HAKUOKI 30kisses challenge - Nu#09: Hear all, trust nothing. „Monday Sorrows“
Afternoon classes came and refreshed after a shower and energized after having eaten a warm meal (even if the meal itself had been horrible and Sano had to inavde his sake reserves he kept locked in the bottom drawer of his desk to keep the food down), Sano headed for his Japanese History lesson he had with 2A.
He had always liked the lessons with 2A.
They were attentive as he explained, they didn’t disturb the class and they always answered his questions correctly. They weren’t the best class of Hakuoki High for nothing after all. And he still didn’t get how Shinpachi got to be their homeroom teacher.
He entered the class and everyone stood up.
„Good afternoon, Sano-sensei.“ They chorused.
„Good afternoon, class.“ He answered them with a smile.
He quickly did the attendance and started the lesson.
„Alright, folks. Can someone tell me what we did last time, before Christmas break? Yamazaki?“
„Yes.“ The boy stood up to answer his question. „We discussed the new institution of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard and it’s complex relationship with the Shinsengumi.“
„Precisely.“ For the last semester, they have been discussing the Bakumatsu aera of Japan and Sano couldn’t but focus on the Shinsengumi. He tried to explain the events through their eyes, or in relation to them, as they were an institution that had subsisted the whole Bakumatsu aera. „Thank you, Yamazaki-kun, you may sit down.“
The kid did so and Sano started.
„Today we will discuss the Abura Kouji incident, as it was one of the many consequences of the agenda of this institution. It is a widely discussed subject and some historicians call it the ’Beginning of the end’. Saito, please let us hear what our widely cited historician says about it.“
No answer.
Sano looked to the table where the darkhaired boy sat, obviously preoccupied into the book.
„Saito, please, answer the question.“
Again there was no answer. Sano frowned.
„Saito.“
Nothing. He tried a bit louder this time.
„Saito!“
It was really strange. Saito was never this spaced out. Sano approached the table of the student and standing directly next to him, he called out in the loudest voice that was possible without disturbing the class next to them.
„SAITO!!!“
It was really funny to watch the reaction he got. Saito startled, his whole body jerked and he shot up like an arrow, standing straight as a ruler (Sano was surprised that he wasn’t saluting), the book still tightly clutched in his hand.
„Please excuse me!“
It suddenly clicked.
„Have you been reading in class, Saito?“
The boy didn’t even need to answer. His blush said it all.
„I...uh...yes.“ It was even funnier to see Saito stutter, Sano decided.
„You know what that means?“ He asked, trying his best to sound serious. There was, after all, a punishment for reading in class.
„I...I’d rather...“ but Sano already took the book from him, still open on the page Saito had been reading.
Saito watched with apprehension as a predatory smile spread across Sano-sensei’s features. After an eternity of sheer suffering, he spoke.
„Well. Normally, the punishment would be a teacher’s notice and me reading the passage in front of the whole class, but since it’s you and this happened for the first time, I’ll make an exception. You have 3 options: The regular one I mentioned now. 2: You’ll be the one to read this in front of the class and instead of a notice, you’ll get a bad grade for not answering my question. 3: What you read will stay between us and Kondo-san. In other words, we skip the reading and pay the principal a visit. He is a kind and tolerant person, so there’s a chance you get away only with a warning. Which one is it?“
Saito thought for a moment. If he chose option one, everyone would know what he had been reading and there would be a black taint in his otherwise perfect reputation, in form of a teacher’s notice. With option two Sano-sensei was giving him a second chance. A teacher’s notice stayed, but he could always correct a bad grade. But that came with the price of humiliating himself personally, which would need a completely different form of courage, standing in front of the class and practically make a fool of himself. It would accompany him untill graduation year. The third option was the most convenient one. No one would know, his grades wouldn’t suffer and a principal’s warning was the least of a price. On the other hand a principal’s notice was too much. Not even Okita had a that one in his collection of warnings and notices yet. But then again, no one ever heard Kondo-san writing one. And then there was the issue with rumors of being favorized.
„Basically, you’re asking me to choose which one is more important to me: School results or my reputation.“
„Basically, yes.“ Sano-sensei nodded.
Saito sighed. Why was he even thinking about it? He was by no means a coward. He was one to take responsibility for his mistakes, no matter the price. And out of a principal’s warning, teacher’s notice and a bad grade, the bad grade was the easiest to overcome. He extended his hand, asking for the book.
„Which passage do you want me to read?“ he tried to make it sound more sure than he felt, but he heard the tremble in his voice and he saw the surprised looks of his classmates even through the curtain of his hair.
„These two pages please.“ Sano-sensei said as he handed him the book. The two pages he had been reading. This was suicide. But he had already made his resolve and he wasn’t backing down. So he took the book and stood himself in front of the board and begun to read.
As he finished and closed the manga, his face was burning in embarassment as a massive amount of blood collected in his cheeks and the class was staring at him wide-eyed.
„Saito...you read yaoi?“
If Saito thought that becoming even redder was impossible, he was proven wrong the moment he swallowed and nodded.
The whole class exploaded ito uproarious laughter.
But that didn’t last long as it was immediately silenced by a high-pitched screach and everyone was busy shieldieng their ears from the sound as Sano-sensei dragged his nails across the board.
„Silence!!! I wonder what I would find in your book-cases if I looked. Don’t go laughing your classmate out, or else I will make you empty your bags here and now. Saito, sit down.“ He gave him a small smile and whispered, only for Saito to hear: „You have done well. In turn I’ll have a small chit-chat with Souji.“
Saito’s eyes widened. „How did you...“
Sano just smiled and said in his normal voice. „Go, sit down please. I want to finish the current topic we’re on.“
The rest of the lesson went without further incidents and before they knew it, the bell signalizing the break rung. Before Saito could do a fast strategical retreat and not show himself for the rest of the break, Sano called him over.
„Saito-kun, for a small moment.“
The students passing him snickered and the still red Saito approached his desk with small, unsure steps.
„Yes, Sano-sensei?“ he asked meekly. Sano smiled assuringly.
„Relax, there. I just wanted to ask if Shinpachi talked with you already.“
Saito blinked for a confused moment, but then remembering, understanding spread across his features. „About Souji, you mean.“
„Yes.“
Saito nodded. „He has spoken to me and Yamazaki. We will have our eyes open.“
„Good.“ Sano nodded at him. „That’s all I wanted. You can go hide somewhere now. No doubt that Heisuke will be here soon to tease the living daylight out of you.“ He smiled understandingly, but Saito didn’t move. The boy seemed to hesitate about something.
„What is it, Saito?“ Sano smiled encouragingly, skipping the honorific. Saito was another person that he was informal with outside of school and now seemed to be the time to remind the boy about that. Sano didn’t bite. It seemed that Saito realized that too, as he shook of his hesitation and finally asked.
„Sano, I just wanted to ask what grade I got.“
Sano smiled into himself as he heard the familiar adressing. He decided not to torture the boy any further. Saito had paid for his ’sins’ already. „C.“
„What?“ The boy seemed surprised.
