Mystical: Your reactions made me laugh. Seeing the length of your review made me laugh, too. LOL. I'm sorry to say, but your Daikari scene doesn't come up this time.
CoolHanyou: Oh, wow...I didn't realize you didn't like Miyako-chan. ... Wow. Anger...
SageoWind: He's also going to be doing some thinking that took an hour long research session. /le sigh/
Lord Pata: It's kinda weird seeing a non-yaoi fan reading a Taishirou... of course, I love yaoi, but I refuse to read Yamakeru...that's for moral reasons, though...eewww. /shudder/ Hah, I'll just compare it to my Taito hate. Hate Taito, Hate... Sorry, Lord Pata, Takeru-kun is staying gay this time.
Iron Reaver: I'm glad someone understands the Daiyako thing...that's kind of what I figured. They always seemed to be close, and in another one of my stories, they dated, but broke up, and became closer for it. I just don't see it as a lasting relationship, though. /sigh/ We'll see. And yes, I'm really happy to be trying Kenkari. If Daisuke-kun confronts Hikari-chan before it happens, I'll be angry...grrr.
Kitty: All right. Now I have TWO reviewers catching up on me! I better hurry my booty up. XD
Edited: 04/25/12
Chocolate Covered
Chapter Thirteen
Chocolate Covered Choices
Koushirou lifted his face to the summer breeze. His hair was sticking to the back of his neck with sweat making him wish for autumn and winter. He wasn't crazy about heat. The first week of school had come and gone and it was now Friday again, the day before Teenage Wolves' first concert of the school year. Taichi had been getting more and more nervous and up practicing later and later as the days disappeared. When Koushirou had tried to voice his concern, Taichi had just shrugged him off.
"I'm fine, really, Izzy. I got it down…I really do, but you know Yama-kun. He's so paranoid he makes everyone else paranoid. I always get my practice done, but then Yama-kun just does this look like I need to do better and I think I've done it all wrong and freak out and do it over again at least two times before I realize I did it right every time." Then, he'd grin and scratch the back of his head.
And run to his guitar and practice one more time…or two…or three.
Though his constant nervousness cut into their time together, Koushirou wasn't too put out by it. Taichi was excited about it, despite his protests against it initially. He was happy he getting better at bass and that he was part of a group of guys older than him who accepted him as both a newbie performer and a newbie homosexual.
Another reason Koushirou wasn't too put out by it was the conversation he had had with Jyou and Mimi. The idea of having a more physically demanding boyfriend had never occurred to him. He had never really been physical himself. His parents hugged him, but he had always been shy and awkward about it, especially after that conversation he had overheard when he was six. Being around Taichi he was definitely more physical, but not to where clothes came off and frightening choices had to be made. 'Sex or no sex' was definitely a scary choice to make. What if he chose wrong and hurt them both? What if his choice made Taichi angry or feeling insufficient? What if his choice led him to a circumstance he regretted or Taichi regretted? Just thinking about it to himself was scary, let alone speaking about it with Taichi.
He loved Taichi very much. Nobody could deny that. Taichi had been his friend and personal savior since he was four years old, no matter the distance. It was the memory of that cheerful smile that encouraged him through all the lonely times. They encouraged him to make friends. That prompted him into driving himself harder, graduating faster, urging him back to Tokyo and this new amazing life full of friends and liberty. There had never been another person to fill him with bravery, false or not, when he was feeling scared. As Taichi often said about him, nobody had ever affected Koushirou the way Taichi did.
But physical intimacy was another thing entirely. As he told Jyou and Mimi, he was only fourteen-years-old. He would fifteen in a matter of months, but fifteen was still too young for that stuff- sixteen was! Age of consent may be between 13 and 17 years of age... but a person couldn't even drive until twenty! It just seemed to Koushirou that sex before he was an adult was wrong. Technically…sodomy was what homosexuals did…and wasn't sodomy against the law? Koushirou had never thought it that way and had never actually thought of it at all, so he had never looked it up. Thinking on that, what made sodomy different from the sex two homosexual males committed? Was there a difference in the eyes of the law?
"Whatchya thinkin' 'bout, Izzy?" Tai asked suddenly, looking down at Koushirou as they walked down the sidewalk towards the Koushirou's apartment.
"I am internally wondering about the difference between sodomy and homosexual male sex," Koushirou answered vaguely, frowning as he spoke.
Taichi choked loudly. "What?"
Koushirou looked over at him and barely bit back a smile. Taichi was red in the face, looking as if Koushirou had just socked him in the face. "It's just a passing thought," Koushirou assured him.
"B-but…why… I didn't think you thought about that stuff…" Under the confusion was something like shame and hope mixed together. Koushirou's brows drew together at the tone.
Mimi seemed to have hit the nail on the head.
