Disclaimer: Takuya + Kouji = Takouji = me not owning Digimon.
Author's Notes: I decided to be a nice author and put up two chapters instead of one...^-^ Besides, the way I had this going, the first two chapters are kind of connected to each other. More will be explained later on, for this story is really just beginning...if u feel at all confused now, TRUST me when I say that I'll definitely be explaining more of what's going on as this fic goes on...five year's is a lot of time... (Looks up at author's note and blinks...wow...that's GOT to be the SHORTEST AN that I've ever written...lol...-_-;; ah, well, there's better things to do then write AN's at this point in time...like...finish working on chapter III and then work on Different Journey's some more...^-^ Enjoy...)
Rating: PG
Warning: If you don't like slash/yaoi or male/male pairings then I suggest that you leave now or forever hold your peace-you have been for warned!
Pairings: Takuya/Kouji w/ Koichi/Izumi on the side
Time Setting: Takes place five years after Eternity-this is the sequel to that fic so I suggest that if you haven't read Eternity, then you might want to go read it...some of what happened in Eternity will be explained throughout the story, but not all of it.
Summary:
Forevermore
Author: Angel Spirit
Chapter II: So Insecure
The sun was shining, the sky was clear, not a cloud in sight...
So why did Kouji Minomoto feel so miserable? Weren't people supposed to be happy and enjoy the sunshine? So the weather forecasters said on the news whenever they pronounced a sunny day. So he would've said if he was here.
Kouji shook his head and let out a very low, practically inaudible growl as he headed toward his dorm room, determined not to think about him. He didn't want to think about him anymore. It was bad enough that his stepmother wanted him to go and see a psychiatrist because he still had nightmares on the occasion about the 'incident' as his family members called it now...all he really wanted to do was forget about it.
And it wasn't happening.
Every time he told himself to forget about him, it never happened. His face came surfacing up, those dark brown eyes that seemed to stare straight through Kouji's own soul, that caused Kouji to smile-and be happy whenever he had looked into them.
Looked...looked.
He wasn't looking into those dark brown eyes now, and he doubted he ever would again.
Bringing out his key, he fumbled with the lock for a few minutes, attempting to unlock his door. And then he heard a voice that he hadn't wanted to hear all day-a voice belonging to a person he'd been trying to ignore all day. Belonging to none other then Sen Konoe.
Kouji couldn't place it, but he thought he'd seen Sen somewhere before. And personally, the guy gave him the creeps...Kouji wasn't sure what it was, but he always felt a chill run down his spine whenever Sen came real close to him, and he always had the feeling like he needed to get away and shower whenever Sen was too close or tried to touch him. Yes, there was definitely something creepy about Sen Konoe.
"Minomoto...I was wondering if I'd get to see you today...having key problems? Here, let me help." He said in that all-too smooth voice that made Kouji want to cringe whenever he heard it. He wished that Junpei or Koichi were with him...at least whenever one of them were with him, Sen usually left him alone and didn't bother him.
As Sen's hand brushed by Kouji's to get the key, Kouji instantly jerked back, and he heard Sen chuckle a little bit. It didn't help, that Sen was only two doors down away from Kouji's own dorm room. It also wasn't fun, when Sen kept on insisting that Kouji should move in with him, to free up a dorm room for someone trying to get one, as both Kouji and Sen had a dorm room all to themselves, which, shouldn't have happened...but, it did anyway. And Kouji wasn't going to move from his dorm room and into Sen's, even if Sen tried to pay him a million dollars.
"Take it easy their Minomoto, I'm not going to bite." Sen whispered, putting his mouth a little too close to Kouji's ear for his liking as Sen inserted the key into the doorknob with no problem and twisted it open at the sound of it unlocking.
"There you go Kouji. So, what do you say about my offer to move into my dorm room and share one?" To Sen's question, Kouji snorted.
"In a million years Sen...that's not going to happen. And how many times do I have to tell you to leave me the hell alone?" He growled, suddenly wishing for Sen to not be there. He desperately wished that Rei was there with them-she was the leader of their hallway, and she hated Sen as much as Kouji did. But as he allowed his eyes to do a quick glance throughout the hall, it turned up an empty search. No one was going to rescue him from Sen this time but himself.
"Someone's a bit on the grumpy side today...why don't we go and get some coffee and you tell me all about what's bothering you, huh Kouji?" Kouji moved away from Sen's touch, and narrowed his dark blue gray eyes at Sen-a look that most people would've shied away from, not Sen however. Sen had, quite unfortunately, grown too used to the 'look'.
"I don't drink coffee Sen, you know that...and if I did, I sure as hell wouldn't drink it in your company...now move out of the way so I can get in." He heard Sen sigh and watched as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine with me Minomoto...can't blame a guy for trying at least." Kouji felt himself shudder as he brushed past Sen, and into his own dorm, nearly slamming the doorway in Sen's face. He shook his head as he dumped his book bag onto his bed, and looked around the room...half the room was bare, with a bed that needed to be occupied. While Kouji did like being alone, he wished that someone would hurry up and take the opportunity to live in the dorms so that Kouji wouldn't have to deal with Sen anymore.
"He's so irritating!" Kouji growled out loud, and then reached for his cell phone, knowing that his twin wouldn't be due to be in his Chemistry class for another few minutes, he dialed Koichi's number...he had to talk to someone...someone to make him feel better. Kouji couldn't get Sen's creepiness out of his mind.
"Koichi speaking..." Kouji felt himself slowly relax at the sound of his twin's voice as he answered his cell phone.
"Hey Koichi."
"Kouji...what's wrong? I've got class in a few minutes." At this, Kouji raised an eyebrow...how did Koichi know that something was wrong? As he asked this, Koichi laughed gently.
