(Special magical A/N!: I forgot to post this chapter for like 3, 4 days that I spent agonizing over my lack of reviews and considering the slow and painful deaths of those that oppose me with their inattention. I'm sorry I was so faithless! I should have know that I would have at least gotten a flame! So, here goes! Sumimasen!)
Chapter 4: Every New Day (Written to Meteora and some random Five Iron Frenzy (Props to Akin for loaning me CD))
(Well, I sense a trend in my reviews. You like Aoshi and Misao, you hate Kenshin and Sano, eh? It's OK, homophobia is just as much a choice as homosexuality itselfyou INTOLERANT-I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'll TRY TRY TRY to focus more on the characters you love. I might still write a tad of shounen-ai (Special name for light Yaoi, which special name for story with guys who like each other. You know. For those of you who don't get out much.), but I promise I'll try try try to make it appropriate. Well, as appropriate as I ever get. Which is far more PG-13 than PG. This may seem selfish and immature and perverted. I'm all three of these things. I restrain myself from full citrus USUSALLY just because I like reviews and reviewers. So come, help me control the darkness within! Or else writhe in Yaoi. Or else read a different author. But I beg you to be tolerant and patient with me. So enjoy! (And yes, SIGH there's more Aoshi and Misao in this one.))
(I have no clever
song to disclaim myself so
'wrote Haiku instead)
It took time. Oh yes. It dragged out over a full week before Aoshi would do more than exchange pleasantries.
But Misao, through the perseverance that most of a year trying to de-frost her crush had taught her, had done it.
Aoshi, under the right circumstances, would now, SOMETIMES speak in full sentences regarding music.
The day she had forced him to admit that the Eerie Splendor remix of 'Doin' Time' was better than the original OR the basic Second-Hand Smoke version (A/N You might want to Kazaa yourself some Sublime), she had nearly cried tears of joy. And now they could debate on the use of saxophones in Cake songs, or the repetitive lyric pattern of Linkin Park.
Soon, Gloated the flushed-with-pride teen Soon he'll be ready for movies!
Misao's mouth watered, and popcorn was DEFINITELY not involved.
*
Aoshi sat cross-legged at lunch, sharing headphones with Misao. She was, as always, talking. Half of him listened, and responded occasionally (drawing shouts and cheers from the waiting audience, as well as curses as money changed hands from disbelieving bettors) to her intriguing seminar on the effects of maternal lack of affection on musical talent.
The other half considered Misao herself. And tried to find out why seeing her smile did such interesting things in his stomach. Just making her happy somehowmakes me happy. That's not logical. It doesn't in any way make sense.
But it's also true. And I can't argue with truth
Tiny biological transistors flipped back and forth, and fleshy beads clacked on metaphorical mental abaci. So, it is my goal to make her happy. How does one do that?
Aoshi didn't know, but he had a sinking suspicion that the one person who might conceivably tell him was not one he really wanted to speak to.
A thought for another time, like maybe next period. For now. What does she see in me, I wonder? And I wonder WHY I wonder, I don't need to know as long as she still sees it, but I want to know anyway. I'm purposefully cold and distant, I dislike people in general, and I've mercilessly snubbed her for months. Until she made that truly despairing face.
THAT I couldn't resist
It's not as though she could enjoy my opinions or interests, she doesn't know most of them. She has no reason to believe that I care for her, besides my sharing my music and thoughts thereof with her. Ergo, she likes my physical appearances.
Aoshi, for the first time in his entire life, felt the completely unnecessary and illogical emotion of vanity. I can live with that
*
Jack stared, grinning, into his opponent's eyes. They were a colder and deeper blue than his own, and framed by darker and shorter hair, but the main difference was that they never blinked.
Jack continued to grin, however, because he knew that he was going to win this game, and was not afraid to say so.
"You know, MY next class is right behind me, whereas you have lunch half-way across the school when the bell rings in five minutes. No matter how hard you stare at me, I'm still not going to ask you what you want, and when the time comes you'll have to break eye contact first."
Struggling to contain a budding anger at being transparent AND wrong, Aoshi smoothed an already-perfect lock of hair. This is why I need to talk to him, he's the only other unbiased person I know.
Sane is another matter entirely.
"I need to speak to you about Misao."
The grin, which dared someone to plant a knuckle on the fully-exposed incisors it showed prominently, widened.
"So, all that can make you come to JACK is your little girlfriend? I'm hurt!"
Realizing that sarcasm, and indeed humor in general were probably lost on Aoshi, the shorter boy continued without bothering to wait for a non-existent response.
