Warning: This story contains yaoi, or shonen-ai. If you don't like it, don't read it, and don't flame me for it.
Pairings: JakBan, maybe others
Name: Bankotsu Monomi
School: Gensai High School
Grade: 10
Gender: Male
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Family: Brother, Renkotsu
Popularity: None
Name: Jakotsu Iida
School: Gensai High School
Grade: 11
Gender: Male
Hair: Black
Eyes: Grey
Family: None
Popularity: Some
These two different teens will soon find out that they are more alike that they had previously thought….
Alike Opposites
Chapter 1: The Outcast and The Prankster
"Bankotsu, get your lazy self out of bed and come down to breakfast!" My brother, Renkotsu, yelled through the door. I grunted in reply and rolled over on my bed, trying to go back to sleep. I almost succeeded, but of course Renkotsu had to ruin it for me.
"Bankotsu, you leave me no choice…I'm coming in!" He said a little to cheerfully. I barely had time to process this when a bucket of ice cold water was dumped all over me. Renkotsu laughed evilly, running out the door.
"Renkotsu, come back here you idiot!" I screamed after him.
I chased him down the hall, and almost followed him out the door until I realized that I was still in my pajamas- black boxer shorts and an oversized T-shirt. Grumbling to myself about crazed brothers and evil buckets of water, I reluctantly got ready for school.
Once I was ready I headed to the kitchen to fix my breakfast. It looked like Renkotsu had already eaten, judging from the amount of dirty dishes in the sink. He always had to use at least four plates to eat, instead of the one normal people use. Then again, Renkotsu is anything but normal. With the tattoos on his face, I always thought that he looked like some kind of fruit. Demented fruit. I'm not sure why I thought that, but then again I'm not normal, either. I also have a tattoo - a purple star on my forehead. I won't tell you exactly how I ended up getting it, but I will say that it involved spiked punch, sweaty socks, and lots of very small, very painful needles. And did I mention that I am also gay? Yep, I'm attracted to other guys- not that anybody knows, of course. It would be a disaster if anyone at school ever found out.
But I'm getting off track. Throughout my little ramble, I had almost made it to school. I was about a block away when a group of senior jocks stopped me.
"Well, look who it is- little Banny!" said one of them, a big muscled guy with an even bigger ego. He was calling me my much hated nickname- (by me, at least) Banny. It sounded like a little kid's name, and because I am so small in build, the preps and jocks gave me the name Banny. How I loathed it.
I winced at the name, but I was already walking toward the school so they didn't see me do it.
"Hey, where do you think you're going!" another jock asked threateningly. I ignored him and kept on walking, or I did until a hand clamped down on my shoulder and spun me around. It was the first guy.
He brought back his fist and aimed it at me, but I turned my body, making him miss me completely. In all my years of bullying, I had learned three things: One, don't run away, Two, move as little as you can, and Three, don't hang around after you're done with them. I was following the second rule now. The first guy growled and came at me again, this time trying to punch me in the stomach. I caught his hand and quickly moved behind him, causing his arm to twist painfully. He yelped and fell to his knees, cradling his arm.
Two other jocks came at me from either side, steam practically coming out of their ears. I waited until the last second, then took a step backwards. The blockheads collided and fell down, dazed from their crash. I smirked and turned to face the rest of the group. My smirk faded as I saw how many of them were still standing. There were at least nine other guys, all of them bigger and stronger than I was.
My opponents separated and surrounded me on either side. I gulped and got into a fighting stance with one of my hands in a fist by my side and the other one in front of me, with my first two fingers straight. I was about to launch myself at them when I felt someone else's back press against my own.
"Need a little help?" the person, a boy, asked.
"Sure," I replied.
Together we fought our way through all of the offenders, cornering the last one and knocking him out swiftly. I blew my bangs out of my eyes and looked over at my partner, grinning.
"Thanks. I would have been Bankotsu on a stick if you hadn't come," I said thankfully. The other boy smiled.
"So I guess that's your name, huh? I'm Jakotsu. Jakotsu Iida," He introduced himself.
"I'm Bankotsu Monomi," I said. Do you know how hard it is to keep a straight face when the inside of your mind is flashing 'HOT GUY! HOT GUY!' at you? No? Well, let me tell you, it isn't the easiest thing in the world- especially with a guy with Jakotsu's looks.
He had wonderful black, shiny hair pulled up into a half ponytail and the cutest purple stripes under each eye. Speaking of eyes, he had the most gorgeous dark blue eyes that I had ever seen. It felt like I could drown in them. In fact, I think I must have drowned in them because Jakotsu was waving a hand in front of my face, trying to get my attention.
"Yoo-hoo, anybody in there?" he asked in a singsong voice.
"Huh?" was my brilliant reply. When I noticed what he was doing I blushed slightly for spacing out on him and tried to make him forget about it by starting up a conversation.
