Thanks again for reading! I hope you enjoy and drop a review :D
*crosses herself * God bless you all Yuuism practitioners! XD
TBF101
Always
Chapter Nineteen: Party Rocks
(2 weeks later)
"Which room is it again?" Hisashi asked as he gave one final tug to his rich, blue tie. Yuu glanced down the hallway of the Teito hotel, peering closely at the room names and numbers.
"The Lion room…there it is, on the left."
Hisashi nodded, nervously straightening his tie again. Yuu's garnet eyes shifted from the signs to his thin boyfriend, who simply looked delectable ER—RESPECTABLE in his crisp new suit. The overcoat and slacks were a medium gray blend, coupled beautifully with a sky blue shirt and a deep cerulean tie. Yuu on the other hand, wore a dark, warm black with a chocolate brown shirt and crimson tie, setting off the intensity of his own heated irises.
The reason for their tidy and classier appearance was found in the expensively printed invitations that arrived in their mail two weeks prior announcing Marukawa's First Annual Author Toast, an exclusive party for the highest grossing authors, their editors, and invited assistants. Naturally, both Rurouri Renaka and Ijuuin Kyo had made the cut by far, and so Hisashi and Yuu had been invited (or in Hisashi's case ordered) to attend the extravagant celebration.
The two assistants were about to cross the wide hallway and enter when a familiar voice called from the other direction.
"Yuu!"
The reddish brunette almost flinched as Chiaki's chirping voice filled his ears. Yuu turned around and kept his face passive as his childhood friend came up to him and smiled airily. But the assistant's lips tightened as he saw the stone faced Hatori close on the author's heels. Yuu swallowed. He should have guessed with Yoshikawa Chiharu's popularity that Chiaki would be here…
Garnet eyes looked but flickered nervously as they locked with wide, bright blue eyes, and Yuu felt his heart sink into his stomach.
"I haven't seen you in forever!" Chiaki smiled. "Are you and Araki-kun here with Ijuuin- Sensei?"
"…Yeah." Yuu replied, swallowing harder. The brunette kept his face calm and expressionless, but inside he was screaming to get away. Ever since the incident (for lack of a better word) at the restaurant, Yuu's contact with Chiaki had dwindled considerably. It was too soon. He needed time to get away, to detach himself from Chiaki so that eventually their friendship could survive.
Even now, months later, it was too soon, and Yuu was feeling the entirety of it.
"We should go grab some food and we can catch up." Chiaki bubbled. Yuu noticed Hatori's face harden.
"Yoshino, there are some people you are obligated to meet tonight." Hatori's stern voice cut through Chiaki's banter. Yuu's gaze darkened further just at the man's condescending tone.
"I know that!" Chiaki moaned, still fixated on Yuu. "But I want to catch up with Yuu—"
"Chiaki," Yuu interrupted, raising a palm. "I agree with him, you and I are a bit too busy tonight to have small talk. I can call you later when I'm not so packed."
"Oh come on Yuu," Chiaki's eyes drooped, making Yuu gulp again. "I miss you."
Yuu's face was quickly losing some of its clarity as he saw the familiar lines of Chiaki's face and the curving, honest sadness of his lips and eyes.
"Ch—Chiaki listen…" Yuu finally choked out. "I—"
Garnet eyes went wide as saucers as a hand grabbed Yuu's sleeve and yanked him backwards. The brunette's gaze whipped around and his mouth dropped as he saw a steely-eyed Hisashi glare at opposing author and editor.
"Excuse me, but Yuu is far too busy tonight." Hisashi spoke in a low tone. "So I'll be taking him."
"What?" Chiaki said in surprise. Hisashi's lips tightened, and he hooked his arm inside Yuu's.
"Yuu is mine."
The reddish brunette's mouth completely dropped as Hisashi barked those three words, then quickly dragged him down the hall and into the party room.
