Hihi, its me, your faithful authoress! XDXD
Thanks for the wait, bet it was much shorter than the last one, but from now I won't have the time to rush type these chapters even though they are already pre-written, so please bear with me, alright?
I'm starting to really like this pairing and the story itself :) Ideas just come so easily I can't write them down fast enough! XD
Disclaimer: I can't draw Niou or Yagyuu for dust, let alone peanuts OR money.
Warning(s): Carried over, more crack in this, definite OOCness, add more if you deem fit.
Story time then:)
The last thing Hanako remembered, was a throbbing headache. She remembered…Yagyuu rushing out of the room at the sound of her scream and shouting out her name…before the world blurred…and all went black.
"Hanako-san!"
The last thing Yagyuu remembered, was his junior (once again only by a few months) screaming her lungs out for the world to hear before fainting on him. He had just barely caught her in time before she just slumped into an unresponsive heap on the floor. The girl looked visibly pained, as if she just had some kind of mental torture. Further observation showed the man that she had been holding on to the last photo he had taken all those years ago.
Frowning in puzzlement, he tried to link the events, but to no avail. All he could do was to gently remove the photo from her grip and replace it where it belonged. Still, no idea came to him as to why Hanako reacted the way she did. It was just so weird.
The megane picked the woman up bridal-style and placed her on his bed, watching as she slept. She looked so peaceful, except for perhaps that occasional frowning, which suggested that she was not having such a pleasant dream. It was at this point that Yagyuu found himself almost…mesmerized by her. Hanako was really beautiful…and he now had this fortune of viewing her from up-close. The silver hair that would look almost celestial if not for her choice of hairstyle, and that body that just screamed feminine. Nope, the purple-haired man was not going to ravish her- he had far better self-control than that. He just stared.
Something told him, amidst all those confused thoughts, that he should give it a chance. Told him, that this was life's second opportunity being thrown at him, or to put it in better terms, handed to him on a silver platter (pardon the lame pun). And he thought it was right.
Shaking his head, the man looked at the clock on his wall. No signs of waking coming from Hanako, and it had been an hour. It was also getting late. Yagyuu got up to bathe, knowing he would be able to think better when he was clean of all that sweat and dirt that might have gotten on him throughout the day. He trusted that Hanako would be able to take care of herself if she woke up while he was gone.
xXEternallyXx
"Yagyuu~ teach me how to do your technique already…"
"I'm afraid not, Niou-kun. Even I have not perfected my Laser Beam yet…"
Switch.
"Masaharu, remember to tell me if you have any problems here, alright? I kind of promised Niou-obasan…"
"Hai, Sei-nii. We will have to keep it a secret, right?"
"Yes, sorry. But its for your own good too. None of the regulars will take it that well if they knew we are somehow related…"
Switch.
"Senpai! Are you sure we should be doing this?"
"Don't worry, brat. No one will find out if we are careful…"
A groan. Underneath the blankets.
The silver-haired woman sat up a little groggily, everything around her slowly blurring into view. So…she was in her colleague's room…on his bed of all places. The thought of it made her blush furiously.
Now came some small fragments of memories…about conversation with people she did not know. Everything was starting to confuse her even further, and further if that was even possible.
She remembered what happened just now, with the sudden onslaught of memories. There had been too much to bear, and she guessed she had passed out. It was as if…those 2 photos had been a key all along…and finally found its rightful lock- her memory lane. Everything that came out of it was foreign to Hanako, like finding your friend's things in your bag, stuff which are just not supposed to be there.. Why did she remember so many things she should not have? Why did she remember Yagyuu's tennis team? Why did she remember them as friends and not strangers, when it should clearly have been the other way round? And…why did she remember the purple-haired man's name when they had only met for the very first time…?
"…Hi…ro…shi?"
Everything, everything so far could not have been a simple coincidence. There was something about herself that she did not know, did not remember- and it was driving her nearly insane. Stumbling a little as she slowly got off the bed, she tried to calm her thoughts. As if having such a confused mind wasn't bad enough, it felt overly awkward staying alone in a guy's room. Though it was not as if said guy was present anyway.
