[ShouxHiroto] RUMWOLF [Track 15: Responsibilities]
TITLE: RUMWOLF
CHAPTER: 15
RATING: R (Overall Story)
GENRE: AU; Romance (BL), Drama&Comedy, Action/Adventure, slight Supernatural/Paranormal
PAIRINGS: ShouxHiroto, previous/mentions of Hirotox??, implied/hinted ToraxSaga
BAND: Alice Nine
SIDE BANDS: the GazettE, Danger Gang, SuG, Dir en Grey
CAMEOS: ??? (Ch. 15)
SUMMARY: Four years ago, there was an accident affecting two entirely different worlds of two individuals. This accident led Ogata Hiroto to grow into a jaded young adult who becomes entangled in the dark, cold world of a nightlife he never expected to lead in order to fulfill his personal ambitions. One fateful day, on a morning walk with his pet Pomeranian, Mogu, he meets a young man who calls himself Shou. Will Hiroto's four years of hard work and effort to reach his goal be thrown away to waste or will it finally be rewarded through this meeting?
WARNINGS: Intimate actions between men, sexual references, language, violence, racing, mentions of heavy chain-smoking and alcohol abuse...err, I don't think that's the end.
PREVIOUS CHAPTERS: Prologue // 01 // 02 // 03 // 04 // 05 // 06 // 07 // 08 // 09 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14
Track 15: Responsibilities
Hiroto gaped at his apartment. Even though he had lived here for four years, it felt like he was walking into it for the first time...but there was a familiarness in the atmosphere.
As if he had been doing it for ages, he lined up his boots with the other shoes after toeing them off. Then he casually strolled into the kitchen and headed towards the fridge for a can of beer. After popping it open, the cool, bitter liquid trickled his throat as he chugged it down. There was no nausea or disgust; it was a part of a foreign routine that was so familiar.
After setting aside the can of beer, he opened the freezer and didn't seem to be surprised at the surplus of ice cream. In a way, he had expected it. It was natural. He wasn't surprised by his collection of games or by his expensive Macbook either, nor was he surprised by his flat screen TV or by his pricey but comfortable furniture.
Most of all, he wasn't surprised by the lack of a guitar or two. He wasn't shocked at all by the emptiness in his being. The room that his music had formerly taken up was missing, but rather than moping about it, he felt a long lost reason buried within his mind somewhere. Just as Shou had said, his memories were locked up somewhere within Hiroto himself.
Shou...
The blonde whirled around, expecting to face Shou, but the brunet had long disappeared. Shou had only dropped Hiroto off at the apartment complex and returned to work shortly after giving the younger directions. It was needless to say that he was disappointed. A sigh crawled past his lips as discontent weighed heavily on his shoulders. He should have known that Shou still had to work since lunch hour wasn't over just yet. He would have to ask his questions later.
Fortunately, little puppy pawing his leg reminded him that Shou would be back by dinner time and thus lifted up some of the disappointment he felt within his body. Dinner time would come around sooner or later. In the meanwhile, Hiroto would have to find something to occupy himself. For a few hours, he would play with Mogu, play video games, and play with his closet before finding himself absolutely bored beyond belief.
If only he had his guitar...
Hiroto wondered why he had given up music but didn't dwell on it too long. There must have been a good reason. Surely, it must have been something important. After all, music was his life. Something must have happened...something understandable and something reasonable. Hiroto knew that he wouldn't give up music for just anything. He just didn't know what it was that he gave up his dreams for...but it'll come back to him sooner or later.
At least, he hoped so.
Hiroto shook his head.
There's no room to be depressed.
After clearing his head, the blonde marched over to his room and picked up his wallet. With mild curiosity lingering in his mind, he opened it up and gawked at the sight. What on earth did he do to have so much pocket money?! Being a waiter, he doubted that Shou was capable of paying the rent of this large-scale and uptown apartment by himself since he said that Hiroto wasn't employed.
Had Hiroto somehow become spoiled by a rich patron? Or was he self-employed? That didn't sound right though. Hiroto was never a business person; at least, he didn't think so.
