Chapter 61: Powder (part 1)

Mio smiled when the bus stopped at Noawz Onsen as he practically ran out of the bus and smelled the snowy air. He spun in a circle as he moaned, "snow…got to love it!"

Cassiro came out of the bus and moaned, "I hate the snow!" He sneezed and wiped his snot on his scarf.

Ryhiro came out of the bus and snickered, "no one forced you to come. Why did you?" He smirked at Cassiro as Cassiro glared at him…

Mio felt uneasy around them both now…he did not know why. He could easily dance and tell them many things about America. But now…they and Biula and Yessuri have been acting so strangely. He felt like every word he spoke was monitored and recorded. Mio hated this feeling like this, but he could not shake it off…their faces and reactions to him furthered this feeling. All of them acted…not like when he first met them. This was scary to think…that they could be…something more than they did not tell him before.

Biula and Yessuri came out of the bus as they snickered, "Cassiro might fall down into the snow and go…BOOM!"

Mio sighed and said, "leave Cassiro alone if he wants to ski or not. That is his decision, so be nice and bug off."

Biula sneered at Mio and walked away. Yessuri smirked and said, "Cassiro will fall…he does every time we come here!" Biula called Yessuri as she ran to Biula.

Cassiro smiled weakly to Mio and said, "I…might stay off the slopes this year."

Mio smiled, but Ryhiro glomped Cassiro and said, "You need to ski, common. It will be fun!"

Cassiro sighed and said, "I rather…who is that?" He was looking up the slopes as a snowboarder slid down to them.

The snowboarder was covered in the best gear…thick jacket, best goggles, perfect board, and his helmet was etched with a gothic T with rhinestones on both sides. The boarder removed his helmet and swished his hair to perfection around his long face. He smirked at the teens and said, "What's up, dudes?"

Mio instantly smiled at this very cool looking guy. The guy was, obviously, older than all of them. He must be about…twenty or so, but his face was lightly covered in piercings. His lip, eye brow, and nose had small diamonds. His ears were filled with twelve piercings on both ears and small gothic crosses hung from his ears. His black hair was cut in a long doggy-ear style as the back was shaved off. He smiled at Cassiro the longest as his dark brown eyes glimmered with attention to Cassiro only.

Cassiro slightly blushed and hid behind Ryhiro. Ryhiro snarled and said, "Who the hell are you?"

The snowboarder bowed and said, "Kallimeri, Totio, a resident snowboarder and worker of this onsen. If there is any trouble, please speak to me or my fellow co-workers."

Mio came to Totio and stuck his hand. He said, "Nice to meet you. You must have some bulks to afford all that cool stuff."

Totio took Mio's hand and said, "You are?"

"Allens, Mio Izumi." Mio said with a smirk.

Totio snickered and said, "Your mother sent your stuff to our mail box. Nice board if I do say so myself."

Mio smirked and said, "Did you wax it? I forgot to last season, and I bet it needs it."

Totio said, "It is all waxed, cleaned and primed to go. Are you a learner or pro?"

Mio beat his chest and said, "Pro! I have been on the slopes for a few years now."

Totio snickered and turned to Cassiro. He said, "Who are you?"

Cassiro mumbled, "None of your business…"

Totio slipped closer to Cassiro and said, "Why? Are you a fallen angel that is afraid to tell me his name?"

Cassiro turned purple and shrieked, "ACK!" He kept behind Ryhiro as Ryhiro turned and kept Cassiro out of sight.

Ryhiro snarled, "Have a problem buddy?"

Totio smirked and said, "It is obvious you two are not a couple, so I shall wait for you…fallen angel. Until we meet again, Allens-san. Want to shift some powder?"

Mio smiled and said, "Tell me where my stuff is."

Totio pointed to the lodge and said, "Say your name and your stuff will be provided."

