"I'm busy-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh, stop telephoning me-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh…"
Title: Earth Story, pt. II
Parings: Luca/Rei as main couple in this chapter, some Yuda/Shin
Warnings: AU, Human-universe, BoyxBoy, Overly dramatic summary, My random humour, Yet again horribly, horribly unbetaed… Oh, well
Summary of 'Earth Story' thus far: Yuda, young yet high-ranking soldier, is seeking solitude from his own government's cruel ways in a small, foreign city named Antenora. His childhood friend Luca, Air Pilot, has told him of this city and wants him to stay with a not-quite-acquaintance, Rei, so that he won't be alone.Yuda finds himself marvelling at this new world's story and people… And its promise of change and life given to him.
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A/N: Nearly 800 hits for 'HHEB' . . . Uhmm, wow? . . . And according to the statistics 'Earth Story' is one of you guys' favourite. I'm glad that you enjoy this little baby :) And if you read, please also leave me a review for motivation and/or improvement! I'm back in reality now, work and all that jazz. . . Updates will hopefully still be regular, but not nearly as frequent as before, unless of course inspiration strikes me, or my readers/reviewers give me a well-earned kick in the- . . . Uhm, yeah, you get the picture. . .
Heeh, so here it is, anyway: the continuation of my original AU about soldiers, love and made-up cities :D
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Proceed, my friends, Antenora awaits you . . . *Palm. Meet face.*
Yuda groaned inwardly, his mind groggy from sleep and a week mostly spent in his new bed. He weakly lifted a hand to cover his eyes, shielded himself from the brightness of the early morning-sun; his limbs still felt vaguely weak from fever.
Rei knocked the door, the sound speaking clearly of the lavender-haired male's excitement.
"Yuda? Yuda, are you up? May I come in?"
". . . Mmm," was all Yuda managed, still trying to clear his head.
A few nights after his arrival to Antenora City, Yuda's body had started protesting about the abrupt change in climate and living habits. Proper meals and healthy sleeping-patterns had the exact opposite effect they should have on the soldier, and he had woken up early in the morning, 6 days ago, shaking with fever.
Rei had tried, as per Yuda's request, not to freak out or fuss over him. But he had failed miserably at that. Yuda had to admit that he had seen it coming. . .
Rei spent hours hunting down different doctors, but they all gave him the same diagnosis: travelling virus. He'll get over it in a week.
Yuda's own experience of his week-long Hell was a collection of foggy memories of when he had drifted in and out of a hazy, restless sleep. After 4 days' misery his tense muscles had begun to relax and he'd simply rested, unknowing of a worried Rei, constantly checking in on him to see if he was still breathing.
Now Yuda blinked up at the ceiling, as if seeing it for the first time. The crucified Christ hang where it always had hung, looking brokenly down at him from the wall. The window was open and Yuda could hear every sound that defined Antenora: the cicadas, the church bells, the distant buzzing of chatter and life at the Plaza and the Rambla.
Calm and chaos united.
Yuda suddenly smiled as he remembered the bouquet of roses next to his bed. An afternoon that he had been somewhat coherent Rei had told him that Shin had come by, unfortunately when he was out cold, though. The young librarian had been sitting and talking to him for nearly an hour, worryingly, despite the fact that they had only met once. . .
Rei entered, anxiety and excitement evident in his young face.
"Oh, Good! All those stupid doctors were right, after all…" He sighed and sat down at Yuda's side. "A weeks' worth of rest and you're ready to go… Aren't you?"
Yuda closed his eyes and chuckled.
He sat up and stretched his arms and muscles, testing them. He was relieved to feel that the fever had released its fierce grasp of him.
Today was a marvellous and miraculous day, after all. Luca was coming; finally.
After finding out that Luca's superiors were planning on keeping him back he and Rei had formed an angry union, and together they had written a very commanding letter to Yuda's Office of Military Affairs. After sending it off… and not receiving an answer right away, Yuda went to the public Post-Office and made a phone-call. He ended up spending 10 minutes yelling angrily into the speaker, scaring off the innocent locals whom all stared at him like he was mad.
