Rating: PG
Pairing: YuuTari
Disclaimer: not mine, cool? cool.
Oshitari didn't even have time to consider what to say to Yagyuu before Atobe showed up at his door again. He didn't know why he caved in so easily to Atobe - the man was so his weak point - but the fact was he didn't chase after Yagyuu because Atobe was there. Atobe took him out for dinner, and without ever mentioning Yagyuu, Atobe let Oshitari know that he was the one who told. Without ever thinking over what he was doing, Oshitari wrapped an arm around Atobe and pulled him close. Somehow, Atobe's shoulders didn't seem as broad as they used to.
"Are you mad?" The Atobe he knew would never have asked anyone that. For that matter, the Atobe he knew had never sounded so defeated. Oshitari looked straight ahead at the black screen separating them from the limo driver.
"No." He wasn't. He wasn't sure what he was, but he wasn't mad. He wasn't happy either, but wasn't that to be expected? Maybe he and Yagyuu wouldn't have worked out anyway - there was too much difference and too many unknowns and everything was just uncertain. Oshitari brushed his fingers through Atobe's perfect hair, before bringing it back to the temple and lightly rubbing the scalp.
"Life's interesting." Oshitari felt Atobe's muscles relaxing as he leaned in against Oshitari's chest. He didn't fit as well as he used to. Oshitari didn't say anything - he just rested his cheek on top of Atobe's head.
They pretended to date again for awhile, but it was clear to everyone that it wasn't going to work out. In that time though, Oshitari realized why Jirou had let Atobe go; the truth of the matter was that Atobe was one very confused person. He needed to be needed, but not in the way Jirou needed someone. Atobe needed someone stronger than him, someone who could talk back to him as an equal - not someone who'd just look up at him with adoring eyes every time he breathed. Jirou couldn't be that person, and Oshitari wasn't willing to be.
Atobe was like a man who'd lost his way in life. Even if Oshitari knew that they weren't going to work out as a couple, they were still old friends - some may call them best friends - and he worried for Atobe day and night. When they were second years, Atobe didn't show up for practice one day after a particularly brutal match against their captain the day before. Oshitari was worried, but Atobe neither answered his phone nor opened his door. He looked completely worn out in school the next day, but his eyes were shining with a light that Oshitari hadn't seen in awhile. He wondered what had happened.
Atobe spent more and more time away from home. He didn't call or demand anything from Oshitari - if Oshitari didn't know any better, he'd say that Atobe's attitude was almost apologetic. But it was Atobe Keigo he was thinking about, and Atobe was never apologetic.
"Hey Yuushi, you know what's up with Atobe-sama these days?" Calling Gakuto tactless would be a compliment, and Oshitari was sure it would get him killed one of these days.
"I heard a rumor that he's been with Rikkai's Sanada Genichi-" Ohtori started to volunteer. If it weren't for Shishido glaring at everyone who came near the boy, Oshitari would swear that Ohtori would have a lot more scars than Shishido himself. This time however, it was none other than Shishido who stopped him.
"Choutarou." It was just a word, but Ohtori immediately shut his mouth and looked at his "senpai" quizzically (Oshitari sometimes wondered if Ohtori calling him "Shishido-senpai" turned Shishido on). Oshitari looked over at Jirou, whom he found looking back at him. The other boy quickly went back to changing when he met Oshitari's eyes.
So that was it. Atobe had probably gone to Kanegawa for something, and had found what he needed in Sanada. Oshitari somehow just knew that this time, he wouldn't come back. While he was walking home from cram school one Sunday, he saw Atobe waiting outside a store. That was odd enough in itself - Atobe didn't do things like shopping in Japan, much less waiting around outside a store. He was just about to go see what he was doing when a familiar build stepped out of the store, holding a cup of coffee or something. He was quick to peg the man as the same Sanada Genichirou whom he'd first seen defeat Atobe many years ago and crossed the street to avoid them, though not before he caught Sanada lean in to give Atobe what was doubtlessly a feather light kiss. That was perhaps the first time Oshitari had let himself realize that what Atobe had done affected him more than he was willing to accept.
He wondered why he was more upset now than he was when Yagyuu broke up with him - he pretty much knew that he and Atobe weren't going to work out, so it wasn't surprising or anything. Maybe it was because he knew he didn't do anything wrong to Atobe, whereas Yagyuu had every right to call it off. Maybe it was because he had Atobe to worry over then, whereas he didn't have anything now. Maybe it was because all Yagyuu had been was a substitute for Atobe - but he didn't think that was true.
"Yuushi." He turned around, and saw Atobe and Sanada standing right behind him. Apparently he wasn't quite a master at disappearing yet.
"Atobe. Sanada-san." He didn't really want to talk to them, even though it seemed like he wouldn't be able to avoid it.
"Oshitari." Sanada looked like he was going to say more, but stopped. Oshitari saw Atobe nudge Sanada, who just looked up at the red and orange sunset-painted sky.
Sometimes, he wondered why it was people like Sanada and Atobe and Tezuka and them who managed to have everything, even though they seemed like they didn't care about anything. Looking at Atobe's face right then, though, he was suddenly reminded of one of his childhood visits to the Atobe household, when he'd naively asked if Atobe had parents. Oshitari didn't want to think about that now. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get home for dinner." He turned around and was starting to walk away when Sanada finally found his voice.
"Yagyuu's still studying for Tokyo U's entrance exam."
Without stopping, Oshitari called his reply over his shoulder. "Then you can tell him that I am also." He didn't want them to see the smile that he was having difficulty keep off his face.
I know it seems a bit fast paced now, and I'll continue barreling through maybe half the next theme also, but I wanted to get past this Atobe business. Totally starting to feel my style cramped by the themes - next time, remind me not to do 30 themes in order. .;