[fanfic] Source of Happiness - Reita x Aoi - 16/17
Title : Source of Happiness
Chapter : 16/17
Author : kei_kyuuketsuki
Fandom : the GazettE, Alice Nine
Pairings : ReitaxAoi, ToraxAoi, ToraxRuki, UruhaxSaga
Current Song : Tetsu69 - Scarecrow
Rating : R
Genre : AU, drama, angst
Warning : violence, harsh words, bad English
Disclaimer : I only own the story… those beautiful boys? They’re not mine…
Summary : the Beautiful Being is already fallen from grace… The Mean One has already let him go in despair… and Reita is not there to be found…
Comments : after this, one more chapter to go. Minna, happy reading!
Chapter 01 // Chapter 02 // Chapter 03 // Chapter 04 // Chapter 05 // Chapter 06 // Chapter 07 // Chapter 08 // Chapter 09 // Chapter 10 // Chapter 11 // Chapter 12 // Chapter 13 // Chapter 14 // Chapter 15
RAIN
Uruha put his cellphone to his ear. “What’s up, Reita?”
“Where are you guys?” Reita asked.
“Saga and I are near the park.”
“Which park?”
“The park where we used to fool around with some old fart when we’re in junior. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah. I remember…” Reita said slowly.
Then Uruha heard Reita clicked his tongue. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t find him…”
“Have you checked certain places? The one that both of you ever visited, perhaps?”
“Yeah. And he’s nowhere to be found…”
“Sumire?”
“I already asked my partners there to tell me immediately if Aoi come and look for me,” Reita explained.
Uruha then reminded about all the things he said to Aoi at the campus that morning. He covered his mouth with his hand and whispering about something. Even so, Reita sill could hear Uruha’s voice.
“What’s wrong, Uruha?”
“R-Rei… I… I’m sorry…”
“Why?” Reita became wary.
Uruha then told Reita about all the details that happened that morning between him and Aoi. He told Reita everything; include all of his words to Aoi. From the tone of the voice, Uruha knew that Reita was in shock with what he heard. After that, Uruha had to keep his cellphone away from his ear because suddenly Reita was yelling.
“IDIOT!! WHY DID YOU SAY THAT?!”
“I… I’m sorry, Rei. I-”
“Damn it! You just don’t know about how unstable Aoi is right now! Listening to your words, of course he will consider that I won’t care about him anymore!” Reita stopped himself from talking for a moment. “Now after I know about this, Aoi precisely won’t go to the place that related with me…”
“Hope that he’ll be just fine…”
“Yeah! Hope that he won’t do anything stupid!” Reita yelled again. “Oh, no. After I think about it, I’m getting more scared to let him go alone right now.” Again, Reita stopped his words until - at last - he said, “I’m going to look for him again.”
“OK. I’ll call you if I find something about him.”
“Yeah, thanks, Uruha.”
Uruha then closed his cellphone’s flip and put it in his inner jacket pocket. Uruha looked at Saga who stood beside him and held the umbrella to drape over them both. Uruha could tell the way Saga was looking at him. Uruha just shook his head.
“What I hope right now is a miracle. I mean, I hope that one of us, whether it’s Reita or us, can find Aoi,” said Uruha. He was surprised when he heard his stomach growling. “Geez… not at a time like this…” Uruha said with his reddish face.
Saga chuckled. “You haven’t eaten anything since this morning, right? Let’s get some food. We can still look for Aoi while we look for some food, right?” Saga said. Uruha just wanted to protest when Saga put his finger tip on Uruha’s lips. “It’s on me. Hey, I saw some crepes stand around here before. I think it’ll be enough for awhile.”
“Okay…” At last, Uruha smiled as he agreed to his lover’s offering. Uruha then take shelter under a small bungalow near the park as Saga went to buy the crepes for both of them. While Uruha waited there, Uruha looked at his surroundings to the whole park. Uruha frowned when he saw that a swing was moving. Uruha tried to figure the person who sat on the swing. He then gasped.
That moment, Uruha’s cellphone was making a small sound, but it didn’t make its owner realize for it because the sound was too small. Uruha didn’t know that his cellphone battery was out.
*
Reita freeze on his spot. He remembered Uruha’s words on the phone.
...“It was the park where we used to fool around with some old fart when we’re in junior. Remember?”...
Yeah. They used to walk by way that park. There used to be some crazy old fart - Reita was the one who said that - who easily got mad at Uruha and Reita without any reason. In return, Reita and Uruha usually fooled around with the old man. The old man usually sat on a bench that straightly faced the swing at the park. The swing was the one that Aoi and Reita used to spend their time after they watched the movie in the theater last Sunday.
