Notes: Dear reviewers, thank you so very much for all your support/feedback. You've helped me a lot, and I never forget to take note of your thoughts. Like for those who want to see more of their favorite pairing, I'll gladly oblige. A little patience is all I ask for. Otherwise, I'd like to express my thanks again to all who have been with me all this while. Thank u.
Act 7: A Moment With You (The dark side of light)
"Thanks for accompanying me home," said Fuji to Tezuka, when they had reached his house.
"Aa. Take care."
"Are you sure you don't want to come in even for a while?"
"I've things to do."
"Oh . . . I'm sorry I-."
"Fuji."
"Yeah?"
Tezuka slipped a hand into his own pocket and produced a tiny white card. "Here."
Fuji accepted it with confusion written all over his visage. "What's this?" he asked, inquiringly.
Tezuka simply gave him an impassive look. "My calling card. Just in case there's anything you need or want to tell me."
"Thanks."
"Uh . . . yeah, and this." Tezuka thrust a curved yellow blossom into his hand. "It's something I picked on the way to the campus just now."
Warmth enveloped Fuji's heart when he saw the flower, and his eyes softened. "Tezuka . . ."
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Tezuka put in, "I'll be on my way then. Ja na."
"Okay. See you." Fuji watched Tezuka's back as the other man walked away, and then rested his gaze on the little flower in his hand again.
He smiled.
Yellow, huh? If I'm not generally mistaken, it's the color that says 'I care for you' . . .
~ ~ ~
"How was your date with Sakuno?" Momoshiro enquired while he sifted through Echizen's question papers regarding Math.
Echizen, who was twirling his pen in one hand and resting his chin atop the other, answered monotonously, "It was fine. Surprisingly, the movie didn't disturb me or obliterate my good mood on that day one bit."
"You watched the entire movie?" Momoshiro gave the younger boy a sidelong smile.
Echizen shook his head. "No. I fell asleep halfway through, and woke up just in time before the movie ended. Thankfully, Sakuno didn't seem to notice. She looked remarkably joyful after watching the movie; I just didn't want to spoil her enthusiasm by saying that I didn't have a clue of what we've just watched."
Momoshiro laughed lightly, and shook his head.
"What?" asked Echizen, innocently.
"You're terrible, Echizen."
Echizen simply shrugged, an expression of minor guilt coloring his features. "I'm not one for soap operas."
"What interests you then?"
Echizen thought for a moment. "Action movies, tennis, horror, tennis, anything non-romance or comedy, tennis . . ."
"That's some interests."
"Nothing out of the ordinary."
"You weren't much for romance either, huh? Do the sticky scenes bother you?"
"As much as being in a house full of women. But of course, I'll have to mask the discomfiture. I guess it's not that hard to play along and think it's one of the most intriguing things I've ever come across."
"You have one bizarre mind."
Echizen suppressed a grin. "You wouldn't say that if you were in my shoes, Momo-senpai."
"That, I might agree."
~ ~ ~
Okay, Kaidou . . . concentrate. You frigging have to concentrate!!, the Viper told himself strictly.
A History exercise paper and an open textbook on the study table before him were laid untouched. Kaidou knew he hadn't been able to catch up with his schoolwork recently, and he knew exactly what the cause was as well.
Concentrate, damnit! When did the British and Portuguese sign a contract? . . . How the hell would I know?! I didn't even know they signed a stupid bloody contract!!!
"I can't put up with all this any longer!" With a violent swing of the hand, Kaidou tossed the unanswered History paper over his shoulder and buried his face in his hands in disgruntlement. The paper fell sinuously onto the floor and lay unharmed.
What the hell is wrong with me?! Why can't I even answer a simple question?! I never had trouble with History before. Why now?!
Kaidou let out an aggrieved grunt and reached over for an English novel. His temper hit him when he realized that even reading a novel had become as intricate as trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle. A long trail of curses flowed from him, and he started to slam his head into the wall with brutal force.
It wasn't long before he got sick of all the self-torture. Only then he stopped, and let his weary body fall onto his cold, uninviting bed.
Going to the bar and getting drunk doesn't sound like a bad idea at all right now. But then, if I get drunk, hell knows what I'll do. What if I wake up the next morning and find myself in Inui's house? He'd tell me the truth, no doubt – that I'd suddenly appeared practically out of nowhere at the front doorstep of his house the day before, and asked him to fuck my brains out. And so, Inui being Inui, did.
Shuddering, Kaidou shook his head indignantly. On second thought, I think I'll stick to the 'not going' idea . . .
~ ~ ~
Tuesday morning arrived, and Kaidou found himself back to school again. He avoided walking nearby other people, and took the long way up to his class. As soon as he set his foot into the classroom, a few of his classmates perfunctorily started whispering to each other, casting odd glances at his direction.
What the hell is going on now?, Kaidou thought, resignedly, as he settled himself down on his chair. Weirdos will always be weirdos. He shook his head disdainfully.
It was only at that moment did Kaidou notice a folded piece of paper the length of a forefinger, lying visibly on his desk, almost appearing to be waiting for him. Unable to hold back his curiosity, he grasped the thin parchment and unfolded it. Immediately, his muscles seemed to tense in a momentary shock as he made out the word scribbled on it. The reproachful word of 'FAGGOT' was written in big block letters in an immensely contemptuous way, which could indisputably make any calm person detonate.
With a resentful growl, Kaidou crumpled the paper with a single hand. Those fucking measly peasants...
"Who the hell wrote this goddamn garbage?!?!" his voice thundered through the class. Everyone else fell silent at once. Kaidou sent a malevolent glare from one person to another, threatening to tear the culprit into shreds.
All of a sudden, a boy broke the silence. "Hey, Kaidou, we know very well you have somethin' going on with that Inui guy. There's no point tryin' to hide it, dude."
Kaidou felt like a complete alien then. Questions swirled in his mind haphazardly. What . . . What in the name of-
"Yeah." Another boy nodded in agreement. "I never would have thought it, man. The renowned Viper? Gay? Now that's some interestin' topic for the school newspaper!"
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Kaidou yelled angrily. His knees were starting to feel weak.
"Don't pretend you don't know what we're talkin' about, Viper! We already know your little secret!"
Helpless, he turned to the girls. All eyes were on him, accusing and condemning. Some were eyeing him with disgust, some with mock pity.
Words failed Kaidou, and he merely dropped his gaze as if in surrender. He knew there was no possible escape to this.
But how did they know? There isn't any way they could've found out, unless . . .
~ ~ ~
In a colossal bad mood, Kaidou inspected his locker during break, and frowned in disapproval at the things he found inside. Threats, tacky advertisements, love letters . . . He made a face. Do these people have nothing better to do than stuffing all the crap into a person's locker? As he shuffled inside, a bunch of papers fell onto the floor, and he picked them up, wondering what the hell they were for.
FAG. FREAKIN' QUEER. FAGGOT WHORE.
Kaidou slammed the door of his locker shut with such force that it quivered. That does it. Those bastards have gone too far.
With angry determination, he stomped off towards Inui's class.
Something needed to be done about this, and he's willing to make the first move.
* * *
Notes: I've seen a comment in a website that the way Inui asked Kaidou to team up with him in episode 54 sounded as if he's saying, "Would you like to marry me?" XD *coughchokesplutter* Looks like I'm not the only insane one out there…