THEN AND NOW
By: Miguel Artadi
Disclaimer: I don't own GTO and any of the characters in it. I'd be rich if I did.
[ ] = Kikuchi's thoughts
Chapter IX - En Vino Veritas
Kikuchi was buzzed. Not drunk mind you, but definitely getting there. It's been a little over a month since he and Kanzaki unofficially got together, and tonight he found himself sharing drinks with Onizuka back at the old Seirin roofdeck under the watchful eyes of the crescent moon, a half-dozen or so empty beercans littering the area at their feet.
"Mmmmm.... it just tastes better and better. Where'd you get these imports again?" Eikichi asked, sipping his drink.
"Told you it was good. Well my last client was so impressed with my work that he gave me a shitload of these. I knew there was no way in hell I could put a dent in the stock all by myself, so I figured you could lend a helping hand. By the way, where's Ryuji? I half-expected you to invite him along to sample this stuff."
"I would've, but it's his and Nagisa's anniversary. So anyway, what's up with you and Urumi? You treating each other well?"
[Not again.]
"Yep."
Unsatisfied with monosyllabic answers, Onizuka continued to press the issue. "Uh-huh. AND?"
"And what?"
"Can't you be more specific?"
"Can't you just enjoy the beer?"
"Hey now, I AM enjoying the beer. I'm just curious as to how things are working out with the two of you. Last time I saw you two together at that little impromptu dinner we had, things were looking great. Never saw the both of you so outwardly happy like that." His old teacher responded, raising his beercan in half-salute.
The impromptu dinner that Onizuka referred to happened two weeks prior. As Kikuchi and Kanzaki were out on one of their dates, Eikichi and Azusa chanced upon them, also on a date of their own. They almost froze in panic when they realized that they were still holding hands as Mr. and Mrs. Onizuka walked over and started chatting them up; yet as surprises came and went, the two didn't seem to make such a big deal out of it. Admittedly, that little detail bugged Yoshito.
[Odd, that. I was pretty sure you'd make a huge production out of it.]
Finally relenting, Kikuchi sighed and answered his old teacher's question. "We're good to each other. It's not all fun and games of course" he replied, the beer obviously making him share more than he normally would. He held his can out at arm's length and stared at it.
[This is good shit.] He thought as he shrugged, chugged the contents and opened another.
"Mmmm... that goes without saying. Relationships seldom are." Eikichi started ticking off his fingers. "Finding and making time to go out on dates, with work and all that hanging over your head. Little misunderstandings that grow into spats, etc. etc."
Kikuchi continued where his teacher left off. "Hah, you said it. And then when you ask them straight out if anything's wrong, they say 'nothing' and yet expect you to read their minds! Imagine that!"
Eikichi smirked. As to place an exclamation at the end of Yoshito's last statement, Onizuka held his can out to toast the point. Grinning, Kikuchi vigorously smacked his drink against his old teacher's, apparently with enough force to spill some of the contents. They then proceeded to down what was left; definitely male bonding at its finest, simple and direct to the point.
Grabbing some more alcohol and tossing one to his drinking partner, the genius leaned back and mused. "You know what's weird though, it all just seemed to happen so fast. I mean, one day I hear from you that she's back in town, so I look her up and we have lunch together. Next thing I know I'm pissing in my pants figuring out a way to ask her out, and when I finally do, she's all game for it. And then, on the night of the date itself, we make out like a pair of teenagers."
[Aww shit. You just HAD to tell him about that last part.] he thought, immediately regretting his candor.
Hearing this, Onizuka cocked an eyebrow and flashed his trademark leer. "Nice. So is she a real blonde? I've been dying to know."
Though Yoshito considered grabbing an empty can and smacking his teacher with it, he chuckled inwardly at the mental picture the question brought him. Wanting to close the subject matter at hand though, he decided to go with something else more in line with his style.
"I wonder how Mrs. Onizuka would react if she knew you asked me that?" Kikuchi replied off-handedly.
Having quickly weighed his options, Onizuka remained silent and took another sip of his beer, his expression nothing more than a slight pout.
Satisfied, Yoshito spoke again. "Anyway I dunno... everything just seemed to fall into place real easy. I'm just not used to things being all hunkey-dorey in such a short span of time."
