Kitty: Oh, I'm so happy! None of my stories have ever got so many reviews so fast, at least none so absolutely incredible. I love the constructive criticism and advice. I'll go ahead and give a few words real fast and start. I know it's a little fast, but it'll slow down because I have the next three or four chapters planned out and they're all going to be about the same length hopefully. Anyway.
Cool-Hanyou- I'm sorry they met so fast, I actually didn't want them to, lol. The opportunity presented itself and it was too funny to give up, lol. Thank you for reviewing again!
Rokutagrl-Once again, a second-timer reviewer! I feel like I have a following, lol! I'm so excited! I've never had so many real reviews with encouragement and real problems, instead of jerks who surf around looking for yaoi to flame...grrrrr. I'm glad you've read my other Taishirou, lol! It's so good to hear that my stories are read and liked! Even a favorite for someone!
SageoWind- Thank you for breaking from the norm and reviewing me. Like I said last time, I don't normally review stories unless they're either exceptionally well-written or stopped in the middle (sometimes I don't even do it then if I feel really lazy). bows Arigatu gozaimasu!
Rouge-Vixxen- Ooooo, I newbie, BANZAI! Thank you for checking my story out and for your lovely praise! I'm sorry for the quick pace, but I wanted the first chapter to have enough to capture enough attention or else I wouldn't continue it. I'm hoping to pull you guys through a wringer with this story, and a bit more realistically than in my Untitled Taishirou.
Iron Reaver- Your name is very familiar… Now that I've said that, I've got to say that your reviews mean a lot to me. They put out a few things that I'll try my best to correct or didn't know were wrong. Like the transitions? I put them in, but I didn't check out the chapters on the website and didn't realize they didn't upload, so I'll fix that immediately! I'm going to keep up with the glossary at the end and keep adding stuff, I hope. I'll check out that convo you mentioned and see if I messed something up or if I can tweak it a bit. Maybe I went a little OOC (out of character)? Thank you for your comments!
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, of course. But I do own the plot!
Chocolate Covered
Chapter Three
Chocolate Covered Triangles
"Izumi, Koushirou?" a deep voice asked.
The diminutive redhead blinked and turned around, startled.
"Sumimasen. I didn't realize you had been speaking to me. I am Izumi, Koushirou." The older student smiled and straightened his glasses.
"No problem, Izumi-kohai. Tokyo U does take some getting used to. My name is Kido, Jyou and I am your orientation leader." The young man smiled and held out his hand. Koushirou examined him as he reached out with his own hand.
Kido, Jyou had dark blue hair and dark grey eyes hidden behind thick, wire-framed eyeglasses. His appearance was tidy, but had no sense of unique style. His hair was combed, just a little longer than his face as if he forgot he needed to trim it, and his clothes were clean and simple: jeans and a pressed white shirt with almost invisible white, flat buttons. A pen was stuck in his breast pocket with a small notepad.
"Come over here with the rest of the group and we'll get started." Kido-san smiled and motioned towards the room beside them.
"Hai." Koushirou preceded Kido-san into the room and his eyes met a cool, blue gaze.
Another young man, older than himself, obviously, yet younger than Kido-san, was sitting near the rear of the room, an open seat next to him. Many of the girls were glancing at him frequently and making twitching motions as if they longed to stand and sit next to the handsome young man. Hai, the young man was handsome, downright gorgeous to even Koushirou's untrained eye. Blonde hair artfully mussed and spiked shaded the cool blue gaze. Those chill blue orbs were in eyes shaped like a cat's, and had an almost girly flare of eyelashes at the corners. His body was long and lean and clad in form-fitting jeans and a rather baggy black shirt with a howling wolf on it. Thin, yet perfectly shaped lips curved just the slightest bit at the corners and a long-fingered hand rose. He beckoned mutely to Koushirou and indicated the free seat next to him. He makes arrogance look good. Koushirou thought impressed.
He walked over and sat down next to the beautiful young man.
"I'm Ishiida, Yamato."
"My name is Izumi, Koushirou."
"I guess we're grouped by last names." He muttered.
"Konnichi wa minna! My name is Kido, Jyou." Kido-san suddenly greeted as he reached the front and opened a neat folder. "Here are some fliers and information about myself. Procedure and all that." Kido-san chuckled and pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. "I hope that you will look to me for any questions you may have for these two days of orientation, and even during your years here at Tokyo U while I am here as well. On my information page, you will see my email and my webpage. Please, do not hesitate to contact me. Think of me as a counselor without the degree. I am a third year here, and in the Pre-Med program, but that doesn't mean manga artists or classics majors are exempt from my guidance. I'm here for…other stuff than just schoolwork, though I can help you there as well.
