No, Bryjin-san, and everyone else who was wondering, this is not turning into a Daisuke/Koji fic! .:Giggles:. Though I can see where you'd think that... but no. Satoshi was only out of the picture for one chapter and already people are thinking I dropped him completely or killed him off. I couldn't do that to Sato-kun, he's my favourite character in the entire series! .:Protective-huggle Satoshi-kun:.
(Nozomu) .:Rolls his eyes:. Baka. .:Affectionately:.
Haaaai! .:grins:.
(Duo) o.o;; That's not something you own up to, Zan-san.
.:Shrugs and gets on with chapter fifteen:.
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Daisuke stood in the hall, hands clasped in front of him. Today he wasn't dressed in the usual melon uniform—it felt odd and yet refreshing to be clad in blue jeans and a simple black tshirt. His ruby locks had been let go to lay as they wished, but there was still a small crease in them from wearing his hair in a ponytail for the past five days straight.
He was waiting outside the Infirmary for Koji. I can't believe we get to leave campus! Daisuke babbled happily to Dark.
The thief sounded bored. It's only lunch, Dai-kun.
I know, but it'll feel so much better to be away from here for a while. I didn't know they let Koji-kun leave every other day.
It's only for a couple of hours, nothing to get your feathers ruffled over.
Still.
You're not the jealous type, Dai-kun. What brought this on?I guess I'm just tired of... well, everything.
You'll feel better once you're away from that Kazumi. Relax, enjoy your lunch.
The door beside Daisuke opened, and Koji walked out, followed by the doctor. The latter was handing the blonde a packet and reminding him to take the pills. Koji waved him off and looked around. His eyes lit up when he saw Daisuke waiting.
"Daisuke-kun! Nice outfit!"
Daisuke grinned. "You, too. It seems so odd to see you in anything but pink." Koji was dressed in a skin-tight smoky gray tank top, accenting his thin stature. His legs were encased in black jeans which tapered into running shoes. A baseball cap covered his golden locks, which had been let down to frame his face. Around his neck hung a small plastic rectangle, an ID tag. The ends of his hair brushed his shoulder tops. He looked almost normal.
Koji giggled a bit and flushed. "Yes, well, I'm used to it now. It was odd the first time I went out like this, too. I felt so conspicuous. Not anymore, though. Are you ready to go?"
"Hai." He nodded, and they began walking down the hallway. "Koji-kun, where are we going?"
The blonde shrugged. "A restaurant I found in town. It's small, privately owned, but the food is excellent. Better than what they serve here." As they walked, Koji casually hooked his arm through the crook of Daisuke's elbow.
It was oddly easy for them to walk off campus. The security guards never gave them a second glance. Daisuke moved a bit closer to Koji, unnerved. "Koji-kun? Why aren't they doing anything?"
"Nani? Oh. I don't even notice it anymore." Koji looked about curiously, then back to Daisuke. With his other hand he lifted the ID tag around his neck. "It's this. It means I can walk off campus whenever I want, and they can't stop me. It took a bit for them to get used to it, though."
"But how do they know it's really you?" Daisuke wanted to know. "I mean, anybody could just steal this from you and leave."
The blonde shook his head. "The pass is kept in the principal's office—but they all know my face, anyway. Don't worry about it. Hurry up, we don't want to get caught up in the lunchtime traffic."
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The restaurant was small, as promised; it was the ground floor of a two-story home. There were only a few tables scattered about. The lighting was somewhat dim and very cozy, accenting the smallness of the space and the pale lavender paint on the walls. Koji waved at the waitress who was ringing up another customer's lunch while he picked out a table for him and Daisuke to sit at.
He chose a diminutive round table by the window, allowing for a lovely view and excellent lighting without diminishing the charm of the restaurant. Daisuke's eyes went wide as he read through the menu. The restaurant served all his favourite foods, but the prices were fairly high.
"Um, Koji-kun," he whispered, "I'm not so sure we should eat here."
"Why not?" Koji blinked. "Is something wrong?"
"Everything's so expensive."
The blonde waved airily. "Don't worry about the prices. I eat here all the time. So just pick whatever you want, okay?" He blinked adorably at Daisuke. The redhead shifted a bit uncomfortably and looked back down at his menu.
The waitress brought them tea in charming little china cups and took down their orders. While they were waiting for the food to be made, the two boys alternated between talking quietly and staring out the window at the passersby.
After a small, comfortable silence, Koji placed his chin in his hand, his elbow propped up on the table. "You know, Daisuke-kun, today's Valentine's Day."
"Really? I'd forgotten. There aren't any girls at our school, so I guess we're both out of luck." Daisuke grinned at Koji. "At my old school, even if a boy didn't have a girlfriend, he always got chocolates."
"When I was younger," Koji said, "I lived in America for a few years. Valentine's Day is celebrated differently there, did you know?"
"No." Daisuke turned his full attention on Koji. Something felt odd. "How do they celebrate it?"
