My Little Fairy (Chapter Three)
Guys, I'm really sorry for such a long delay! Half a year is not a joke, I know _ I'll do my best to never do this again!
Also, starting from this chapter the plot and boys' abilities go far beyond what we call 'Indigo', 'kay? It goes sci-fi ^^' Hope you still like it ^_^
Love you all,
Ji-chan aka Hikarino Aki
Name: My little fairy (Chapter Two)
Author: Ji-chan aka hikarino_aki
Beta: milisante
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Adorable as the main, Dirty and Silver as a background… TeFu... well, maybe more I dunno yet ^___^
Rating: errrr… PG-15 for now (only because of curses) but I plan on R later XD
Disclamer: Sadly, but I own nothing. If I did, PoT would be about Hyoutei… well, maybe it’s not so sad I don’t own it actually ^^
A/N: it’s an AU story, kind of… so the facts are screwed up a little XD I guess one would call it a ‘mafia’ story, but it’s not in the way one may think.
~ Prologue and Chapter One ~
~ Chapter Two ~
~ Chapter three - "Noblesse Oblige" ~
"Start!"
The sound of swords crossing rang through the room. Two boys in the center moved fast, skewers in hands. Step, step, jab - miss - step back and block. Push, jump back and one more jab. Target hit. Jirou grinned and attacked with doubled force. Atobe hit back with a small smile - he obviously enjoyed this fight. They never wore special equipment so everybody could see their expressions. Yuushi entered the hall and watched the two for a while. When Gakuto joined they went to sit down near Ryou who was standing leaning on the wall and observing the fight.
"Morning, Shishido…" said the tensai.
"Yo, Ryou!" Gakuto waved. Shishido only nodded.
"He's pretty good… that Jirou," Ryou said after a minute or so. "Never thought he could be this good after only two months of training…"
"Yeah… however he still has no chances against Atobe." Oshitari answered. "But his footwork is much better now. He may be able to enter Hyoutei tennis club with this… though he does not need any more…" he smiled and continued watching.
"Stop!" the voice called. The boys saluted, bowed to each other and froze waiting for butler to leave. The moment old man closed the door after himself the room was was filled with screaming.
"Sugoi! Atobe you're so cool! So so so cool! When do we continue? I want more! When? When? When?" Jirou jumped around Atobe with shining eyes. Atobe was obviously enjoying himself and entire ruckus Jirou made: his eyes were shining too, though that was mere self-conceit.
"That's ex facte, Jirou. Because ore-sama is ore-sama. Now let's go…" Atobe headed to the observers. "Morning…"
"Morning, Atobe. Jirou, you too." Oshitari said without standing up. Gakuto joined.
"Yo." Shishido waved to both Atobe and Jirou, who was still bouncy and grinning.
"Morning, guys! How was it? Was I any good? Isn't Atobe cool? He's just that great! He really teaches me so many things!.." Jirou would have continued if it was not for Gakuto who jumped at him and closed his mouth - they already knew how great Atobe was 'according to Jirou'.
"So, Atobe," asked Gakuto after Jirou shut up. "Why did you call us all here? We had some business to do with Yuushi."
Atobe rolled his eyes as if saying 'Yeah, ore-sama knows exactly what kind of perverted business it was…' but said different:
"Ore-sama called you all to have a little trip. After ore-sama and Jirou have a shower and change we are going to visit Tezuka."
"Oh," was the only thing Oshitari could say - they did not see Tezuka for some time already. 'Had something happened? Will Yukimura be there too?'
"Who's this Tezuka guy?" Shishido asked. "You talk 'bout him a lot. Is he another… err… Indigo Child?"
"That's correct, Shishido. Clever boy." Atobe smirked. He still treated Shishido like the boy was a kind of clown. Ryou replaced Gakuto who was previously a person Atobe teased unconsciously. Shishido never could adapt to it and that made the teasing more precious. "Well then, ore-sama is going to take a shower. We'll meet in a half an hour at the school entrance. Let's go, Jirou." Atobe left with Jirou following him and Ryou growled.
"I hate this guy."
"Don't say that, Shishido. He's just teasing you," Oshitari laughed.
"That's why I hate him," he sighed. "Never mind. So, who is Tezuka then? Another one of our 'party'?"
"No, he is not. He's just… let's see… one of the two Atobe's first friends I guess? Though you would never think they are actually friends."
"How's that?"
"Just like that. One would never see any attraction or similarities between them. They are much more of opposites. But Tezuka was the first Indigo Atobe met. One of the two. The second one is Yukimura. They know each other for ages now."
"But he is not in the same team?"
"Neither he nor Yukimura. They have some conflict in attitude. That's why I say one never think they could be friends. But they still are. Even I don't know why. Should we head outside? It's almost time and I want to have a smoke before Atobe comes. Gakuto, let's go." Oshitari raised his voice for the boy (who was jumping in the center of the room) to hear. Gakuto turned to them and grinned, coming back.
"You smoke? Never saw you smoking…" Shishido asked.
"Very rarely. But now I feel like that…" Oshitari scowled and then left the room. The other two followed.
*
The car stopped at the entrance of an old-styled Japanese building. Shishido stared at it for some time. The house was not as big as Atobe's mansion, but still not very small too. 'It should be quite expensive to have such a house in the center of Tokyo. So this Tezuka guy is not poor too.' he thought. They left a car and proceeded to the house. Atobe guided them behind it and to a building that looked like a dojo. There were thuds and sounds of punches heard from there. They stopped a meter before the door when Atobe came forward and opened it. Behind the door there were two men fighting. Both were tall and one was rather old. But despite his age the older man was good. Ryou thought he could not win over this man. The younger man was sweating and breathing hard but his moves were still fast and well-directed. Old man blocked almost all of them and never dodged so Shishido decided they were training power control.
Neither of the fighters paid attention to the sudden intruders so they just watched till the end. After few more punches were blocked the old man smiled and said "Enough" so they stopped. The young man bowed, the old one nodded and turned to see the guests while the young one wiped sweat from his face.
"Keigo. Long time no see. Oshitari and Mukahi too. And who are those two?" the old man said. Atobe smirked and bowed.
"Long time no see, Kunikazu-san. Let me introduce my new team mates, Shishido Ryou and Akutagawa Jirou." Keigo turned back to his friends. "Shishido, Jirou, this person is Tezuka Kunikazu, the Tezuka Family head and my first martial arts teacher. And the one sweating behind him is his grandson Kunimitsu." Kunikazu smiled and looked behind him at a youngster approaching. The boy had dark-fair hair and wore glasses. He sighed at Atobe's introduction of him.
"I'm going to have shower and then head for school, Atobe. I have a tennis team meeting today." he said.
"Well, then ore-sama should offer you a ride to school, shouldn't I? We'll wait for you, so go ahead."