"I normally do not think about sexual intercourse; that is true. Mimi-san, Jyou-sempai, and I had a talk about… sexual frustrations of the male gender. I actually think we need to talk about it, too." Luckily, Koushirou was still in his not-quite-thinking-about-what-he-was-saying-because-he-was-thinking-about-something-else mode and wasn't embarrassed by what he had finally managed to blurt out. In other words, he was in a bit too philosophical a mood to realize how personal the conversation was.
"Eh…I guess so…" Taichi looked distinctly uncomfortable and embarrassed.
"Yes. We should wait until we get to my apartment for privacy," Koushirou agreed easily.
"Yeah." Taichi let out a relieved sigh. "That would be good. I thought maybe you would just start in on me now."
"Firstly, of course I would not discuss something so personal in such a public place," Koushirou retorted, ears turning red. "Secondly, why would I 'start in on you'? You haven't done anything wrong have you?"
"It depends on what you think 'wrong' is, I guess." Taihci was definitely blushing and obviously avoiding eye contact. For a second, Koushirou was confused. Then, as it dawned, he was an all new sort of flabbergasted.
"You mean…you…?"
"YAGAMI!" Yamato's screech sounded from behind them
Both jumped two feet in the air, faces burning hotter than a frying pan, and spun around.
"What are you doing, dude?" Yamato demanded as he neared them.
"Going to Izzy's. I have homework," Tai replied as he cringed.
"Screw homework!" Yamato-kun thrust his hand through his hair in aggravation. "We have concert tomorrow, wait until after that before you start caring about grades. We need to practice."
"It's four 'o' clock and I'm still in my school uniform!" Taichi protested.
"Whatever. We need to go by your house to get to the station anyway. We'll swing by to get you a change of clothes. We're not going to stop until we've done the whole concert list twice."
"TWICE?"
"What about your voice, Yamato-kun? Won't you be overusing it?" Koushirou interrupted quickly, hoping to calm Tai's rapidly rising anger and to make Yamato see sense.
"I won't be using it until the second set," Yamato explained.
"He hasn't been singing at all unless he wasn't sure about how it would sound," Taichi grumbled.
"I still play lead guitar and put in as much practice as you," snapped Yamato-kun irritably.
"That's the only reason I'm still in the band," Taichi muttered to Koushirou lowly. He kissed Koushirou's lips lightly and shrugged. "We'll have to talk tomorrow, ne? I'm sorry."
"It's no problem. Just do your best and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow you're going to be a nervous wreck." Taichi just laughed and jogged after the scowling Yamato-kun.
Koushirou frowned as they disappeared. His unfinished question still seemed to hang heavily on his lips. His frown disappeared as his blush renewed itself as the thought resurfaced. He didn't know if he should be angry or pleased at Taichi's unnerving confession. He could be wrong, however. Taichi had never actually said it and he had never finished asking his question. He still thought it was pretty likely, based on what Mimi and Jyou told him.
.
"Daisuke-kun!" He stopped walking and turned towards her excited voice.
"Hai, Miyako-chan?" He hadn't seen her very often since her school started on Monday, but they still met up to hang out and make sure he did his homework correctly. Not to mention her phone calls that lasted hours.
"Guess what Koushirou-san gave me?" Miyako squealed excitedly, beaming widely.
"What? Cake?" He waited until she was beside him before continuing towards his apartment.
"No!" She punched his shoulder and thrust paper in his face. "These! Look at them!" Daisuke grabbed one of the slips of paper from her hand and stared.
"Wow! How did you get these? How did you get such good seats?" Daisuke exclaimed, eyes going wide in shock.
"Koushirou-san! His roommate is the lead singer, and his boyfriend is the new bass player. Awesome, huh? I can't wait for tomorrow! He said he wanted to meet you," Miyako told him, taking back the tickets and putting them safely in her wallet.
Daisuke frowned. "He has already."
"What?"
"Izumi, Koushirou, ne? Tai-sensei smashed his nose against his forehead. Doesn't he remember me?" Daisuke pouted. Surely he made a little bit of an impression, right?
"Oh…he said your name sounded familiar, but I never told him your last name," Miyako was quick to reassure him. She suppressed a smile at his pout.
"That would be why, then. He knows my last name better. He must've not told Tai-sensei about me, either, or Tai-sensei would've known." Daisuke frowned darkly, thinking about Tai.
"What's wrong?" Miykao asked in some concern.
"I've been hearing some ugly rumors about Tai-sensei. A bunch of high schoolers apparently didn't like a first year captain and now that he's gay, a lot of them are getting pissy. Some guys on my team who knew Tai-sensei and hang out with high schoolers a lot have been getting worried. They say that he's been getting beat on and stuff. Some say there's rumors going around about a bashing they're going to give him before the concert so he can't play."
"Oh my god! We have to call him."
"Iie." Daisuke shook his head. "If I know, he knows. I know my sensei; he refuses to back down from something he believes in. He has to show whoever he's up against that he won't back down, even if it means getting beat the snot out of. He won't go looking for it, but he won't hide from it, either," Daisuke told her, becoming more agitated at the thought. He knew he was right about this.
"Should we tell Koushirou-san, then? I don't think Tai-san told him. He would be more anxious."