"Kouji, we're twins. Just call it a twin intuition on my part if you'd like...and by the panicky sound in your voice, I'd say that you had a run in with Sen." Kouji just shook his head...he'd immediately told Koichi about Sen the first day when he'd met him, and had had bad vibes about the guy.
"All too true. He was just here...Koichi...I really don't like the guy...I mean, I really don't like him...he...he makes me feel...I don't know...I mean, I don't feel safe around Sen anymore." There was a small silence on Koichi's end, before Koichi sighed.
"Okay. So we go and talk to Rei. She'll figure out something. In the meantime, are you alone, or are you with someone?" At this, Kouji rolled his eyes.
"So much for twin intuition bro...I'm alone." Koichi sighed, and on his end he was grinning a little as he was met up with Junpei who was in his Chemistry class.
"Listen, Junpei and I have to get to Chemistry now...when we're done, why don't we go off campus for dinner tonight, we can nab Izumi and just go and enjoy ourselves? It is Friday after all...you don't have any more classes today, right? You just have English and Trig?" Kouji nodded at his twin's question, and then, realizing that Koichi couldn't see him nod, grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, I'm done for the day...I was thinking of finding Rei, Kita, and Kai and maybe hanging out with them for a bit."
"Sound good...I'll call you when we reach the dorms, okay? Just...steer clear of Sen if you can, okay Kouji?" Kouji sighed and shook his head, but agreed to do so as he said goodbye and hung up with his twin.
"Yeah...I try to stay away from him...but somehow, it's as though he's got this little radar going on all the time that always seems to pinpoint exactly where I am." Kouji murmured, as he dialed another familiar number, and waited until Kita Minami picked up the phone.
"Kita, it's Kouji."
"Kouji...what's up?" Kouji smiled. He and Kita got off to a great start, and were pretty good friends...maybe it was because Kita had a twin brother, Kai, and reminded Kouji very much like him and Koichi sometimes.
"Not much...you and Kai don't have classes today, right?" Kouji could hear Kita's grin through her voice.
"Correct! Man, lemme tell you, having Friday's off is a BLAST! And you're done, too, aren't you?"
"Yeah Kita, I am...hey...listen, want to keep me company while I wait for my moronic twin brother and Junpei to get out of their Chemistry class? I can't believe that they signed up for Friday afternoon classes." Kita laughed.
"They're just over achievers and don't know how to have a good time Kouji! Sure, I'll hang with you...Kai's here too, and I'm sure that he won't mind...maybe we can grab Rei and do some stuff-go downtown or something. Sound okay?" Kouji nodded.
"Yeah, sounds cool...as long as it keeps me away from Sen, I don't care what we decide to do." He heard Kai's voice asking something from the background, and Kita told Kouji that she was passing the phone to him, as Kai came on the line a few seconds later.
"Is that jerk still bothering you Kouji?" It wasn't the first time Kai sounded concerned-the brother and sister didn't like Sen as much as Koichi and himself didn't-their feelings toward the sandy haired boy were pretty much mutual.
"Yeah...he is. Unfortunately for me...I just want to get out of here for awhile...and I'll be glad for the company until my twin and Junpei can join us."
"Sure think Kouji...hey, there's this new Arcade opening in the downtown district at one of the local piers...why don't we go check that out tonight and we can have pizza and stuff?" Kouji laughed.
"Sounds like you and my twin are thinking of the same thing Kai, Koichi said he wanted pizza for dinner too. Alright...why don't I meet you guys are your dorm room in the next fifteen minutes or so?"
"Sounds good Kouji, see you in a little bit, alright? And call us if you run into trouble with Sen on your way down here, okay?"
"Sure...thanks you guys."
He said goodbye to the twins as he hung up, feeling slightly better then what he had when he'd entered his dorm room. Deciding to change clothes, he put on a pair of black jeans and a three quarter length black shirt, and took out his ponytail so he could brush it a little bit before redoing it.
Once he was done, Kouji nodded at him self, satisfied at what he saw as he grabbed a jean coat from the closet.
"Man...I wish that this closet was a bit more full...and this room a bit more occupied." Kouji muttered, as he headed out of his dorm room, double checking the hall to make sure that Sen was nowhere in sight as he was quite relieved that he wasn't, and then headed down the stairs and out to the next dorm building over, where Kita and Kai were waiting for him.
~***~
A couple of hours later, found him with Koichi, Junpei, Izumi, Kai, Kita, and Rei, as they were hanging out at one of the local Arcade arena's that were within a couple of blocks from the University.
"I can't believe that you had another run in with Sen." Koichi murmured, as the two twins had stepped outside for some fresh air, leaving Junpei and Izumi at the Dance Dance Revolution machine, with Izumi kicking Junpei's butt-and two other players calling the winner...it looked like Izumi would be busy for some time that evening...she was better then she or anyone else had thought she would be.
Kouji only nodded at Koichi's question, not really wanting to talk about it...and his twin, realizing this, decided to start a different conversation-one he knew that his twin might hate him for, but he knew he had to at least see if Kouji would understand what he was hinting at. For, he knew something that Kouji didn't know...and he just wasn't sure how he'd tell him-or if he'd tell him at all.
"So...Kouji...you know, how we're in a University and all, right?" Kouji gave his twin a strange look and mutely nodded his head as he looked out at the pier, toward the water and then up at the stars that were starting to come out.
"And you know how things to with University's and all that, how there are tons of people there from anywhere you can possibly think of?" Another nod, and another suspicious look...Koichi found himself getting nervous for one of the first times since he met his twin nearly eight years ago, and he softly bit down on his lower lip, not quite sure where he was going with this, but knew he had to give it a try...he knew that he had to at least give his twin enough hints to let Kouji figure it out for himself.
