By the way, the spoiler from the previous chapter was the wrong one, so it won't be featured in this chapter. I've decided to take this story slow and easy instead of rushing it into the main plot.
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Chapter 3
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"Wait, Buchou, don't strangle Mukahi-senpai!" Choutarou cried out. Apparently, Atobe was trying to kill Mukahi for suggesting that Echizen Ryoma was better than the great Atobe-sama in looks and in skills.
"No, Ore-sama will kill this puny human for saying that the brat is better than Ore-sama." Atobe growled and barred his teeth like a mad hound dog.
"Gah, Yuushi, protect me from this diva hound dog!" Mukahi cried out.
"How dare you call Ore-sama a hound dog?!"
"Eep!"
Oshitari sighed and continued walking towards Shishido's room with the remainder who didn't get involved in the stupid fight. He really wasn't in the mood to get involved in these things right now, especially when he has to pretend that he had just befriended Mukahi.
Speaking of Mukahi, he glanced at the redhead with worry. Oshitari knew that he also had to withstand Shishido kissing his Gakuto. Just thinking about the thing was already frustrating enough. But he knew that the most stressed ones were Mukahi and Choutarou. Mukahi seemed to be smiling and teasing Atobe, but he was sure that it was just a façade to cover up his stress.
Choutarou was being his over-protective self only because he needed something to take his mind off the pain.
Mukahi continued brisk walking out of Atobe's grasp, since he had already 2 warnings from the nurses for running in the halls. Atobe escaped because he declared to the nurses, "Give Ore-sama a warning and Ore-sama will make sure that you will see the un-generous side of Ore-sama and his family."
What a way to scare some of the nurses shitless, he thought.
They reached Shishido's new room, where he had been transferred last night due to some noise problems. Everybody walked in and circled Shishido's bed with Mukahi and Choutarou at each of his side. Oshitari had expected the glare that was sent his way so he stood next to Atobe and Kabaji.
"How are you, Shishido?" Choutarou meekly asked. He didn't know whether to call him Shishido, Shishido-san or Shishido-senpai. He couldn't call Shishido 'senpai' because he was introduced to him as a new kid in their class. Calling him Shishido-san would only bring back some of his latest memories faster, unfortunately. So the last name to call him was Shishido…
"I'm fine, thanks, Ootori…" Shishido smiled his warm smile that would make knees wobble, more specifically, Choutarou's. He turned back to the rest of the group and expectedly, glared at Oshitari.
"Ore-sama heard that you're going to get discharged from the hospital the day after tomorrow, Shishido."
"Even though I'm going to be discharged, I have to stay at home and rest."
"That sounds boring…" Mukahi said nonchalantly, rolling his eyes. "Boredom is only going to make people heal slower…"
"Not really, the boredom and the rest are good for the injuries…Gaku-…Mukahi-san…" Oshitari said, pushing his glasses back up.
Having heard the accidental familiarity, Shishido glared. Oshitari did nothing but glare back, feeling irritated by all of the glares. Atobe mentally slapped his forehead at their childishness. Mukahi felt wary at the sudden situation. Choutarou coughed awkwardly at the silence.
What was with this Oshitari guy all of a sudden, Shishido thought, keeping an eye level at his enemy. He was never friends with him and yet he visits him at the hospital and speaks in familiarity with his Gakuto. He would never befriend Oshitari, especially after what happened the last time they both talked to each other.
Atobe felt a large headache come on. Making Shishido and Oshitari talk to each other was as difficult as telling his Jirou not to go to sleep, or teaching Ootori how to curse, frown and scowl at people.
It was impossible...
"Ore-sama's got to go now..." He turned around, back facing everyone. "Rest and don't do anything that would make your healing progress any slower..." And walked away, followed by Kabaji dragging Jirou whom already had fallen asleep.
I need a hot bath, a fresh glass of sparkling water and a hell lot of aspirins, Atobe thought, strutting down the halls.