"Now that my little bit is said, let's all get to know each other and go around the room introducing ourselves."
&&&&&&&&&
"I wonder if he's in orientation right now." Mimi sighed, playing with a strand of pink hair.
"Of course, he is." Sora automatically answered. "My mother told me orientation lasts two days and the future students have to sleep in a dorm room for the night in between." She took a bite of chocolate cake.
"OI! You're eating my name, Daisuke-kun!" Tai suddenly yelped.
"So? You didn't claim it!"
"My name's on it!"
"Yeah…maa…you didn't put it there!" Daisuke shoved another large bite into his mouth.
"GIVE ME BACK MY NAME!" Tai roared. He winced and touched his cottoned up nose.
"Don't shout, you'll just hurt yourself, oniichan." Hikari sighed. She plucked the cake out of Daisuke's hands, kissed his frosting covered mouth to keep him from protesting and handed the plate to her brother. "Now, shut up."
Mimi giggled and sipped her glass of milk.
"Do you think he likes pink?"
"Iie." Hikari replied promptly. "It would clash something horrible with his hair."
"Hai…" Mimi trailed off thoughtfully. "What about blonde? Or maybe purple? His shoes were purple."
"You looked at his shoes?" Daisuke gaped.
"I always notice clothes, on everybody. It's my thing." Mimi sniffed daintily. She reached for a small piece of cake doubtfully. "I don't think I should…I need to make a good impression. I don't want to get pimply or fat or anything..."
"Don't deny yourself chocolate before he asks you out, Mimi-chan!" Sora laughed.
"I think Mimi-san will be doing the asking, not the other way around." Daisuke put in. "That guy seemed kinda shy and…well…smart, not a guy to chase after a pretty girl. He's probably too into books for that stuff."
"Hai…" Mimi sighed miserably and forked herself a bite of chocolate.
"Oh, great job, Daisuke-kun." Sora snapped.
"Nani?"
"Never you mind, Dai-kun." Hikari soothed, popping a 'Taichi'-less bite into his mouth.
Tai chewed his cake thoughtfully. Koushirou Izumi…
&&&&&&&&&&&
"Yagami, Taichi." Koushirou repeated with puzzlement etched onto his face.
"Oh wow! I can't believe it, honto?" Ishiida-san laughed.
"Hai. Doushite? Do you know him?"
"Oh, hai. A little. My okaasan made me go to soccer camp when I was ten and I met him there. We had a fist fight every other day and had to stare at each other for hours for punishment!" Ishiida-san laughed harder. "I'll never forget that stupid grin."
Koushirou smiled. What a small world.
"Did you two enjoy the introduction ceremony?" Kido-san asked, coming up behind them.
"Iie." They answered in duet. Kido-san laughed.
"I hate it, too. Why don't we sneak off to the coffee shop over there and get to know each other?"
"Demo Kido-san! You're an OL!" Koushirou exclaimed.
"Doesn't mean I don't have caffeine cravings every blessed hour. Coffee keeps you alive in college, first advice of the day." Kido-san warned seriously.
"I believe you. You know how much coffee I already suck down a day? Just a high school student and about three cups of hot coffee in the morning and an iced coffee whenever I pass a vendor, hand to God." Ishiida-san agreed.
"How are you two so tall?" Koushirou complained good-naturedly. "I drink next to no caffeine and I'm still a hobbit-sized college freshman."
"Yeah, well, if all college freshmen were fourteen, they'd be hobbit-sized, too." Ishiida-san joked. The three laughed and ditched the crowd of freshmen going to the scheduled ceremony of School Value.
&&&&&&&&
"I hope your nose is next to normal tomorrow, Tai-kun. I don't want to go to Tokyo with a friend with a nose the size of a blimp." Mimi teased, poking his side and darting away.
"MIMI-CHAN!" Tai grabbed at her as she hopped out the front door. She ran off, giggling and waving.
"She's so full of… energy." Sora said with a grin.
"I think the word you're going for is pink. It just melted into her brain." Daisuke snickered.
"That wasn't nice, Dai-kun!" Hikari admonished.
"What? Mimi-san would've taken it as a compliment. She loves pink."
"Her room must be the scariest place in the world." Tai shivered. Sora smacked his shoulder. "Nani?" She shook her head and moved into the foyer.
"I have to go now, too, Tai-kun." Sora slipped into her shoes and leaned towards him. Tai leaned away and tapped his nose.
"I smashed this on someone's frontal bone, remember?"
