Wolf's Rain Fan Fiction ❯ Love Object ❯ Chapter 16

Title: Love Object

Author: Linkin Fantasy

Pairings: Tsume/Toboe, Hige/Kiba

Disclaimer: Wolf's Rain and the characters of Wolf's Rain belong to their respective owners.

Warning: This story is NC-17. It is not for under age readers.

Chapter Sixteen

 The air was crispy with cold- though the sun was attempting to show through the large clouds that drifted lazily in the sky. Ms. Nomiya released her class for recess, regardless half of the students little cries to stay inside where it was warm.

 Toboe and Cheza went out onto the playground to a part where there was barely any equipment, getting down to a crouching position the two began to build up snow to construct a snowman together. Neither of them spoke as they built up pile after pile, rolling the balls along to make them bigger. 

 Toboe wandered away from the young girl, going to gather up some rocks that lay under the slide at the other end of the playground. The pair had been waiting for the snow to eventually fall and agreed to make a snowman together as soon as it had. So the Wolf boy hid the rocks under the slide so they wouldn't have to go fishing under the snow later.

 Toboe was taking his time walking back over to Cheza, his mind was buzzing with questions he wanted to ask her. But he didn't know where to start. I wish I knew what to say to make her feel better, but... It feels like it's my fault. Although, I'm not really sure what makes people get divorced.... I wonder if she wants to talk at all- Maybe- maybe I should just leave her alone today.

 The boys eyes scanned the playground, glancing over all the kids that were playing before his eyes fell upon a girl that he remembered had gone through divorced parents herself. Walking back over to Cheza, Toboe handed her the rocks he had picked up. "I'll be right back, okay Chez'?" He said, making sure the girl saw him before he walked away from her.

Hurrying across the field, he hopped on the swing next to the young girl who eyed him strangely. "Toboe?" She wondered outloud.

"Hi Taki, can I swing here with you?" He said cheerfully with a salesmans pitch in his voice.

Taki shrugged and began to scoot her legs back releasing them when she felt she was far enough back to get some good momentum. Toboe did as she did, only he swung a bit slower.

How am I gonna bring it up? He wondered. Maybe I should just ask her and get it over with. Clearing his throat, he tried swinging directly beside her. "Taki?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure go ahead."

"It's- kinda personal." He paused to see if she'd change her mind.

"Okay." Though her swinging came to an abrupt hault.

"Well, it's just that... I wanted to ask you about your parents divorce." He kept his eyes down so he wouldn't see any hurt that came over her face.

"What about it?" She asked, sounding perfectly fine. Infact, she began to swing again.

"What made your parents decide to split up?"

"My dad cheated on my mom." The girl said snidely.

"Cheated on her? What does that mean?"

"He slept around with some other woman, and she found out about it because there was a number in his coat pocket."

Toboe dropped his head, he didn't know there were other reasons for parents getting a divorce. "So does that mean anything could break up a marriage?"

"Toboe what are you getting at?" Taki inquired. "Do you know someone one who's about to go through a divorce? If you want me to talk to them I'll do it." She shrugged. "It's no big deal."

"Well, I don't think it's my place to say anything. But I have another question though,"

"Go ahead."

".....Could someone else make your parents wanna divorce each other?"

"Depends, what did the other person do?"

"Weeelllll," He hesistated. "Say the man wasn't responsible and something happened to a kid.... could that make the woman wanna leave him?"

 "Maybe, but that's kind of a stretch. The couple must have been having problems already and that one thing was the straw that broke the camels back." The girl informed, she stopped swinging again this time hopping off. "Toboe," She grabbed the boys hands. "Don't stress out so much, lifes too short for that."

Toboe laughed. "You couldn't tell by looking at you, but you're really mature Taki."

"Hey, divorce ages you. See ya." She galloped away, but paused saying over her shoulder. "And if your friend ever wants to talk let me know!"

Toboe blinked seeing the girl wink at him. I hope she doesn't think it's me. Getting up from the swing he crossed the playground back to where he'd left his friend. She was already stacking the body parts of the snowman together.

"Cheza?" He sniffled feeling his nose begin to run.

"Toboe is crying?" The girl asked.

"Huh? Hmhmhm." He chuckled. "No. My nose is just a little runny." He ran his hand across it.

"Are-... youok though?"

"This one-..." She paused. "This one does not know. This one will be alright."

 They continued to talk. In the distance, behind the gate fence Tsume sneezed groaning afterwards. He had been freezing his ass off since he got their and trying to get Toboe's attention was impossible. The boy just took off across the field right as he began to call him. Oh well, ten times the charm.

Standing up, Tsume peered over the fence then whispered. "Psst! Psst! Toboe!" He called.

The young boy thought he heard his name, but he wasn't sure. Besides, who'd be calling him?

"Toboe!!"

 There it was again! Looking around he didn't see anyone in particular trying to get his attention so he ignored it. Tsume sighed in frustration. Snapping his fingers together, Tsume dug into his pocket and pulled out his gold lighter. Catching a flare of sun light he turned the beam on Toboe's jacket.

