Oishi nodded, he had figured out that much by now.
"Eiji's not the type to stray. He would first break up and only then go to another. He's far too honest."
"We've broken up now," said Oishi nervously. Fuji's words made him think he was now probably going to run to Kimura. Fuji looked at the aquarium for a moment.
"You're far too tensed up, Oishi. You seem to be almost overwrought. That's when you start acting erratic." Oishi sighed and squeezed his hands even further together.
"That guy. Kimura, was saying things, that made me think..." Fuji nodded encouragingly.
"Like what?"
"Like that he tasted him and... things like that." Fuji's gaze unnerved him, like it always had when he had his eyes open.
"You need some time to calm down, Oishi."
"I can't! I have to work and I am behind with my homework! And now that Eiji's gone I probably have to take on another job, for his parents won't help pay the bill anymore and..." He stopped when Fuji reached for his pocket and took out money. A lot of money. 70.000 yen to be precise. Oishi looked up at him beyond surprised. He had always known Fuji had wealthy parents, but...
"This should help you out a little, am I right?" Oishi moved away from the offered money.
"I can't accept that!" Fuji smiled.
"Of course you can. It's nothing."
"But..."
"Don't worry. Just remember you owe me one. I can always use you when I do my bid to become prime minister." When he saw Oishi's startled expression he smiled again.
"Just kidding of course. You can always pay me back later." But Oishi wasn't so sure he was kidding. Still he could really use the money and took it from his hands finally.
"Thanks!" Fuji left then, leaving Oishi just a little calmer. But the way Eiji had gone still went through his head again and again. He knew he was angry enough to slam the door in his face if he would call at his house. Maybe Fuji was right and he needed some time off. It might be best to deal with Eiji when he might be able to forgive easier. He rang up his uncle in the hospital. Maybe they would let him stay in their small house in Kyoto for a while.
- - -
When Eiji passed the room of his vice-principal at school, he saw to his surprise that Oishi was standing there. He glanced through the glass door. A mere week ago he could never believe Oishi would be sent to the vice- principal for something, but now he didn't know he knew him so well after all. They were discussing something and he saw her handing him a form. Quickly he walked away, he didn't want Oishi to see him glare at him.
The last couple of days he had done a great job in ignoring him. And since he now knew Kimura was interested in him that way he had tried to avoid him as well. But the moment he had seen Oishi pass by the gates of the tennis courts he had started talking with the Kimura amicably. He wanted Oishi to know he was not going to let him decide with whom he talked just because he would be jealous. But hurt look on his former lover's eyes before he walked away caught him by surprise. He wanted to run after him and comfort him, but right at that moment Kimura had asked him if something was wrong and he had shaken his head. The rest of the practice he had trouble concentrating and he was glad when he was finally going into the direction of his parents' house.
"You're still fighting?" Momo asked.
"Yes," he said annoyed, kicking away a small plastic bag on the sidewalk.
"Aw come on, make up. Oishi hasn't been to practice for days," the younger boy said while munching on something indefinable.
"Mind your own business," Eiji replied grumpily.
"Eyh! No need to take it out on me. You're both just stubborn." Maybe that was true. Eiji was never one to be angry long, but what Oishi had done really shocked him. Part of him still could not believe it and he refused to let Momo's sad stories about how Oishi was doing get to him.
The next day however his cell phone rang when he was making a milk shake. He looked at the screen and saw it was Fuji.
"Hey?" he said a little surprised. He hadn't spoken to him in a while.
"Hello Eiji, how are you doing?" the soft voice replied.
"Fine," he answered.
"That's good to hear. Very good," Fuji said. Something about his tone of voice made him cautious. This was Fuji after all.
"And you?" he asked, just to say something.
"Good, very good as well. Nice that we both feel so good, eh?" Eiji nodded in the phone confused, then realized Fuji could not see this.
"Yes."
"Unfortunately Oishi isn't doing so well, I'm afraid." Eiji bit in his lip, he should have known this was why he called.
"I wouldn't know," he said curtly.