But it paid off in the end. Luca happily sent them a telegram, telling them that he was coming. By ship. And since that was the fastest way to get to Antenora City he would arrive sooner than they had dreamed possible.
All in all: he was coming today. And Rei and Yuda had agreed to go to Antenora Harbour together, to greet him.
"Rei, I don't recall feeling better than I do now."
"That's probably just the euphoria of not having anymore fever-caused dreams speaking. . ."
"Probably," Yuda chuckled lightly. "But still, Rei. I'm fine. Let's go to the harbour together, just like we planned to do."
Rei scrutinized him for a moment, obviously still uncertain. But then he positively beamed in joy and hugged Yuda, who let out a startled gasp, then laughed.
"He's coming, Yuda! He's really coming today! . . . I need to find out what to wear!"
A few moments later, Yuda followed Rei into the kitchen for breakfast. It felt wonderful to walk, even if it only was the short distance of bedroom to kitchen.
Yuda stopped and blinked when he noticed their dining-table. Was he still having fever-caused dreams after all?
". . . Rei? When did you cook all of this?"
Pies, salads, fish-dishes, cakes, soups. . . Everywhere. While it looked and smelled very pleasant, Yuda hardly thought Rei expected of them to eat all of it.
"Uhm," the younger blushed, eyes darting around in the room. ". . . Honestly? I couldn't sleep at all, last night. . . I had to occupy myself somehow, a-and don't worry. I'll donate most of it to the homeless and so on. . ."
"I'm impressed. . ." Yuda reached for an apple. ". . .You've accomplished a lot in night."
"… It's been a month since I've seen him, Yuda." Rei looked so nervous and delighted at the same time.
Yuda smiled and nodded. He was excited as well. Even if he had been parted from his childhood friend a lot longer than Rei, 7 months to be correct, he figured that they most have been feeling something a little similar. Yuda accepted the glass of juice Rei offered him and sat down at the small table. Rei seemed too restless to be able to sit still, and so he didn't bother trying.
". . . Rei?"
"Yes?"
". . . Is that a wedding-cake?"
"Uuuh. . ."
"And did you write 'R + L' on top-"
"Okay! S-so, I got s-so nervous t-that I also had a f-few glasses of w-wine! I'm going to d-donate that cake anyway! P-please don't tell Luca!"
Yuda laughed silently into his mug of steaming tea.
After half an hour of waiting for Rei to find the right shirt to go with the rest of his outfit, they were off. The Rambla that led them to the Harbour had them passing busy, shopping people and all sorts of shops, including one Book-Store. Rei caught him glancing in there, trying to catch a glimpse of a silent, amber-eyed beauty.
The scent of salty water and the loud, shrill cries of seagulls increased as the two got closer to the ocean. Yuda came from a place, far, far away from the seas, in the centre of his country. The distant sound of waves amazed him, and he couldn't keep a smile off his face. He had always loved the ocean.
Rei, at his side, was adorably tense and quiet. His mind seemed to be racing a hundred miles per hour.
Many of the citizens of Antenora, those not working, were walking in direction of the Harbour as well, talking together in wonder of the unusual visit by sea. It wasn't just every day foreign visitors took the sea-way to Antenora.
"It's here, it's here! And it's huuuge! It's just about to dock!"
As the children excitingly ran pass them Rei stopped, face suddenly blank. Yuda stopped and waited. But Rei didn't move.
"Rei? Aren't you coming?"
". . ."
"What's the matter?" Yuda asked, stepping closer to the other. He hoped the 'Travelling Virus' wasn't contagious. "Rei?"
Rei suddenly snapped his head around, stared into Yuda's concerned, blue eyes. He looked like he might pass out from panic.
"He's here!"
"Yes, of course he is. That's what we planned for a week for him to do. Rei, what's wrong?"
"Oh my Lord, I-I. . . I think I-I need to s-sit down!"