"You know that there's a few students that're coming to Shibuya University from New York City? Wouldn't that be cool to get to know them? I mean, they're from America...makes things a little bit more interesting, right?" Kouji still didn't say anything, and Koichi sighed, suddenly feeling irritated-was his twin just being stupid, or was he just not seeing the picture that Koichi was trying to paint for him?
"You know..." Koichi paused, wondering if he should take the risk that he was going to take, and then shrugged his shoulders and decided to go for it-the least Kouji could do was to storm off and then declare that he was giving Koichi the silent treatment until his anger wore off-which, when it came to his twin brother, usually wasn't very long. Koichi could be thankful for that.
"I haven't heard from Takuya lately...I...wonder how he's doing you know? Where he's going to school, what's up with him..." That seemed to do the trick. He saw Kouji's slightly smaller frame stiffen a bit, his dark blue gray eyes still looking out at the water...Koichi couldn't read the expression that was in them, and he really didn't think that he wanted to know what was going through his twin's mind either at the moment.
"I...don't...care." Kouji suddenly spoke, so softly that Koichi had to strain to hear the words spoken from his twin, for another small burst of wind had picked up, and carried them out toward the ocean. Koichi sighed and shook his head...what was his twin saying? He didn't care anymore? Back when Takuya had figured out how to call them, Kouji would always want to know how the brunette was doing-even if he couldn't talk to him...it meant that Koichi still could. And now that Kouji remembered, lately the phone calls had been few and far in between-and Kouji had slowly stopped asking about his koi who had moved so far away.
"What do you mean you don't care?" Now Koichi found himself getting angry. After all those years of his twin pining away for Takuya, being miserable because Takuya couldn't be there with him...now he was saying he didn't care anymore? How in the hell did this suddenly happen?
And how will Kouji react when I tell him what I might have to tell him? Koichi thought, as he stared his twin down, as Kouji had glanced over and met his dark blue gray orbs with what was almost exactly like mirror reflections of his own eyes...except that the expression on both twin's faces were different...in fact, Kouji Minomoto looked pissed off.
"I don't want to talk about Takuya Kanbara, alright? I've stopped having nightmares about that night, about him...and I don't want them to start up again, okay? He's gone, he's not coming back, and I've got to move on! I think I'm going back to the dorm rooms now Koichi." With that, Kouji made to leave, but Koichi held him back suddenly, as he reached out and grabbed his twin's upper forearm and held it tight.
"Who is that speaking Kouji? Is that you, or that damned physiatrist that mom had you go and see for those two weeks were you were miserable, because you told me that she told you that same exact stuff, and you told me that you didn't believe her! So don't tell me now that you believe her Kouji! I know you too well you're my twin! I can see it in your eyes...you practically wear your emotions in them...as hard to believe as it is. When I look into your eyes Kouji, I can see just how much you still love him!" Koichi hated arguing with Kouji, but he had to make his twin see how wrong he was in thinking what he was thinking.
"Knock it off Koichi...Takuya is gone...when was the last time you got a phone call from him, huh? When was the last time you remember talking to him, and him asking you questions about us? If I remember correctly, the past couple of times you talked to him, you never sounded as excited as you used to after talking to Takuya...forget it...forget him, he's in a different country altogether! I wouldn't be surprised if he has another boyfriend now, okay?!? So just drop it already and leave me the hell alone!"
With that, Kouji stormed off he pier...going around the arcade instead of through it.
Koichi blinked for a second, feeling stunned, and then sighed as he rubbed his temples with his forehead...that...hadn't...gone well. Not well at all. Kouji knew that it wasn't Takuya's fault...he knew how bad Takuya felt...he knew that Takuya only loved him-he had told Koichi to tell him that so many times. But now that Koichi remembered, whenever he'd talked to Takuya recently Takuya sounded more tired then usual...sounded more...lonesome. Could Kouji be right? Koichi doubted it...he doubted that Takuya would ever back out on someone he loved as much as he loved his twin. Koichi could always see it in Takuya's eyes, the love that the brunette had for his twin.
Now suddenly, Koichi didn't really want to go back inside the arcade, with the bright lights and cheerful people, loud noises...
And he was in luck, for just as soon as he was about to go inside, his cell phone rang.
Saved by the bell...or in maybe this case phone... Koichi thought as he snagged it out of his leather coat pocket, and turned it on.
"Koichi Kinmura speaking." He answered, and was incredibly surprised at the voice who answered, sounding as though the person had been crying.
"Koichi...it's me...I-I'm coming home..."
For a few minutes, Koichi stood there on the pier, feeling a bit stunned, and then he slowly shook his head to clear it as a smile lit up on his face.
"Takuya...that's great! It's great to hear from you! Are you-are you okay?" Koichi whispered suddenly, feeling that something was wrong with his friend. He had no idea just how right he was.
"Y-yeah, I-I'll be okay, it's really good to talk to you...I...I've missed you guys so much, you have no idea...I can't wait to come home." Takuya's voice came over the phone, and Koichi realized he had been right- it definitely sounded as though Takuya had been crying, and he raised an eyebrow in concern as he turned around again to face the ocean.
"Takuya...are you alright?" A small pause from the other, and then:
"I'm fine...actually, I feel really tired...but otherwise, fine." Koichi just sighed, as he had a feeling that there was definitely something Takuya wasn't telling him.
"If you're sure...so when are you coming home? Are you going to come to Shibuya University with the rest of us?" Another pause, this time a slightly longer one then the last, and then a small sigh. Takuya really did sound tired, and this had Koichi worried about his friend...what had happened to the perky, upbeat Takuya that he had used to know? Something was definitely not right.
"I'm coming home next weekend...on Friday, mid-morning...I've got some stuff that I have to have taken care of down here, and then I'll come back...Koichi...can you...can you do me a favor?" Koichi nodded, having a half a inkling as to what that favor was that Takuya was going to ask, and was surprised what it wasn't what he thought it would be.
