[ShouxHiroto] RUMWOLF [Track 24: Returning Home]
TITLE: RUMWOLF
CHAPTER: 24
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: N/A (Ch. 24)
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 // 15 // Interlude // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23
Track 24: Returning Home
"The guards have surrounded your apartment for the time being," Saga told Hiroto as the blonde munched on his breakfast at The Royal Kitchen. The waiter curiously eyed Hiroto's hand that was currently entwined with Shou's fingers before huffing in slight disdain as subtly as he could -- which was hardly subtle at all. Hiroto knew that Saga wanted to comment on their relationship although he wasn't quite sure why. The smaller man was well aware that Saga disgarded gender when it came to relationships and sex all the same. "Anyways, it'd be best if you two don't return there for the time being since they expect you to come back."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Hop around hotels?" Hiroto inquired skeptically. "I'm not sure if I have enough money to jump around hotels for the rest of my life." They hadn't really planned this far ahead. Rather, he still couldn't believe that they had broken into a mansion and outran professional bodyguards hired by a multi-millionaire. Sure, they had packed their bags on the off-chance of success, but it was still an incredible feat to Hiroto. To be honest, he hadn't really accounted for such an easy victory.
Saga shook his head in response to Hiroto's question. "Aoi says that if the Kohara family is keeping a close eye on your bank account, they'll probably be searching hotels all over Tokyo -- maybe even the nation -- if they notice lumps of money being withdrawn night after night. It'd be safer if you move place to place between your connections. Nao's offered his apartment for tonight. Tora says if Mogu is okay with cats, you can stay with him and Chikin--"
"He has a cat named Chikin?" Shou piped up. "Like 'chicken' in English? The poultry?"
Saga shrugged. "Who knows what's up in that mind of his?"
Hiroto snorted. "So we'll be switching around apartments and houses that belong to other people?" he inquired before sighing. So this is what being on the run feels like... the blonde thought to himself almost bitterly. Unconsciously, his hold around Shou's hand tightened. At least we're in this together -- me, Shou...everyone, really. Hiroto pursed his lips together as the last of his thoughts ran through his mind. "We might as well go stay at my family home." Hiroto noticed how Shou's eyes sparkled with curiosity at his outburst. He then mentioned, "My grandpa might be the only one there since I'm not sure if Aki moved out or not, and I don't know if he'll be so accepting of our relationship..."
"You don't have to tell him," Saga interjected. "I mean, even if he does find out, he has Aki to give him great-grandbabies, you know, if Aki ever settles down, which I doubt but you'll never know. Besides, he already has a grandchild he doesn't know about and who has been kept secret from him for about four years." At the sight of Hiroto's dumbfound gaze, he sighed and answered, "I meant Mogu, your child. I think you've called him your 'baby' countless times, haven't you? Everyone calls you a doting papa behind your back after seeing Mogu once. Plus, I'm pretty sure Aki doesn't have a lovechild. Who else could we be referring to?"
"Ohh~" Hiroto chimed as Mogu lovingly nuzzled his arm. The blonde gladly returned the affection with gentle strokes through Mogu's golden fur.
Saga rolled his eyes as Shou chuckled. "Geez, you'd make quite the father," the lanky waiter grumbled before returning to the main topic. "Anyways, I doubt they'd even bother looking for your family home. They probably figured that you got disowned for racing or -- because you left so abruptly -- that you'd never come back."
After giving Saga a nod, Hiroto glanced at Shou, whose curiosity hadn't diminished in the slighest, and asked his lover, "You want to take a trip to Kanagawa?" In response, Shou nodded energetically. The offer was just too great to ignore. Nevertheless, Hiroto smiled to himself softly with a faint trace of worry brushed over his soft features. "It might take an hour to get there by car," he continued in concern for his lover.
"I don't care," Shou told him confidently, "as long as you are there."
Saga coughed at their side, causing the couple to break away from their own little world. "You should give your grandpa a call first to let him know. Tell him you want to stay for like three days. You can stay at Nao's for tonight since Tora's cat may not be too fond of Mogu or vice-versa."