"What! Rei, are you sick? He'll be docking in a minute, don't you want to see him?" Yuda nearly yelled. He usually understood his current room-mate's strange moods, but this. . .?
"When he comes. . . W-what should I do?"
". . . Do?"
"I-I can't just up and s-shake his hand or something. . . Oh, no, I don't k-know what to do!"
". . . I didn't think we'd need a strategy-plan for greeting him. . . But why don't you just start with saying how much you missed him?"
"O-oh, if I do that. . . I, Yuda, I want to t-tell him I missed him, and ask him if h-his journey was s-safe and pleasant. . ."
Yuda could tell now that there was more to this issue than he had thought. Rei continued with his odd explanation.
"But n-now I fear that I m-might end up. . . yelling something in-inappropriate at him…"
"Inappropriate..?" Yuda was puzzled. ". . . Like a cuss-word?"
"No!" the light-brown-eyed man flushed and gulped mutely. ". . . How I. . . H-how I f-feel about h-him. . ." Rei trailed off, standing awkwardly and shyly on the busy road, hands hugging his own chest in despair and uncertainty. He looked like a lost child, so unsure of himself.
Yuda finally understood. Wow!
". . . I'm sorry, Rei. I didn't realize that your relationship with Luca hadn't. . . evolved into something more, beyond friendship, yet. I truly believed, after listening to the way you two spoke of each other, that you had already confessed your feelings. . ."
". . . We haven't. And I doubt that Luca f-feels the same, even if I had told him. . ."
"Rei, I've known Luca my entire life. I know inside that he. . . Hell, Rei, I think he loves you even more than I first realized. All the letters and descriptions of you were cherishingly written. It was clear how much he adores you, just by reading them. . ."
"B-but what if-"
"Enough, Rei," Yuda interrupted him softly. "I've spoken the truth. And I can tell that it is time for you two to confess. Therefore I'll have you, my friend, telling him how much you love him the second his feet touches your city."
Rei bit his lip, shifted on his legs.
"Our city, Yuda. Antenora is your home now, too. . . And. . . Oh, I don't think I can do that! I don't have the courage of a soldier, Yuda."
"I wouldn't say that," Yuda smiled warmly, gentle humour in his eyes. "I've not known many men that dared yell the things you did last week at doctors carrying such sharp instruments."
Rei flushed, but his lips slipped into a soft smile.
"But, seriously." The red-haired continued softly. "I think you should just tell Luca or do to him what your heart tells you to. Listen carefully to yourself when he comes to shore, obey your body and mind's demands."
"Mmm," Rei was still very pink in the face, but he followed when Yuda gently took him by the shoulder and guided him onwards.
As they finally stepped out in the open, in full view of the waters and the skies touching each other in the distant horizon, Rei was practically shaking in anticipation. Yuda couldn't help but sigh audibly as his eyes fell on the massive ship of his home-world, the familiar colours of his national-flag fluttering in the winds on the masts.
The ship itself was too large to sail into the shallower waters of the harbour, and so a smaller boat was descended into the water, the arriving passengers in it.
"Here he comes," Yuda whispered as much to himself as to Rei. Rei didn't answer. He was holding onto the taller male's sleeve like a life-line.
When the smaller boat got closer, Yuda recognised the tall, regal-looking Air Pilot, his long, silvery hair tied in a black scarf. He wore a dark-blue suit which had to be horrible in the humidly warm weather, but his intensively crimson eyes were sharp and focused like always. And at the moment they were scanning the crowd, searching. . .
Dock-workers of the Harbour came rushing when it was time, helped securing the boat. Luca, like Yuda, had brought all his luggage and belongings in a heavy-looking military bag-pack, and as he stood, his eyes quickly found his two friends and the vague exhaustion in his face morphed into an expression of relief and gratitude. He smiled warmly and his eyes lit up.
As he stepped onto safe, solid ground and walked towards them, Yuda heard Rei make a nonhuman sound deep in his throat. Almost like a bird-whistle from deep within his chest. The red-haired soldier didn't even get a change to say 'hello' before Rei rushed towards the white-haired Pilot, every long strut made with determination.