"You're right, he probably didn't tell Izumi-san." Daisuke chewed his bottom lip. Inside him a war was raging; either tell Izumi-san to make sure someone was looking out for Tai-sensei, or not tell and do as Tai-sensei would have told him to do. He grinned suddenly. Tai-sensei wasn't his coach anymore, so he couldn't make him run around the soccer field anymore.
"Daisuke-kun?"
"We tell Izumi-san. Tai-sensei will be so nervous about the concert he won't be watching his back properly. Tonight is going to be the most dangerous for him, so I think we should tell Izumi-san now," Daisuke decided, grinning at Miyako, who grinned back.
"YAY! Thank goodness, Daisuke-kun! I'm so worried now. I'm glad we're going to help," the purplette enthused eagerly. Daisuke nodded and looked down at Miyako's happily flushed face.
She was pretty. Maybe not like Hikari-chan, but, then, nobody was or would be. Hikari-chan would always be special, but Miyako-chan was a good friend and a fun person to yell with. She could make him laugh and want to pull out his hair, or hers, at the same time. Life was exciting and almost dangerous with her. He laid his arm over her shoulders and tugged her up against him. Her smile got wider and he liked the way her eyes sparkled. They weren't that soul-twisting amber he loved, but her hazel eyes did make him feel pretty good about himself when they smiled all special-like at him. As she snuggled up against him and wrapped her arms around his waist, he realized she was a lot more into cuddling than Hikari, and more open about it, too, to the point she was almost an exhibitionist. He really liked that. Well, maybe he wouldn't if she was an exhibitionist, but he liked the way she toed the line.
.
"How's school been, Yagami-san?" Ken asked politely as they sat down at her desk.
"Okay." Hikari shrugged and sharpened her pencil carefully. Daisuke-kun and she used to have a contest on how long they could make their pencil shavings before they broke.
It fell suddenly to her desktop and she stared at it for a second.
"That wasn't very long at all," she sighed. She swept it into her wastebasket and eyed her pencil. It would've been stupid to keep trying as her pencil was sufficiently sharp. If not more so.
"I haven't sharpened a pencil in a long time," Ken spoke up, smiling.
"It's not very efficient, I know, but these pencils are cheaper than good mechanical pencils and every penny counts in my family. Especially seeing as they're paying for a tutor I don't really need," Hikari grumbled. Ken chuckled.
"Your mother was just worried. I'm sure when your report comes in, the sessions will stop," Ken pointed out.
Hikari felt her chest tightened at the very thought.
"What could I do without you?" Hikari whispered looking up at him. His eyes widened in surprise. "You've helped me so much these past two weeks. I don't know how I'd cope without you after going to school with Daisuke-kun every day."
"Just because I'm your tutor doesn't mean I'm not your friend. I'd have to come here less after my income stops, but I'll come as often as I can to see you." He placed a hand over her and she gave him a shaky smile.
"You're right. I'm just so…weak, now. I can't get a grip on myself anymore." She pressed a small hand to her forehead. "I feel like everything I've ever bottled up inside me is just going to come bursting out against my will. I have to keep pushing it inside or everyone will see. I-I can't let anyone see what's inside me. I opened up for Daisuke-kun and look what happened!"
"That's his fault for not trusting you," Ken told her gently.
"Iie." Hikari shook her head. "I never gave him a reason for trusting me. I was secretive and lied to him, even though I'd promised never to lie. I never…I never put the effort into our relationship that he did. I just kept thinking he'd always be there, he'd never doubt me. I was a fool, of course." Her hand dropped back to her desk. "We should start homework now."
"H-hai, if you feel up to it," Ken added earnestly.
Hikari smiled up at him for his concern. "Homework is easy once I concentrate. Being around you eases my mind." Ken blushed and smiled back.
"Thank you," he murmured. He lifted his hand away from hers and leaned over towards his briefcase-looking bookbag. It looked a lot like her brother's…only more taken care of and newer. More expensive.
"I was going to ask you something," Hikari remembered. She unzipped her beat-up backpack and searched around for her science book. "Here, for you." She pulled a slip of paper out of the book and handed it to him. "You might be busy with your soccer tomorrow, but I thought I'd invite you anyway. My brother is the new bass player for the Teenage Wolves. He got me some very good tickets and a backstage pass that we can share. What do you say, want to go?"
"Sure. I've never been to a concert before." He read the small slip thoroughly. "I don't really listen to rock, either…but a lot of my classmates talk highly of this band. I would like to give them a try."
"They're not so bad." Hikari smiled gently. "With the rock, I mean. They aren't heavy or too loud. Rock is pretty close, but they're somewhere between that and alternative, my brother says."
"That sounds better." They smiled again and then turned back to her books.
.
"So, how was it?" Takeru teased. Iori blinked up at him.
"I'm still rather shocked. I don't think I developed a very good impression yet. Wait until next year when the shock wears off." Takeru laughed loudly at Iori's wry joke.