“Could it be…” Reita talked to himself as he got the realization. He took his cellphone and tried to call Uruha again. Reita was in shock when he heard the voice that told him that the number he called was not active at that moment. “Damn it, Uruha! Why did you turned off your cellphone!?” Reita yelled in depression as tried to call Uruha for the second time. Nothing. He still couldn’t reach Uruha. “Tsk… I don’t know Saga’s number either… damn it!” Reita swore as he wore his hood from his jacket and ran in the middle of the pouring rain. He had to be there, soon.
*
…“Next time, let’s go with Uruha and Saga. It’ll be fun with more people…”…
Aoi leaned on the chain that connected to the thick wooden board where he sat that moment. The swing moved a little. Aoi gazed upward and let the rain poured on him. Reita’s words whined again inside his mind. Aoi smiled.
“I… can’t go out with you guys… I guess…” Aoi said slowly. “You already hate me… Takashima hate me too… I don’t have any reason to see any of you…”
…“It’s pretty kind, isn’t it? Today’s weather. It’s nice. The weather knew about our occasion today. The weather then commanded the clouds to make this day shady. That way, we don’t have to feel the heat.”…
Aoi remembered Reita’s other words. “Yes... today’s weather is not hot alright...” Aoi said slowly with a smile.
…“I told you that today’s weather is pretty kind to us, right? Today’s weather won’t let the rain pour on you…” Reita smiled….
“No…” Aoi lost his smile.
…“I guess… no one want to do such thing to you, Aoi. No one wants to make you stop smiling.”…
“No…” Aoi said it again. “The weather is only kind to you, Reita… that day’s weather was cloudy only to protect you… not us… it’s not raining that day because of you… look what’s happening today, Reita… look…” Another tear shed on Aoi’s cheek. “Now you’re not here, Reita… no one will be that kind to me, neither the weather, if you’re not here…”
…“You’ll be able to do it, Aoi… you’re a kind person. The kindness will be there for you too.”…
Aoi bent down. That moment, Aoi felt that all of Reita’s words were just some mere illusion. He bent down and closed both of his eyes, he let his tears fall again and again. Aoi felt really hard to breathe that time. “When, Reita? What will all of those kindnesses be there for me?”
...“Soon…” Reita said slowly. “Soon, Aoi…”…
Aoi hugged himself. He really wanted someone instead to hug him, just like when Reita hugged him after Tora hurt him. Aoi didn’t want to be alone. That time, the regret he had in his heart was so big because he let something so precious for him left him. Aoi regretted it when he realized that he himself was the one who made Reita left.
“Aoi…”
Aoi immediately opened his eyes when he heard the call. He gazed upward to look at the person who called him. “Reita!” Aoi answered. But when Aoi looked at the person in front of him, Aoi lost his smile once again. “T-Takashima…” he said as he found Uruha was the one who stood there in front of him. Aoi then looked when Uruha kneeled in front of him. Aoi found some other person stood behind Uruha. He held an umbrella in his hand. Aoi didn’t know who that person was. But when he remembered Reita’s story about Uruha’s lover, Aoi smiled, bitterly. The couple in front of him must be very different from how he and Tora used to be. He looked back at Uruha. “You’re right…” Aoi said slowly. “Our relationship… me and Tora… it’s sick… I’m such an idiot to be that loyal to Tora…”
“Aoi…”
“I’m late when I realized it… I’m too blind to realize that all of this time… all of this time…” Aoi couldn’t continue his words for the sobbing that made him hard to take mere breath. “All of this time Tora never saw me as someone special… I’m not that special… I’m no one…”
“Aoi, enough…”
“It’s only because of my face, right, Takashima? He wanted to be with me all of this time was just because of my face, right? That’s what he told me… he didn’t even say sorry, Takashima… Tora didn’t even say sorry…”
“Aoi, I’ll take you home…”
“I don’t want to!!” Aoi yelled. “I don’t want to go home! There’s actually no one who wait for me! Not even Tora actually ever wanted me to come to his apartment as his lover! He only wanted my body!”