"The same as ever, aren't you, Keigo?" Kunikazu smirked while his grandson rolled eyes and sighed, passing them. "Would you like some cold green tea, children? It's rather hot today."
"Thank you," Atobe said and they followed Kunikazu to the house.
After a cup of tea Tezuka's mother Ayana offered them, they waited for Kunimitsu to show up at the gate. Then the six of them rode to Seigaku. Ryou was rather shocked at the fact Tezuka went to a normal school, not some private one, but he kept silent - Tezuka did not look like he enjoyed company. The boy sat with his eyes closed and only reacted for some of Atobe's points.
"So, Tezuka, how is it in Seigaku?"
"Nothing changed since you last asked two days ago."
"Ore-sama is going to look at your practice."
"Strangers are not allowed to the court, you know it perfectly, Atobe. Anyway, what for?"
"Then you should do something about it - ore-sama wants to see that prodigy of yours, Fuji."
"Again - what for?"
"Well, ore-sama is rather curious at the person that managed to steal your heart, Tezuka."
"Don't speak nonsense, Atobe. There is nothing about me and Fuji that needs your attention."
"Ore-sama does not think so, Tezuka. That guy must be something interesting." Tezuka ignored him. "And ore-sama wanted to invite you both to the beach party when the semester is over. Take your team - we may have a friendly match if you want. Yukimura will come too."
That seemed to wake Tezuka from slumber. His eyes opened and he looked at Atobe seriously.
"Did something happen again?"
"Not quite yet. But something's approaching."
"Okay," Tezuka sighed and opened the door - the car was already near the school gates. "I'll come. Fuji will come too, so no need for you to distract our regulars - we have an important match in few days. Send me the meeting point and time." and he closed the door.
"Well, well, and ore-sama was actually interested. Okay, let's wait a little." Atobe leaned back and turned face to Jirou who was sleeping the whole ride. "Jirou, wake up. We'll start practice in fifteen minutes."
*
"Hey, Oshitari," Ryou approached Yuushi and leaned at a wall behind him. "What's with that Tezuka guy? I don't get him at all."
They were as always watching Atobe and Jirou fencing and Ryou decided to ask what he wanted to.
"What exactly do you want to know?" genius did not turn to face his opponent and continued watching the two in the center. Ryou did not actually mind now.
"Well… anything I suppose…" he paused and when Oshitari did not answer he continued. "Like what is his power and what is about that conflict in attitude they had with Atobe… and so on."
Oshitari 'hmph'ed and stood up.
"Let's go outside."
They left the room and Oshitari went to the window with the litter-basket near it. Shishido followed. Yuushi fished a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it up.
"Looks like you smoke every time Tezuka is mentioned," Ryou sounded surprised.
"Kind of. I don't actually like him. You can even say I'm afraid of that person." Yuushi inhaled and shook off ash. "I never thought powers like his could be used… well, like THAT." he chuckled.
"Like what?"
"Hmmm… you see, Tezuka's power is telekinesis. You know - moving things with your thought only."
"Yeah I know what that means. So what?"
"The first day I met Tezuka I saw a very freak way of using it. Though he actually saved us all… I would never think of this way. His brain works in rather scary way." Oshitari fell silent for a moment before continuing. "That day we were attacked by kidnappers. You know - we all are from wealthy families and so… Anyways, they trooped the three of us - Atobe, me and Tezuka - round and attacked. We were young and not so good of a fighters so we were at a disadvantage. And that's when I heard Tezuka thinking. He is not mental type so I can hear him. But after that day I prefer not to. He was thinking about calling for those guys' bones to come to him with his powers. You understand it, right? To actually call the bones to leave bodies. His power was not enough to manage the whole process but enough to cause the level of pain when person cannot stay sane. All the screaming was awful - we were children after all. But the whole idea was much more of a shock for me. That's why I prefer being closed and I always get nervous whenever Tezuka is around. Did I answer your first question?"
"Wow…" Ryou stared at Yuushi in shock. "Really scary. And he does not look like a sadist…"
"He is not a sadist. Just a little extraordinary. And well, that was not a normal situation too. I don't blame him - I'm far from being an angel myself - but it just freaks me out to think about it."
"Was that the reason for him and Atobe to part ways then?"
"No," Oshitari threw cigarette end into a bin and pushed himself off the windowsill. "It's a whole different matter. Atobe always wanted to be surrounded by the likes of him. And Tezuka likes peasants." Yuushi smiled and returned to the gym.
*
The day of the beach party came. Atobe Family's beach house was not as big as the main mansion but still impressive enough for Jirou to run around laughing. Ryou almost got a headache looking at Sleeping Beauty being here and the next moment there.
"Who said I was fast? I don't stand a chance against him…" he laughed. Jirou grinned happily.
"Ne, Atobe! That's soooooo cool! I like this place! Is it okay to go to the beach yet?"
"Wait a little, Jirou," Atobe stopped the boy. He breathed deeply, smiling, and for a moment his gaze became dreamy. But he returned to being himself the next moment. "We'll go to the beach in few hours, when everyone arrives, so just a little patience."
Jirou pouted, but then ran to the playground - it appeared that Atobe had a dog, a pure-breed Akita-inu named Chizo, who was very much like Jirou, so they played together all the time.
"Atobe-bocchama, Tezuka-sama and his friend arrived," the butler bowed.
"Yes, ore-sama will go greet them at once. Shishido, Oshitari, willing to join?"
"I'll pass," Oshitari lied on a lounge with a book and seemed to be going to spend all the time left like this.
"Me too," said Shishido and then grinned deviously. "Wanna find Mukahi and torment him a little."
"Don't bother yourself, Shishido," Oshitari re-adjusted his glasses and spoke before returning to his book. "Gakuto is too deep asleep now, you won't be able to wake him up even using a bomb."
"Hah? Why is he asleep? It's the middle of the day! What did he do at night?"
Oshitari looked at Ryou with a smirk on his lips.
"Do you REALLY wanna know what WE did at night, Ryou?"
Shishido swallowed.
"Errr… not really. No." and added "That's too lame."
"Okay. So ore-sama shall go alone then," Atobe said. Jirou appeared from nowhere before him.
"We'll go! May we, Atobe? Please-please-please-pretty-please!"
"Ah, okay. But keep hold of the dog - he may not like our guests." Keigo headed for the entrance with Jirou and Chizo following.
"Chizo is a good boy, Atobe! Ne, Chizo? Kind and pretty."
"That's because he likes you. He's not always like that."
"Really?"
"Yes. Five years ago this guy bit off a finger from the guy who tried to kidnap ore-sama."
"Really? Sugoi! You're so cool, Chizo! So very suited for your master!" Jirou jumped around with a dog.
"Well of course. Ore-sama chose that dog from a thousand. Here we are, Jirou. Stand still for some time please."
"'kay."