"Can you and the others...can you be there at the airport? I...I really want to see you guys. And it would be great to see you there." At Takuya's request, Koichi grinned and then waved at Izumi and Junpei who had left the inside of the Arcade to find him and Kouji when they had noticed that they weren't anywhere inside, and Koichi noticed that Izumi had a water bottle with her, her eyes were shining happily and she was sweaty too...looking like she had just had the time of her life. Koichi started to wonder silently to himself just how many guys she'd beaten with the Dance Dance Revolution game. He had known that she was a good dancer, but he hadn't known that she was that good.
"Sure thing Takuya, we'll be there. Count on us...when do you fly in?"
"Eleven thirty is when my plane arrives...hey Koichi, I've got to go...but...I'll call you back later, okay? Say hi to everyone for me?"
"Sure thing Takuya...can't wait to see you, we'll hang out together that weekend if you want to...I'm excited that you're coming back." If Koichi could see Takuya, he'd see the small smile that the brunette held when he heard this-a smile that reached his eyes...something that didn't happen very often with him these days.
"I'd like that...thanks Koichi...really." Koichi said goodbye and hung up, feeling bad for he had the feeling that suddenly Takuya felt alone-his goodbye held such a longing to it-as though he wanted to talk longer. And Koichi promised himself that he'd stick by his friend, no matter what. Whatever Takuya's problem was, he knew that eventually Takuya would tell him...he wouldn't press it.
Koichi had completely forgotten that Izumi and Junpei had walked over to him, and he was brought back to reality when Izumi was gently snapping her fingers in front of his face, looking worried as she grabbed a hold of his hand the moment he came too.
"Everything alright?" She asked softly, as Koichi thought about the question for a minute, before he nodded-oh yeah, he thought...everything was going to be just fine.
"Where's Kouji?" Junpei asked, and Koichi sighed and shook his head.
"He got mad at me and stalked off...I...I did a stupid thing and brought up Takuya." Izumi sighed.
"I don't think I'll ever understand your twin." She murmured, and Koichi only shrugged as they started to very slowly walk back to the arcade to meet up with the others their hands still intertwined together as Junpei walked on the other side of Izumi.
"I don't think I understand him now. He got angry at me for mentioning Takuya's name...what're we going to do when he finds out that Takuya's going to be coming to school with us?" The other two did a double take, and stared at him with wide eyes, and Koichi could see all the questions that flowed through them.
All Koichi did was grin at them though.
"Yeah, you guys heard right...that was Takuya I was just talking too- he's coming home!" Izumi reacted exactly the way Koichi knew his girlfriend would. She squealed and hugged him tight, doing her little 'happy dance' as Junpei had started to call it, bouncing up and down.
"I can't believe it...you're serous, aren't you! Oh my god, I want to see him so badly! When is he coming home Koichi?" Koichi chuckled.
"Slow down Izumi, slow down! He's coming home on Friday, his flight comes in at eleven thirty in the morning, and he wants us to be there." Junpei nodded, a big grin on his face and his dark brown eyes sparkled.
"Oh yeah, we'll definitely be there! I hope you told him we would...It'll be so good to see Takky again!" The other two teens giggled, at Junpei's old nickname for Takuya-he'd been the first one to start calling him that, and then nickname stuck-much to Takuya's dismay-it wasn't one of his fondest nicknames to have.
"Yes, it definitely will be...and he's coming to school with us, are you sure about that Koichi?" Koichi nodded-while he hadn't heard the exact word from Takuya, Shibuya University was one of the very few University's close by in their area...he just had that feeling that he was right when he was telling his friends this.
"I hope he's in our dorm residence! He's got to be, oh I'll have to talk to Rei and see what we can do! I'm sooooo excited!" And Izumi was off and running, her excitement too much for her to contain. Junpei just laughed and shook his head.
"You know man, there are times when I'm so glad she's your girlfriend and not mine...I don't think I'd be able to keep up with her! I don't know how you do it Koichi." Koichi just grinned at the brunette and shrugged.
"I don't know how I do it either. Come on, we'd better go and find her so that way we can help her calm down and explain to the others some more about who Takuya is, before she confuses them to death." Junpei nodded as they headed off into the arcade, but before it got too noisy, Junpei asked the one question that Koichi was dreading to answer.
"So...Koichi...does...does Kouji know that Takky's coming back? I mean, that'd be too awesome for them, right?" All Koichi did was sigh and shake his head and Junpei started to remember that Koichi had said that he and Kouji had argued when Koichi had brought up Takuya's very name. His eyes widened slightly.
"Koichi...Kouji still loves Takky, right? I...I don't see him with anyone else, I'll admit that. I thought they were perfect for each other...Kouji hasn't given up on Takuya, has he?" Junpei whispered, as Koichi eyed him, not having seen this side of Junpei before-sure, he knew that Junpei was definitely okay with Takuya and Kouji being together as a couple when they'd first announced it-but he had never shown concern over them being together or not together. All Koichi did was sigh and shake his head at his friend.
"I don't know Junpei...I don't know." And that was the best reply he could give.
TBC...
AN2-Hides Don't hurt me...please? I'll update again soon, I've got so many ideas for this fic now that I've managed to start it again! (I'm saying again cause this is a sequel...so to me it's just like an expansion of the other fic...^-^) And to those of you who are even starting to think that I'm not going to bring Takuya and Kouji back together...how can you THINK THAT?!? But it WILL be awhile before they get back together...just to warn you there. Let's just say that there are some people who don't want them together...Kouji's stalker being one of them! (Is it Sen? Or is it someone else...hmmmmm...you guys will just have to continue reading to find out! evil laughter inserted here) And what is it that Takuya's really hiding from Koichi...well now, u know what to do to find out, right? (Go click on that little GO button at the bottom and review! Tell me what u think...^-^)
Author's Notes: I decided to be a nice author and put up two chapters instead of one...^-^ Besides, the way I had this going, the first two chapters are kind of connected to each other. More will be explained later on, for this story is really just beginning...if u feel at all confused now, TRUST me when I say that I'll definitely be explaining more of what's going on as this fic goes on...five year's is a lot of time... (Looks up at author's note and blinks...wow...that's GOT to be the SHORTEST AN that I've ever written...lol...-_-;; ah, well, there's better things to do then write AN's at this point in time...like...finish working on chapter III and then work on Different Journey's some more...^-^ Enjoy...)