Hiroto raised an eyebrow. "Why not your place? You seem pretty excited to push us into Nao's apartment," he commented bluntly -- without any intentional harm, of course.
"Because I don't like being the third wheel in my own apartment," Saga answered just as honestly as he crossed his arms.
Hiroto stifled a snort, but it came across as a snigger. Across from him, Shou smiled at his lover tenderly.
"Hey, it's not exactly a pleasant thought to have lovebirds fucking around -- scratch that, just plain fucking -- in your apartment now, is it?" Saga snapped as he made a sour face. "At any rate, we'll keep you updated on the situation here for now while you're gone," he informed. "If you're really going to take a trip to your grandpa's, then you'll need to get a new car. Uruha said the guards are still watching your Nissan, and the red drift car Reita created is too bold and stands out way too much."
"No kidding," Hiroto agreed. "Reita likes to show off."
"Right?" Saga responded wholeheartedly. "Anyways, you can head to Reita's garage later. He said that he prepared a little something for you. Remember to call your grandpa, okay?"
With Saga's reminder fresh in mind, Hiroto pulled out his iPhone and took in a deep breath. The last time he had spoken with his grandfather, he was rather hostile. If it was Hiroto, he wouldn't have the gut to face his grandson if such an event happened to him. However, his grandfather was, in fact, understanding and rather compassionate. Hiroto knew that much. He glanced to the side, finding that Saga had left already. Across from him, Shou was staring at him expectantly, wondering why the blonde hadn't dialed any digits yet.
"Pon, are you okay?" Shou inquired softly, squeezing his fingers lightly.
Hiroto smiled. "I should be," he answered before dialing his grandfather's number. He placed the phone near his ear. With each ring vibrating in his ear, his nerves grew even more flustered. The anxiety in his expression must have been apparent. Shou's hold on his hand tightened, and -- when Hiroto turned around -- his visage displayed nothing but pure concern. Beside him, Mogu nuzzled the side of his stomach, relieving some of his nervousness.
"Hello?"
"Gramps? It's me, Hiroto..." the blonde swallowed in an attempt to push the nervousness back down his throat so it wouldn't seep through his voice. Despite his attempts, he could feel himself trembling in apprehension. "I'm sorry about last time..."
"It's fine. It's only understandable that you would be upset. We did lie to you for seventeen -- no, 21 -- years. Really, Hiro-chan, I should be apologizing. Everyone should. Is there anything we could possibly do to make up for all of those years?"
"Then is it okay if I come stay with you for a few days with...a friend?" Hiroto blurted out just to get it over with.
"Of course it is! You haven't been home in four years! You shouldn't need permission to come back!"
Hiroto smiled softly as relief flooded through his bloodstream. "Thank you, Grandpa. We'll be coming tomorrow morning. I just wanted to let you know." After hearing his grandfather bid him a goodbye, Hiroto responded and then hung up. Across from him, Shou's worry lifted upon seeing his lover smile.
"I'm supposed to pretend to be your friend?" Shou inquired. "After all that has happened, that might be difficult."
Hiroto rolled his eyes and retorted with, "Well, you'll just have to make do."
Shou grinned and lifted Hiroto's hand, kissing it lightly. Upon feeling Hiroto stiffen with embarrassment, he chuckled -- amused that his lover hadn't gotten used to his affectionate tendency. "I suppose that means we'll have to make good use of time."
"Ah, ah, ah!" Nao clicked his tongue in disapproval behind the couple. "As cute as the two of you are, I will not tolerate sex in my apartment." Their heads turned to face a stern expression glowering down upon them. "So you two better not do anything in my bed or to my bed!" Shou grinned sheepishly at Nao and opened his mouth to suggest something, but Nao beat him to it, "Or my bathroom!"
Hiroto giggled at the disappointment that fell onto his lover's visage. He patted Shou's hand in a comforting manner. "It'll be okay. You've lived with not having sex with me for those two weeks when you were just a roommate," he chirped. "You'll last for -- about -- four days."
