ANNIVERSARY SONG
Disclaimer: I don't own nor the characters, nor the song, they were only my inspiration for this story. The Song is Anniversary Song by Cowboy Junkies. It's on YouTube too, so if you want to listen to it, go there. The characters are from anime Eyeshield 21.
Warnings: Possible OOC, multi – pairings: Sena/Taka, Sena/Akaba, Sena/Shin, Sena/Yamato, Sena/Marco, and Sena/Kakei Changed gender – Sena is a girl in here, except when it's written in a POV of the crowd that doesn't know that the infamous Eyeshield 21 is a girl. Also, this is not written in chronologically correct sequence… I more followed a song, so… /shrugs/
Have you ever seen a sight as beautiful
As that of the rain-soaked purple
Of the white birch in spring?
It was a rainy day, when she was waiting for Taka in the small coffee shop at the corner of the street. Sena sighed, inhaling the scents and aromas of the coffee beans, sugar, milk and something that reminded her of home. The owner of the coffee shop was an elderly woman, with silver hair going on white, and kind brown eyes. She was a little chubby, but that only made her more motherly, and more approachable. The customers called her Mama Rosette, Rosie or just Ma. The atmosphere of the shop was always warm, accompanied with laughter witty banter and a delicious cup of coffee.
Smiling, she sipped another sip of the admittedly delicious chocolate, humming contentedly as the warm, thick liquid slid down her throat.
She closed her eyes, and suddenly, there were hands on her eyes.
"Guess who?" The well-known voice asked mischievously.
She chuckled. "Well, it could be… one Honjou Taka? Or was I wrong in presuming that?"
He laughed a little. "You know mw too well, little one," he teased her.
"Hey!" Sena pouted, receiving a small kiss on her neck in apology. She turned around, only to be kissed again – this time on the lips.
"Sorry I am late," He murmured to her, after they separated. "The coach was being a bitch… again." Sena wanted to reprimand him for his language, but instead, she shrugged helplessly. "It can't be helped. Anyway, you are here now, aren't you?" She asked a small smile on her face.
Taka smiled at her. She was looking radiant in simple velvety black trousers and ivory cashmere jumper he had gifted her with their first Christmas. "Here," He gifted her with a long-stemmed orange rose, ensconced in baby breath.
"Wow!" She gasped her eyes wide with wonder. "Taka, you…"
"If you say one more time, I shouldn't I will order a whole truck of roses," He interrupted her, half-annoyed, and half-amused. "I wanted to." Sena gulped, nodding slightly. "Thank you…" She whispered out. "I love them."
Taka smiled at her. "Are you ready to go?" he asked. "I want to show you something.
Sena nodded, still entranced with the beauty of the rose.
They were under the same umbrella, Taka cuddling her into his body, leading her carefully.
"That's the last ten stairs, Sena." He muttered to her. "Now, first is left foot…"
Finally, they were… wherever they were, anyway. "So can I see not?" Sena asked him, almost whining. Taka chuckled, amused at her antics. "Yeah, you can."
Sena opened her eyes, and gasped. In front of her, just before the sunset, she saw a white birch. The tree was soaked with the raindrops, coloring it purple, and sparkling with the moisture.
"It's… magic." Sena managed to het out. Watching the tree for some long moments, she then turned to Taka. "Thank you." She whispered.
Taka smiled. It was magic, he agreed. But he'd rather watched his own magic, his Sena.
Have you ever felt more fresh or wonderful
Than on a warm fall night
Under a mackerel sky,
The smell of grapes on the wind?
"Marco!" The soft voice called, prompting the tall, slender man with a strip of white hair to turn to his companion. He smiled, as he watched her run to him, her body tanned with the exposure of sun.
One of the boys whistled lowly. "Wow, you sure know how to pick'em!" He exclaimed, grinning, his white teeth glinting in the sun.
Marco smirked. Sena was clothed in orange bikini, with a see – through emerald green sarong wrapped around her hips.
Smirking, he hefted his surfing desk under his arm, and shook his head. "Paws off, boys," He said a shark smile on his face. "She's mine."
