Fruits Basket Fan Fiction ❯ Rising Affections ❯ sweet 16 ( Chapter 16 )

Wednesday -

 

This day was absolute torture for Ayame `I am in hell, I just know it.' He thought to himself. Fate was conspiring against him. No matter what he tried, his subtle actions geared toward finding a few moments alone to talk with Hatori were thwarted at every turn. He knew the next day Hatori would be gone, finishing with the admission paperwork for college and taking care of the orientation and dorm assignments for next fall. It made things painfully concrete that he was going to leave and things would change. Ayame hated the fact that Hatori would be so far away, but he wouldn't change it if he could. He wanted Hatori to get the chance to be free of the main house for whatever time he was allowed. He knew once the curse took full hold and Akito's condition worsened Hatori would be tied to the honke in a way that none of the other juniishi would. He hated, loathed and despised that situation with all of his heart. `Oh, `Tori why did you have to decide to be a doctor?' he thought morosely. He knew the answer, because Hatori was smart enough and he cared enough about the family to be willing to spend his life taking care of them. As for himself he planned to stay as far removed from the main house as he possibly could. It would be easier once Hatori left, maybe he could even rent a place outside the gates… He stood with these thoughts tumbling through his head, but outwardly made no show of it as he looked over the latest list of his many little detail assignments he had for the carnival. He was trying to find out if the cloth swag for one of the booths was ready, and get a progress report on the costumes for the chess club's acrobatics act. `That should be good' he thought to himself sarcastically.

 

“Unfortunately Honjou, who was in charge of completing the hand sewn detail on the costumes was absent today.” Ran Idu, a quiet, friendly member of the drama club's costume makers group was telling him.

 

“Let me see that,” Ayame said with a sigh.” He sat down and proceeded to thread a needle and start attaching the delicate gold trim to the neckline of the first costume.

 

Ran looked at him shocked. “President Ayame, where did you learn to do that?”

 

“Oh, I have made my own clothes before of course the only thing you would have seen is my outer coat since there is a dress code here and I have to pick my battles. I had to actually fight quite hard to keep my magnificent hair. Can you believe the principal wanted me to cut it? That would have been a thing to make angels weep in the sky. So alas I cannot model the wonderful creations I have made without starting that same hassle again. So, I am stifled in my creativity but I will persevere like the trooper I am... There,” he said handing her the costume which had been sewn in fine neat stitching as he spoke. “The lining on these should have been done in an over lock stitch, it's going to unravel in no time the way it is just chain stitched together there.” He informed the other boy.

 

“Honjou-sempai told us it didn't matter since it was a one use costume.” Ran said sheepishly.

 

“That's no excuse for sloppy workmanship.” Aya quipped. “Even something that is only going to be worn once, like a costume or…”

 

“Or lingerie?” Ran supplied.

 

“Yes lingerie… you have a bit of a wild streak eh Ran-kun?” Ayame added raising an eyebrow before continuing. “Even if it isn't going to be worn more than once, anything you make should be made as well as possible. Otherwise it's just refuse, not worthy of gracing anyone's body, and definitely not mine.” Grabbing the next costume he began sewing again.

 

Ran was about to faint, not only had Ayame talked in the flowing speech he was so well known for, hand gestures and all. He had done a perfect job of stitching the trim onto the costume, and he had done it in record time. Not even the best tailor in the class could have done that. He seriously wanted to see what Ayame's clothing creations looked like. “Maybe you can wear one of your outfits to the carnival he suggested helpfully.”

 

“Hmmm, not a bad idea I think I will.” He said with a smile.

 

“Are you sure you don't mind finishing these with me?” Ran asked as he began stitching the third costume together.

 

“There are only five of them it will take no time at all,” Ayame said, adding almost to himself, “besides this relaxes me.”

 

A short time later the door opened and Shigure stuck his head in “So there you are Aaya.”

 

“Gure, mon frier what brings you looking for me?” Ayame asked, gesturing expansively.

 

“Actually it is Hatori that's looking for you. I think he is anyway. He keeps finding excuses to go run errands all over the school this afternoon.”

 

“But you knew where I was, why didn't you tell him?” Aya asked, a bit confused about why the dog would keep the information from Hatori.

 

“He didn't ask.” Shigure replied with a shrug and a grin.

 

“Oh, you are evil Gure, truly evil,” Ayame said with a chuckle. “Where do you suppose he would be right now?” he asked, not wanting to fall for the same trick.

 

“Well, he volunteered to go and get some tools from the janitor; I suppose the supply room would be a good place to start looking.” Shigure told him.

 

“Then I really should go see what it is that he wants,” Ayame said, handing the costume he was working on to Ran as he went out the door so fast it seemed he evaporated into the air around him.

 

“Are you playing some sort of a joke on those two?” Ran asked Shigure noting the satisfied grin that had settled on the dog's face as soon as Ayame left.

