Going By the Books

By: Chibi-chan

Author Notes:

I don't own the characters/series.

This is dedicated to anyone who likes these people together.

So far, this is Tala + Max, Kai + Takao.  But in future chapters it will be Tala × Max × Rei; Kai +/× Takao.

Don't like? Don't read.

Quick note – Max, Takao, and Kyoujyu are fifteen where as Rei, Tala, and Kai are sixteen.

And thanks again Glay. ^^; I'm happy that you're enjoy Kyoujyu's role.  And yup, with chapters small – I can afford updating quicker.

Warnings:

Shounen-ai/Future yaoi

AU (Alternate Universe)

Slight to mild language

Key:

"…" denotes dialogue

Italics denote thought

Going By the Books

part vi

*

Max yawned quietly, sinking further into his chair, his legs sticking out a bit from under his desk. He eyed the teacher, whose back was currently being presented to the class. 

He was in Literature class with teacher Mizuno Kaoru, a middle-aged woman, who loved Shakespeare and well-written essays.  Max liked her, the way a student likes a great teacher, but sometimes, her class could just get so…tiresome. 

At the moment, she was writing notes on the blackboard about the short story they just read – really, an excerpt out of a longer play – and it seemed like she was tuning everything out around her – all the noise, talking, and the like, since she was not even responding visibly to the class, which was actually getting quite loud. 

Taking his eyes away from the board, Max looked to the side of him.  He saw a few of his classmates talking about some local girls outside of the school and then some others nearby chatting about various sports events that were coming up in the high school.

Sports and girls – neither were Max's kind of "thing."   Well, girls kind of were…but he kind of liked guys a bit more.  Only a tad though, really.

Shifting in his head, he turned to his left, eyes focusing on the desk that was seated closest to the window.  He looked out the corner of his eye to see if Kaoru was still jotting down notes up near the front – she was, good.  Max rested his cheek on the palm of his hand, his elbow on the edge of his desk while facing the boy in front of him with the most pitiful face he could gather in the few seconds.  "Tala, it's boring," he stated rather obviously, his words huffing out along with his breath.

Tala ignored the voice and gave a short, sideways glance at Max before returning his gaze back to an uninteresting spot on the wall.  He refused to sigh at his friend's normal antics.  "Stop whining about it," he clipped shortly, not bothering to look at Max while he spoke.

Max frowned at Tala's bemused tone, bringing his arm away from his face so he could effectively cross them across his chest.  "I don't know why I talk to you – you're mean."  Max gave a small mustered glare afterwards, even though he knew that it wouldn't affect the redhead at all.  But it was good for show. 

Keeping closed his eyes, Tala let out a sigh.  He was annoyed.  This was just as bad as Max's "secret liking" bit that he pulls on anyone and everyone.  Tala shook his head, cracking an eye to send a glance at Max before letting the small smirk that was tugging on his lips to be shown.  Two could play that stupid game. 


Resting back into his chair comfortably, his arms reached backwards, hands clasping together to rest on his nape of his neck.  Tala kept a trained eye on Max, wanting to wait for his reaction.  "Maybe you talk to me because you secretly like me," he said carefully, his words coming out clear, underlining with a bit of arrogance. 

Max's blue eyes widened when he comprehended what Tala had spoken.  His mouth would have gaped open wide if he could have gotten it working and stopped his eyes from getting anymore larger than they were.  Tala's words raced through his mind, taking them apart and piecing them together each time, wondering if he had really heard was really what the other had said. 

Every time, the phrase came back the same, unchanging. 

Now, this confused Max – Tala had never used his own inside joke against him.  Hell, for as long as he had known Tala, he never made any jokes – inside or…outside.  A few snide remarks here and there, some sarcasm pulled out of his ass at times, but…this was new.  And Max wasn't quite sure how to react or feel.

Coughing into his fist at the sudden and unexpected response, Max turned back around in his desk – away from Tala – a soft pink color showing up on his pale cheekbones. 

Thankfully, he noticed Kaoru putting down the chalk and Max ducked his head slightly, voice coming out strained.  "Mizuno-sensei is done, we can continue this, uhm, thing, later."  He finished quickly, holding up his schoolbook to cover up his face.  But despite the material shielding his face, he knew that Tala was smirking – whether it was at him or not, didn't matter, what mattered was that he just knew Tala was doing it.  And it only made him shrink further into his book when he heard the other's amused – or was it uninterested? – snort and a gruff, "Right."

*

Takao sat sluggishly in his chair, sliding down a couple of centimeters with every second that passed by painfully slow.  His eyes were trained on the large forehead of his World History teacher, Yukimura Shinji.  The old man was sitting at his desk, face glaring down, his hand moving swiftly while he graded student's papers.  He was balding in a few places, the fluorescent lighting of the classroom showing the place off with extreme shininess.  Takao mumbled to himself about buying the teacher a toupee as a gift for the next holiday. 