„Seems mild?“ Sano could understand that. Saito was of the type who would expect the worse possibility than to hope for the better one. He smiled. „Take it as a reward for your courage. You’ve got guts, I give it to you.“
Saito actually blushed at the compliment, but Sano couldn’t but notice that tehre still was something bothering the youth. Sure enough, Saito spoke up again.
„Sano?“
„Yes?“
„How did you know that...“ he trailed off, but he didn’t need to finish, as Sano already knew what it was about.
„That Souji gave you the manga?“ He smirked. „Well, it might have to do something with me recomending him the title a few weeks ago.“
It was fun to watch the ever stoic Saito’s expression change into one of utter shock.
„You should hurry. No telling when Souji will turn up from wherever he disappeared to, once he hears a good gossip.“
Being the wise person he was, Saito decided that it was probably safer than to ponder into the literary preferences of his teachers. „Yes.“
Sano supressed a grinn, but he couldn’t help himself to prevent a small tease from escaping him.
„And Saito-kun? Try not to read in class this time. I doubt that Hijikata-san will be as considerate as I. Even if it’s the best part of the manga and you’re his favorite student.“ Sano winked.
Saito blushed furiously and nodded. „Yes!“
Sano bit back a laugh. That was when the door opened and Yamazaki stuck his head in.
„I’m sorry to disturb, but Heisuke is heading this way. He is grinning from ear to ear. I thought you might want to know.“
The viscious red of Saito’s cheeks turned into a ghostly pale within the span of a few seconds.
„I suggest, you run, Saito-kun.“ Sano threw the mortified boy a set of keys. „You can hide in the gym during the breaks for the rest of the day, but don’t forget to lock up after yourself whenever you leave for class. You can give the keys to Shinpachi after your homeroom class ends.“
One „Thank you very much!!!“ and a hurried bow was the last Sano saw of him before the poor boy practically sprinted out of the class, while Sano just silently laughed to himself. Did he say he was getting old for this job? No way! It was way too much fun to quit.
ox*xo
Later in the afternoon, Sano was ready to enjoy his free hour in the teacher’s room and go through some files for the next lessons, without Shinpachi breathing down his neck, or Hijikata-san complaining to him about some student.
He took his case to pull out his materials, when he noticed a folder that was not his stuck there and he remebered.
„Stupid me!“ he exclaimed into the empty room as he pulled the folder out. The corrected math tests. He accidentally grabbed them together with his files this morning. He had noticed it sometimes during the day and intended to give them to Shinpachi during lunchbreak, but had forgotten.
He stood up. If he remebered correctly, Shinpachi had now an hour in 2C. Sano smirked. He would give him the papers and maybe even get the chance to give Souji a piece of his mind for skipping class. Perfect.
Five minutes later he was knocking on the doors of his class.
No answer came, so he carefully opened the door and experimentaly stuck his head in. Only to almost close it behind himself again, overcome with surprise about what he was seeing.
There he was, his lover Nagakura Shinpachi, standing behind the desk wildly gesticulating and screaming to the class the explanation with as much enthusiasm as if he was commenting a horse-race.
„Listen here! N can grow indefinitely! Indefinitely!! You know what that means?! That-“ he scribled on the board „n !!!“
Sano took a look at his class. The students have already noticed their homeroom teacher standing there and were trying to signalize Shinpa-sensei to stop his somewhat maniac rant and take a look to his left, but Shinpachi, the dense being that he was, didn’t notice it.
Sano motioned his class to stay quiet and not give him away just yet. He wanted to see this.
It wasn’t that Sano never got the chance to witness Shinpachi’s lessons, but this was the first time he had come to see such an enthusiastic explanation.
After listening for a while, he understood the reason. It was Shinpachi’s favorite subject. Statistical theory and the asymptotic theory.
„SEE?! Now we can obtain ANY result!!! If we just count HIGHER, if we let out minds wander into THOUGHT OF INFINITY, instead of lingering in finite sizes, we can OVERCOME OUR WEAKNESS! HUMANITY WINS!!!“
He slammed his fist into the board with enough strength to get a hole. Sano was making him pay for that. He was panting hard, with a victorious grin on his face, while the setting Sun of the later afternoon bathed his frame in a golden hue. He looked almost heroic. Sano covered his mouth politely to surpress his laughter.
His class didn’t bother hiding anything. Chuckles and barks of laughter sounded from everywhere and finally Shinpachi seemed to notice that something was off.
„Huh? What’s with you today? I present you such a thrilling subject and you laugh?“
Souji, apparently back from whatever business urgent enough to skip class he had, waved his hand as if to chase away the laughter.
„No, Shinpa-sensei, it’s just...“ he lost the fight with amusement as he broke into another fit, so the only thing for him left to do was to point his finger to where Sano stood.
Shinpachi turned and for a moment Sano thought his lover was dying of a heart attack.
He smiled sweetly. „Yo.“
„Sano!“
Shinpachi’s face was suddenly a nice shade of tomato, burning from embarassment, while his body was frozen to the spot, remaining in the positions of a victorious general like a marble statue.
It was hilarious.
„How...how long...“
„Long enough.“ He couldn’t help it, Sano’s voice shook with supressed laughter as he saw Shinpachi staring at him utterly mortified. Sano tried to console him. „It’s alright, I understand.“
This sent his class into another fit of hysterical laughter.
Shinpachi put away the chalk he had been holding and straightenend himself to keep at least a little of his dignity.
„What...“ he coughed to get his voice rid of embarassment. „What are you doing here?!“
Sano only raised the folder in his hand.
Shinpachi’s eyes lit up.
„The results!!!“
The silence that the class fell into after those words was an eerie contrast to their previous outburst.
„I kept searching for them the entire day!“ Shinpachi hurried to him.
„Sorry.“ Sano said as he handed him the folder. „I accidentally took them with me and forgot to return them until now.“
„’S okay.“
Shinpachi turned to the class, his enthusiasm back full force.
„Class! I thought I had to withold the results for another few days, but now look at this!“ he waved the folder triumphantly, while Sano just watched with a raised eyebrow. „Now, all of my efforts paid off, and thanks to the man of the hottest dreams another man can only imagine, has brough me, ME, Nagakura Shinpachi, the best teacher for math on Earth you could have been hoping for, this, THIS!“ he held the folder up high like it was the imperial flag, while Sano’s eyebrow just went higher and higher as the rant went on. „Gentlemanies and Gentlemen! I proudly present you: THE RESULTS!“
Sano nodded approvingly at the sardonic clapping that his class rewarded Shinpachi with.
Kids under themselves.
Shinpachi grinned.
„I shall now interrupt the lesson for a few moments to give out the papers.“ He turned to Sano with a charming smile. „Thanks for bringing them over.“
„Don’t mention it.“ Sano smirked. „It was totally worth it.“
He watched in satisfaction as a faint blush spread across Shinpachi’s cheeks.
