[Log] Crash & Burn: Part B (Oishi, Eiji, Tezuka, Fuji)
Characters: Oishi Shuichiro, Kikumaru Eiji, Tezuka Kunimitsu, Fuji Syūsuke
Location: Ship, curing the crash
Time: April 20, 2012, during the ship's crash.
Rating: PG for this part.
Summary: This log has been split into two parts for length and content. Part B: After the poor Golden Pair is so tragically interrupted, reality crashes down (pffffffft), and can we say burning embarrassment? :D Poor Oishi and Tezuka probably won't be able to look at each other for days, but at least the evacuation goes smoothly with no mishap.
Note: I do not usually color-code a finished log. However, with four people tagging back and forth, it got a bit confusing. So Oishi's tags are in green, Eiji's are in red-brown, and Tezuka's in blue. Fuji's remain black because I ran out of colors. XD
Taking his carry-on suitcase firmly by the handle, Fuji surveyed his room for the last time. Luckily, the ghostly pranks had forced him to wash all his clothing and repack everything three days ago, so he only needed to pack up his precious cacti, cameras, and computer in his carry-on, and he was good to go. Thank goodness his sister had the foresight (or foreknowledge, given this was Yumiko) to recommend taking a watertight suitcase for his most important belongings. The rest of his luggage however, even his precious rackets, would have to wait.
Turning on his heel, Fuji hurried out of the room and headed down the hallway. The loud noise and the subsequent shock had woken him even before the alarms started, and Fuji had a feeling this time might not be a false alarm after all. The water staining the carpet in a darker burgundy hue confirmed as much. The hallway was strangely empty -- a quick look at Yuuta’s room revealed his younger brother had already left; his door was unlocked and few essential items were missing -- as were the cabins. It was odd that the crew members would be absent in an emergency situation, and...was that Tezuka at the end of the hall, breaking down a door?
Fuji took off in a run, and squelched to a halt before the room in question. Tezuka was just standing there, looking like his mind had come to a grinding halt, and inside --
“Oh,” Fuji said, and had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. As inappropriate as it was in the face of the situation at hand, he couldn’t help the black humor. Someone had an enlightening moment, chimed a voice in his head, and Fuji suppressed the chuckle.
“Terribly sorry to interrupt, Eiji, Oishi, but -- the alarm?”
It said something of Oishi's current state of mind that he hadn't automatically bolted upright and jumped out of bed as the alarms began. And in fact, several minutes through the blaring noise and the faint warning light in the living room, he had continued on what he'd been doing like neither of them mattered. The false alarms and music that had long terrorized the guests on board had done a pretty good job of numbing him to such things by now. What he hadn't been numbed to however, was the very familiar soft voice that definitely hadn't come from Eiji.
Pulling his kiss-swollen lips away from his partner's abruptly, he leaned his weight over to see around the body on his lap, and immediately went pale. Well, that wasn't entirely accurate, his eyes went wide, his face went pale, and then immediately flushed a deep red. "Fuji!" Why was Fuji here?! A few more seconds of thinking and that answer was obvious-- the alarm, of course. Did that mean it was for real this time…?"
Oishi moved as quickly as humanly possible to shift out from under Eiji and awkwardly swing his legs around the side of the bed, still shaky and red-faced. It was only with another quick glance that he caught another person standing just beyond the doorway to their bedroom. "T-Tezuka?!" Maybe it would be best that Oishi die right now, actually. No need to rush to save him.
Blue eyes blinked a few times as Eiji was felt Oishi shift around under him and then nudge him off. He sat back down on the bed with a little sigh and turned around to look at the people that his boyfriend had just addressed. Eiji was far from being embarrassed, more so being a little bit annoyed that he had finally gotten Oishi out of his shell and then this was suddenly happening. All of a sudden, with the distraction gone, it seemed the alarms sounded louder and the redhead shifted to the side of the bed. This was most definitely not the way he wanted to spend this moment and he had half a mind to shoo out the other two men just for another half an hour or so. Surely the ship wasn't sinking that fast?! Eiji sighed again and turned slightly to look at Oishi. The expression on his face almost made Eiji burst out into laughter but he held himself in check just that little bit longer. He sighed and then turned to look at Fuji, this really disappointed expression on his face. Almost telepathically telling his best friend that he was never ever going to get any.
Fuji returned Eiji's look with an arch look of his own, though it was tinged with a measure of regret. He could definitely sympathize after all the waiting Eiji had complained about. And Eiji looked very cute in that outfit and makeup. Shame all that effort had to go to waste.
With a tiny shrug, Fuji walked over to Tezuka, who still hadn't moved from the wall. "Tezuka?" The blankly horrified look on his face was actually quite hilarious, and Fuji devoutly wished for a moment he hadn't packed all his cameras in his suitcase. "The water's spreading over the hallway already. We should move to where the lifeboats are," he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
And he sent a significant look at Eiji, glancing down at Eiji's current state of dress, and then meeting his eyes, silently indicating he might want to change, or at least put a jacket over the outfit before leaving the room.
