Field Trip - PG [Ryoda]
Title: Field Trip
Author: Alena/partypaprika
Rating: PG
Words: 3400
Pairing: Ryoda
Summary: High School Au fic in which Ryo and Ueda are forced to spend a field trip together and then some.
Author's Note: Disclaimer: If you actually think that I own these people, you must be on more crack than I am.
From opposite ends of a clearing, Ryo and Ueda glared at each other intently.
"I can't believe that I'm spending this fucking field trip with someone who resembles a horse." Ryo spat out.
Ueda flinched before responding, "Well, you have no one to blame but yourself, you MIDGET!"
Ryo stood up, smirking. "Oh, that's creative. Did you think of that all by yourself? That must've put your pea sized brain into overdrive."
Ueda steeled himself for a minute and tried to calm down. All he could think of was hitting Ryo again and leaving another bruise to match the one currently forming over Ryo's eye. "You know what? I'm going to be the better person here and NOT punch you again."
"You couldn't take me if you tried. Wimp." Ryo sneered. Ueda just sighed and put his head in between his hands.
30 Minutes Earlier
The two hour bus ride to the shrine had been quite a trial, as far as school transportation went. The powers that be had clearly wanted amusement when they had placed Koki and Ueda right behind Yamapi and Ryo. It was no secret that Ueda and Ryo got along like spinach and alcohol-that is to say, not at all, and in a kind of disturbing way. Which meant that the entire bus had been predictably subjected to Ryo's abuse of Ueda during the bus ride.
But, no one would've guessed that Ryo would have been mean enough to trip Ueda coming out of the bus. OR that Ueda finally stood up to Ryo and punched him in the face. The two boys went at it like tigers, hitting and biting while most of the other students just watched in amazement. Half the class was in shock that Ueda had finally stood up to the other boy, while the other half tried to figure out who would win the fight.
When the teacher finally stopped the two boys, Ryo sported the start of a black eye and several other bruises and Ueda's lip was bleeding profusely. Several of their friends snapped out of their shock to hold them back while the two boys came to their senses. It was, after all, a school field trip, and fighting could easily result in suspension.
Ueda expected the worst, so it came with a huge surprise that the teacher had not only not suspended them, but not even given them detention. Instead, she had come up with a creative punishment: the two boys would research the flora and fauna of the region together while the rest of the class studied the shrine and then went into the nearby town. But, the teacher had warned furiously, if either one of the two boys laid a finger on the other, both would spend the rest of their high school careers in detention.
So, it was with a great deal of mistrust that the two boys found themselves on opposite ends of a clearing, in the middle of the forest. Ueda almost wished he could've been suspended instead.
One hour later
Ueda stared at the ground. He'd already counted the amount of pebbles near his feet, trees surrounding the clearing, and the clouds in the sky. And it was still only 12:30. The rest of the class wouldn't be back until 2. That was, what 90 more minutes of harsh insults from Ryo. Ueda hadn't really believed that Ryo had more insults to spare, especially after the bus ride, but Ryo had completely proven him wrong. So far Ryo hadn't failed to mention Ueda's nose, Gackt obsession, clothes, laugh, and parents among other things.
Ueda forced himself to focus on trying not to think about killing Ryo. It wouldn't do to apply to college from jail. Although, he mused, no one would really blame him. Nonono, Ueda shook his head and went back to counting pebbles on the ground.
Ryo was in the middle of insulting Ueda, "Your mom was a horse, and your father was an ostrich. I can clearly see the resemblance, and that would explain your brain size." when a weird rumbling sound filled the clearing. Ueda tried to gage where the sound was coming from, and which of the two boys was in the more imminent danger, when the noise stopped. As Ueda looked across the clearing, he met Ryo's eyes and for a moment he thought he saw a look of embarrassment, but-
"What are you looking at?" Ryo demanded.
"Did you hear that sound?"
"I always knew you were crazy, but this only confirms my suspicions." Ryo sneered.
"No!" Ueda protested. "There really-wait. I just heard it again." This time Ryo looked decidedly uncomfortable at the growling noise.
"I don't hear anything." Ryo said crossly. Ueda could've sworn that the sound came from near Ryo. In fact, he was pretty sure that the sound came from Ryo's….stomach?
"You're hungry! Ueda shouted triumphantly.