He turned towars the door. „I guess I’ll leave now. Wouldn’t want to disturb you in the, ahem, interesting lesson.“
Shinpachi focused his eye on the papers as he fumbled with them hiding his embarassment. Sano decided not to torture him further. His hand was already on the knob when suddenly Okita spoke up.
„Sano-sensei! Is it true that you caught Saito reading yaoi?“
A hushed whisper went through the class and all eyes were on him.
Sano turned to Okita. In the end he decided to settle things with the brat after homeroom class, but somehow the kid had a special virtue to change his intentions 180°. Sano again resisted the urge to throw a piece of chalk at him.
„Okita-kun, you have no room to talk. After all, it is very clear to me where Saito-kun’s source lies.“
Souji smiled cheekily, the sort of smile that sugested he had back-up blackmail in his hands. „Oh? And where would I get such a book into my innocent hands?“
Too bad that Sano didn’t allow himself to be toyed with. He looked directly into those mischievous green eyes.
„Okita-kun, don’t tell me that besides your grades, your memory suffers too. I remember clearly recommending you that manga not a week before Christmas break started.“
Okita fell from the chair he had been swinging on. Apparently, the kid had never expected Sano-sensei to admit that.
„WHAAAT?!!!“ Clearly, he wasn’t the only one shocked. Shinpachi stared at him wide-eyed. „You read yaoi?!!!“
But of course. How could Shinpachi know?
Sano smiled sweetly at him. „Yeah. Light read on weekday evenings to pass the time. Lack of better entertainment, you know.“
It was a homerun.
Shinpachi just gaped.
Sano turned to his class again. „So, now that I gave you a gossip topic worth ’till the end of the next term, I shall take my leave now and let Nagakura-sensei continue this very interesting subject.“ Sano turned his attention to Souji. „Oh and Okita-kun, see me after class. You still haven’t explained yourself for missing on PE.“ Then he turned to his class for one last time.
„Be gentle on him.“ He jerked his thumb to the still stupefied math teacher. „I need him sane for my purposes.“ With these words he headed out.
It was Okita who called out after him: „I thought you needed him physically capable, you never mentioned brain-functioning.“
The chalk landed in the middle of Souji’s forehead, before the door closed behind Sano-sensei.
ox*xo
It was early in the evening when they met again, after the homeroom classes ended and they finished with the rest of their work. Sano was already waiting at his car, the thick and long creamy white winter coat covering his frame when Shinpachi exited the building, his short green jackett unbuttoned at the top, showing the black scarf wrapped around his neck.
Shinpachi startled as he saw him, but approached him with slow steps, his tiredness obvious to Sano.
„You already here?“ he asked when he was in hearing range. „Didn’t you want to talk with Souji?“
„He skipped class again. Seems he’s avoiding me.“ Sano shook his shoulders. „Ah well. I have other ways to corner him.“ He nodded his head towards the group of students standing nearby. It were Saito, Yamazaki and Heisuke. They noticed them look their way and Heisuke waved his hand, while the other two nodded in greeting. Sano raised his hand in answer, then turned to Shinpachi again. „Your suitcase is still in my car. I’ll drive you.“
Shinpachi nodded. „Thanks. And before I forget...“ he pulled out a set of keys and handed them to Sano. „Saito gave them to me at the end of the homeroom class. Said they’re yours.“
Sano grinned as he put them away. „Yeah, I let him hide in the gym to avoid the teasings.“
Shinpachi chuckled. „He get’s embarrassed too easily.“
Sano had to agree.
They got into the car. As they fastened the seatbelts, Shinpachi sounded.
„Do you think you could take a stop at the convenience store? I have the feeling that my fridge is empty.“
Sano started the engine, nodding. „Sure.“
They pulled out from the lot. Before they drove off, they paused at the trio. Sano leaned out of the window.
„Thanks for today, you three.“
„Don’t mention it, Sano-san.“
„It seems that Okita is avoiding you now, though.“ Yamazaki spoke up.
„He can’t do that forever.“ Sano said. „Even if he skips all of his his homeroom, PE and japanese history classes, I’ll find a way to confront him.“
Heisuke laughed. „Souji’s screwed.“
Sano smirked, but then his expression grew serious again. „Keep your eyes open, yes? It might be serious.“
The three of them nodded.
„However, don’t neglect your studies because of it, alright?“
Saito and Yamazaki nodded again, while Heisuke just scratched the back of his head embarassedly, giving away his intentions of doing just that away.
Sano smiled. „Especially you, Heisuke, now that your grades are so good. And Saito too. You need to correct that C you got yourself today.“
Saito blushed faintly, while Heisuke chuckled wickedly.
„Speaking o’ich,“ Shinpachi spoke up, „Once the rumors spread, you might want to avoid Hijikata-san for a while. No doubt he’ll give you one of his lecture about spreading ‘literature inapropriate for minors under students below 18‘, or whatever.“
No shit, Sherlock. Shinpachi didn’t even need to tell him that.
„Thanks, I’ll keep your advice in mind.“ Sano couldn’t help but be sacastic. He was probably just too exhausted to give a normal reply.
„You’re welcome.“ Shinpachi replied equally dryly, but he didn’t seem upset, probably just as tired as Sano. It had been a long day.
Sano turned to the three again.
„I apologize for bothering you so close before exams.“
They shook their heads.
„Not at all, Sano.“
„Alright, I’ll stop keeping you from ’hanging out’. Got a kid to drive home.“
„Hey.“
Sano and the trio just grinned at each other, ignoring Shinpachi’s complaints about not being a kid.
„See ya tomorrow.“
„Bye, Sano-san!“
With that, they drove off.
After a short stop at the convenience store, where Shinpachi bought himself the necessary supplies to survive the week and Sano promised him to get up early enough to make bento for them each day, they arrived at Shinpachi’s flat with a suitcase and four huge shopping bags. Shinpachi rumaged for the key and opened the door. He put his suitcase into the porch and turned to take the bags from Sano.
„Thanks.“
„No prob.“
For several moments they stared at each other.
„Do you want to come in?“ Shinpachi asked finally and Sano shook his head.
„No, thanks. I’m dead tired, I think I’ll just go home.“
Shinpachi didn’t say anything. Sano just smiled.
„What are you trying to prove, Shinpachi?“
His lover looked away.
„I don’t know. Maybe just find out the appeal of a late evening spent together? I have no clue.“
„Look, I don’t want to force you into anything. Just think about it, like you promised, okay?“
They looked at each other and finally Shinpachi smiled. „You’re probably right.“
Sano smirked. „Of course I am.“
That was when a noise interrupted them. They turned to see one of Shinpachi’s neighbours, Shinkawa, exit her flat. As she spotted them, she turned bright read, their last encounter obviously still fresh in her memory. She quickly looked away, fumbling with her keys.
Sano smiled politely.
„Good evening, Shinkawa-chan.“
She stuttered back a reply and called the elevator. Sano could see the relief in her eyes as she found out it was there, as they previously used it. Usually they climbed the stairs, since Shinpachi’s flat wasn’t that high (fifth floor), but with four heavy bags and one suitcase to carry it was more convenient to just let yourself be carried up. She got into it quickly and before they could blink, she was gone.
