+ Into the Façade +
In the world where the boundaries between acting and living fade, life becomes confused… unreal… and almost as if imagination had taken over reality… The façade goes into place and life then becomes a living stage.
Fuji Syuusuke slowly soaked the wet cloth beneath the running tap before dabbing it onto the soft fur of his kitten, pleased to hear the delighted mewling of delight.
Kiki adores baths. And since Fuji had not seen her for the past few days, she was understandable very irritated with her dirty and unkept fur. Hence it was only naturally to grab hold of Fuji's pants as he was playing with her and literally drag him to the tap to give her a wash, all to which Fuji watched with amusement much to her utmost annoyance. But it was okay. She was having her bath now.
Fuji smiled at Kiki, opening his eyes which usually have a very interesting effect on his kitten.
Kiki, almost as if there was such thing as a feline sixth sense, went absolutely rigid under the tender ministrations and immediately, still half soaked, she made a meticulous and well-thought-out path to position herself next to Fuji's face, rubbing her own soft fur against his cheek, purring contentedly.
Fuji laughed softly, a hypnotic and strangely alluring sound, and brought the kitten back to the ground.
"It still has that effect on you, doesn't it?" Fuji suddenly went thoughtful. "Though now that I think about it. I don't think Echizen-kun has left the compound. You didn't see him did you?"
Kiki shook her head, seeming as if she understood the human language. After all, her master was no ordinary person and hence, his cat would definitely not be just another regular kitten.
"Hmm… Choutaro-kun did tell me something about him staying back with Kikumaru-kun, didn't he?"
Kiki purred softly, running under the towel which was lying on the ground to dry herself off.
Chapter 009 – An Inside View
By fannychan
"And this is our extra-curriculum building or as our beloved principal calls it. We just dubbed it Ricky."
Ryoma stared at the building which was cleverly hidden all the way behind the school. Who knew that Erinnerungen was really that big?
"Why Ricky?"
"No reason actually. It all started when our ex-head student counselor made out with her boyfriend in this block which made it the infamous Ricky." Eiji laughed off-handedly.
"So her boyfriend was named Ricky?"
"Yup. Apparently no one had believed that our stick-in-the-mud perfect girl would do such a thing so we highly exalt her boyfriend. It seemed that he was in some other school… However now, Atobe Keigo from 3A is insisting that its name is to be changed to Atobe. He was already in a fit for not being involved in the play due to the fact he lost his voice though I must say that a lot of us are relived. Don't get me wrong. He is a great actor… if only something could be done about his ego…"
Ryoma sighed and tuned Eiji's voice out. As they stepped into the building, Ryoma could not help but gape at the grand stairway that greeted him. It seemed that it was something that popped out of one of those fairytales that his mother read to him when he was a child.
"Most of this building is dedicated to the drama club. That's the other club I'm in."
Ryoma nodded absent-mindedly. "What other clubs are there?"
"Hmm… let's see now. There's the Props club and AVA club which works together with the drama club. There is also a dance club… Eto… oh and how can I forget our choir and band? I like the strings ensemble the best," Eiji grinned widely.
"There's also a science club which is separated into the chemistry, physics and biology section. Besides that, there's an arts club. Instead of the regular arts club, this one analyses musicals, plays and hence, is in absolute adoration of Fuji Syuusuke, whom they instantly fell in love with upon seeing him on stage in one of the drama club rehearsals."
"Fuji-senpai is in the drama club too?"
Eiji looked at Ryoma in surprise before laughing. "Nya, ochibi, you are too naïve. This is a school which specializes in drama and acting isn't it? And here there is, our greatest love- acting, taking the shape of a club. Now who in the right frame of mind would join something as boring and time-consuming as the drama club? Why don't we say the whole school?"
Ryoma blushed before smartly retorting, "I knew that. I just wanted to confirm it. And don't just choose a nickname out of the blue for me like that."
"Hmmm? What can you do about it then ochibi?" Eiji chuckled before beckoning Ryoma up the stairs.
"The drama club does have the greatest amount of members so it was specially put on Friday instead of Wednesday which is extra-curriculum activites day, or ECA day. And if we want to finish this before the sky grows dark, we'd better hurry because I've to submit the extra-curriculum form Echizen-sensei asked me to fill in on your behalf by today, handing it to his secretary before she goes home!"
Eiji walked on, chattering away merrily as Ryoma fumed silently behind.
"Astronomy… Drama and Science," Ryoma finally decided as he scribbled down the names on the form.
"By the way, Kikumaru-kun, I didn't know that a library existed in this school."
"There is a library in every school!"
"But didn't Echizen-sensei forget to build the staff room which was also supposed to be in every school too."