"I am not hungry," Ryo said loudly and firmly, but his stomach decided to growl again, making Ueda giggle.
"Oh. I'm sorry Princess; do you find my stomach amusing? And that girly giggle makes me want to rip my own ears off." Ryo scoffed, but Ueda seemed to find it a little less effective than normal. As Ueda glanced down at his own bento box, he realized that Ryo had neglected to bring his, and had probably left it on the bus.
Something about Ryo's attempt at stoicism and that nagging voice in the back of his head prompted Ueda to pick up his bento box and sit next to Ryo.
"Here," he offered Ryo some of his food. Ryo sneered and looked all geared up to make a disparagingly witty comment when Ueda interrupted. "Yeah. I know that you'll say it tastes like crap and how you'd never eat food form someone who's as much of a loser as me. But, I know that you're hungry and I'm not really. So, stop being such a baby and eat it."
Ryo looked shocked for a second before he pulled himself together.
"Well, whatever the Princess," he drawled, "says." And proceeded to make a mock bow. But, he started eating. Ueda smiled.
After they'd finished the bento box, the two boys sat awkwardly. They'd reached some type of uneasy unspoken truce, and Ueda didn't want to be the one to break it. After all, Ueda infinitely preferred the silence to being called an ugly, shrimp faced loser. So, instead of talking, Ueda found himself watching Ryo.
When the shorter boy wasn't harassing people or sneering, he actually looked kind of cute, Ueda found himself thinking.
"Why are you staring at me with those ugly eyes?" Ryo asked.
Never mind, Ueda though, and focused on counting the branches on the trees. It was actually quite comfortable in the clearing, despite being on the ground. As Ueda found himself slowly nodding off, he made a mental reminder to wake up in an hour or so, so that they could go back to meet their group. See, he told himself, this wasn't nearly as bad as you thought it would be.
There was a pressure on Ueda's arm and a fly buzzing near Ueda's ear. He tried to swat it away only to hit something firm and warm. That was enough to get Ueda's attention. His eyes jerked open to find an extremely irate Ryo shaking him awake.
"-sleep you idiot!" The bus left without us. Because YOU fell asleep. We're all alone out here and it's your entire fault!"
"Wait…"Ueda started slowly. "How is it my-the bus left?! What do you mean the bus left?"
Ryo sneered. "I always knew that your brain wasn't at the same level as mine, but I thought you understood simple Japanese."
"I understand Japanese, you idiot. The bus really left?"
"No, I'm lying in order to show just how big of an idiot you are."
"So-"
"Oh wait. I don't have to; you do that well enough on your own."
Now quite confused, Ueda pulled himself off the ground and ran down the small path to where the bus had once been parked. Unfortunately, he realized that Ryo had actually told the truth. Where the bus had once been, all he could see now was a setting sun. And Ueda realized just what a precarious situation he and Ryo were in. The caretaker of the shrine had probably returned to his/her home and he had no idea where the nearest town was.
He vaguely remembered a gas station a ways back, but it had probably been at least ten miles or so away.
Ueda groaned inwardly. This was not good. To be honest, Ueda realized, he was screwed, being stranded with a boy that was more likely to pick a fight then help think of a solution. Sure enough, when Ryo appeared a few seconds later, the first thing he did was push the taller boy.
"This is completely your fault," Ryo shouted. "If you hadn't insisted on eating, we would never have fallen asleep! You can't do anything right, and you screw up the most simple things! You're really an idiot."
Despite himself, Ueda felt tears prick at his eyes. "I'm not stupid," he said quietly. "You're just as much at fault as I am."
"And whose fault is it that we're in this situation in the first place? All because you can't take a simple joke."
Ueda felt his earlier anger rising up again, and on impulse pushed Ryo back. Ryo's foot must've hit something, because he started falling backwards and grabbed Ueda's arm. In a crash, the two tumbled to the ground.
In astonishment, Ueda just lay there, on top of Ryo. In a detached thisfeelsverynice way, he felt Ryo's rapidly beating heart below him, and Ryo's chest moving up and down. After a minute passed, Ueda suddenly realized that Ryo had gone completely stiff underneath him, and Ueda scrambled up and several paces away. Ryo stood up as well, and took a few steps even farther in the opposite direction. Both boys stared at the ground. After a few minutes of silence, Ueda finally spoke.