They both burst out laughing.
„I think we caused her a major trauma that time.“ Shinpachi said between laughs and Sano had to agree.
„Well, it was all your fault. You were the one who decided that sticking your hand down my pants in the middle of the night, just outside your door, was a good idea.“ He replied and they both laughed again, remembering the moment clearly.
It had happened after they got back from Kondo-san’s Halloween party, some good deal after midnight. Shinpachi was dressed as a werewolf (fangs and furr and all that came with it, present) and Sano went as a wizard, complete with a black, embroided robe, long cape and a pointed hat (that had been discarded already in the car). They were drunk, they were horny and they were loud. Of course they woke up the neighbours and Shinkawa-chan was one of those neighbours who didn’t like to be disturbed from her beauty sleep. So it came that suddenly her door burst open, breath already drawn to yell at them the loudest possible, waking the whole building up, but it never came as far, because her breath died out as she saw the exact position they were in, with Sano pressed against the door, Shinpachi just working his best to give him a nice hickey just below his ear. Adding their costumes to the scene and the fact that the floor had been just dimply lit at that time, and combined with the crush the woman had on the hot colleague of her right neighbour...Sano could somehow see the traumatic factor.
After a while they managed to bring their outburst under control and Sano wiped away his tears of laughter.
„Alright then. I’ll better go, before more of your neighbours, that have one or two embarassing memories about us and the fifth floor of this apartment complex, come across of us.“
Shinpachi nodded. „Please, do that.“
They looked into each other’s eyes, suddenly their faces just a few inches apart.
„Thanks for driving me home again.“
„Don’t mention it.“
And their lips met in a gentle kiss.
Shinpachi dropped the bags he had been holding the entire time to wrap his arms around the perfect waist of his boyfriend, while Sano’s encircled Shinpachi’s neck and his hands came to rest casually at the nape, fingers occassionally brushing the sensitive skin there softly, causing a soft shiver run through his lover.
They both sighed at the nice feeling that warmed their chests and they relaxed into the gentle touch that soothed the stress out of their minds and calmed the muscles of their overworked bodies.
For a few moments that felt like eternity it was just them in the silent, dark floor, not even the pale light of the street reaching them.
The thing that managed to break them apart, was the noise of a door opening just the floor above them, startling them.
They listened to the sound of footsteps entering the staircase and dissentangled their limbs from each other.
„I should go. I have an unfinished manga lying at home.“
Shinpachi chuckled weakly. „Yeah.“
They greeted Shinpachi’s upper neighbour, as he headed to his nightshift, who nodded his greetings back when he noticed them, not stopping in his descent.
For a while they just listened to the sound of fading footsteps.
Their eyes met again and Shinpachi carressed Sano’s cheek, who leaned into the touch and put his hand above Shinpachi’s.
„See ya tomorrow.“
„Yeah.“
Sano let go of the hand and Shinpachi took the bags, turning to head inside of his flat. Sano heard the door closing as he was on the third step.
Back in his car, as Sano started the engine, he couldn’t but think about everything that had happened today. Of course, as the first day of school after the break, it had been stressfull. Everyone needed to fall back into their patterns and with the end of the term knocking onto their door, things were bound to get hectic.
Weaker students needed to learn more than usually, the lesson’s would get stuffed with more things to learn and the teacher’s would need to prepare a bunch of exams. He should get started with focus on the senior’s lessons. They were graduating in less than a month and had still much to learn. He should do everything in his might to help them get the neccessary knowledge to pass the finals into their heads.
And yet he couldn’t get his mind away from his class, particulary from one cocky genius. The more he thought about, the more worried he got. He didn’t believe for a second that his once best student was fine.
And then there were his own relationship troubles.
Sano sighed.
A teacher’s private life...he had heard once someone saying that such a thing didn’t have enough time to exist. He felt inclined to believe that.
He turned his head to look at the dark building. Many lights were lit, the windows glowing a golden hue. His eyes settle on a window of the fifth floor. It seemed that Shinpachi was making hiimself dinner, because in th ekitchen the light was glowing, but the other rooms were dimmed.
Sano’s fingers carressed his lips.
He had a bad feeling that had nothing to do with the Udon they ate for lunch.
He shook his head. Enough of this. He was probably just imagining things. They would work things out, he was sure.
With this in mind he adjusted the control lever and stamped on the accelerator, driving off. He didn’t notice the window on the fifth floor opening and a brownhaired man sticking his messy head out to watch after the retreating car, munching on his tuna sandwich.
Shinpachi couldn’t but worry about Sano. He had a forebrooding feeling that something bad would happen and the fact that his instinctive feelings were rarely wrong only added to his worry. Lately Sano had been weird. Previously Shinpachi had put it off as the Christmas depression that striked every year upon his boyfriend, but now he couldn’t help but sense that it had maybe something to do with him too.
He sighed. Sano didn’t deserve this.
His fingers absentmindedly stroked his lips, the taste of Sano’s lips still lingering there, even through the bread, tuna, butter, onions and lemon.
Maybe he should really think the offer over, he contemplated as he looked around the empty room. Without Sano there, even the bright light of his newly bought lamp felt dimm.
Shinpachi bit into his sandwich again, making up his mind.
He would make Sano feel better, no matter the cost. Observe what was wrong and then make his move. And he wouldn’t stop untill Sano was smiling truly again. He was tired of those sad smiles.
With his newfound resolve he closed the window to the chilly air of a winter night.
Spring would come soon.
o-*-x-*-o-*-xox-*-xox-*-xox-*-xox-*-o-*-x-*-o
Phew...
It’s so hot here...Maybe that’s why I’m writing a shot set in the dead of the winter. It’s 17:47 and it’s still 35° Celsius (I’m too lazy to convert it into Farenheit now, forgive me).
Due to the heat it took me longer to finish it. The last scene was being written a week (with me staring at the blank paper for a week and finally today summoning enough strength to write it).
Originally, I wanted to end it there where they parted at Shinpachi’s doorstep, but it felt unfinished and I kept writing and this angst is the result. I’m even deciding about rewriting it, but I probably won’t. It’s a good foreplay to what is about to come in the next SSL shots. Don’t worry, you’ll get to know everything about Sano’s parents, his ex-boyfriend, their past, Okita’s problems, and also the reason why I’m making Heisuke good at painting. Prepare yourself.
Also, I’m probably making them too old, but I couldn’t help myself. The idea came as I listened to some 80’s songs and I felt like it could be just the right music for Sano to grow up with. And I also wanted them to go to college in the 90’s, because it was the break of a new decade, new things came and so on. You know, symbolic and all that. If their current age bothers you, don’t worry, I’m making them still act like 20. And even if that doesn’t make sense, this is fanfiction. Not everything has to go according to regulations. Besides, 40 isn’t that old.
I hope you liked it anyway and are going to review. For my last three shots I didn’t get any reviews, if I don’t count that wonderfull PM from my faithfull reviewer (she knows who she is - and hereby I declared my undying gratitude for he loyalty and the wonderfull reviews she always leaves) and I would really like to know what everyone else thinks.