“Aoi…”
Aoi covered his face with both of his hands. He couldn’t stop the streaming of his own tears. “Now I just can’t ask Reita to be my friend anymore…”
“About that…” Uruha said slowly. “Aoi, I’m sorry… I’m sorry that I lied to you. Reita never said those kinds of things…”
It wasn’t a surprise for Aoi. He just smiled. “I know, Takashima…” Aoi said. “Whatever it was, whether it’s a lie or not, I’m glad that you remind me not to add more burden to Reita…”
“No, Aoi. I-”
“Please, Takashima… after this, I won’t ask anything again… please, tell Reita, I’m not going to ask for more help…” Aoi said as he stood from the swing. “Reita don’t need more difficulties from me…” Aoi walked away from Uruha. “I’m helpless in the first place…” Aoi’s step was stopped. “All of t-this time… i-it was… all in… vain…”
“AOI!!” Uruha was in shock when he saw Aoi collapsed in front of him. Uruha hurriedly ran to Aoi and lifted his body. “Aoi! Wake up! Aoi!” Uruha called. It was a big relieve when Uruha saw Aoi opened his eyes a little.
“Uruha…” Saga called. He looked at Aoi worriedly.
“Saga, call Reita. You have his number, right?”
“Y-yeah…”
“Tell Reita to go to my apartment. Tell him that Aoi is already with us…” Uruha said as he put Aoi’s arm around his shoulder to help him to stand and walk.
“R-Reita..?” Aoi asked with his weak voice.
“He’ll come, Aoi… he’ll come…” Uruha told him.
*
With great difficulty, Uruha and Saga took Aoi to Uruha’s apartment. There, Uruha and Saga did what they could to help Aoi. They help Aoi changed his clothes. Saga was in a big shock when he saw all the bruises on Aoi’s body.
After that, Uruha and Saga could only watched Aoi without doing anything else. The Beautiful Being was really lost his entire positive aura. Aoi was just sat there, knee bended in front of his body, and he hugged it tightly. He didn’t even answer any single question that Uruha or Saga asked him. He didn’t say anything other than one name.
“Reita…” Aoi said weakly. “Reita…”
Uruha wanted to get closer to Aoi but Saga stopped him. Uruha looked at Saga who only shook his head slowly.
“I don’t know him that well, Saga… I’m not like Reita who spent more time with him…” Uruha said as he looked to Aoi. “But I just never saw him like this before…”
“The bruises on his body…” Saga asked. “You don’t know about that too?”
Uruha shook his head. “I know that Tora often hurt him… Reita told me about that…” Uruha added. “But I never know about the bruises until we saw it just a moment ago…” Uruha looked at the clock on the wall. “Damn it… what took Reita this long?”
Right after Uruha said it, Uruha heard his apartment bell ringed. He looked to his door and walked to it. After looked through the small glass on his door, Uruha didn’t think twice to open the door.
“Where is he?” Reita asked. He was panting like crazy. Uruha bet that Reita ran all his way here.
Uruha didn’t answer the question. He only opened his door wider to give more space to Reita to look deeper inside of Uruha’s apartment.
Reita saw it; Aoi was stooping and hugging his own self as he leaned to the wall. Reita’s gaze was locked to Aoi only. Reita hurriedly opened his shoes and his wet jacket - because of the rain - and walked to Aoi. Reita kneeled beside Aoi and touched Aoi’s shoulder carefully.
“Aoi…” Reita called.
“Reita…” Aoi answered but not looked at Reita. It looked like that Aoi was still didn’t realize, that this time, it was the real Reita who called him.
“Aoi, it’s me… Reita…” Reita said as he held both of Aoi’s shoulder and made Aoi turned his gaze to him.
Aoi fell silent. He looked straightly to Reita. He didn’t say anything. Aoi just moved his hands and touched Reita’s wet cheek slowly.
Reita, from the way Aoi moved his lips, Reita knew that Aoi was still calling his name repeatedly, with no voice heard. Reita held his breath when he saw the tears coming back to fell from Aoi’s eyes, again, and again.
Reita always hate that view. He hate everything that made Aoi cried. Reita pulled Aoi to his embrace and hugged him tightly. Aoi hugged him in reciprocate. After that, Reita, and also Uruha and Saga, could hear Aoi screamed and cried hard like he was trying to dry his lungs out.
It was such a big relieve for Aoi actually. Reita was there to see him and hugged him like that. All of his emotion and depression that he held all of this time was freed after he’s able to hugged Reita like that.
That was when Uruha realized something by looking at the two beings in front of him. He never saw them like that. Uruha never know the person named Aoi that close before. He just saw Aoi at the campus, just when they had the same classes. Then he knew about him being the famous Beautiful Being at their campus. Uruha admit that Aoi should be proud with his own face. He’s truly beautiful. Maybe that was why Uruha never expected it in the first place that Aoi actually could look so brittle, so fragile. Where did all of his beauty go when he break down like this?
