Note: First off… *bows down* So sorry for the very late update!!! *strangles self* School's been taking up most of my time. I seriously need a break. ^^;; *sharpens a blade* Interesting piece of metal, isn't it? . . .

Act 8:  You Drive Me Crazy (The shadows of desire)

Terms could not efficiently describe how furious Kaidou was. He had been storming past the classes, the school hall, the library, and the cafeteria (practically everywhere), yelling Inui's name until his voice had gone virtually raucous like grated sandpaper. By any means, he needed to find Inui. To get things straight. To end all this hell he was going through.

He had to.

Before it's too late.

"INUI, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!"

~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, Inui was taking a solitary stroll along the dank field, lost in deep thought. His hands were shoved deep into his uniform pockets, his abstracted gaze raking the wires surrounding the field. To him, they appeared like dried-up veins.

There were a thousand things he wanted to tell Kaidou.

But he just could not bring himself to.

Why?

"Inui."

Inui felt as if his heart was shattering; disintegrating into pieces. Have you forgotten that you had always called me 'senpai' before I told you about how I felt for you? Half-heartedly, he turned to face the person whom he knew well. Whose voice he often heard during his lonely moments.

It hurt to look at Kaidou now. It hurts so much.

Kaidou wouldn't understand what was coming to him.

Wouldn't be able to.

Inui could only stare blankly as Kaidou hurled papers all over the ground in front of him. "Look! I can't believe even my own class did this to me! …Are you even listening?!" A thought struck Kaidou, and he narrowed his eyes. "Come to think of it, it just stems right to you, doesn't it, Inui? You're the one who made it this way.

"What the hell do you, care? You don't understand how I feel right now, do you? You're just another one of those selfish, self-centered bastards who wouldn't care a damn thing about others. To hell with everyone else just as long as you're happy – is that what's going through that demented head of yours?" The words ripped from Kaidou's mouth, his tone acerbic.

Inui merely gazed levelly at him without saying anything.

Kaidou looked away from him. "I think it was a bloody shame that I met you. You've screwed up my life, and I suggest you might as well go ahead and screw up your own. Hell, you probably already did, am I wrong? That's why you're a helpless queer. Let me get one thing straight – I don't give a damn about your sexual preference; just don't get me involved because I. DESPISE. YOU."     

Inui let the other man walk away. Nothing mattered to him anymore.

Nothing.

His eyes fell on one of the tiny papers lying forgotten on the ground before him. Despite what was written on it, although he could read out what the word was perfectly, a smile would not form on his face.

~ ~ ~

"Tezuka!"

The grim captain turned when he heard his name being called. "Oh. Fuji. Nanda?"

Fuji presented an enigmatic smile. "I wanted to ask you if you would come with me to the bar after school."

A blank stare. "A bar…?" Tezuka repeated slowly, wondering if his ears were working right. Fuji asking him out to a bar? Okay. This kind of thing certainly didn't happen every day. "What for?" That didn't sound too blunt now, did it…? Tezuka bit back the worry, which had risen within him. He shot a quick glance at the other guy. Naw.

Fuji's smile only widened. "It's a secret. I'll tell you later. I've got to go to the Chemistry lab right now for some leftover project. Things. Here." Fuji thrust a small paper into Tezuka's flaccid hand. "Ja, ne." He disappeared around the corner, leaving Tezuka staring after him, nonplussed. The captain fixed his gaze onto the paper. It wrote 'Meet me at the school entrance gate as soon as the bell goes.'

I wonder why he wants me to go to a bar… Tezuka stared blankly at the paper he held. What kind of bar did he mean?

~ ~ ~

As soon as the bell rang, indicating the dismissal of school, Tezuka walked toward the school gates. Fuji was already there, waiting for him.

The moment Fuji caught sight of the Seigaku captain, a smile spread across his face, and waved enthusiastically to him.

"Tezukaaa!" Fuji called, happily.

Tezuka rolled his eyes, and gestured with his hand that he was coming. "What?" he said when he stopped in front of the other young man.  

"Quick, let's go." Fuji grabbed Tezuka's hand, pulling him out of the gates.

Tezuka let out a surprised sound as Fuji dragged him away.

~ ~ ~

" . . . . . "

"Well?" Fuji smiled brilliantly, tossing his bag over the stool beside his. "Nice place, isn't it?"

Tezuka glanced over his shoulder bleakly. Men. Men. Men. Figures. Tezuka turned his head back. He was still in a shocked state. "It's . . . okay." He inhaled a deep breath. "Fuji."

"Hmm?" Fuji turned to him with an alluring smile.

"Could you at least tell me the reason we're here?" The tone was dry, impassive.

"No, not yet. You'll soon see for yourself." Fuji whirled to face the bartender. "Mister, two vodkas please."

Tezuka made a face. "I don't drink vodka."

A grin made its way over Fuji's visage. "I know."

"So?"

"So I'd thought you might try one." Fuji gracefully slid a glass toward the other man just as the bartender placed their drinks onto the counter.

"How very thoughtful of you," Tezuka muttered, accepting it. He watched mutely as Fuji took a deep swig of his own drink. He finished half off with a single swallow.

"You've drunk this before?" Tezuka was taken aback.

"No." Fuji lowered his glass onto the counter. "My first time."

Tezuka could only stare.

"HHOY!!!"

Tezuka started a bit. What the hell? Which crazy monkey has entered the bar now? Wait… That voice is… His eyes darted over to the entrance of the bar.

"FUJIII!!" With a blink of an eye, an energized redhead landed on Fuji, almost knocking him flat. "I'M HERE~!"

Oishi shook his head. "One hyper overload redhead on the loose."

I can see that. Guess I don't mind drinking now. Tezuka lifted his glass and took a light sip. Yucks.

"Tezuka-buchou!"

Tezuka winced, either from the sudden jolt of pain in his head or the voice. "What?"

"Ano nee… ano nee… ya know what?"

Tezuka faced him blankly. "No, I don't know anything, so you might as well tell me."

"Tezuka, I didn't know you were, uh, here," Oishi asserted quietly.  

"Neither did I." The captain forced himself to imbibe all his vodka, and set his glass down a little unsteadily. "One moment I was at the school gates and the next moment, I found myself in this crappy bar."

Fuji frowned a bit, disappointed. "Crappy?"

"But it's the only place we could think of to celebrate Fuji and my A grades for World History!" whined Kikumaru.

Tezuka shot Fuji a rather bleary look. "That's the secret?"

Fuji merely smiled.

"Oh." Tezuka pulled his gaze away.

"More?" Fuji inquired.

"Huh?"

"Vodka."

"Okay."

"Two refills, please," Fuji told the bartender.

"Hey, I want a drink too!" Kikumaru piped up. "Let's see… Can I have a beer? I've never tried it."

Oishi gave him a piercing look. "No, Eiji."

"Yes!"

"No."

"Yes!"

"If you pass out dead drunk right here, don't expect me to puppet you all the way home."

"Meanie~"

"Maybe a light drink for Eiji wouldn't hurt." said Fuji.

Oishi sighed. "Fine."

Fuji ordered another vodka as Kikumaru whooped for joy, and elbowed an aggrieved Oishi in the ribs.

"Yay!! I scored for my World History, Oishi~! I deserve it, don't I??" Kikumaru proceeded to chortle insanely.

This is gonna be a looong day, thought Tezuka.

* * *