Sena embraced him, delighting in the salty taste of his lips. "Come drink some juice?" She asked, smiling at him cheerfully. Marco nodded, embracing her with his free arm. "Yeah. The waves are done for today, anyway," he replied.
Closing his eyes, he inhaled the smell of grapes and sea.
It was perfect.
Well I have known all these things
And the joys that they can bring
And I'll share them all for a cup of coffee
And to wear your ring
They had been together for seven years already. It was funny; all of their friends, who knew about them, bet that they would be apart before the first month, what with the boys dating one girl and the chaotic schedules. There were rows, scuffles, frayed nerves and a lot of make ups. All of them had to find a compromise between work, play and relationships – especially the last part. Sena was working as a live-in translator, usually in politics or business, and sometimes in sport. Her… boyfriends launched into the American football, working their ways up to the top. It was very taxing, as they were in different clubs – only sometimes, two or three of them would play for the same club. Their sports careers were independent of each others', just as they liked it... Occasionally, Sena would come to watch their matches, depending on her schedule. Most of her free days were used to watch one or another of her boyfriends playing some important match – her colleagues were used to her strange quirk of disappearing to the matches by now, and they even asked her for her review of the matches.
Surprisingly, the six of them didn't have girlfriends, which baffled the sports fanatics mightily. After all, behind every great man, stands a great woman, no? But the six of them - Yamato, Taka, Shin, Marco, Akaba and Kakei - always came to the premieres without female companion. Usually, they ditched the social responsibilities, if they weren't for charity of for sponsors, but if they really had to go, courtesy of their irritating managers, they appeared alone or in the company of each other. They were known as a Fab Six, and media began to wonder if they weren't in relationship with each other. When Agon was asked about that, he had roared with laughter, but didn't comment.
Women adored them, and many tried to become their football girlfriends if not wives, but all efforts were in vain, which only underlined the gay theory even more.
Sena was amused as she heard the theory, going even as far as to give them permission to hire an escort, in the effort to defend their masculine pride. Horrified, all of them backpedalled swiftly, citing that they didn't want to tote around any ditzy females which would only like them for their money, and not for them.
One evening, she had come to their apartment, as it had been one of those rare opportunities that all of them were together.
She was tired, as her day was really stressful, and she just wanted to take her shower and flop herself onto bed, drowning into the arms of Morpheus.
They had a delicious meal, courtesy of Kakei and Akaba.
Later, when they were all in their living room, she has sensed that something was in the air. Her boys seemed… nervous.
"Guys?" She asked. "What is wrong?" Akaba blinked. "Wrong?" he parroted, confused. "Uh, nothing." Sena arched an eyebrow. "You expect of me to believe it?" she asked dryly, making them sheepish. Hell, Shin even blushed!
And then, they proposed to her.
With roses.
Sena was speechless.
"Oh, and by the way, you don't have work tomorrow," Marco remarked, as they were laying together in their king – sized bed.
Sena blinked. "What?" She asked slowly. A mischievous smirk on Taka's face made her wary. "Hiruma."
The word made her groan half in exasperation, and half in amusement.
"Should have known," she griped, before they burst into laughter.
The next week, she came to work with a small, platinum band on her ring finger, with six tiny diamonds inlaid in the design, the colors being red, blue, green, yellow, white and violet.
And the media had a heyday with the rings on the six players' ring fingers – platinum with Roman numeral of 21.
And the new wave of rumors was born: Were they members of some sect? Well, Cabal was a popular choice, nowadays…
Have you ever had the pleasure of watching
A quiet winters snow slowly gathering
Like simple moments adding up?
Kakei was watching the snow slowly drifting on the ground. It was a surprise to have snow so early into the winter, but somehow, it was a welcome surprise. He was still clothed in blue jeans trousers and black pullover, having just arrived to the hotel. Blinking slightly, he returned back to the present, a slight smile on his face, as he thought of his companion.
"Shun?" He turned to the voice, smiling at the adorable sight of Sena being clothed in too big hakama. She was looking like a child, playing the adult.