After pursing his lips and digging through his head for an explanation to his large wallet, Hiroto shrugged the matter off his shoulders. He would hurt his head if he thought anymore, he was sure of that. Also, there was no doubt that it was his money, so he had the right to spend it. That much was certain as well.
Once he grabbed Mogu's leash and clipped it around his collar, he led Mogu out of the apartment. As soon as he stepped into the elevator, he was joined by a silver haired man with black chunks in his hair. There was a familiarness to this person as well, and Hiroto could only assume that he knew this person. Upon noticing Hiroto, the stranger smiled and greeted him. "I've heard from Shou-kun," he said, "that you were in an accident. Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine," Hiroto answered, pursing his lips. Should he ask the question that has been lingering on his mind. He decided to give it a shot. "Who are you?"
The surprise on the man's face told him more than enough that this person was well-acquainted with Hiroto. "So you really have lost your memories," he thought aloud. "I was told that, but I didn't know how much you've forgotten. I'm Teru, your landlord."
Hiroto's lips curved into an O. "I see..." he murmured.
"So where are you heading now?" Teru inquired just as a means to start a conversation.
"I'm not really sure," Hiroto answered him. "Just out, I guess. I was bored stuck in my apartment."
Teru laughed. "Just the same as always, I see. Over the past four years, you've been saying the same thing every time I see you out," Teru mused. "Although, that kind of stopped last week."
"Why last week?" Hiroto questioned.
Teru hummed. "Well, last week, Shou-kun moved in with you. Even though you've only known each other for a week, it is quite surprising to see how close you two have become," he pondered before getting off on ground level. "I have to run some errands, so I'll see you around, Ogata-kun!" With that, Teru had left Hiroto to do whatever he pleased.
The blonde took Mogu out for a walk in Shibuya, often glancing through shop windows. Occasionally, girls -- and a small number of guys -- would stop to giggle and whisper about the two of them. However, he was distracted most of the time, so he didn't pay much attention to the gossipers. His thoughts danced about in his mind endlessly and nearly drove him to exhaustion.
For one thing, he couldn't help but wonder why he still carried around his iPhone. There were only twelve numbers in his contacts, and several of the names were foreign to him. He assumed that they belonged to people he met over the past approximate four years...although he did wonder why he didn't have over twenty contacts in his phone. He didn't remember his graduation, but he was sure that some of the girls in his class would have gained some more confidence to give him their numbers by then. He originally had over seventy contacts, after all. Oh well, it didn't matter all that much to him. At least one of the numbers belonged to Shou. Of course I have his number, Hiroto scolded himself. He's my roommate. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but wish and hope for Shou to call him or text him to help relieve his boredom.
Well, it didn't have to be Shou, Hiroto told himself. It could be Takashi or Shinji or Nao-san... Yet the idea and possibility of Shou sending him a message sent a delightful jolt of electricity through his body that increased his heart rate little by little. Evidently, he had only known Shou for a week, yet his body reacted this way to Shou's being and very existence. The blonde shook his head. It had to be his imagination. He possibly couldn't have fallen for Shou already. It didn't seem rational. It was simply unreal.
...right?
Every thought was erased from his mind the moment Hiroto paused in his steps. His eyes had caught a glimpse of some shining sterling silver a few paces back. The blonde then turned his head and found himself staring into the windows of a jewelry shop. Mogu had long ceased his walking the moment he realized Hiroto had stopped his train of thoughts as well. That made it easier for Hiroto to lean over, pick up his Pomeranian, and push open the door of the shop. Immediately, the clerk attempted to persuade Hiroto to leave Mogu outside, but Hiroto merely pointed to the pair of necklaces.
"I want to buy them."
&&
The lunch shift had just ended, but instead of feeling the relief of coming home, Shou entered their apartment with solemn eyes. After Aoi had confronted him about his identity, he couldn't help but look over his shoulder cautiously and suspiciously -- at everyone and everything. The knowledge of his father's men actively hunting him down evolved into something among the lines of paranoia, and he hated it. Then he had to come home and worry about Hiroto's well-being... Then he had to come home and hide all of his secrets from Hiroto again.
