Summary: Can Itou free himself from his dark past (breaking the family curse)?
Ages: Bansai(12), Taka(13), Itou(17), Yoshino( unknown age btw 20-40 )
Quick note on Itou's "Family Curse"as it appears in this fanfic: Itou's tendency to betray his friends is his worst trait. When he starts getting close to someone that's when he starts having the subconscious urge to betray them. Because he's still mad at his mother/brother for traumatizing him when he was young and wants revenge. ( by hurting those he loves =.=||| stupid ) The way out is to heal his original childhood pain. He gets attracted to Taka because Taka seems to have successfully healed himself of similar emotional scars. ( Unfortunately, Taka hasn't ) I'm sure there are other reasons that let Taka mess around with Itou's mind but this will be the part I'm exploring in this chp. Hope you enjoy~ ^^
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Takasugi & Itou
DECAY HEAT CHAPTER 14: BREAKING 2 Part 2
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( Six-Thirty PM )
At this point, new customers arrived at the booth, so Itou and Takasugi left to make space for them. Both of them were waiting for someone: Takasugi-kun for Bansai, and Itou-kun for his paid date, so neither of them could leave the area. They crossed the street to the other side and waited under the canopy of wisteria vines built above the back entry of an old Azabu theatre. The evening sun streaked the street with sheets of gold and long purple shadows. It was amazing how much traffic had swelled since half an hour ago. Crowds thronged the shooting galleries and the sound of gunshots echoed all the more merrily. However, given that the street was only located a couple of blocks west of Kabuki-cho, much of its clientele consisted of workers involved in the "water trade."
"Why are there so many parents picking up their kids here?" Takasugi-kun complained. "I mean, it's fun and all but they shouldn't leave them here. What if they fall into bad company?"
Itou stared at Takasugi.
"Damn! I never realized this street was so sleazy! Look at that pair. And over there…" He pointed out some middle-aged salarymen chatting up the rare schoolgirl holding textbooks, who was apparently coming home from private tuition.
"Do you have a problem with paid dates?" Itou smirked.
Takasugi-kun hesitated. "Paid dates? What's that?"
"Well, that's—oh, forget it, too much to explain." Itou waved aside the question.
"I thought you…don't you make a career out of explaining?"
"Being an advisor is not about explaining, you know." Itou protested passionately. "It's about feelings. Empowerment. Trust."
Wait a minute…Trust? Itou was struck by a sense of déjà vu. Why haven't I realized this before? I've made a career out of trust, when what I've been obsessed about is my mother and brother betraying me. What the hell is going on? It's the damned curse acting on my subconscious. He frowned, placing his index finger under his chin.
"What's the matter, are you tired?" Takasugi picked up on the change in Itou's body language and tried harder to entertain him. "Being an advisor must be tough. Us samurai are the stubbornest creatures to walk this earth. Take me, for example, I never listen to advice. I'm more likely to spontaneously cut someone's head off." He chopped the air with his palm. "Sha! Sha!"
"Self-control, my friend."
Self-delusion,"my friend," Takasugi-kun thought slyly. "But don't you think you're missing out on something?"
Itou's heart gave a thump and he felt cold sweat on his brow. "M-missing out? On what?"
"Well, it's like you're always helping someone else, but never get the pleasure of achieving your own dream, right? That is if," he paused provocatively, "you actually have a dream."
"Dreams…?" Itou cut his eyes at Takasugi-kun, suddenly furious. "What do you know about dreams?! Everything's so easy compared to my real dream. I mean the real one, which has nothing to do with money or success, the one that's so damned impossible to get!" he hissed.
Seeing the younger boy taken aback by his angry outburst made Itou feel even worse. Why do I always have to be so mean to the people I like? He exhaled sharply, clenched his fist and looked into the sky.
Takehisa…
At this rate, how am I ever going to change?
How can I find the inner strength?