"Oh, hai." Sora chuckled behind her hand. "See you guys tomorrow at the train station." She waved and left, closing the door behind her.
"Aren't you going home, too? Party's over." Tai pointed out to Daisuke.
"So? My girlfriend lives here and we're going to go cuddle."
"EEEEWWWW!" Tai ran out of the hallway towards his room. Hikari and Daisuke laughed.
"What movie did you want to watch?" Hikari asked after their giggles subsided.
"Something with violence and explosions!"
"Boys." Hikari rolled her eyes. "I guess I better snag one from my brother's room before he locks the door."
&&&&&&
"Thanks for the coffee, Kido-sempai."
"No problem, Izumi-kohai. With my student ID, it was almost free."
"That's right, the discount." Ishiida-san grinned. "You know the bullet train is pretty much free now because of that plastic card with your picture on it? It's… sugoi!" Ishiida-san thrust his fist up into the air.
"It does make things rather easier, doesn't it?" Koushirou agreed, pocketing his own ID, newly made at the ID card stall.
"Are you two going to join clubs?"
"Nah. My band's a full-time gig, ya know? It's hard enough fitting in school. I have to start looking for a job now to pay my own bills and rent. And I have to find an apartment!" Ishiida-san groaned.
"Are you not from around here?" Koushirou asked sympathetically.
"Are you kidding? I was born in a hospital not two miles from here!" Ishiida-san burst out. "My old man is just jerk! 'You're a man, now, son. It's time to face the real world. Here's enough yenn for your first month of rent, now beat it.'" Ishiida-san said in a mock-deep voice of his father. "Jerk."
"Ow." Kido-sempai winced. "My parents are letting me live with them until I am ready to leave." He blushed suddenly. "I'm already a third year and I still live with my parents, how sad. I keep wanted to get an apartment, but I haven't found anybody else to roommate with me."
Koushirou's eyes glimmered.
"What about with me? And Ishiida-san?"
"Nani?"
"Nani?"
"Dude, I don't even got a place!"
"D-Demo…"
"It's a great idea. We all like each other and get along just fine." Koushirou pointed out. "Ishiida-san needs a place almost immediately, Kido-sempai wants to get away from his parents, and I need people to help me with my rent whom I can rely on. I believe you two are perfect candidates."
"D-Demo…so soon? We just met today." Kido-sempai protested weakly.
"We'll hang out for the rest of orientation and get to know each other some more. Tomorrow after orientation ends, you two can join me and meet some other new friends of mine and spend the whole day together. If you two decide you'd rather not risk it, we'll just exchange cell numbers and continue on in a more acquaintance-like manner. What do you say?"
"I think this idea is getting better and better. You already got a space?"
"It's just the next train stop over in Odaiba. My parents helped me locate it. It has three bedrooms, two bath, and right next to a park. We wanted it on the large size in the event I found a roommate or two. If I didn't, I would just downgrade within the complex." Koushirou told them. Ishiida-san grinned.
"That's great, man. C'mon, Kido-sempai, whaddya say?"
"I say this is moving a little fast. You two can go on ahead if you'd like, but I need a little more time to decide how trustworthy you two are. I'm rather… particular about a few things, I'm afraid. I would like to meet up with you two tomorrow, however." He grinned. "I haven't had such good friends since middle school. I'm sure with enough time I'd gladly join you two in Odaiba."
"That's awesome. I'm glad I didn't skip out on this junk." Ishiida-san crowed. "You guys can call me Yamato-kun, all right?"
"Then, be free to call me Koushirou-kun."
"I guess I'll drop the older student formalities as well." Jyou-sempai sighed, pushing back his glasses again. "I hope I don't regret these impulsive reactions of mine today." Yamato-kun slapped his back with a resounding thud.
"No worries, man. We're cool."
"Of course, you are." Jyou-sempai rolled his eyes. "It's almost dinner time, however, and I'm hungry. Tomorrow you two will really need to stick with the orientation schedule, unlike today. Tomorrow you get your classes." Jyou-sempai instructed them and led them towards the dining hall.
"Oh, right. That should be okay." Yamato-kun shrugged.
"Hai. Kakkoi." Koushirou grinned. It's been great! I can't believe I found such great friends! I hope they don't just decide to go on with their lives before they met me after tomorrow. It will be hard to find such nice people in the sea of them here in Tokyo U. Though, the people I met earlier seem to be eager to be friends as well. It's all rather nice.
I wonder if Yagami, Taichi is my memory boy…
"Oi, Koushirou-kun, hurry up! You're going to get knocked back to end of the line." Yamato called out. Koushirou shook his head and hurried after them.