Thank you a bunch guys!
Other entries are HERE
He had always liked the lessons with 2A.
They were attentive as he explained, they didn’t disturb the class and they always answered his questions correctly. They weren’t the best class of Hakuoki High for nothing after all. And he still didn’t get how Shinpachi got to be their homeroom teacher.
He entered the class and everyone stood up.
„Good afternoon, Sano-sensei.“ They chorused.
„Good afternoon, class.“ He answered them with a smile.
He quickly did the attendance and started the lesson.
„Alright, folks. Can someone tell me what we did last time, before Christmas break? Yamazaki?“
„Yes.“ The boy stood up to answer his question. „We discussed the new institution of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard and it’s complex relationship with the Shinsengumi.“
„Precisely.“ For the last semester, they have been discussing the Bakumatsu aera of Japan and Sano couldn’t but focus on the Shinsengumi. He tried to explain the events through their eyes, or in relation to them, as they were an institution that had subsisted the whole Bakumatsu aera. „Thank you, Yamazaki-kun, you may sit down.“
The kid did so and Sano started.
„Today we will discuss the Abura Kouji incident, as it was one of the many consequences of the agenda of this institution. It is a widely discussed subject and some historicians call it the ’Beginning of the end’. Saito, please let us hear what our widely cited historician says about it.“
No answer.
Sano looked to the table where the darkhaired boy sat, obviously preoccupied into the book.
„Saito, please, answer the question.“
Again there was no answer. Sano frowned.
„Saito.“
Nothing. He tried a bit louder this time.
„Saito!“
It was really strange. Saito was never this spaced out. Sano approached the table of the student and standing directly next to him, he called out in the loudest voice that was possible without disturbing the class next to them.
„SAITO!!!“
It was really funny to watch the reaction he got. Saito startled, his whole body jerked and he shot up like an arrow, standing straight as a ruler (Sano was surprised that he wasn’t saluting), the book still tightly clutched in his hand.
„Please excuse me!“
It suddenly clicked.
„Have you been reading in class, Saito?“
The boy didn’t even need to answer. His blush said it all.
„I...uh...yes.“ It was even funnier to see Saito stutter, Sano decided.
„You know what that means?“ He asked, trying his best to sound serious. There was, after all, a punishment for reading in class.
„I...I’d rather...“ but Sano already took the book from him, still open on the page Saito had been reading.
Saito watched with apprehension as a predatory smile spread across Sano-sensei’s features. After an eternity of sheer suffering, he spoke.
„Well. Normally, the punishment would be a teacher’s notice and me reading the passage in front of the whole class, but since it’s you and this happened for the first time, I’ll make an exception. You have 3 options: The regular one I mentioned now. 2: You’ll be the one to read this in front of the class and instead of a notice, you’ll get a bad grade for not answering my question. 3: What you read will stay between us and Kondo-san. In other words, we skip the reading and pay the principal a visit. He is a kind and tolerant person, so there’s a chance you get away only with a warning. Which one is it?“
Saito thought for a moment. If he chose option one, everyone would know what he had been reading and there would be a black taint in his otherwise perfect reputation, in form of a teacher’s notice. With option two Sano-sensei was giving him a second chance. A teacher’s notice stayed, but he could always correct a bad grade. But that came with the price of humiliating himself personally, which would need a completely different form of courage, standing in front of the class and practically make a fool of himself. It would accompany him untill graduation year. The third option was the most convenient one. No one would know, his grades wouldn’t suffer and a principal’s warning was the least of a price. On the other hand a principal’s notice was too much. Not even Okita had a that one in his collection of warnings and notices yet. But then again, no one ever heard Kondo-san writing one. And then there was the issue with rumors of being favorized.
„Basically, you’re asking me to choose which one is more important to me: School results or my reputation.“
„Basically, yes.“ Sano-sensei nodded.
Saito sighed. Why was he even thinking about it? He was by no means a coward. He was one to take responsibility for his mistakes, no matter the price. And out of a principal’s warning, teacher’s notice and a bad grade, the bad grade was the easiest to overcome. He extended his hand, asking for the book.
„Which passage do you want me to read?“ he tried to make it sound more sure than he felt, but he heard the tremble in his voice and he saw the surprised looks of his classmates even through the curtain of his hair.
„These two pages please.“ Sano-sensei said as he handed him the book. The two pages he had been reading. This was suicide. But he had already made his resolve and he wasn’t backing down. So he took the book and stood himself in front of the board and begun to read.
As he finished and closed the manga, his face was burning in embarassment as a massive amount of blood collected in his cheeks and the class was staring at him wide-eyed.
„Saito...you read yaoi?“
If Saito thought that becoming even redder was impossible, he was proven wrong the moment he swallowed and nodded.
The whole class exploaded ito uproarious laughter.
But that didn’t last long as it was immediately silenced by a high-pitched screach and everyone was busy shieldieng their ears from the sound as Sano-sensei dragged his nails across the board.
„Silence!!! I wonder what I would find in your book-cases if I looked. Don’t go laughing your classmate out, or else I will make you empty your bags here and now. Saito, sit down.“ He gave him a small smile and whispered, only for Saito to hear: „You have done well. In turn I’ll have a small chit-chat with Souji.“
Saito’s eyes widened. „How did you...“
Sano just smiled and said in his normal voice. „Go, sit down please. I want to finish the current topic we’re on.“
The rest of the lesson went without further incidents and before they knew it, the bell signalizing the break rung. Before Saito could do a fast strategical retreat and not show himself for the rest of the break, Sano called him over.
„Saito-kun, for a small moment.“
The students passing him snickered and the still red Saito approached his desk with small, unsure steps.
„Yes, Sano-sensei?“ he asked meekly. Sano smiled assuringly.
„Relax, there. I just wanted to ask if Shinpachi talked with you already.“
Saito blinked for a confused moment, but then remembering, understanding spread across his features. „About Souji, you mean.“
„Yes.“
Saito nodded. „He has spoken to me and Yamazaki. We will have our eyes open.“
„Good.“ Sano nodded at him. „That’s all I wanted. You can go hide somewhere now. No doubt that Heisuke will be here soon to tease the living daylight out of you.“ He smiled understandingly, but Saito didn’t move. The boy seemed to hesitate about something.
„What is it, Saito?“ Sano smiled encouragingly, skipping the honorific. Saito was another person that he was informal with outside of school and now seemed to be the time to remind the boy about that. Sano didn’t bite. It seemed that Saito realized that too, as he shook of his hesitation and finally asked.
„Sano, I just wanted to ask what grade I got.“
Sano smiled into himself as he heard the familiar adressing. He decided not to torture the boy any further. Saito had paid for his ’sins’ already. „C.“
„What?“ The boy seemed surprised.