"I'm sure you'll be fine by next Monday. Harder workloads do that to a person," Takeru warned.
"It's only fifth grade, not much of a leap," Iori pointed out with a raise of his eyebrow.
"Still harder than fourth grade," Takeru-kun replied. Iori sighed.
His teacher, Asumi-sensei, had apparently thought Iori was too smart to be just any nine-year-old, like many other people he met. He was the first teacher, however, to suggest moving him up a grade where other children might be closer to his intellectual level. Iori didn't think it would work. To start with, he had the mind that thought like a fifty-year-old's. Another thing, he wasn't actually intellectual- more like a clear-thinker. However, most of the fifth graders did have a better sense of propriety and kept their thoughts on Haruma-sensei quiet and polite. They still talked about it instead of ignoring it as most adults would do, but they weren't defensive and angry about his secret. In fact, they had the same opinion as him; Haruma-sensei was a good teacher, as long as he didn't sexually harass his male students, what was the big deal? They whispered about it and were shocked, but only within their own close-knit circle of friends away from prying ears.
"Want to go to that tea shop again?"
"Maybe…that whipped cream wasn't very good, though," Iori mused.
"Hida-san!" Both boys turned as a familiar-looking girl ran towards him. She stopped and gasped for air. "I-I just heard about you being put up a grade today." She managed to say. Iori began to feel a little guilty.
"H-hai. I'm still a little shocked by it, so I didn't say anything. I'm very sorry," he sincerely apologized. She blushed and stared down at her feet.
"You…you never said anything to me…about what I told you last week. I thought… maybe you were still thinking about it, but now that you're in fifth grade it'll be hard for me to see you. I was wondering…could you…meet me tomorrow? I mean…not like a date…or maybe like one, but now that really dating you is close to impossible, I'd like a shot," she mumbled and stammered.
"Ano…" Iori looked up at Takeru filled with confusion. Takeru's face was strangely blank. Iori frowned, but turned back to the girl. "That's a very good idea. You're right to say it would be pretty hard to date me." You have no idea. "Meeting you tomorrow would be fine."
"Really?" Her face shined in happiness. "Can we meet in Odaiba park? My dad works at a desserts truck there and I usually help set up on weekends. We could meet at about twelve or so," she suggested eagerly.
"All right. Your name is Akizuki-san, ne?"
"Hai!" She smiled brightly and bowed. "I can't wait to tell Fuka-chan, she'll be so surprised! Tomorrow, Hida-san!" She ran off, waving.
"That was strange. Tomorrow's going to be strange." Iori shook his head. He turned to look at Takeru tohear his opinion, but blinked at the empty space beside him instead. He looked around quickly and just barely caught Takuer's tall form turning around the entrance gate.
Iori quickly raced after him. He grabbed Takeru's elbow just moments later, breathing hard. "Wh-what are you doing?" Iori wheezed clutching his shirt just over his heart.
"What am I doing?" Takeru's voice was low and strained. Iori blinked again with surprise.
"Why'd you run off like that?" Iori clarified slowly.
"You just made a date with a girl while I was standing right next to you." If Iori had thought it possible, he would've sworn Takeru was snarling.
"That wasn't really a date. I was just a little ashamed because I forgot to respond to her confession before I was transferred to a higher grade. I want to tell her the truth, Takeru-kun." Iori eyes narrowed. "Do you really think so little of me?" His own voice was low this time…and darker.
"What was I supposed to think? Some girl just ran up and smiled all pretty at you and then you plan a date with her tomorrow without even asking me first! You even forgot to tell her you're gay and have a boyfriend!" Takeru's fingers were burning against the slips of paper in his pocket.
"You didn't exactly give me a chance! I turned towards you and you didn't say a word. You didn't even look at me. Not to mention the fact, I didn't want to embarrass her in front of the whole school," Iori retorted coldly.
"Or you didn't want to embarrass yourself."
The softly spoken words lingered on the air between them.
"I may not have told everyone I've ever made eye contact with that I'm gay, but that's not because I'm a liar. I like to keep my personal life to myself. I'm a private person and I think I deserve my privacy. If she had asked me if I had a girlfriend already I would have told that I hada boyfriend, but she did not," Iori replied, his voice stiff. His hand dropped from Takeru's arm. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go home." He turned and began walking away.
"Iori-chan!"
"Please, don't call me that. Not only do I not like that name, but it's insulting to have someone speak my given name when they don't know me," Iori said softly. He continued to walk away. Follow me, tenshii, please! Say you're sorry and follow me!
Iori felt his lips quiver when Takeru did not do as his mind begged. He tightened his mouth, lips thinning into a firm line.
.
"So…I was thinking about wearing that really slinky dress my mom got me just a week ago. You know, that black one? For special occasions? But then I thought, that's so not me. I'm so…purple and pink and red, ya know? I was thinking purple would be more suitable this time. With those pretty fairy barrettes and that amethyst necklace I got from my grandmother…but my hair would be so much louder and look so out of place in a fancy place like that. So then I thought a pink dress would make my hair seem less loud, but then I realized I'd be all over pink and wondered if I should dye my hair instead of change color clothes. But then I thought, back to my original brunette or finally give into the curiosity and see what I look like blonde?" Mimi chattered away while Sora finished sweeping the flower shop floor.