"Ah, I guess you haven't heard what I said earlier," Shou remarked, "or maybe it slipped your mind. Should I repeat it? 'After all that has happened, that might be difficult.'"
Hiroto rolled his eyes, and before a little lovers' quarrel could start, Nao retreated to the safety of the kitchen. However, the barista had thought wrong. All Hiroto did was smile gently. He was truly happy with Shou. Hiroto decided that things were better with Shou than racing and blindlessly searching for an answer without a single doubt in his mind. The brunet smiled back at Hiroto, leaving the little Pomeranian at Hiroto's side slightly baffled at their sudden bliss and tranquility and pondering about the silent communication between the lovers.
"Shall we go pick up a car from Reita's garage?" Hiroto chirped.
"Hopefully, it's spacey," Shou mused, "or a convertible."
Hiroto glared at his lover. "I am not riding in a convertible with its roof down. It gets cold after twenty minutes," he griped.
Shou grinned cheekily and grasped both of Hiroto's hands with his own. "I'll keep you warm, I promise!" he chimed.
Hiroto couldn't stop an amused smile from crawling onto his lips. He rolled his eyes and gently removed his hands from Shou's hold. He grabbed his bag and Mogu before nodding towards the door. "Let's just go," he said before quickly disappearing from the establishment.
Shou chuckled as he pulled out several bills of money and slapped it onto the table for Saga. He was truly grateful towards his fellow waiter for all of his help. Then, following after his lover, he hurried out of the restaurant and met with Hiroto outside. The blonde huffed lightly, an amused smirk tugging onto his lips, before asking, "What took you so long?"
The taller man shook his head and chimed, "Nothing~"
Hiroto rolled his eyes before commenting, "You didn't have to tip him so much. He's a friend, you know? He might return everything the next time you see him."
Shou hummed aloud. "Well, knowing Saga-kun, I doubt it. He's been wanting a new amp after his old one broke down."
Hiroto grinned. "You're probably right."
After the two of them had reached the garage, they were greeted by Reita and Uruha. The two leaders of RUMWOLF led Hiroto and Shou to the back of the garage, where a new car was waiting for them to take it out on a road trip. Hiroto whistled at the sight of the Honda Civic, a metallic silver in color, before commenting on how it appeared to be an average car. His comment earned a snort from Uruha who retorted, "It's supposed to be average in order to not attract attention. Therefore, it is an average car. Sorry, but you don't get a supercar this time."
After handing the keys to Hiroto and a set of rules (among the lines of "no drifting or racing" in order to "avoid burning the tires"), Reita and Uruha left Hiroto to his temporary car. The two lovers entered the Civic, and Hiroto inserted the key into the ignition, reviving the engine. As the engine purred to life in a quieter manner than Hiroto's Nissan, the blonde muttered something about, "city cars and no horsepower," earning himself a low chortle from Shou. Without another complaint, Hiroto pulled out of the back alley for a test run.
They returned to Nao's apartment shortly after dinner to rest before taking off for their road trip the next morning. After they ate breakfast at The Royal Kitchen, they said their goodbyes and left for Kanagawa. Unfortunately, Shou's claustrophobia had prevented him from speaking the whole entire ride, so the only sound between the two of them and Mogu was the radio. For nearly an hour, Hiroto's attention was focused solely on the road.
"We're almost there, Shou-nyan," the blonde announced after glancing at his pale faced lover, sick from being stuck in a car for nearly an hour. The radio was hardly enough to keep Shou distracted. Instead, the brunet kept staring out of the window, longing to be out in the open, while Mogu was napping in his lap. Hiroto pitied Shou. He didn't know what it was like to be claustrophobic, but he was sure that -- if he was stuck in a car for an hour -- it would be disastrous and utterly terrifying.