"What do you think we should do?" Ueda addressed the ground. "Should we try to find a gas station or the town?"
"Yes, Princess. Let's go explore an area that neither of us is familiar with just before it gets dark. That sounds like a world class idea."
"Fine. What do you suggest we do, since you're the genius here?"
Ryo just smirked at Ueda. "Why, Princess, I'm glad you're finally accepting my vast intellect." When Ueda glared back, Ryo continued. "I suggest that we stay here. Either the school or our parents has to realize that we're missing at some point, and contact the police or someone nearby. Even if, by some chance, they don't, the caretakers of the shrine will be back in the morning. And it's spring, so we won't freeze to death."
Ueda nodded approvingly.
"Although, on second thought, it might be too chilly for you, Princess." Ryo finished. Ueda just sighed.
Neither of the boys made a move for another couple of minutes until Ueda realized there was a small bench nearby. When he suggested going and sitting down, Ryo called him a girl, but followed him over to the bench and sat down next to him.
"So," Ueda started. "Do you have…any sports that you're good at or um…after school activities? Aside from bullying, that is."
"Are you actually trying to make conversation, Princess?" Ryo laughed. Ueda felt himself blushing before he shot back.
"I'm anticipating that we're going to be here for quite some time." Ueda said. "So, we can either attempt to get along or you can make snippy remarks and we can fight all over again. Which is it?" Ryo was silent for a full minute before turning and sneering.
"I don't do any of those lame sports and clubs, like you do, Princess. I know how to have real fun."
"Real fun?"
Ryo brought his face directly up to Ueda's, so much so that their noses were almost touching. "Yeah, real fun." He said in that way that implied real fun could never involve something as stupid as a sport, especially one that Ueda liked.
Ryo didn't move his head away though, and Ueda wasn't sure exactly why, but he felt himself blush from head to toe.
"What do you do…Princess?" Ueda gulped and finally blinked, breaking their eye contact. He shifted his body away and looked at the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I invading the Princess' personal space?"
Ueda refused to lose the game and responded, "I play soccer."
"Hah. Figures a girl like you would play a game where the greatest intellectual challenge is used to figure out which way to kick a ball."
"Oh shut up."
"No, but I'm deeply interested. Please continue."
"You know what? I give up; Ryo, you win."
Ryo laughed, a low noise in his throat. "At last, you admit that I beat you in every possible way."
When Ueda didn't respond, Ryo looked over at Ueda and rolled his eyes. After Ueda didn't respond, he gave an exasperated sigh. "Look," he said. "If you let everyone make you feel bad about yourself, you'll never get very far in life. Toughen up. Stop being such a wimp."
"Why thank you. But, you could try being nice for a change. You won't get much farther if everyone hates you."
Ryo smirked. "On the contrary. I get quite far."
"Oh god…" Ueda started.
"You can just call me Ryo." And something clicked, because the two boys burst into laughter and smiled at each other.
It had been almost two hours and Ryo and Ueda had fallen into an almost amicable conversation. Around them, however, it had gotten completely dark and the temperature had dropped, leaving Ueda shivering.
"Where's your jacket? Too stupid to bring one along?"
"No, I just left it on the bus. I didn't realize that I would be spending the evening out in the wilderness."
Ryo sighed in that long suffering way that seemed to say "the person sitting next to me is an idiot," before taking off his jacket and giving it to Ueda.
"Here you go Princess."
"I'm not taking your jacket! I'm not a girl!"
"Then stop whining like one and take it."
"No!"
"Why are you such a girl?"
"If I take it, then you'll be cold."
"No, I won't."
"Yes, you will."
"WHY ARE YOU SUCH A GIRL?"
"Fine. We'll share it." Ueda said, proud that he'd thought of a compromise. Ryo rolled his eyes, but didn't protest.
With their shoulders pressed together, Ueda suddenly felt how warm Ryo was. Ryo's arm lightly brushed against Ueda's and he felt a jolt of electricity where Ryo's arm had touched his. Ueda shifted uncomfortably.
Ryo must've misinterpreted the movement as a sign of feeling cold, because he just moved closer to Ueda. Without knowing why, Ueda found himself barely able to breathe. Especially with Ryo's face right next to his.
"Does the Princess feel better now?"