„Seems mild?“ Sano could understand that. Saito was of the type who would expect the worse possibility than to hope for the better one. He smiled. „Take it as a reward for your courage. You’ve got guts, I give it to you.“
Saito actually blushed at the compliment, but Sano couldn’t but notice that tehre still was something bothering the youth. Sure enough, Saito spoke up again.
„Sano?“
„Yes?“
„How did you know that...“ he trailed off, but he didn’t need to finish, as Sano already knew what it was about.
„That Souji gave you the manga?“ He smirked. „Well, it might have to do something with me recomending him the title a few weeks ago.“
It was fun to watch the ever stoic Saito’s expression change into one of utter shock.
„You should hurry. No telling when Souji will turn up from wherever he disappeared to, once he hears a good gossip.“
Being the wise person he was, Saito decided that it was probably safer than to ponder into the literary preferences of his teachers. „Yes.“
Sano supressed a grinn, but he couldn’t help himself to prevent a small tease from escaping him.
„And Saito-kun? Try not to read in class this time. I doubt that Hijikata-san will be as considerate as I. Even if it’s the best part of the manga and you’re his favorite student.“ Sano winked.
Saito blushed furiously and nodded. „Yes!“
Sano bit back a laugh. That was when the door opened and Yamazaki stuck his head in.
„I’m sorry to disturb, but Heisuke is heading this way. He is grinning from ear to ear. I thought you might want to know.“
The viscious red of Saito’s cheeks turned into a ghostly pale within the span of a few seconds.
„I suggest, you run, Saito-kun.“ Sano threw the mortified boy a set of keys. „You can hide in the gym during the breaks for the rest of the day, but don’t forget to lock up after yourself whenever you leave for class. You can give the keys to Shinpachi after your homeroom class ends.“
One „Thank you very much!!!“ and a hurried bow was the last Sano saw of him before the poor boy practically sprinted out of the class, while Sano just silently laughed to himself. Did he say he was getting old for this job? No way! It was way too much fun to quit.
ox*xo
Later in the afternoon, Sano was ready to enjoy his free hour in the teacher’s room and go through some files for the next lessons, without Shinpachi breathing down his neck, or Hijikata-san complaining to him about some student.
He took his case to pull out his materials, when he noticed a folder that was not his stuck there and he remebered.
„Stupid me!“ he exclaimed into the empty room as he pulled the folder out. The corrected math tests. He accidentally grabbed them together with his files this morning. He had noticed it sometimes during the day and intended to give them to Shinpachi during lunchbreak, but had forgotten.
He stood up. If he remebered correctly, Shinpachi had now an hour in 2C. Sano smirked. He would give him the papers and maybe even get the chance to give Souji a piece of his mind for skipping class. Perfect.
Five minutes later he was knocking on the doors of his class.
No answer came, so he carefully opened the door and experimentaly stuck his head in. Only to almost close it behind himself again, overcome with surprise about what he was seeing.
There he was, his lover Nagakura Shinpachi, standing behind the desk wildly gesticulating and screaming to the class the explanation with as much enthusiasm as if he was commenting a horse-race.
„Listen here! N can grow indefinitely! Indefinitely!! You know what that means?! That-“ he scribled on the board „n !!!“
Sano took a look at his class. The students have already noticed their homeroom teacher standing there and were trying to signalize Shinpa-sensei to stop his somewhat maniac rant and take a look to his left, but Shinpachi, the dense being that he was, didn’t notice it.
Sano motioned his class to stay quiet and not give him away just yet. He wanted to see this.
It wasn’t that Sano never got the chance to witness Shinpachi’s lessons, but this was the first time he had come to see such an enthusiastic explanation.
After listening for a while, he understood the reason. It was Shinpachi’s favorite subject. Statistical theory and the asymptotic theory.
„SEE?! Now we can obtain ANY result!!! If we just count HIGHER, if we let out minds wander into THOUGHT OF INFINITY, instead of lingering in finite sizes, we can OVERCOME OUR WEAKNESS! HUMANITY WINS!!!“
He slammed his fist into the board with enough strength to get a hole. Sano was making him pay for that. He was panting hard, with a victorious grin on his face, while the setting Sun of the later afternoon bathed his frame in a golden hue. He looked almost heroic. Sano covered his mouth politely to surpress his laughter.
His class didn’t bother hiding anything. Chuckles and barks of laughter sounded from everywhere and finally Shinpachi seemed to notice that something was off.
„Huh? What’s with you today? I present you such a thrilling subject and you laugh?“
Souji, apparently back from whatever business urgent enough to skip class he had, waved his hand as if to chase away the laughter.
„No, Shinpa-sensei, it’s just...“ he lost the fight with amusement as he broke into another fit, so the only thing for him left to do was to point his finger to where Sano stood.
Shinpachi turned and for a moment Sano thought his lover was dying of a heart attack.
He smiled sweetly. „Yo.“
„Sano!“
Shinpachi’s face was suddenly a nice shade of tomato, burning from embarassment, while his body was frozen to the spot, remaining in the positions of a victorious general like a marble statue.
It was hilarious.
„How...how long...“
„Long enough.“ He couldn’t help it, Sano’s voice shook with supressed laughter as he saw Shinpachi staring at him utterly mortified. Sano tried to console him. „It’s alright, I understand.“
This sent his class into another fit of hysterical laughter.
Shinpachi put away the chalk he had been holding and straightenend himself to keep at least a little of his dignity.
„What...“ he coughed to get his voice rid of embarassment. „What are you doing here?!“
Sano only raised the folder in his hand.
Shinpachi’s eyes lit up.
„The results!!!“
The silence that the class fell into after those words was an eerie contrast to their previous outburst.
„I kept searching for them the entire day!“ Shinpachi hurried to him.
„Sorry.“ Sano said as he handed him the folder. „I accidentally took them with me and forgot to return them until now.“
„’S okay.“
Shinpachi turned to the class, his enthusiasm back full force.
„Class! I thought I had to withold the results for another few days, but now look at this!“ he waved the folder triumphantly, while Sano just watched with a raised eyebrow. „Now, all of my efforts paid off, and thanks to the man of the hottest dreams another man can only imagine, has brough me, ME, Nagakura Shinpachi, the best teacher for math on Earth you could have been hoping for, this, THIS!“ he held the folder up high like it was the imperial flag, while Sano’s eyebrow just went higher and higher as the rant went on. „Gentlemanies and Gentlemen! I proudly present you: THE RESULTS!“
Sano nodded approvingly at the sardonic clapping that his class rewarded Shinpachi with.
Kids under themselves.
Shinpachi grinned.
„I shall now interrupt the lesson for a few moments to give out the papers.“ He turned to Sano with a charming smile. „Thanks for bringing them over.“
„Don’t mention it.“ Sano smirked. „It was totally worth it.“
He watched in satisfaction as a faint blush spread across Shinpachi’s cheeks.
He turned towars the door. „I guess I’ll leave now. Wouldn’t want to disturb you in the, ahem, interesting lesson.“
Shinpachi focused his eye on the papers as he fumbled with them hiding his embarassment. Sano decided not to torture him further. His hand was already on the knob when suddenly Okita spoke up.