"Mimi-chan, how long has your hair been pink?"
"Um…since I went to New York…about sixth grade, ne?" Mimi wondered tapping her chin. She blinked. "Okay, so brunette or blonde?"
"How long were you brunette?" Sora asked pointedly.
"Until sixth grade." Mimi tapped her chin and blinked once again. "So, I'm going blonde and in purple?"
"Sounds good." Sora smiled, her mouth twitching as she tried hard not to laugh. Mimi, however, laughed outright. Sora quickly joined in.
"I do love you, Sora-chan. You make decisions so much easier," Mimi exclaimed dramatically.
"I'm sure you would've come to same conclusions once you stopped chattering and just thought. My advice stems from your own habits," Sora told her with a small shrug, still smiling.
"But you just cut through the red tape and hit the main plot."
"Did that make any sense to you?"
"In my head." They shared a laugh again. "What I meant was, you just see through my chatter and figure out what I'd eventually figure out myself with less fuss. You done sweeping?"
"Yup." Sora put up the broom and emptied the dustpan into the trash. "I just need to throw this out real fast. You want to put in a new bag and start the mister?"
"If you wanna follow me to the salon and help me pick out a new 'do for the new colour," Mimi bargained. Sora grinned and hung her apron up on the hook.
"Done deal, Mimi-chan."
After the closing was complete, the two girls began to journey towards the downtown area of Odaiba. It was still pretty early in the evening, the sun still hovering stubbornly over the horizon. A few businessmen were wandering the streets, but traffic, human and vehicle, was mostly nonexistent.
"So, how fancy is this place we're talking about?" Sora asked, returning their conversation back to the topic from which the fashion discussion had stemmed.
"Oh, like, the menus don't have prices on them so the newbies don't throw a fit," Mimi explained.
"Wow." Sora whistled. "Maybe black is better than purple."
"It's a very light purple, like, lilac. I thought it would look more classy. I'm sure everyone else will be wearing black." Mimi's eyes sparkled.
"Of course, fashion statements are your life."
"Of course," Mimi-chan agreed with a quick nod.
"So, you and Jyou-sempai are definitely serious?"
"I think that's what tonight is for. He's so cute. It's like asking me to be his official girlfriend is as important and nerve-wracking as asking me to be his wife." Mimi giggled behind her hand. "What about you and Ishiida-sama?"
"It's weird hearing him called that after calling him jerkface five times a day." Sora frowned. Mimi laughed.
"Don't change the subject, 'fess up! What's going on?" Mimi nudged Sora with her elbow.
"Well…" Sora dragged out dramatically barely keeping back a smile.
"SORA-CHAN!" Mimi shrieked, grabbing her arm and shaking her vigorously.
"All right, all right, nothing's really been going on. He gave me an awesome backstage pass-"
"He gave one to Jyou-kun," Mimi put in quickly.
"No, I mean, during the performance kind of backstage pass. I can scream from the stage instead of from the crowd."
"OH WOW! Jyou-kun and I get to go backstage after the show, not during."
"Yup. Only Izumi-san and a few others get to. Yamato-san said most the other people back there will be girlfriends and his younger brother will be back there. And a boyfriend…"
"Sora-chan…what are you going to do?" Mimi's voice was quiet. Sora didn't bother asking what she meant. She knew exactly what Mimi was talking about…or more specifically who.
"Tai-kun will have warned him by now I'll be back there with him. Either we'll politely stay out of each other's way or I apologize immediately and hope he gives me a good punch in the jaw."
"Koushirou-san doesn't hit people," Mimi hesitantly told her as they neared the hair salon.
"I know." Sora sighed and pushed open the door to the salon Mimi-chan always went to. "Tai-kun already told me. But here's to hoping!" She grinned a wide fake grin and followed the anxious pinkette-soon-to-be-blonde inside.
.
Koushirou was busily filling his paper with dizzily confusing equations that seemed to make sense to him when the bell rang. He waited a moment, but when he heard a loud crash and Jyou curse loudly, Koushirou got up and headed towards the foyer. Jyou stuck his head out of his room just as Koushirou reached for the knob.
"You got it?"
Koushirou raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly down at his hand.
"Right. Um, sorry. I was…cleaning…" Jyou blushed. Koushirou rolled his eyes at Jyou's obvious lie. He had been throwing clothes around looking for the perfect outfit to take Mimi out on a date that night at eight. Koushirou turned the door knob as Jyou quickly disappeared into his room again.
"KONNICHI WA!" Two very loud voices bellowed when the door swung open. Koushirou's eyes widened seeing Miyako and Daisuke leaning on each other at his front door and panting.
