One Plus One
by Lethe Seraph
Chapter Eight: In which the protagonist is curious, and his tutor cooks
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I'm so sorry! It really has been a while. ::sweatdrops:: Sorry about that. I became wrapped up in other things. Please forgive me! TTTT
Heh. I know, I know, his secret hasn't been revealed yet. Heh heh heh. I wonder how long it'll take. Maybe he'll tell Raenef himself! (Suuure.)
Let's see how this goes… having fun with lines ... whoo!
Ah, cliché. I sigh. Darnit…
--
"Wow!" Raenef bounced, enveloped by the plushy dark leather, and beamed. "This is so cool!"
"It's just my car," said Eclipse amusedly.
"But it's so cool! And I'm sitting in the front and everything!" Raenef bounced a bit more as he put on his seatbelt.
"Don't you usually?"
"Nope! Chris and Erutis like to sit in front when their parents take us places."
"What sort of places?" said Eclipse.
"Oh, the usual …" said Raenef. "Movies, bowling … once, an amusement park. That was fun." Raenef grinned. "Your car is really awesome."
"I'm glad you think so," said Eclipse, starting the engine. He pulled out of the parking space.
"So where do you live?"
"Not too far from here," assured Eclipse. "It should be about ten minutes."
"Okay," said Raenef. He bounced.
The car shook.
Eclipse ran a hand through his long hair, allowing the wind to toss it about. Raenef watched. Eclipse was pretty.
"Why do you always tie your hair back?"
"It would be rather uncomfortable if I didn't," said Eclipse distractedly. In front of him, a car was abruptly changing lanes. Several people were sticking their fingers out of their windows. Raenef wondered why.
"Couldn't you just cut your hair?" said Raenef, before actually thinking about it. Eclipse wouldn't be Eclipse with short hair, would he? An image appeared to his mind, and he giggled. That looked really weird.
Or what if his hair were like Great Teacher Kra-
"No," said Eclipse. "I prefer it long."
Raenef had burst into giggles.
Eclipse stared at him before remembering to watch the road. "What is it, Raenef?"
"N-nothing…!" He bounced with laughter.
Or Chris's? Or … or Meruhesae's?!
Ooh! What if Eclipse's hair looked like his? Raenef giggled a bit more. He would have to get permission to play with Eclipse's hair later.
He wondered how long he would stay.
Eclipse rolled his eyes slightly. His young tutee was insane …
…perhaps that was why they got along so well.
At least he buckled up.
-
Krayon looked up from his book - a fascinating Japanese comic about crossdressers and gay males – thoughtfully. Had Chris and Erutis ever told Raenef about Eclipse…?
He shrugged, returning to the story with a smile. If things were going as he suspected, Raenef would certainly find out soon enough.
-
"We're here," said Eclipse, exiting the car. He walked around it and opened Raenef's door politely. Raenef grinned.
"Thanks!"
Eclipse took Raenef's hand and led him into the building.
Neither noticed this time that they were holding hands; it seemed an old, familiar comfort.
"Here we are," said Eclipse a minute later. He reached into his pocket and procured a silver key. Raenef idly looked at the number above the door. "Room one-thirteen …" he read to himself. For some reason, the number seemed to fit.
Eclipse opened the door.
"Woww…!" breathed Raenef, following Eclipse into the room like a tousle-haired sheep. "Amazing!"
The room was like Eclipse: it was tidy and tall, with quite a few shiny silver accessories, and it was very, very …
… black.
It was lit only by several carefully-placed lamps, glowing softly. The blinds were drawn. Seeing that they were on the first floor, Raenef guessed that it was because Eclipse liked his privacy. From seeing Eclipse's interactions with Krayon, and even Raenef himself, he thought that it was a pretty good guess.
Dark, dustless bookshelves lined the wall to one side of Raenef. He stepped further into the room to examine their contents. Doctor Faustus, he read as particular titles caught his eye. Cyrano de Bergerac. Othello. Then to another shelf: Cosmic Tarot. Palmistry. Robots and Empire. Raenef blinked at the last one. Sounded kind of interesting.
Eclipse had taken a turn into the kitchen, while Raenef explored the living room. "Do you have any allergies?" he called.
"Um …" Raenef was drawn away from Songmaster, The Mask of Apollo, and a number of thick books that all proclaimed themselves parts of The Lord of the Rings. "No!"
"All right, then. Does fried rice sound all right to you?"
Raenef grinned. "I'm sure I'll like anything, if you make it."