"Yes?" He asked, barely managing not to burst into laughter at the adorable sigh. Sena blinked. "Are you trying not to laugh?" She asked suspiciously.
At that, Kakei simply couldn't hold it in anymore.
His rich laugher echoed trough the room, while Sena pouted and attempted to storm off.
Kakei caught her effortlessly. "I'm not laughing at you, darling," he managed to get out. "I am laughing with you."
Sena's lips twitched. Soon, both of them laughed at the absurdity of the situation, while the snow outside was falling quietly, covering the ground into the white cover of winter idyll.
Have you ever satisfied a gut feeling
To follow a dry dirt road thats beckoning you
To the heart of a shimmering summers day?
They were running. Soft panting was the only sound, besides the rustling of leaves and branches, along with the near silent footsteps.
The road was dirty, barely visible one…. Barely worthy of the name of road.
The pair was running, entrancing in the symmetry and synchrony of their run. The smaller one was a woman. She was petite, clad in deep red cyclists' shorts that came to the upper half of her tights, and a sports bra of the same color, with the white trim around the edges. Her hair was swaying in a simple ponytail, when her feet were rhythmically pounding the ground.
The man was tall and built, running at the woman's side, his steps measured but not hasty.. He was clad in the black cyclists' shorts and white sleeveless shirt that was already wet with his sweat.
They didn't speak. They didn't need to.
On their way, they ran across the younger pair of runners, which were resting in the shades of the trees.
The guy blinked, as he saw the pair nearing. "Whoa, I didn't think that somebody would be crazy enough as to go running in the highest heat…. And look, they don't even have the water flasks!" He pointed to his girlfriend.
The girl blinked. "Huh, old crazies," She commented, before taking a sip from her water flask. Her eyes widened as she spotted the man.
He could be on the front-page of any sports magazine, what with his sculpted body and dark hair and piercing gray eyes.
"Kyaaa!" She squealed. "So hot!" The guy blinked. And then, did a double take.
The woman was petite, slender and quite beautiful. She was holding tempo with her partner easily. But her partner made the guy do a double take. "I – Is that Shin Seijuro!?" He choked out, his eyes wide.
His girlfriend blinked. "Shin who?" She asked, clueless, her big blue eyes wide.
"You don't know? He's a legend!" The guy practically shouted, before he began rambling about the sports' history of the mentioned man.
"Still, "he concluded, "I don't know who his partner is." At this, the girl blinked. "You don't know?" She asked, flabbergasted.
"She is Kobayakawa Sena, his partner and rival."
The pair sat under the tree, mutely watching the two of them running by, marveling at the couple's dedication to each other.
Well I have known all these things
And the joys that they can bring
And I'll share them all for a cup of coffee
And to wear your ring
Sena sighed a small exasperated sigh. The family life was really difficult sometimes. Especially with so many members.
They lived in a big house all of them chipped in to buy. Nowadays, Sena was mostly home as to take care of their children and write stories. She had found out to have a gift for storytelling, and her first book had been an instant bestseller. It was story about – what else – American football.
Kaede was in high school now, an almost carbon copy of his father, Shun. However, his interest laid in the domain of basketball, and currently he had a heated rivalry with one Hanamichi Sakuragi. If Sena wouldn't know better, she would of thought the two of them hated each other. She chuckled at the thought. It was only matter of time… Sora was Kaede's twin, but had different father – one Shin Seijuro. He was generally quiet child, with intense brown eyes and good in martial arts.
Maria was three years younger than the twins, and daughter of -who else – Marco. Heck, she even inherited the white streak in her hair! She was clever kid, and adored her Uncle Hiruma. Sena was almost afraid to think what they were up to, whenever they got together.
The door slammed open, and the two hurricanes in human shape blurred across the room.
"Gotta go to practice, bye!" they called, making Sena shake her head in amusement.