"Motomiya-kun, Miyako-san, what's wrong?" he asked, filling with confusion at their red, sweaty faces.
"Dumb-dumb decided a race would be fun," Miyako explained shaking back her long, loose hair.
"Whatever. You wanted to, too. Said you could beat me even if you had to hop here. But I won even though you were running at full speed," Daisuke snapped back. He stuck his tongue out at her. She snarled back.
"Oh…would you like some tea?" Koushirou offered, plainly still confused.
"Oh, nah. We're going back to my house for tea and cake, so we're cool," Miyako explained happily.
"Ah…uh…does Hik-"
"Iie." The expression on Daisuke's face made Koushirou quickly swallow his question.
"I see…I think. Did you two require something?" he inquired uncomfortably.
"Oh, right, duh! We came to warm you!" Daisuke slapped his head. Koushirou felt his eyebrow rise of its own volition.
"Really." His question didn't come out right. It sounded more like a statement…that implied he wasn't very impressed. Miyako rolled her eyes.
"Dumb-dumb here did it wrong. Tai-san is in a pretty bad situation right now, as you know, of course. He's been getting hazed at school." Koushirou's eyes darkened at Miyako's words.
"Yes, I do know."
"Well, Daisuke-kun heard some rumors from his soccer buddies. Apparently, some of the older soccer players on Tai-san's team have planned to lay in on him before the concert tomorrow," Miykao blurted out rapidly.
"You make it sound like you don't believe it when coming here was your idea." Motomiya-kun pouted.
"He's right, it was my idea, because I do believe him. Guys can be stupid, ya know? I don't know if they'll actually do it, but Daisuke-kun said Tai-san wouldn't tell anyone because that's the kind of guy he is and I agreed with him. I wanted to make sure someone knew so in case they do plan on it, someone will there when it happens." Her eyes were dead serious. As were Koushirou's.
"Arigatu gozaimasu. Motomiya-kun was right again. He didn't tell me about those rumors. If he knows about them, anyway, which I don't doubt. I know his same year players are fiercely loyal to him and would have warned him. I'll go to where they have band practice with…my cell phone, I guess, and keep an eye out." Koushirou sighed. "I wish I could get in to ask the others to help, but they'll be too busy and it most likely will be locked."
"What about Kido-sempai?" Daisuke asked, frowning.
"He's going on his first date with Mimi-san tonight," Koushirou answered with a slight shake of his head.
"I thought she was crazy about you," he replied, blinking.
"I wasn't good for her. We came to an understanding," Koushirou said with a slight smile.
"Well…you're gay."
"Sharp, aren't you?" Miyako snapped sarcastically. He stuck out his tongue again. "Should we come with you?" she offered anxiously, looking back towards Koushirou.
"No, they won't be out until late. It won't be safe for kids under eighteen. I'm a college student, so I'll get away with it, and Tai-san is in the band, but you guys will be out of luck. Hopefully they won't show. If they do, I'll be there to warn him and the band will be there."
"I guess you're right. When are you going to head over? We'll at least go with you to the train station," Miyako suggested.
"No, I won't head out until the practice is almost over. They won't try anything until then."
"All right…" She trailed off.
"I don't know…" Daisuke said slowly. His eyes were nervous. "I don't feel right."
"I feel unsettled, too. However, I cannot just wait outside the building for four hours or more. They'll figure out who I am and hurt me instead. He's safe as long as he's in practice," Koushirou assured him. "I know how much you look up to Taichi, but there's only so much I can do to help without real evidence or more friends."
"All right. Thanks. For…like, believing us," Daisuke muttered, blushing a bit. Seeing Koushirou calm smile and his easy trust made it easy for Daisuke to see why Tai like Koushirou so much.
"If it's about Taichi, I believe first, suspect later." His smile was dry as he spoke. Daisuke grinned, liking Koushirou even more.
"Have a good night, Koushirou-san, and be careful!" Miyako warned as the two walked away. Koushirou nodded silently and closed the door.
.
Tai sighed as he walked out of the building. The Tokyo night was cool right next to the bay and the warehouse the Wolves rented was hot after three hours of practice. He'd have to call Izzy and tell him he'd be a lot later than planned. Some amps hadn't worked right and they had to spend awhile fixing them before they could start. Instead of practice starting at four, it had starting at five. They were still a song or two from finishing the first set, but they had needed the rest. They were all starving and hotter than hell. Night was about to fall, but the sun was still out, nowhere thought anything of Tai running off to buy some dinner. He quickly jogged towards the nearby pizza place to buy a slice and run back.
Run back he did indeed do. The pizza place had been closed due to construction and he had to run around looking for another cheap eating hole. It had taken fifteen out of thirty to find one and another ten to order in the packed deli. He was eating as he ran, meatball sauce running down his chin and fingers. He stopped to breathe and swallow as the warehouse entered his vision. He stared down at the pavement, bracing one hand on his knee as he wheezed. With sudden annoyance, he realized how dark everything was.