„Sano-sensei! Is it true that you caught Saito reading yaoi?“
A hushed whisper went through the class and all eyes were on him.
Sano turned to Okita. In the end he decided to settle things with the brat after homeroom class, but somehow the kid had a special virtue to change his intentions 180°. Sano again resisted the urge to throw a piece of chalk at him.
„Okita-kun, you have no room to talk. After all, it is very clear to me where Saito-kun’s source lies.“
Souji smiled cheekily, the sort of smile that sugested he had back-up blackmail in his hands. „Oh? And where would I get such a book into my innocent hands?“
Too bad that Sano didn’t allow himself to be toyed with. He looked directly into those mischievous green eyes.
„Okita-kun, don’t tell me that besides your grades, your memory suffers too. I remember clearly recommending you that manga not a week before Christmas break started.“
Okita fell from the chair he had been swinging on. Apparently, the kid had never expected Sano-sensei to admit that.
„WHAAAT?!!!“ Clearly, he wasn’t the only one shocked. Shinpachi stared at him wide-eyed. „You read yaoi?!!!“
But of course. How could Shinpachi know?
Sano smiled sweetly at him. „Yeah. Light read on weekday evenings to pass the time. Lack of better entertainment, you know.“
It was a homerun.
Shinpachi just gaped.
Sano turned to his class again. „So, now that I gave you a gossip topic worth ’till the end of the next term, I shall take my leave now and let Nagakura-sensei continue this very interesting subject.“ Sano turned his attention to Souji. „Oh and Okita-kun, see me after class. You still haven’t explained yourself for missing on PE.“ Then he turned to his class for one last time.
„Be gentle on him.“ He jerked his thumb to the still stupefied math teacher. „I need him sane for my purposes.“ With these words he headed out.
It was Okita who called out after him: „I thought you needed him physically capable, you never mentioned brain-functioning.“
The chalk landed in the middle of Souji’s forehead, before the door closed behind Sano-sensei.
ox*xo
It was early in the evening when they met again, after the homeroom classes ended and they finished with the rest of their work. Sano was already waiting at his car, the thick and long creamy white winter coat covering his frame when Shinpachi exited the building, his short green jackett unbuttoned at the top, showing the black scarf wrapped around his neck.
Shinpachi startled as he saw him, but approached him with slow steps, his tiredness obvious to Sano.
„You already here?“ he asked when he was in hearing range. „Didn’t you want to talk with Souji?“
„He skipped class again. Seems he’s avoiding me.“ Sano shook his shoulders. „Ah well. I have other ways to corner him.“ He nodded his head towards the group of students standing nearby. It were Saito, Yamazaki and Heisuke. They noticed them look their way and Heisuke waved his hand, while the other two nodded in greeting. Sano raised his hand in answer, then turned to Shinpachi again. „Your suitcase is still in my car. I’ll drive you.“
Shinpachi nodded. „Thanks. And before I forget...“ he pulled out a set of keys and handed them to Sano. „Saito gave them to me at the end of the homeroom class. Said they’re yours.“
Sano grinned as he put them away. „Yeah, I let him hide in the gym to avoid the teasings.“
Shinpachi chuckled. „He get’s embarrassed too easily.“
Sano had to agree.
They got into the car. As they fastened the seatbelts, Shinpachi sounded.
„Do you think you could take a stop at the convenience store? I have the feeling that my fridge is empty.“
Sano started the engine, nodding. „Sure.“
They pulled out from the lot. Before they drove off, they paused at the trio. Sano leaned out of the window.
„Thanks for today, you three.“
„Don’t mention it, Sano-san.“
„It seems that Okita is avoiding you now, though.“ Yamazaki spoke up.
„He can’t do that forever.“ Sano said. „Even if he skips all of his his homeroom, PE and japanese history classes, I’ll find a way to confront him.“
Heisuke laughed. „Souji’s screwed.“
Sano smirked, but then his expression grew serious again. „Keep your eyes open, yes? It might be serious.“
The three of them nodded.
„However, don’t neglect your studies because of it, alright?“
Saito and Yamazaki nodded again, while Heisuke just scratched the back of his head embarassedly, giving away his intentions of doing just that away.
Sano smiled. „Especially you, Heisuke, now that your grades are so good. And Saito too. You need to correct that C you got yourself today.“
Saito blushed faintly, while Heisuke chuckled wickedly.
„Speaking o’ich,“ Shinpachi spoke up, „Once the rumors spread, you might want to avoid Hijikata-san for a while. No doubt he’ll give you one of his lecture about spreading ‘literature inapropriate for minors under students below 18‘, or whatever.“
No shit, Sherlock. Shinpachi didn’t even need to tell him that.
„Thanks, I’ll keep your advice in mind.“ Sano couldn’t help but be sacastic. He was probably just too exhausted to give a normal reply.
„You’re welcome.“ Shinpachi replied equally dryly, but he didn’t seem upset, probably just as tired as Sano. It had been a long day.
Sano turned to the three again.
„I apologize for bothering you so close before exams.“
They shook their heads.
„Not at all, Sano.“
„Alright, I’ll stop keeping you from ’hanging out’. Got a kid to drive home.“
„Hey.“
Sano and the trio just grinned at each other, ignoring Shinpachi’s complaints about not being a kid.
„See ya tomorrow.“
„Bye, Sano-san!“
With that, they drove off.
After a short stop at the convenience store, where Shinpachi bought himself the necessary supplies to survive the week and Sano promised him to get up early enough to make bento for them each day, they arrived at Shinpachi’s flat with a suitcase and four huge shopping bags. Shinpachi rumaged for the key and opened the door. He put his suitcase into the porch and turned to take the bags from Sano.
„Thanks.“
„No prob.“
For several moments they stared at each other.
„Do you want to come in?“ Shinpachi asked finally and Sano shook his head.
„No, thanks. I’m dead tired, I think I’ll just go home.“
Shinpachi didn’t say anything. Sano just smiled.
„What are you trying to prove, Shinpachi?“
His lover looked away.
„I don’t know. Maybe just find out the appeal of a late evening spent together? I have no clue.“
„Look, I don’t want to force you into anything. Just think about it, like you promised, okay?“
They looked at each other and finally Shinpachi smiled. „You’re probably right.“
Sano smirked. „Of course I am.“
That was when a noise interrupted them. They turned to see one of Shinpachi’s neighbours, Shinkawa, exit her flat. As she spotted them, she turned bright read, their last encounter obviously still fresh in her memory. She quickly looked away, fumbling with her keys.
Sano smiled politely.
„Good evening, Shinkawa-chan.“
She stuttered back a reply and called the elevator. Sano could see the relief in her eyes as she found out it was there, as they previously used it. Usually they climbed the stairs, since Shinpachi’s flat wasn’t that high (fifth floor), but with four heavy bags and one suitcase to carry it was more convenient to just let yourself be carried up. She got into it quickly and before they could blink, she was gone.
They both burst out laughing.
„I think we caused her a major trauma that time.“ Shinpachi said between laughs and Sano had to agree.