Mio nodded and ran to the lodge. He went to the desk and said his name. The man behind the desk smirked as Mio saw his familiar orange snowboard bag and black snowboard. He rubbed his snowboard and said, "Finally…I can ride you again." Mio thanked the man and quickly got into his snow suit. He pulled his gloves on and placed his helmet on. Mio shifted his goggles over his eyes and took his board outside.

He stalled at the scene…Ryhiro had both fists at Totio as Cassiro stood aside and tried to calm both men. Totio stood stiff as he glared at Ryhiro. Both men could not be appeased into stopping their glares.

Mio rolled his eyes and moved his goggles up his helmet. He came over and said, "Ryhiro, chill. Totio is cool…sorry."

Totio smirked and said, "Do not worry about it. Americans are not that different than us; besides, I dislike the last name as my name all the time. You have permission to call me Totio, but this bastard can suck my toes before I respond kindly to him."

Ryhiro growled, "You want to make something of it, Metal Rod!"

Totio sigh a growl and said, "You better move before things get rough, school boy."

Ryhiro came forward and shoved Totio. He said, "are you?" Ryhiro kept repeating, "are you?" as he shoved Totio to the ground.

Cassiro quickly held Ryhiro's hand and said, "Stop it! Totio was just…never mind! This does not have to happen!"

Ryhiro growled, "He will not touch me since he works here…stay away from Cassiro, got it?"

Totio growled, "I would like to see you try!" He grabbed a handful of snow and tossed in front of Ryhiro. Ryhiro snarled as Totio kicked his board off and raced to Cassiro.

Mio pulled Cassiro away as Totio stopped in front of Mio; Mio snarled, "Enough! Go away or I will get involved…Cassiro or any of us do not want to get into a fight. Just go and snowboard."

Totio sighed and said, "See me on the hill…and Cassiro is it? I hope we can talk later…by the dragon fireplace."

Cassiro shivered behind Mio as Ryhiro snarled, "As if! I will guard him from you…go away and peel some potatoes or something."

Totio slowly turned as Mio shoved him forward. Mio snarled, "Get on the fucking slope! We will talk later!"

Mio kept in front of Cassiro and moved in front of Ryhiro. Totio glared at Ryhiro and said, "I might work here…but you cannot stop me. Cassiro…" Totio softened for Cassiro and said, "Please…meet me later? Promise me you will."

Cassiro whined, "Why? I am a teenager and a boy…why do you want to see me for?"

Totio smirked and said, "for all the reasons you stated and more…later." He put his helmet back on and grabbed his board. Ryhiro stiffened as Totio glared at him. He placed the board back on and slipped to the chair lift.

Mio moaned and said, "Cassiro…if you do not want to see him. Tell me now." He turned to a very red and large eyed Cassiro. Mio blinked twice as Cassiro did not respond or breathe… He tapped Cassiro's cheek as Cassiro screamed and fell to his butt.

Ryhiro declared, "That is it! I need skis…" He stormed to the lodge as Cassiro yelled, "Wait! I did not…"

Mio blinked and smirked. He said, "I need to board before—"

Cassiro quickly went to Mio and said, "I…am not sure…if I want to meet Kallimeri again but…can you talk to him for me? To see…" He turned red and muttered, "ack, ack, ack, and ack some MORE!"

Mio snickered and said, "Mio the Match-maker at work, sir!" He faked a salute as Cassiro turned darker than purple. He put his board on and slid away.

Totio waited by the chair lift as he slipped to the chair lift with Mio. They sat down as they were lifted into the air.

Mio turned to Totio and said, "What is your deal…" He stalled at Totio's blushing face when Totio removed his helmet, and Totio turned towards Cassiro's position on the ground.

Totio said, "Usually…I am much cooler than that. Usually, I pursue my lovers with slower grace and casual friendliness… Usually…I like men that are smothered in piercing or tattoos…but Cassiro. Damn, my heart is beating so fast. Please tell me Ryhiro and Cassiro are not a couple. I did not get that romantic vibe but…please tell me." His eyes were so desperate…so madly in love already with Cassiro…

Mio said, "Ryhiro and Cassiro are friends…but lately…they are different than usual. Not dating but…weird. I am not sure what to call it."

