Ice

Theme: #19. red

Disclaimers on part 1

Rating: R

Shinji was frozen, rooted to the ground where he stood, eyes fixed on a scene in front of him. I know this isn't what it looks like…I know it….

It had become the habit of recent weeks for Inui to meet Shinji at Fudomine's gate after school, and from there they'd decide what to do. However, for the past several days, Inui had been asking Shinji to meet him back at their bench in the park, as he was working on a project after school, and it was just easier that way for Inui. Shinji had agreed, and though Inui had beat him there every day, Shinji had never though anything more about it. And then, when Shinji's practice had let out early, Shinji raced off to the park, looking forward to beating Inui there and surprising him.

It had never occurred that Shinji that Inui was always there first because he had been meeting someone else there.

Shinji stayed hidden behind the tree as he watched the stranger with Inui. They were wearing the same school uniform, but he looked somehow…familiar to Shinji, which he found odd as he had never met of Inui's current classmates, and come to think of it, shouldn't that be a little suspicious, and, really….

Shinji shook his head and forced himself to focus and not retreat into the usual ramblings that he had always used to hide from things before. No. He was going to observe the situation before he went jumping to conclusions.

Though what Shinji was seeing really wasn't something that he'd consider very heartening.

Shinji had long known that Inui was on the remote side, when it came to touching and being touched. Inui had a personal space bubble that was seemingly a mile wide, and there were very few people that Inui let into it on a regular basis. In fact, Shinji could only think of two people that Inui seemed completely comfortable being touched by—himself and Kaidoh.

If that was the case…then why was Inui letting this new person touch him and lean into his personal space like that?

Shinji again studied the interloper that was sitting next to Inui. On the surface, to Shinji, he bore a superficial resemblance to Fuji. Brown hair and eyes that never seemed to open…though, this stranger didn't seem to be sporting the constant smile of Fuji's. But when he did smile, it was always in response to something Inui had said or done…and worse, to Shinji, Inui was smiling and laughing back, and actively participating in the touching.

Shinji had never seen Inui so relaxed before…except with him…so, maybe….

No! I'm not going to think that! He…he wouldn't do that to me. He's too…honest, and straightforward to do that to me…right? Of course! There has to be another explanation for this…hey! Get your hands off of my Sadaharu! He is not yours to touch…and why are you leaning over him like that? You don't need to be that close to him to see those papers….

Shinji took a couple deep breaths, trying to calm down some. Focus, Shinji. Any minute now, Sadaharu is going to tell him to back off. Sadaharu cares about you, not some random person who he probably shares interests and goals with, and…I'm not helping myself, am I?

Shinji watched for a couple more minutes, and, just as he was about to storm over and give them both a piece of his mind, Inui looked at his watch and frowned. Shinji saw him say something to the other boy—though he was too far away to tell or hear what—and the other packed up his papers, smiled at Inui, then patted Inui's leg and walked away.

All Shinji could think was, Why was Sadaharu frowning? Would he rather the other stayed and I went?

Shinji watched as his watch counted down the minutes until his normal arrival time, getting himself back under control, then plastered a smile on his face as he moved out from under the trees. "Beat me here again, Sadaharu?"

Inui stood and smiled as Shinji approached. "I just got here a couple minutes ago, myself. I'm glad to see you, Shinji." He drew Shinji into a hug, then kissed him.

Because Inui's eyes were closed, he didn't see Shinji's face and eyes become clouded with hurt. And, if Shinji's answering kiss seemed a bit less happy and passionate than usual, Inui didn't seem to notice or comment on it.

The next few days followed the same pattern.

Shinji shamelessly lied to Kamio, saying that he had to leave practice a little early for the next few days because of a family obligation. He had a feeling that Kamio suspected that something else was going on, but he let Shinji go without question, something that Shinji was extremely grateful for.

Shinji would hide himself in the same clump of trees, and watch Inui and the other boy get more and more familiar with each other. To Shinji's eyes, they seemed to be touching more, and, if he were in the mood to copy his boyfriend's data-gathering ways, would say that that general amount of space between them had been decreasing.

And Shinji got more and more upset each day.

I need to talk to him soon, Shinji mused, watching them. Sadaharu knows something's wrong with me, and it's only a matter of time before he asks me. I need to confront him with this, first. I need to…. Shinji's train of thought ground to a halt as he caught sight of a new scene being played out in front of him.

A stray breeze had apparently blown some of Inui's loose papers up so that they were caught in the branches of a bush that was right behind the bench, and the other boy was gathering them up. However, instead of doing the normal thing in Shinji's mind and getting up off the bench, he was basically straddling Inui and reaching over Inui's head to get the papers loose.

"That's it," Shinji muttered, starting forward. "That's it--" Glancing up again, Shinji almost fell forward, feeling the blood in his veins turn to ice.

The other boy had apparently slipped or something, because now he was very literally straddling Inui's lap, their faces close together. He saw Inui's lips move, then the other one was leaning forward, his lips pressing against Inui's….

Shinji saw red.

He stormed forward, equal parts anger and pain flowing through him. He heard Inui's voice, though he couldn't process the words, saw Inui move the other one off of him as Shinji approached.

Shinji ignored Inui, though. All of his attention was focused on the other, who, to his credit, looked a little concerned. Shinji stopped in front of the other, sizing him up…then pulled back with his right hand and punched him in the jaw.

Shinji was very pleased when the other went sprawling out on the ground. Bet he didn't think someone my size could do that….

"Shinji!" Inui jumped to his feet, moving between him and the boy on the ground. "What—why did you do that to Renji?"

"Why?" Shinji glared at him. "Do you think I'm stupid, Inui? I've seen you with him, for almost a week now…a project, sure. Did you have to bring your new boyfriend," Shinji spat out the word like it tasted bad, "to our spot?"

"Shinji, it's not like that—"

Shinji cut Inui off. "Renji, so that's his name. Does he kiss as good as I do? Does he make you happier? Why didn't you just tell me that you wanted someone else? Why the lying?"

Inui looked tired and defeated as he replied, "I shouldn't have kept this from you, true, but it's not what you think it is."

"Inui—" Shinji ignored how Inui flinched when he used his family name rather than his given, "what was it, then? You were touching him so much…please, tell me what you were doing with him. Tell me why you had to hide it." Shinji crossed his arms and leaned back, waiting for an answer.

"We were really working on a project. Renji…he's an old friend. Please, Shinji, I know I shouldn't have lied to you, but…."

"But you did," Shinji filled in when it became apparent that Inui wouldn't or couldn't complete his sentence. "Inui…how can I trust you?"

"Please, Shinji!" Inui reached out and grasped onto Shinji's shoulders, desperation clear in his face and voice. "I don't know what you saw, but it wasn't what you think, and I'm so sorry, please forgive me!"

"You kissed him, Inui." Shinji's voice sounded remote even to him, as if it was coming from a distance. "With the same lips that kissed me, that told me that you didn't want anyone else, you kissed him. And you've been lying to me…." He sighed. "I can't. It's over, Inui. We're over."

He pulled out of Inui's grip. Inui tried to protest, but Shinji cut him off. "Congratulations, Inui. You were my first kiss, my first boyfriend…and the cause of my first broken heart. I hope it was worth it for you."

He could hear Inui protesting, but Shinji ignored it as he turned and walked away.

--The End--