Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Rising Affections ❯ chapter 15 ( Chapter 15 )

The real chapter 15

 

 

Monday

 

 

On the ride to school Shigure could tell something was wrong with his friends. Ayame was garrulous as usual but he was talking on and on about nothing important not getting to any sort of point, a sure sign his mind was elsewhere. Hatori had his face in a book, this was not extraordinary but he hadn't turned the page during the entire ride. There was a tension he could feel between them. And it was not the good feeling tension of two bodies trying to resist the magnetic attraction they felt for each other in public either. As soon as they were out of the car Shigure grabbed each by the arm and led them to the middle of the playing field outside of school. Here they could be seen but not overheard since there was no place for an eavesdropper to hide.

“So tell me what is going on.” He said looking at his friends.

 

“Ayame and I have decided to stop seeing each other.” Hatori stated flatly

“What? Why?” Shigure asked, mystified.

Ayame looked away but quietly said “We got caught.”

“Caught?” Shigure asked not quite hiding a smirk “Doing what?”

“It”

“It?”

“IT!” Ayame replied irritatedly, fluttering his hands around for emphasis. “We were being… well, almost being intimate with each other, and one of the house servants walked in on us.” He continued more quietly.

“You were what?” Shigure asked once more. Still not sure he had heard right.

Ayame was still looking at something on the horizon and Hatori was blushing fiercely but met the dog's gaze when he looked him in the eye. “What happened Hari?” Shigure asked.

 

“It was Kenji-san that walked in on us. I don't think he will tell anyone, but he probably won't allow me anywhere near Ayame's room again.”

 

Shigure fought the urge to point and laugh but lost that battle. “He… you… oh boy.” He wheezed, clearing tears from his eyes after a few minutes. “So if he won't tell, then you just have to be more circumspect from now on, that's all.” He said once he got control of himself again.

 

“No, there's more to it than that, but I will have Ayame fill you in at lunch. We need to get to class.” Hatori said after which, of course, the bell rang as if on cue.

 

000ooo000

 

Shigure sighed, he was not in the habit of attending the student council meetings but since the whole kissing booth idea was his, Ayame had insisted. He sat next to Hatori who almost radiated misery. After they told Shigure the particulars of their break up he was at a loss on what to do next. It hurt him as badly as it had them. To the dog this was more than a nice romantic hook up between his friends that could be let go by the wayside. It was a possibility for real love despite the family curse, the only bright spot he had found where the zodiac was concerned. Leave it to Ayame to find a way to love and be loved despite the odds stacked against him. And poor Ha-san probably didn't know what hit him; Shigure hoped he would recognize a good thing when he had it. Now if only they could find the backbone to stand together against the family, even Akito if necessary. That would shake things up. Maybe even weaken the curse's hold on their hearts, if he could just get them to hold on to each other a bit longer. This kind of hope was the one thing the juniishi lacked in general, and needed most.

 

He was pulled from his musings by the announcement of booth assignments for the fund raiser. As expected, Ayame and Hatori were assigned to oversee the building of the class president's booth, and Shigure volunteered to help staff it. But in a surprise move by the school board, the kissing booth was given a 5 member staff. Vice president Yamakawa and his friend, Omi Minami, were added in to keep an eye on the infamous mabudachi trio.

 

The next few days were going to be busy. Readying the booths and supervising the set up for the carnival fund raiser was a big undertaking. First was getting the designs for the kissing booth approved the task was made easier by the design itself. The front was faced with a ply-board wall with a hole cut into it for the booth operator to stick his head through. This limited chances of improper contact between the students and the customers. A backdrop behind the hole would separate the current kisser from the other guys manning the booth and they would take turns in 20 minute intervals throughout the day. The rest of the booth consisted of a lumber framework covered by a colorful tarp which extended out in front to form a covered area for the ticket seller to sit in. Someone had decided to rotate ticket colors with the workers and track who sold the most kisses that way. With five members running the booth they could have two guys handling the money and tickets one in the booth and the other two running errands, resting or checking out the carnival. Things seemed to be coming together. Some of the other booths were already underway, the school's wood shop supplying both materials and expertise.