Totio smirked and said, "You trust me enough to tell me this?"

Mio snickered and said, "sort of…I am here to tell you Cassiro wants me to be his agent to figure you out."

Totio turned redder as he turned away. His hand grasped his jacket where his heart laid underneath. He turned again to where Cassiro was as Cassiro walked into the lodge. Totio gasped as he said, "is this love at first sight…damn. This is an amazing feeling…"

Mio snickered and said, "calm down, you need to be friendly to get Cassiro. Besides—"

Totio said, "Tell me everything about Cassiro that you can! Anything he likes? I can order food or movies or anything…just to get a few moments near him…it would be worth it." He smiled as he chuckled and felt his cheeks. Totio admitted, "I had three boyfriends…but none of them…made me feel this reckless and powerless by his glance at me…wow. I almost want to run after him."

Mio and Totio slipped off the chair lift as they looked down the slope. He said, "please be gentle with Cassiro…he had suffered a blow from homosexuality before."

Totio sighed and said, "This Ryhiro guy denied Cassiro and plays with his emotions, right?"

Mio shivered and turned to Totio's stern face. He blinked twice as he slowly smiled. Mio said, "You can tell that from meeting Cassiro and Ryhiro for…ten minutes at most?"

Totio snickered and said, "I have been a homosexual since middle school. So, I know a few things about relationships."

Mio replaced his goggled and said, "Let's shred some powder."

Totio nodded and replaced his helmet and goggles. He said, "Show me what you got, Mio."

They slipped down the slope as they stayed about two meters. Their eyes were downcast to the snow slipping past their boards and the upcoming bumps. Totio bend closer to the board and took the bump to flip into the air. Mio smirked as Totio landed perfectly and stuck out his tongue with a black tongue ring in the middle of his tongue.

Mio snickered and came to a bigger bump and grabbed his board. He released the board and landed as Totio snickered and slipped down to another bump. Mio came to a bump close to Totio's as they both jumped and flipped in the air and held their boards as they released to the landing onto the powder. They snickered at each other as they slipped and swerved on the snow with casual grace. Mio sighed and bent forward to go faster… Totio did the same as they sped down the slope to the entrance of the mountain. They came to Cassiro and Ryhiro holding onto their skis.

Totio smirked and said, "Cassiro, want to come on the trick mountain?"

Ryhiro shoved Cassiro forward and said, "Cassiro and I are going on the gentle slope. You two can show off all you want on the other slope."

Cassiro grimaced at Ryhiro as he blushed at Totio again. He smirked slightly as Ryhiro dragged Cassiro away from them.

Totio watched as he snarled, "if I did not work here…I would kick that bastard's ass all over this slope."

Mio gently tapped on Totio's arm and said, "Do not push for that dream either. Cassiro is very fond of Ryhiro, so he could hate you for a mark on his friend…helpful hint." He snickered as he turned to Totio's face. Totio was only looking at Cassiro as Ryhiro and Cassiro slipped and slid down the slope. Cassiro fell onto his face…hard.

Totio removed his board and raced up the mountain to Cassiro. Ryhiro was slipping away, but he slid snow into Totio's face. Totio sputtered and snarled at Ryhiro, but he reached Cassiro easily.

Mio raced up, after removing his board, as he came to the Totio and Cassiro.

Cassiro was slowly tearing about his snow covered face as he blushed even redder at Totio looking at him. Totio quickly took off Cassiro's skis and said, "So skiing is not your forte, who said everyone had to ski on this trip. Common, let's get you back into the lodge." Totio held out his hand for Cassiro to grab it. Cassiro looked at it and said, "Please…leave me alone."

Mio gently patted Totio's back as he offered his hand. Cassiro took it as Mio said, "Later, can we have pizza in your room?"