Rating: PG
Warning: If you don't like slash/yaoi or male/male pairings then I suggest that you leave now or forever hold your peace-you have been for warned!
Pairings: Takuya/Kouji w/ Koichi/Izumi on the side
Time Setting: Takes place five years after Eternity-this is the sequel to that fic so I suggest that if you haven't read Eternity, then you might want to go read it...some of what happened in Eternity will be explained throughout the story, but not all of it.
Summary:
Forevermore
Author: Angel Spirit
Chapter II: So Insecure
The sun was shining, the sky was clear, not a cloud in sight...
So why did Kouji Minomoto feel so miserable? Weren't people supposed to be happy and enjoy the sunshine? So the weather forecasters said on the news whenever they pronounced a sunny day. So he would've said if he was here.
Kouji shook his head and let out a very low, practically inaudible growl as he headed toward his dorm room, determined not to think about him. He didn't want to think about him anymore. It was bad enough that his stepmother wanted him to go and see a psychiatrist because he still had nightmares on the occasion about the 'incident' as his family members called it now...all he really wanted to do was forget about it.
And it wasn't happening.
Every time he told himself to forget about him, it never happened. His face came surfacing up, those dark brown eyes that seemed to stare straight through Kouji's own soul, that caused Kouji to smile-and be happy whenever he had looked into them.
Looked...looked.
He wasn't looking into those dark brown eyes now, and he doubted he ever would again.
Bringing out his key, he fumbled with the lock for a few minutes, attempting to unlock his door. And then he heard a voice that he hadn't wanted to hear all day-a voice belonging to a person he'd been trying to ignore all day. Belonging to none other then Sen Konoe.
Kouji couldn't place it, but he thought he'd seen Sen somewhere before. And personally, the guy gave him the creeps...Kouji wasn't sure what it was, but he always felt a chill run down his spine whenever Sen came real close to him, and he always had the feeling like he needed to get away and shower whenever Sen was too close or tried to touch him. Yes, there was definitely something creepy about Sen Konoe.
"Minomoto...I was wondering if I'd get to see you today...having key problems? Here, let me help." He said in that all-too smooth voice that made Kouji want to cringe whenever he heard it. He wished that Junpei or Koichi were with him...at least whenever one of them were with him, Sen usually left him alone and didn't bother him.
As Sen's hand brushed by Kouji's to get the key, Kouji instantly jerked back, and he heard Sen chuckle a little bit. It didn't help, that Sen was only two doors down away from Kouji's own dorm room. It also wasn't fun, when Sen kept on insisting that Kouji should move in with him, to free up a dorm room for someone trying to get one, as both Kouji and Sen had a dorm room all to themselves, which, shouldn't have happened...but, it did anyway. And Kouji wasn't going to move from his dorm room and into Sen's, even if Sen tried to pay him a million dollars.
"Take it easy their Minomoto, I'm not going to bite." Sen whispered, putting his mouth a little too close to Kouji's ear for his liking as Sen inserted the key into the doorknob with no problem and twisted it open at the sound of it unlocking.
"There you go Kouji. So, what do you say about my offer to move into my dorm room and share one?" To Sen's question, Kouji snorted.
"In a million years Sen...that's not going to happen. And how many times do I have to tell you to leave me the hell alone?" He growled, suddenly wishing for Sen to not be there. He desperately wished that Rei was there with them-she was the leader of their hallway, and she hated Sen as much as Kouji did. But as he allowed his eyes to do a quick glance throughout the hall, it turned up an empty search. No one was going to rescue him from Sen this time but himself.
"Someone's a bit on the grumpy side today...why don't we go and get some coffee and you tell me all about what's bothering you, huh Kouji?" Kouji moved away from Sen's touch, and narrowed his dark blue gray eyes at Sen-a look that most people would've shied away from, not Sen however. Sen had, quite unfortunately, grown too used to the 'look'.
"I don't drink coffee Sen, you know that...and if I did, I sure as hell wouldn't drink it in your company...now move out of the way so I can get in." He heard Sen sigh and watched as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine with me Minomoto...can't blame a guy for trying at least." Kouji felt himself shudder as he brushed past Sen, and into his own dorm, nearly slamming the doorway in Sen's face. He shook his head as he dumped his book bag onto his bed, and looked around the room...half the room was bare, with a bed that needed to be occupied. While Kouji did like being alone, he wished that someone would hurry up and take the opportunity to live in the dorms so that Kouji wouldn't have to deal with Sen anymore.
"He's so irritating!" Kouji growled out loud, and then reached for his cell phone, knowing that his twin wouldn't be due to be in his Chemistry class for another few minutes, he dialed Koichi's number...he had to talk to someone...someone to make him feel better. Kouji couldn't get Sen's creepiness out of his mind.
"Koichi speaking..." Kouji felt himself slowly relax at the sound of his twin's voice as he answered his cell phone.
"Hey Koichi."
"Kouji...what's wrong? I've got class in a few minutes." At this, Kouji raised an eyebrow...how did Koichi know that something was wrong? As he asked this, Koichi laughed gently.