"Ye-Yes." Ueda said and forced himself to focus on the ground, his shoes, the sky, just anywhere that wasn't Ryo's face. He wasn't succeeding very well, and found himself wondering if Ryo's face felt as smooth as it looked. Or what it would be like to kiss Ryo's lips-what? But before Ueda could properly follow that thought, Ryo's stomach made a now familiar noise.
When Ueda giggled a little, Ryo had given him a look that tried to be threatening. But, it's a little hard to be taken seriously when one's stomach is growling.
"I'm sorry," Ueda apologized. "But, I think we both finished the bento box." Ryo gave a noncommittal grunt, while Ueda fished around in his pockets. He emerged triumphant a moment later! "Aha! A chocolate bar! Although it's a little melty."
"I'm not even hungry. And I bet it tastes like crap anyways."
"Are we going through this again? Just eat it."
Ryo reluctantly took the chocolate bar and ate about half of it before he gave it back to Ueda.
"Did you actually eat all of that, or did you just get it all over your face?" Ueda asked. Ryo ran a lazy tongue over his lips, giving Ueda the sudden urge to just kiss him, but he tried to push that thought far away.
"All gone?"
"No. You have some on your cheek." Ryo rubbed his cheek, missing the chocolate completely.
"Gone now?"
"No."
"Now?"
"Here, just let me get it, ok?" Ryo grumbled again, but it was almost good naturedly, as Ueda's hands wiped off the chocolate there. Without meaning to, Ueda's hands seemed to linger a second too long, and he hastily went to withdraw them. But, Ryo's hands grabbed at Ueda's and pulled them close.
"Now, you have chocolate on your hands." Ryo smirked, his voice a bit lower than usual. And with their faces almost pressed together, the only way Ueda could think to respond was to move his lips so that they were touching Ryo's. Ryo went still for a second, before he kissed back.
They stayed in that position, lips that barely touched, for a few seconds before Ryo took the initiative and started the actual kissing process. All Ueda was aware of was just how soft and warm Ryo's lips were, and that they tasted like chocolate and a hint of cinnamon.
Then before Ueda could really process it, they were kissing harder, and Ryo's hands planted themselves in Ueda's hair, and Ueda's arms snaked around Ryo's back and underneath Ryo's shirt. Suddenly, Ryo's tongue had opened up Ueda's mouth, and Ueda found himself thinking that it was a little weird, but a good weird. He began planting kisses alongside Ryo's face and playing with Ryo's lip (which, telling by Ryo's murmurs, he really liked). Then Ryo slowly lowered Ueda down onto the bench and started kissing Ueda's neck.
Ueda was thinking about just how good Ryo's mouth felt and how much he just wanted to take off Ryo's shirt, when in a blinding flash, he realized that he and Ryo were kissing. Somewhere, his brain had processed that piece of information earlier, but now Ueda really realized that he was KISSING RYO-a guy who, up until a few hours earlier, he couldn't stand to be around. And now Ueda was running his fingers over Ryo's back and kissing Ryo like there was no tomorrow. Holy crap. He sat up so quickly that he almost knocked over Ryo in the process.
"What the hell, Princess?"
"….are we making out?"
"No, we're playing a nice game of cricket. Yes, of course, we're making it out, stupid." And with that pronouncement, Ryo pushed Ueda back down and covered Ueda's mouth with his to prevent any more silly questions.
When they sat up a little while later, they both were breathless and dazed. When Ryo didn't say a word for several minutes, Ueda had this sneaking suspicion that whatever he was feeling (which he wasn't all together sure he could quite define) for Ryo wasn't in the slightest reciprocated. And now everything would change and be terribly awkward.
So when Ryo said with this smirk on his face, "God, you kiss terribly. I bet this was the Princess' first time too." Ueda wanted the ground to open up and swallow him NOW.
But then Ryo continued in his smug way. "I guess I'll just have to teach you how to do it right next time." Ueda wanted to smile because everything had changed. But, then again, it hadn't.
"Yeah, I'd like that." Ueda said. And after a minute of feeling around, he found Ryo's hand in the dark and held it tight.
The End
("You're such a girl."
"Oh shut up."
"But you are."
"You secretly like this, so just shut up and enjoy the moment."
Ryo grumbled under his breath, but didn't move at all. In a very gracious allowance, he even let Ueda rest his head on Ryo's shoulder.)