"So what exactly is your problem?"
[Argh. How did you become a teacher again?]
"Do I have to repeat myself? Too easy."
Eikichi slapped his forehead, exasperated at Kikuchi's line of thought. "You know, thing with you geniuses is that your heads keep making problems where there aren't any. Can't you just accept the way things happened and actually be happy that they turned out this way?" Onizuka said, wagging his finger at his old student.
It didn't take a genius's IQ to know Eikichi was right. The alcohol further loosening his tongue, Yoshito decided to just lay his cards out.
"Look, for the record, I AM having the time of my life. I just can't help thinking about it."
Onizuka couldn't help but be amused at his former student's blatant show of honesty; usually it took longer to pry these things out of him. He's also changed a little in the past month or so; it was almost imperceptible at first, but as the Yoshito he had always known was cool and laidback, this one now seemed more... alive. Vibrant even. He chalked it off as a result of the kid's blossoming relationship with Kanzaki (in addition to the beer of course). With everything being said and done, he mentally congratulated himself for his part in the matter.
"You two are hopeless. Well I guess there's no harm in telling you now. I, your Great Teacher Onizuka, am partly responsible for her being so open to the idea of dating you. There. Guilty. You can show your appreciation by giving me what we have left of the beer later."
Kikuchi slowly turned his head to face the self-proclaimed great teacher. "Excuse me? Okay, you've got about ten seconds to explain before all this beer goes sailing over the fence."
To Eikichi, this was unthinkable. "Idiot! This is quality stuff! It's practically a sin to waste beer like this!!"
[Only because I've got more where this came from. Now spill.]
Kikuchi just stared at him. His expression read 'Try me.'
"All right all right! Geez. Sometime after you two went out for lunch she calls me up in the middle of the night. Asks me about you and all that. She sounded groggy, so maybe she had a dream with you in it or something."
[A dream huh? Woohoo.]
"What did she say?"
"Oh come now. You know I can't tell you that. Unless you want me to break Urumi's trust and confidence?"
"Bah." Another point to Onizuka. He hated it when that happened.
"Look, what difference does it make? It was pretty much the same thing as convincing you to look her up. End result? You two are together, things are looking good, and you're blissfully in love if I'm not mistaken. Sounds good if you ask me." Eikichi replied as he added a belch to reinforce his statement.
Yoshito groaned. "The L word."
"Wait, you two HAVE exchanged the requisite I-Love-You's right?"
"Not really."
[It's a pride thing, a test of wills thing.]
"Oy. You two are hopeless." Onizuka said, hanging his head.
"Doesn't mean we don't though. We do. I'm pretty sure about it..."
[Are you?]
Kikuchi continued to feign his confidence. "We're just waiting to see who cracks first."
His teacher had apparently ingested enough alcohol to fail to notice his millisecond's worth of self-doubt.
"Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. I tell my family I love them every chance I get. It's a crazy world I tell you. Life's too short not to experience it fully."
"Yer getting sappy 'teach."
"I'm drunk. Sue me. Can I take this beer home?"
"Help yourself. Get half of what we got left when we're done."
"Great."
Yoshito went silent for a handful seconds, pondering another of his newly-conceived insecurities.
[Oh what the hell. Let's see what he thinks.]
"One more thing though. Kinda serious, if you can still handle it."
"Oh please. You know I can go from drunk to sober in the brink of an eye."
[You mean BLINK of an eye don't you?]
"Yeah whatever. Anyway, I just wanted to ask... how much should the other party in a relationship know about you and your past?"
[I'm asking for relationship advice from Onizuka. Ugh. What the hell is wrong with me?]
A small bell tingled in the back of Eikichi's brain, signaling that there was more to Kikuchi's trust issue than met the eye.
"Hmmm... that depends. In your case, I think it'd only be fair to let her in a little more than most everyone else, since A) you yourself already know a great deal about her past and B) you two are dating seriously I presume?"
"Of course."
This was the only time Yoshito ever found himself second-guessing his analyses of a relationship, something that he never had to do with the rest. Kanzaki Urumi was definitely different. Nowadays, he sincerely hoped that 'different' was a good thing.