Tezuka's brain was still trying to wrap itself around the image of his best friend Oishi in bed with Kikumaru and how they clearly were about to progress to even more intimate things that he did not even want to consider at all. Slumped against the wall, he barely heard a voice calling his name and mentioning something about how they ought to evacuate to the lifeboats. Soft as it was, the urgency of the information registered in his mind and brought back his memories of the reason for his trip over to the medical student's room. The tall brunette slowly pushed himself off the wall and stood upright. Right now, he would empty his head of all thoughts and just focus on moving and getting everybody out of harm's way; the thinking could wait, for as long as he could postpone it; the bespectacled man wasn't sure if he would ever been ready to handle the shock of what he saw just moments ago.
Silently exiting the room and stepping out into the main hallway, he waited in silence for the rest to get ready and follow him. Actions spoke louder than words; in any case, he didn't trust himself to be able to speak at the moment.
Figuring both Oishi and Eiji could do with a moment of privacy to make themselves presentable, Fuji gave them a short nod and stepped outside to join Tezuka.
In the short period of time it took Fuji and Tezuka to vacate their room, Oishi had muttered at least a dozen apologies to the both of them-- even when he was facing Fuji and saying he was sorry, it was all obviously intended toward Tezuka. Tezuka, who he had never ever wanted to embarrass himself in front of, and who had just witnessed Oishi and his crossdressing boyfriend climbing all over each other and halfway ready to let the boat sink around them. His first few steps were with an awkward, mortifying limp, too.
There wasn't much he could say to Eiji now, was there? He wasn't very good at thinking through his panic-addled brain unless it was on the tennis courts, especially with things to say. Gathering a personal bag with only the most important things he could think to grab, he slung it over his shoulders and slipped his tennis shoes on-- they were already soaking wet. "E-Eiji, do you need something to wear?" In no time he was back in the bedroom, obviously breathing faster and racing around like a chicken with its head cut off.
The annoyed...or disappointed expression was very clearly visibly written all over Eiji as he cursed the timing of their stupid sinking ship. Seriously! Another hour...half an hour...fifteen minutes was all Eiji wanted to spend with Oishi. Even if they were caught in the middle of the act rather than the start it would have been better than missing out at all. A frustrated sigh was all that could be heard from Eiji before he stomped back into his own room and picked up a bag there. He threw in a few...important items and slowly made his way back to Oishi, sulking the entire way. Well, the items in his bag would hopefully come in handy for when they were...stuck wherever they were stuck anyway.
It took a few moments of standing in Oishi's room and staring pointedly at him before he realized Oishi wanted him to change out of the outfit he was wearing right now. No...no way. It was the only thing he had going for him right now. "I'm fine like this." He mumbled to the other man.
"Eiji, come on," Oishi huffed, eyes passing frantically over the room and taking only things he was sure he needed, at this point. Was it really that bad? Didn't ships this big have measures in place to prevent this kind of disaster? It temporarily crossed his mind that this was another... very elaborate, and very cruel prank, but that didn't seem likely. He briefly rifled through his closet and found a pair of sweatpants and a shirt he'd brought to exercise in-- those would be quick to put on. "I-it'll just take a minute, I don't want that," his eyes glanced at the skirt for just as long as was needed for emphasis, "to get caught on anything, or hold you up..." And he didn't particularly want other people to see Eiji dressed like that and deduce whatever they might from it.
"You're embarrassed of me, aren't you?" Eiji stared towards Oishi. This was the most perfect timing for the golden pair to have an argument really. Back in the day they got on together so well. They knew what the other wanted and managed to accomodate everything. Since their argument a few years back...everything seemed to slide back down to insecurities. He huffed a little bit and turned away from Oishi, refusing his request. "I'll be fine! I can get out of here in this outfit. I've done worse." Well, that was a little bit of a lie. He'd never had to do any of his stunts in a skirt before but there was a first time for everything, really.
As good a time as any for pointless arguments, really. The water was only up to their ankles. "I'm not embarrassed of you." Oishi exhaled those words tiredly, though this really wasn't the time for that kind of arguing. But his possible embarrassment from what Eiji was caught wearing wasn't the issue here. It was partly, but not entirely. "Sometimes you're so..." He trailed whatever negative trait he intended in an angry grumble, sloshing a few shuffled steps around him and cupping his face in his hands with a rushed kiss, "Eiji, I love you. I want you safe. I don't care if you want to pack that for later, but please put this on."
Blue eyes blinked a few times from the kiss and then the words the followed it. A light flush crept over his cheeks and then Eiji sniffed a little. A few moments later, he had taken the skirt and blouse off, reached out to the clothes Oishi had with him and wriggled his way into them. Oishi really cared about him. In the next few moments, Eiji had stuffed that outfit into the bag he had picked up on top of the other items and slung the pack over his shoulder. He then couldn't resist and leaned forward to hug onto the man while he stole another kiss in the process. "You're not just saying that because you think we're going to die...right?"