Somehow, the sullen expression on his face was wiped off when Hiroto, clad in pajamas, appeared in front of him with a beaming smile. The first thing he noticed was the brand new necklace resting against Hiroto's pale skin with a black star and silver key acting as the charms. Shou smiled softly. "Nice necklace," he complimented before unlacing his boots and pulling them off.
The grin on Hiroto's lips widened. "You noticed!" he chirped with excitement overtaking his being. "I got you one, too!" With that being said, he brought out another necklace -- only this one had a white star with a silver lock. Shou's heart fluttered when Hiroto grasped his hand and pulled him along. The single word "Why?" wouldn't leave his lips -- not even in the form of nonsense. Instead, he sat down obediently on the sofa as Hiroto clasped the accessory around his neck. The cold silver burned into his skin, and the question finally left his lips as he fingered the accessory gingerly.
"Why did you buy...these?"
Hiroto sat down beside him -- awfully close -- and blushed. "Because..." he mumbled. "Are we together? We are...aren't we? Be honest."
Shou choked and felt himself flush as well. "W-Where did you get that idea? Didn't I tell you before your discharge?" he asked the blonde. "We're just roommates." Even though those words left his lips, he couldn't breathe when Hiroto rested his head against his shoulder. His lungs seemed to stop functioning all together. He could feel his breath hitch in his throat, and he could neither swallow it nor exhale. Guilt pulled at his heart, squeezing it and ripping it apart, when it told Shou and constantly reminded him not to take advantage of Hiroto in his current state. His body tensed with growing fear, and it was a tension Hiroto blatantly ignored.
"It makes sense though," Hiroto insisted. He inched closer and closer to Shou with each point he made. "It explains why my heart hurts so much, why I'm so sensitive of your emotions, why I couldn't feel anything anymore with Waka, and why I so easily welcomed you into my apartment. Takashi said it was weird for me to have a roommate, and I thought it was kind of strange, too. Nobody knows anything about you but the future me."
"Where's Mogu?" Shou blurted out as his eyes scanned his apartment for the golden Pomeranian. He had to change the topic somehow. Their relationship was meant to be one of roommates. Nothing more. He would be treading on dangerous territory if this conversation continued. He had to distract Hiroto, divert his attention, somehow.
Hiroto grinned cheekily. "We went for a long walk since someone hasn't exactly been taking my baby out for exercise yesterday when I was in the hospital," he answered pointedly. "The darling is knocked out in his bed."
In a blink of an eye, Hiroto had taken advantage of the situation.
Shou gulped as Hiroto straddled his waist and smiled deviously. Their fingers laced together as Hiroto leaned towards his lips. It seemed like hours before their noses were only centimeters apart. Shou blurted out, "Hiroto, you're mistaken," but Hiroto brushed aside his outburst and planted his lips gently against Shou's.
They were soft...so soft it felt like they barely brushed against Shou's lips, but the faint taste of beer had proven that Hiroto had indeed kissed him. He's a little tipsy, Shou thought rather sadly and rather grimly. Disappointment piled in his stomach at the realization. Should he be disappointed? Shou didn't know; in fact, he wasn't quite sure what he should be feeling.
Hiroto's hand reached out for Shou and brushed his fingers tenderly against the taller man's lower lip just as his lips had previously. Shou thought back to the third morning they were together as roommates. Hiroto had also touched him in a similar way back then. Shou didn't deny that there was a natural attraction that brought the two of them together. He knew it was there, but now he knew that it wasn't in the form of the force that brought two children in kindergarten together to become best friends. It was something else, something deeper and something different, possibly even something intimate, yet he still couldn't bring himself initiate a kiss -- not with Hiroto so confused.