Hatori's normally impassive eyes had also completely widened as he saw his archrival completely taken possession of. While he was secretly relieved, his shock still overrode that about two hundred times.
Wow, he didn't think the blonde had it in him.
Naturally, right after the blonde and brunette had ducked inside the room and into a back corner, the blonde who had just so boldly confessed his love broke down into about several dozen pieces.
"Oh my god," Hisashi moaned, miserably holding his curly head in his hands. "I can't believe I just acted that way! I can't believe I just said that TO AN AUTHOR AND HIS EDITOR! Oh my god oh my god!"
But even though the bashful blonde was completely ashamed of his recent actions, there was someone who was not.
"Oh don't worry about it Sashi," Yuu murmured, his eyes shinning musingly at the miserable blonde.
Wide blue eyes peaked up hesitantly, but lifted further in surprise as Hisashi saw the sudden rush of pride and joy in the reddish brunette's face. Yuu gazed into his stone blue irises, and gave the blonde the single most elated smile he had ever seen.
"You're fine Sashi," Yuu smiled, his eyes slightly moist. "You're just fine…"
"Yuu…" Hisashi replied in shock.
"And," The brunette murmured. "When we get home tonight…I'm going to make love to you…long and hard, over and over…"
The blonde's pale cheeks flushed at the equally bold statement of his boyfriend, but at the same time, a shy smile curved his lips.
"Come on," Yuu smiled, gesturing with his hand. "I'm sure Renaka-san is going to kill you for being late."
The two lovers joined the party and certainly did not miss when Rurouri Renaka arrived (fashionably late) in pomp and glamour. The best selling mangaka looked absolutely stunning in a full-length purple gown and her ebony hair loose about her shoulders. In fact, more eyes were on her even when the famous author Usami Akihiko arrived with his entourage, including a literature professor who had shot up the bestseller list with his first book The Beautiful Way.
The fantasy mangaka immediately spotted her surrogate son by one of the tables (the blonde was currently halfway through a glass of wine to help quell his still rampant embarrassment), and headed over. Renaka beamed at the new fullness of Hisashi's face and the two shared a loving hug.
"Sashi-chan," Renaka murmured, giving the blonde a squeeze. "You look so well dear."
Hisashi smiled back as he let go, his face lighting up even more at her words.
"And this must be Yuu-kun," Renaka spoke, turning to the brunette. Yuu returned her smile and nodded.
"Rurouri-sensei, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person." He spoke, bowing respectfully.
"Oh don't be so formal Yuu-kun," Renaka chided with an elegant air of authority. "Anyone who is close to my Sashi is close to me. Please call me Renaka."
Yuu smiled, liking the mangaka even more in person.
"Of course Renaka-sensei."
"Much better." She nodded. "So you two, how is work? Is Kyo treating you well?" Renaka asked, subtly hinting that if Ijuuin wasn't, that could quickly be remedied.
"Work is going well," Hisashi answered, his stone blue eyes bright. "The other day Yuu finished the most amazing background of Mount Fuji. Even Ijuuin was speechless. It was perfect."
Yuu's heart swelled at Hisashi's praise.
"Really," Renaka nodded approvingly. "I'd be interested in seeing your portfolio Yuu. Hisashi said it is quite the thing to look at."
"Thank you Renaka-sensei," Yuu replied. "That's a true compliment coming from you, and I'm sure I don't need to tell you that Hisashi is equally talented. His figures are impeccable. Tell me, what can't he draw?"
Renaka chuckled.
"Dragons. He's absolutely horrific."
Hisashi's lips tightened irksomely.
"They're only terrible because she has impossible standards. She made me do all the scales by hand instead of using toner!"
Renaka returned the irritated look.
"I keep telling you over and over! You can't use toners on dragons! They end up looking like Victorian curtains."
Hisashi snorted and muttered something incoherent under his breath. Yuu grinned at the exchange, as it was very apparent that water ran downhill.
"Renaka-sensei!"