"I'll tell you it again when we're safe," Oishi couldn't help the completely anxious-sounding chuckle that escaped with those words, squeezing Eiji back in that hug and taking his hand in his own as they pulled apart. Once the adrenaline wore off he'd wonder why he chose this place, and this time for that... for now it would have to do. His fingers tightened a little when he gave himself a few seconds to think about Eiji's words, and the possibility of something happening to either of them. It wasn't going to... of course, Oishi just knew that. Still. A while later he decided thinking too hard about it would make him more stressed an a liability to their escape, so he just didn't. He started off toward the door, tugging it open through the accumulating water, "Let's go."
Just outside the room, Fuji found Tezuka standing in the hallway looking like his world was still turned upside down. “Are you all right?" he asked, and couldn't quite keep the amusement out of his concerned tone. He supposed anyone would be shocked to catch one's best friend at it. Although judging from the state of things, Oishi and Eiji couldn't have been doing much more than making out. But, truthfully, he wasn't sure which was bothering Tezuka more: the 'Oh my God, I just saw my BEST FRIEND nearly shagging my other friend,' or the 'Oh my God, I just saw my best friend nearly shagging my other MALE friend.'
"Didn't expect it, huh," Fuji said softly.
Tezuka twitched a little at the sound of Fuji's voice and it didn't help his increasingly worsening mood that he could hear the amusement in the other's tone. Trust Fuji to derive pleasure from his misery; the bespectacled man wasn't sure if the petite brunette had been bothered by the sight once he came in since he had been still too shocked to notice anything else but gut feeling told him the other had simply taken everything into stride. The taller of the two shook his head and sighed.
"Ahh..." Tezuka stared ahead down the corridor, not sure if he could meet his friend's eyes either after what he had just seen. People said that one's eyes were the clearest reflection of a person's thoughts and true feelings. Right now, he did not want Fuji to see the chaos and conflict warring within him as he tried to sort out his thoughts; above everything else, he was most ill at ease with letting others understand him too well. While a select few had admittedly made it past his walls without his permission, on the whole, he did his best to keep everyone at a distance, never allowing himself to get too close to another in particular or let the reverse happen either.
He knew this reaction of his wasn't the best way of coping and there was the possibility that he would give both Oishi and Kikumaru as well as Fuji the wrong impression that he was disgusted with the former two when it wasn't his intention; he honestly couldn't care less regarding a person's choice in partners so long as they were truly happy. The core of the problem boiled down to the fact that it was his best friend he just saw making out with another friend he knew. He had always suspected if there was one doubles pair that could possibly be a true couple, it would be Seigaku's Golden Pair but to have to see the evidence first-hand for himself...some details were simply best kept under wraps.
"They're still the same people. And our friends," Fuji said, his tone gentler, more soothing. "And I know it was a surprise, but...well, you did break into a private room." Poor Eiji. When this crisis was over, hopefully Eiji and Oishi would find a more opportune time and privacy to indulge themselves. On the other hand, Tezuka still wasn't meeting his eyes. Something to figure out later, he decided. They did have a more urgent topic at hand.
"Did you feel it? The shock before the alarm." There had been a lurch and a terrible shudder, as if the whole ship was groaning under sudden distress. He pressed his foot into the carpet, watching the water well up from underneath. "Look. The ship's flooding faster than I thought. When I first woke up, the carpet was mostly dry. I hope Oishi and Eiji join us soon."
Tezuka sighed inwardly; Fuji definitely did seem to think that he was having second thoughts about his friends. He would have to sort out this misunderstanding soon before it got worse and out of hand. Getting out of the ship took first priority. For the sake of letting the other know he had at least heard the petite brunette, Tezuka nodded.
"Ahh," the taller man grimaced as he recalled his own experience. Watching his friend test the dryness of the carpets beneath them and noting the volume of water oozing out, he had to agree with Fuji's conclusion. Oishi and Kikumaru should be done packing by now; Tezuka contemplated looking into the room to check on the two for a brief moment before the memory of his previous unwise decision caused a shudder to run through his body. He would wait.
A few seconds later, he heard sounds and Oishi's head poked out from the doorway before the rest of his body emerged. The acrobatic redhead followed a few steps behind him, having thankfully changed out of the unsettling clothes he was previously wearing. Tezuka turned quickly to avoid looking at the Golden Pair and naturally assuming leadership of the group, began to walk briskly towards the stairs that would take them to the deck.
About the first thing Oishi caught in his first step out into the hallway were Tezuka's eyes, and he broke the contact nearly immediately in favor of looking at the floor, wet as it was. He readjusted the strap over his shoulder with the awkward squeal of nylon and murmured another apology under his breath. He wasn't sure just what he was afraid Tezuka thought of him right now, he was too busy being mortified that someone he had a lot of respect for had seen him in that position.
Entirely the proper thing to be worried about in this situation.
He was grateful when their former captain turned and lead the three of them in the direction of the stairwell rather than stand there and dwell on it, keeping a tight hold of Eiji's hand as they made their way through the increasingly soggy floor. Just as soon as they were far enough from his cabin, he could easily think of a handful of things he should have packed, in hindsight. Hopefully this was just a minor leak, something they'd be able to right... Oishi turned toward Fuji a moment, his eyebrows creased in a familiar worried expression, "Have you seen anyone else?"