"Kouji, we're twins. Just call it a twin intuition on my part if you'd like...and by the panicky sound in your voice, I'd say that you had a run in with Sen." Kouji just shook his head...he'd immediately told Koichi about Sen the first day when he'd met him, and had had bad vibes about the guy.
"All too true. He was just here...Koichi...I really don't like the guy...I mean, I really don't like him...he...he makes me feel...I don't know...I mean, I don't feel safe around Sen anymore." There was a small silence on Koichi's end, before Koichi sighed.
"Okay. So we go and talk to Rei. She'll figure out something. In the meantime, are you alone, or are you with someone?" At this, Kouji rolled his eyes.
"So much for twin intuition bro...I'm alone." Koichi sighed, and on his end he was grinning a little as he was met up with Junpei who was in his Chemistry class.
"Listen, Junpei and I have to get to Chemistry now...when we're done, why don't we go off campus for dinner tonight, we can nab Izumi and just go and enjoy ourselves? It is Friday after all...you don't have any more classes today, right? You just have English and Trig?" Kouji nodded at his twin's question, and then, realizing that Koichi couldn't see him nod, grinned sheepishly.
"Yeah, I'm done for the day...I was thinking of finding Rei, Kita, and Kai and maybe hanging out with them for a bit."
"Sound good...I'll call you when we reach the dorms, okay? Just...steer clear of Sen if you can, okay Kouji?" Kouji sighed and shook his head, but agreed to do so as he said goodbye and hung up with his twin.
"Yeah...I try to stay away from him...but somehow, it's as though he's got this little radar going on all the time that always seems to pinpoint exactly where I am." Kouji murmured, as he dialed another familiar number, and waited until Kita Minami picked up the phone.
"Kita, it's Kouji."
"Kouji...what's up?" Kouji smiled. He and Kita got off to a great start, and were pretty good friends...maybe it was because Kita had a twin brother, Kai, and reminded Kouji very much like him and Koichi sometimes.
"Not much...you and Kai don't have classes today, right?" Kouji could hear Kita's grin through her voice.
"Correct! Man, lemme tell you, having Friday's off is a BLAST! And you're done, too, aren't you?"
"Yeah Kita, I am...hey...listen, want to keep me company while I wait for my moronic twin brother and Junpei to get out of their Chemistry class? I can't believe that they signed up for Friday afternoon classes." Kita laughed.
"They're just over achievers and don't know how to have a good time Kouji! Sure, I'll hang with you...Kai's here too, and I'm sure that he won't mind...maybe we can grab Rei and do some stuff-go downtown or something. Sound okay?" Kouji nodded.
"Yeah, sounds cool...as long as it keeps me away from Sen, I don't care what we decide to do." He heard Kai's voice asking something from the background, and Kita told Kouji that she was passing the phone to him, as Kai came on the line a few seconds later.
"Is that jerk still bothering you Kouji?" It wasn't the first time Kai sounded concerned-the brother and sister didn't like Sen as much as Koichi and himself didn't-their feelings toward the sandy haired boy were pretty much mutual.
"Yeah...he is. Unfortunately for me...I just want to get out of here for awhile...and I'll be glad for the company until my twin and Junpei can join us."
"Sure think Kouji...hey, there's this new Arcade opening in the downtown district at one of the local piers...why don't we go check that out tonight and we can have pizza and stuff?" Kouji laughed.
"Sounds like you and my twin are thinking of the same thing Kai, Koichi said he wanted pizza for dinner too. Alright...why don't I meet you guys are your dorm room in the next fifteen minutes or so?"
"Sounds good Kouji, see you in a little bit, alright? And call us if you run into trouble with Sen on your way down here, okay?"
"Sure...thanks you guys."
He said goodbye to the twins as he hung up, feeling slightly better then what he had when he'd entered his dorm room. Deciding to change clothes, he put on a pair of black jeans and a three quarter length black shirt, and took out his ponytail so he could brush it a little bit before redoing it.
Once he was done, Kouji nodded at him self, satisfied at what he saw as he grabbed a jean coat from the closet.
"Man...I wish that this closet was a bit more full...and this room a bit more occupied." Kouji muttered, as he headed out of his dorm room, double checking the hall to make sure that Sen was nowhere in sight as he was quite relieved that he wasn't, and then headed down the stairs and out to the next dorm building over, where Kita and Kai were waiting for him.
~***~
A couple of hours later, found him with Koichi, Junpei, Izumi, Kai, Kita, and Rei, as they were hanging out at one of the local Arcade arena's that were within a couple of blocks from the University.
"I can't believe that you had another run in with Sen." Koichi murmured, as the two twins had stepped outside for some fresh air, leaving Junpei and Izumi at the Dance Dance Revolution machine, with Izumi kicking Junpei's butt-and two other players calling the winner...it looked like Izumi would be busy for some time that evening...she was better then she or anyone else had thought she would be.
Kouji only nodded at Koichi's question, not really wanting to talk about it...and his twin, realizing this, decided to start a different conversation-one he knew that his twin might hate him for, but he knew he had to at least see if Kouji would understand what he was hinting at. For, he knew something that Kouji didn't know...and he just wasn't sure how he'd tell him-or if he'd tell him at all.
"So...Kouji...you know, how we're in a University and all, right?" Kouji gave his twin a strange look and mutely nodded his head as he looked out at the pier, toward the water and then up at the stars that were starting to come out.
"And you know how things to with University's and all that, how there are tons of people there from anywhere you can possibly think of?" Another nod, and another suspicious look...Koichi found himself getting nervous for one of the first times since he met his twin nearly eight years ago, and he softly bit down on his lower lip, not quite sure where he was going with this, but knew he had to give it a try...he knew that he had to at least give his twin enough hints to let Kouji figure it out for himself.