Author: Alena/partypaprika
Rating: PG
Words: 3400
Pairing: Ryoda
Summary: High School Au fic in which Ryo and Ueda are forced to spend a field trip together and then some.
Author's Note: Disclaimer: If you actually think that I own these people, you must be on more crack than I am.
From opposite ends of a clearing, Ryo and Ueda glared at each other intently.
"I can't believe that I'm spending this fucking field trip with someone who resembles a horse." Ryo spat out.
Ueda flinched before responding, "Well, you have no one to blame but yourself, you MIDGET!"
Ryo stood up, smirking. "Oh, that's creative. Did you think of that all by yourself? That must've put your pea sized brain into overdrive."
Ueda steeled himself for a minute and tried to calm down. All he could think of was hitting Ryo again and leaving another bruise to match the one currently forming over Ryo's eye. "You know what? I'm going to be the better person here and NOT punch you again."
"You couldn't take me if you tried. Wimp." Ryo sneered. Ueda just sighed and put his head in between his hands.
30 Minutes Earlier
The two hour bus ride to the shrine had been quite a trial, as far as school transportation went. The powers that be had clearly wanted amusement when they had placed Koki and Ueda right behind Yamapi and Ryo. It was no secret that Ueda and Ryo got along like spinach and alcohol-that is to say, not at all, and in a kind of disturbing way. Which meant that the entire bus had been predictably subjected to Ryo's abuse of Ueda during the bus ride.
But, no one would've guessed that Ryo would have been mean enough to trip Ueda coming out of the bus. OR that Ueda finally stood up to Ryo and punched him in the face. The two boys went at it like tigers, hitting and biting while most of the other students just watched in amazement. Half the class was in shock that Ueda had finally stood up to the other boy, while the other half tried to figure out who would win the fight.
When the teacher finally stopped the two boys, Ryo sported the start of a black eye and several other bruises and Ueda's lip was bleeding profusely. Several of their friends snapped out of their shock to hold them back while the two boys came to their senses. It was, after all, a school field trip, and fighting could easily result in suspension.
Ueda expected the worst, so it came with a huge surprise that the teacher had not only not suspended them, but not even given them detention. Instead, she had come up with a creative punishment: the two boys would research the flora and fauna of the region together while the rest of the class studied the shrine and then went into the nearby town. But, the teacher had warned furiously, if either one of the two boys laid a finger on the other, both would spend the rest of their high school careers in detention.
So, it was with a great deal of mistrust that the two boys found themselves on opposite ends of a clearing, in the middle of the forest. Ueda almost wished he could've been suspended instead.
One hour later
Ueda stared at the ground. He'd already counted the amount of pebbles near his feet, trees surrounding the clearing, and the clouds in the sky. And it was still only 12:30. The rest of the class wouldn't be back until 2. That was, what 90 more minutes of harsh insults from Ryo. Ueda hadn't really believed that Ryo had more insults to spare, especially after the bus ride, but Ryo had completely proven him wrong. So far Ryo hadn't failed to mention Ueda's nose, Gackt obsession, clothes, laugh, and parents among other things.
Ueda forced himself to focus on trying not to think about killing Ryo. It wouldn't do to apply to college from jail. Although, he mused, no one would really blame him. Nonono, Ueda shook his head and went back to counting pebbles on the ground.
Ryo was in the middle of insulting Ueda, "Your mom was a horse, and your father was an ostrich. I can clearly see the resemblance, and that would explain your brain size." when a weird rumbling sound filled the clearing. Ueda tried to gage where the sound was coming from, and which of the two boys was in the more imminent danger, when the noise stopped. As Ueda looked across the clearing, he met Ryo's eyes and for a moment he thought he saw a look of embarrassment, but-
"What are you looking at?" Ryo demanded.
"Did you hear that sound?"
"I always knew you were crazy, but this only confirms my suspicions." Ryo sneered.
"No!" Ueda protested. "There really-wait. I just heard it again." This time Ryo looked decidedly uncomfortable at the growling noise.
"I don't hear anything." Ryo said crossly. Ueda could've sworn that the sound came from near Ryo. In fact, he was pretty sure that the sound came from Ryo's….stomach?
"You're hungry! Ueda shouted triumphantly.