Uruha never expected it too when he saw Reita - his best friend from their childhood time - like this. He never saw Reita hugged someone as tightly as he hugged Aoi at the moment. Uruha even had the feeling that Reita just won’t break the embrace for some more time. Uruha just didn’t expect it that Reita could actually cried like that moment. From the first time he knew Reita from their elementary moment, Uruha ever saw Reita cried, but not like this. Not like when he hugged Aoi like this.
There, Uruha felt when someone held his hand. Uruha looked to his side and he saw Saga, his lover, smiled at him. With the smile, Saga tried to tell Uruha that the frightening moment was all over.
Yeah… it’s over…
Uruha held Saga’s hand. That moment, Uruha was grateful that he could have Saga by his side without had to get through all of those things like Reita and Aoi did. Uruha was tightening his grip around Saga’s hand. Uruha promised silently that he will protect his lover no matter what. He won’t let anyone hurt Saga. Really. The experiences that his friends faced before this made Uruha realize that he had to take a really good care of all of his precious people around him. Uruha didn’t face something that Reita and Aoi faced. But just by watching his friends like that, Uruha knew that the tears that streamed down on their faces were actually taking away their pain away from their heart.
And for whatever’s sake he won’t have to face those kinds of things too, right? His friends too won’t have to face it again. It’s more than enough already.
Uruha looked at Saga, and gave the same smile to his lover. Uruha wanted to make him know that he’s fine. His heart was still trembling with the view of Reita and Aoi. But after Uruha realized that - at least - Tora wouldn’t be any part inside their life anymore, Uruha could make sure to himself and to Saga, that he, and all of them, were going to be just fine, from that moment on.
*
Well, for that night, Uruha’s apartment would be very crowded. With the size of his modest apartment, four people were enough to make it felt so full. At first, Reita wanted to take Aoi home with him to his apartment because Aoi still won’t go back to his own apartment. But after looking at Aoi’s current condition: weak, hurt and utterly just couldn’t spent more energy than he already did, Uruha just ask him to stay at his apartment. Hearing that, Reia then - as he pleased - chose to stay at Uruha’s place for the night. Of course, Uruha couldn’t let Saga went home just like that, right? Saga was willing to give more room for the small space actually, but Uruha held him back. Uruha didn’t want to be left alone when Reita would actually give all of his attention to Aoi only, right?
His own thoughts made Uruha smiled. Uruha was already able to think like that. It looked like the atmosphere inside his apartment was already lightening a bit. It wasn’t that tense like it was a moment ago. Aoi was starting to let out his voice a little too. He told them about everything he had gone through when he was with Tora. He told them about what Tora ever did to him. He even told them about the occurrence at the mall earlier that day. Just from Aoi’s story - and add it with the bruises all over his body - Uruha and Saga could conclude that Tora was really a sick person.
Then, Uruha suddenly confused when Reita asked him about the food he had in his refrigerator. Uruha never expected it that day he would have so many company like this. Uruha said that he only have enough food for him and Saga only. He only had one pack of instant porridge that - of course - that wouldn’t enough for both of Reita and Aoi.
Being Reita as himself, Reita said that he won’t mind it. He could order some pizza later or anything. At least, he could make porridge for Aoi. He’s Reita anyway. Uruha sighed; and smiled. All he could think about was just Aoi, Aoi, and Aoi, didn’t he? This Reita. The absentminded person was actually turned into someone that care so much about someone.
OK. That’s not all. When Uruha and Saga done with their meal, Aoi only ate half of his porridge. Reita knew that Aoi won’t finish his meal.
“Eat it…”
“Reita… I can’t…”
“No. You need more nutrition. Eat it all.”
“Reita… I’m already full…”
“Eat it, or I’ll feed you.”
Uruha was almost burst into laughter if only he didn’t hold it in. He just covered his mouth.
“What are you laughing at!?” Reita asked, and Aoi’s face turned red.
“N-nothing…” Uruha hid his face behind Saga’s shoulder. Saga too was actually trying so hard not to laugh at Reita’s behavior.
“Suspicious…” Reita said as his eyebrow twitched.
That moment, Uruha knew that Reita was already change. He changed a lot.
____....++++****++++....____
A/N: one chapter to go! After this, it’ll be the last chapter. Hwaa... I’m nervous myself. *chuckled*
Ok, I’m not going to make it too long. Your comment and critics are so much love. Thank you very much!