Yuda watched in awe as Rei took his earlier advice to heart.
He simply pounced Luca.
The Pilot, caught a hundred percent off-guard, caught the lavender-haired man in his strong arms, but lost his balance and fell over, where he landed on his back with the younger on top. The shock in his eyes increased as Rei eagerly pressed his lips against his, firmly and warmly. However, Yuda was pleased to see how Luca's arms soon embraced the younger man tighter against himself, deepened the kiss.
They lay like that for a moment, until Rei regained some of his earlier modesty and sense. He sat up, a dark-red, full-face blush in place. The spectators giggled and cheered. Luca remained on the ground for a dazed few seconds, but as he lifted himself up on his elbows, he smiled at Rei, adoringly and amazed.
"You know," Yuda remarked, smirk in place. "Maybe we should move this party somewhere else. . ."
Luca's eyes found Yuda's. His smile was brighter than the red-haired male had ever seen it.
"I'm so happy to see you guys, too."
The walk back to Rei's apartment was an entertaining experience on Yuda's part. Rei was clinging to Luca's hand, while speaking of every random and unimportant thing that had happened during his absence.
"- And Mr. Kassandra, next door, got his door painted in this hideous, dark-yellow colour, and-"
Luca was listening to him, or so it seemed. His lips were quirked in a happy, amused smile, while his eyes still had that dreamy look of pleasant surprise; the same look he had had since Rei had initiated their first kiss. Sometimes he shot a brief look of joy at the red-head beside them.
Once Luca's luggage touched Rei's apartment-floor, the young chef happily clapped his hands together.
"Ah, and Luca, I've prepared all your favourites, plus some new recipes I think you'll like."
"I'm certain I will. You know my tastes so well."
". . ." Rei flushed in pleasure, his love and relief radiating strongly from his face. "We should all sit in the kitchen! I have a few bottles of wine from Jacob left, and with the food as well we can talk all night! The three of us, together!"
Yuda noticed then, for the first time, how awkward he felt in their presence, when they were alone. His two friends had just, 10 minutes ago, confessed their feelings. . . Well, 'confess' was perhaps the incorrect word for the love-filled assault he'd just witnessed, but anyway . . . They now knew that they were in love and they still shone in the aftermath of that revelation.
But, perhaps, it was better if they had this first evening to themselves, he mused. It definitely was a good idea for them to share these newly revealed emotions with each other, tonight. No need for anymore involvement from his part.
"Actually, Rei," Yuda started softly, smiling. "You two obviously have a lot to talk about. Why don't I just eat at the bistro-"
"Absolutely not, Yuda," Rei flushed. "I-I can't let you do that. You have every right t-to spend the evening with Luca, s-since you've known him since childhood!"
"Yet there's a great difference between friends and future-lovers."
Rei turned impossibly redder at that last word. Luca chuckled and put a hand around Rei.
"It's fine, Yuda. Stay tonight, if you want. We have all the time in the world to be together now, all of us." Rei carefully, as if he still didn't quite believe it would be allowed, rested his head on Luca's shoulder. The Pilot gently kissed his forehead.
Yuda smiled at them. He was thankful, of course, that they wanted him with them. But he couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable; he was, after all, the third wheel.
As if sensing his quiet distress, Rei suddenly stood upright, an expression of pure delight and triumph written on his face.
"We'll invite Shin, too! We'll have our own little home-coming party!"
Yuda was left a little speechless at that. Luca looked in mild surprise between them. . . until he smirked slowly, warmly, and looked at Yuda with questioning humour in his eyes.
And what, exactly, have you been up to while I was gone? They seemed to ask.
"Rei, I don't think-"
"Oh, but that's an incredible idea! Shin loves my salads with balsamic vinegar and I made three of them when I stayed up all night waitin-!" Rei flushed. ". . . Uhm, when I had the time, the other day."