"Ow!" Now it was Itou's turn to jump, when Takasugi-kun shocked him out of his silent prayer by shouting dangerously close to his eardrums.
"Yes, I do have a dream, and I do know what I'm talking about!" He yelled passionately. While Takasugi could be secretive, he was also not afraid to let everyone know about his obsession. He was capable of describing his dream in perfect detail: name, age, weight and height, DOB, blood type, favorite food, favorite books, favorite path to take while walking home, uh, you get the drift.
"I'm sure you know a lot more about life than I do, and you're a more mature person than I am. But I do know one thing. I used to live my life in hell. I had nothing I could put my faith in. Death was my only friend. But after I met Shouyou-sensei everything changed."
"Sh-s-shouyou-sensei….?"
"Shouyou-sensei showed me the way. He makes the world a better place! He's the best!" Takasugi-kun enthused so much his whole expression was transformed. "He showed me the sun that never burns out. A truth that always guides me. A song that always soothes me!" He grasped both fists and looked directly into Itou's eyes as if to express his faith. He looked so happy and childlike that Itou was stunned.
"This Shouyou-sensei…is he the leader of some sort of cult?"
"No…"Takasugi looked slightly deflated, before raising an eyebrow in a wry grin. "But I fucking admit it. I worship him. I LOVE him, alright?!"
"…Ah."
Takasugi-kun again looked disappointed that he couldn't inspire a similar adoration in the other student. He seemed somewhat embarrassed at his bombastic exaggerations. "Look," he continued more soberly. "My teacher would be disgusted if he heard me talking about him like this. He's not some God-like figure, you know? He's merely an ordinary, quiet, peaceful man, but once you speak to him, you can sense his maturity, radiating out. His charisma, so beautiful you can't even look away! Its—it's like…cherry blossoms!...Azuchi Castle!...MOUNT FUJIIII!!" Carried away by his praise, Takasugi-kun's arms reached toward the sky.
"Eh?" He was surprised to feel a hand pressing down on his head, tousling his hair. "Uwaaah!"
"Settle down!" Itou laughed, "I get the point; you love him."
Takasugi-kun grinned toothily, eyes squeezed into twin arches.
Heh, this kid can be cute, Itou thought, withdrawing his hand and stuffing them into his pockets. He's never patted the head of another student before. Although his older brother had often done that to him, he recalled.
I understand now, Takehisa. You felt responsible to watch over me.
"Oh, there you are." Itou noticed a small bedraggled figure approaching them. It was Bansai. His hair was wet and stuck to his head, and kimono splotchy with water stains, as if he'd dunked himself in a river or a stone fountain found within temple grounds.
"Hey, over here!" he waved.
"What happened, Bansai?" Takasugi was astonished.
"Dass Kuchen schmeckte wie Benzin." (T/N: That cake tasted like gasoline.)
"Aww~"Takasugi cooed nonsensically. "Vie Bentsin, Be Bonssin, ne?"
"Halt den Mund, Domo." (T/N: Please…Shuddup.)
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"My, my…Itou-kun." A red lattice door slid open in the wall of the Azabu theatre and a lady popped out to stand beside the college student. Her perfume was night-blooming jasmine, her kimono emerald and white, and her features elegant under the creamy light of a pink parasol. "You never told me you had such adorable little brothers."
"Ah, Yoshino-san. You look exquisite."
"Thank you." She turned to the two boys and bowed coquettishly. Takasugi-kun couldn't take his eyes off her. She challenged him. Was she a geisha? No, even geishas didn't display such flamboyance. A courtesan? But she was dressed too conservatively. Underneath her impressive poise, her obvious intelligence and power, lay something cold and arrogant…perhaps even sinister. Something similar to him. His skin prickled.
Tensed with veiled hostility, Takasugi stepped closer to Itou.
Yoshino's brown eyes danced with amusement. "How long have you known him, Itou-kun? He looks as if he doesn't want to part from you."