The terrible duo, Akira and Seiichi. Both twins, and the second eldest in the family. Akira was Akaba's child – red hair and brown eyes, tied in high ponytail and blue shades on his nose. Seiichi had shoulder-length white hair, dyed blue at the tips. They loved to play football – in fact, Akira was linebacker, and Seiichi was quarterback – and they were also part of the music band, Cutting Moon. Akira played drums, while Seiichi was lead vocalist. Also hardcore pranksters and the terrors of teachers. Girls loved them, though.
"Mom, you alright?" Hideaki asked, concerned. Sena smiled at her eldest, as she caressed her bulging stomach. Hideaki was almost carbon copy of Yamato, right down to his eyes. Only that his face was more reminiscent on Sena0s ones more than his father's. "I'll be fine, darling," She answered affectionately. "The babies should be out any day by now."
Hideaki still watched her, a worried frown on his lips. In that moment, she was reminded on Shin so clearly, she almost cried.
She missed Shin. Hideaki kneeled in front of her. "Can I?" He asked amber eyes curious.
She nodded with a watery smile on her lips.
He put his hands on her stomach, inhaling sharply as he felt the small fluttering under his palms. Amber eyes wide with wonder, he stayed in front of her for a long, long time.
Smiling, Sena looked down at her ring finger, where the six diamonds glittered in the daylight, as if they were carrying a great secret within.
The coffee had cooled down, but neither mother neither son minded it.
And I dont know how I survived those days
Before I held your hand
Well I never thought that I would be the one
To admit that the moon and the sun
Shine so much more brighter when
Seen through two pairs of eyes than
When seen through just one
Akaba blinked. Was that Sena…?
What was she doing outside, at such late hour, anyway?
"Fuu.." He sighed a resigned sigh.
She was watching the moon, her face serene in the soft play of shades and light. She seemed to be so fragile, as if the smallest, gentlest wind would blow her over, prompting him to strode towards her.
"Sena?" He asked quietly. "Why aren't you in the bed?"
She turned to him, dark eyes glittering mysteriously in the weak light.
"I wanted to see the moon." Her answer was short and to the point, yet she had said in such manner, that prompted him to look upon the pale orb on the night sky.
It was May, and it was reasonably warm, bur he still shrugged his jacket down and wrapped it around Sena's thin shoulders.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Sena continued a small smile upon her lips.
Red eyes closing, as he inhaled the scent of her hair, as h embraced her, allowing himself to feel the fullness of that single moment –
"So it is," He agreed, a faint smile on his lips.
In truth, the moon was the most beautiful when he watched it together with Sena.
Have you ever seen a sight as beautiful
As a face in a crowd of people
That lights up just for you?
Yamato smirked as he tossed away the helmet, the last touchdown settling the victory of Sunhawks with the roar of the enthusiastic crowd.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, was Yamato Takeru, the ace running back of Sunhawks, the Sun Emperor himself! As usual, he had been unstoppable though I wonder…. This match he had played with more fire than any before. Wonder why was that – "The announcer's comment was lost in the enthusiastic noise of crowd and the team's anthem.
"Look, he turned to – he's searching for someone!" The second announcer called excitedly.
"Well, yeah, there was a rumor he was already taken and it seems that they were right… Just who is the lucky girl?"
Yamato's amber eyes lit up as he spotted the slender girl, clothed in well-worn jacket of Teikoku Alexanders, who was waving at him enthusiastically.
"Takeru!" She called, her face aglow with happiness, as she ran towards him. She skillfully dodged the safeguards, and even the players.
"Oh, wow… That lass sure has some sharp moves…" The announcer breathed out, his eyes wide at the girl's unconscious performance.
Takeru shrugged off his congratulating teammates and began running toward her.
"Sena!" He called out, delighted.
A moment latter, he caught her and twirled her around.
"You came…" He breathed in her ear, as he finally let her down, and into his embrace.
Sena laughed breathlessly.
"I did promise, didn't I'" She pointed out, nuzzling into him, not caring about dirt and sweat.
Takeru laughed a happy laugh, not caring about the annoying comments of the announcers or the doggedly stubborn reporters.