 

“No, no joke… this time.” He said winking at Ran as he turned and walked out the door humming an upbeat tune.

 

000ooo000

 

Ayame walked into the store room, the janitor took his breaks there, so there was a small table with an electric coffee pot on it and some newspapers along with a cup that might have had coffee in it. Next to the table was a wooden ladder-back chair and other than that the room was filled with shelves of spare parts, supplies and tools plus cleaning utensils crammed into most of the available space.

 

“Yashiro?” a familiar voice called out from behind a shelf unit.

 

“No, you mean he isn't here?” Ayame answered.

 

“Ayame, no there was a call, some toilets flooded in the theater bathroom. He said he would be right back to get me the tools I need to borrow.”

 

“Oh,” Ayame quickly calculated the odds that Shigure just `happened' to innocently be in the same area of the school as the mysteriously clogged toilets. Now he wasn't sure if it was some plot to get Him and Hatori alone or if it was just the dog's perverse nature leading him to plug up the toilets for the fun of it. Either way Ayame wasn't going to think too hard about it at the moment. “Couldn't you just find them yourself?”

 

“I could, but he checks them out like a librarian does books, I don't dare mess with his system.”

 

“Well, then I guess we just have to wait.” Ayame said approaching the area Hatori was in.

 

“Yes, well, where have you been all afternoon? I, er… I didn't see you helping with the set up for the carnival today.” Hatori added lamely, feeling uncomfortable because to his ears he sounded a bit like a stalker. He was truly curious why he hadn't been able to find Ayame all afternoon. Not that he had been looking for the boy, but the list of errands he had run had taken him all over the school and it seemed strange that he hadn't run into Aya before now. Ok, maybe he was acting a teensy weensy little bit like a stalker. He'd have to stop that.

 

“Hokiko-sensei asked me to check on some things. I was just finishing when `Gure told me he thought you might be looking for me. I think Ran-kun can handle the last of it without me.” Aya said airily.

 

“Ran-kun?” Hatori asked trying to place the name.

 

“Yes, you know the assistant to the head of the drama costume department, the one with the amazingly dark eyes and spiky hair.” Aya answered.

 

“Oh,” Hatori said frowning a bit, “so, what project were you working on with him?”

 

“It was a favor for the chess club.” Aya said noting the unhappy look on Hatori's face. `Could he be jealous of Ran?' he thought. “Not that I need any excuse to talk with Ran-kun about our common interests.” He added swinging his arms a bit and pacing the length of the shelves. “It wasn't really a chore working with him in the sewing room. He needed the help anyway since Honjo-san was absent today and left him all alone slaving away in that tiny little room to finish the sewing.” Aya paused as he had spoken Hatori's expression had gotten darker. “Why Hatori you look upset. If I didn't know better I would say that you were jealous.” Ayame said smiling to himself as he stopped just out of slapping distance from the dragon.

 

Hatori sighed rolling his eyes “Idiot,” he muttered.

 

“Yes I am an idiot,” Ayame said moving in closer to Hatori. “An idiot and a fool.” he continued looking deep into the jade eyes in front of him. “A fool in love.” He finished as he swept in pressing a short quick kiss on Hatori's lips. He hovered there for a few seconds so close he could bask in the heat radiating from Hatori's body.

 

Hatori was fighting an internal struggle. As much as he wanted the contact, and as much as the thought of being wrapped in Ayame's loving embrace appealed to him at the moment, he had to remember that this could cause very big trouble for both of them, especially Ayame. He finally said, “We can't do this. It's too dangerous and you would be the most at risk. If anything happened to you I would feel awful.

 

“And I love you even more for that,” Ayame said wrapping his arms tightly around Hatori. “But what I really need right now is for you to love me just a little bit less, even if it is just for a little while.” He said as he pressed their lips together once more. He held Hatori tightly for a moment before backing away slowly with a disappointed sigh when Hatori showed no sign that he was going to return the kiss.

 

Hatori nearly groaned in disappointment as the withdrawal of contact left an almost physical ache for the other boy's body against his. It had taken all he had not to react to the other boy's advances. Now he was trying desperately not to change his mind about the whole thing. He knew he was doing the right thing. With Ayame pointedly looking away, not facing him and knowing what they could have together he also knew `the right thing' was far down on the list of things he wanted to do at the moment.

 

 

“Fine, if that is how things are going to be, than you leave me no other choice.” Ayame said turning to look at Hatori, a weird gleam in his eyes. “I shall just have to go and ask Akito for his blessing. That will solve everything.” Ayame said skipping back a couple of steps to evade Hatori as he reached out to stop him.

 

“You can't be serious.” Hatori said.

 

“Of course I am serious. First I ask for an audience and Akito grants it, because I am after all one of the juniishi. Maybe not the most favored one but a zodiac member nonetheless. Then I ever so cautiously ask if I can court someone. I won't, of course say whom it is to keep your name out of things, then once I get the green light” Ayame said bringing his hands together in a clapping gesture. “BOOM; we are permitted to see each other by the word of Akito himself. Who could argue with that?” He concluded, looking quite pleased with himself.