They entered a large hall of a summer house. Tezuka was already there, dressed in a white pants and a light-blue shirt with two buttons undone. Near him there was a boy in a dark-green Bermuda shorts and a dark-red sleeveless shirt. The boy was short, but not as short as Jirou himself was, his hair was fair and his eyes were almost closed. He was smiling kindly. Jirou grinned at him.
"Atobe, that's Fuji Shuusuke, a friend of mine. Fuji, that's Atobe Keigo I've told you about," Tezuka said.
"This guy is Akutagawa Jirou," Atobe added pointing at his comrade.
"Nice to meet you both," Fuji said with a smile.
"Hello!" Jirou smiled and shook his hand. "This is Chizo, Atobe's dog. He is kind and funny. Chizo, say hi!" he told the dog. Chizo gnarred. Jirou stared at the dog. "Chizo, you are a bad boy!"
"Dogs don't like me. None of animals do, so don't worry, Akutagawa-kun," Fuji chuckled.
"Not a surprise," Atobe said looking somehow out-of-body - his eyes were opened wide and glittering a little, like he returned from a dream land a moment ago. Jirou had seen this once before, that was how Insight worked. Atobe returned to being himself and continued: "No reason for a previously wild beast to like the Goddess of Luck who helped people hunt them down."
"Tezuka told me you were strong," Shuusuke tilted his head to the left. "But I'm not actually a Goddess. My sister is."
"Wrong. This Goddess does not live in a person, she lives in a blood. So each and every from your bloodline is a Goddess. She changes families every fifty years, when the last one from the bearer family dies. That's why those families do not last long. And ore-sama knows that you know this too. Trying to test ore-sama, Fuji Shuusuke?" he smirked.
"Not really. Just having fun," the boy answered. Atobe turned to look at Tezuka.
"Ore-sama approves." he said with a cocky smile. Tezuka rolled his eyes. Jirou laughed. Then they went to join up with Oshitari and Shishido in the garden.
*
The day passed quickly and in some kind of peace - Atobe and Tezuka were playing chess, Shishido and Jirou played with Chizo, Oshitari read the book and Fuji watched everybody from his place near Tezuka. When Gakuto woke up and said he was hungry they all proceeded to the dining hall for dinner. After that they returned to what they did before with Fuji changing over with Tezuka. About 9 P.M. arrived Yukimura Seiichi and three more people with him - Niou Masaharu, Yagyuu Hiroshi and Marui Bunta. The only Indigos from Kanagawa, as Atobe said.
Yukimura seemed cheerful and kind, but something was off with him. At some subconscious level Ryou feared this guy. Gakuto seemed to be the same so Ryou asked him why.
"That's his power. It's fearsome. He can control blood pressure in body. Like make your head explode from inside. Or something like that."
"But that's not something Indigo children are to be able to do!"
"Are you an expert? Well, that's what I know anyway," Mukahi pouted. "Maybe he's not Indigo. Maybe he is an X-Man!" he giggled and jumped on Oshitari who was passing by. Ryou hmph'ed and decided not to worry - Atobe's friends were strange, but they did not seem hostile.
Niou was not a typical Indigo too. 'Cause Shishido never heard about the power to change appearance. That was more about "Harry Potter" then Indigo. Atobe explained that that was about deceiving human's senses, a kind of half-mental powers.
"What is 'half-mental'?" Jirou asked.
"He can be recognized by animals that have sharper senses and us telepathists who cannot read the wholly mental types. And Atobe can recognize him too," Oshitari answered. "I guess this Yagyuu person is mental type. I'd assume he is a telepathist like me. Am I right?"
"Yes," Yagyuu answered with a small smile. It seemed he and Oshitari have already found comprehension.
"And I am like Tezuka here - a telekinesis user," Marui said. "But somehow weaker - I've started training only a year ago."
"But he's got good results already," Yukimura said. "He may become equal to Tezuka some time."
"Yeah. Am I not a genius?" Marui laughed.
Jirou quickly took liking in Marui so Bunta joined them in their games. Niou and Yagyuu seemed to be together all the time and Yukimura with Tezuka and Atobe disappeared around midnight. Fuji then asked Oshitari for a chess match. They played 2:2.
It was about 2 A.M. when Jirou fell asleep in a hammock with Chizo under it and Gakuto with Marui went to have cakes so Shishido was left alone. He then suddenly realized that Atobe, Tezuka and Yukimura were absent for two hours already. Ryou sat near Oshitari and Fuji.
"Hey, where is Atobe and others?" he asked.
"They are on a ceremony," Oshitari answered lifting his gaze from the chessboard. "They are doing it every half a year or so. The 'Noblesse Oblige' ceremony."
"What's that? And why only the three of them? I thought we were here for some common business."
"That's the blood-exchange ceremony. We can't join because we appeared too late - they already have mixed blood. It's like the blood oath for friends but with us Indigos it has different side, when made in early childhood and repeated from time to time. But don't ask me anymore - I don't know what's the meaning 'cause I've never made this thing."
"I know," Fuji suddenly said. "Not the complete matter but partly."
Both Shishido and Oshitari looked at him in surprise.
"Tezuka once told me when he used it," Fuji smiled gently. "The meaning is that when the blood of Indigos is mixed permanently for some time, then under some condition they can use each others' powers. Mostly said circumstances are called out by the need to protect normal people or the weakened Indigos, that's why it is called 'Noblesse Oblige' - the duty of the lord to protect his people."
"This sounds so not like Atobe, if you ask me…" said Shishido after a minute of silence. "I mean, he is so full of himself and thinks he can do anything… Why would he need other powers?"
Oshitari suddenly started laughing. Fuji chuckled. Shishido stared at both of them.
"What? What's so funny?"
"You're so typical speeder, Shishido," Oshitari said through his laughter. He took a minute to suppress it and then continued. "Atobe can do a lot of things using only his power. But this power is still a passive one. It's not ability for fights. And sometimes it's not enough to just know the opponent - you need to do something. I can tell you this self-confidently as a mentalist - sometimes I really wish I had active powers, I would have had fewer bruises then."
"Hmm… and how does this ceremony look like?"
"You can go and look yourself, it's in a fencing hall. Atobe likes that room so it's always there," Yuushi turned his head to Fuji. "Shall we continue?"
Fuji smiled and nodded. Ryou went to check the fencing hall.
It did not look actually scary, but Shishido still got shivers when he opened a door. Three boys were sitting on the cushions in a circle, back to back and held hands. The hall was dark, only few candles were near the boys who seemed asleep. Between Atobe and Yukimura, who were the closest, Ryou noticed blood dripping from hands held. Nothing more than a blood oath ceremony, like Oshitari said. Except that it took too long. Why so?
Suddenly Atobe moved a little and his voice broke the silence.
"Wanted something, Shishido?" he did not open his eyes.
Ryou froze.
"Errrr…"
"It's not like you're not allowed to see so stop freaking out," Atobe's lips formed a tired smile. "And we're almost done too. So?"