Toboe didn't see it, but Cheza did. "Toboe."

 He looked down to where the girl pointed. Petting his chest he stared out to where the light was coming from then he saw him. For a moment the boys eyes shined with happiness until he realized all the pain that the man had brought to him. Tsume. Tapping the girls shoulder he walked across the field. "I'll be back Cheza."

"Finally." Tsume smirked. "What took you so long to notice me, I called you fifteen times."

"Go away." The boy ordered.

"Excuse me?" Tsume was taken aback.

"You heard me, go away!" He wanted to shove him but the gate blocked his hands.

"Alright, I'll leave. Once you tell me why I should?" Tsume frowned a bit. "I thought that you and I were friends?"

"We were friends but...." He shrugged. "Things change over night."

"That still doesn't answer my question." Tsume probed.

"It's all because you picked me up yesterday that my best friends parents are getting a divorce." He blurted out. "If you hadn't done that then they'd still wanna be together."

"Tch. Adults have problems Toboe, you know that." Tsume began to explain. "You can't blame yourself for other peoples problems- that's what's wrong with the world today."

"Yeah you can say that because you've probably never had anyone hurt because of something you did." The boy argued.

"That's what you think. Anyway, I didn't wanna come here to fight with you." He had to change subjects this wasn't going as he had planned.

"Oh yeah," He sniffled for the third time since he went over to him.

"Here." Tsume handed the boy three tissues that he pulled from his pocket.

"Thanks."

"Look before you get all military on me, I thought you should know that I wanted to apologize for what I did. I really wasn't trying to be a bad guy, I didn't think it was a problem that's all."

"Well... actually I didn't either but... when I got home everybody was so mad and then Cheza told me that her parents were splitting up."

"Yeah, but did she say it was because of you?" Asked the model.

Toboe thought about it and rocked from side to side. "Well, no not exactly- but-..."

"Than what are you worried about?"

 Toboe was silent. Tsume was making a lot of sense. He did kinda put the blame on himself for what was happening to Cheza's parents. But what about everything else!? "No. I don't think we can be friends, my... brother and my other friend think that you're this bad guy and you only want me for perverted reasons."

Figures. Tsume put on his best smile, reaching over the fence placing his hand on the boys shoulder. "Toboe do I look like a bad guy to you- or a pervert? I'm just a normal guy that happens to not mind the company of a younger person."

"And that's another thing, how did you know my name? I never told you and you just started calling me Toboe." The boy continued firing at him.

"I read it off your bookbag." Tsume lied.

 The Wolf boy blushed, remembering that his name is infact written on his bookbag. I'mover reacting, Tsume's a really nice guy. I shouldn't be badgering him because other people are making me. What if he hates me- or never wants to see me again? Looking up he saw that Tsume had given up on him and began to leave. "Tsume wait." He called.

The model turned around dropping the smile that had appeared on his face hearing that Toboe was beginning to trust him again. "Yes?"

"I'm- sorry about what I said to you. And calling you names... I just don't like it when my brother's upset."

"I understand. I just hope you know that I'm sorry and I'm still your friend if you ever wanna- hang out or something."

The innocent boy smiled at him. "I'd like that Tsume." He blushed looking down at his feet.

 Tsume caught his breath as he gazed upon the beautiful young boy, cold was wonderful on him. It accented his nose and ears with a red glow and his low sniffles were to die for. Tsume's mouth was almost watering as he watched the boy shake new falling snow from his hair.

 "Hey look, it's snowing again!" The boy titled his face up towards the sky. Tsume glanced up once but his attention returned to the boy. His pale neck exposed to the world, begging to be touched. Toboe looked back at Tsume and smiled into a laugh. "It's kinda hard to see the snow in your hair."

Tsume chuckled brushing a hand through his hair as if Toboe were giving him a hint that it was covered in snow. "Say, how's about you and me get out of here and get something to eat?"

"Huh?"

"You haven't had lunch yet have you?"

"Lunch, no I haven't eaten yet but..." He paused as though he were stating the obvious. "Tsume, that's how I got in trouble in the first place."

The model waved a hand. "No one has to know that we're gone. We can sneak away now, it's just recess no one will miss you."

Toboe pursed and twisted his lips to the side. He's right, it's not like we'd be gone for long. And Cheza could cover for me if anyone asks where I am. A smile lit up on his face and he held out a hand. "You're on."

Tsume shook the boys hand and reached over the fence to help the boy out. Toboe walked to the mans open arms but then backed away. "Wait, I have to tell Cheza to cover for me. Okay?"

"Yeah."

"Okay." He rushed across the playground over to his friend who had moved herself to the swings. It looked as though she were talking with Taki from before. Maybe she told her, or the other girl took the hint and started the conversation herself, either way he couldn't talk to Cheza now.

Turning away, he dashed back to the gate fence recieving help from Tsume as they made their getaway.