At another time, it would have been entertaining to watch Tezuka and Oishi studiously avoid meeting each other's eyes. Right now Fuji was more concerned about something else he'd noticed. "No, that's the strange part. Ever since the alarm went off, I haven't seen any crew members around." Given this was Atobe's personal cruise liner, there had been more crew and staff members present than actual guests when they first set out. And it was standard procedure for the crew to assist passengers in a case of emergency. Even during the April Fool's incident, the ship's staff members had been running about, trying to direct the guests and sort out the mess. Right now, the ship was eerily silent, devoid of human presence. "I wonder if everyone else evacuated already?" he asked aloud.
Blue eyes glanced from one side of the corridor to the other as they made their way towards the stairs. Stairs that hardly anybody used since the elevators were so convenient. Probably stairs that nobody has used since the last time they had all evacuated from the ship. People had pushed and shoved and it was a tight squeeze to get everybody up to the top deck and so the redhead paused for a moment and tugged on Oishi. "Everyone's going to be going for the stairs...why don't we find another way....?" He glanced towards one of the cabins that had a door open. They could definitely go through the cabin, out the side window and up to the top deck from there. If the ship sunk to their level while they were climbing then they could just as easily let go and swim...right?
Having charted their course from Oishi's room to the top deck even before he had barged into the medical student's room, Tezuka was now following it religiously, his movements quick and sure as he quickly let the group to the stairs. He would make sure they all made it to safety, every single one of them including himself. His mentality had changed a great deal since his middle school days; while he had retained the habit of naturally assuming the position of leader whenever the situation called for it, the match and lesson he had against Yamato in the U-17 camp had changed his beliefs. His life was his own to live and he would live it out for his own sake, no others.
His ears catching the words spoken to Oishi, Tezuka blinked in surprise. Had Kikumaru discovered another route to the top deck? "Kikumaru, do you know of an alternative route? It's a bit late to make changes now but it would be good if we had a backup route to try in case this one does not work out."
"Not even one...?" Oishi followed up Fuji's question with one of his own quietly, a frown forming the more he thought about it, and soon echoed the brunette's thoughts aloud, "It seems strange they'd evacuate without us." Last time they'd helped them toward the ship, and unless this was another (unfunny) prank, it didn't make any sense that they weren't frantically pacing the halls and retrieving as many guests as they could. Oishi's skin still tingled when Eiji tugged his sleeve just a short moment later, "Another...?" he trailed as he followed the redhead's sightline through the cabin and out that balcony again.
He spoke up before Eiji could answer, if only to stubbornly reinforce what a poor idea he thought it would be, (though a passable back up plan). "I-I think he was referring to climbing on the outside... of the ship..." His voice dropped off steadily the longer he looked at him, ending up with a hand rubbing at the back of his own head sheepishly. All right, maybe it hadn't been worth trying to speak to Tezuka right now.
"None," Fuji confirmed to Oishi. "And Eiji -- if you're talking about climbing up the side of the ship, it wouldn't be safe. Not when we're all carrying bags at the same time. Look," he pointed as they approached the end of the hallway. "The staircase looks deserted. Let's try the stairs first."
The staircase was empty when they arrived. The alarms had gone silent by that time as well, and there was a tense, unbroken quiet as they ascended the steps to the top deck, where the lifeboats awaited them.
It was only when they arrived at the top deck that they finally saw others wrestling with the lifeboats. With no crew members present to assist the passengers, the evacuation process was unguided and chaotic, carried out in small groups rather than organized teams. The four of them spotted an empty lifeboat and hurried over, but paused as one to look at each other uncertainly. The thought going through the four minds was the same: what about the rest of their team?
"Let's go," Fuji spoke softly, breaking the stalemate. "We'll come back and help others if we need. Right now, there's no way to confirm who evacuated already and who hasn't."
Despite the awkward air between them, Oishi briefly looked to Tezuka for reassurance, hoping they were making the right decision in filing to safety. What other choice did they have at this point? It was too dark out to spend their time looking, and there was no telling when the ship might capsize or when the next emergency would ignite a panic. And if everyone on board had the same altruistic intentions, none of them would ever leave. It went against everything he wanted to do, but it was smarter to evacuate now and try for an accurate headcount later.
Another nervous look passed over the shadowy figures busily filing into brightly-colored boats of their own-- spotting several familiar faces, but none of their former teammates as of yet. Oishi hoped their group was lagging behind and everyone else was safe and settled somewhere. He was antsy, fists gathered at his side, "I-I agree with Fuji. We'll have to take care of ourselves before we can address everyone else. The water's filling up slowly, everyone should have time,"
Without another word Oishi leaned over the lifeboat and grabbed the vests tucked away inside of it, handing one out to each of them in preparation. Everything would be all right. Their former teammates were competent, they'd find a way out.
It took them but a minute to put on the life vests and get into the lifeboat. Luckily for them, the lifeboat's launching mechanism was fully automated and still functional. Once their door was sealed, there was only the mechanical whir of the pulleys lowering the boat, then a shock as the bottom of the boat met the water underneath.