Blue eyes moved around to observe the class.  They were supposed to be reading ahead in the next chapter, but it was obvious barely anyone was actually doing it.  Besides, Shinji probably knew they weren't going to read anyway – he just wanted some quiet.  And as long as everyone was quiet while he graded, he didn't really care that much what they did.

But Takao was a little curious to what the old fart was grading – he had heard from a classmate in this period that in one of Shinji's other periods, there had been a pop quiz yesterday?  Must have been Max's…Takao deducted quietly to himself, one of his fingers coming up to lightly tap on his chin.  The blonde had been babbling a lot on whether or not he passed something during the time at the ice cream shop…there was also mentions and grumbles about – rice? 

Anyways…He rolled his eyes inwardly.  Takao shifted his gaze away from where he had been absentmindedly staring at the teacher's bald spot.  He slumped farther into his chair as a few more seconds ticked past, his chin coming down to touch his chest while his legs stuck outwards.  Half-shadowed eyes barely could see clearly over the polished, wooden surface.  Takao's blue spheres turned away from the front to the room to rest on his neighbor, classmate, and friend, Kai. 

Good ole Kai.  Might not be the best guy to actually talk to or…well…do anything with – but he was good anyway?

Scooting back into his chair, Takao rested his chest against the desk instead, making it act as a hard, but makeshift pillow of some sort.  A hand dangled a bit over the edge, the side of his head resting on his shoulder, body midway turned on its side.  "Kai," Takao's voice was hushed – slightly because he didn't want to be too loud and disturb the teacher and slightly because his position was kind of making it weird to talk. 

Kai slowly looked up from his opened textbook – possibly the only one that was actually reading, Takao guessed – and impassively waited for Takao to continue. 

Shifting his head a bit, Takao frowned when he felt a small pain flicker in his stomach.  He decided to ignore it for now.  Takao moved his arm away from his cheek and let it fall to the cool surface of his desk.  "Kai," he repeated the name once more, though the voice now mumbled.  Takao curled against his desk, his one free hand rubbing his stomach, which felt very empty at the moment.  The pain he had caught earlier was signaling to him that he was hungry.  He sniffled mentally. Food.

He had gone to bed late that night, being up trying to conjure then quickly jot down his genius ideas for Rei to show his "homo"-ness and how he and Max could get together by his helpful assistance.  And in going to sleep late – he had woken up late, which made him late for the breakfast line and putting one and one together that leaves no breakfast and a very hungry Takao!

Ugh…When was lunch anyway? It had to be soon.

Takao's fingers twitched at the underside of his desk.  "Lunch…?" 

Kai stared at the picture before him.  His friend was literally draping himself over the desk while asking about lunch?  He glanced at the clock.  The class only a little half past being over – then there was lunch.  I wonder if he can even hold out for another forty-five minutes.  Kai wondered silently, eyes never shifting away from Takao's pitiful looking form. 

The boy sure did know how to show he was hungry.  His upper lip curled a bit in distaste when he heard Takao's tummy rumble, this time "voicing" his need for food.

I'll be taking that as a no…Kai rolled his eyes at the scene Takao was starting to make.  A few of the nearby girls were pointing and whispering things back and forth behind their hands.  Kai shook his head and shifted in his chair while picking up his nearby pen.

Throwing the object at Takao, Kai leaned forward quickly, eyes narrowing as he spoke, "Lunch is coming soon enough, stop looking like a fool." 

God, and to think he and Takao had been friends for almost two years

Takao sniffled, stomach now forgotten as he rubbed his cheek, fingering the dangerous projectile that Kai had so rudely sniped at him.  He twisted around more, mindful to be extra quiet now, and also leaned forward to meet Kai halfway in between the space that separated their desks.  His own eyes narrowed as his nose barely touched Kai's.  "I'll be quiet if…" He trailed off, eyes widening back to their usual size, a smile reaching the tips of his mouth.  "…you buy me lunch!" 

Kai almost fell out of his chair.  Crimson orbs glinted and slit even further, mouth opening to object, he stopped before a word even came out.  Takao was looking at him with the…ugh…cutest puppy dog look he had ever witnessed.  He had a feeling he was going to regret this. 

Shoving himself backwards into his chair, bangs shadowing over his face, Kai crossed his arms, a grudging expression taking over his face.  "As long as you stop acting idiotic."

Takao silently cheered.

*

+to be continued+

*

Author Notes:

Focus on Rei and Max; Kyoujyu, Kai, and Takao next chapter.

Oh yeah, is it just me – or am I the only one who's not writing Max as a pile of depressive mush? I'm not saying it's bad or anything, but…I just suddenly seen an on flow of it.  Especially in most Rei × Max fics I've checked out. *scratches head* Maybe it's just me.