"Go ahead then. Let her in some more, bit by bit."
It was Kikuchi's turn to belch, which afterwards he started reasoning. "Mmm. What about the whole 'keeping a mystery, strong and silent' deal?"
Onizuka chuckled. "That's the spirit. Well, coming from a guy who married his first and only girlfriend, I can only tell you what I've seen. And to be honest, I've witnessed that method work with the people around me; yourself included with your past girlfriends. But you know what? Call me a sentimental old fart because I definitely believe that no 'approach' is even necessary when it comes to that one special person. Take Azusa and myself for example. I never felt I had to pretend to be anything else other than the already great man that I was when I was around her. So yeah, mystery and the whole strong and silent thing will most likely get your foot in the door, but isn't really a great way to go by for the rest of the relationship."
"So I do... what?"
"Just relax and be yourself kid. Take it slowly and surely, but don't keep that heart of yours hidden away under lock and key. Don't wear it on your sleeve either. Just be the Kikuchi Yoshito she's always known and unknowingly depended on."
"Eh? Depended on? What're you talking about?"
"Oh stop pretending already will you? I've known you were looking out for her as early as junior high. I wouldn't be a great teacher if I didn't know what was going on with my students."
[Wonderful. I wonder what else he knows.]
Yoshito sighed and glanced up at the crescent moon, his thoughts drifting to Urumi once more.
Onizuka noticed this and smiled.
"You really like her don't you?" he said, breaking the silence and purposely refraining from using the other L word.
"Yeah. She's a great girl. Funny, witty, smart as hell... the list goes on. What else can a man in my position ask for right?"
"You forgot to mention gorgeous."
"That too."
"Haha. Don't worry it's all good. Admitting your physical attraction to her doesn't cheapen the relationship one bit."
"Heh. Yeah... you're right. Thanks 'teach. 'Guess this time I owe you."
[Not to mention I should give you more credit. You're a lot sharper than you let on.]
"Oh please. Just looking out for you two kids."
Onizuka held out his beercan.
"One more toast. To you and Kanzaki Urumi. May you never piss her off enough to find a habu in your pants."
Yoshito laughed out loud and drank heartily to the toast.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N:
En Vino Veritas = latin for "In Wine, Truth" I tried looking up the exact source of this famous quote, but all I got was 'Anonymous.' Ah well, I'm sure pretty much everyone's experienced the so-called 'clarity' of thought associated with being buzzed (not rip-roaring drunk though).
Many thanks to those who took the time out to R&R: Hermionini, Dargon Sheinto, iron kitty, Allence of the Weed, Cattleya Glory, Prizz, mikethebigW, SILENT TROWA, and cul girl!!!! =)
Hermionini, Dargon Sheinto, cul girl!!!!: Glad you all liked it! Thanks for reviewing!
iron kitty: Good thing your hubby was around to explain things =P Thanks for the props, hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!
Allence of the Weed: Ahhh to be young again. sigh anyway yeah I can understand taglish perfectly. or tagalog. or a smattering of spanish. take your pick =) thanks for the great review!
Cattleya Glory: hey now,'course folks here care if you review or not; and by all means do say what you think. it's a free internet =) lemme know what confused you in chap8 the next time you review ok? thanks again!
Prizz: They went as far as your imagination can take you. Though definitely no home runs... yet. =P Glad you liked that chapter!
mikethebigW: Thanks for reminding me where I heard that line from bro. Ya, she's definitely a fine wine to be savored slowly. And you're spot on re the 'journey' being as important (or more!) as the destination. Keeo rocking with Behind the Mask! Thanks for the props!
SILENT TROWA: Maybe it has to do with me being a fencer waaay back. Then again maybe not =P I try to put in as much of the classic work/texts and historical analogies/references as I can, but I don't want to force it in if it doesn't really fit the character or chapter i.e. Onizuka quoting Sun Tzu or Musashi Miyamoto regarding 'strategy.' Hope you liked this one as well!
'Then and Now' should start winding down by this chapter. Maybe two or three more chapters to go, and then sporadic updates from thereon; only when something new comes to mind.