 

Ayame was already wrapping himself up in design plans for the exterior of the booth. Hatori had sketched out the booth on paper. Ayame wished they could go with a full window. It would be much easier to decorate, but he conceded that this design left fewer margins for error so it was best. He would just have to consider it a challenge to his creative abilities. Maybe something with a Renaissance theme…

 

 

After school the three boys went to Ayame's house as usual but the meeting had kept them late and they didn't get much time to talk. Kenji-san also found important household things to do in whichever room they were in. And, as predicted, Hatori and Shigure were no longer allowed into Ayame's bedroom. They went their separate ways for dinner, all three in a decidedly disheartened mood.

 

 

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Tuesday

 

 

 

It was a beautiful sunny day, the warm weather of early spring quickly turning toward an early hot summer. Out in the school playing field Ayame sat on a folding director's chair, in the shade of a large parasol, sipping bottled water as the other students did all of the hard work; hammering nails into booths, setting up stage etc. One of the boys stopped to wipe sweat from his brow and looked around asking “Why isn't the president helping us? This is his booth isn't it? Is he too privileged to have to work like the rest of us?”

Hatori stood from where he was holding a cross brace for someone to nail and answered “No, it's because he's prone to sun stroke. The heat will make him pass out.”

 

“You wood shop students are the ones with the building experience after all. He is helping in the best way he can by staying out of your way. Once it is put together, of course, Ayame will be the one to decorate it.” Shigure added helpfully.

 

The boy didn't seem completely satisfied by that, but went back to work nevertheless. It didn't stop him from pointing and laughing when a few minutes later another student carrying one item too many dropped a bucket of paint about three steps behind the student council president. Said bucket landed on its bottom sending its contents flying out like an erupting volcano and quite a bit of it splattering Ayame as well as the underside of the parasol to drip back down upon him. To make things even better the paint was a brilliant shade of mauve. Ayame sat stunned at first, not sure what had happened. Then after a few seconds assessment of the situation he said “Well, that was refreshing but this just really isn't my color, I shall adjourn to the wash room and try to clean it off. Would someone be a dear and get me a replacement uniform I can change into?” Then he stood and walked to the shower room, somehow managing to move gracefully even with sticky wet paint dripping from his hair behind him.

 

 

Shigure watched Ayame walk away and then smiled to himself, “Why don't you go help Aya shower while I get him a clean uniform from the office.” He said suggestively to Hatori.

“I don't think that is a good idea.” Hatori shook his head.

“Nonsense it is a great idea. You two haven't talked to each other seriously in days. You are going to have to hash things out between you sooner or later you know.” Shigure said pushing Hatori toward the showers.

 

Hatori was disturbed to find that he was actually feeling nervous about talking to Ayame. There was nothing to be worried about he told himself, they had both agreed to stop seeing each other after all. He took a deep breath and went into the shower room. Ayame sat on a bench stripped to his boxers and working what he could of the paint from his hair with a stack of paper towels. He looked up and seemed relieved to see Hatori there. Tori, could you do me a favor? I need help scrubbing this paint from my hair. If I wash it in the sink before I get in the shower I won't spread it all over myself. I would really appreciate it, this stuff stinks.

 

“That's what I am here for.” Hatori replied, helping Ayame move the bench over in front of the basin. Hatori felt guilty pleasure at the excuse to be near Ayame and run his hands through his hair once more, silently cursing that the paint funk killed the familiar scent that he associated with the snake, earthy and floral with a hint of spice. He used the dispenser on the wall to get soap and rub it into Aya's hair working his way from the scalp to the ends then holding it under the water in the basin to rinse. The acrylic paint was easily rinsed out but he decided it would take repeating the process a few times to get it completely clean.

 

Ayame closed his eyes; he would relax and enjoy having Hatori take care of him like this. It wasn't fair, he wanted to just jump into the other boy's arms and tell him how much he needs him, how much he loves him. But Hatori was adamant on things between them coming to a halt. If this was all he could have of his Tori-chan from now on then so be it. Once Hatori was a full fledged doctor, Ayame decided he would make sure to be sick often. If he flunked out of medical school he had a real future as a hairdresser, the fingers gently working through the soap suds on his scalp felt splendid.

 

After a while Hatori judged Ayame's hair clean enough. “there you go, now you just need to wash the paint off the rest of you.” He said stepping away from the sink. He turned his back trying not to let his mind linger on thoughts of the last time he helped Aya wash himself.