"Rei, as sweet a notion as it is, I think that perhaps. . ." What? He did want to see Shin again. But, still, a double-date? ". . . You know, he might already have plans-"
"Nonsense! Shin never has plans!"
"As his friend, don't you find that a little offensi-"
"Can't discuss this now!" Rei quickly embraced Luca again, kissed his chin, and jumped towards the door. "I'll run down by his Book-Store and ask him to come! You two behave while I'm gone!"
The door was slammed loudly as the young, lavender-haired man closed it a little too enthusiastically, and both Luca and Yuda listened as the foots-steps disappeared down the stairs at a fast pace. Luca chuckled.
"He hasn't changed at all. . . I'm so glad."
Yuda smiled, walked over and embraced his friend.
"Congratulations, Luca . . . And welcome 'home'."
Luca rested his head on Yuda's shoulder, his posture finally speaking of his long journey, exhaustion slipping into a shaky, breathy sigh as Yuda led him to a small, nearby couch.
"Home . . . Yes, finally." It was mumbled in a dark voice.
"Luca?"
"They make me feel so tired, Yuda," Luca muttered. "Their greed and corruption . . . everything they promised is in pieces, now."
"I know," Yuda comforted quietly, sitting beside Luca with an arm around his shoulders. Just like they had been sitting when they were kids and needed to get things off their hearts.
"How the managed to take every ideal they once made me believe in and just. . . crush them right before my eyes . . . The things I've seen flying around. Beautiful skies, sunsets and sunrises. But underneath are the countries and cities they've left in destruction and devastation. . . They've drained me, Yuda."
Yuda pulled Luca closer to himself, protecting. The white-haired Pilot was like a brother to him, and while he couldn't truly see all the troubles on his mind, he could hear them in the words he spoke. And it pained him greatly.
". . . We'll return some day, Luca, to set things right. But we had to escape while we were sane."
After a moment of silence Luca suddenly chuckled.
". . . I don't think Antenora will let me stay sane for long. I almost thought that I'd lost my mind when he kissed me. I thought to myself that I had to be dreaming."
"He has hardly spoken of anything but you, my friend."
"It still seems surreal. When I met him, some time ago, here in the city, and he gave me a place to stay. . . He's an angel." Luca sighed, looking around the small apartment, taking everything in. "This place is. . . All of it. . ."
"I know. And finally it's yours again, yours and Rei's," Yuda smiled, leaning back in the couch, the old springs squeaked. "In a couple of days I plan on moving."
"You're moving away already?"
Yuda chuckled, patted the Pilot's shoulder playfully.
"Yes. But only out of this house. Admittedly, I like it here, but now it is time to find somewhere else. I don't want to get in you guys' way. . . You need your space to, well . . . develop your relationship."
Luca rarely flushed, but the red-haired soldier had the rare honour of seeing his cheeks pink slightly.
"Y-Yuda. . ."
"You deserve it. Both of you. And I wish you the best of luck."
". . . Thank you, but," Luca studied him thoughtfully for a moment. ". . . Are you moving in with Rei's friend, the librarian?"
"With Shin?" Yuda nearly flushed, too, but he controlled himself. "I- . . . No, I'm not moving in with Shin. I've only had the pleasure of talking to him once during my time here, unfortunately. . . I don't even know where he lives."
"I know where he lives. I could tell yo-"
"Luca!"
The Pilot snickered, enjoying the expression on the other's face. Then he sighed in a content manner, happy to talk about more pleasant subjects. And also very curious about his childhood-friend's newly established 'acquaintances'.
"But you seem fond of him, though," he smiled.
". . . I'll openly admit to you that I am thrilled to have encountered him. He seems . . ." Yuda trailed off, finding it hard to put words on the quiet-mannered beauty that did him justice.
"I would say, judging by the calmness in your eyes when you speak of him, that he's healthy for you, Yuda."
"Healthy?"
"Well," the crimson-eyed male thought it over in his head. "What I mean is that the Great War's outcome and consequences left deep wounds in you. Sometimes I remember you walking around in our home-world and fulfilling your duties to perfection and great admiration; but your eyes were lifeless. . . It saddened me."