Hiroto knew that his claustrophobia was as serious as ever when Shou hadn't even attempted car sex when Mogu was finally asleep. His heart ached when he realized that the brunet's claustrophobia probably hadn't even been relieved in the slightest.
They drove past tiny shops that were just opening, past children who were walking and riding their bikes to start off their school day, and past the vast amounts of trees. Shou didn't make a comment on anything -- worrying his blonde haired lover -- before Hiroto steered the metallic silver Honda Civic onto the driveway in front of his family home. He twisted and then pulled the keys out of the ignition before opening his car door. Shou carried Mogu and his own bag out while Hiroto fetched his own belongings.
His grandfather greeted them at the entrance -- excitedly welcoming Hiroto back home and inviting Shou in. Shou glanced at his lover with a smile, but Hiroto was too busy attempting to calm down his grandfather. They were ushered into the living room and onto a small floral couch in pastel colors, as his grandfather served them some lukewarm green tea in his prized china cups.
"So you must be Hiro-chan's friend, Shou-kun," his grandfather addressed Shou. His lover politely bowed his head and drank the offered tea after thanking his grandfather for letting him stay here. Hiroto's grandfather shook his head. "No, no, no, it's nothing," he assured the brunet. "My name is Ogata Ryuuichiro by the way. We don't have a spare room here. My daughter's room is unused, but I don't like for anyone other than close friends and relatives to enter. However, I believe that the room Hiro-chan used to share with Aki has a spare bed."
"We slept in bunk beds," Hiroto recalled as memories of his childhood and of his teenage years flooded in his mind, "until Aki left for college."
"And until you left for Tokyo, I presume," his grandfather added with a stern glint in his eyes.
Guilt seeped into Hiroto's stomach, devouring it whole like acid. "I'm sorry, Grandpa, for leaving so abruptly. It was an emergency," he explained miserably and regretfully.
"May I ask what kind of emergency it was?" the elderly man inquired carefully -- prodding only ever-so-slightly. Hiroto was aware that his grandfather was only being cautious because he didn't want Hiroto to leave like he had four years ago. Otherwise, his grandfather might have been fuming by now.
"I wanted to search for my dad," Hiroto answered sheepishly. "I had no leads, yet I just left home thinking that I'd find him somehow. I wanted to tell him about Mom's condition. I wanted to see him for myself in person." He stole a glimpse at his grandfather's face, finding nothing but pity and regret.
"I should have told you sooner -- about your father," he responded. "That way, you wouldn't have gone through so much trouble and through so many pains. I'm sorry as well, Hiro-chan."
Hiroto shook his head. "If I hadn't left home, I wouldn't have met Shou," Hiroto protested lightly. "He's really helped me through a lot of things. I think I might be dead if it weren't for him." He bit his tongue and strained a smile. That last sentence was probably a little too much, and he hoped that his grandfather wouldn't touch on it. It was still an honest statement because -- without Shou -- he didn't have much to return to his apartment. If Shou wasn't there, guilt might have consumed him and ordered him to give away his beloved Mogu to someone much more responsible than Hiroto himself. He was sincerely grateful to Shou, but -- again -- his last spoken sentence might have been a little dramatic.
"That's a little too much praise, Hiroto," Shou followed up so that Hiroto's grandfather wouldn't have a chance to say anything about it. "I didn't do anything."
Hiroto was about to argue with his lover, but his grandfather only chuckled. "Close friends you are," he mused. "I'm sure you two have been through thick and thin together. I am grateful that you have taken care of my grandson well, Shou-kun. Why don't you take your belongings to Hiro-chan's room and adjust to things here? This place isn't as grand as Tokyo, but that doesn't mean that there's nothing to do. You might want to take your pet as well. He looks ready for some exercise."
&&
"Your grandfather is nice," Kazumasa told his lover as the two of them shared a banana split outside the ice cream parlor since they didn't let Mogu come in. "He doesn't seem like the type to get mad over something like sexuality."