Eiji sweatdropped, knowing that Ryoma had made a significant point.
"Well, sometimes people do make mistakes." Eiji laughed lightly. "Okay, my tour ends here! I'll be going to hand this in before dashing home. I know Oishi was let off late today as well so I want to catch him on the way. You can stay in the library till 5pm which is when it closes. Ja ne!"
With that, Eiji sprinted off, leaving an angry librarian yelling at him to not run in the library.
Ryoma glanced around, before realizing all these books were just making him tired. Standing up, he began his journey back to his classroom, slowly exiting the intricately designed old-fashioned door of the library to walk down the mighty grand stairway. Sometimes, as he looked at the short, spiral-shaped building, he wondered where all the designs came from. It was all so familiar, as if it was something that kept tugging on his mind, trying to get him to notice it to no avail…
Shrugging, Ryoma continued his way, grumbling something about the school compound being way too big for its own good.
As he pushed open the classroom door, two things caught his attention.
First is that Eiji's bag was gone so it must have meant that he had left the school.
Second was that there was someone on his seat, drawing circles on his desk. That someone happened to be a very familiar senpai with silky shoulder-length hair, closed eyes, curved lips and a rather intimidating yet strangely enough, amiable, aura.
"Fuji-senpai, what are you doing here?"
Fingers stopped moving upon hearing him and Ryoma watched as the face turned slowly, deliberately, towards him.
"Echizen-kun! You don't know how long I've waited. I had just seen Eiji leaving."
Smiling, he stood up, walking towards him. Then catching him by the shoulders, he slightly urged Ryoma out of the door.
"Now it's my turn to give you a tour. Can I call you Ryoma-kun?"
Nodding speechlessly, Ryoma allowed himself to be dragged out of the door…
Out in the corridor, Fuji told him he was going to familiarize him with the classrooms on orders of Echizen-sensei since Eiji introduced to him the rooms used for extra-curriculum activities.
Ryoma shook his head, following Fuji obediently as he studied the different classrooms, wondering why on earth his father could not come and do it himself, troubling other people like this.
"Fuji-senpai, am I troubling you with all this?"
Fuji stopped and turned around, smiling. "Of course not Ryoma-kun. It is my pleasure."
"I think this is the last of the rooms I have to show you," Fuji told Ryoma as he shut the door.
"Arigatou."
Then they lapsed into silence, standing in front of the closed door before Fuji broke through the stillness with that typical smile of his.
"Let's go back now shall we?"
Ryoma complied, wondering why on earth he is behaving this way towards Fuji. He had this weird fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach but still…
Suddenly, smooth, icy arms wrapped themselves around his neck and he felt the other's weight resting on him.
"Ryoma-kun. You know about Kiki don't you?"
Ryoma felt a thrill running through his veins at the light, breathy air that was just beside his ears, speaking words to him.
For a moment, he could not respond, content in just being where he was, wrapped by warmth. Then his mind started functioning again.
He nodded slightly, careful not to unbalance the other boy.
"She's cute isn't she? Just like you."
Ryoma felt his cheeks grow warm.
"I saw you during lunch break today. She was delighted with the food you gave her. Thank you. But out of curiosity, do you have a cat?"
"How did you know?"
"Ooh? So I guessed correctly."
Letting go of Ryoma, Fuji straightened himself to walk in front of the younger boy.
"Can I see her?"
"How?"
"Your home of course," Fuji said teasingly. "Are you free this Saturday?"
Ryoma nodded, not knowing how to reply.
"It's a date then," Fuji concluded.
"Date?"
"What's the name of your cat?"
"Karupin, but…" Ryoma started, puzzled by the sudden change of subject.
"Well, see you then. I enjoyed the time we had." Fuji waved as he walked towards the stairway.
"By the way, Ann said we could have the day off tomorrow. Bye!"
"Wait…"
Ryoma ran towards Fuji. "Did Echizen-sensei really ask you to show me the classrooms?"
With his ever secretive smile, Fuji turned towards him. "Nope, I did it out of my own free will. I'm interested in you Ryoma-kun. You have a very curious personality."
Ryoma knew Fuji was not to blame having such a thought given the events that had passed yesterday.
"I guess the feeling is mutual Fuji-senpai. See you tomorrow."
Fuji nodded before turning back and continuing his way. Ryoma stood there for a moment before silently heading back to his classroom to get his bag.
As he entered the hall where all the lockers were, he saw his mother waving to Fuji as he exited the hall.
"Kaa-san?"
Rinko turned at her son's voice. "Ryoma! You sure took a long time. I asked Nanako-chan to head home first to feed Karupin. Come, let's go home now. I drove here."
Ryoma stared at the principal's door as they left. "You're not going to say goodbye to Tou-san?"