"Hiroto, stop," Shou whispered against his heart's raging emotions as the younger man leaned in again. The blonde didn't heed to Shou's request though, and their lips locked once more -- firmer but just as gently. It was just as hesitant, just as mystified, and just as emotional as the first kiss. Moreover, it was just as electrifying as the first kiss. Shou could feel his sensory nerves exploding.
That was enough to tell him that he couldn't do this. He couldn't. He just couldn't...
Hiroto pulled away.
"The spark is there," he murmured as a small fist rested against his heart. He shyly glanced at Shou. "I loved you, didn't I? Or rather, I love you...even now."
"Hiroto, we were never a couple," Shou informed him quietly. He grasped his shoulders with a hesitant grip and repeated, "We're just roommates."
Hiroto's eyes widened. "You're lying," he cried. "If we were just roommates, I wouldn't be feeling this way. I wouldn't be feeling so conflicted, I wouldn't be feeling so hurt, and I wouldn't be feeling this...this urge to be by your side for as long as I can." Stray tears rolled down Hiroto's cheeks from his watery eyes as he continued to stare up at Shou. "From the moment you entered my hospital room, I felt something. I don't know what, but it was something that nobody else had. You can't tell me that we're just roommates because I loved you, and even now I love you. I may not remember you, but this body certainly does!"
Shou cupped Hiroto's face and wiped away Hiroto's tears with his thumb. He didn't know what to do. The only thing he could think about was taking care of Hiroto. Therefore, he brought himself to ask the blonde, "Have you ate dinner?"
Hiroto removed his hands and rolled over to the far end of the sectional, curling into a ball.
"I'm not hungry."
"Hiroto--" Shou stopped and sighed. "I'm sorry. I really am. I...but I can't love you. Not now."
Hiroto shot up and glared furiously at Shou. "Then when?! Why?! Is it because I have the mind of a seventeen year old?! You said it yourself that I'm still Hiroto--" The blonde stopped when Shou brought him into his arms.
"That's why," he whispered. "Because you're Hiroto, I don't deserve you. You hardly know who I am, but I know just about everything there is to you. You don't know that I'll only cause you pain if we're together romantically. This is the only way I can protect you." The tears that he had wiped away returned, soaking his shirt, as Hiroto cursed and swore him under his breath.
"Fuck that, fuck you, fuck..." Hiroto grumbled. "Don't give me that bullshit. I know who you are. I know that you're my claustrophobic roommate who ran away from a good family for personal reasons and who just started how to cook and who watches over Mogu whenever I'm gone and who cries watching Korean dramas with emotional scenes and who likes watching movies with good life lessons and who's an absolute Final Fantasy fanatic--"
He raised his eyes. Much to Shou's surprise, there was no sorrow, no pain, no agony, in his eyes. Instead, all he could see was flames dancing in the brown of Hiroto's eyes. He pulled Shou towards him by the collar of his shirt and swallowed his lips in a kiss. His pink tongue darted past Shou's lips, shyly at first before strengthening its resolve, prodding at the older man's tongue before Shou overwhelmed him. Hiroto was pushed down the sofa as the taller man hungrily kissed him back with the same amount of vigor. After what seemed like hours, Shou pulled away, a trail of saliva dripped from the corner of his kiss-swollen lips.
Shou's artificial hazel eyes had dilated, surprised with his own actions.
"--and you're who I love. That's no lie."
"I-I..." Shou couldn't seem to swallow his fear, his guilt. "T-That wasn't supposed to happen..." He remembered Kamijo-sensei telling him that Hiroto might or might not remember what had happened during this period of amnesia. It was like being stuck with your crush, who drank a little too much and was in a drunken stupor. Hiroto might regain his memories the next day and might not remember this moment.
The blonde frowned. "Well, it happened..." he muttered.
Hiroto stretched out his arms, and Shou had no choice but to embrace him, cradle him, envelop him in his arms. His heavy heart brought Hiroto closer to him than what he had expected. The two of them stayed that way until Hiroto had fallen asleep. Afterwards, Shou carried him into his bedroom and tucked him into bed. As he sat down on the mattress, his eyes rested upon Hiroto's tranquil expression.