"Emn… nothing. Was just curious, that's all." Shishido stuttered. "I'm already leaving."
"Your friends are funny, Atobe," Yukimura said when Shishido left.
"Ore-sama thinks so too. Well, shall we stop then? It's been two hours already."
"I agree," Yukimura opened his eyes and let go of both Atobe's and Tezuka's hands. The two of them followed suit. For a brief moment their eyes seemed red but it could only be a candles' light play.
The boys returned to where everybody was, they all (Ryou woke Jirou up) had some tea with what was left of cakes (after Gakuto and Bunta) and then went to sleep.
*
The room is dark and big. Wallpapers are torn in a lot of places and dirty. There is a lot of broken glass - he feels it with his knees. The only light in the room is produced by the hole in the paper-sealed window. He cannot see anyone because he is blindfolded with some dirty cloth, but he feels them. There are three people in the room except for himself - a woman and two men. They are the ones who kidnapped him. It happened when he finished writing a letter to Oshitari and was going to go to sleep. He regrets that he did not finish his sign - the letter was ruined by that long line after 'K'.
Atobe Keigo slept on the armchair. He tried to read in order to not fall asleep but he failed. Ceremony takes too much energy every time, he cannot get used to it.
The room blurs and is back to normal. Now he spits on the biggest guy's face. The man storms off but he knows the man will return.
The book slipped from Atobe's hand and fell on the floor, but he was too deep asleep to notice. Atobe wrinkled in his sleep.
One more blurring and he gasps for air - the man from before beats him up. The man is drunk. His parents take too long and this irritates the kidnappers. The man punches him into the stomach. He protects his face and his chest curling like a puppy. He does not cry. The other two stand in the hole that must have been door ten years ago and smile sadistically. He still refuses to cry. Only breathes hard.
Atobe's breathing became a little unsteady, as if he was in pain. He wrinkled his forehead more and more.
Blur. The same room is empty - he is alone. It seems his every bone ache. And they dared to abuse his parents. He is enraged.
He feels them coming closer. Seems like another punching time. Which one already? Sixth? Seventh? How long is he here?
They won't do it anymore. He's had enough. The ropes on his hands are down already. He takes two little glass pendants from his neck chainlet and opens them. Those bastards never thought this was something special so they left it. That was wrong decision. The pendants are both red - they have blood in them. Precious blood of his first friends. He drinks both.
Keigo squeezed his hands and coughed. He breathed hard in attempt to wake up, but the dream did not let him out. It never does.
Blur. He looks at the woman agonizing in pain - she cannot stand up. She feels her bones crack all over the body, starting with legs, then hands, costal bones and finally the dorsal spine. She screams last few seconds and then falls silent.
It's the same as always. This dream never lets him go. Every time he wakes up shivering and coughing. Nothing helps - pills, massage, exhaustion. Nothing. And it's not over yet.
Both men storm into the room and freeze. Mistake. Their eyes engorge, vessels tear up, ears bleed. Their bodies burst. He does not feel anything - he's still too enraged. He strikes a match and drops it. The room catches fire in a moment. He watches. It starts to ache inside of him too and he suddenly comes to his senses. The pain in his head together with the shock from what he sees causes him to reel so he leans on a wall.
When it seems that the pain is unbearable and he starts to suffocate, the room suddenly blurs once more and shines gently. Someone lightly hugs him from behind. Warm.
"Shhh, shhh… everything is okay… sleep, Kei-chan…"
He somehow starts to breathe deeply, his mind clears from all the pain and the room vanishes completely.
Atobe slowly opened his eyes. This was the first time the dream did not end. The first time in five years he did not wake up covered with sweat and shivering the night after the ceremony. He cleared his mind and looked around. He was in his room, still sitting in the armchair. He tried to bend to get his book and only then he noticed that he was not alone - on the floor slept Jirou, leaning on Keigo's legs and hugging them. Atobe wondered how he did not notice the boy until now. And was the fact the blond slept here connected to Atobe stopping the dream?
In a second Jirou lifted his head. His eyes were still sleepy but he smiled gently. And that's when Atobe understood.
"And I wondered what the real thing behind your power was. There was no way you were just a mental sleepwalker."
"I felt you suffering so I came to help."
Atobe closed his eyes and leaned back in his armchair. In a few seconds he slowly opened his eyes and said:
"Thank you, Jirou."
"You're welcome, Kei-chan." Jirou stood up and stretched, then yawned. The moment of binding was lost. "You should sleep in your bed, Atobe. Sleeping on an armchair is bad for your health."
"Ore-sama tried to stay awake the whole night, until the blood ends mixing, but was too tired. Now ore-sama feels better so ore-sama can stay awake." 'The night is not over yet so the dream is probably to come back.' he thought.
"Go to sleep, Atobe. Or you'll be too exhausted to have fun today. If anything happens… I can stay here with you if you want. So you won't suffer again."
'Why is it so that I found this suggestion so fascinating?'
*
"Hey, Oshitari! Is Atobe still asleep? It's almost eleven!" Shishido came out of the pool and wept water from his face. "I'm not that surprised by Jirou sleeping - I'd even like to know what is the new place for him to fall asleep - but Atobe is usually up early."
Oshitari stopped to spread the sunburn cream on Gakuto's back and stood up. He was rather interested himself - Atobe actually always was up even earlier then always after the ceremony, it was strange for him to sleep this long.
"I guess I shall go wake him up," he said turning to the door.
"Leave him be, Oshitari," the voice came and Yukimura appeared from the house. He was dressed in swimming shorts and a light green shirt. Yukimura's skin was pale, almost white. He was smiling. "Atobe is deep asleep for the first time in five years, we shall not intrude," the boy turned to look at Shishido. "And Jirou-kun is with him, so don't worry."
Ryou stood like he was stroked by the lightning.
"Atobe is sleeping with Jirou? Is there any straight guy here?"
"I don't think Yukimura meant it that way, Shishido," Yuushi spoke up pulling off his shirt and replacing a towel. "I thought so before - Jirou's power has something to do with sleep and that's when Atobe needs him. Let them be…" he looked at Gakuto jump into the pool with a big splash and smiled. "Though I'm still not very positive about them stopping with this. So the answer to your question is probably 'no'," and Oshitari dived into the water too, leaving Shishido astonished. Yukimura put his hand on Shishido's shoulder.
"Bunta is totally straight," he said with a gentle smile. "But I don't think you'll find many more - normal people avoid any abnormality, be it Indigo powers or sexual orientation. Not many Indigos will join a group of gays. But don't let it bother you." the boy went to his lounge.
Ryou looked around and sighed: Tezuka was reading a book, Oshitari and Mukahi… well, he won't look at them, no… Marui, Fuji, Niou and Yagyuu had swimming competition. Maybe he should join them and not bother himself with these themes, really? It has nothing to do with him anyway. Even if Jirou is his friend and a little childish and naïve - he has his own head to think. If he wants… this… then Ryou is not the one to stop him, is he?