Chapter : 16/17
Author : kei_kyuuketsuki
Fandom : the GazettE, Alice Nine
Pairings : ReitaxAoi, ToraxAoi, ToraxRuki, UruhaxSaga
Current Song : Tetsu69 - Scarecrow
Rating : R
Genre : AU, drama, angst
Warning : violence, harsh words, bad English
Disclaimer : I only own the story… those beautiful boys? They’re not mine…
Summary : the Beautiful Being is already fallen from grace… The Mean One has already let him go in despair… and Reita is not there to be found…
Comments : after this, one more chapter to go. Minna, happy reading!
Chapter 01 // Chapter 02 // Chapter 03 // Chapter 04 // Chapter 05 // Chapter 06 // Chapter 07 // Chapter 08 // Chapter 09 // Chapter 10 // Chapter 11 // Chapter 12 // Chapter 13 // Chapter 14 // Chapter 15
RAIN
Uruha put his cellphone to his ear. “What’s up, Reita?”
“Where are you guys?” Reita asked.
“Saga and I are near the park.”
“Which park?”
“The park where we used to fool around with some old fart when we’re in junior. Remember?”
“Oh, yeah. I remember…” Reita said slowly.
Then Uruha heard Reita clicked his tongue. “What’s wrong?”
“I can’t find him…”
“Have you checked certain places? The one that both of you ever visited, perhaps?”
“Yeah. And he’s nowhere to be found…”
“Sumire?”
“I already asked my partners there to tell me immediately if Aoi come and look for me,” Reita explained.
Uruha then reminded about all the things he said to Aoi at the campus that morning. He covered his mouth with his hand and whispering about something. Even so, Reita sill could hear Uruha’s voice.
“What’s wrong, Uruha?”
“R-Rei… I… I’m sorry…”
“Why?” Reita became wary.
Uruha then told Reita about all the details that happened that morning between him and Aoi. He told Reita everything; include all of his words to Aoi. From the tone of the voice, Uruha knew that Reita was in shock with what he heard. After that, Uruha had to keep his cellphone away from his ear because suddenly Reita was yelling.
“IDIOT!! WHY DID YOU SAY THAT?!”
“I… I’m sorry, Rei. I-”
“Damn it! You just don’t know about how unstable Aoi is right now! Listening to your words, of course he will consider that I won’t care about him anymore!” Reita stopped himself from talking for a moment. “Now after I know about this, Aoi precisely won’t go to the place that related with me…”
“Hope that he’ll be just fine…”
“Yeah! Hope that he won’t do anything stupid!” Reita yelled again. “Oh, no. After I think about it, I’m getting more scared to let him go alone right now.” Again, Reita stopped his words until - at last - he said, “I’m going to look for him again.”
“OK. I’ll call you if I find something about him.”
“Yeah, thanks, Uruha.”
Uruha then closed his cellphone’s flip and put it in his inner jacket pocket. Uruha looked at Saga who stood beside him and held the umbrella to drape over them both. Uruha could tell the way Saga was looking at him. Uruha just shook his head.
“What I hope right now is a miracle. I mean, I hope that one of us, whether it’s Reita or us, can find Aoi,” said Uruha. He was surprised when he heard his stomach growling. “Geez… not at a time like this…” Uruha said with his reddish face.
Saga chuckled. “You haven’t eaten anything since this morning, right? Let’s get some food. We can still look for Aoi while we look for some food, right?” Saga said. Uruha just wanted to protest when Saga put his finger tip on Uruha’s lips. “It’s on me. Hey, I saw some crepes stand around here before. I think it’ll be enough for awhile.”
“Okay…” At last, Uruha smiled as he agreed to his lover’s offering. Uruha then take shelter under a small bungalow near the park as Saga went to buy the crepes for both of them. While Uruha waited there, Uruha looked at his surroundings to the whole park. Uruha frowned when he saw that a swing was moving. Uruha tried to figure the person who sat on the swing. He then gasped.
That moment, Uruha’s cellphone was making a small sound, but it didn’t make its owner realize for it because the sound was too small. Uruha didn’t know that his cellphone battery was out.
*
Reita freeze on his spot. He remembered Uruha’s words on the phone.
...“It was the park where we used to fool around with some old fart when we’re in junior. Remember?”...
Yeah. They used to walk by way that park. There used to be some crazy old fart - Reita was the one who said that - who easily got mad at Uruha and Reita without any reason. In return, Reita and Uruha usually fooled around with the old man. The old man usually sat on a bench that straightly faced the swing at the park. The swing was the one that Aoi and Reita used to spend their time after they watched the movie in the theater last Sunday.