The waves were high, but not rough, and it was a short distance from the ship to the shore. Accompanied by the sound of the motor, their boat quietly slid under the ink-blue sky towards the beach.
Location: Ship, curing the crash
Time: April 20, 2012, during the ship's crash.
Rating: PG for this part.
Summary: This log has been split into two parts for length and content. Part B: After the poor Golden Pair is so tragically interrupted, reality crashes down (pffffffft), and can we say burning embarrassment? :D Poor Oishi and Tezuka probably won't be able to look at each other for days, but at least the evacuation goes smoothly with no mishap.
Note: I do not usually color-code a finished log. However, with four people tagging back and forth, it got a bit confusing. So Oishi's tags are in green, Eiji's are in red-brown, and Tezuka's in blue. Fuji's remain black because I ran out of colors. XD
Taking his carry-on suitcase firmly by the handle, Fuji surveyed his room for the last time. Luckily, the ghostly pranks had forced him to wash all his clothing and repack everything three days ago, so he only needed to pack up his precious cacti, cameras, and computer in his carry-on, and he was good to go. Thank goodness his sister had the foresight (or foreknowledge, given this was Yumiko) to recommend taking a watertight suitcase for his most important belongings. The rest of his luggage however, even his precious rackets, would have to wait.
Turning on his heel, Fuji hurried out of the room and headed down the hallway. The loud noise and the subsequent shock had woken him even before the alarms started, and Fuji had a feeling this time might not be a false alarm after all. The water staining the carpet in a darker burgundy hue confirmed as much. The hallway was strangely empty -- a quick look at Yuuta’s room revealed his younger brother had already left; his door was unlocked and few essential items were missing -- as were the cabins. It was odd that the crew members would be absent in an emergency situation, and...was that Tezuka at the end of the hall, breaking down a door?
Fuji took off in a run, and squelched to a halt before the room in question. Tezuka was just standing there, looking like his mind had come to a grinding halt, and inside --
“Oh,” Fuji said, and had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. As inappropriate as it was in the face of the situation at hand, he couldn’t help the black humor. Someone had an enlightening moment, chimed a voice in his head, and Fuji suppressed the chuckle.
“Terribly sorry to interrupt, Eiji, Oishi, but -- the alarm?”
It said something of Oishi's current state of mind that he hadn't automatically bolted upright and jumped out of bed as the alarms began. And in fact, several minutes through the blaring noise and the faint warning light in the living room, he had continued on what he'd been doing like neither of them mattered. The false alarms and music that had long terrorized the guests on board had done a pretty good job of numbing him to such things by now. What he hadn't been numbed to however, was the very familiar soft voice that definitely hadn't come from Eiji.
Pulling his kiss-swollen lips away from his partner's abruptly, he leaned his weight over to see around the body on his lap, and immediately went pale. Well, that wasn't entirely accurate, his eyes went wide, his face went pale, and then immediately flushed a deep red. "Fuji!" Why was Fuji here?! A few more seconds of thinking and that answer was obvious-- the alarm, of course. Did that mean it was for real this time…?"
Oishi moved as quickly as humanly possible to shift out from under Eiji and awkwardly swing his legs around the side of the bed, still shaky and red-faced. It was only with another quick glance that he caught another person standing just beyond the doorway to their bedroom. "T-Tezuka?!" Maybe it would be best that Oishi die right now, actually. No need to rush to save him.
Blue eyes blinked a few times as Eiji was felt Oishi shift around under him and then nudge him off. He sat back down on the bed with a little sigh and turned around to look at the people that his boyfriend had just addressed. Eiji was far from being embarrassed, more so being a little bit annoyed that he had finally gotten Oishi out of his shell and then this was suddenly happening. All of a sudden, with the distraction gone, it seemed the alarms sounded louder and the redhead shifted to the side of the bed. This was most definitely not the way he wanted to spend this moment and he had half a mind to shoo out the other two men just for another half an hour or so. Surely the ship wasn't sinking that fast?! Eiji sighed again and turned slightly to look at Oishi. The expression on his face almost made Eiji burst out into laughter but he held himself in check just that little bit longer. He sighed and then turned to look at Fuji, this really disappointed expression on his face. Almost telepathically telling his best friend that he was never ever going to get any.
Fuji returned Eiji's look with an arch look of his own, though it was tinged with a measure of regret. He could definitely sympathize after all the waiting Eiji had complained about. And Eiji looked very cute in that outfit and makeup. Shame all that effort had to go to waste.
With a tiny shrug, Fuji walked over to Tezuka, who still hadn't moved from the wall. "Tezuka?" The blankly horrified look on his face was actually quite hilarious, and Fuji devoutly wished for a moment he hadn't packed all his cameras in his suitcase. "The water's spreading over the hallway already. We should move to where the lifeboats are," he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear.
And he sent a significant look at Eiji, glancing down at Eiji's current state of dress, and then meeting his eyes, silently indicating he might want to change, or at least put a jacket over the outfit before leaving the room.