Comments are appreciated as always ^_^
Also, starting from this chapter the plot and boys' abilities go far beyond what we call 'Indigo', 'kay? It goes sci-fi ^^' Hope you still like it ^_^
Love you all,
Ji-chan aka Hikarino Aki
Name: My little fairy (Chapter Two)
Author: Ji-chan aka hikarino_aki
Beta: milisante
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Adorable as the main, Dirty and Silver as a background… TeFu... well, maybe more I dunno yet ^___^
Rating: errrr… PG-15 for now (only because of curses) but I plan on R later XD
Disclamer: Sadly, but I own nothing. If I did, PoT would be about Hyoutei… well, maybe it’s not so sad I don’t own it actually ^^
A/N: it’s an AU story, kind of… so the facts are screwed up a little XD I guess one would call it a ‘mafia’ story, but it’s not in the way one may think.
~ Prologue and Chapter One ~
~ Chapter Two ~
~ Chapter three - "Noblesse Oblige" ~
"Start!"
The sound of swords crossing rang through the room. Two boys in the center moved fast, skewers in hands. Step, step, jab - miss - step back and block. Push, jump back and one more jab. Target hit. Jirou grinned and attacked with doubled force. Atobe hit back with a small smile - he obviously enjoyed this fight. They never wore special equipment so everybody could see their expressions. Yuushi entered the hall and watched the two for a while. When Gakuto joined they went to sit down near Ryou who was standing leaning on the wall and observing the fight.
"Morning, Shishido…" said the tensai.
"Yo, Ryou!" Gakuto waved. Shishido only nodded.
"He's pretty good… that Jirou," Ryou said after a minute or so. "Never thought he could be this good after only two months of training…"
"Yeah… however he still has no chances against Atobe." Oshitari answered. "But his footwork is much better now. He may be able to enter Hyoutei tennis club with this… though he does not need any more…" he smiled and continued watching.
"Stop!" the voice called. The boys saluted, bowed to each other and froze waiting for butler to leave. The moment old man closed the door after himself the room was was filled with screaming.
"Sugoi! Atobe you're so cool! So so so cool! When do we continue? I want more! When? When? When?" Jirou jumped around Atobe with shining eyes. Atobe was obviously enjoying himself and entire ruckus Jirou made: his eyes were shining too, though that was mere self-conceit.
"That's ex facte, Jirou. Because ore-sama is ore-sama. Now let's go…" Atobe headed to the observers. "Morning…"
"Morning, Atobe. Jirou, you too." Oshitari said without standing up. Gakuto joined.
"Yo." Shishido waved to both Atobe and Jirou, who was still bouncy and grinning.
"Morning, guys! How was it? Was I any good? Isn't Atobe cool? He's just that great! He really teaches me so many things!.." Jirou would have continued if it was not for Gakuto who jumped at him and closed his mouth - they already knew how great Atobe was 'according to Jirou'.
"So, Atobe," asked Gakuto after Jirou shut up. "Why did you call us all here? We had some business to do with Yuushi."
Atobe rolled his eyes as if saying 'Yeah, ore-sama knows exactly what kind of perverted business it was…' but said different:
"Ore-sama called you all to have a little trip. After ore-sama and Jirou have a shower and change we are going to visit Tezuka."
"Oh," was the only thing Oshitari could say - they did not see Tezuka for some time already. 'Had something happened? Will Yukimura be there too?'
"Who's this Tezuka guy?" Shishido asked. "You talk 'bout him a lot. Is he another… err… Indigo Child?"
"That's correct, Shishido. Clever boy." Atobe smirked. He still treated Shishido like the boy was a kind of clown. Ryou replaced Gakuto who was previously a person Atobe teased unconsciously. Shishido never could adapt to it and that made the teasing more precious. "Well then, ore-sama is going to take a shower. We'll meet in a half an hour at the school entrance. Let's go, Jirou." Atobe left with Jirou following him and Ryou growled.
"I hate this guy."
"Don't say that, Shishido. He's just teasing you," Oshitari laughed.
"That's why I hate him," he sighed. "Never mind. So, who is Tezuka then? Another one of our 'party'?"
"No, he is not. He's just… let's see… one of the two Atobe's first friends I guess? Though you would never think they are actually friends."
"How's that?"
"Just like that. One would never see any attraction or similarities between them. They are much more of opposites. But Tezuka was the first Indigo Atobe met. One of the two. The second one is Yukimura. They know each other for ages now."
"But he is not in the same team?"
"Neither he nor Yukimura. They have some conflict in attitude. That's why I say one never think they could be friends. But they still are. Even I don't know why. Should we head outside? It's almost time and I want to have a smoke before Atobe comes. Gakuto, let's go." Oshitari raised his voice for the boy (who was jumping in the center of the room) to hear. Gakuto turned to them and grinned, coming back.
"You smoke? Never saw you smoking…" Shishido asked.
"Very rarely. But now I feel like that…" Oshitari scowled and then left the room. The other two followed.
*
The car stopped at the entrance of an old-styled Japanese building. Shishido stared at it for some time. The house was not as big as Atobe's mansion, but still not very small too. 'It should be quite expensive to have such a house in the center of Tokyo. So this Tezuka guy is not poor too.' he thought. They left a car and proceeded to the house. Atobe guided them behind it and to a building that looked like a dojo. There were thuds and sounds of punches heard from there. They stopped a meter before the door when Atobe came forward and opened it. Behind the door there were two men fighting. Both were tall and one was rather old. But despite his age the older man was good. Ryou thought he could not win over this man. The younger man was sweating and breathing hard but his moves were still fast and well-directed. Old man blocked almost all of them and never dodged so Shishido decided they were training power control.
Neither of the fighters paid attention to the sudden intruders so they just watched till the end. After few more punches were blocked the old man smiled and said "Enough" so they stopped. The young man bowed, the old one nodded and turned to see the guests while the young one wiped sweat from his face.
"Keigo. Long time no see. Oshitari and Mukahi too. And who are those two?" the old man said. Atobe smirked and bowed.
"Long time no see, Kunikazu-san. Let me introduce my new team mates, Shishido Ryou and Akutagawa Jirou." Keigo turned back to his friends. "Shishido, Jirou, this person is Tezuka Kunikazu, the Tezuka Family head and my first martial arts teacher. And the one sweating behind him is his grandson Kunimitsu." Kunikazu smiled and looked behind him at a youngster approaching. The boy had dark-fair hair and wore glasses. He sighed at Atobe's introduction of him.
"I'm going to have shower and then head for school, Atobe. I have a tennis team meeting today." he said.
"Well, then ore-sama should offer you a ride to school, shouldn't I? We'll wait for you, so go ahead."
"The same as ever, aren't you, Keigo?" Kunikazu smirked while his grandson rolled eyes and sighed, passing them. "Would you like some cold green tea, children? It's rather hot today."
