{fic} Oneshot: VERSE. (part4)
Hayato. Ai's in labor. Tokyo Medical College Hospital, please come.
--Tsuchi
~0~
The wall clock on your room says nine in the evening, and it takes you another hour or so to get to the hospital.
You're panting as you sprint towards the receptionist, a petite nurse with large eyeglasses, ogling at the records.
“Ai-san,uh,” you don't know her last name, and she's still not officially a Tsuchiya-
“Hayato!” the booming voice of Tsuchi makes you turn your head to the left. He's pale and obviously under tremendous stress, with the way he's perspiring and those big eyebags.
You grip his arm for support, “How's she doing?”
“Ai's holding on. Come on let's wait outside the delivery room.”
Only your tired breaths can be heard as you walk your way outside the delivery room. You've barely sat down when another voice breaks the silence.
“Tsuchi, coffee's here-oh.”
Ryu's there, hair disheveled and looking crap like he's been babysitting Ai as well. You've not talked or seen each other for three weeks and four days, and you have no idea where the hell he went. At work, you no longer feel those hidden eyes watching you, no more unknown shadow making you feel guarded. You've kept to yourself since that day, almost getting fired at work for zoning out and being a complete failure. You've also managed to successfully ignore Mini and her ridiculous-you now see-advances towards you. After the awkward confrontation between Ryu and you, all his outbursts and rash actions whenever Mini was around seem to make sense.
The air is tense as Ryu nears you and Tsuchi. “Here,” he hands over the two cups of steaming coffee to each of you. “I'm going out for a smoke.” he's disappeared even before you can say your thanks.
“It's cold outside,” Tsuchi comments a few minutes after Ryu leaves, and judging from how cold it is inside-how Tsuchi's breath fogs up-it must be freezing where Ryu is. The unspoken worry in your eyes makes your friend sigh. “He's told me what happened.”
“No shit,” you deadpan, not wanting to talk about how that night horribly messed up and blew out of proportion.
“He's been miserable, Hayato.”
“So have I.” Your voice doesn't sound as steely as you want it to be.
Tsuchi stands up, the empty cup placed on his chair. “He's had it worse. Thirteen years of waiting and secrecy, and now that he's out he's not even sure if you feel the same way. He has everything to lose.”
Coffee long forgotten, you opt for pressing hands to your temples. “How'd you even figure it out? And you guys are all so accepting.”
“It's Ryu,” he shrugs, nonchalant reply and calm demeanor. “You don't change towards a friend just because of that.”
“You know he's not losing anything, right?” They have all the reason in the world to doubt you, with everything that has been going on. “I do feel the same way.”
And Tsuchi smiles, shaking his head in mock annoyance at Ryu and you and these crashing misconceptions you have for each other. “What?” you aske heatedly, obviously offended at the other's attitude.
“You should try saying that to his face.” A smirk. “Before he tries to jump off the rooftop.”
“But where the hell-thanks man!” You're up and running to the emergency stairs, not minding that it's slippery and has ten flights.
The door to the rooftop's not locked and you pull the handle open with all your might. “Ryu!” The shout echoes in the freezing night air, and from the railing at the far end, a mop of unkempt brown hair twists his head to look at you. The boy has his back leaning by the wall, a cigarette between his lips.
The next moment your legs are steadily walking towards him, eyes pinning him to the wall, heart frantically beating in your chest like you're about to explode if you ever let him go again. You stop just right in front of him, breathing heavily and that lump in your throat hindering you to speak.
“Hayato,” his breath smells like smoke and alcohol and mint, the cigarette dropping from his hand, forgotten on the floor; his eyes are looking at you with the same expression as that night, and you can't look away, don't want to look away ever again, don't want to lose him to anything or anyone else. “Hayato,” he whispers, closing in to touch your cheek, wiping the tears you didn't notice were already falling down your face.
You lean into the touch, feel the warmth of his fingers on your skin, try to memorize every tingle it sends down you body. Just having him here, next to you, makes all the pain worth it. Just one breath of your name makes everything melt away, your fears and insecurities and wounds fading into oblivion and replaced with his warmth.