&&&&&&&&&
Tai lay back on his bed on the bottom bunk. Kari got her own room awhile back (their dad's old study), but his parents kept the bunk bed instead of buying new one for Tai and Kari. He shifted restlessly, trying to get comfortable on a bed that was now too short. Maybe I should get a job and save up to buy a new bed. Tousan and Kaasan keep frowning whenever I ask for allowance. Their budget must be getting tighter. He sighed discontentedly. Stupid money.
He stretched out his legs and braced his feet against the bottom of the top bunk. He glared angrily at his toes.
Izzy's a girl. I mean…I'm not gay. I mean, Kari's right saying I haven't really liked anybody. I act all perverted, but I never drool over classmate's boobs or sneak peeks at pornos. I'm just not a sicko or need to…jack off or anything. I don't get all stiff around other guys, so I'm not gay. Right? Izzy's a girl…like Sora-chan. Who cares if some guy with red hair and black eyes and the name Izumi pops up claiming to be looking for someone? That doesn't mean he's Izzy.
Only Izzy tastes like onigiri, I'm sure of it. And boys don't taste like candy rice balls!
&&&&&&&
"Oi! Koushirou-kun! Over here!" Yamato-kun's voice sounded. Koushirou turned and waved.
"Hai?"
"Remember how you invited me to hang out with you downtown today?"
"Hai. Are you going to have to cancel?"
"Nah. My younger brother, he's about twelve, he's in Tokyo today and I wanted to hang out with him. You think it'd be cool if he tagged along?"
"I have no problem with it. Yagami-chan and Motomiya-kun are about twelve years old, I believe. At least, they don't look much younger than that. Your younger brother should be able to fit in just fine. Have you seen Jyou-sempai since this morning?"
"Hai. He gave me his cell number and booked it off somewhere. I think his parents called or something. He said he'd meet us at the coffee place, though, at three, so it can't be too serious. I wish I could show you to the café, but my brother…"
"I'll have no problem finding it. You gave me excellent directions at breakfast to give to Tachikawa-san. I shall meet you at three p.m."
"See ya later, dude." Koushirou waved back as Yamato-kun ran from sight.
If we do meet up, then we'll be friends. Koushirou thought with a smile. He put his papers and folders into his backpack and shrugged into it. It was rather heavy, and would be in the way when wondering through downtown Tokyo, but he had to carry it around. He couldn't take the train to Odaiba and then come all the way back. That would be ridiculous. It was time to find a good bookstore and sit down with a book until it was time for his rendezvous. He checked his wristwatch.
About three and a half hours until then…
&&&&&&&&&
Mimi hummed happily, pinning back waving locks of pink with flower barrettes.
"Should I go with the mini-skirt or those cute bell bottoms I got in New York last summer?" Mimi wondered to Sora, who was sitting on her bed reading a magazine idly.
"You just met him, Mimi-chan."
"Exactly. I have to make a good impression. I have to dazzle. He's a cute little nerd…I'm sure it won't be too hard…" She bit her lip softly. "Maybe those new cargo shorts… and a tank top…"
"You mean those ridiculous pink camouflage?" Sora snorted, turning a page.
"All right…how about a dress? A classy look might catch his eye."
"And be very obvious. You're the kind of girl who wears a dress to hit a guy straight in the forehead on the first date."
"Right. Then…these cargo pants?" She held up cargo khaki pants with a wide, faded pink belt threaded through its belt loops.
"Nice. And a shirt?"
"Hmm…this one. Cute, normal looking, but hugs my curves."
"What you got."
"Oi! I've got boobs! More than you, and you're almost a year older!" Mimi stuck out her tongue and returned to her shirt. It was a pink T-shirt, with darker pink lining the sleeves and neckline. On the front it read '100 Angel' in curving letters and a light dusting of glitter. If she raised her arms over her head while wearing it, her tummy would show, Sora remembered. She's really serious about that guy…
"You'll look adorable, Mimi-chan. Maybe those pink earrings your otousan gave you for your birthday will go with it. You haven't been able to wear them yet." Sora suggested gently as an apology.
"'Bout time." Mimi huffed. She easily gave up her sulking when she realized Sora was right. "Perfect, domo arigatu."
"Why are you so…gung-ho about this guy, Mimi-chan. He doesn't seem your type at all." Sora asked, sitting up as Mimi quickly pulled off her robe and pulled on her carefully selected clothes.
"I don't know. He's just so kawaii, Sora-chan. He kept blushing and stammering and all that red hair." Mimi blushed. "There's something about him that makes me feel all giggly."