Unseen by Raenef, a slight cherry tint brushed against Eclipse's pale cheeks. He coughed quietly, trying to regain the dignity that had not been lost. "Fried rice it is. Feel free to look at anything."
"Okay!"
Raenef heard a chopping noise begin. So that was where the kitchen was.
What other rooms were there in the apartment?
He walked through the living room, noting the cold wood of the floor – was Eclipse not one for rugs, then? – as he passed. Eclipse had said that he could look at anything, right? Right, he affirmed to himself.
He was faced by three doors, each lit eerily by the soft golden light. How long had it taken the older youth to get used to this?
"First door first, then," said Raenef aloud, feeling somewhat like a game show contestant. He grasped the handle and turned it.
Bathroom.He shut it again.
The second?
Cupboard.
All right. He made a mental note to ask for some of that Pocky later. Why did Eclipse keep Pocky?
That left the third door. A strange sense of foreboding struck Raenef. He could feel a certain … presence, for lack of a better word … from behind that door. Raenef listened for the rhythmic chop-chop-chop from the kitchen before proceeding.
He opened the door.
With a seemingly careless, though precise, motion, Eclipse scattered his work into a sizzling wok. It would be ready soon. He had concentrated carefully, though thoughts always pried at the corners of his mind; he wanted Raenef to enjoy this meal.
He wanted Raenef to come back again.
Eclipse had always felt alone; no one, not even Krayon, had ever completely understood him. But, then, how could he expect him to? Every human was different, after all.
He was human.
It was what he preferred to believe, above all of his old teacher's jesting comments.
Damn that Krayon.
Pay attention! Eclipse quickly moved a particular grouping of vegetables before they stayed long enough to burn. He would have to watch more closely.
He wondered what Raenef was up to.
The floor was bare, save for a lonesome black mat to one side of it. A desk was there as well, various books and papers placed neatly on it. Raenef flipped through the papers. The handwriting on them was small, precise; no cross-outs or stray marks were to be found. Eventually becoming bored of the essays, Raenef glanced away from them.
For some reason, one particular drawer in the desk caught his eye.
Being Raenef …
… he opened it.
Tablecloths were set; silverware and glasses had been placed. Considering that Raenef was underage, Eclipse had left the alcohol (of which he had little – the taste did not appeal to him) tucked safely away. He had turned down the lights in favor of flickering candlelight, which filled the room with a faint vanilla scent.
Why, if Raenef had been female, it would have been considered by any casual observer to be a date.
It was about time to turn the stove off.
"Wednesday the fourth … today was the third of Raenef's tutoring sessions – hey!" read Raenef out of the small, velvety book he had found. "This is…"
A diary? He hadn't thought Eclipse to be one who would keep such a thing. Then again, he is a pretty private person, right? He has to have something to vent to.
Why?
I thought that he would keep it in his memory.
Maybe, thought Raenef, this was written for someone else to read.
Someone like me?
He had said that Raenef could look at anything.
Today was the third of Raenef's tutoring sessions. While I hadn't expected to, I am enjoying myself somewhat. The boy is – unlike the others – quite enthusiastic, with a positive outlook on things.
As of yet, I have not seen his parents. I assume him to have none; his attitude is all the more commendable for it. I am surprised that he is not a recluse, or quieter at the very least.
But I am babbling.
We worked on his math skills – though enthusiastic, he lacks fundamental knowledge, a fact which I must reverse – as well as basic spelling. I shudder at the memory.
That had been a while ago. Raenef grinned. He had gotten better since Eclipse had begun tutoring him.
He flipped forward, close to the end of the book.
Today, Krayon visited me in the apartment again. I don't know why he persists. There is nothing to gain from his visits but a headache of elephantine proportions. I believe that the level of his ability to irritate me on any given day varies inversely with the length of his skirts. …
He asked me about Raenef, informing me that he had been told by two of his students that I tutor the boy. I affirmed the truth of it, feeling that I had no reason to conceal it. I told Krayon that Raenef was a good child …
"Just a child?"
I asked Krayon what he meant.
"You know what I mean," was the idiot's reply.
And, in fact, I did.
But what was my answer?
Raenef's heart was pounding. He took the page carefully and began to turn it- his breath quickened in anticipation-
"Raenef! Dinner is ready!"
He dropped it onto the desk, curiosity forgotten to the promise of food. "Coming!"
As the boy bolted out of his tutor's bedroom, the book settled to the next page.
It was blank.