"You're remembering bit by bit, aren't you?" Shou thought aloud. Ever since his discharge, he didn't tell Hiroto about his claustrophobia or about his family or about that fact he didn't know how to cook until recently either. Rather, ever since his discharge, he hadn't told Hiroto a single thing about him.
&&
The next morning, Saga had gotten up bright and early for one objective.
"Uruha, you have to leave him alone," Saga insisted as he argued with the leader of RUMWOLF. He stood by the taller man, who was kneeling in front of his motorcycle, with his arms crossed indignantly. "He can't race in the state he is now."
"No," Uruha argued as he continued polishing his bike. "I think you said that Hiroto here is stuck in his seventeen year old mindset, just a little bit before his mother's accident. Kyo is still demanding a match, and if he doesn't race Hiroto soon, then I can't say my team's safety is promised. Kaoru and I made a deal. We'd let him race Hiroto as soon as he's recovered. He's up on his feet now, isn't he?"
"This seventeen year old Hiroto has nothing to do with racing!" Saga persisted. "He knows nothing about racing -- about anything!"
"He will," Uruha answered as he swung a leg over his motorcycle after tossing his rag aside. "It's only a matter of time. How long can you guys hide the fact that his mom is in a coma? He'll want to know why she didn't visit him in the hospital, and he probably does right now. If that doesn't wake him up, I guess we'll have to start from scratch. He's a racing prodigy; his potential is in there somewhere."
Saga's eyes widened. "You wouldn't!" he objected.
He only saw a hint of Uruha's smirk -- a smirk that challenged Saga to stop him -- before he ignited his engine, allowing it to purr softly in his ears. The waiter knew what would happen next. If he wasn't quick, Uruha would race down the roads of Tokyo. He parted his lips, ready to shout obscurities and obscenities, but Uruha was a second too fast. The racer had already sped off to Hiroto's location.
Saga cursed himself. He only wanted Hiroto to live a peaceful life -- even if it meant forgetting four years of his life. The brown haired waiter hated it when his friend raced. Saga knew he was being a hypocrite when he said so. He raced before -- four years ago -- and he had also joined a team: RUMWOLF. It was thrilling, no doubt, but it was dangerous. He knew that fairly well back in the days, so he had quit in order to dissuade Hiroto from joining RUMWOLF -- hoping that a little pressure would be enough to pull him away from the underground world.
"He crashed four days ago, Uruha!" he cried despite the honey haired man's disappearance. Maybe his voice would be carried along by the wind. Maybe Uruha would receive his message. Maybe Uruha would see reason.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
"Saga, you should leave," Reita said. "Uruha won't give up until he gets what he wants: the title of champion that Kaoru had stolen from him."
"And then what?!" Saga snapped. "What's left after that? The world cup?! World domination?"
Reita shook his head. "You should leave. You'll be late to work."
Saga glared at the blonde mechanic. "Don't you care about Hiroto's well-being?" he seethed.
Reita sucked in a breath through his nose and exhaled all the same. "We all do," he answered, "but Hiroto has a duty to RUMWOLF just as you did. He vowed to race so long as he is a member, and he hasn't quit yet. Neither has Hiroto reached his goal. I think you understand that."
Saga whirled around and exited the garage.
He did understand, and that's what pissed him off the most.
&&
A/N: It seems that, uhm, I've made myself some free time today. PROCRASTINATION♥ Hahaha, but I will get to work soon enough anyways. I can't seem to put Friday or Saturday off. I have some volunteer work to get to Friday, and I'm celebrating a birthday on Saturday. Whoop~ XD Anyways, something big happened. Can you guess what?
Major ShouPon action.
Of course, Uruha's up to no good! Everything's building up again! Are you ready for another sharp turn? I also wrote a short interlude from Saga's point of view. The action takes place four years ago, so I hope it's not too confusing if you decide to read.
CAMEOS: Teru from Versailles! He makes more than one or two appearances, yes, but he's not much of a supporting character in my view.
[Interlude] // [Next Chapter]