“Could it be…” Reita talked to himself as he got the realization. He took his cellphone and tried to call Uruha again. Reita was in shock when he heard the voice that told him that the number he called was not active at that moment. “Damn it, Uruha! Why did you turned off your cellphone!?” Reita yelled in depression as tried to call Uruha for the second time. Nothing. He still couldn’t reach Uruha. “Tsk… I don’t know Saga’s number either… damn it!” Reita swore as he wore his hood from his jacket and ran in the middle of the pouring rain. He had to be there, soon.
*
…“Next time, let’s go with Uruha and Saga. It’ll be fun with more people…”…
Aoi leaned on the chain that connected to the thick wooden board where he sat that moment. The swing moved a little. Aoi gazed upward and let the rain poured on him. Reita’s words whined again inside his mind. Aoi smiled.
“I… can’t go out with you guys… I guess…” Aoi said slowly. “You already hate me… Takashima hate me too… I don’t have any reason to see any of you…”
…“It’s pretty kind, isn’t it? Today’s weather. It’s nice. The weather knew about our occasion today. The weather then commanded the clouds to make this day shady. That way, we don’t have to feel the heat.”…
Aoi remembered Reita’s other words. “Yes... today’s weather is not hot alright...” Aoi said slowly with a smile.
…“I told you that today’s weather is pretty kind to us, right? Today’s weather won’t let the rain pour on you…” Reita smiled….
“No…” Aoi lost his smile.
…“I guess… no one want to do such thing to you, Aoi. No one wants to make you stop smiling.”…
“No…” Aoi said it again. “The weather is only kind to you, Reita… that day’s weather was cloudy only to protect you… not us… it’s not raining that day because of you… look what’s happening today, Reita… look…” Another tear shed on Aoi’s cheek. “Now you’re not here, Reita… no one will be that kind to me, neither the weather, if you’re not here…”
…“You’ll be able to do it, Aoi… you’re a kind person. The kindness will be there for you too.”…
Aoi bent down. That moment, Aoi felt that all of Reita’s words were just some mere illusion. He bent down and closed both of his eyes, he let his tears fall again and again. Aoi felt really hard to breathe that time. “When, Reita? What will all of those kindnesses be there for me?”
...“Soon…” Reita said slowly. “Soon, Aoi…”…
Aoi hugged himself. He really wanted someone instead to hug him, just like when Reita hugged him after Tora hurt him. Aoi didn’t want to be alone. That time, the regret he had in his heart was so big because he let something so precious for him left him. Aoi regretted it when he realized that he himself was the one who made Reita left.
“Aoi…”
Aoi immediately opened his eyes when he heard the call. He gazed upward to look at the person who called him. “Reita!” Aoi answered. But when Aoi looked at the person in front of him, Aoi lost his smile once again. “T-Takashima…” he said as he found Uruha was the one who stood there in front of him. Aoi then looked when Uruha kneeled in front of him. Aoi found some other person stood behind Uruha. He held an umbrella in his hand. Aoi didn’t know who that person was. But when he remembered Reita’s story about Uruha’s lover, Aoi smiled, bitterly. The couple in front of him must be very different from how he and Tora used to be. He looked back at Uruha. “You’re right…” Aoi said slowly. “Our relationship… me and Tora… it’s sick… I’m such an idiot to be that loyal to Tora…”
“Aoi…”
“I’m late when I realized it… I’m too blind to realize that all of this time… all of this time…” Aoi couldn’t continue his words for the sobbing that made him hard to take mere breath. “All of this time Tora never saw me as someone special… I’m not that special… I’m no one…”
“Aoi, enough…”
“It’s only because of my face, right, Takashima? He wanted to be with me all of this time was just because of my face, right? That’s what he told me… he didn’t even say sorry, Takashima… Tora didn’t even say sorry…”
“Aoi, I’ll take you home…”
“I don’t want to!!” Aoi yelled. “I don’t want to go home! There’s actually no one who wait for me! Not even Tora actually ever wanted me to come to his apartment as his lover! He only wanted my body!”
