For LJ's 30kisses #10 Theme.


Counting to Ten

by

Redex


Tachibana trialed a finger lazily up Hitonari's arm, watching teh paler flesh flush as he passed.

The thunder and lightning startled them every few minutes as the water splattered down in great gobs onto the land.

Hitonari was trying to cound the seconds in between the thunder and lightning after Tachibana had told him about it, thinking every child knew.

One

It was too hot to do anything but laze around. The heat all day had left them bickering all practice, but now thatthe storm had broken they were silent. Even breathing seemed like too much work. But they didn't want to be alone.

Two

Tachibana watched silently as Hitonari's mouth formed that simple word. They both could remember learning the twos time table easily - one basket, two points; four baskets, eight points. There were two hands pressed together, examined carefully. Ten fingers.

Three

Hitonari lazily made a waving motion with three fingers: a three pointer. Neither of them shot them very well, but then they didn't have to. They both worked better in close quarters, dribblng, driving, penetrating and scoring. Tachibana liked to think it reflected his charector, but where did that leave Hitonari?

Four

The position Tachibana played. The number of people in Hitonari's family. Part of his lucky number. Two pairs of feet, two pairs of hands, two pairs of eyes... They added up nicely, he though, touching Hitonari's hair as those misty-violet eyes looked out the window at the clouds.

Five

How many players on a court for each team. The starting lineup, something he had never left for very long since mini basketball. Running on how many years since his father died. He tried to pick out five single hairs from Hitnoari's head and failed, but his consolation prize was a cute exasperated look from Hitonari.

Six

Roughly how many ridges Hitonari's hand had ran over as he slid it over Tachibana's chest. Also how many shivers ran down Tachibana's spine into his gut. It was starting to get a little cooler out, but Hitnoari was still counting for the rumbles.

Seven

What number Hitonari's apartement was. After recieving complaints of Tachibana knockign on every door in the building early in the morning to find his, Hitonari had managed to make him memorize it. The "positive reinforcement" he used helped too.

Eight

Tachibana desperately wanted to capture Hitonari's attention as well as the clouds were. he wanted that hand to run over many more than eight ridges. He pulled himself a little closer and waited for the next number urgently.

Nine

Hitonari's number. The perfect three, or so he said. Nine was the last of the single didgets. Nine seconds was how long Hitonari had not looked at him.

Ten

As soon as the word was out of his mouth, the sky rumbled magnificiently and Tachibana, taking his cue, seized Hitonari around the hip and neck and pulled them together for a long breathless kiss. Hitnoari was just lucky Tachibana had waited for him.

He was always thankful for Tachibana.

But he wouldn't have minded if Tachibana had butted in earlier. The clouds weren't that important and ten was a long time.


Comment!