Thanks again everyone! Stay tuned till the next chapter!
ja ne
By: Miguel Artadi
Disclaimer: I don't own GTO and any of the characters in it. I'd be rich if I did.
[ ] = Kikuchi's thoughts
Chapter IX - En Vino Veritas
Kikuchi was buzzed. Not drunk mind you, but definitely getting there. It's been a little over a month since he and Kanzaki unofficially got together, and tonight he found himself sharing drinks with Onizuka back at the old Seirin roofdeck under the watchful eyes of the crescent moon, a half-dozen or so empty beercans littering the area at their feet.
"Mmmmm.... it just tastes better and better. Where'd you get these imports again?" Eikichi asked, sipping his drink.
"Told you it was good. Well my last client was so impressed with my work that he gave me a shitload of these. I knew there was no way in hell I could put a dent in the stock all by myself, so I figured you could lend a helping hand. By the way, where's Ryuji? I half-expected you to invite him along to sample this stuff."
"I would've, but it's his and Nagisa's anniversary. So anyway, what's up with you and Urumi? You treating each other well?"
[Not again.]
"Yep."
Unsatisfied with monosyllabic answers, Onizuka continued to press the issue. "Uh-huh. AND?"
"And what?"
"Can't you be more specific?"
"Can't you just enjoy the beer?"
"Hey now, I AM enjoying the beer. I'm just curious as to how things are working out with the two of you. Last time I saw you two together at that little impromptu dinner we had, things were looking great. Never saw the both of you so outwardly happy like that." His old teacher responded, raising his beercan in half-salute.
The impromptu dinner that Onizuka referred to happened two weeks prior. As Kikuchi and Kanzaki were out on one of their dates, Eikichi and Azusa chanced upon them, also on a date of their own. They almost froze in panic when they realized that they were still holding hands as Mr. and Mrs. Onizuka walked over and started chatting them up; yet as surprises came and went, the two didn't seem to make such a big deal out of it. Admittedly, that little detail bugged Yoshito.
[Odd, that. I was pretty sure you'd make a huge production out of it.]
Finally relenting, Kikuchi sighed and answered his old teacher's question. "We're good to each other. It's not all fun and games of course" he replied, the beer obviously making him share more than he normally would. He held his can out at arm's length and stared at it.
[This is good shit.] He thought as he shrugged, chugged the contents and opened another.
"Mmmm... that goes without saying. Relationships seldom are." Eikichi started ticking off his fingers. "Finding and making time to go out on dates, with work and all that hanging over your head. Little misunderstandings that grow into spats, etc. etc."
Kikuchi continued where his teacher left off. "Hah, you said it. And then when you ask them straight out if anything's wrong, they say 'nothing' and yet expect you to read their minds! Imagine that!"
Eikichi smirked. As to place an exclamation at the end of Yoshito's last statement, Onizuka held his can out to toast the point. Grinning, Kikuchi vigorously smacked his drink against his old teacher's, apparently with enough force to spill some of the contents. They then proceeded to down what was left; definitely male bonding at its finest, simple and direct to the point.
Grabbing some more alcohol and tossing one to his drinking partner, the genius leaned back and mused. "You know what's weird though, it all just seemed to happen so fast. I mean, one day I hear from you that she's back in town, so I look her up and we have lunch together. Next thing I know I'm pissing in my pants figuring out a way to ask her out, and when I finally do, she's all game for it. And then, on the night of the date itself, we make out like a pair of teenagers."
[Aww shit. You just HAD to tell him about that last part.] he thought, immediately regretting his candor.
Hearing this, Onizuka cocked an eyebrow and flashed his trademark leer. "Nice. So is she a real blonde? I've been dying to know."
Though Yoshito considered grabbing an empty can and smacking his teacher with it, he chuckled inwardly at the mental picture the question brought him. Wanting to close the subject matter at hand though, he decided to go with something else more in line with his style.
"I wonder how Mrs. Onizuka would react if she knew you asked me that?" Kikuchi replied off-handedly.
Having quickly weighed his options, Onizuka remained silent and took another sip of his beer, his expression nothing more than a slight pout.
Satisfied, Yoshito spoke again. "Anyway I dunno... everything just seemed to fall into place real easy. I'm just not used to things being all hunkey-dorey in such a short span of time."