Her eyes shifted about to inspect the room, since she didn't dare to do so just now with Yagyuu looking. It would have been too rude to do that. Her gaze finally landed on Yagyuu's desk, and she sighed as she shook her pretty head. For a perfect and flawless gentlemen everyone had known him to be, Yagyuu sure was a little…disorganised. Those stacks of paperwork could use a lot of tidying up. Hanako went over.
Once again there was this weird feeling, as if helping her friend was something she was used to doing, supposed to be doing. Knowing full well that those weird thoughts and feelings would just keep coming even though she was trying her hardest to ignore them, she just stopped paying attention to them. Her body- and mostly her mind, just moved and worked by themselves. Tidying…tidying…
Class 3-D's worksheets…the new maths workshop form…the…
…a letter?
Despite a huge part of herself protesting against violating others' privacy, the silverette woman just couldn't stop her hands from reaching out for that…letter. The very pretty two-toned lavender and silver envelope, which looked just a little worn. She could only hope now that she wouldn't regret doing this. Gentle prying hands took the letter slowly out of the envelope, and it consisted of quite a few pages.
If anything, this might hold the key to everything. Maybe even the answers she was looking for.
Time start: Now.
xXEternallyXx
Just the first page. Only the first page. It was enough.
Trembling dainty hands replaced the letter neatly where their owner had last found it in order not to raise suspicion. More memories and fuzzy stuff had intruded into Hanako's mind again, only with a less powerful effect this time. That was it, Hanako had had enough. Sure, a great load of these memories and weird, unfamiliar images had made themselves known. But yet, the links between them were completely non-existent. Like a beaded necklace with its string cut…the numerous beads scattered randomly everywhere…
Just a few moments after the woman had settled herself back into a 'not-so-suspicious' look on the bed, as in making as if she had just woken up, Yagyuu stepped in. His hair was still somewhat damp from the shower and he was taking great care in drying those smooth purple locks with his towel. He smiled kindly, seeing as Hanako was finally up.
Hanako had to look away. Since more and more memories resurfaced, the affection and emotions she felt towards and for the other teacher only deepened. Just the sight of him made her heart flutter so, just the sight of him just glancing at her directly made her face go hot. Why was this so? Why? No way could she let him see her in this state.
"Hanako-san, you are awa-"
Yagyuu stopped. He had taken note of the expression on his female colleague's face. To say it was negative and simply angry, would be a total understatement. A horrendous mix of sadness, melancholy, anger, confusion, and depression. Then came silence between the two, an awkward one, until Hanako decided to break it.
"Yagyuu-sens-…No…Hiroshi…"
The woman looked up pleadingly at him, nearly shocking Yagyuu out of his wits, even though he didn't show it on the outside. It was so unusual to see the typically happy-go-lucky teacher seem so broken and upset.
"Before you say anything…I''m sorry. I have been so rude, looking at those photos without your permission, and then now I've called you by your given name without permission…But then, so many memories came…and they were all of your tennis team!"
The man stayed silent, obviously not piecing anything together, since the woman simply blurted everything out like that with no apparent order.
"Hanako…"
"I asked myself why, why? Memories I didn't remember having…in so many bits and pieces…that I could make nothing out of them! So please…"
Yagyuu cocked his head to the side, showing that he had been listening, and waited for what she might say next.
"Kiss me please."
"W-W-Wha-"
"Please…just once. Take it as a selfish request from me, I promise to make it up to you in any way you might want…but just…"
That very request nearly turned him into stone. The megane found himself blushing and stuttering at this rather…sudden request from one of the opposite gender, and from a good friend nonetheless. There was hesitation- a lot of it. Hanako had also decided on this course of action, seeing as how Yagyuu made up a majority of the memories that she had been seeing.
"…Ok…if it would…help you…"
Hanako smiled weakly in response.
"Thank you, sensei. I'm so sorry for suddenly forcing this on you…but its just that…oh nevermind…"
Then slowly, and hesitantly…lips met…gently…
This was it. If this invoked any memories, then she…would finally get her answer. She would finally be free of this turmoil that was raging inside of her.