Luca stood and placed his hand on Yuda's shoulder, friendly and brotherly.
"I've longed to see that crystal-clear sanity of yours in them again. . . Like back in the days of our childhood, when we teased and stole cherries from the old farmer's garden. You were glorious and saner than I've ever seen you when we, afterwards, lay by the riverbank and ate the fruit."
". . . I remember. . . Didn't we decide that cherries had to be a Forbidden Fruit of sorts, since that old 'geezer' yelled so madly at us for eating them?"
"We did," Luca confirmed with a laugh. "We learned every existing cuss-word from him. . ."
". . . You say I have the same look in my eyes when I talk about him? About Shin?"
"There you go again," the Pilot smiled. "Your eyes light up . . . in a warm, good sort of way."
"I think. . . I will most certainly in the near future ask him to accompany me to dinner, or a walk. . . Something."
"Maybe you can already ask him out tonight? Since Rei's inviting him over?"
Yuda considered it, thought of Shin sitting at their dining-table, talking with them, looking discreetly at him. The red-haired soldier felt his body warm at the thought. It would be nice. Perhaps, when Luca and Rei stole a brief, intimate moment alone, he could talk with the blue-haired male one-on-one, thank him properly for visiting him at his sickbay. . .
"Yes. I will ask him tonight."
"You promise?" Luca smirked.
"I promise," Yuda smirked back, getting up from the couch. Suddenly he was a little too excited to sit still. He walked towards the opened windows, felt a late-afternoon breeze gently caress his hair. The sound of the cicadas' song played over the roof-tops of Antenora.
"Rei's back," Luca suddenly remarked, walking towards the door. "He ran all the way, I suppose."
Rei was panting slightly as he entered his apartment, and he leaned against the wall. He smiled when Luca approached him, and blinked owlishly as the elder of the two gently put his arms around his waist.
"O-oh, hi," Rei blushed happily, welcomed the tender embrace. Their lips met briefly, but lovingly. Rei then noticed Yuda standing near the window.
"Yuda, ah, it's such a pity! Shin told me that he's busy with the construction-plans for the Orphanage tonight."
Yuda was careful not to let his disappointment show on his face. But on the inside, he sighed and grieved a little. He had tried not to get his hopes up, but his mind had created scenarios of himself, his friends and Shin, gathered at a table, eating, talking; simply enjoying the normalcy of it.
No war, no suffering. Only a beautiful face with golden, kind eyes and long, aqua-coloured hair.
Yuda forced himself to be realistic again. Tonight he would have to deal with getting in his child-hood friend and his boyfriend's way. And then, maybe already tomorrow, he could visit the Book-Store, talk and-
"But Shin also said that you had promised to help him out with some document-signing for the construction-work," Rei suddenly continued. "He's waiting down the stairs, telling that you agreed to do so tonight. You never told me anything about this, Yuda."
Huh?
Yuda blinked at them, confused.
Had he promised Shin to go with him to the Orphanage today? No . . . He hadn't. Yes, when he talked to Shin in the Book-Store he had asked the librarian to come to him with any problems that he might have. But they hadn't made any further plans to meet.
Both Rei and Luca were watching him. Rei spoke up again:
"Is it true? You promised to be with Shin tonight? You can't stay with us?"
It hit Yuda with the force of a lightening bolt.
Good thinking, Shin. You're a genius and a kind, kind friend.
"Oh, that is the truth he's telling. I had . . . merely forgotten in the excitement of meeting with Luca again, I'm afraid. I'm so . . . ashamed that I left Shin waiting for me."
"Oh, but he wasn't really waiting like they do in movies," Luca looked questioning at Rei, brow quirked. "I-I mean, you know, out there in the rain, no umbrella, ditched and lonely. . . and cold?"
"He was at his store, you mean?"
"Yes, indeed. But he followed me home from there, he's waiting downstairs."
"He's downstairs, out on the street? Now?"