"I've never seen you have a crush like this." Sora said a little confused.
"I know, I feel so strange. Maybe I'm in love!" Her playful chestnut eyes lit up.
"Riight, like love at first sight? Get real."
"Come on, it can happen! Maybe it happened for me finally!"
"You've been chasing after every guy that you thought was pretty since you hit puberty trying to find your 'love at first sight'. What makes you think some scrawny, nerdy little genius like that kid could be him?"
"Because…he's so different, Sora-chan. Unlike anybody else." She pressed her hands against her heated cheeks. "I can't wait to see him again. I wonder if I'll get all fluttery inside?"
Sora frowned at her dreamy-eyed friend. This can't bode well.
&&&&&&&&
Koushirou opened the door to the convenience store nearby the café. Only twenty minutes until rendezvous. He walked through the convenience store, glorying in the AC after Tokyo hot afternoon and the extra weight he had had to carry. He stopped by the open refrigerated area and dropped his pack to the ground lightly.
He looked idly over the selection of food, mainly snacks, as he worked the kinks out of his sweaty shoulders. His eyes fell upon a package and his body went still. He reached out and lifted the triangle up and read the fine print on the oval sticker. His hand reached into his pocket and pulled out an identical, albeit faded, oval sticker.
Chocolate covered onigiri… His mind whispered.
"And I'll come with my soccer ball and," a small voice whispered into Izzy's ear, "a chocolate covered onigiri just for you."
Koushirou smiled and held the onigiri to his face, its top corner just touching the end of his nose.
"A chocolate covered onigiri just for me." Koushirou whispered softly.
"Daijoubou desu ka?" Koushirou jumped and dropped the onigiri back onto the shelf in surprise.
"Dai-Daijoubou desu!" Koushirou gasped, turned and meeting the slanted olive green eyes of his 'surpriser'.
"I didn't mean to startle you. You look a little flushed and I thought maybe you were having a headache or something. My okaasan gets them all the time." The little boy replied his tone and facial expression completely serious. He had a blunt, bowl cut with thick, fawn-brown hair. He had a straight, even nose, arching dark brows, and a firm, well-shaped mouth. He gave off an aura of meditative calm.
'Little boy' isn't quite right for this boy. He may be very small and young, but his eyes are very wise and his voice very serious. He's a heavy thinker.
"I-Iie. I was just remembering something. I'm a little flushed from my walk outside carrying around this pack." Koushirou placed the onigiri back in its place and picked up his pack.
"I see." His grave dark eyes seemed to bore into Koushirou's. "My name is Hida, Iori. I am nine years old."
"My name is Izumi, Koushirou. I am fourteen years old. Are you here alone?" Koushirou asked a little amazed.
"Iie. My grandfather is here, also. We live in Odaiba, and we normally shop at the convenience store there, but it ran out of my grandfather's new favorite liquid yogurt and he decided to make a trip of it."
"Ah. I am meeting with some friends at a café nearby and should be heading on my way. I would invite you along, but I don't think your grandfather would agree." Koushirou smiled. Hida-kun smiled back.
"You'd be surprised. My grandfather is a strange man."
"Iori! Iooorrriiii! Ah, my boy, there you are!" A little old man waddled forward, his arms full of plastic cases. "They have enough liquid prune yogurt to keep me to the end of next month!" The old man laughed.
"Oh, Grandfather, meet my new acquaintance, Izumi, Koushirou. Izumi-san, this is my grandfather."
"Hida-sama, it's nice to meet you." Koushirou bowed respectfully. Hida-sama smiled delightedly.
"What a nice, well-mannered young man. I barely ever see kids these days with the kind of respect I grew up with for my elders. Except for my grandson and his friend, Inoue-chan."
"My okaasan and otousan raised me well and deserve the credit. It's been very nice getting to know Hida-kun, but I have to go meet up with friends." Koushirou turned to Hida-kun. "I'm very glad I met you. I hope to see you again. I live in Odaiba, though I go to school here in the city. Maybe later you will be able to meet with my other friends." At least…I believe we are friends…we've only known each other for such a short amount of time. Koushirou frowned lightly, and then smiled at Hida-kun, remembering himself. Hida-kun smiled back.
"Hai. I hope we do meet up again. I do not have a cell phone, but I believe you do?"
"Hai."
"Why don't I give you my house phone number and you call me when you have some free time? My school doesn't start for another two weeks, so I'll be free after noon." Hida-kun suggest.
"That seems like a very good idea. Will it be acceptable, Hida-sama, for me to know your house number?"