"So what exactly is your problem?"
[Argh. How did you become a teacher again?]
"Do I have to repeat myself? Too easy."
Eikichi slapped his forehead, exasperated at Kikuchi's line of thought. "You know, thing with you geniuses is that your heads keep making problems where there aren't any. Can't you just accept the way things happened and actually be happy that they turned out this way?" Onizuka said, wagging his finger at his old student.
It didn't take a genius's IQ to know Eikichi was right. The alcohol further loosening his tongue, Yoshito decided to just lay his cards out.
"Look, for the record, I AM having the time of my life. I just can't help thinking about it."
Onizuka couldn't help but be amused at his former student's blatant show of honesty; usually it took longer to pry these things out of him. He's also changed a little in the past month or so; it was almost imperceptible at first, but as the Yoshito he had always known was cool and laidback, this one now seemed more... alive. Vibrant even. He chalked it off as a result of the kid's blossoming relationship with Kanzaki (in addition to the beer of course). With everything being said and done, he mentally congratulated himself for his part in the matter.
"You two are hopeless. Well I guess there's no harm in telling you now. I, your Great Teacher Onizuka, am partly responsible for her being so open to the idea of dating you. There. Guilty. You can show your appreciation by giving me what we have left of the beer later."
Kikuchi slowly turned his head to face the self-proclaimed great teacher. "Excuse me? Okay, you've got about ten seconds to explain before all this beer goes sailing over the fence."
To Eikichi, this was unthinkable. "Idiot! This is quality stuff! It's practically a sin to waste beer like this!!"
[Only because I've got more where this came from. Now spill.]
Kikuchi just stared at him. His expression read 'Try me.'
"All right all right! Geez. Sometime after you two went out for lunch she calls me up in the middle of the night. Asks me about you and all that. She sounded groggy, so maybe she had a dream with you in it or something."
[A dream huh? Woohoo.]
"What did she say?"
"Oh come now. You know I can't tell you that. Unless you want me to break Urumi's trust and confidence?"
"Bah." Another point to Onizuka. He hated it when that happened.
"Look, what difference does it make? It was pretty much the same thing as convincing you to look her up. End result? You two are together, things are looking good, and you're blissfully in love if I'm not mistaken. Sounds good if you ask me." Eikichi replied as he added a belch to reinforce his statement.
Yoshito groaned. "The L word."
"Wait, you two HAVE exchanged the requisite I-Love-You's right?"
"Not really."
[It's a pride thing, a test of wills thing.]
"Oy. You two are hopeless." Onizuka said, hanging his head.
"Doesn't mean we don't though. We do. I'm pretty sure about it..."
[Are you?]
Kikuchi continued to feign his confidence. "We're just waiting to see who cracks first."
His teacher had apparently ingested enough alcohol to fail to notice his millisecond's worth of self-doubt.
"Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today. I tell my family I love them every chance I get. It's a crazy world I tell you. Life's too short not to experience it fully."
"Yer getting sappy 'teach."
"I'm drunk. Sue me. Can I take this beer home?"
"Help yourself. Get half of what we got left when we're done."
"Great."
Yoshito went silent for a handful seconds, pondering another of his newly-conceived insecurities.
[Oh what the hell. Let's see what he thinks.]
"One more thing though. Kinda serious, if you can still handle it."
"Oh please. You know I can go from drunk to sober in the brink of an eye."
[You mean BLINK of an eye don't you?]
"Yeah whatever. Anyway, I just wanted to ask... how much should the other party in a relationship know about you and your past?"
[I'm asking for relationship advice from Onizuka. Ugh. What the hell is wrong with me?]
A small bell tingled in the back of Eikichi's brain, signaling that there was more to Kikuchi's trust issue than met the eye.
"Hmmm... that depends. In your case, I think it'd only be fair to let her in a little more than most everyone else, since A) you yourself already know a great deal about her past and B) you two are dating seriously I presume?"
"Of course."
This was the only time Yoshito ever found himself second-guessing his analyses of a relationship, something that he never had to do with the rest. Kanzaki Urumi was definitely different. Nowadays, he sincerely hoped that 'different' was a good thing.