"Thank you," Atobe said and they followed Kunikazu to the house.
After a cup of tea Tezuka's mother Ayana offered them, they waited for Kunimitsu to show up at the gate. Then the six of them rode to Seigaku. Ryou was rather shocked at the fact Tezuka went to a normal school, not some private one, but he kept silent - Tezuka did not look like he enjoyed company. The boy sat with his eyes closed and only reacted for some of Atobe's points.
"So, Tezuka, how is it in Seigaku?"
"Nothing changed since you last asked two days ago."
"Ore-sama is going to look at your practice."
"Strangers are not allowed to the court, you know it perfectly, Atobe. Anyway, what for?"
"Then you should do something about it - ore-sama wants to see that prodigy of yours, Fuji."
"Again - what for?"
"Well, ore-sama is rather curious at the person that managed to steal your heart, Tezuka."
"Don't speak nonsense, Atobe. There is nothing about me and Fuji that needs your attention."
"Ore-sama does not think so, Tezuka. That guy must be something interesting." Tezuka ignored him. "And ore-sama wanted to invite you both to the beach party when the semester is over. Take your team - we may have a friendly match if you want. Yukimura will come too."
That seemed to wake Tezuka from slumber. His eyes opened and he looked at Atobe seriously.
"Did something happen again?"
"Not quite yet. But something's approaching."
"Okay," Tezuka sighed and opened the door - the car was already near the school gates. "I'll come. Fuji will come too, so no need for you to distract our regulars - we have an important match in few days. Send me the meeting point and time." and he closed the door.
"Well, well, and ore-sama was actually interested. Okay, let's wait a little." Atobe leaned back and turned face to Jirou who was sleeping the whole ride. "Jirou, wake up. We'll start practice in fifteen minutes."
*
"Hey, Oshitari," Ryou approached Yuushi and leaned at a wall behind him. "What's with that Tezuka guy? I don't get him at all."
They were as always watching Atobe and Jirou fencing and Ryou decided to ask what he wanted to.
"What exactly do you want to know?" genius did not turn to face his opponent and continued watching the two in the center. Ryou did not actually mind now.
"Well… anything I suppose…" he paused and when Oshitari did not answer he continued. "Like what is his power and what is about that conflict in attitude they had with Atobe… and so on."
Oshitari 'hmph'ed and stood up.
"Let's go outside."
They left the room and Oshitari went to the window with the litter-basket near it. Shishido followed. Yuushi fished a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it up.
"Looks like you smoke every time Tezuka is mentioned," Ryou sounded surprised.
"Kind of. I don't actually like him. You can even say I'm afraid of that person." Yuushi inhaled and shook off ash. "I never thought powers like his could be used… well, like THAT." he chuckled.
"Like what?"
"Hmmm… you see, Tezuka's power is telekinesis. You know - moving things with your thought only."
"Yeah I know what that means. So what?"
"The first day I met Tezuka I saw a very freak way of using it. Though he actually saved us all… I would never think of this way. His brain works in rather scary way." Oshitari fell silent for a moment before continuing. "That day we were attacked by kidnappers. You know - we all are from wealthy families and so… Anyways, they trooped the three of us - Atobe, me and Tezuka - round and attacked. We were young and not so good of a fighters so we were at a disadvantage. And that's when I heard Tezuka thinking. He is not mental type so I can hear him. But after that day I prefer not to. He was thinking about calling for those guys' bones to come to him with his powers. You understand it, right? To actually call the bones to leave bodies. His power was not enough to manage the whole process but enough to cause the level of pain when person cannot stay sane. All the screaming was awful - we were children after all. But the whole idea was much more of a shock for me. That's why I prefer being closed and I always get nervous whenever Tezuka is around. Did I answer your first question?"
"Wow…" Ryou stared at Yuushi in shock. "Really scary. And he does not look like a sadist…"
"He is not a sadist. Just a little extraordinary. And well, that was not a normal situation too. I don't blame him - I'm far from being an angel myself - but it just freaks me out to think about it."
"Was that the reason for him and Atobe to part ways then?"
"No," Oshitari threw cigarette end into a bin and pushed himself off the windowsill. "It's a whole different matter. Atobe always wanted to be surrounded by the likes of him. And Tezuka likes peasants." Yuushi smiled and returned to the gym.
*
The day of the beach party came. Atobe Family's beach house was not as big as the main mansion but still impressive enough for Jirou to run around laughing. Ryou almost got a headache looking at Sleeping Beauty being here and the next moment there.
"Who said I was fast? I don't stand a chance against him…" he laughed. Jirou grinned happily.
"Ne, Atobe! That's soooooo cool! I like this place! Is it okay to go to the beach yet?"
"Wait a little, Jirou," Atobe stopped the boy. He breathed deeply, smiling, and for a moment his gaze became dreamy. But he returned to being himself the next moment. "We'll go to the beach in few hours, when everyone arrives, so just a little patience."
Jirou pouted, but then ran to the playground - it appeared that Atobe had a dog, a pure-breed Akita-inu named Chizo, who was very much like Jirou, so they played together all the time.
"Atobe-bocchama, Tezuka-sama and his friend arrived," the butler bowed.
"Yes, ore-sama will go greet them at once. Shishido, Oshitari, willing to join?"
"I'll pass," Oshitari lied on a lounge with a book and seemed to be going to spend all the time left like this.
"Me too," said Shishido and then grinned deviously. "Wanna find Mukahi and torment him a little."
"Don't bother yourself, Shishido," Oshitari re-adjusted his glasses and spoke before returning to his book. "Gakuto is too deep asleep now, you won't be able to wake him up even using a bomb."
"Hah? Why is he asleep? It's the middle of the day! What did he do at night?"
Oshitari looked at Ryou with a smirk on his lips.
"Do you REALLY wanna know what WE did at night, Ryou?"
Shishido swallowed.
"Errr… not really. No." and added "That's too lame."
"Okay. So ore-sama shall go alone then," Atobe said. Jirou appeared from nowhere before him.
"We'll go! May we, Atobe? Please-please-please-pretty-please!"
"Ah, okay. But keep hold of the dog - he may not like our guests." Keigo headed for the entrance with Jirou and Chizo following.
"Chizo is a good boy, Atobe! Ne, Chizo? Kind and pretty."
"That's because he likes you. He's not always like that."
"Really?"
"Yes. Five years ago this guy bit off a finger from the guy who tried to kidnap ore-sama."
"Really? Sugoi! You're so cool, Chizo! So very suited for your master!" Jirou jumped around with a dog.
"Well of course. Ore-sama chose that dog from a thousand. Here we are, Jirou. Stand still for some time please."
"'kay."
They entered a large hall of a summer house. Tezuka was already there, dressed in a white pants and a light-blue shirt with two buttons undone. Near him there was a boy in a dark-green Bermuda shorts and a dark-red sleeveless shirt. The boy was short, but not as short as Jirou himself was, his hair was fair and his eyes were almost closed. He was smiling kindly. Jirou grinned at him.