 

“Do you want me to point out all of the flaws in that plan now?” Hatori asked dryly.

 

“No, I want to be able to dream about it for a little bit more if you please. Because this really sucks, and it seems that dreams of that kind of happiness are all I am going to get.” Ayame replied letting his carefree persona drop for the moment.

 

Hatori didn't agree or disagree with that but he did reach out and pull him into a quick embrace. “I know.” He said, and then separated from Ayame as the door opened and the janitor entered the storage room.

 

“Well now that Yashiro is here, we can finally get those much needed tools and finish today's marvelous projects.” Ayame said, sounding more like his usual self.

 

 

 

Thursday-

 

The day was just as horrible as Ayame had feared. Adding insult to injury, his mind kept wandering to where Hatori was constantly. He didn't pay attention in any of his classes, not that he needed to in most of them. Unfortunately he also found himself preoccupied as he walked down the halls leading to a long series of tumbles and trips throughout the day, finally culminating in a face plant into a closed door just before the last class of the day.

 

From his vantage point across the hall, all Shigure could see was silver hair billowing in all directions at first. He rushed over to Ayame's side and made sympathetic noises as Ayame gingerly checked his nose and teeth for damage.

 

“That hurt. Does it look as bad as it feels?” Aya asked “I'm not bleeding am I” he added touching his nose and looking at his hand repeatedly to check for blood.

 

“Here let me see. “Shigure said grabbing his hands to keep them off of his face while he looked him over. “Hmmm… nope no damage, you are as radiant as always.” He told him. “But you most definitely have to start watching where you are going; the doors and walls here won't part before you no matter how amazing you look.” Shigure teased giving his hands a final squeeze before releasing them. “Now, you should quit worrying about what Ha-kun is doing and pay attention to what's around you. I have an idea. Meet me at my place after school, we can wait there and ask him what his day was like together the moment he gets home. In the meantime I want you to stop worrying about things. I am getting bored with watching the both of you run around so worried and miserable lately.”

 

“Well I am sorry if my misery has ceased to amuse you Shigure.” Ayame said, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

 

“That's not what I meant and you know it.” Shigure said waving his hands before him in a defensive motion. `That's the closest I have ever seen him to being truly pissed, I'd better be on my toes with what I say today.' He mused. “I only wanted to say that I feel left out lately and the sulky mood you two have been in isn't exactly the warm inviting companionship I am used to.”

 

Ayame felt his blood cool in his veins, he hadn't thought of it before, but this wasn't only between himself and Hatori. It was tearing all three of them apart. He couldn't even imagine living a life where Hatori and Shigure weren't his closest friends, he didn't want to. Of course Shigure was upset, he was suddenly out of the loop when before this the three of them were the loop. He resolved to spend more time with Shigure and try to make up for it somehow. “What a wonderful plan Shigure, maybe you can get your mother to make some of those steamed buns for us too. I apologize, `Gure I haven't been a very good friend to you lately have I?”

 

“Hey, Aaya I understand, you and Hatori have a few things to work through. I just don't want either of you to forget that I am here for you.” Shigure said, patting Ayame on the back as he left for class.

 

Later that evening:

 

As they lounged in the front yard at Shigure's place the boys were clowning around and having a pleasant time. It was just starting to get dusk out and the familiar atmosphere had Ayame feeling more at ease than he had in weeks, maybe even months. He and Shigure had just finished a short game of tag and were leaned against the wooden porch catching their breath when Shigure noticed that Ayame's fashionably decorated shirt had ridden up on him. Without a second thought he fell forward against him and sealed his lips on the exposed skin exhaling forcefully to make a very rude noise. Ayame laughed out loud, squirming at the fact that it tickled.

 

“Excuse you Ayame.” Shigure said before taking a deep breath to blow air on the snake's belly once more.

 

“Oh, Shigure stop that,” Ayame gasped between chuckles. “I'll get you back.” He threatened reaching out and tickling the most ticklish spot Shigure had, high on the back of his thigh.

 

“Oh, really?” Shigure said reaching out to tickle Ayame's ribs in revenge.

 

“Am I interrupting something?” Hatori asked as he walked into the yard.

 

“Tori you're back!” Ayame shouted happily as he launched himself at Hatori. “You must tell us all about your new school,” he said wrapping his arms around Hatori “but first Shigure has learned a new trick that we must show you.” He giggled as he reached out and yanked up Hatori's shirt, copying Shigure's method for making the obscenely rude noise. Hatori stood there blinking for a couple of seconds, then his shoulders started to shake, finally a real laugh broke loose. “That has to be the silliest thing you've ever done.” He wheezed. The rest of the evening was spent with the three of them talking amiably, play wrestling and just hanging around together, something they had all dearly missed lately.