"So, Jakotsu, where do you go to school?" I asked. He seemed familiar, but I couldn't figure out where I had seen him before.
"I go to Gensai High. You go there too, right?" he said.
"Yeah, but how did you know? I'm not exactly the most popular kid in the school," I wondered curiously.
"I know basically everyone in the school. I like to play pranks, so I have to find out who's the best person to do it on. Mostly it's the preps and jocks, but occasionally I find a target among the others at the school," Jakotsu stated.
"That must be why you look familiar. I think I've seen you in the principal's office when I passed by there before. You sure get sent there alot," I said truthfully. I had seen him there on numerous occasions.
"Yeah, I guess I have," Jakotsu answered sheepishly. We laughed and continued our journey to the school.
"Hey, Jakotsu!" I called out to him as he was heading toward his first class.
"Hmm?" he replied, turning his head and blinking once. I found this the cutest gesture, and for a moment was lost in a fantasy of chibi Jakotsu's running around with puppy dog eyes. Don't ask.
I was startled from my daydream by Jakotsu's voice, asking me what I wanted. I blushed and said,
"Sorry about that. I was just daydreaming. Anyway, do you want to go to the ramen place after school? After the stuff that the school board calls lunch, you'll probably need it."
"Sure! I'll meet you by the bike stand right after school, okay?" he said. I grinned and nodded, waving before racing to my locker to get my things.
I slid into class as the last bell rang, barely making it. I had to run to get there in time- my locker was practically on the other side of the building, and I had spent most of the time I normally used for going to my locker talking to Jakotsu. I really didn't mind, though. It was well worth it, in my opinion.
That got me thinking about Jakotsu. Now that I thought about it, I did remember seeing him slinking around right before I saw Takeda-sensei run out of the bathroom, screaming bloody murder. And before orange paint was found all over the entire cheerleading squad's uniforms. They had to perform in them, too.
I snorted softly at the memory- the whole fiasco was Jakotsu's fault, and apparently he enjoyed every minute of it. I sighed wistfully and started taking notes, my thoughts drifting occasionally towards Jakotsu.
Jakotsu was waiting for me at the bike rack, just as he promised. He waved as soon as he spotted me, jogging over. After exchanging hellos, we made our way towards Ichiraku's, the best place to get ramen this side of the country. We didn't really talk on our way to Ichiraku's, but remained in a comfortable silence. It was a blessing after the noisy clamor of the schoolyard.
As we arrived at the ramen house, a waitress led us to a booth near the back of the building. We sat down and, already knowing what we wanted, ordered. Jakotsu got ramen with miso, while I ordered teriyaki ramen. The waitress, Mika, nodded and went to get our food.
"Bankotsu, are you friends with any of the cheerleaders or football team?" Jakotsu asked randomly. I blinked in surprise and answered,
"No, why?"
"I thought of a really good prank to pull on them on the way here, but I didn't want to do it if you were friends with any of them." Jakotsu said.
"Do tell," I said somewhat evilly.
Jakotsu smirked and said,
"Well, here's what I was thinking…"
I tried to stifle my laughter as Jakotsu and I watched the unsuspecting cheerleader walk into the cafeteria. She was strolling right into the trap we had set up. A second after she walked in there, we heard a scream and she came running out of the cafeteria. A crowd of people rushed into the room to see what was wrong, and promptly started laughing.
Jakotsu gave me a high five, and we casually strolled into the room, acting like we knew nothing about the pictures hanging from the walls and ceiling. And what pictures they were- all of a cheerleader or football player doing something embarrassing. There was a picture of a cheerleader picking her nose, scratching her butt, and even one with the head cheerleader laying on the couch wearing nothing but a bra and boxer shorts, stuffing her face with cake. The pictures of the football players were worse. Together Jakotsu and I had captured one of them singing into a hairbrush, dancing with a lamp, and sleeping with a teddy bear with his thumb in his mouth on film. There were many, many others as well.
All of the pictures had been blown up to the size of a piece of paper and strung like laundry from the walls, ceiling, and just about any other place you could think of. Needless to say, the people in the pictures weren't happy, but no one had any proof of anyone doing it, so we were home free. Or, at least until we heard a voice say over the loudspeaker,
"Jakotsu Iida, please come to the principal's office immediately."
Jakotsu and I flinched and looked at each other.
"I guess someone caught us." I said dejectedly.
"Actually, I doubt that they could find any evidence that we did anything. The staff just know that I'm the only one who ever plays pranks around here, and so they automatically know it's me." Jakotsu commented.
"Well, this time it was both of us. Better go confess." I said dryly.
"But they don't know that you were involved. I'll just go to them and say that I did it, and no one will be the wiser." He replied.
"I'm not leaving you to take all the blame!" I argued, not wanting him to take my punishment.
"It's fine, really. I'm used to it by now." He assured me.