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"Ne, Gakuto, after I get discharged, wanna go to our tree place." Shishido said, after everyone bidded him goodbye, leaving him and the redhead alone.
"Our...tree place...?"
"Yeah, the one at the park near your place..." He quizzically looked at Mukahi. "You do remember it, right?"
"Um, of course..." Of course he remembered it, but the memories were blurred, just like the other memories he had locked away. He had locked away so many memories, so many places, so many kisses and everything.
Everything...
Mukahi had always wondered, what would it be like to see the sunset from above a tree? He had constantly pestered his boyfriend about this and was always replied with an annoyed grunt.
"Gakuto...enough of the sunset thing for a while...now, wait for me at your house around 5...don't ask why, just get ready before then." Shishido said.
Mukahi raised a curious brow but nodded suspiciously.
"Oi, Gakuto, are you alright?" Shishido called out, waving a hand in front of his face.
Once again, he was snapped out of his reminiscing moments. He didn't want to continue the memory any further. The only thing he chose to remember was that the day Shishido had asked him to go out with at 5, was the day he discovered their special tree and experienced the sunset from an amazing view.
"Anyway," Shishido continued. "...want to see the sunset from our tree place again?"
"Um, alright...but are you okay to walk there?"
"Gakuto, we're all rich bastards, I think a limo can send me off..."
"..."
Shishido laughed.
Mukahi relaxed a bit at the sound of his laughing and found himself smiling along with him. It really did feel nice to smile again.
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Oshitari hadn't felt this envious and angry for a very long time, which meant that chaos was sure to erupt soon. He had wanted to check on Mukahi, just to make sure that there was just a talk happening behind the doors, instead of doing anything more. He was immensely relieved when he saw that the two of them were just sitting (with their clothes on, he added) and talking. But what he saw next shattered the relief.
Mukahi was smiling.
But it wasn't any kind of smile. It was the one that he rarely saw, with those eyes softened and the lips curved softly, he felt truly envious.
How could Shishido draw out that smile so easily as laughing.
Why couldn't he (Oshitari) draw it out in such an easy manner.
And that was when he realized,
Does Gakuto still feel that way?
It was too early to judge, but Gakuto had always been the type to be easily swooped away.
No, he's still with me...
Fear turned into determination.
You're not taking him away, Shishido Ryou.
Walking calmly away from the door, Oshitari called his limo and let himself be driven away.
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Memories, Mukahi thought, is a double-edged sword that would slice anything.
A happy memory would stab the sadness.
A angry memory would cut the moral.
A sad memory would slice the heart.
Mukahi was now having his heart sliced by a wave of sad memories, his happy memories were somehow healing him at the same time. It was confusing, really, feeling himself break but suddenly glue together at one small thought.
He would have thought that remembering the happy times would have made him regret everything that was happening right now. He thought that the sad memories would have made him somehow grateful to be in the situation right now.
But he wasn't.
Memories were a burden...
He wanted to forget...
Staring out his window, he spotted the tree. The same tree that Shishido had brought him to, one year ago.
It was around 5:05 and Mukahi was dragged somewhere by Shishido, blindfolded. He could hear faints sounds of rustling, vague laughter of children and a cool breeze around him.
"Alright, we're here..." Shishido unwrapped the blindfold and turned Mukahi towards the direction of the view.
It was the sunset...
And next to them was a large tree with large branches that could withhold the weight of 10 grown men.
"Come on, let's climb up and see the sunset." Shishido said and pulled the both of them up. When they reached the top, both of them were awed by the sight.
"Wow," They both said.
"Now, are you going to keep on pestering me about looking at a sunset from above a tree?"
"Nope, I'm going to pester you to bring me here everyday..."
They both laughed.
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Blegh, the last part of the story sucked a bit, but I still don't know why I added it.
Anyway, sorry for the late update...I've been really busy.
Stay tuned for the next chapter!