It was working pretty quickly, the kiss. Those broken, non-existent links between all those snippets and fragments of memories…were starting to reform and return, mending themselves, and eventually allowing the memories to start to organise themselves, to become whole and logical again. It felt so good, so much calmer…and so much more comforting than just now…
Realization hit her in a single wave, as the last link returned. Damn, she should have known, she should have known. She should have remembered sooner!
She…she was Niou Masaharu. And she…he?...was one of the King Rikkai's undefeatable tennis regular team. Yagyuu's doubles partner…and his…lover…
And as the last shards of all those past memories fell into their rightful places, the two separated, Yagyuu blushing like never before. Hanako was inwardly weeping tears of joy at her reunion with the one currently before her, her man. Or rather, his. She had never been this gender-confused before, but Hanako (Niou) supposed that she was used to it and sane enough not to go mad just from this. She also couldn't help but grin a little at the flustered state of Yagyuu before her. He didn't see it of course.
"Eto…H-Hanako-san…the…kiss…"
"Its been a long time…"
Yagyuu looked up at the change in tone of Hanako's voice.
"Do you remember me, Hiroshi? Can you look into my eyes…"
The bespectacled man looked confused, and was frowning in puzzlement at everything, not understanding any of it. And even if he did, only very little. Niou sighed dramatically. So there was only one way she could do it, huh?
"Yo, mitteminshai (Yo, take a look at that), the Gentleman is blushing~"
Complete with a pony-tail twirling motion and a mischievious wink. It was enough to jog a memory in Yagyuu's vast mind storage.
The said man was currently at a loss for words. Only one person said that phrase, only one person spoke in that slang, and that person had already passed away 11 years ago. That person was already gone from his life, long gone. So then who was this woman in front of him, speaking like Niou did, and (OMG) looking like Niou did? It was just too…unbelievable, and unreal.
"…N-Niou…kun?"
Niou's eyes turned from mischievous and cheeky back into gentle and calm. She nodded furiously, her tears flowing almost freely now, as she flung herself into Yagyuu's arms, the Gentleman accepting her gladly this time.
"Its Masaharu…you moron…"
"It had been a while, Hana- Masaharu. How have you been?"
"You know that answer, Hiroshi. We have been in contact for quite a while now- as Hanako I mean. So you tell me your side."
It was so beautiful, so happy, this reunion between lovers. The two were currently settled into a 'not-so-appropriate' position on the bed (no, their clothes are still on), where Yagyuu was sitting upright and Niou was laying her head on his lap comfortable. However, there was just awkward silence. Neither knew what topic to start on.
Yagyuu leaned down to kiss Niou's forehead, making her turn a little pink.
"Its so…how do you say it? Incredible…I almost can't believe it…"
"To think I would come back…and that all along my memories were just merely sealed away in the far reaches of my mind. Now that I think about it…when my memories finally pieced together from our kiss…my mentality kind of contradicted. I mean…14 years living as a boy and 11 years living as a woman. Man, I wanna puke…"
"At least now you know the anatomy of the woman in greater detail…as well as how to pleasure them…"
"H-H-Hiroshi!"
Niou yelled out, horrified. Since when did her former doubles partner become this much of a pervert? That being said, the megane just smirked. A lot had changed in both their personalities, time does just that. A couple of seconds later and the two were laughing much like they did before at a casual joke, at yet another of their tennis practices…
"So…how has your love life been?"
…
…
The atmosphere was once again plunged into the unforgiving depths of awkwardness. Unfortunately, the question was by no means a rhetorical one, and had to be answered. Yagyuu's mind processed this much, and the question wasn't completely unreasonable either. Relationships-wise, it was completely possible, especially for two people of their calibre and looks. Since Yagyuu actually looked rather dashing, and Hanako was a true beauty.
"One or two a couple of years back. They were the ones who took the initiative…though my feelings never penetrated deeper than mere fondness. I also couldn't forget you."
At this Niou blushed like hell, and twirled her ponytail nervously.
"Well…me? Maybe it was my looks, and a lot of hunks did try to do me…but we all went 'snap' within a few weeks. Just never felt anything even close to a bond I guess. Even in my sealed self…I couldn't forget either…huh?"