"Go ahead then. Let her in some more, bit by bit."
It was Kikuchi's turn to belch, which afterwards he started reasoning. "Mmm. What about the whole 'keeping a mystery, strong and silent' deal?"
Onizuka chuckled. "That's the spirit. Well, coming from a guy who married his first and only girlfriend, I can only tell you what I've seen. And to be honest, I've witnessed that method work with the people around me; yourself included with your past girlfriends. But you know what? Call me a sentimental old fart because I definitely believe that no 'approach' is even necessary when it comes to that one special person. Take Azusa and myself for example. I never felt I had to pretend to be anything else other than the already great man that I was when I was around her. So yeah, mystery and the whole strong and silent thing will most likely get your foot in the door, but isn't really a great way to go by for the rest of the relationship."
"So I do... what?"
"Just relax and be yourself kid. Take it slowly and surely, but don't keep that heart of yours hidden away under lock and key. Don't wear it on your sleeve either. Just be the Kikuchi Yoshito she's always known and unknowingly depended on."
"Eh? Depended on? What're you talking about?"
"Oh stop pretending already will you? I've known you were looking out for her as early as junior high. I wouldn't be a great teacher if I didn't know what was going on with my students."
[Wonderful. I wonder what else he knows.]
Yoshito sighed and glanced up at the crescent moon, his thoughts drifting to Urumi once more.
Onizuka noticed this and smiled.
"You really like her don't you?" he said, breaking the silence and purposely refraining from using the other L word.
"Yeah. She's a great girl. Funny, witty, smart as hell... the list goes on. What else can a man in my position ask for right?"
"You forgot to mention gorgeous."
"That too."
"Haha. Don't worry it's all good. Admitting your physical attraction to her doesn't cheapen the relationship one bit."
"Heh. Yeah... you're right. Thanks 'teach. 'Guess this time I owe you."
[Not to mention I should give you more credit. You're a lot sharper than you let on.]
"Oh please. Just looking out for you two kids."
Onizuka held out his beercan.
"One more toast. To you and Kanzaki Urumi. May you never piss her off enough to find a habu in your pants."
Yoshito laughed out loud and drank heartily to the toast.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/N:
En Vino Veritas = latin for "In Wine, Truth" I tried looking up the exact source of this famous quote, but all I got was 'Anonymous.' Ah well, I'm sure pretty much everyone's experienced the so-called 'clarity' of thought associated with being buzzed (not rip-roaring drunk though).
Many thanks to those who took the time out to R&R: Hermionini, Dargon Sheinto, iron kitty, Allence of the Weed, Cattleya Glory, Prizz, mikethebigW, SILENT TROWA, and cul girl!!!! =)
Hermionini, Dargon Sheinto, cul girl!!!!: Glad you all liked it! Thanks for reviewing!
iron kitty: Good thing your hubby was around to explain things =P Thanks for the props, hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!
Allence of the Weed: Ahhh to be young again. sigh anyway yeah I can understand taglish perfectly. or tagalog. or a smattering of spanish. take your pick =) thanks for the great review!
Cattleya Glory: hey now,'course folks here care if you review or not; and by all means do say what you think. it's a free internet =) lemme know what confused you in chap8 the next time you review ok? thanks again!
Prizz: They went as far as your imagination can take you. Though definitely no home runs... yet. =P Glad you liked that chapter!
mikethebigW: Thanks for reminding me where I heard that line from bro. Ya, she's definitely a fine wine to be savored slowly. And you're spot on re the 'journey' being as important (or more!) as the destination. Keeo rocking with Behind the Mask! Thanks for the props!
SILENT TROWA: Maybe it has to do with me being a fencer waaay back. Then again maybe not =P I try to put in as much of the classic work/texts and historical analogies/references as I can, but I don't want to force it in if it doesn't really fit the character or chapter i.e. Onizuka quoting Sun Tzu or Musashi Miyamoto regarding 'strategy.' Hope you liked this one as well!
'Then and Now' should start winding down by this chapter. Maybe two or three more chapters to go, and then sporadic updates from thereon; only when something new comes to mind.
Thanks again everyone! Stay tuned till the next chapter!
ja ne