Itou shrugged. "We just met at the stall." But when he noticed Takasugi's intense look, he nodded, "But I like him. Right, Takasugi-kun?"
"We're friends." Takasugi-kun said impulsively and took the liberty of putting a hand on Itou's shoulder, then physically nudging him to turn aside from the woman. "Mind if I have a quick word with you?" He whispered. When Itou hesitated, Takasugi-kun smirked and looked over his shoulder at Yoshino-san. "Sorry for the interruption, I'll return him in a moment."
"You may borrow Itou-kun, of course, but please don't steal him." She smiled sweetly, and Takasugi was impressed by her intuition.
"Don't sell yourself like that, Itou-san." Takasugi said without sugar-coating his words. He didn't know if they were paid dates or not, but he knew Itou was being controlled by the lady. He too, was struck by her allure, but he also sensed its disadvantages. She was beautiful, inviting men to adore her, but the love they would get back wasn't something to make them shine, but would eat away their willpower bit by bit, like a spider sucking the life out of the fly caught in her web. Takasugi ought to know, the same instincts worked in his character, but Shouyou-sensei's guidance managed to overshadow them. "Stay away from her, she's a bad influence."
Itou pinned him with a hard look. "I'm not selling myself. I choose to do this out of my own free will."
"WHY?!" Takasugi-kun wailed like an infant. He forgot how absolutely childish that would look to Itou, who flung his arm around one shoulder and gripped his chin. "Hey little boy…this may come as a surprise to you, but everyone does it. But instead of doing it for free, I do it for money." While Itou's tone was stern, he was shocked that he was even justifying himself to this little runt. Why did he even feel the need to?
"…" Takasugi stared open-mouthed.
"There's nothing illegal or immoral about what I am doing."
"Don't say that!" Takasugi protested, a little offended. "You know this is just no good. Look …she's…" He turned his head to check on Yoshino-san, who was now entertaining a bashful Bansai under the shadow of her parasol. What? No, not him, too! He mustn't let her talk to his "Present from Prussia"!! Forgetting about Itou, he dashed over and squeezed himself in between the two. It was extremely bad manners, so he laughed apologetically to conceal the barbs in his words.
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Don't you think you're a little too old for him, Auntie?"
The lady's brown eyes flashed hazel, but she merely smothered a giggle with her dainty fingertips and gazed at him through lowered eyelashes as though accepting the challenge. "Who are you calling Auntie, young man? You should call me, Miss…" She snuggled closer to Takasugi and toyed with a strand of his unruly hair. Although she wore makeup, wrinkles sneaked up the side of her eyes. "Oh, don't mind these lines of wisdom," She said. "This just means I have lots of wisdom to share with you."
Takasugi-kun cringed, losing his confidence. Her powerful seduction overwhelmed him. Her charisma was so strong he felt like an asteroid drawn into her gravitational field. But at the same time, he was consumed by temptation. What if…? He could suck all her knowledge into himself, to make her power his...
Perhaps seeing a youthful reflection of herself in Takasugi-kun's aggressive ways, Yoshino did not take offense, but instead pursed her lips thoughtfully. She was a smart, complicated woman who moved through life like a caged tiger. "You're lucky to be born as a boy." She teased, "But I'll have to wait another hundred years for society to change. And by then I'd be too old to care."
Takasugi clearly sensed Yoshino's maturity, as shown by her own brand of integrity, and the trace of sadness in her voice. He was suddenly reminded of his own mother, a crazy, feisty woman who would throw fits of rage against the system. Although his true feelings for her were ambiguous, he did wish to do what he could to make her life better.
"No, you don't have to wait much longer. I'll change society for you."
Yoshino-san looked stunned. Unconsciously, her cheeks turned a deeper shade of rose, or maybe it was the streak of reddish-gold sunlight that set her parasol ablaze.
"And what can a boy like you do?"
"I will make Shouyou-sensei's dream come true."
"And how will you do that?"