There was no reply as Yagyuu wordlessly stood up (Niou had moved her head by now) and made his way to one of the slightly more hidden shelves and rummaged on top of it. Seemingly having found what he had been looking for, he walked back to where his lover was and plopped the items into her hands.
"Yours."
Niou looked down, and smiled. Her hair band and her wrist weights that she remembered all too well. Her mother must have let Yagyuu keep them. Slipping her current hair band off, she put on the older one and attempted to tie it back into the same style as last time. It failed of course. But the result was messy…and pretty cute. Completely dropping all forms of resistance, the purple-haired man leaned down and pecked her on the cheek playfully. He got a hit in the arm as a response.
*Beep* *Beep*
"Hiroshi, I think that's your answering machine."
"Yes, it must be some kind of personal message. Only a few send me voice messages."
A familiar voice- gentle and melodious, floated from the machine. Oh…how Niou had missed it…she listened intently.
*Hi Yagyuu, its Yukimura here. How have you been? Its been months since we last met, hope you are doing well. Marui suggested a gathering for the old gang at his place next Sunday. Do make the time to come, the others have already sent their confirmation. The address and the other details should be in your inbox by now. Please reply soon and please come. We miss you. Bye.* *Beep*
Oh? Another message?
*Yagyuu-senpai! Its Akaya here. We are having a gathering next Sunday! Dunno it any of the senpai-tachi have already told you, but I did just in case. Everyone will be coming, it's a potluck party! Remember to bring something, senpai. Oh right…and we are visiting Niou-senpai after that…its his birthday if I'm not wrong. Geez…that guy still hasn't fulfilled his promise of coming back to us…haiz…eh? This thing is still recording? Er…woops. Forget you heard anything! Just come ok? Senpai? Ja!* *Beep*
"Oh…Akaya…but I already have…fulfilled…that…promise…"
Niou snuggled closer into Yagyuu's hold, tears of joy flowing from those sea-green orbs of hers. It had been so long since she had last seen her teammates. Would they have changed in any way?
A mischievious smirk. One that Yagyuu returned.
Oh, the synchronised thinking they had since their tennis days hadn't faded one bit. Not a single bit.
*Yukimura-kun, its Yagyuu speaking. Yes, I will be coming to the gathering, rest assured. I will also bring my share of the food like Akaya had mentioned. Also, I shall be bringing a friend along. Will it be alright? Its someone whom I think you and the others will want to meet very much…*
The man purposely left his voice trailing away for an added sense of mystery before sending the message. Niou raised a thumb in approval. This was going to be fun.
*Yagyuu, its Yukimura speaking. Thanks for having made the time to come. I assume from your reply that Akaya has already told you that it would be a potluck party? Oh that boy…Anyway, its really good to hear that you are still coping fine and all, I was really worried when you didn't respond to my previous messages. Oh and regarding your friend, Marui says its fine- he says it might be your girlfriend. Haha, ignore that guy. Genichirou says hi. And remember Gentleman, we will be visiting Niou, its his birthday, thought I would remind you. Until next Sunday then.* *Beep*
"…Since when did…Marui become a…mind-reader?"
"Oh? Are you admitting yourself as the girl now? Well physically-wise you already are…"
Yagyuu had to dodge two 10kg power weights thrown with deadly accuracy at him.
"Shut the heck up, Hiroshi!"
xXEternallyXx
"…and so by substituting this term with an 'x', we get a quadratic equation. From this point onwards you will only need to apply what I taught you last lesson to solve it. Any questions? No?"
Sounds of hastened scribbling and firm shakes of heads replied her. Niou smiled happily, it always pleased her that her youngsters loved the subject that she loved most. Much as she loved to be cheeky and naughty outside of class, she always managed to transform back into 'perfect teacher mode' whenever a student was present. A bond connected every student to every teacher, and Niou really did not know if she should feel happy that the students were more concentrated on her than the lessons, or not. The woman just had that effect on almost everyone.