"Damn it. They haven't replaced the light bulb yet?" Tai cursed taking another bite of meatball sub and standing up. He began to walk again as he cast a glare at the still broken streetlamp above him.
"So…where's your faggot boyfriend, Yagami?"
Tai turned with wide eyes, choking slightly on mozzarella and beef. He had forgotten all about his teammates warnings. Damn. I better run before I'm even later for practice. He moved to toss his sandwich into a nearby dumpster and caught another body move forward. A quick glance around showed about five other guys in a loose circle around him. Hmm…one more than the usual.
"He's obviously not here. Unless he's hiding…that doesn't seem likely, though. He'd be backed by sirens now if he saw you guys. Doesn't like the shiners I bring home." Tai shrugged as if it didn't matter and threw his sub away. He suddenly grinned. "That's great!"
"What?" They all took a step back and looked around as if Tai had just realized his boyfriend had been hiding and was bringing police. They looked back at the hysterically laughing Tai when they realized no police were driving up.
"My-my s-sandwich!" Tai choked past his laughter, clutching at his stomach.
"What?"
"Fuck it. Let's just get this over with," growled the sixth person to join the little cadre.
Tai gradually stopped laughing, wiping at his eyes, and looked around him again. Six against one sucked pretty bad, and he couldn't find a way to get an advantage. Even flight wasn't an option. He sighed mentally and got into a low crouch, fists held in front of him. Might as well try my best.
.
"Where is that asshole!" Yamato shrieked. "I gave him thirty minutes to go get a slice of pizza and he still takes an hour."
"Maybe we should go look for him. It's dark out there and we're in a pretty lousy district," suggested the drummer, Yotsuya-kun. Yamato chewed his lip.
"You're right. We better hurry. He's has been gone too long," Yamato agreed. He likes to try my patience, but not by being thirty minutes late to a rehearsal! Especially when he's more nervous than I am about tomorrow!
The large door slid open just as everyone had set down their equipment.
"Oh my god! Tai!" Yamato rushed ahead of the rest of the equally distraught members.
"Sorry I'm late. I didn't really need that asshole comment, though. Kept falling down, see? It's not my fault when gravity fucks with me." Tai grinned. He winced as he pulled the cut on his lip. He leaned against the doorjamb and slid down to his knees. Blood was flowing from somewhere under his hair and one eyes was shut, either from blood or bruises or both, Yamato didn't know.
"Gravity didn't fuck you up, Tai!" Yamato snapped. "Fuck. Kizue, quick, call an ambulance."
"Tomo-kun already is." Kizue and Yotsuya-kun both knelt next to Yamato and gently helped lift Tai up off his knees.
"Ow," Tai hissed between his teeth. "I think they broke a rib or two. They didn't mess with my hands, though. And my arms are good, too, just scratched some."
"THEY?" Yamato shrieked.
"There goes an ear, too," Tai muttered.
"HOW MANY?"
"Eh…six…though twelve appeared for a second. They got me in the nards once."
All the guys winced.
"You're joking." Yamato's flat voice was more dangerous than his loud one.
"Nope." Tai shook his head and winced again.
"Why aren't you more surprised?" That voice got flatter.
"Well, I've been getting crap at school. I heard a rumor, but I forgot. I was in hurry 'cuz I thought I'd be late. I hadn't expected the pizza place to be closed." He suddenly laughed and quickly stopped. He had to press his fingers against his lips to keep from smiling and to hold the painful laughter in.
"What's so damn funny?"
"I was eating a meatball sandwich." Tai quickly had to contain himself when his probably-broken nose almost snorted.
"Damnit, Tai." Yamato sighed. The rest of the guys tried their best not to smile. "You're such a loser."
"Yeah…I figured that one out after the fourth guy joined in." Siren wails sounded outside. Tai sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as the sluggish flow quickened. "Izzy's gonna kill me."
.
Koushirou burst into the room with wild panicking eyes. He had gotten the call from Yamato while he was cleaning dinner dishes, anxiously watching the clock and hoping to hear from Tai during the boy's dinner break. He'd been getting more and more worried as time passed, thining they'd surely stopped to eat, when Yamato had called, barely restrained a fury like Koushirou had never seen or heard from the usually cool, collected young man. Koushirou stared across the white-tiled, white-walled room to where Tai was sitting up, surrounded by his family and covered in miscellaneous scratches, bruises, and bandages. Hikari was perched on the edge of the bed next to him, but jumped p when Koushirou stumbled in, face paler than usual. Mrs. Yagami had been crying, a handkerchief to her face, with her husband's arms around her shoulder.
"Taichi!" Koushirou exclaimed breathlessly. He darted across the room and kneeled on the edge of the bed, taking stock of all the bandages and the readings on all the machines.
"I'm okay, see? All patched up!" Tai grinned and winced. "I need to stop smiling…"
"Your hair…" Koushirou whispered, reaching up to touch Tai's temple.