Tezuka's brain was still trying to wrap itself around the image of his best friend Oishi in bed with Kikumaru and how they clearly were about to progress to even more intimate things that he did not even want to consider at all. Slumped against the wall, he barely heard a voice calling his name and mentioning something about how they ought to evacuate to the lifeboats. Soft as it was, the urgency of the information registered in his mind and brought back his memories of the reason for his trip over to the medical student's room. The tall brunette slowly pushed himself off the wall and stood upright. Right now, he would empty his head of all thoughts and just focus on moving and getting everybody out of harm's way; the thinking could wait, for as long as he could postpone it; the bespectacled man wasn't sure if he would ever been ready to handle the shock of what he saw just moments ago.
Silently exiting the room and stepping out into the main hallway, he waited in silence for the rest to get ready and follow him. Actions spoke louder than words; in any case, he didn't trust himself to be able to speak at the moment.
Figuring both Oishi and Eiji could do with a moment of privacy to make themselves presentable, Fuji gave them a short nod and stepped outside to join Tezuka.
In the short period of time it took Fuji and Tezuka to vacate their room, Oishi had muttered at least a dozen apologies to the both of them-- even when he was facing Fuji and saying he was sorry, it was all obviously intended toward Tezuka. Tezuka, who he had never ever wanted to embarrass himself in front of, and who had just witnessed Oishi and his crossdressing boyfriend climbing all over each other and halfway ready to let the boat sink around them. His first few steps were with an awkward, mortifying limp, too.
There wasn't much he could say to Eiji now, was there? He wasn't very good at thinking through his panic-addled brain unless it was on the tennis courts, especially with things to say. Gathering a personal bag with only the most important things he could think to grab, he slung it over his shoulders and slipped his tennis shoes on-- they were already soaking wet. "E-Eiji, do you need something to wear?" In no time he was back in the bedroom, obviously breathing faster and racing around like a chicken with its head cut off.
The annoyed...or disappointed expression was very clearly visibly written all over Eiji as he cursed the timing of their stupid sinking ship. Seriously! Another hour...half an hour...fifteen minutes was all Eiji wanted to spend with Oishi. Even if they were caught in the middle of the act rather than the start it would have been better than missing out at all. A frustrated sigh was all that could be heard from Eiji before he stomped back into his own room and picked up a bag there. He threw in a few...important items and slowly made his way back to Oishi, sulking the entire way. Well, the items in his bag would hopefully come in handy for when they were...stuck wherever they were stuck anyway.
It took a few moments of standing in Oishi's room and staring pointedly at him before he realized Oishi wanted him to change out of the outfit he was wearing right now. No...no way. It was the only thing he had going for him right now. "I'm fine like this." He mumbled to the other man.
"Eiji, come on," Oishi huffed, eyes passing frantically over the room and taking only things he was sure he needed, at this point. Was it really that bad? Didn't ships this big have measures in place to prevent this kind of disaster? It temporarily crossed his mind that this was another... very elaborate, and very cruel prank, but that didn't seem likely. He briefly rifled through his closet and found a pair of sweatpants and a shirt he'd brought to exercise in-- those would be quick to put on. "I-it'll just take a minute, I don't want that," his eyes glanced at the skirt for just as long as was needed for emphasis, "to get caught on anything, or hold you up..." And he didn't particularly want other people to see Eiji dressed like that and deduce whatever they might from it.
"You're embarrassed of me, aren't you?" Eiji stared towards Oishi. This was the most perfect timing for the golden pair to have an argument really. Back in the day they got on together so well. They knew what the other wanted and managed to accomodate everything. Since their argument a few years back...everything seemed to slide back down to insecurities. He huffed a little bit and turned away from Oishi, refusing his request. "I'll be fine! I can get out of here in this outfit. I've done worse." Well, that was a little bit of a lie. He'd never had to do any of his stunts in a skirt before but there was a first time for everything, really.
As good a time as any for pointless arguments, really. The water was only up to their ankles. "I'm not embarrassed of you." Oishi exhaled those words tiredly, though this really wasn't the time for that kind of arguing. But his possible embarrassment from what Eiji was caught wearing wasn't the issue here. It was partly, but not entirely. "Sometimes you're so..." He trailed whatever negative trait he intended in an angry grumble, sloshing a few shuffled steps around him and cupping his face in his hands with a rushed kiss, "Eiji, I love you. I want you safe. I don't care if you want to pack that for later, but please put this on."
Blue eyes blinked a few times from the kiss and then the words the followed it. A light flush crept over his cheeks and then Eiji sniffed a little. A few moments later, he had taken the skirt and blouse off, reached out to the clothes Oishi had with him and wriggled his way into them. Oishi really cared about him. In the next few moments, Eiji had stuffed that outfit into the bag he had picked up on top of the other items and slung the pack over his shoulder. He then couldn't resist and leaned forward to hug onto the man while he stole another kiss in the process. "You're not just saying that because you think we're going to die...right?"
"I'll tell you it again when we're safe," Oishi couldn't help the completely anxious-sounding chuckle that escaped with those words, squeezing Eiji back in that hug and taking his hand in his own as they pulled apart. Once the adrenaline wore off he'd wonder why he chose this place, and this time for that... for now it would have to do. His fingers tightened a little when he gave himself a few seconds to think about Eiji's words, and the possibility of something happening to either of them. It wasn't going to... of course, Oishi just knew that. Still. A while later he decided thinking too hard about it would make him more stressed an a liability to their escape, so he just didn't. He started off toward the door, tugging it open through the accumulating water, "Let's go."