"Yeah, you did." He replied to her, smiling.
"You did."
Have you ever felt more fresh or wonderful
As when you wake
By the side of that boy or girl
Who has pledged their love to you?
Murmuring, she stretched out sleepily, between dreams and reality still, teetering at the edge, as she curled into the next warm body, nuzzling the smooth expanse of somebody's chest affectionately. She was warm, comfortable and shamelessly enjoying the quiet moment… before her bladder demanded it's due. Blushing lightly, she began to excavate herself from the knot of human bodies, her cheeks becoming redder as she was forced to quietly crawl and slither off the bed in effort to stand up.
She had partially mastered the technique so she rarely woke them up… although, she had a sneaky suspicion the boys were humoring her most of the time.
She relieved herself quickly, and after washing her hands, she tiptoed back to the bedroom.
Pausing for a moment, she looked at the dawning horizon. It was this time, when there was not a day yet; the night was still lingering in the air, taking her goodbyes for the time.
Shivering as the cool breeze licked at her exposed skin, she quickly cut her musings and strode to the bed, gently and swiftly moving back into the middle of the warm cocoon of naked bodies.
"'Bout time you returned," Yamato grumbled sleepily, making her yelp slightly. She nestled against him, feeling Kakei's hands embrace her waist, another hand was somehow on her hip, and slowly and surely, the others eventually nuzzled or curled around her, making her blush brilliantly.
"You knew?" She whispered silently, as to not wake up the others.
Kakei snorted. "Of course we knew. You are impossible not to miss." He rumbled out, playfully biting her neck, before licking the skin to sooth the small bite, enjoying her minute shiver.
Sena sighed, still embarrassed to high heavens.
"I think you guys are certified perverts," She announced, pouting slightly. She was startled as Akaba chuckled into her stomach, apparently awake. "But we are your perverts, Sena-chan. So stop complaining; you are not getting anywhere."
"And you even admit it!" She gawped, aghast.
"Why would we deny something obvious?" Shin asked, blunt to the point, as usual.
Sena deflated. Really, it was no use to them…
Besides… it was their honeymoon… and really, she would have to get used to it, sooner or later.
Rolling her eyes, she pecked Yamato and Kakei on their noses, ignoring their grumbling of her not being fair.
"Later," she promised, before snuggling into her warm cocoon of strong, lithe male bodies and closing eyes to catch a small nap.
Well I have known all these things
And the joys that they can bring
And now every morning theres a cup of coffee
And I wear your ring
Brown eyes watched the bickering men affectionately. "I still say that Yusuke would be better as lineman, though." Yamato announced petulantly, poking Marco into chest imperiously, his graying hair glittering in the afternoon light.
"Oh, yeah?" Marco challenged him, steely blue eyes flashing challengingly. " Pray tell me, how did you come to that conclusion? Yusuke has an ideal build for linebacker – "
"That's what I said!" Yamato interrupted him petulantly.
"No, you said lineMAN." Akaba corrected him, smirking. Yamato huffed. "Is your brain made of Swiss cheese now? I said lineBACKER."
Taka coughed a small laugh. "Well, you were wrong. And he would be better as a catcher." Both Yamato and Marco looked at him, horrified. "Oh, hell, NO. He's linebacker through and through." And the debate had begun again.
Kakei sighed a long-suffering sigh.
Spotting Sena, he quickly stood up, and moved to help her carry the plate.
"Sena, you shouldn't carry so heavy plates," He gently rebuffed her, taking the said plate off her hands. Sena smiled sheepishly. "Well, Maria had to go to change Taro's nappies and.."
She looked up at her partner of thirty years. Kakei had aged handsomely; he was still in shape from running and being a fitness coach – his skin was less smooth, and in the corners of his eyes, there were a couple of crow feet's and on his forehead, there were faint wrinkles from frowning. His hair was blue, mixed with silver strands, making him look sophisticated.
Gently, he smiled at her, before carrying the plate to table, before cuffing Yamato behind his head, interrupting him in the middle of argument.
Sena had to stifle a laugh at Yamato's pout.