"With my life and my sword. I've dedicated these two to his cause, that goes without saying…but what I really value is the man himself." When he raised his eyes to meet hers, a strange mixture of vulnerability and belief rippled across its surface. Spontaneously, he placed both hands on her shoulders and squeezed. "I want to be like him. I want to live my whole life dedicated to our country, that's what his dream is all about."
Yoshino-san smiled a warm smile that reached all the way to the edge of her eyes. "What a wonderful dream."
Shouyou-sensei....Yoshino was already acquainted with him ten years ago. He was the skinny, dreamy boy with the brilliant mind who backpacked all over Japan, connecting with all kinds of people. The first time they met, Yoshino was Eighteen and at the height of her fame as a courtesan at the licensed quarter of Osaka. She had been attracted by his purity and mischievously forced him to smoke a pipe filled with opium. Surprisingly, his personality remained unchanged, leading her to conclude that he must be high all the time. Since then, her life had been one long protracted fall down the social ladder. All her dreams were shattered. And the same went for Shouyou as well, as far as she knew. But unlike her, he never gave up, and now, after all his persistent hard work, his dreams were about to become reality. Almost like he had divine protection. Almost like it was inevitable.
Inevitable, yes. Enviable? No, not enviable at all.
No, she didn't envy his accomplishments, knowing the price he paid. She didn't envy his passion, knowing the pain it brought. She didn't envy his inspiration, fearing that it would guide her down unfamiliar paths.
"Come on, Itou-kun. Let's be on our way." With a swoop of her parasol, she strode away, deciding that she had enough of social issues for today.
"No! Don't go with her, sempai!" Takasugi yelled. ( T/N: senior student )
Itou, who had raised his hand to say goodbye, stiffened.
"Please, sempai! Don't be like this, you're my role model!"
Whether it was flattery or not, Takasugi's plea went straight to Itou's head. He hadn't realized that Takasugi might actually look up to him with love and respect, and he wanted to live up to it. But on the other hand, he had known Yoshino for a much longer time and was far closer to her.
"Stop trying to change my mind, Takasugi-kun. I already told you what I am doing is perfectly acceptable."
Takasugi-kun narrowed his eyes. He remembered Yoshino's tremendous gravitational pull. She made you want to submit to her, to do her bidding, to let her mine the gold from your soul…but how? If she can do it, then I can do it. What have I got to lose, anyway? Itou isn't really my friend. If he gets offended then so be it.
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A mop of black hair was buried into his chest, a pair of lean arms was gripping his back, an intense body heat was attracting and repelling him: Takasugi-kun had blocked Itou's way with his body and was hugging him tightly. Shock and confusion showed in Itou's face, he staggered backward a little but did not push him away. He couldn't help feeling déjà vu, as if the scenario he experienced in his dream was now manifested in real life, challenging him to live it out.
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When this dream becomes reality,
My family curse will be broken.
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B-but surely, it wasn't supposed to happen like this? Of all people, why Takasugi-kun? How could he feel any love for this complete stranger? But the dream! Don't you want to break your curse? Then do it! The pressure made Itou feel unnaturally tense. His emotions were all frozen up again.
Pretend he's Takehisa!
You owe it to him!
Okay. I'll do it, I'll try. Taking a deep breath, Itou closed his eyes. He could feel the heavy weight of the body leaning against him. Lifting his elbows, he felt his way along the cool surface of the kimono until his arms wrapped around the gently breathing form. His palms began to grow warmer and the other person's hands burned like coals against his ribs. Heck, his whole body felt so uncomfortably hot, as if a current was passing between the two of them. Behind his eyelids, snow was falling, blurring the boundaries of his awareness.
It was highly awkward, but both of them were determined not to break the embrace, as if waiting for something to happen.
Itou was waiting for a sign, while Takasugi, for Itou to submit.
That's it now, he's starting to feel something. A relaxation, a letting go, a sharing, an inner peace, a smile.
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I'm whole.