Just outside the room, Fuji found Tezuka standing in the hallway looking like his world was still turned upside down. “Are you all right?" he asked, and couldn't quite keep the amusement out of his concerned tone. He supposed anyone would be shocked to catch one's best friend at it. Although judging from the state of things, Oishi and Eiji couldn't have been doing much more than making out. But, truthfully, he wasn't sure which was bothering Tezuka more: the 'Oh my God, I just saw my BEST FRIEND nearly shagging my other friend,' or the 'Oh my God, I just saw my best friend nearly shagging my other MALE friend.'
"Didn't expect it, huh," Fuji said softly.
Tezuka twitched a little at the sound of Fuji's voice and it didn't help his increasingly worsening mood that he could hear the amusement in the other's tone. Trust Fuji to derive pleasure from his misery; the bespectacled man wasn't sure if the petite brunette had been bothered by the sight once he came in since he had been still too shocked to notice anything else but gut feeling told him the other had simply taken everything into stride. The taller of the two shook his head and sighed.
"Ahh..." Tezuka stared ahead down the corridor, not sure if he could meet his friend's eyes either after what he had just seen. People said that one's eyes were the clearest reflection of a person's thoughts and true feelings. Right now, he did not want Fuji to see the chaos and conflict warring within him as he tried to sort out his thoughts; above everything else, he was most ill at ease with letting others understand him too well. While a select few had admittedly made it past his walls without his permission, on the whole, he did his best to keep everyone at a distance, never allowing himself to get too close to another in particular or let the reverse happen either.
He knew this reaction of his wasn't the best way of coping and there was the possibility that he would give both Oishi and Kikumaru as well as Fuji the wrong impression that he was disgusted with the former two when it wasn't his intention; he honestly couldn't care less regarding a person's choice in partners so long as they were truly happy. The core of the problem boiled down to the fact that it was his best friend he just saw making out with another friend he knew. He had always suspected if there was one doubles pair that could possibly be a true couple, it would be Seigaku's Golden Pair but to have to see the evidence first-hand for himself...some details were simply best kept under wraps.
"They're still the same people. And our friends," Fuji said, his tone gentler, more soothing. "And I know it was a surprise, but...well, you did break into a private room." Poor Eiji. When this crisis was over, hopefully Eiji and Oishi would find a more opportune time and privacy to indulge themselves. On the other hand, Tezuka still wasn't meeting his eyes. Something to figure out later, he decided. They did have a more urgent topic at hand.
"Did you feel it? The shock before the alarm." There had been a lurch and a terrible shudder, as if the whole ship was groaning under sudden distress. He pressed his foot into the carpet, watching the water well up from underneath. "Look. The ship's flooding faster than I thought. When I first woke up, the carpet was mostly dry. I hope Oishi and Eiji join us soon."
Tezuka sighed inwardly; Fuji definitely did seem to think that he was having second thoughts about his friends. He would have to sort out this misunderstanding soon before it got worse and out of hand. Getting out of the ship took first priority. For the sake of letting the other know he had at least heard the petite brunette, Tezuka nodded.
"Ahh," the taller man grimaced as he recalled his own experience. Watching his friend test the dryness of the carpets beneath them and noting the volume of water oozing out, he had to agree with Fuji's conclusion. Oishi and Kikumaru should be done packing by now; Tezuka contemplated looking into the room to check on the two for a brief moment before the memory of his previous unwise decision caused a shudder to run through his body. He would wait.
A few seconds later, he heard sounds and Oishi's head poked out from the doorway before the rest of his body emerged. The acrobatic redhead followed a few steps behind him, having thankfully changed out of the unsettling clothes he was previously wearing. Tezuka turned quickly to avoid looking at the Golden Pair and naturally assuming leadership of the group, began to walk briskly towards the stairs that would take them to the deck.
About the first thing Oishi caught in his first step out into the hallway were Tezuka's eyes, and he broke the contact nearly immediately in favor of looking at the floor, wet as it was. He readjusted the strap over his shoulder with the awkward squeal of nylon and murmured another apology under his breath. He wasn't sure just what he was afraid Tezuka thought of him right now, he was too busy being mortified that someone he had a lot of respect for had seen him in that position.
Entirely the proper thing to be worried about in this situation.
He was grateful when their former captain turned and lead the three of them in the direction of the stairwell rather than stand there and dwell on it, keeping a tight hold of Eiji's hand as they made their way through the increasingly soggy floor. Just as soon as they were far enough from his cabin, he could easily think of a handful of things he should have packed, in hindsight. Hopefully this was just a minor leak, something they'd be able to right... Oishi turned toward Fuji a moment, his eyebrows creased in a familiar worried expression, "Have you seen anyone else?"