Taka noticed her, and smiled. His hair was shorter now, only to his shoulders, and tied into an elegant ponytail. His face was gentler now, not so expressionless as it had been in his youth. "Sena!" He called out. "Won't you join us – Takeru is complaining about Yusuke's place in the team again." He made a face.
Sena laughed, as the men's faces lit up. "Well…" She mock - pondered.
"Awe, come on, Sena!" Marco begged, his eyes shining with mirth. His hair was liberally peppered with silver now at the temples, and he had aged into a ruggedly handsome man, small goatee on chin included.
"Fuu…" Akaba sighed. "Come sit with me?" He asked. His hair was longer now, but not too much, and still as red as ever. In fact, he had been mistaken to be much younger than he truly was. In the afternoon sun, he reminded Sena of a particularly satisfied feline curled on its' sunspot. "Amaya and Kikyo could take care of guests." He told her, forestalling her protests. "And if they had known you were straining again…"
Red eyes glinted deviously.
Sena gulped.
"Where are Seimei and Genichiro?" She asked, slowly approaching them. Yamato smirked mischievously. "That's a secret!" He sing – songed, prompting Shin to wince and cuff him behind his head. "Ow!" He complained.
Well, Yamato didn't know how to carry even a simplest tune….
Shin shook his head. His flinty gray eyes became warmer at the sight of Sena. His hair was still mostly black, with some strands of white here and there. He smiled at her, a small, measured smile, which reminded Sena of their son, Genichiro. Genichiro was tall, broad – shouldered man, who was playing tennis at Rikkaidai. He was Shin's son - dark gray, almost black eyes, black hair and of a few words. He was just as possessive of Sena as his father. Once, a man tried to flirt with Sena, thinking she was unattached. Sena tried to politely disregard him, but the man was very persistent.
Imagine his surprise, when a boy told him, to leave his mother alone.
Of course, the man didn't listen, thus prompting Genichiro to use martial arts.
The man tried to make an uproar, accusing Sena of seducing him, when Patrick Spencer – Panther arrived.
Then, there came Shin, and the man paled a stark white.
He had attacked the wife of Shin Seijuro, and the honored guest of Panther himself…It didn't help that there were other members of Fab Six, all of them glaring at him for trying to force their Sena into… relationship.
The poor man had soiled himself and fainted.
And thus, Sena's relationship with Fab Six had been uncovered to the media.
It had been a shock to the media – the secret had been sitting in front of their noses for 25 years, and nobody had scoped it!
The wonders of Fab Six – or more accurately, Sena, having Hiruma on their side, yeah?
Seimei had taken after Yamato – but with Sena's hair and Yamato's mischievous golden eyes. He was talented, just like his father had been, and people adored him for his charm and manners… although, he had a sadistic streak wider than Hiruma. In fact, he was the only one to successfully blackmail Hiruma, which was a feat, unheard of.
Sena chuckled, as she sat down on Akaba's lap, joining the debate.
It was the evening, and they were, as usually, curled in their giant bed, occasionally talking about the happenings of the day.
Sena sighed a small, content sigh, as she curled into her cocoon of warm human bodies.
"It was a beautiful day," She said quietly. "Thank you so much."
Her men chuckled. "No, Sena." Taka corrected her gently. "Thank you for giving us a chance." Sena blinked. "Well, you were persuasive enough," she chuckled.
"Thank you for being here for us." Akaba continued.
"Thank you for gifting us with such beautiful children." That was Marco.
Sena was blushing now. "Oh, shush," She scolded them affectionately.
"Thank you for bearing with us." That was Shin.
"Thank you for agreeing to be our fiancé." Kakei said quietly. "I know that it must have been terrible, reading all those writing about us…"
"Thank you for agreeing to be our partner." Yamato ended solemnly.
Sena smiled a small, teary smile.
"And thank you all for a ring and a cup of coffee…" She murmured, before she drifted off into a deep sleep.
Her men watched her for some time, before they too, gave themselves up to Morpheus' tender hands.
The End.