There are no fireworks, no angels singing, no feeling of euphoria when you hug him close to you, so close you both might just break. There is just you. You and Ryu and love, and you realize that's all that really matters, now that you understand. Just having him by your side is enough. The two of you as one.
“I love you.”
You feel as if you can die any moment, your hold on him tightening as the tears won't stop.
~0~
The next time Mini happens is your birthday.
It's a few months after the baptism of Kanna and Hideo-nobody had suspected twins from Tsuchi and Ai because the couple had been daring enough to not go for ultrasounds during the pregnancy-and miraculously, Take had made an appearance. You're working overtime at the ramen shop; according to the ever-reliable schedule, Ryu's having his final exams.
Your body tingles in that all too familiar way, the sensation of someone watching from the dark as you near the table of Mini and her college friends. She's smiling at you again, cheeky voice and even cheekier attitude manifesting itself and attacking you in waves.
“Hayato-chan,” she stands up and squeezes your right hand; entwines it with hers. She's touching the ring on your pinky, “I've always wondered Hayato-chan,” her voice low and uncharacteristically seductive; it turns you off. “Who gave you this ring? It seems very important.”
“It is,” you say, ignoring the fact that she's still fiddling with your hand. “It's a marriage band. Sort of.”
The look on her face is definitely not one of amusement. “It's a vow?”
You smile at her, not dwelling on the thought that it might seem fake. “It's actually a promise.” You pause. “A bond.”
There is a faint aura of jealousy emanating from the girl as she tries to get closer to you, her hands almost moving to hug you. The door of the restaurant opens as you freeze, and from the corner of your eye there is a fast blur; suddenly, there is a faint brush on the corner of your mouth, and the next moment Ryu is taking your right hand in his left, the bands of silver on your fingers clinking softly.
Mini's eyes widen in shock. So do yours.
“O-O-Odagiri-kun?”
“I don't think we've been properly introduced,” Ryu says calmly, with a smile that most people would describe as harmless. You know better than to believe those scheming eyes. He saw everything. “Odagiri Ryu.” He's looking at Mini, raising your linked hands so that she-and everyone else, you make a mental note-can see your matching rings.
“Hey,” you try not to stutter, still obviously shocked at this development. Ryu looks at you with that silent but deadly expression, and you unconsciously gulp.
The hold on your hand tightens. “We can go now. They've given you an early off.” he's pulling you out of the restaurant before you can even protest and have Mini realize what happened.
~0~
“I saw that,” Ryu's saying, open-mouthed kiss on your cheek and hands ready to undo the buttons of your shirt. The moment the door to your apartment had shut you got pressed against the wall in a familiar scenario.
You hum in approval, tugging on his shirt and wanting the offending piece of fabric to come off.
“I heard everything.” Both shirts are off and his hands are messily finding their way down to your pants.
You can't help but chuckle, dropping a kiss to his temple and nose, “I'm assuming that's why you stormed in and showed off our rings.”
He clicks his tongue in impatience, eyes looking at you with passion and hunger. You decide to tease one more time. “What, she's cute, don't you like her?”
He doesn't say anything. The moment seems to not fit, but you can't help it and you're saying “you should know that I love you with all of me” before you can stop yourself.
That does the trick; Ryu's kissing you hard and fervently, teeth biting your lower lip. “Not cute, don't like her,” he murmurs in between kisses. “And besides,” he rests his forehead against yours, “you're mine.”
The smile on your face is radiant. “I'm all yours, then.”
A/N
The title has no meaning. I was torn between Forever Young (song of Alphaville) or Anniversary (KinKi Kids) but neither fit the theme.
Laobanniang: lady boss
Xiao Mei: little girl (uhm, Mike He's nickname?)
Ge (ge ge): big brother
Mei (mei mei): little sister
Wo xi huan ta: I like him/her
Mini's character is based on her.
Kudo Ai is Tsuchiya's actor's girlfriend when he played in the 2005 drama Brother Beat.
Comments and criticisms are very much appreciated. I'd like to know how I did on HayaRyu.