"My hair? Oh, you mean this?" He pointed to the once-gravity-defying brown hair now looking quite tame and shorn close to his head. His hair was now shorter than Koushirou's! "They stapled my head together and they had to shave off some. It looked really weird, so I told them to cut off the rest to match. I thought it looked okay." His face, however, showed he really didn't think it looked okay. Koushirou was still looking at it like it had taken his favorite toy away.
"YOU LOOK LIKE A MUMMY!" Koushirou jumped as Mrs. Yagami's voice screeched behind him. He quickly moved away, gazing at Taichi's bandaged head.
"Kaasan, I'm fine. Just a broken nose," Tai whined.
"It looks like a broken head, too." Hikari-san joked weakly.
"And broken ribs, what the hell happened, son?" His father, Yuuko, demanded. The family had arrived just minutes before Koushirou had burst through the door and hadn't yet asked him.
"Some idiots jumped me, that's all. I wasn't in a very good place," Tai explained.
"It's because of me."
"No, Izzy-" Tai quickly protested. Koushirou shook his head.
"Motomiya-kun came to warn me today about the rumors he heard from some soccer players. I was going to go meet up with Taichi when practice ended. I had no idea he'd be outside at nine'o'clock at night in Tokyo." His words were clipped and tight. Tai winced.
"I wanted to eat some dinner. The sun was out when I left, but the pizza place was closed. You know how Friday nights in Tokyo are. Everywhere was packed," Tai mumbled, tracing shapes on the blanket over his legs. Mrs. Yagami groaned.
"You should have gone back to get someone!" Koushirou and Yagami, Susumu snapped together. Their eyes met briefly and then returned to Tai.
"I wasn't thinking about it. I forgot!"
"Look what happened because you forgot!" Koushirou snapped. "Your nose is broken, your ribs are broken, you almost had a concussion, and you're covered in bruises. Yamato-kun told me you were even kicked in your privates." Yuuki-san (Mr. Yagami) winced. "You can't open your right eye."
"Yeah…well, I won't do it again," Tai retorted defensively.
"That doesn't count, Taichi." Koushirou suddenly deflated. "I think I'm going to break up with you again."
"WHAT!" Everyone but Yuuki yelled. Susumu kicked her husband's shin.
"What? It's up to them. Izumi-kun is right. It was basically because Tai's dating him."
"It could be anybody, not only Koushirou-kun!" Hikari snapped.
"But it is me this time. I don't want some high school bullies beating you around, Taichi. It's stupid. Not only is the band going to suffer with you, but so your ability to play soccer."
"I'm quitting soccer," Tai replied with a shrug.
"WHAT?" Everyone but Hikari yelled.
"You can't be serious!" Koushirou yelped.
"Your scholarship, Tai!"
"Tai, you can't just quit."
"I figured you say that." Hikari sighed.
"I don't like it, but Izzy's right. I made a commitment to the Wolves. High school bullies are a stupid reason to mess with that. I like being in the band, anyway. Don't tell Yamato," Tai pleaded with a weak grin.
"So you'll jeopardize your future?" Koushirou asked blankly. Tai shrugged.
"I'm sure there's other scholarships. I don't want to be a professional ball player. Daisuke-kun mentioned something about opening a noodle cart after he graduated…"
"TAI! I won't allow you to just throw away your future. I like Izumi-kun very much, but we don't have money to help you!" Yuuki exclaimed.
"I'll make money selling noodles."
"TAICHI!"
"Izzy."
"This is not funny."
"Nope. Meatball sandwiches are, though." Tai snickered.
"What?" Hikari asked incredulously.
"Never mind. Taichi, I'm solving your problem for you if you can't be serious."
"We already tried it that way, Izzy. I'll still be gay even if you do dump me," Tai snapped.
"But you won't have a boyfriend."
"I kiss everyone guy on my team," Tai threatened, causing his father to groan this time.
"You w-would not," Koushirou stuttered.
"I would."
A staring contest ensued while Hikari struggled to keep in laughter. Yuuki rubbed his forehead tiredly while Susumu glanced from one boy to the other, clearly torn.
"Fine!" Everyone looked toward Yuuki. "Fine. Screw the scholarship. Do what you want. You better make it worth it, Izumi-kun."
"How, by bearing you many sons?" Hikari finally gave into laughter. Koushirou began to rub his forehead, too, as Tai and Susumu joined her.
"I'm really sorry. Your son is pigheaded," Koushirou apologized profusely.
"We know," Susumu assured him, her mouth still twitching.
"You can't bear sons, but come up with something, okay?" Yuuki pleaded. The other three more cheerful people in the room began laughing again while Yuuki and Koushirou shared equally strained glances.
"I'll think really hard," Koushirou promised.
"Now…what about meatball sandwiches?" Yuuki sighed turning back to his son.
.
Kitty: If you don't get the meatball sandwich joke, please, tell me in your review… /le sigh/ I have a bad sense of humor. But I couldn't help it.*snort*The sub sandwich I ever really buy is a meatball sandwich, so it was the first one I thought of. I realized the joke at the same time Tai did, hand to God. TROLOL.