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His hands unconsciously shifted to his upper arms to pull him even closer and tighter together. They were starting to get glued together. There was no breaking, no crying, no jumping around. Just having a warm, comfortable feeling.
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So this is how it feels like to be normal?
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Itou felt like screaming.
"I can't get used to it!"
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"Itou-kun~" Yoshino coughed. Lifting his head, Itou noticed her standing nearby, but had maintained a dignified distance out of respect for his privacy.
Takasugi-kun didn't have such dignity. After shooting Itou a stubborn look, he buried his face into his chest (eye-level for him) and clung like a leech. "You can do better than her, Itou-sempai."
Itou shot another look at Yoshino. They went back a long way. Back when Itou was about to fall apart, she built him up. There was no love lost, but their connection was a lot deeper than that of paid dates. In fact, any part of Itou's social abilities was due to her influence. Even for Itou to begin taking the feelings of other people into account was something that Yoshino had to take years of effort to drill into him.
"No." Itou shook his head. "Yoshino-san is an amazing woman in her own right."
"Aww…" Yoshino beamed proudly.
Itou looked at her and smiled. "Yoshino-san is the closest person to me."
"Oh, Itou-kun~" she cooed.
"But our relationship is not going anywhere."
"What?!" Yoshino's eyes widened in surprise and she stretched out her hand.
"Perhaps it is time for a change."
" Now just a minute, young man."
"Our association is starting to hold me back."
"What?! Itou-kun...what about our promise?"
"I'm sorry, Yoshino-san," he said in a soothing voice, "Please spare me. I'll contact you again when I'm free."
"Oh…My…Gosh…" she said breathlessly, with dawning realization of the crisis.
"Okay, Takasugi-kun, I won't go with her."
"Yey!" He seized Itou's wrist, seeking to remove him physically from Yoshino's gravitational field. He said the first thing that came to his head. "Come with us, take us to the Sakuranya."
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"Stop right there, Itou-kun. We've known each other for Three years. We've shared the same bed, the same food, the same…yes, we even shared our dreams. Or have you forgotten? And now will you choose a stranger you just met over our long friendship?"
"Ha!" Itou's face suddenly turned ugly and distorted. "What friendship?"
Disturbed, Takasugi-kun moved away from him and uncomfortably folded his arms. He and Yoshino exchanged a look of mutual understanding, they had both gained an unpleasant insight into Itou's personality.
"It was purely business, a physical exchange." Itou continued icily.
Yoshino-san shook her head, and slowly approached the two boys with an intense aura. If there was one thing she knew for sure, it was this. She lifted Itou's chin with her index finger. "I gave you my trust, Itou-kun."
"…"
"And you gave me yours…or didn't you? "
"I…"
"Ah-ah—" She stopped Itou's reply by placing her finger on his lips. "You don't have to give me an answer," her pink lips curved mysteriously. "Just think about it."
Then she held his cheeks with both hands and kissed him on the mouth. Passersby stopped in their tracks to gape at the vulgar display of affection and Yoshino, a natural born actress, did not disappoint. Her parasol dropped to the ground, where it rolled over to Bansai's feet. He picked it up and held it patiently over her head.
"Thank you, young man." She whispered as her fingers wrapped around the handle. Her eyes were a little moist. Then she bent close to Bansai's ear and whispered "My fault for choosing the wrong pet. You would have made a much better one." Then she pinched his nose and winked, as if her spirits were restored.
"Fine, fine." She threw her hands in the air with mock exasperation, covering up her inner agitation. "Whatever, man." She ranted inside her head. "Itou's a bitch! F#0(- this s***! Dammit, I should've bought a puppy as my husband suggested! F#0(-! Still, here I am in Kabuki-cho, aren't I? This is the meat market of Edo, ain't it? So let's go get myself some "retail therapy," shall we? What the hell is a "Paid Date" anyways? Just a fucking euphemism, is what it is, the reality hurts like mad! F#0(-(-(-(-(-!!!!"