"You know that there's a few students that're coming to Shibuya University from New York City? Wouldn't that be cool to get to know them? I mean, they're from America...makes things a little bit more interesting, right?" Kouji still didn't say anything, and Koichi sighed, suddenly feeling irritated-was his twin just being stupid, or was he just not seeing the picture that Koichi was trying to paint for him?
"You know..." Koichi paused, wondering if he should take the risk that he was going to take, and then shrugged his shoulders and decided to go for it-the least Kouji could do was to storm off and then declare that he was giving Koichi the silent treatment until his anger wore off-which, when it came to his twin brother, usually wasn't very long. Koichi could be thankful for that.
"I haven't heard from Takuya lately...I...wonder how he's doing you know? Where he's going to school, what's up with him..." That seemed to do the trick. He saw Kouji's slightly smaller frame stiffen a bit, his dark blue gray eyes still looking out at the water...Koichi couldn't read the expression that was in them, and he really didn't think that he wanted to know what was going through his twin's mind either at the moment.
"I...don't...care." Kouji suddenly spoke, so softly that Koichi had to strain to hear the words spoken from his twin, for another small burst of wind had picked up, and carried them out toward the ocean. Koichi sighed and shook his head...what was his twin saying? He didn't care anymore? Back when Takuya had figured out how to call them, Kouji would always want to know how the brunette was doing-even if he couldn't talk to him...it meant that Koichi still could. And now that Kouji remembered, lately the phone calls had been few and far in between-and Kouji had slowly stopped asking about his koi who had moved so far away.
"What do you mean you don't care?" Now Koichi found himself getting angry. After all those years of his twin pining away for Takuya, being miserable because Takuya couldn't be there with him...now he was saying he didn't care anymore? How in the hell did this suddenly happen?
And how will Kouji react when I tell him what I might have to tell him? Koichi thought, as he stared his twin down, as Kouji had glanced over and met his dark blue gray orbs with what was almost exactly like mirror reflections of his own eyes...except that the expression on both twin's faces were different...in fact, Kouji Minomoto looked pissed off.
"I don't want to talk about Takuya Kanbara, alright? I've stopped having nightmares about that night, about him...and I don't want them to start up again, okay? He's gone, he's not coming back, and I've got to move on! I think I'm going back to the dorm rooms now Koichi." With that, Kouji made to leave, but Koichi held him back suddenly, as he reached out and grabbed his twin's upper forearm and held it tight.
"Who is that speaking Kouji? Is that you, or that damned physiatrist that mom had you go and see for those two weeks were you were miserable, because you told me that she told you that same exact stuff, and you told me that you didn't believe her! So don't tell me now that you believe her Kouji! I know you too well you're my twin! I can see it in your eyes...you practically wear your emotions in them...as hard to believe as it is. When I look into your eyes Kouji, I can see just how much you still love him!" Koichi hated arguing with Kouji, but he had to make his twin see how wrong he was in thinking what he was thinking.
"Knock it off Koichi...Takuya is gone...when was the last time you got a phone call from him, huh? When was the last time you remember talking to him, and him asking you questions about us? If I remember correctly, the past couple of times you talked to him, you never sounded as excited as you used to after talking to Takuya...forget it...forget him, he's in a different country altogether! I wouldn't be surprised if he has another boyfriend now, okay?!? So just drop it already and leave me the hell alone!"
With that, Kouji stormed off he pier...going around the arcade instead of through it.
Koichi blinked for a second, feeling stunned, and then sighed as he rubbed his temples with his forehead...that...hadn't...gone well. Not well at all. Kouji knew that it wasn't Takuya's fault...he knew how bad Takuya felt...he knew that Takuya only loved him-he had told Koichi to tell him that so many times. But now that Koichi remembered, whenever he'd talked to Takuya recently Takuya sounded more tired then usual...sounded more...lonesome. Could Kouji be right? Koichi doubted it...he doubted that Takuya would ever back out on someone he loved as much as he loved his twin. Koichi could always see it in Takuya's eyes, the love that the brunette had for his twin.
Now suddenly, Koichi didn't really want to go back inside the arcade, with the bright lights and cheerful people, loud noises...
And he was in luck, for just as soon as he was about to go inside, his cell phone rang.
Saved by the bell...or in maybe this case phone... Koichi thought as he snagged it out of his leather coat pocket, and turned it on.
"Koichi Kinmura speaking." He answered, and was incredibly surprised at the voice who answered, sounding as though the person had been crying.
"Koichi...it's me...I-I'm coming home..."
For a few minutes, Koichi stood there on the pier, feeling a bit stunned, and then he slowly shook his head to clear it as a smile lit up on his face.
"Takuya...that's great! It's great to hear from you! Are you-are you okay?" Koichi whispered suddenly, feeling that something was wrong with his friend. He had no idea just how right he was.
"Y-yeah, I-I'll be okay, it's really good to talk to you...I...I've missed you guys so much, you have no idea...I can't wait to come home." Takuya's voice came over the phone, and Koichi realized he had been right- it definitely sounded as though Takuya had been crying, and he raised an eyebrow in concern as he turned around again to face the ocean.
"Takuya...are you alright?" A small pause from the other, and then:
"I'm fine...actually, I feel really tired...but otherwise, fine." Koichi just sighed, as he had a feeling that there was definitely something Takuya wasn't telling him.
"If you're sure...so when are you coming home? Are you going to come to Shibuya University with the rest of us?" Another pause, this time a slightly longer one then the last, and then a small sigh. Takuya really did sound tired, and this had Koichi worried about his friend...what had happened to the perky, upbeat Takuya that he had used to know? Something was definitely not right.
"I'm coming home next weekend...on Friday, mid-morning...I've got some stuff that I have to have taken care of down here, and then I'll come back...Koichi...can you...can you do me a favor?" Koichi nodded, having a half a inkling as to what that favor was that Takuya was going to ask, and was surprised what it wasn't what he thought it would be.