“Aoi…”
Aoi covered his face with both of his hands. He couldn’t stop the streaming of his own tears. “Now I just can’t ask Reita to be my friend anymore…”
“About that…” Uruha said slowly. “Aoi, I’m sorry… I’m sorry that I lied to you. Reita never said those kinds of things…”
It wasn’t a surprise for Aoi. He just smiled. “I know, Takashima…” Aoi said. “Whatever it was, whether it’s a lie or not, I’m glad that you remind me not to add more burden to Reita…”
“No, Aoi. I-”
“Please, Takashima… after this, I won’t ask anything again… please, tell Reita, I’m not going to ask for more help…” Aoi said as he stood from the swing. “Reita don’t need more difficulties from me…” Aoi walked away from Uruha. “I’m helpless in the first place…” Aoi’s step was stopped. “All of t-this time… i-it was… all in… vain…”
“AOI!!” Uruha was in shock when he saw Aoi collapsed in front of him. Uruha hurriedly ran to Aoi and lifted his body. “Aoi! Wake up! Aoi!” Uruha called. It was a big relieve when Uruha saw Aoi opened his eyes a little.
“Uruha…” Saga called. He looked at Aoi worriedly.
“Saga, call Reita. You have his number, right?”
“Y-yeah…”
“Tell Reita to go to my apartment. Tell him that Aoi is already with us…” Uruha said as he put Aoi’s arm around his shoulder to help him to stand and walk.
“R-Reita..?” Aoi asked with his weak voice.
“He’ll come, Aoi… he’ll come…” Uruha told him.
*
With great difficulty, Uruha and Saga took Aoi to Uruha’s apartment. There, Uruha and Saga did what they could to help Aoi. They help Aoi changed his clothes. Saga was in a big shock when he saw all the bruises on Aoi’s body.
After that, Uruha and Saga could only watched Aoi without doing anything else. The Beautiful Being was really lost his entire positive aura. Aoi was just sat there, knee bended in front of his body, and he hugged it tightly. He didn’t even answer any single question that Uruha or Saga asked him. He didn’t say anything other than one name.
“Reita…” Aoi said weakly. “Reita…”
Uruha wanted to get closer to Aoi but Saga stopped him. Uruha looked at Saga who only shook his head slowly.
“I don’t know him that well, Saga… I’m not like Reita who spent more time with him…” Uruha said as he looked to Aoi. “But I just never saw him like this before…”
“The bruises on his body…” Saga asked. “You don’t know about that too?”
Uruha shook his head. “I know that Tora often hurt him… Reita told me about that…” Uruha added. “But I never know about the bruises until we saw it just a moment ago…” Uruha looked at the clock on the wall. “Damn it… what took Reita this long?”
Right after Uruha said it, Uruha heard his apartment bell ringed. He looked to his door and walked to it. After looked through the small glass on his door, Uruha didn’t think twice to open the door.
“Where is he?” Reita asked. He was panting like crazy. Uruha bet that Reita ran all his way here.
Uruha didn’t answer the question. He only opened his door wider to give more space to Reita to look deeper inside of Uruha’s apartment.
Reita saw it; Aoi was stooping and hugging his own self as he leaned to the wall. Reita’s gaze was locked to Aoi only. Reita hurriedly opened his shoes and his wet jacket - because of the rain - and walked to Aoi. Reita kneeled beside Aoi and touched Aoi’s shoulder carefully.
“Aoi…” Reita called.
“Reita…” Aoi answered but not looked at Reita. It looked like that Aoi was still didn’t realize, that this time, it was the real Reita who called him.
“Aoi, it’s me… Reita…” Reita said as he held both of Aoi’s shoulder and made Aoi turned his gaze to him.
Aoi fell silent. He looked straightly to Reita. He didn’t say anything. Aoi just moved his hands and touched Reita’s wet cheek slowly.
Reita, from the way Aoi moved his lips, Reita knew that Aoi was still calling his name repeatedly, with no voice heard. Reita held his breath when he saw the tears coming back to fell from Aoi’s eyes, again, and again.
Reita always hate that view. He hate everything that made Aoi cried. Reita pulled Aoi to his embrace and hugged him tightly. Aoi hugged him in reciprocate. After that, Reita, and also Uruha and Saga, could hear Aoi screamed and cried hard like he was trying to dry his lungs out.
It was such a big relieve for Aoi actually. Reita was there to see him and hugged him like that. All of his emotion and depression that he held all of this time was freed after he’s able to hugged Reita like that.
That was when Uruha realized something by looking at the two beings in front of him. He never saw them like that. Uruha never know the person named Aoi that close before. He just saw Aoi at the campus, just when they had the same classes. Then he knew about him being the famous Beautiful Being at their campus. Uruha admit that Aoi should be proud with his own face. He’s truly beautiful. Maybe that was why Uruha never expected it in the first place that Aoi actually could look so brittle, so fragile. Where did all of his beauty go when he break down like this?