"I am not hungry," Ryo said loudly and firmly, but his stomach decided to growl again, making Ueda giggle.
"Oh. I'm sorry Princess; do you find my stomach amusing? And that girly giggle makes me want to rip my own ears off." Ryo scoffed, but Ueda seemed to find it a little less effective than normal. As Ueda glanced down at his own bento box, he realized that Ryo had neglected to bring his, and had probably left it on the bus.
Something about Ryo's attempt at stoicism and that nagging voice in the back of his head prompted Ueda to pick up his bento box and sit next to Ryo.
"Here," he offered Ryo some of his food. Ryo sneered and looked all geared up to make a disparagingly witty comment when Ueda interrupted. "Yeah. I know that you'll say it tastes like crap and how you'd never eat food form someone who's as much of a loser as me. But, I know that you're hungry and I'm not really. So, stop being such a baby and eat it."
Ryo looked shocked for a second before he pulled himself together.
"Well, whatever the Princess," he drawled, "says." And proceeded to make a mock bow. But, he started eating. Ueda smiled.
After they'd finished the bento box, the two boys sat awkwardly. They'd reached some type of uneasy unspoken truce, and Ueda didn't want to be the one to break it. After all, Ueda infinitely preferred the silence to being called an ugly, shrimp faced loser. So, instead of talking, Ueda found himself watching Ryo.
When the shorter boy wasn't harassing people or sneering, he actually looked kind of cute, Ueda found himself thinking.
"Why are you staring at me with those ugly eyes?" Ryo asked.
Never mind, Ueda though, and focused on counting the branches on the trees. It was actually quite comfortable in the clearing, despite being on the ground. As Ueda found himself slowly nodding off, he made a mental reminder to wake up in an hour or so, so that they could go back to meet their group. See, he told himself, this wasn't nearly as bad as you thought it would be.
There was a pressure on Ueda's arm and a fly buzzing near Ueda's ear. He tried to swat it away only to hit something firm and warm. That was enough to get Ueda's attention. His eyes jerked open to find an extremely irate Ryo shaking him awake.
"-sleep you idiot!" The bus left without us. Because YOU fell asleep. We're all alone out here and it's your entire fault!"
"Wait…"Ueda started slowly. "How is it my-the bus left?! What do you mean the bus left?"
Ryo sneered. "I always knew that your brain wasn't at the same level as mine, but I thought you understood simple Japanese."
"I understand Japanese, you idiot. The bus really left?"
"No, I'm lying in order to show just how big of an idiot you are."
"So-"
"Oh wait. I don't have to; you do that well enough on your own."
Now quite confused, Ueda pulled himself off the ground and ran down the small path to where the bus had once been parked. Unfortunately, he realized that Ryo had actually told the truth. Where the bus had once been, all he could see now was a setting sun. And Ueda realized just what a precarious situation he and Ryo were in. The caretaker of the shrine had probably returned to his/her home and he had no idea where the nearest town was.
He vaguely remembered a gas station a ways back, but it had probably been at least ten miles or so away.
Ueda groaned inwardly. This was not good. To be honest, Ueda realized, he was screwed, being stranded with a boy that was more likely to pick a fight then help think of a solution. Sure enough, when Ryo appeared a few seconds later, the first thing he did was push the taller boy.
"This is completely your fault," Ryo shouted. "If you hadn't insisted on eating, we would never have fallen asleep! You can't do anything right, and you screw up the most simple things! You're really an idiot."
Despite himself, Ueda felt tears prick at his eyes. "I'm not stupid," he said quietly. "You're just as much at fault as I am."
"And whose fault is it that we're in this situation in the first place? All because you can't take a simple joke."
Ueda felt his earlier anger rising up again, and on impulse pushed Ryo back. Ryo's foot must've hit something, because he started falling backwards and grabbed Ueda's arm. In a crash, the two tumbled to the ground.
In astonishment, Ueda just lay there, on top of Ryo. In a detached thisfeelsverynice way, he felt Ryo's rapidly beating heart below him, and Ryo's chest moving up and down. After a minute passed, Ueda suddenly realized that Ryo had gone completely stiff underneath him, and Ueda scrambled up and several paces away. Ryo stood up as well, and took a few steps even farther in the opposite direction. Both boys stared at the ground. After a few minutes of silence, Ueda finally spoke.