"Can you and the others...can you be there at the airport? I...I really want to see you guys. And it would be great to see you there." At Takuya's request, Koichi grinned and then waved at Izumi and Junpei who had left the inside of the Arcade to find him and Kouji when they had noticed that they weren't anywhere inside, and Koichi noticed that Izumi had a water bottle with her, her eyes were shining happily and she was sweaty too...looking like she had just had the time of her life. Koichi started to wonder silently to himself just how many guys she'd beaten with the Dance Dance Revolution game. He had known that she was a good dancer, but he hadn't known that she was that good.
"Sure thing Takuya, we'll be there. Count on us...when do you fly in?"
"Eleven thirty is when my plane arrives...hey Koichi, I've got to go...but...I'll call you back later, okay? Say hi to everyone for me?"
"Sure thing Takuya...can't wait to see you, we'll hang out together that weekend if you want to...I'm excited that you're coming back." If Koichi could see Takuya, he'd see the small smile that the brunette held when he heard this-a smile that reached his eyes...something that didn't happen very often with him these days.
"I'd like that...thanks Koichi...really." Koichi said goodbye and hung up, feeling bad for he had the feeling that suddenly Takuya felt alone-his goodbye held such a longing to it-as though he wanted to talk longer. And Koichi promised himself that he'd stick by his friend, no matter what. Whatever Takuya's problem was, he knew that eventually Takuya would tell him...he wouldn't press it.
Koichi had completely forgotten that Izumi and Junpei had walked over to him, and he was brought back to reality when Izumi was gently snapping her fingers in front of his face, looking worried as she grabbed a hold of his hand the moment he came too.
"Everything alright?" She asked softly, as Koichi thought about the question for a minute, before he nodded-oh yeah, he thought...everything was going to be just fine.
"Where's Kouji?" Junpei asked, and Koichi sighed and shook his head.
"He got mad at me and stalked off...I...I did a stupid thing and brought up Takuya." Izumi sighed.
"I don't think I'll ever understand your twin." She murmured, and Koichi only shrugged as they started to very slowly walk back to the arcade to meet up with the others their hands still intertwined together as Junpei walked on the other side of Izumi.
"I don't think I understand him now. He got angry at me for mentioning Takuya's name...what're we going to do when he finds out that Takuya's going to be coming to school with us?" The other two did a double take, and stared at him with wide eyes, and Koichi could see all the questions that flowed through them.
All Koichi did was grin at them though.
"Yeah, you guys heard right...that was Takuya I was just talking too- he's coming home!" Izumi reacted exactly the way Koichi knew his girlfriend would. She squealed and hugged him tight, doing her little 'happy dance' as Junpei had started to call it, bouncing up and down.
"I can't believe it...you're serous, aren't you! Oh my god, I want to see him so badly! When is he coming home Koichi?" Koichi chuckled.
"Slow down Izumi, slow down! He's coming home on Friday, his flight comes in at eleven thirty in the morning, and he wants us to be there." Junpei nodded, a big grin on his face and his dark brown eyes sparkled.
"Oh yeah, we'll definitely be there! I hope you told him we would...It'll be so good to see Takky again!" The other two teens giggled, at Junpei's old nickname for Takuya-he'd been the first one to start calling him that, and then nickname stuck-much to Takuya's dismay-it wasn't one of his fondest nicknames to have.
"Yes, it definitely will be...and he's coming to school with us, are you sure about that Koichi?" Koichi nodded-while he hadn't heard the exact word from Takuya, Shibuya University was one of the very few University's close by in their area...he just had that feeling that he was right when he was telling his friends this.
"I hope he's in our dorm residence! He's got to be, oh I'll have to talk to Rei and see what we can do! I'm sooooo excited!" And Izumi was off and running, her excitement too much for her to contain. Junpei just laughed and shook his head.
"You know man, there are times when I'm so glad she's your girlfriend and not mine...I don't think I'd be able to keep up with her! I don't know how you do it Koichi." Koichi just grinned at the brunette and shrugged.
"I don't know how I do it either. Come on, we'd better go and find her so that way we can help her calm down and explain to the others some more about who Takuya is, before she confuses them to death." Junpei nodded as they headed off into the arcade, but before it got too noisy, Junpei asked the one question that Koichi was dreading to answer.
"So...Koichi...does...does Kouji know that Takky's coming back? I mean, that'd be too awesome for them, right?" All Koichi did was sigh and shake his head and Junpei started to remember that Koichi had said that he and Kouji had argued when Koichi had brought up Takuya's very name. His eyes widened slightly.
"Koichi...Kouji still loves Takky, right? I...I don't see him with anyone else, I'll admit that. I thought they were perfect for each other...Kouji hasn't given up on Takuya, has he?" Junpei whispered, as Koichi eyed him, not having seen this side of Junpei before-sure, he knew that Junpei was definitely okay with Takuya and Kouji being together as a couple when they'd first announced it-but he had never shown concern over them being together or not together. All Koichi did was sigh and shake his head at his friend.
"I don't know Junpei...I don't know." And that was the best reply he could give.
TBC...
AN2-Hides Don't hurt me...please? I'll update again soon, I've got so many ideas for this fic now that I've managed to start it again! (I'm saying again cause this is a sequel...so to me it's just like an expansion of the other fic...^-^) And to those of you who are even starting to think that I'm not going to bring Takuya and Kouji back together...how can you THINK THAT?!? But it WILL be awhile before they get back together...just to warn you there. Let's just say that there are some people who don't want them together...Kouji's stalker being one of them! (Is it Sen? Or is it someone else...hmmmmm...you guys will just have to continue reading to find out! evil laughter inserted here) And what is it that Takuya's really hiding from Koichi...well now, u know what to do to find out, right? (Go click on that little GO button at the bottom and review! Tell me what u think...^-^)