„Well, it was all your fault. You were the one who decided that sticking your hand down my pants in the middle of the night, just outside your door, was a good idea.“ He replied and they both laughed again, remembering the moment clearly.
It had happened after they got back from Kondo-san’s Halloween party, some good deal after midnight. Shinpachi was dressed as a werewolf (fangs and furr and all that came with it, present) and Sano went as a wizard, complete with a black, embroided robe, long cape and a pointed hat (that had been discarded already in the car). They were drunk, they were horny and they were loud. Of course they woke up the neighbours and Shinkawa-chan was one of those neighbours who didn’t like to be disturbed from her beauty sleep. So it came that suddenly her door burst open, breath already drawn to yell at them the loudest possible, waking the whole building up, but it never came as far, because her breath died out as she saw the exact position they were in, with Sano pressed against the door, Shinpachi just working his best to give him a nice hickey just below his ear. Adding their costumes to the scene and the fact that the floor had been just dimply lit at that time, and combined with the crush the woman had on the hot colleague of her right neighbour...Sano could somehow see the traumatic factor.
After a while they managed to bring their outburst under control and Sano wiped away his tears of laughter.
„Alright then. I’ll better go, before more of your neighbours, that have one or two embarassing memories about us and the fifth floor of this apartment complex, come across of us.“
Shinpachi nodded. „Please, do that.“
They looked into each other’s eyes, suddenly their faces just a few inches apart.
„Thanks for driving me home again.“
„Don’t mention it.“
And their lips met in a gentle kiss.
Shinpachi dropped the bags he had been holding the entire time to wrap his arms around the perfect waist of his boyfriend, while Sano’s encircled Shinpachi’s neck and his hands came to rest casually at the nape, fingers occassionally brushing the sensitive skin there softly, causing a soft shiver run through his lover.
They both sighed at the nice feeling that warmed their chests and they relaxed into the gentle touch that soothed the stress out of their minds and calmed the muscles of their overworked bodies.
For a few moments that felt like eternity it was just them in the silent, dark floor, not even the pale light of the street reaching them.
The thing that managed to break them apart, was the noise of a door opening just the floor above them, startling them.
They listened to the sound of footsteps entering the staircase and dissentangled their limbs from each other.
„I should go. I have an unfinished manga lying at home.“
Shinpachi chuckled weakly. „Yeah.“
They greeted Shinpachi’s upper neighbour, as he headed to his nightshift, who nodded his greetings back when he noticed them, not stopping in his descent.
For a while they just listened to the sound of fading footsteps.
Their eyes met again and Shinpachi carressed Sano’s cheek, who leaned into the touch and put his hand above Shinpachi’s.
„See ya tomorrow.“
„Yeah.“
Sano let go of the hand and Shinpachi took the bags, turning to head inside of his flat. Sano heard the door closing as he was on the third step.
Back in his car, as Sano started the engine, he couldn’t but think about everything that had happened today. Of course, as the first day of school after the break, it had been stressfull. Everyone needed to fall back into their patterns and with the end of the term knocking onto their door, things were bound to get hectic.
Weaker students needed to learn more than usually, the lesson’s would get stuffed with more things to learn and the teacher’s would need to prepare a bunch of exams. He should get started with focus on the senior’s lessons. They were graduating in less than a month and had still much to learn. He should do everything in his might to help them get the neccessary knowledge to pass the finals into their heads.
And yet he couldn’t get his mind away from his class, particulary from one cocky genius. The more he thought about, the more worried he got. He didn’t believe for a second that his once best student was fine.
And then there were his own relationship troubles.
Sano sighed.
A teacher’s private life...he had heard once someone saying that such a thing didn’t have enough time to exist. He felt inclined to believe that.
He turned his head to look at the dark building. Many lights were lit, the windows glowing a golden hue. His eyes settle on a window of the fifth floor. It seemed that Shinpachi was making hiimself dinner, because in th ekitchen the light was glowing, but the other rooms were dimmed.
Sano’s fingers carressed his lips.
He had a bad feeling that had nothing to do with the Udon they ate for lunch.
He shook his head. Enough of this. He was probably just imagining things. They would work things out, he was sure.
With this in mind he adjusted the control lever and stamped on the accelerator, driving off. He didn’t notice the window on the fifth floor opening and a brownhaired man sticking his messy head out to watch after the retreating car, munching on his tuna sandwich.
Shinpachi couldn’t but worry about Sano. He had a forebrooding feeling that something bad would happen and the fact that his instinctive feelings were rarely wrong only added to his worry. Lately Sano had been weird. Previously Shinpachi had put it off as the Christmas depression that striked every year upon his boyfriend, but now he couldn’t help but sense that it had maybe something to do with him too.
He sighed. Sano didn’t deserve this.
His fingers absentmindedly stroked his lips, the taste of Sano’s lips still lingering there, even through the bread, tuna, butter, onions and lemon.
Maybe he should really think the offer over, he contemplated as he looked around the empty room. Without Sano there, even the bright light of his newly bought lamp felt dimm.
Shinpachi bit into his sandwich again, making up his mind.
He would make Sano feel better, no matter the cost. Observe what was wrong and then make his move. And he wouldn’t stop untill Sano was smiling truly again. He was tired of those sad smiles.
With his newfound resolve he closed the window to the chilly air of a winter night.
Spring would come soon.
o-*-x-*-o-*-xox-*-xox-*-xox-*-xox-*-o-*-x-*-o
Phew...
It’s so hot here...Maybe that’s why I’m writing a shot set in the dead of the winter. It’s 17:47 and it’s still 35° Celsius (I’m too lazy to convert it into Farenheit now, forgive me).
Due to the heat it took me longer to finish it. The last scene was being written a week (with me staring at the blank paper for a week and finally today summoning enough strength to write it).
Originally, I wanted to end it there where they parted at Shinpachi’s doorstep, but it felt unfinished and I kept writing and this angst is the result. I’m even deciding about rewriting it, but I probably won’t. It’s a good foreplay to what is about to come in the next SSL shots. Don’t worry, you’ll get to know everything about Sano’s parents, his ex-boyfriend, their past, Okita’s problems, and also the reason why I’m making Heisuke good at painting. Prepare yourself.
Also, I’m probably making them too old, but I couldn’t help myself. The idea came as I listened to some 80’s songs and I felt like it could be just the right music for Sano to grow up with. And I also wanted them to go to college in the 90’s, because it was the break of a new decade, new things came and so on. You know, symbolic and all that. If their current age bothers you, don’t worry, I’m making them still act like 20. And even if that doesn’t make sense, this is fanfiction. Not everything has to go according to regulations. Besides, 40 isn’t that old.
I hope you liked it anyway and are going to review. For my last three shots I didn’t get any reviews, if I don’t count that wonderfull PM from my faithfull reviewer (she knows who she is - and hereby I declared my undying gratitude for he loyalty and the wonderfull reviews she always leaves) and I would really like to know what everyone else thinks.
Thank you a bunch guys!
Other entries are HERE