"Girls don't give boys chocolate—at least, not usually. Most often, the boys give the girls presents and chocolates, kinda like White's Day. But it can go both ways. Isn't that odd?"
"A little, I suppose." Daisuke wondered where this was going. But before he could ask, the waitress brought their food. Talking ceased as they ate in companionable silence.
The two were halfway through their dessert, cheesecake, when Koji cleared his throat. "Daisuke-kun?"
The redhead looked up. "Nani?"
"I told you about the American Valentine's Day, right?"
The redhead nodded slowly. "What about it? Is everything okay?"
"Oh, hai." He made an airy motion. "It's just... well, I figured I'd celebrate Valentine's Day the American way today, because there's somebody I'd like to show my affection to, and I'm not sure if I would on today or next month. And besides that, I don't know if I'll be here for White's Day."
"Are you going home, Koji-kun?" Daisuke smiled. "That's great!"
"No! No, Daisuke-kun, I'm not going home, and it's not great." Koji stabbed at his cheesecake with his fork, staring at the food intensely. When he spoke again, his voice was very soft, too quiet. "Daisuke-kun, I... I'm dying."
"Nani? You're joking? Koji-kun, that's not funny."
"I'm telling the truth, Daisuke-kun!" He looked up, and his eyes were full of tears. "I—well, you know I'm sick, and... It's been getting worse. The pills the doctor gave me today were very powerful painkillers and sedatives. That's all they can give me now. I might not be here to tell the person, you see?"
Daisuke bit his lip. "There must be something we can do, Koji-kun. Take you to another doctor, get a second opinion, something—"
He shook his head. "My father's a doctor—he couldn't help me, either. I've already come to terms with it—I'm going to die before the summer." When he looked up again, his eyes were sadly bright. "But see, I'm not going to let that stop me."
"Who do you need to see? I'll do what I can," Daisuke promised.
"Well, I have these chocolates I'd like you to deliver, if you could." He motioned to the waitress, and she brought over a brightly coloured heart-shaped box. "I had this shipped over from Italy. The chocolates are gourmet, handmade." He handed the box to Daisuke over the table.
"Who would you like me to give them to?" Daisuke's throat and heart hurt. I can't believe he's dying, Dark, he thought sadly.
There's nothing we can do about it, Dai-kun, Dark answered softly.
Koji smiled sadly at Daisuke from across the table. "He's older than me, if that's any help. He has red hair and eyes, and he's very sweet. You see him every day—his name is Niwa Daisuke. Do you think you can give them to him?"
Daisuke's throat dried and his heart ached. "Koji-kun..."
The blonde shook his head, cutting Daisuke off. "Just make sure you don't tell him who they're from. He's a close friend of mine, and I know he likes another, and I respect that this other comes before me. I just want Niwa Daisuke to know that he is loved and cherished by those around him." Silent tears slipped down Koji's cheeks, and he laughed self-consciously. "See, he gets me all choked up." His voice was unsteady and wobbly as he said this, and he wiped at the tears. "Can you do this for me?"
The redhead nodded silently, his vision blurring beneath the tears. He stood and Koji followed suit. When the blonde began to say something else, however, Daisuke gathered him into a hard hug.
"You are very special to me, Koji-kun," he said softly to the blonde in his arms. "Really, you are. You mean a lot to me."
"But I'm not Hiwatari-kun," Koji finished for him forlornly. Daisuke nodded sadly. Koji hugged him back. "That's all right. Now that I told you how I felt, I'll be all right." He pulled back and wiped at his eyes, laughing embarrassedly. "See, now I'm crying like a girl."
Daisuke rubbed at his own eyes. "It seems to be a fad."
Koji looked up at smiled, a genuine smile. "Happy Valentine's Day."
"Happy Valentine's Day."
Without another word, they left the restaurant and headed back towards the school.
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As the two walked back into the compound, arm in arm and talking softly, Nishii Kazumi leaned on the banister lining the inside of the first floor. He stared down at his two boy-toys, and a cold hatred burned in his eyes. I'll fix them, he thought to himself and melted into the shadows.
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Once more, this is not a Daisuke/Koji fic!! .:Sniff, wipes her eyes:. I can't believe I'm killing him... but it has to be done.
(Nozomu) .:Clutches a Koji plushie, bawling:.
.:blinks:. Nozomu is very attached to Koji-kun... Anyway, this is still a Satoshi/Daisuke fic, I promise. Satoshi will be back soon. He's...erm...Visiting America! Yeah! That's it! So keep an eye out--you might see him walking down the street one day! .:sweatdrop:.
This chapter was short, yes, and I'm sorry. Apparently I'm not very good at making long chapters... Gomen nasai!!!
Does anybody know what town Daisuke and Satoshi are from? Just wondering...
By the way, does anybody know where I can get Gravitation music?! I really want the song "Blind Game Again."