Seventeen

By Christmas Eve the whole place was over crowded with visitors from miles and away and stores were easily going out of stock of certain goods and decided they were doing that 'first come first served' deal since they couldn't get anymore new shipments until after New Years. Gakuto and Jiroh decided to close the shop early on Christmas Eve. Jiroh grinned giddily as Atobe had proposed a dinner date with him at his mansion.

"This sucks, I have nothing really nice to wear," whined Jiroh sorting through his clothes.

Gakuto rolled his eyes heavenward as if praying to God that his friend would get over himself and bless the kid with a damn outfit.

"You'd look nice in that," said Gakuto pulling out some dark blue jeans and rather tight shirt that had red on it. The reason Jiroh bought it was because it looked like something that would be in one of those popular Dong Ban Shin Ki music videos and Gakuto couldn't agree more.

"I'm not going out to a club Gakuto!" protested Jiroh stomping his foot in frustration.

"Fine, green sweater and those jeans," said Gakuto.

"It's not St. Patrick's day!"

Gakuto felt like slapping the living hell out of his friend. It was just a date he wasn't going to a movie premiere!

"Then just go naked then! Atobe could get a better look at you then anyway!" he snapped stomping downstairs pissed off that his friend was acting stupid.

His phone beeped again and Gakuto flipped it open. What now?

'Merry Christmas Gakuto, I have two gifts for you. One is in the mailbox and the other you'll see with your first gift.-SA'

Gakuto flipped his phone shut and made his way outside where the mailbox was out front and opened it to find a small envelope tucked in there. He reached for it and went back inside and opened it.

Inside was a simple silver-…no probably platinum tennis bracelet inside with three simple diamonds adorning it. There was also a letter, the same type of paper that was used for the first letter this secret admirer gave him.

'Gakuto,

Today is finally the day that I shall tell you who I really am. Meet me by the fountains near the hotels in at seven tonight. Wear the bracelet when you arrive beloved. I love you so much and I hope you feel the same way, Merry Christmas.'

Gakuto blushed and then looked at the time on the clock. Five o'clock, two ours until seven. He had time…but until then- he made his way out the door hoping a shop or two was still open.

--

Oshitari was nervous tonight, it was the night that he'd finally tell Mukahi Gakuto how he really felt. It would be the best Christmas present ever if Gakuto accepted such a relationship with him. He felt flushed and his stomach churned, he had described such feelings in his stories but he had never imagined having this feeling himself. He couldn't wait until tonight.

The writer had already gotten dressed up in dark blacks and reds that were suggested by Atobe who said that black and red would always be in. It figured that Atobe knew his fashion well. Oshitari wondered how Gakuto would react. Would he be thrilled? Would he be surprised? Or….would he be disgusted? He feared rejection in a way…but he was trying to feel optimistic and breathed in some calming breaths. And then his phone rang.

It was number he hadn't seen in months. His manager's number, in Japan where it'd be ten o'clock in the morning…

"Moshi Moshi?"

"Ah, Oshitari-san, I was hoping you'd pick up. First I'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas before giving you bad news," said his manager's voice on the other line.

Oshitari's heart jumped.

"What bad news?"

"I'm afraid you're going to have to come back to Japan immediately. A death has taken place in your family and the funeral is tomorrow evening," answered the manager.

"Akitomi-san who is it?" Oshitari asked already fearing on who it was…

There was a silence at the end of the line and finally, "Your sister committed suicide the other day ago. Hoku is dead."

Oshitari couldn't swallow, and his once nervous and happy heart was now filled with broken pieces. He couldn't speak…he fell to his knees in emotional pain. He was returning to Japan for good, but not with a happy ending it seemed.

"Alright, I'm packing right now," said Oshitari gathering what little things he had. He hung up the phone, packed his clothes and toothbrush and shoved his laptop in its case. He quickly jotted something down on a piece of paper as he found himself crying. Too many things were happening at once… He called one last number and left a voice message, "Oi, Atobe, I have to leave the US. Something came up but I need you to do me one last favor. Wait at the fountains downtown where the hotel is, tell the person waiting there to go to my apartment, give him the spare key. Most of all, tell this special someone I'm sorry. I hope to see you again my friend. Sayonara."