At another time, it would have been entertaining to watch Tezuka and Oishi studiously avoid meeting each other's eyes. Right now Fuji was more concerned about something else he'd noticed. "No, that's the strange part. Ever since the alarm went off, I haven't seen any crew members around." Given this was Atobe's personal cruise liner, there had been more crew and staff members present than actual guests when they first set out. And it was standard procedure for the crew to assist passengers in a case of emergency. Even during the April Fool's incident, the ship's staff members had been running about, trying to direct the guests and sort out the mess. Right now, the ship was eerily silent, devoid of human presence. "I wonder if everyone else evacuated already?" he asked aloud.
Blue eyes glanced from one side of the corridor to the other as they made their way towards the stairs. Stairs that hardly anybody used since the elevators were so convenient. Probably stairs that nobody has used since the last time they had all evacuated from the ship. People had pushed and shoved and it was a tight squeeze to get everybody up to the top deck and so the redhead paused for a moment and tugged on Oishi. "Everyone's going to be going for the stairs...why don't we find another way....?" He glanced towards one of the cabins that had a door open. They could definitely go through the cabin, out the side window and up to the top deck from there. If the ship sunk to their level while they were climbing then they could just as easily let go and swim...right?
Having charted their course from Oishi's room to the top deck even before he had barged into the medical student's room, Tezuka was now following it religiously, his movements quick and sure as he quickly let the group to the stairs. He would make sure they all made it to safety, every single one of them including himself. His mentality had changed a great deal since his middle school days; while he had retained the habit of naturally assuming the position of leader whenever the situation called for it, the match and lesson he had against Yamato in the U-17 camp had changed his beliefs. His life was his own to live and he would live it out for his own sake, no others.
His ears catching the words spoken to Oishi, Tezuka blinked in surprise. Had Kikumaru discovered another route to the top deck? "Kikumaru, do you know of an alternative route? It's a bit late to make changes now but it would be good if we had a backup route to try in case this one does not work out."
"Not even one...?" Oishi followed up Fuji's question with one of his own quietly, a frown forming the more he thought about it, and soon echoed the brunette's thoughts aloud, "It seems strange they'd evacuate without us." Last time they'd helped them toward the ship, and unless this was another (unfunny) prank, it didn't make any sense that they weren't frantically pacing the halls and retrieving as many guests as they could. Oishi's skin still tingled when Eiji tugged his sleeve just a short moment later, "Another...?" he trailed as he followed the redhead's sightline through the cabin and out that balcony again.
He spoke up before Eiji could answer, if only to stubbornly reinforce what a poor idea he thought it would be, (though a passable back up plan). "I-I think he was referring to climbing on the outside... of the ship..." His voice dropped off steadily the longer he looked at him, ending up with a hand rubbing at the back of his own head sheepishly. All right, maybe it hadn't been worth trying to speak to Tezuka right now.
"None," Fuji confirmed to Oishi. "And Eiji -- if you're talking about climbing up the side of the ship, it wouldn't be safe. Not when we're all carrying bags at the same time. Look," he pointed as they approached the end of the hallway. "The staircase looks deserted. Let's try the stairs first."
The staircase was empty when they arrived. The alarms had gone silent by that time as well, and there was a tense, unbroken quiet as they ascended the steps to the top deck, where the lifeboats awaited them.
It was only when they arrived at the top deck that they finally saw others wrestling with the lifeboats. With no crew members present to assist the passengers, the evacuation process was unguided and chaotic, carried out in small groups rather than organized teams. The four of them spotted an empty lifeboat and hurried over, but paused as one to look at each other uncertainly. The thought going through the four minds was the same: what about the rest of their team?
"Let's go," Fuji spoke softly, breaking the stalemate. "We'll come back and help others if we need. Right now, there's no way to confirm who evacuated already and who hasn't."
Despite the awkward air between them, Oishi briefly looked to Tezuka for reassurance, hoping they were making the right decision in filing to safety. What other choice did they have at this point? It was too dark out to spend their time looking, and there was no telling when the ship might capsize or when the next emergency would ignite a panic. And if everyone on board had the same altruistic intentions, none of them would ever leave. It went against everything he wanted to do, but it was smarter to evacuate now and try for an accurate headcount later.
Another nervous look passed over the shadowy figures busily filing into brightly-colored boats of their own-- spotting several familiar faces, but none of their former teammates as of yet. Oishi hoped their group was lagging behind and everyone else was safe and settled somewhere. He was antsy, fists gathered at his side, "I-I agree with Fuji. We'll have to take care of ourselves before we can address everyone else. The water's filling up slowly, everyone should have time,"
Without another word Oishi leaned over the lifeboat and grabbed the vests tucked away inside of it, handing one out to each of them in preparation. Everything would be all right. Their former teammates were competent, they'd find a way out.
It took them but a minute to put on the life vests and get into the lifeboat. Luckily for them, the lifeboat's launching mechanism was fully automated and still functional. Once their door was sealed, there was only the mechanical whir of the pulleys lowering the boat, then a shock as the bottom of the boat met the water underneath.
The waves were high, but not rough, and it was a short distance from the ship to the shore. Accompanied by the sound of the motor, their boat quietly slid under the ink-blue sky towards the beach.