"Oh fine. WHAT about Misao, she's a tad to complicated to explain in the 3 minutes we have left if you aren't up on your anatomy."
Aoshi braced himself for the single most painful conversation of his entire life, and started in
*
When the bell rang, Jack had demanded Aoshi's e-mail, and promised a more comprehensive explanation at a further date.
He had waited until Aoshi was safely lost in the swirling crowds of humanity to slump against the wall and laugh hysterically.
*
Aoshi heard anyway, and decided to begin plotting revenge. Once his digestive system was working in the correct and traditional fashion.
So
*
By the time he had begun the merry journey home, Aoshi had resolved to punish Jack at his leisure, and until that time try to simply avoid thinking of the topics he had brushed upon.
He hoped Jack labeled the e-mail he had promised with sufficient warning, he didn't really feel like opening it. And if it had attachments, .jpgs for instance, he would be throwing it away upon receiving it.
But the opening line of the soul-scarring lecture rang true. "If you want to make Misao happy, show a little (Jack-style expletive-ing) physical intimacy once in a while."
Which is why, about half-way through the ride, he faked a massive yawn, and, after stretching, awkwardly slid one arm around Misao's skinny shoulders.
Jack, who Aoshi could have SWORN was asleep, snickered gleefully, but Misao simply cuddled closer-
Which gave rise (so to speak) to another new emotion, equally illogical as the last few Misao had inspired in him. I'll forego description to spare your virgin ears, I simply implore you to remember/imagine YOUR first adolescent embrace. And the physical effects.
Yeah.
Misao, meanwhile, was experiencing similar effects, and having what was so far the best experience of her life. Aoshi really likes me, Aoshi really likes me!! God this is awesome
She rested her head (carefully turning to not crush the ear-piece against him) on his shoulder, and sighed contentedly. The muscles under her bunched involuntarily, but soon softened, and the shoulder slumped slightly, making Misao wriggle with delight.
"Hmm"
Five Iron Frenzy spoke to her:
Only you can make every new day
Seem so new
*
As his initial amusement faded, Jack faced the pain of extreme boredom. And being truly cramped. And hot. And lonely. And overloaded with homework.
And always, always tired, not something it's fun to be when the only pillow is made out of glass. Well there's Omasu, but getting smacked AGAIN today doesn't appeal to me.
The crick in the back, the memory of the bruised Kenshin trying to stand, his lost pen that he had loved so dearly, the English paper he had been putting off for weeks that needed to be done TODAY, the lack of pillow, and need for sleep, all adding up
HEAD SPLITTING BLOOD POUNDING NOTHING EVER GOING TO BE OK-
No. Breathe. It'll all sort out.
His mind relaxed. Slightly.
For now.
*
Kenshin, as usual perched securely on Sano's lap, snapped a shot at an alien threatening his boyfriend's position, and watched it fall, purple blood spraying.
"Thanks, sexy! That one was comin for me" murmured Sanosuke, watching his shields recharge. He pressed a thank-you kiss onto one cheek-
Kenshin winced when the bruise was mashed softly by the grateful lips. Dammit, please don't notice
"Hey, howdya do that? Nasty lookin one, and your nose was bleeding today tooyou didn't get in a fight, didya?"
No, no, no "Worry about your own self, lunk-head, I just fell down some stairs." Kenshin's smile and well-placed bullet discouraged further inquiry, but Sano was skeptical.
Hmmsince when does Kenshin fall down stairs? He's to damn gracefulif it was important he'd tell me. He should know well enough I wouldn't let anyone else touch him if he didn't want 'em to.
"Wellfine. Snipe the big one, with the plasma sword! Quick!"
Lost in the rhythm of the game, both friends forgot the scratches and bruising.
For now.
(And I promise there'll be more Aoshi and Misao. That's not it, I swear. Stop staring at me like that. I SAID STOP!! There are a few hanging plot ends here, as you may have noticed, I'll be following them up once you guys yell at me for my choppy advancing of the main relationship in the story. Sumimasen, reader-sama, gomen nasai. I'm a naughty boy. Time to post, so I have time to start another tonight, or maybe even eat something. Only had 5 cheetos and half a cookie (stolen) all day, so excuse me for a half hour or so and I'll re-attach the ball and chain after dinner. As I've always said, eating is for wussies! Peace, folks, don't hate on the shounen-ai or I'll kill you. L8r! I love you Koishii!!)
(P.S. Whoever wrote in about that closing comment, it's directed at someone you don't know, and who doesn't speak enough Japanese to really care about grammar. And 'sides, it's the thought that counts, neh? Good.)