 

“If you are sure you don't want to help me with that, then I will just be over here.” Aya said flirtatiously pointing to the back of the room where the showers were before gliding that direction. He was in the shower for several minutes before the water stopped running. Hatori noticed something amiss and moved to correct it. He tapped on the shower wall gently. “Here I brought you a towel.” He said wondering why he hadn't already asked him for it. After a few seconds without a reply he looked into the shower, Ayame was standing there facing away from him, one hand reached up to his face before he looked over his shoulder clearing his throat he quietly thanked him for the towel reaching back for it. Hatori felt his heart ache, he could tell that Ayame had been crying and he knew why, it was difficult for both of them. He opened the towel wrapping it around the boy. “Aya,” he said, reaching out to push the hair back from his face. “I am sorry this has hurt you so much. It's not how I wanted things to be either.”

“I know Hatori,” Aya said “It is how it is, no matter what we want. I shouldn't have let it get to me. I'm sorry if I worried you. I will be fine, just give me a few minutes Tori. I wish I was stronger, more like you are.”

 

“I wish I was as strong as you think I am.” Hatori said quietly. `Aya if I were that strong I would have walked away by now, instead I am still standing here, trying not to give in to the urge to lean down and kiss you.'

 

Ayame looked into Hatori's eyes, he could tell this wasn't easy on the dragon either. There were so many conflicting emotions flickering across his face, aya unconsciously leaned forward a little to get a better look bring their faces almost even. Hatori leaned in close enough he could feel his breath warm his face, then pulled back a little only to lean forward once again their lips brushed lightly they pulled back looking each other in the eye.

“This isn't wise.” Hatori said.

“I was never very bright anyway.” Ayame told him leaning in for another kiss.

 

“No, Ayame.” Hatori said, placing a finger on his lips stopping him. “I can't risk this. We both know that since I am slated to be the next family doctor you would take the brunt of the consequences. I can't risk you being hurt because of me.”

 

 

 

“That is very sweet `Tori,” Ayame said taking his hand and holding onto it with both of his. “But if I am going to suffer either way. I would rather have gotten something good from it instead of denying myself. I will take whatever is dished out if it means I can be with you. Besides I thought it through and you will be leaving for college soon, we might not be able to hide a relationship that continues for years, but we can have a hell of a summer and then, when you leave we will at least have some good memories. Things may get complicated after you graduate, but we will have years to work that part out.

 

Hatori blinked, that was pretty well thought out, surprising coming from Aya. He was right, in the short term they might just be able to have things go unnoticed. So was it better to plan for a short intense involvement, followed by equally intense loneliness once he left for college? or to pine for each other over the summer as well as after he left for school? The fact that Aya was standing in front of him in nothing but a damp bath towel was not doing wonders for his decision making skills.

 

Before any more could be said Ayame dropped Hatori's hands ands spun around away from him. He asked in his usual loud voice “Are you sure it's all washed out?” as the outer door swung open.

 

Three boys walked into the shower seconds later. “Here I am to save the day!” Shigure sung out in English, a line from an old American cartoon they had seen a few years back. As he did that he held out the borrowed uniform to … well to no one since Ayame and Hatori were back behind the privacy wall of the shower.

 

“We're back here Gure!” Aya called out, “Could you grab my boxers off of the bench on your way too?”

 

“No problem,” he said loudly. “Could one of you get that for me.” he added more quietly, indicating the underwear on the bench to his companions with a wave as he headed back toward where his cousins were. “Omi-kun and vice president Koto-kun have been good enough to accompany me.” He continued as he walked over, hoping to find some sign that Hatori and Ayame had kissed and made up. There was nothing that he could see, Hatori's shirt was still buttoned straight, and there were no love bites or even reddened lips from stolen kisses. He sighed disappointedly. “Apparently we three are not allowed to be on school grounds together unescorted after school hours. Principal Iijima says it is for our own protection.” Shigure handed Hatori the uniform and went back to retrieve the boxers. Omi and Koto were still trying to decide who would have to pick them up just as the sly dog had planned. He reached over and grabbed them taking them back to his cousin. Handling the unmentionables was not an issue for Shigure of course, having to give Ayame his clothing on a regular basis their entire lives due to the curse.