On the surface, though, she was taking her defeat like a good sport, she chuckled and tousled the hair of her small-sized opponent. She turned briskly toward Itou. "Well, Itou-kun, it was fun knowing you. You're not as much of a geek as I thought you were. I hope you'll find true love one day."
"And you too," she pointed a dainty fingertip at Takasugi, then smiled at her own hypocrisy.
But Takasugi's eyes were bright with admiration.
"And you too, Yoshino-san."
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"Goodbye, arigato, sayonara co-habito-yo~ " (T/N: Thank you and goodbye my lover) So saying, she sauntered leisurely back into the crowd, almost immediately a young man of Itou's age tagged along and tugged at her sleeve.
"Hey beautiful, do you know the time? Because my watch is broken."
Her eagle eyes homed in on the crest of his school uniform. Disappointed that it belonged to a less-than-elite high school, she tossed her dark hair and closed her thick lashes. "The time is…no time for you."
"Aww…don't break my heart, fox, let's be friends ~~~" he whined.
"…no!"
"Come with me, I know a place we can just chat, I promise you I won't do anything…"
"… no!"
Itou and Takasugi looked at each other, eyebrows raised. As for Bansai, he was contented as long he got his steady supply of interesting sounds, "Let's be friends~~~" he parroted.
"Please?" The student persisted, "I'll buy you ice-cream…"
"…aisukuri-mu …" Bansai mimicked.
Frustrated, the lady squeezed her fists, "…no thank you!!"
"…shankyu…"
"F#0(-(-(-(-(---- off !!" Yoshino yelled at the top of her lungs.
"…???..."
Bansai tilted his chin upwards to look questioningly at the taller student.
"Um…" coughed Itou, embarrassed. He bent closer toward the shorter boy and wagged his index finger, whispering seriously. "Chome-chome. She said…chome-chome."
"Chome-chome?……chome-chome…?" Bansai repeated audibly. Wow, this was by far the cutest sound he has ever heard in his entire life!"……chome-chome… chome-chome…" It's so addictive, I can't get it out of my mind! Thanks buddy~ I'm taking this!
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The invisible glue connecting the crowd started to push the trio forward. Takasugi-kun could feel sweat streaming down his forehead, arms and legs from the tension. Running ahead to feel the breeze, he was delighted by the chaotic flapping of his kimono against his body. He luxuriated in the sensation of his heels striking the pavement, so vibrant as if he were strutting. From time to time, the rays of the evening sun would glance across the side of his iris, creating scintillating moments similar to looking through panes of glass. His ego was euphoric. He loved how Bansai and Itou were drawn into his orbit, as if heaven-sent. There was no reason why they should exist; there was no reason why he should feel so happy.
"Let's go!" He shouted, pausing to turn and wave at them.
-
Or perhaps this is all a dream…
Nothing is as glamorous as it seems…
Least of all, sessha…( T/N: clumsy me )
How can I tell what is real or fake?
All because of you, Shouyou-sensei…
I love you...
-
Itou and Bansai noticed Takasugi blushing and smiling to himself, lost in his own world. They nodded tolerantly to each other, looking as though they were wise old men. Itou put a hand on Bansai's shoulder and together they stepped across the bridge of dreams, ahem, Harajuku Bridge.
The bakemono ( T/N: monsters; transforming things ) kites above the Azabu Arts District soared higher and higher.
Hai!
To be continued…
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A/N: Hi~ xD Anyways for this chp, was the part where Itou "broke his curse" convincing? Or just doesn't make sense? XD I wasn't very happy with what I wrote, I feel something is missing, but I can't think of anything else so here goes.
What is your impression? Comments are welcomed...plz! :P
Next up: Nizou(24) vs Taka(13). Warning: Nizou will behave like a creep. :P Henpeita and Matako show up. So I'll finish off with the members of the Kiheitai and get back to the original duo, TakaZura for the finish.