"What do you think we should do?" Ueda addressed the ground. "Should we try to find a gas station or the town?"
"Yes, Princess. Let's go explore an area that neither of us is familiar with just before it gets dark. That sounds like a world class idea."
"Fine. What do you suggest we do, since you're the genius here?"
Ryo just smirked at Ueda. "Why, Princess, I'm glad you're finally accepting my vast intellect." When Ueda glared back, Ryo continued. "I suggest that we stay here. Either the school or our parents has to realize that we're missing at some point, and contact the police or someone nearby. Even if, by some chance, they don't, the caretakers of the shrine will be back in the morning. And it's spring, so we won't freeze to death."
Ueda nodded approvingly.
"Although, on second thought, it might be too chilly for you, Princess." Ryo finished. Ueda just sighed.
Neither of the boys made a move for another couple of minutes until Ueda realized there was a small bench nearby. When he suggested going and sitting down, Ryo called him a girl, but followed him over to the bench and sat down next to him.
"So," Ueda started. "Do you have…any sports that you're good at or um…after school activities? Aside from bullying, that is."
"Are you actually trying to make conversation, Princess?" Ryo laughed. Ueda felt himself blushing before he shot back.
"I'm anticipating that we're going to be here for quite some time." Ueda said. "So, we can either attempt to get along or you can make snippy remarks and we can fight all over again. Which is it?" Ryo was silent for a full minute before turning and sneering.
"I don't do any of those lame sports and clubs, like you do, Princess. I know how to have real fun."
"Real fun?"
Ryo brought his face directly up to Ueda's, so much so that their noses were almost touching. "Yeah, real fun." He said in that way that implied real fun could never involve something as stupid as a sport, especially one that Ueda liked.
Ryo didn't move his head away though, and Ueda wasn't sure exactly why, but he felt himself blush from head to toe.
"What do you do…Princess?" Ueda gulped and finally blinked, breaking their eye contact. He shifted his body away and looked at the ground. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I invading the Princess' personal space?"
Ueda refused to lose the game and responded, "I play soccer."
"Hah. Figures a girl like you would play a game where the greatest intellectual challenge is used to figure out which way to kick a ball."
"Oh shut up."
"No, but I'm deeply interested. Please continue."
"You know what? I give up; Ryo, you win."
Ryo laughed, a low noise in his throat. "At last, you admit that I beat you in every possible way."
When Ueda didn't respond, Ryo looked over at Ueda and rolled his eyes. After Ueda didn't respond, he gave an exasperated sigh. "Look," he said. "If you let everyone make you feel bad about yourself, you'll never get very far in life. Toughen up. Stop being such a wimp."
"Why thank you. But, you could try being nice for a change. You won't get much farther if everyone hates you."
Ryo smirked. "On the contrary. I get quite far."
"Oh god…" Ueda started.
"You can just call me Ryo." And something clicked, because the two boys burst into laughter and smiled at each other.
It had been almost two hours and Ryo and Ueda had fallen into an almost amicable conversation. Around them, however, it had gotten completely dark and the temperature had dropped, leaving Ueda shivering.
"Where's your jacket? Too stupid to bring one along?"
"No, I just left it on the bus. I didn't realize that I would be spending the evening out in the wilderness."
Ryo sighed in that long suffering way that seemed to say "the person sitting next to me is an idiot," before taking off his jacket and giving it to Ueda.
"Here you go Princess."
"I'm not taking your jacket! I'm not a girl!"
"Then stop whining like one and take it."
"No!"
"Why are you such a girl?"
"If I take it, then you'll be cold."
"No, I won't."
"Yes, you will."
"WHY ARE YOU SUCH A GIRL?"
"Fine. We'll share it." Ueda said, proud that he'd thought of a compromise. Ryo rolled his eyes, but didn't protest.
With their shoulders pressed together, Ueda suddenly felt how warm Ryo was. Ryo's arm lightly brushed against Ueda's and he felt a jolt of electricity where Ryo's arm had touched his. Ueda shifted uncomfortably.
Ryo must've misinterpreted the movement as a sign of feeling cold, because he just moved closer to Ueda. Without knowing why, Ueda found himself barely able to breathe. Especially with Ryo's face right next to his.
"Does the Princess feel better now?"