Cassiro turned purple and snarled, "I am not—"

Totio said, "Sure, anything you want on the pizza? I hand make it myself."

"How about a whole lot of fuck-yourself-pepperoni and leave us alone." Ryhiro said as he climbed to them and glared at Totio.

Totio snarled, "You do not have to come. I asked these two."

"If you want Cassiro, you have to go through me." Ryhiro snarled.

Totio stiffened and said, "do not tempt me to hit you…I would have you screaming your mother's name already if I was not working."

Ryhiro puffed out his chest and said, "is that a threat? Common! You can do better than that!"

Totio clenched his fists as Mio got in between Totio and Ryhiro. Mio said gently, "can we agree Cassiro needs to go inside without all this drama? Please Ryhiro, tend to Cassiro." Totio stiffened and glared at Mio as he stepped in front of Cassiro and Ryhiro.

Mio lipped, "move it! I have a plan…"

Totio stiffened as he moved slowly.

Ryhiro snarled, "you better stay away or else! I am a guest, but I can kick your ass for free!"

Totio turned to Ryhiro and said, "I have time off…be sure to be a few feet away from me on my days off, asshole."

Cassiro said, "Can all of you just stop it!" He shoved Ryhiro away and snarled, "I am not a prize to be fought over! Ryhiro, go bug the ladies! Totio, I do not understand why meeting me once makes you so defensive! Also Mio…do not bother telling this jerk anything about me. I am not playing or talking to Totio again. Good day." He stormed away from all the stunned men.

Ryhiro snickered and said, "Poor Totio, you lose."

Totio turned to Ryhiro and said, "Get out of my face before I like the idea of getting fired."

Ryhiro sneered and went after Cassiro.

Mio sighed and said, "I told you to be calm! Now you ruined this…"

Totio turned to Mio as he held his hands up pleadingly and said, "Help me! I do not want to lose Cassiro like this…please, if you believe in love or homosexuality…help me."

Mio looked at Totio's covered face as Totio removed his goggles to show how desperate he was… Totio's eyes were searching Mio's face as Mio said, "I will try…but I cannot guarantee anything. I never saw Cassiro get mad before…but I have only known him since September."

Totio blinked and released his hands. He said, "Well…this is odd. Cassiro seems to trust you more than knowing each other for a few months."

"You are infatuated with him for a few seconds. What is the difference?" Mio said with his hands on his hips and acting like a woman.

Both men laughed as Totio said, "you...are…gay, right?"

Mio snickered, "can it be any more obvious?"

Totio snickered and nodded. He said, "I will make two pizzas and get a few movies for ten tonight…can you steal Cassiro to see me in room 6779?"

Mio sighed and said, "It might be difficult…"

Totio said, "Tell me what you want! I can get it."

Mio snickered and said, "Would you relax! Material items are useless to me…"

Totio said, "there must be something you want…common. I have some money and connections."

Mio sighed as he remembered Juss… He said, "You cannot help me…wait. A dog!"

Totio blinked as Mio turned to him and said, "I want a dog from this teen…do you have good connections in that? His friend's dog is having puppies soon, so I want one!"

Mio smiled as Totio slowly smirked. Totio said, "I have a few friends with dogs, and I own two dogs myself. What kind is it?"

He blinked as Mio said, "you do not have to buy the dog…just tell me when the puppies are for sale and be sure to save me one. I want a…healthy…whatever sex, but a playful and happy puppy."

Totio snickered and said, "A new love for a dog…what kind, Mio?"

Mio said quickly, "A mixed breed, Afghan Hound with Akita."

Totio grimaced and said, "those breeds…I hope you have been around dogs. Those breeds can be…well, different. Afghan Hounds are gorgeous, but Akitas…are difficult if provoked."

Mio snickered and said, "I have worked around dogs before, so I can handle any breed. Besides, puppies are easily to train if taken care of well."

Totio smiled and said, "I will help you." He held out his hand as both men shook hands. They said, "deal."