"Oh, hai, hai, go right on ahead."
"Arigatu gozaimasu." The two boys chorused. A few moments later, Koushirou waved goodbye and set off towards the café…and Yagami, Taichi.
&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Izumi-san, Izumi-san, over here!" a voice called out as Koushirou entered the coffee shop. He looked around and spotted bright pink hair. Tachikawa-san and Takenouchi-san were sitting at a table near the back by the windows, holding iced coffee and sharing a plate of cake. They both were looking strangely excited and flushed. He moved towards them, barely catching a shock of blonde from the corner of his eye.
"Yamato-kun!" Koushirou exclaimed. "I was expected you to be a bit later than this. You must be his younger brother?" He added turned towards the pre-teen standing next to his new friend.
"My name is Takashi, Takeru. Our parents divorced," Takeru added seeing the slight confusion cross Koushirou's polite features.
"Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, Takashi-kun. My other friends are sitting over there, in the corner, shall we?" They continued to the table with the gaping girls.
"You didn't mention meeting Ishiida-sama." Takenouchi-san hissed as the three boys sat down. Koushirou blinked.
"Does it matter? I was planning to introduce you. Do you two have a history?" Koushirou asked with confusion.
"Iie. I've never met this one before." Yamato-kun winked at Takenouchi-san, "I would have remembered pretty eyes like those. My name is obviously Ishiida, Yamato. I would be honored if you'd call me Yamato-san, however, Kirei-san." Takenouchi-san blushed up to her hairline.
"Oh, i-i-i-iie! I couldn't possibly." Takenouchi-san stammered as Yamato-kun bowed and winked again. He slid into the seat next to her and reached for a strand of ginger hair.
"May I ask your name, Kirei-san? Or should I continue as I have been?"
Koushirou blinked, puzzled, at Yamato-kun's sudden transformation of a relaxed and almost lazy manner, to smooth and cooler than cool.
"My oniichan is in girl-catcher mode, just watch." Takashi-kun whispered, apparently amused.
"My-my n-name is Tak-Takenouchi, Sora. Y-you c-can call me S-S-S-"
"Sora-chan…what a pretty name. Even better than 'kirei'." He smiled, his blue eyes gazing into hers.
"Oh-Oh…my…" Takenouchi-san sighed, leaning towards him as if she couldn't help herself. "You're so much cuter in person." She murmured.
Koushirou, Takashi-kun, and Tachikawa-san smiled behind their hands.
"Sumimasen." Tachikawa-san suddenly interrupted. "I don't mean to be a spoilsport, ga Sora-chan has obviously forgotten about a lot of things in the last minute, like introducing me and remembering she has a boyfriend."
Yamato-san frowned as Takenouchi-san pulled away, blushing and shaking her head.
"Oh, oh, right. Oh my…I didn't…ano…" She shook her head again. "This is my best friend, Tachikawa, Mimi. We both are really big fans of yours." She blushed and stared down at the table. "I'm sure you hear that all the time."
"Maa…hai." Yamato-kun agreed, "Demo…hearing you say it sounds better." Sora flushed tomato red. The other three barely kept their chuckles in check and carefully avoided each other's eyes.
"Oh, it is Jyou-sempai…I think…hai…Yagami-san and Hikari-chan are about to enter as well." Koushirou announced suddenly, rising from his chair.
"Oh…Tai-kun. Oh…gomen nasai!" Takenouchi-san jumped up. "I'm acting so strange! I'm normally not like this at all."
"Tai-kun, Hikari-chan, over here!" Tachikawa-san called out. Koushirou waved Jyou-sempai over as well.
"I believe it's time for all around introductions." Koushirou proclaimed. "Everyone these are my friends from Tokyo U, Kido, Jyou and Ishiida, Yamato, whom Tachikawa-san and Takenouchi-san seem to know of…and Takashi-kun, Yamato-kun's younger brother."
"Yamato-kohai is a famous band lead guitarist and singer, Koushirou-kohai." Jyou-sempai explained.
"Oh…honto? I had no idea…" Koushirou mused surprised. "That's what you meant when you said your band was a 'full-time gig'."
"Hai." Yamato-kun was currently staring Yagami-san down, as if challenging his right to sit down next to his friend, Takenouchi-san. How strange. Koushirou thought as Yagami-san gave up and sat down on Koushirou's other side, so now the redhead was flanked by Yagami-san and Takashi-kun.
"Jyou-sempai, Yamato-kun, this is Yagami, Taichi, his sister, Yagami, Hikari, and their friends, Takenouchi, Sora and Tachikawa, Mimi."