Yagyuu smiled as he happened to pass by his lover's form class. Niou truly had the sought after 'teacher's charisma' even back when he was in middle school. The HOD had seen then how patient the other could be at teaching those younger than himself. Having 'Hanako's body' was also a plus, considering that her popularity was already on par with him- he had the female students and she the male students. Between the two of them, their old school continued surpassing past records and soaring high above the limits of what their seniors had achieved in the last 10 years. Well…once again it was completely predictable. The Trickster had higher Math scores than even Yagyuu last time, and the Gentleman was not too far behind either.
And soon came lunchtime, when the couple were finally given some relief from taking lessons and could make their way to the canteen for some lunch together. Having bought their food and found a table, they sat down, and Niou started the ball rolling.
"So…Sei-nii took the bait, huh. When did he finally realise that the bait was dangling in front of him all along and take it?"
"About a year after you left, Masaharu. Apparently Yukimura-kun accidentally saw a reminder Sanada-kun put on his handphone- something romantic I think. And…I suppose I don't need to continue for you."
"Sei-nii blushes like mad, Sanada-fukubuchou blushes like mad, Marui somehow manages to get the two of them together in the room- completely alone. And the rest somehow manages to 'stumble accidentally through the door' just in time to catch the lovebirds in a full make-out session. Oh and they get assigned 110 laps for that. How did I do?"
Yagyuu raised his hands in mock defeat and sighed a little dramatically. Niou simply smirked her usual.
"Down to the exact number of laps. And you claim Marui is a mind-reader…"
"Sadly, Hiroshi, I'm not. So let me guess…Marui?"
"Nope, he wished though, said it was the best 'get the secret crushes together' plan he had ever had a part to play in."
"Damn. Then…Jackal doesn't seem the type, Yanagi doesn't interfere…and against my better judgement, the brat?"
Yagyuu just shook his head. It was only at this point that Niou finally took note of her lover's facial expression. He had this really interesting grin on, and was tilting his head a little to the side. She thought that she saw those glasses flash for a moment or so, and it sent a shiver down her spine.
"…wait just a bit…no…you didn't…"
Yagyuu finally gave a nod and slid his glasses down his nose a little, revealing those mysterious deep purple eyes of his. A rare instance, but creepy nonetheless.
"Pardon Masaharu, but he just left his handphone sitting there…and I couldn't resist, puri~"
It was at this very point that Niou really wondered to the heavens why in the world did she fall fall in love with this guy. For contrary to popular belief, if Niou was said to be the spawn of the devil, then Yagyuu was probably Satan himself. And also, that time the science teacher found a toad in her lab sink after giving an amazingly unreasonable amount of homework the day before?
Er…no. Niou was not the one who did it.
xXEternallyXx
"Marui? Did something happen?"
The redhead frowned. The old results slip that contained the first and last time he had topped Nious maths score- he had placed it on his desk, right under the window. Now just one careless moment of not 'closing the window before going out and it rains heavily' later, it was wet and tattered, the printed words now nearly illegible. Marui groaned.
"Hey…Marui?"
"O-Oh, Jackal! Nothing happened…just thinking about how to clean this up…"
"Ok…if there is nothing wrong. Let me wash up for a bit first, the rain was heavy…"
It was only when Jackal was out of the room and well out of earshot that the bishounen gave a heavy sigh and slumped tiredly on his bed. He pulled open his bedside table drawer and pulled out a red and green two-toned envelope, one that was a tad bit crumpled from age. 11 years was a long time after all.
He read Niou's letter. Once, twice over. Marui groaned again.
He had this annoying feeling…that something was going to happen really soon…
And for some of you who find mistakes in a fresh upload of mine, don't worry. I will always check back when I get up the next day, reason for this being that I usually upload late in the night and overlook some stuff, like missing page-breaks (its freakin annoying I tell you!) and all that.
Hey and do you readers want to read my supernatural explanation as to why Niou is in a body that is as old as Yagyuu's and not in a child's body that is 14 years his junior? I have it all planned and written out. Tell me if you want it as a chapter in your reviews!
Please Review! Reviews are the air we authors breathe, the food we authors eat, the water we authors drink! Don't let us die just like that!
Comments and Constructive Criticism please? We all love the 3 Cs! XD
Thank you very much for reading, will update soon:)