"Atobe, that's Fuji Shuusuke, a friend of mine. Fuji, that's Atobe Keigo I've told you about," Tezuka said.
"This guy is Akutagawa Jirou," Atobe added pointing at his comrade.
"Nice to meet you both," Fuji said with a smile.
"Hello!" Jirou smiled and shook his hand. "This is Chizo, Atobe's dog. He is kind and funny. Chizo, say hi!" he told the dog. Chizo gnarred. Jirou stared at the dog. "Chizo, you are a bad boy!"
"Dogs don't like me. None of animals do, so don't worry, Akutagawa-kun," Fuji chuckled.
"Not a surprise," Atobe said looking somehow out-of-body - his eyes were opened wide and glittering a little, like he returned from a dream land a moment ago. Jirou had seen this once before, that was how Insight worked. Atobe returned to being himself and continued: "No reason for a previously wild beast to like the Goddess of Luck who helped people hunt them down."
"Tezuka told me you were strong," Shuusuke tilted his head to the left. "But I'm not actually a Goddess. My sister is."
"Wrong. This Goddess does not live in a person, she lives in a blood. So each and every from your bloodline is a Goddess. She changes families every fifty years, when the last one from the bearer family dies. That's why those families do not last long. And ore-sama knows that you know this too. Trying to test ore-sama, Fuji Shuusuke?" he smirked.
"Not really. Just having fun," the boy answered. Atobe turned to look at Tezuka.
"Ore-sama approves." he said with a cocky smile. Tezuka rolled his eyes. Jirou laughed. Then they went to join up with Oshitari and Shishido in the garden.
*
The day passed quickly and in some kind of peace - Atobe and Tezuka were playing chess, Shishido and Jirou played with Chizo, Oshitari read the book and Fuji watched everybody from his place near Tezuka. When Gakuto woke up and said he was hungry they all proceeded to the dining hall for dinner. After that they returned to what they did before with Fuji changing over with Tezuka. About 9 P.M. arrived Yukimura Seiichi and three more people with him - Niou Masaharu, Yagyuu Hiroshi and Marui Bunta. The only Indigos from Kanagawa, as Atobe said.
Yukimura seemed cheerful and kind, but something was off with him. At some subconscious level Ryou feared this guy. Gakuto seemed to be the same so Ryou asked him why.
"That's his power. It's fearsome. He can control blood pressure in body. Like make your head explode from inside. Or something like that."
"But that's not something Indigo children are to be able to do!"
"Are you an expert? Well, that's what I know anyway," Mukahi pouted. "Maybe he's not Indigo. Maybe he is an X-Man!" he giggled and jumped on Oshitari who was passing by. Ryou hmph'ed and decided not to worry - Atobe's friends were strange, but they did not seem hostile.
Niou was not a typical Indigo too. 'Cause Shishido never heard about the power to change appearance. That was more about "Harry Potter" then Indigo. Atobe explained that that was about deceiving human's senses, a kind of half-mental powers.
"What is 'half-mental'?" Jirou asked.
"He can be recognized by animals that have sharper senses and us telepathists who cannot read the wholly mental types. And Atobe can recognize him too," Oshitari answered. "I guess this Yagyuu person is mental type. I'd assume he is a telepathist like me. Am I right?"
"Yes," Yagyuu answered with a small smile. It seemed he and Oshitari have already found comprehension.
"And I am like Tezuka here - a telekinesis user," Marui said. "But somehow weaker - I've started training only a year ago."
"But he's got good results already," Yukimura said. "He may become equal to Tezuka some time."
"Yeah. Am I not a genius?" Marui laughed.
Jirou quickly took liking in Marui so Bunta joined them in their games. Niou and Yagyuu seemed to be together all the time and Yukimura with Tezuka and Atobe disappeared around midnight. Fuji then asked Oshitari for a chess match. They played 2:2.
It was about 2 A.M. when Jirou fell asleep in a hammock with Chizo under it and Gakuto with Marui went to have cakes so Shishido was left alone. He then suddenly realized that Atobe, Tezuka and Yukimura were absent for two hours already. Ryou sat near Oshitari and Fuji.
"Hey, where is Atobe and others?" he asked.
"They are on a ceremony," Oshitari answered lifting his gaze from the chessboard. "They are doing it every half a year or so. The 'Noblesse Oblige' ceremony."
"What's that? And why only the three of them? I thought we were here for some common business."
"That's the blood-exchange ceremony. We can't join because we appeared too late - they already have mixed blood. It's like the blood oath for friends but with us Indigos it has different side, when made in early childhood and repeated from time to time. But don't ask me anymore - I don't know what's the meaning 'cause I've never made this thing."
"I know," Fuji suddenly said. "Not the complete matter but partly."
Both Shishido and Oshitari looked at him in surprise.
"Tezuka once told me when he used it," Fuji smiled gently. "The meaning is that when the blood of Indigos is mixed permanently for some time, then under some condition they can use each others' powers. Mostly said circumstances are called out by the need to protect normal people or the weakened Indigos, that's why it is called 'Noblesse Oblige' - the duty of the lord to protect his people."
"This sounds so not like Atobe, if you ask me…" said Shishido after a minute of silence. "I mean, he is so full of himself and thinks he can do anything… Why would he need other powers?"
Oshitari suddenly started laughing. Fuji chuckled. Shishido stared at both of them.
"What? What's so funny?"
"You're so typical speeder, Shishido," Oshitari said through his laughter. He took a minute to suppress it and then continued. "Atobe can do a lot of things using only his power. But this power is still a passive one. It's not ability for fights. And sometimes it's not enough to just know the opponent - you need to do something. I can tell you this self-confidently as a mentalist - sometimes I really wish I had active powers, I would have had fewer bruises then."
"Hmm… and how does this ceremony look like?"
"You can go and look yourself, it's in a fencing hall. Atobe likes that room so it's always there," Yuushi turned his head to Fuji. "Shall we continue?"
Fuji smiled and nodded. Ryou went to check the fencing hall.
It did not look actually scary, but Shishido still got shivers when he opened a door. Three boys were sitting on the cushions in a circle, back to back and held hands. The hall was dark, only few candles were near the boys who seemed asleep. Between Atobe and Yukimura, who were the closest, Ryou noticed blood dripping from hands held. Nothing more than a blood oath ceremony, like Oshitari said. Except that it took too long. Why so?
Suddenly Atobe moved a little and his voice broke the silence.
"Wanted something, Shishido?" he did not open his eyes.
Ryou froze.
"Errrr…"
"It's not like you're not allowed to see so stop freaking out," Atobe's lips formed a tired smile. "And we're almost done too. So?"
"Emn… nothing. Was just curious, that's all." Shishido stuttered. "I'm already leaving."