The handsome young novelist walked out to his car, placed his things in the back seat, and drove off promising never to look back and maybe to never to return in fear of seeing an angry or hurt Mukahi Gakuto still there.

--

Gakuto ran happily towards the fountains after Jiroh left on his date. His heart fluttered almost out of his chest in anticipation on figuring out who this person who was attracted to him was. He ran past a group of girls in such a dazed rush he said 'Sumimasen' instead of 'excuse me' not realizing that he was speaking in Japanese instead of English. His eyes went wide at he turned down the dimly lit street where hotels surrounded large stream that many people called a fountain that sometimes did stream out water. Their figures were lit by the golden light where and the water reflecting on their bodies. Oshitari wasn't there at all, Jiroh and Atobe were. Gakuto's heart sank and he strangled out a sob that he didn't even mean to let go. He knew this was a scam. A cruel trick by them because they knew… They knew about him being infatuated with the beautiful novelist who Gakuto had hoped had feelings for him.

"Gakuto-kun, please listen to me when I say that we weren't supposed to be here tonight. The person that was supposed to be here tonight told me to give this to you and say that he was sorry," said Atobe.

Gakuto slowly trudged over to his best friend and his lover who held out a card key in his hand. He took it in his hands.

"Please, take me there," Gakuto ordered softly his voice trembling on every syllable.

Atobe and Jiroh nodded to eachother and gestured over to their car parked close by. They rode up not too far away from where they had met and up to a rather lavish hotel. Gakuto didn't bother waiting for Jiroh and Atobe to get out of the car as they parked. He ran across the abandoned glowing orange parking lot and up the stairs looking for the room number imprinted on the card. He found the door and quickly sliding the card against the scanner and entered the dark apartment complex. The furniture was still there, it was probably provided by the hotel, but what he found on the floor near the door was what he reached for as he reached for the light switch.

On his knees he read the letter addressed to him.

'I would give anything in the world right now to avoid going back to Japan but something tragic has happened that has left me no choice but to return home I'm needed. I'm truly sorry that I couldn't meet you; I hope Atobe carried out my request. Please do not be upset and continue to live happy. I was only there for three months and it shouldn't matter, there weren't many memories to really say that there was a very close relationship between us even though I am hopelessly attracted to you Gakuto, and I think I'll never love another person again because they'd never be you. Please don't wait for me to come back, I'm afraid that I can't over a couple reasons that I'll leave to myself for now.

I hope you will still find happiness out there somewhere and forget about the fool that couldn't stay by your side. I will forever and love you with all my heart. You are my first and my last love.

Love,

Yuushi '

Gakuto trembled out in aching heartbreak and he felt tears run down his face.

"You idiot….you fucking idiot. What the hell make you think I loved you? What makes you think I would show up tonight! God dammit, come back to I can kill you with my bare hands for breaking me until I'm now numb!" he screamed. Jiroh and Atobe finally had caught up with Gakuto who they found on kneeling on the floor crying.

"Get up. We need to catch the next plane heading out to Tokyo," said Atobe.

Gakuto's head shot up his dark blue eyes looking glazed over and hurt all at the same time. Jiroh glanced over at Atobe.

"We'll all go. You, me, your friend, Shishido, and Otori," continued Atobe.

"I don't want to burden you, and if he left it's because he wanted to," said Gakuto.

Jiroh kneeled beside him and asked stonily, "I thought you loved him… If you really do you need to chase after him Gakuto and if you love him you won't let go no matter what the situation is! Stand up and follow your heart!"

The burgundy haired male looked down at the ground as if he was pondering deeply. He was probably was, and then he looked up with glittering eyes and a smirk on his face.

"Then let's go," he said.

(A/N: Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been kept busy by school and my new fic. To make up for it I'm posting the rest of the story so I hope you enjoy!)