"Well, yes, that's what I already said! Why, could you find the Orphanage and his house by yourself?" A questioning, risen brow.
"No, you're right," Yuda chuckled and went to retrieve a long-sleeved shirt. It got a little chilly at night-time, and he honestly didn't know when he would return. "Again, I'm sorry to leave you now, especially in the night of your return, Luca."
"No need to concern yourself with that," Luca smiled. "I'll still be here in the morning."
Rei sighed mutely at that, a blissful calm in his eyes. He relaxed visibly in the Pilot's protective arms.
"I, uh . . . Don't know when I'll be back, so," Yuda shrugged and smiled at them. "Have fun and don't wait up."
Yuda heard a tiny snippet of the others' conversation after he rushed out the door:
"Perhaps he is feeling f-feverish again?"
Luca laughed quietly but knowingly.
"He's feverish, alright . . ."
Yuda hurried down the stairs, his heart fluttered slightly at the sight of the young, slender man, clad in black trousers and a white, simple shirt, buttoned up all the way up to his pale neck. Shin looked wonderful in his chaste attire, with his eye-catching hair loosely falling and framing his gentle eyes.
"Thank you," he mouthed at Shin, whose eyes glistened in answer. Then they moved closer to each other, standing so that Yuda could vaguely feel the heat from the librarian's body.
"Goodness, Yuda," Shin played the teasing, mock-offended friend. His eyes were warm. "You never seemed like the type to stand up a guy like that."
"I am so sorry, Shin," Yuda played along, but he couldn't suppress a smile. Luckily his back was turned to the spectators, Luca and Rei. "I guess that my mind was still . . . feverish after that whole ordeal last week, and I was also excited about Luca coming."
"I forgive you, my friend," the blue-haired male smiled, before biting his lips anxiously. He was a surprisingly skilled actor. "And I am sorry for dragging you all the way across town because of my stupid miscalculation of the date of his arrival-"
"It's quite okay," Yuda stated. I'm very grateful to you. Now they can be alone, and I can be with you. "But our plans to go over the document can't be delayed, as you know."
"Alright," Shin said, shy smile in place.
"Alright," Yuda confirmed, full, bright smile in place.
Shin turned his attention towards Rei's apartment-building. Rei and Luca were standing in an open window, close together, looking content and happy. Yuda knew they were holding hands, even if he couldn't see it. He sensed it.
"Welcome home, Luca." Shin called and waved at the white-haired Air Pilot, who waved back from a window. "I'm sorry that I cannot celebrate your home-coming tonight."
"Thank you. And it's understandable that you and Goh's project is demanding of your free-time. But you come visit soon, when you can make the time, Shin."
"I promise. And I'll take good care of Yuda; make sure he doesn't get lost." He smiled at Yuda then, warmly and beautifully. Yuda felt his heart beat strongly in response.
Luca smiled, a gentle understanding in his piercing, red eyes. He squeezed Rei's hand.
"Yes . . . Take good care of him."
Shin and Yuda walked down the empty street, letting the pulse of the summer-evening and the music playing from the small bars rush over them. The heat was delightful, teasing, and also promising of a rich, glorious time coming their way.
~ ~ ~ TBC ~ ~ ~
Yay! Luca and Rei are the first official couple! *throws confetti*
Anyway, these 14 or so pages were actually only the first part of the original story-board for chapter II of 'Earth Story' (WTH~?) . . . But it kept growing and growing and growing. . . And I just had to cut it into two! Both so that the chapter wouldn't get insufferably loooo~ooong . . . but also so that I could update it faster! Win-win :D
So, in other words, the plot of 'Earth Story, pt. III' is almost fully developed, and might also be the next thing I decide to write :) Hope you guys don't mind ;D *grin*
Next chapter: will Yuda keep his promise to Luca? Will we be introduced to more CANON characters? AND will there be a thickening of plot? (Is that even a proper sentence?) Oh, well . . . You'll know soon enough.
See ya around, kids! Don't do too much Sangria xD
Oh . . . . . . And remember that REVIEWS ARE LOVE!