The raven haired woman turned her head as her name was called and a smile lit up her face as she saw a strawberry blonde woman excitedly wave to her.
"Eiri-san," Renaka greeted warmly, giving the other woman an elated hug. "Wonderful to see you."
"Likewise Renaka-sensei," The woman smiled. Her bright eyes drifted over to the two assistants and an even bigger spark warmed her face. Hisashi cocked his head wonderingly as Renaka leaned over and whispered something into the other woman's ear.
"Yes, he's here," The strawberry blonde nodded enthusiastically, before turning her head. "Usami-sensei!" She called.
A couple minutes later, a tall, handsome man with silvery hair who looked terribly bored tromped over.
"What is it Aikawa?" He asked stiffly. "I was in the middle of bothering Hiroki."
"Sensei," Aikawa smiled condescendingly. "If you would pardon the interruption, I would like to introduce you to Rurouri Renaka. Renaka-sensei, I'd like to introduce Usami Akihiko."
The two Marukawa giants met each other's gaze with pride twinged with (more than) a bit of haughtiness. Even still, they were polite as hell.
"A pleasure, Usami-sensei." Renaka nodded, extending her hand.
"The pleasure is mine, Rurouri-sensei." Usami replied, taking her hand and planting a light kiss on it English-style.
Yuu and Hisashi exchanged a somewhat confused glance.
"Yuu darling," Renaka suddenly said, glancing at the brunette. "Would you be a dear and go get me a glass of wine? Hisashi knows what I like."
Catching the mangaka's hint to scram for a few minutes, Yuu nodded and the two headed across to the nearest refreshment table, which was about ten feet away.
"Yuu," Hisashi whispered as they perused the alcohol selection. "Why is Usami Akihiko talking to Renaka-san?"
"I have no idea," Yuu replied, glancing over at the trio, who seemed to be thoroughly engaged in conversation. "Hisashi, hand me a glass of white, will you?"
"Sure…oh! Excuse me." Hisashi stammered apologetically as he bumped hands with another person who was camped out in front of the white wine. The other gentleman, a young, cinnamon-haired brunette with a fearsome scowl nodded dryly, grabbing another glass of wine and downing nearly the entire thing at once. A little taken aback at the man's wordless rage, Hisashi took one of the glasses and retreated, putting his boyfriend between him and the scowling brunette. Yuu glanced briefly over at the angry guest and raised an eyebrow, taking his glass from Hisashi.
"Hiro-san!"
Yuu and Hisashi's eyes glanced over towards the voice, and Hisashi's eyes bugged out of his head as the tallest freaking man he'd ever seen bounded over like a golden retriever and stood next to the satanic wine guzzler. The giant of a man had midnight black hair, sparkling dark blue eyes, and the widest smile of everyone at the party. But while Yuu was also a tad surprised at the man's height, he also noticed a little blip on his gaydar as the giant stood next to the brunette.
"Nowaki, don't yell," The cinnamon-hair growled in a low tone.
"Hiro-san," The taller man replied, not the slightest bit disturbed by the other man's tone. "Look! Usami-sensei is talking to Rurouri Renaka!"
"Who?" The brunette snarled back.
"She wrote the fantasy manga series Tears of the Dragon! I used to read her books when I was a kid." The giant announced excitedly. "I wonder why she's talking to Usami-san."
"I don't give a damn who Akihiko is talking to," The shorter man spat back, throwing back another mouthful of wine. "With his jabs I am THIS CLOSE to slipping Clorox into his drink."
Hisashi's eyes widened as the very NOT subtle threat to kill a very famous author, but the tall man hardly seemed bothered.
"Oh Hiro-san," The smiling man chided, almost laughing. "What ever am I going to do with you?"
"You could start by handing me that shot." The brunette barked back, gesturing to the small glasses of scotch.
And by that point, while Hisashi was very (very) confused at the overheard conversation, Yuu had a knowing smile creeping over his face.
Don't worry ;) the party's just getting started.