"Konnichi wa!" They all chorused.
"Where's Motomiya-kun, Yagami-chan?" Koushirou asked her.
"Daisuke-kun couldn't make it. His kaasan told him to clean his room when I went to go get him."
"Couldn't he just clean it real fast and follow?" Takashi-kun asked, leaning around Koushirou to meet her gaze. She blinked and a small flush of red appeared over her nose. He's adorable! She thought to herself.
"You obviously don't know, Dai-kun." Yagami-chan giggled. "He'll spend half the day trying to argue his way out of it and then spend the rest of the day pouting and pretending to clean while actually playing his video games. Then, when his kaasan starts screaming the next day, he'll start cleaning and spend the whole day doing it."
"Sounds like a plan, though I usually skip the whole first day of that routine." Takashi-kun joked.
Yagami-chan sat down next to her brother, throwing glances at the younger blonde brother and blushing. Takashi-san kept sneaking glances back and smiling when he caught her eye. Jyou-sempai sat in between Yagami-chan and Tachikawa-san, also glancing and blushing, though at the young pink-haired girl, whom Koushirou could swear was staring at him.
I'm imagining all this… Koushirou told himself firmly. He glanced at Yagami-san and blushed faintly.
"Why don't we all order something to drink and get to talking?" Yamato-kun suggested, leaning back indolently in his chair and laying his arm across the back of Takenouchi-san's chair.
A few hours later, all of them were laughing and talking animatedly. Their cups were mostly ignored, and a few crumb-laden plates were pushed to the side as they leaned across the table or fiddled with their forks absently. Almost simultaneously, they all agreed to leave and go to Odaiba to check out Koushirou's apartment. After their uneventful trip, except for when Tachikawa-san stumbled into Koushirou on the train when it lurched to a stop and Jyou-sempai caught her causing her to snipe at him, they 'ooh'ed and 'ah'ed over Koushirou's large apartment.
"I told you that it was a three bedroom, two bath." Koushirou reminded the goggle-eyed Yamato-kun.
"Yeah, but…I don't think I really believed you. Your parents got this for you?"
"Hai…they really wanted me to make friends." He smiled ruefully. "I didn't have time for friends in Edo. I wanted to come back to Odaiba so much that I hurried through school too fast to make friends."
"Why Odaiba?" Takashi-kun asked incredulously. "There's nothing special here."
Koushirou blushed and looked at his feet as everyone's eyes looked towards him. "Maa…Tokyo U was one of my reasons, of course. It's a great school and it's cheaper living here than there. …I used to live here, too. Demo…" He trailed off and scratched his cheek. "The main reason is a promise I made…" He smiled softly. "I never made friends in Odaiba, but I did make one here…very long time ago and I promised him I'd come back…and play soccer."
Tai felt his back stiffened and his hands curled into fists his pockets.
"Oh, how kawaii! Have you met up with him?" Tachikawa-san asked excitedly.
"I…don't know, actually…I can't remember his name. As I was only four at the time, I'm surprised I remembered at all, to be truthful." Koushirou laughed softly and 'shoo'ed them out. "I have to get back to my parents' hotel now."
"Sora-chan and I will go ahead and go home."
"I'll walk you two ladies home." Jyou-sempai hurriedly offered. "I have to get home to study anyway."
"That would be very sweet, Kido-san." Takenouchi-san accepted graciously.
"Please, I believe you all to be my friends now. Jyou-san will be fine for everyone I've met today." Jyou-sempai requested. His dark grey eyes glanced down at Tachikawa-san, but she was already talking to Koushirou.
"Hai! And you can call me Mimi-chan. I don't mind at all. It's been so much fun." She happily told Koushirou. She quickly gave the same offer to everyone else who was not already calling her Mimi-chan.
"Takenouchi-san really is too long. You all can use my given name as well, too."
"Please, don't call me Taichi. It's Tai, for everyone." Tai requested with a grimace at his first name. Yagami-chan and Takashi-kun gave their own consent, as well as Koushirou.
"Ja ne minna!" Mimi-san called out waving as she, Sora-san, and Jyou-sempai walked away.
"Do you three mind if Yama-niichan and I tag along? I'm not doing anything else today and I'd like to continue getting to know you guys." Takeru-san asked politely.
"Sure!" Hikari-san chirped, linking her arm with his. "We should exchange numbers, Takeru-kun."
The two twelve-year-olds pulled ahead and began to talk earnestly about something or another. The three older boys followed at a slower pace, all caught up in their own thoughts.