Uruha never expected it too when he saw Reita - his best friend from their childhood time - like this. He never saw Reita hugged someone as tightly as he hugged Aoi at the moment. Uruha even had the feeling that Reita just won’t break the embrace for some more time. Uruha just didn’t expect it that Reita could actually cried like that moment. From the first time he knew Reita from their elementary moment, Uruha ever saw Reita cried, but not like this. Not like when he hugged Aoi like this.
There, Uruha felt when someone held his hand. Uruha looked to his side and he saw Saga, his lover, smiled at him. With the smile, Saga tried to tell Uruha that the frightening moment was all over.
Yeah… it’s over…
Uruha held Saga’s hand. That moment, Uruha was grateful that he could have Saga by his side without had to get through all of those things like Reita and Aoi did. Uruha was tightening his grip around Saga’s hand. Uruha promised silently that he will protect his lover no matter what. He won’t let anyone hurt Saga. Really. The experiences that his friends faced before this made Uruha realize that he had to take a really good care of all of his precious people around him. Uruha didn’t face something that Reita and Aoi faced. But just by watching his friends like that, Uruha knew that the tears that streamed down on their faces were actually taking away their pain away from their heart.
And for whatever’s sake he won’t have to face those kinds of things too, right? His friends too won’t have to face it again. It’s more than enough already.
Uruha looked at Saga, and gave the same smile to his lover. Uruha wanted to make him know that he’s fine. His heart was still trembling with the view of Reita and Aoi. But after Uruha realized that - at least - Tora wouldn’t be any part inside their life anymore, Uruha could make sure to himself and to Saga, that he, and all of them, were going to be just fine, from that moment on.
*
Well, for that night, Uruha’s apartment would be very crowded. With the size of his modest apartment, four people were enough to make it felt so full. At first, Reita wanted to take Aoi home with him to his apartment because Aoi still won’t go back to his own apartment. But after looking at Aoi’s current condition: weak, hurt and utterly just couldn’t spent more energy than he already did, Uruha just ask him to stay at his apartment. Hearing that, Reia then - as he pleased - chose to stay at Uruha’s place for the night. Of course, Uruha couldn’t let Saga went home just like that, right? Saga was willing to give more room for the small space actually, but Uruha held him back. Uruha didn’t want to be left alone when Reita would actually give all of his attention to Aoi only, right?
His own thoughts made Uruha smiled. Uruha was already able to think like that. It looked like the atmosphere inside his apartment was already lightening a bit. It wasn’t that tense like it was a moment ago. Aoi was starting to let out his voice a little too. He told them about everything he had gone through when he was with Tora. He told them about what Tora ever did to him. He even told them about the occurrence at the mall earlier that day. Just from Aoi’s story - and add it with the bruises all over his body - Uruha and Saga could conclude that Tora was really a sick person.
Then, Uruha suddenly confused when Reita asked him about the food he had in his refrigerator. Uruha never expected it that day he would have so many company like this. Uruha said that he only have enough food for him and Saga only. He only had one pack of instant porridge that - of course - that wouldn’t enough for both of Reita and Aoi.
Being Reita as himself, Reita said that he won’t mind it. He could order some pizza later or anything. At least, he could make porridge for Aoi. He’s Reita anyway. Uruha sighed; and smiled. All he could think about was just Aoi, Aoi, and Aoi, didn’t he? This Reita. The absentminded person was actually turned into someone that care so much about someone.
OK. That’s not all. When Uruha and Saga done with their meal, Aoi only ate half of his porridge. Reita knew that Aoi won’t finish his meal.
“Eat it…”
“Reita… I can’t…”
“No. You need more nutrition. Eat it all.”
“Reita… I’m already full…”
“Eat it, or I’ll feed you.”
Uruha was almost burst into laughter if only he didn’t hold it in. He just covered his mouth.
“What are you laughing at!?” Reita asked, and Aoi’s face turned red.
“N-nothing…” Uruha hid his face behind Saga’s shoulder. Saga too was actually trying so hard not to laugh at Reita’s behavior.
“Suspicious…” Reita said as his eyebrow twitched.
That moment, Uruha knew that Reita was already change. He changed a lot.
____....++++****++++....____
A/N: one chapter to go! After this, it’ll be the last chapter. Hwaa... I’m nervous myself. *chuckled*
Ok, I’m not going to make it too long. Your comment and critics are so much love. Thank you very much!