"Ah, but it's because of you that he feels like that." Eiji took up the milk shake and bit in the straw.
"He was the one who was angry and said I was cheating and hit me through glass and pretended everything was fine! Now don't try to make me feel guilty," he yelled in the phone, then took a nervous sip from the shake. Fuji seemed not in the least disturbed by his rant.
"Why did you think he pretended, Eiji?"
"Huh?" But Fuji staid quiet to allow him a moment to think.
"I don't know!" Eiji let out and waved the shake to put force behind his words.
"Don't you think he pretended because he didn't want to make you worry? It was only when Kimura told him you were being naughty with him that he snapped," Fuji said, not without an emphasis on the word naughty.
"Kimura.What!?" Eiji almost dropped the milk shake.
"Yes, he only couldn't continue living like that when he thought he was losing you," Fuji continued.
"What did Kimura say to him?!"
"I don't know exactly. I think you should ask Oishi," Fuji said. That Kimura.! He was always being so nice, but now behind his back. He could hardly believe it, if he had really done that he was going to snap his neck.
"I have to hang up," Eiji said, anger boiling inside him.
"Is all right. See you around, Eiji," Fuji said sweetly, clearly he had reached his goal.
"Bye."
Eiji sat down in the living room and looked on as his sister was carrying something heavy inside. Oishi didn't want him to worry. Oishi had hit him. Oishi had been so angry because of what Kimura said, not just because he was insanely making things up. Fuji wanted him to talk to Oishi. But he was still angry. Oishi was not doing well.
"Argh!!!" He jumped up, but his sister only glanced at him for a second. She was very used to his sudden outbursts of emotions and just continued moving a heavy looking box around. Eiji ran to the hall and took his coat, then went outside.
He ran the way up till the home he had shared with Oishi until such a little while ago. Then he took his key out of his pocket when he entered the street, ran for the door, put in the key. To his surprise he realized it didn't fit. He looked at the key, but it was definitely the right one. Infuriated that Oishi had changed the locks he banged on the door, but no one answered. The window was closed, but the strange thing was that the curtain was away.
"Shu?" He walked around the house, but none of its windows had curtains anymore. With a bad feeling in his stomach he left the street and went for the house of Oishi's parents. It was quite a distance and he was panting when he finally arrived there. He pushed the bell and waited for Oishi to come and open the door. But it was not Oishi who answered but his mother. Her face set when she recognized him.
"Hi. Is. Oishi at home?" She shook her head, but said nothing.
"Ehm, you know when he's coming back?"
"He's out of town, Kikumaru-kun." This he had not expected.
"What!?. I mean."
"He's not coming back for a while, so you'd better go home." Eiji saw she was angry. Probably she blamed him for her son being unhappy.
"Can you please tell me when he comes back?" he said, using the tone of voice that always made people want to hug him. But not she. She seemed even more annoyed because of it.
"Just accept that it would never have worked out, Kikumaru-kun, you're both far too young. Okay, if you had been more like my son." She trailed of and looked away. It was clear she didn't blame his age so much as his character. Her words hurt Eiji, he had always thought she had liked him. But it was clear now she might never have. Maybe it was something else Oishi had protected him from. It was so unfair! It was not his fault that they had broken up. well, at least not most of it.
"Can I at least call him?" Finally she looked at him again.
"I don't think that would be wise," she said, gave a nod and closed the door. With no energy to run anymore Eiji just walked home. Where was Oishi? He was supposed to come to him and say he was sorry and buy him a stuffed animal to make it up to him, not moving away to who knows where? He rubbed his chin and glanced to the side. Had Oishi really been that unhappy all the time? Maybe it was his fault for not noticing as well, or maybe he had not want to notice... Strange how he suddenly thought this all over. If Oishi would have been here he might have said he had grown up a little.
But Oishi would have been wrong. Mature people wouldn't want to beat the crap out of their vice-captain right now.
TBC
Still very much in love with the golden pair, especially after Eiji being all sweet to Oishi in the Jyousei Shounan match. I will probably up the rating the next time, just so you know^^