"You're not taking the blame for me and that's final!" I ended the conversation. Jakotsu sighed, but followed me into the principal's office.
As we entered, the secretary looked up. I entered the room first and my body was blocking Jakotsu's from view. The woman smiled at me and said,
"Hello. How can I help you?" I remembered that no one knew that I had helped Jakotsu with his prank, so I told her why I was there.
"Honey, you don't need to cover for him. He's not worth it." The lady said with a sneer. I bristled at the remark and was about to give her a piece of my mind when Jakotsu placed a calming hand on my shoulder. His breath tickled my ear as he whispered,
"Take it easy- I'm used to this. Let me handle it."
I narrowed my eyes, but nodded. Jakotsu smiled and stepped out from behind me, making the secretary's sneer turn into a scowl.
"Making others cover for you- that's just the kind of thing I would expect from someone like you." She said icily. I stepped forward and snapped,
"Jakotsu didn't make me do anything. I helped him pull the prank, and now I'm going to share the punishment with him. I don't care what you or anyone else has to say about it, either."
Jakotsu glanced at me with wide eyes, but I kept staring at the woman, daring her to say anything.
"Go on in to the principal's office, then." She finally said with a snobbish air about her.
"We will." I replied, not phased in the least by her attitude. Jakotsu and I made our way into the office. I was still simmering with anger at what the woman had said to my new friend, and I hoped that I wouldn't take it out on the principal. I didn't need another black mark on my already marred record.
The principal was an aging man who should have retired years ago, but stubbornly refused to relinquish his position. He was sitting in a high-backed leather chair when Jakotsu and I stepped into his office. Apparently he had heard what I said to the secretary about helping with Jakotsu's prank because as soon as we walked in, he said,
"So, you're Jakotsu's new partner in crime, eh?"
"Yeah. And Jakotsu didn't put me up to it, either." I confirmed. The principal chuckled and reassured me,
"Oh, I believe you. Jakotsu wouldn't do that to someone, although my secretary seems to think otherwise. So, what shall the punishment be this time?"
I must have looked confused, because Jakotsu chuckled and said,
"I get to choose my punishment. Unless my pranks do actual harm, there's not really much anyone can do to me. He just lets me decide my own punishment so he doesn't have to."
"Wow. I didn't know you could do that." I said, impressed. Jakotsu shrugged and turned back to the principal.
"How about two days cleaning duty with the janitor? I'll clean up all of the gunk people leave behind and everyone will be satisfied that I got my 'just desserts'. Of course I'm friends with the janitor, but they don't have to know that."
The principal nodded and picked up his pen, writing on a piece of paper. When he was done he folded it and said,
"So on Wednesday and Thursday you'll be with the janitor after school. And you, too, Bankotsu."
Jakosu and I grinned and mock-saluted before turning and going through the doorway.
Jakotsu had mentioned a new café he wanted to try, so after school we went there. It was called Starglow café. It sounded like a snooty place to me, but when we went there it was surprisingly homey. A waitress led us to a table, took our orders, and left to get them. Jakotsu and I stayed in a comfortable silence until I brought up something I had heard the secretary at the school say.
"Hey, Jakotsu? What did the secretary mean when she said 'someone like you'?"
Jakotsu visibly stiffened and said, stuttering,
"I…I don't know what you mean."
I raised my eyebrow and reassured him,
"You can tell me, Jakotsu. I promise I won't freak out or anything."
Jakotsu rubbed his arm nervously before replying,
"You'll probably think I'm disgusting or something."
I reached over the table and placed my hand on top of his.
"I won't be disgusted. You can tell me anything, Jakotsu."
Jakotsu took a deep breath and said,
"I'm gay." He screwed his eyes shut, as if expecting a blow. When I didn't do anything, he slowly opened his eyes and said in a disbelieving tone,
"Aren't you going to run away screaming now?"
I smiled gently at him and replied,
"Why would I? Even if you like boys more than girls, you're still my friend. And besides, I'm the same way."
Jakotsu gaped at me, his mouth wide open.
"Be careful, you might catch a roaming speck of dust." I joked. His eyes teared up and he rubbed furiously at them with the heel of his palm.
"What's the matter?" I asked worriedly. He gave me a shaky smile and said,
"It's just that no one has ever stayed with me once they found out. I'm just happy, that's all."
"Well, you'd better be prepared, 'cause it looks like you're going to be stuck with me for a long time." I said jauntily. We laughed, and spent the rest of our stay at the café trading jokes.
Whew! That took awhile! 6 pages on Microsoft word. I need more ideas, and any help would be greatly appreciated! Don't expect updates that often, though, because I'm a slow typer, and I have to make this up as I go.
Reviews are welcome, and flames will be used to cook my ramen! Hmm…maybe you should send me flames…I'm joking, by the way. Thanks for reading!