"Ye-Yes." Ueda said and forced himself to focus on the ground, his shoes, the sky, just anywhere that wasn't Ryo's face. He wasn't succeeding very well, and found himself wondering if Ryo's face felt as smooth as it looked. Or what it would be like to kiss Ryo's lips-what? But before Ueda could properly follow that thought, Ryo's stomach made a now familiar noise.
When Ueda giggled a little, Ryo had given him a look that tried to be threatening. But, it's a little hard to be taken seriously when one's stomach is growling.
"I'm sorry," Ueda apologized. "But, I think we both finished the bento box." Ryo gave a noncommittal grunt, while Ueda fished around in his pockets. He emerged triumphant a moment later! "Aha! A chocolate bar! Although it's a little melty."
"I'm not even hungry. And I bet it tastes like crap anyways."
"Are we going through this again? Just eat it."
Ryo reluctantly took the chocolate bar and ate about half of it before he gave it back to Ueda.
"Did you actually eat all of that, or did you just get it all over your face?" Ueda asked. Ryo ran a lazy tongue over his lips, giving Ueda the sudden urge to just kiss him, but he tried to push that thought far away.
"All gone?"
"No. You have some on your cheek." Ryo rubbed his cheek, missing the chocolate completely.
"Gone now?"
"No."
"Now?"
"Here, just let me get it, ok?" Ryo grumbled again, but it was almost good naturedly, as Ueda's hands wiped off the chocolate there. Without meaning to, Ueda's hands seemed to linger a second too long, and he hastily went to withdraw them. But, Ryo's hands grabbed at Ueda's and pulled them close.
"Now, you have chocolate on your hands." Ryo smirked, his voice a bit lower than usual. And with their faces almost pressed together, the only way Ueda could think to respond was to move his lips so that they were touching Ryo's. Ryo went still for a second, before he kissed back.
They stayed in that position, lips that barely touched, for a few seconds before Ryo took the initiative and started the actual kissing process. All Ueda was aware of was just how soft and warm Ryo's lips were, and that they tasted like chocolate and a hint of cinnamon.
Then before Ueda could really process it, they were kissing harder, and Ryo's hands planted themselves in Ueda's hair, and Ueda's arms snaked around Ryo's back and underneath Ryo's shirt. Suddenly, Ryo's tongue had opened up Ueda's mouth, and Ueda found himself thinking that it was a little weird, but a good weird. He began planting kisses alongside Ryo's face and playing with Ryo's lip (which, telling by Ryo's murmurs, he really liked). Then Ryo slowly lowered Ueda down onto the bench and started kissing Ueda's neck.
Ueda was thinking about just how good Ryo's mouth felt and how much he just wanted to take off Ryo's shirt, when in a blinding flash, he realized that he and Ryo were kissing. Somewhere, his brain had processed that piece of information earlier, but now Ueda really realized that he was KISSING RYO-a guy who, up until a few hours earlier, he couldn't stand to be around. And now Ueda was running his fingers over Ryo's back and kissing Ryo like there was no tomorrow. Holy crap. He sat up so quickly that he almost knocked over Ryo in the process.
"What the hell, Princess?"
"….are we making out?"
"No, we're playing a nice game of cricket. Yes, of course, we're making it out, stupid." And with that pronouncement, Ryo pushed Ueda back down and covered Ueda's mouth with his to prevent any more silly questions.
When they sat up a little while later, they both were breathless and dazed. When Ryo didn't say a word for several minutes, Ueda had this sneaking suspicion that whatever he was feeling (which he wasn't all together sure he could quite define) for Ryo wasn't in the slightest reciprocated. And now everything would change and be terribly awkward.
So when Ryo said with this smirk on his face, "God, you kiss terribly. I bet this was the Princess' first time too." Ueda wanted the ground to open up and swallow him NOW.
But then Ryo continued in his smug way. "I guess I'll just have to teach you how to do it right next time." Ueda wanted to smile because everything had changed. But, then again, it hadn't.
"Yeah, I'd like that." Ueda said. And after a minute of feeling around, he found Ryo's hand in the dark and held it tight.
The End
("You're such a girl."
"Oh shut up."
"But you are."
"You secretly like this, so just shut up and enjoy the moment."
Ryo grumbled under his breath, but didn't move at all. In a very gracious allowance, he even let Ueda rest his head on Ryo's shoulder.)