"Your friends are funny, Atobe," Yukimura said when Shishido left.
"Ore-sama thinks so too. Well, shall we stop then? It's been two hours already."
"I agree," Yukimura opened his eyes and let go of both Atobe's and Tezuka's hands. The two of them followed suit. For a brief moment their eyes seemed red but it could only be a candles' light play.
The boys returned to where everybody was, they all (Ryou woke Jirou up) had some tea with what was left of cakes (after Gakuto and Bunta) and then went to sleep.
*
The room is dark and big. Wallpapers are torn in a lot of places and dirty. There is a lot of broken glass - he feels it with his knees. The only light in the room is produced by the hole in the paper-sealed window. He cannot see anyone because he is blindfolded with some dirty cloth, but he feels them. There are three people in the room except for himself - a woman and two men. They are the ones who kidnapped him. It happened when he finished writing a letter to Oshitari and was going to go to sleep. He regrets that he did not finish his sign - the letter was ruined by that long line after 'K'.
Atobe Keigo slept on the armchair. He tried to read in order to not fall asleep but he failed. Ceremony takes too much energy every time, he cannot get used to it.
The room blurs and is back to normal. Now he spits on the biggest guy's face. The man storms off but he knows the man will return.
The book slipped from Atobe's hand and fell on the floor, but he was too deep asleep to notice. Atobe wrinkled in his sleep.
One more blurring and he gasps for air - the man from before beats him up. The man is drunk. His parents take too long and this irritates the kidnappers. The man punches him into the stomach. He protects his face and his chest curling like a puppy. He does not cry. The other two stand in the hole that must have been door ten years ago and smile sadistically. He still refuses to cry. Only breathes hard.
Atobe's breathing became a little unsteady, as if he was in pain. He wrinkled his forehead more and more.
Blur. The same room is empty - he is alone. It seems his every bone ache. And they dared to abuse his parents. He is enraged.
He feels them coming closer. Seems like another punching time. Which one already? Sixth? Seventh? How long is he here?
They won't do it anymore. He's had enough. The ropes on his hands are down already. He takes two little glass pendants from his neck chainlet and opens them. Those bastards never thought this was something special so they left it. That was wrong decision. The pendants are both red - they have blood in them. Precious blood of his first friends. He drinks both.
Keigo squeezed his hands and coughed. He breathed hard in attempt to wake up, but the dream did not let him out. It never does.
Blur. He looks at the woman agonizing in pain - she cannot stand up. She feels her bones crack all over the body, starting with legs, then hands, costal bones and finally the dorsal spine. She screams last few seconds and then falls silent.
It's the same as always. This dream never lets him go. Every time he wakes up shivering and coughing. Nothing helps - pills, massage, exhaustion. Nothing. And it's not over yet.
Both men storm into the room and freeze. Mistake. Their eyes engorge, vessels tear up, ears bleed. Their bodies burst. He does not feel anything - he's still too enraged. He strikes a match and drops it. The room catches fire in a moment. He watches. It starts to ache inside of him too and he suddenly comes to his senses. The pain in his head together with the shock from what he sees causes him to reel so he leans on a wall.
When it seems that the pain is unbearable and he starts to suffocate, the room suddenly blurs once more and shines gently. Someone lightly hugs him from behind. Warm.
"Shhh, shhh… everything is okay… sleep, Kei-chan…"
He somehow starts to breathe deeply, his mind clears from all the pain and the room vanishes completely.
Atobe slowly opened his eyes. This was the first time the dream did not end. The first time in five years he did not wake up covered with sweat and shivering the night after the ceremony. He cleared his mind and looked around. He was in his room, still sitting in the armchair. He tried to bend to get his book and only then he noticed that he was not alone - on the floor slept Jirou, leaning on Keigo's legs and hugging them. Atobe wondered how he did not notice the boy until now. And was the fact the blond slept here connected to Atobe stopping the dream?
In a second Jirou lifted his head. His eyes were still sleepy but he smiled gently. And that's when Atobe understood.
"And I wondered what the real thing behind your power was. There was no way you were just a mental sleepwalker."
"I felt you suffering so I came to help."
Atobe closed his eyes and leaned back in his armchair. In a few seconds he slowly opened his eyes and said:
"Thank you, Jirou."
"You're welcome, Kei-chan." Jirou stood up and stretched, then yawned. The moment of binding was lost. "You should sleep in your bed, Atobe. Sleeping on an armchair is bad for your health."
"Ore-sama tried to stay awake the whole night, until the blood ends mixing, but was too tired. Now ore-sama feels better so ore-sama can stay awake." 'The night is not over yet so the dream is probably to come back.' he thought.
"Go to sleep, Atobe. Or you'll be too exhausted to have fun today. If anything happens… I can stay here with you if you want. So you won't suffer again."
'Why is it so that I found this suggestion so fascinating?'
*
"Hey, Oshitari! Is Atobe still asleep? It's almost eleven!" Shishido came out of the pool and wept water from his face. "I'm not that surprised by Jirou sleeping - I'd even like to know what is the new place for him to fall asleep - but Atobe is usually up early."
Oshitari stopped to spread the sunburn cream on Gakuto's back and stood up. He was rather interested himself - Atobe actually always was up even earlier then always after the ceremony, it was strange for him to sleep this long.
"I guess I shall go wake him up," he said turning to the door.
"Leave him be, Oshitari," the voice came and Yukimura appeared from the house. He was dressed in swimming shorts and a light green shirt. Yukimura's skin was pale, almost white. He was smiling. "Atobe is deep asleep for the first time in five years, we shall not intrude," the boy turned to look at Shishido. "And Jirou-kun is with him, so don't worry."
Ryou stood like he was stroked by the lightning.
"Atobe is sleeping with Jirou? Is there any straight guy here?"
"I don't think Yukimura meant it that way, Shishido," Yuushi spoke up pulling off his shirt and replacing a towel. "I thought so before - Jirou's power has something to do with sleep and that's when Atobe needs him. Let them be…" he looked at Gakuto jump into the pool with a big splash and smiled. "Though I'm still not very positive about them stopping with this. So the answer to your question is probably 'no'," and Oshitari dived into the water too, leaving Shishido astonished. Yukimura put his hand on Shishido's shoulder.
"Bunta is totally straight," he said with a gentle smile. "But I don't think you'll find many more - normal people avoid any abnormality, be it Indigo powers or sexual orientation. Not many Indigos will join a group of gays. But don't let it bother you." the boy went to his lounge.
Ryou looked around and sighed: Tezuka was reading a book, Oshitari and Mukahi… well, he won't look at them, no… Marui, Fuji, Niou and Yagyuu had swimming competition. Maybe he should join them and not bother himself with these themes, really? It has nothing to do with him anyway. Even if Jirou is his friend and a little childish and naïve - he has his own head to think. If he wants… this… then Ryou is not the one to stop him, is he?
Comments are appreciated as always ^_^