Hiroto raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to take your chances when you've only spent ten minutes in the same room as him?" the blonde retorted. "I was practically raised by him and my mother, and he's somewhat on the traditional side although he's been adapting to the modern world. Even I don't know if he's okay with me being gay. I mean, he only knows I've ever had one steady girlfriend in my whole entire life, and even that didn't last for long."
"Waka-san?" Kazumasa assumed, and he had assumed correctly after seeing Hiroto's nod. He hummed in thought, wondering if Hiroto had been a skirt-chaser during high school or not. He certainly didn't seem the type to constantly chase girls -- more like girls were trying to constantly chase him -- and he definitely didn't seem to be the type to like girls very often. "Say, since when did you know you were gay?"
"Since I started falling for you," Hiroto retorted. "You're my first boyfriend, you know? You're probably my first love, too." Kazumasa beamed at that statement. "I never told Waka I loved her seriously. I mean, I liked her. I really liked her, but then it just stopped one day. Some time after my mom's accident, I realized I didn't love Waka properly. I didn't like a lot of girls at school, actually. Some of them were just plain annoying."
Kazamasa smirked. "So you subconsciously were gay back in high school?"
"I... I don't know!" Hiroto spluttered as heat crept onto his cheeks. He averted his eyes, and Kazumasa could only laugh at his flustered expression. Hiroto was just too adorable. He couldn't be level-headed around Kazumasa, and that's what the brunet loved the most about him. He loved how he could see so many sides, so many colors, to Hiroto other than the black-and-white Kuroto everyone spoke of. "So since when did you know you liked guys?"
"Hmm... How to say this..." Kazumasa thought aloud. "...I'm not gay." Hiroto gawked at his lover, confused as hell, before swatting his hand away when Kazumasa adoringly pinched his nose. The brunet grinned. "I just like beautiful things and beautiful people, but I love you the most."
"Bullshit -- the not being gay part," Hiroto grumbled under his breath.
Kazumasa chuckled and spooned some ice cream before bringing it closer to Hiroto's lips. "Probably," he responded before pushing the tiny pink spoon past Hiroto's pink, plush lips. He smiled in delight -- a rather sinful delight -- as Hiroto sucked on the spoon to clean it of the sugary substance. When Hiroto shyly reciprocated his action, Kazumasa gratefully took the ice cream on the spoon, leaned forward, and shared it with Hiroto.
His lover was taken by surprise as he swallowed the ice cream. He didn't stop there though. His tongue meekly licked over Kazumasa's, savoring the taste of vanilla, before lightly sucking on his tongue. Kazumasa smiled midway, and Hiroto pushed him away afterwards. He attempted to compose himself, but when that failed, he buried his face in his hands. Mogu nudged at his owner's arms, whimpering before glancing at the ice cream in suspicion.
"You're so lucky that nobody was around to watch that," Hiroto muttered, "or else I would have murdered you." The blonde was completely oblivious to the red-faced teenage girl at the counter watching them from behind the glass window. However, unlike his aloof little blonde, Kazumasa had noticed and waved at her sheepishly while Hiroto was still distracted.
The brunet only smirked at Hiroto's statement. "You wouldn't do that," he retorted.
His smirk only widened when Hiroto mumbled an almost incomprehensible, "You're probably right..." under his breath.
&&
A/N: My friends' page is absolutely spammed with Aoi/Uruha fics since it's Uruha birthday. XD Happy birthday to Uruha-chan nevertheless! He's really a talented guitarist, and I do admire him as such. Anyways, continuing from the last chapter, Track 24 starts with the following morning after breaking Shou out of his own house and having an eventful night at a hotel. Two days have passed in this chapter though, and I ever rarely do a time skip like that. Now we're at Hiroto's hometown. Things are not settling down though. There's still some action left. Just like how people who break out of jail are treated as fugitives, we maaaayy have to see the same thing. Maybe. Perhaps. It's a possibility.
Oh, also:
Affectionate!Shou x Tsundere!Hiroto = <3
About four updates left! I'm getting just started with some new ideas for another story. The flood hasn't ended. D:
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