"Tou---?" Rinko stopped, surprised. "You finally called…"
Ryoma, who had walked past his mother, turned back. "Kaa-san? You're going…"
"No no. I've done that." Rinko smiled. "Now, let's go back shall we?"
"Kaa-san, how did you know Fuji-senpai?"
"Hmm? Oh he is your father's best student so your father did tell me about him. Showed me his picture once. Syuusuke is really a polite child. A very interesting character."
"He invited himself over just now, wanting to meet Karupin."
"Oh, that's wonderful. I really want to know him more. When is he coming?"
"This Saturday," Ryoma replied as they exited the entrance of Erinnerungen and headed to the car park.
"Well, Syuusuke is more than welcome. I look forward to meeting him again. Oh and I heard you were 'scouted' by him to take over the role of Riore in the 3A play from your father. Why didn't you tell me?"
Ryoma eyes widened. "I forgot. Sorry kaa-san."
Rinko shook her head as they entered the car.
"Not only that Ryoma. Kunimitsu-kun is teaching your class for drama lesson. Why didn't you tell me that either? That's why you had been so distraught yesterday."
Ryoma stared at the world outside, zipping past him. "I didn't want to worry you."
Rinko patted his head. "That's okay. Have some rest sweetheart. You still got school tomorrow."
Ryoma rested on the seat of the chair, closing his eyes as he let the sweet darkness of sleep lure him into a deep slumber.
"I hope you take good care of him Nanjiroh. It has only been two days. There's still two years more." Rinko mused as she took a left turn. "Please don't disappoint him again…"
That night, she made a phone call to the Tezuka residence.
"Kunimitsu-kun? I'm Ryoma's mother. Yesterday… what happened?"
Tezuka told her what happened, apologizing for the events that caused her son's behaviour.
"I've spoken to Echizen-kun today. Though I know he is still curious over what happened that day five years before, he has accepted to get along with me for the rest of the year."
"He respects you a great deal… I'm sorry Kunimitsu-kun. He still has not gotten over the fact of that day… Today was clear evidence of that when he collapsed during the rehearsal."
"Did he? Echizen-sensei did not tell me anything about it."
"I guessed he did not want to worry you. I just hope you are able to guide Ryoma through his years at that school. I'm glad he had made some friends there, friends whom I hope will not forsake him again. But again, I'm sorry for not telling him the truth of why you left. Otherwise he would not have reacted that way when he met you."
Tezuka leaned against the table where the telephone was, shaking his head silently. "That's okay obaa-san. Some things are just better left unknown…"
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ryoma, Fuji or anyone from POT . … sniff No matter how much I wanted to… hehe… but I do have plushies haha… huggles Ryoma and Fuji plushies
Oooh… so what's the big secret? Haha. I caught the lazy block k? haha. I forwent my homework… so it's still a pile and I have a week left to do it… or 4 days rather. Okay. A day for English… a day for E literature and two for A maths… If that's even possible. Today's e lit day. Oh my, I forgot bio too
I hope it will be up today. Today's the 27th of December. But I still need to proof read this. Get it up by today I hope. And I'm sorry for the wait. But belated Merry Christmas ya all. Hope all your wishes will come true this season!
Anyway, my personal opinions on this chappy is that it seems that I'm never able to link the chapters together. They all feels weird, disjointed… for who knows why. Sigh. I think this was kinda rushed… in the way I wrote it I mean. I got all my ideas here… all which I wanted for this chapter with a few add-ons and minor cuts… but still… ahh… okay, I admit it. I can't write shounen-ai romance as I do with straight pairings… not very used to it so it came out kinda weird… but I'm learning /sweatdrop/ Grr… I hate developing the romance. The romance parts are easier to write ne? Err… well, maybe. But still, I tried my best to add as much "developing" Fuji/Ryo moments here. I hope you like it… please tell me if it was okay. And I'm sorry for the wait. As I said, it was mostly laziness on my part… but I do have a job so I couldn't dedicate myself to writing my ficcy. -.-0… excuses excuses… gomen nasai.
I'm working on a one-shot Ryo/Fuji ficcy. But the ideas are not coordinated yet. It might take a while. Haha. Well till then, ja ne.
P/S: Next year I'm taking my o'levels. Hope you all bear with me as I would most likely take longer than I already do… It be a miracle if I can have more than 3 chapters in the first half year -.-0 hehe. But if you want to tell me ideas of what you want to see in this ficcy, just add me to your msn and we can chat okie/smiles/ or drop a review. I always wanted to make friends, especially people who are as into anime as I am. I'm from Singapore. My hotmail add is Add me k? I'm trying to extend my contacts
Please R&R and thank you for the support thus far! Fujiryo all the way!