Was that jerk flirting with Sora-chan? I should be angrier…why aren't I more angrier?! Stupid Kari and her 'Izzy might be Koushirou-san' talk. He made a promise…a promise a long time ago…like me…I wonder if he is Izzy? He is NOT Izzy, dammit!
I shouldn't have made it so obvious! Tai-san must know I'm Izzy…unless he doesn't remember me…or if he isn't my koishii… It is possible he isn't…but he's soclose. What if he is but doesn't remember? Or what if he does remember, but he's homophobic or… thinks the memory is just something trivial and childish? Does he have a girlfriend? Speaking of which, I should tell Yamato-kun not to flirt with Sora-san so much. She's obviously addlepated around him and she has a boyfriend.
I can't believe that clod is her boyfriend! Of all the idiotic, stupid, bullshit! My romantic rival is a clod with a soccer ball for a head! Or maybe he's just blind? I was being pretty obvious! I was playing with her hair and touching her hand and calling her 'kirei', how much more obvious can you get? He just talked about soccer and high school and then stared at the table like it was flirting with Sora! Maybe they're having relationship trouble and he's going to start yelling at her when I'm not there…maybe they'll break? If that bastard makes Sora cry…
"Oi! Koushirou-san, are you listening?"
Koushirou glanced up and blinked rapidly at Hikari-san who was glaring at him. He noticed sadly that her eyes were almost level with his.
"Gomen ne, I was not listening. Were you speaking to me?"
"Haaaaiii." Hikari-san sighed out exasperated. "Takeru-kun and I were talking and I decided your name is too long. Everyone has nice short names, Jyou, Yamato, Tai, Mimi, Sora, but you, you have a long name. Why don't we come up with a nickname for you?" Hikari-san asked pleasantly. Koushirou's black eyes were once again puzzled.
"I don't see why not." He replied. "My name is rather long, isn't it?"
"Hai." Hikari smiled…though to Koushirou it looked rather sneaky.
"Kari, what are you up to?" Tai-san asked suspiciously, also thinking she was acting strange.
"Oh, nandemo." She answered with s singsong voice. "So, your new name…How about Izzy-san?" She grinned.
"Kari!"
"Nani?" Kari blithely smiled.
"Izzy?" Yamato-kun snorted.
"Izzy…" Koushirou breathed. She was the little girl who was sick like me! He turned to Tai-san excitedly, only to have his smile fade away.
Tai-san was glaring at his sister angrily. His eyebrows were drawn low over his nose and his eyes were so dark they looked black. He looked absolutely ferocious.
"Will you shut up, Kari?"
"Tai-san!" Takeru-san choked out.
"Why are you so damn angry? It's just a name." Hikari-san snapped back equally angry.
"It is not just a name. And you know it, damn it, Kari! No else can have that name!"
"No one else?" Koushirou queried with hesitation. I don't want to know…I don't want to know! His mind screamed.
"I used to know a girl a long time ago with that name and Kari knows how much she means to me. She, Kari, how much she means to me."
Koushirou felt something heavy and icy filter into him. The ground beneath him seemed to disappear and his legs almost buckled. She…Suddenly, the scenery was changing…why? Everything was moving too fast for him…he couldn't see. Somebody was shouting his name…his name…not… Izzy…
He…remembers…but…he doesn't…he doesn't want to think I could be Izzy. He doesn't want a boy to be Izzy. I should have known…I should have known…I'm a boy and so is he. It's different when you're not five and four, stupid Koushirou.
He didn't realize hot tears were streaking down his cheeks.
&&&&&&&&&
Kitty: That was so much longer than I intended! This was supposed to be 'Chocolate Covered ----', not 'Triangles'. I got to page 15, however, and was like…crap…I can't make this go that far… I am happy I managed to slow it down, but at the same time, I really wanted to write the ending to CC (the next chap)! It seems my planning the next coupla chapters was in vain. I have to lengthen the next chap so much more! WWAAAAHHH! How am I going to do that?!!! I guess I'll have to make up chap four as I go and make the ending to it different than I wanted! ;.;
Japanese time:
-kohai/sempai- younger classmate/ older classmate
-san- an suffix much like –chan/-kun but denoting respect for a new acquaintance, older student/sibling, or older person
Minna- everyone
Doushite- Why?
Sugoi- Awesome
Kirei- pretty
Itai-Ow!
Yen (yenn)- currency used in Japan
-sama- a suffix like –chan or –kun, only denoting more respect, much more than –san, normally used for elderly and God, lol, elderly and God
Ga- another word for 'but', only used to create compound sentences
Nandemo- nothing, really, it means nothing
